A space for observation, discovery, and growth
I Have Been Reading Some Great Stuff. Allow Me to Share.
The State of Writing in America
I am pleased to report that, at least from my perspective, there is some really fine writing going on in this country. I have a short list of recent work that I have been thoroughly enjoying.
Note I said enjoying, present tense. I find that I tend to slow up when I find exemplary writing. I like to kind of roll around in the luxury of stories well told or facts well analyzed.
Some Loose Items in My Head to Close Out the Week
Focus? Nah, Not Today
I attempt most of the time to keep this blog focused on a given topic. But if your brain is like mine, loose change rattles around up there between your ears. Occasionally, enough of it builds up that it needs to be used and removed. Today is such a day.
If there is a connecting thread with what follows, it is not obvious to me. Just wanted to share a few items; real roll of the dice stuff.
This is a Good Time in National Life to Reflect on Human Nature
The Problems with Hero Worship
The nation continues a vigorous conversation about whose statue remains up and for whom the local high school is named. This is often a contentious and difficult thing, but overall, it strikes me as a good and necessary thing. Much of the history most of us know is woefully incomplete and inaccurate. This is one step in getting this right.
But it can indeed be painful for some of us. We are finding that pretty well everyone who admire from history (and currently) may well have done great things,
Q & A with a Space Visitor. It Might Go Like This
Seen Any Little Grey Men Lately?
The idea of advanced civilizations coming from distant galaxies to check out Earth is an old topic, and a fun one. I admit one of my guilty pleasures is a TV Series called Ancient Aliens, on the History channel. Yes, I know: History? Aliens? Really? Bear with me a bit.
This is a show populated by people with way too much time on their hands who probably ate way too much sugared cereal as kids and never calmed down.
Join the discussion at: So, I Was Talking to This Space Alien….
Short Notes About Different, Interesting Things Recently Catching Our Attention
A Friday Tradition
We lived for several years in the Washington, DC area. This meant that WAMU was our PBS radio station. WAMU had a flagship program called The Friday Round Up, hosted by the legendary Diane Rehm. It featured a recap of things from the last week or so that merited highlighting. It was a favorite program of ours for many years.
With a tip of the hat to Diane and her successors, today introduces the Agents of Reason version of The Friday Round Up.
Join the discussion at: A Friday Round Up – What’s Going On?
After 2020, Celebration of the One You Love Goes Deeper
What’s the Deal With Valentine’s Day, Anyway?
Let’s be honest. Valentine’s Day as we know it is a creation for the most part by greeting card, candy, and flower vendors. It actually has a long and interesting history. It was originally a Roman holiday, dedicated to the coming of Spring and celebrating fertility. Young women and men were paired up around the holiday.
In the 5th Century, the pope followed what had become a frequent Christian policy of appropriating pagan holidays.
Join the discussion at: Valentine’s Day Is Different This Year
Nothing is So Pervasive, So Important to Life, and So Challenging as Water
A Change of Pace
We have focused on political issues for the last six months. As well we should have. We will continue that path often in the months ahead, for obvious reasons. But this blog was always meant to be about more. We have spent time together reflecting on science, the arts, comedy, and more. Time to do a bit of that now.
We have earned a bit of a break from politics, starting today. Let us reflect a bit on something all around us and in us.
Join the discussion at: Water – Essence of Life, Destroyer of Life
A Series on Priorities for the Biden Administration
It’s Primary Day in Georgia
We are all tuned into Georgia now for sure. Who could have ever foreseen this turn of events? Certainly not I. It has been quite the roller coaster. How that set of races go will determine how much will be accomplished.
Too close to call and it still feels like a pair of Hail Mary passes, but it is at least possible. I have new respect for Tracy Abrams as an organizer. What they have done in Georgia is nothing short of remarkable.
Join the discussion at: Pillars for a Better America, Chapter 6
You and I Shared 141 (!) Blogs This Year – Here are My Favorites (and maybe yours, too)
The Tradition of the Year End Review
Many writers and publishers do a Best of the Year publication at the end of every year. It’s a normal response to the turning of the calendar page into a new year. I have often suspected they did this to save the work of writing yet one more blog on the day the review is published. Having done this a couple of times now, I know better. It’s more work than one might expect going through your own work with an eye toward grading the outcomes.
Join the discussion at: The Pick of the Litter for 2020 – Useful for 2021, Too
Taking a Moment on This Day to Reflect Back and to Look Ahead
Whose Holiday is It?
Some years ago, a certain TV Network hit on a marketing ploy that gave them a lot of marketing juice. Thus the “war on Christmas.” Began. And it returns every year. But not here, not today.
In the land of this blog, we get it that many, many cultural and religious passages are noted by their respective followers. “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” simply means the sender is celebrating a special time of year to them and they wish others to have the same experience,
Join the discussion at: Tis the Season! Which Season? Pick One!
