What Do You See in Beautiful Stories and Others’ Success?

Do you like bugs?  Are you fascinated by photography?  (Even if you answered NO and NO, at least go look at some of his Instagram pictures – they are super cool). Here’s a story about how a dude learned and taught himself (and put…

Mysteries Uncovered – Analysis of the Beginning of Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals.

woman annotating

Analysis, for those who don’t know, is about making sense of what something is – why it works, or doesn’t. Imagine a Renaissance person (women are part of this Renaissance Analysis Party, too) kicking tires on a 2020 Nissan Altima, wondering if it’s a…

Read before We Write – Listen before We Speak

crop person putting crumpled paper in box on woman

On December 4th, many Americans felt shock and a blend of emotions at the news report of a mysterious hooded man who shot and killed Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHeathcare. (USA Today Timeline found HERE.) Reports came and went about this assassination-style killing…

Election 2024: Anyone Else Ready for this to be Over?

I care about politics. I do. But I’m also ready for Christmas Break. Curling up with a book, or VR mini golf, without email nearby, without ads, and WITHOUT ELECTION COVERAGE. I don’t need to know when Donald Trump farts or what Kamala orders…

Barbara Brown Taylor Shares Her Gifts: A Fabulous Writer Can Make You Think

First, read this: The only clear line I draw these days is this: when my religion tries to come between me and my neighbor, I will choose my neighbor… Jesus never commanded me to love my religion. – Barbara Brown Taylor, from Holy Envy…

John McWhorter: A Credible Writer for Making Sense of a Complex America

One of the first discussions I have about readings with my college composition students is that two common components can get in the way of understanding new readings: 1) Vocabulary, and 2) lack of Background Knowledge. (Vocabulary being helpful explains itself, but Background Knowledge…

The Atlantic Scores Again: American Left and Centrists Can Learn from French Progressives and Centrists.

Read this story from the Atlantic’s Thomas Chatterton Williams about what happened this July in France when problems with a growing Far Right movement (think anti-immigrant, pro-business, smaller-government, but much more complex than that) threatened everything. France, at first, floundered. Then it didn’t. It…

Schools and Mental Health Crisis – Circle Groups Might Help

I didn’t hear it often, but when I did, it broke me a little: this giant of a middle schooler was crying, overcome with rage and worry. He had been acting out, as usual, earlier that day in a different class period. Juan, we’ll…

January 6 Committee Continues Today: Americans Need to Watch and Listen to Each Other

Many normal and apolitical people (people like me) don’t want to weigh into this political stuff like with Former President Donald Trump and the January 6th Committee. I personally don’t want to isolate sensible people who are conservative or sensible people who are more…

Cycles of Change and Stability – Finding Purpose in the Normal – Great Song

Oliver Anthony Singing

One thing I love about a new semester is that a predictable cycle starts again. One thing I DON’T love about a new semester is that a predictable cycle starts again. There is comfort in the sameness and there can be stagnation in it…