Tag Archives: history

Hurricane Beryl: Sort-of-Good News, and Taking the Long View

Folks living in the Caribbean, Yucatan Peninsula, and south Texas are cleaning up after Hurricane Beryl. Some are also mourning those who didn’t survive the storm. I haven’t been personally affected by Beryl, although my in-laws are in Louisiana, next … 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

Posted in Being a Citizen, Being Catholic, Discursive Detours, Journal | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Animals, Consciousness, and Conscience

I haven’t researched it, but I’m guessing that ‘animals are conscious’ headlines peaked about two months back. “Animal consciousness” makes more sense than some headlines suggest — so this week I’ll be talking about new research, old ideas, and how … Continue reading

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Sledding With My Dad: Good Memories

Most of the neighborhood I grew up in is now a parking lot. But Prairie Home Cemetery, a block west of the house I grew up in, is still there. I mostly remember it as being next to the sledding … Continue reading

Posted in Discursive Detours, Family Stories, Journal, Series | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments