Category Archives: Journal

Sharing more about me, less about (almost) everything else

Marshmallows in Space! New Habitat Technology, Old Science

I remember when many folks were getting used to the idea that space travel wasn’t just science fiction. Some apparently still haven’t gotten the memo, but others have been developing new technologies. Like inflatable space stations. I’ll be talking about … Continue reading

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Liberal? Conservative? Republican? Democrat? No: Catholic

I could ignore the current presidential fracas: claiming that I’m too ‘spiritual’ for worldly matters, or can’t abide the pervasive political posturing and pandering. But that’s not an option. Neither, for me, is getting “political” in the sense of declaring … Continue reading

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Humanae Vitae Award: Fr. Greg Paffel, Parishes on the Prairie

My parish is Our Lady of the Angles in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. It’s part of the Parishes on the Prairie Catholic Community — and that’s a topic for another time. Aside from routine matters, we’re not exactly at the center … Continue reading

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Freedom of Speech: On the Whole, I Like It

This isn’t the America I grew up in. But human nature hasn’t changed, and freedom of expression still makes some of us uneasy. I’ll be talking about that; and sharing a little family history that relates to the America of … Continue reading

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Independence Day, 2024: America and Context, a Short Ramble

“A False Alarm on the Fourth” Udo Keppler, Puck. (1902)“Uncle Sam — It’s all right! There’s no fighting!The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!” I like that double-page cartoon by Udo Keppler. And I like his image of … Continue reading

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