Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

LDW

Posted on June 10, 2023 by hessd

Since I first learned the etymology of the word “seduction,” I have been fascinated by what it says and what it doesn’t say. I am going to try to come at the new cars’ Lane Deviation Warning devices (LDW) from … Continue reading →

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What is this story about? Really.

Posted on June 4, 2023 by hessd

I met with a group of friends this week, some around the table and some by Zoom, and failed to resolve an issue. Again. I imagined, in preparing for the session, that I would have to push a little to … Continue reading →

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Um…how would it work?

Posted on May 26, 2023 by hessd

Here is a line of dialogue from the Netflix show The Diplomat, which I enjoyed the first time I saw it and have enjoyed more every time since. This is a conversation between Kate Wyler, Ambassador to Great Britain (Keri … Continue reading →

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Self-sacrifice. Why?

Posted on May 23, 2023 by hessd

I have a fantasy in which the people who make the points I like best use language that makes sense. The way I look at it, the language I use actually does make sense and if these other people would … Continue reading →

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My Whetstone

Posted on May 18, 2023 by hessd

There’s nothing quite like a good metaphor. A powerful metaphor realigns ideas and experiences as surely as a powerful magnet realigns iron filings and sometimes just as quickly. I teach a series of classes on ancient narratives from other cultures.[1] … Continue reading →

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Eleanor Rigby

Posted on April 27, 2023 by hessd

I know Eleanor Rigby as background music. I’ve never actually paid any attention to the words. But I belong to a singing group that is getting ready to sing a Beatles concert and we are learning some Beatles songs. Kind … Continue reading →

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Celebrating a Return to “the way things used to be”

Posted on April 10, 2023 by hessd

Many years ago, my ingenious niece, Lisa Hess, sent me these two pictures as a way of wishing me Happy Easter. Knowing Lisa, I am sure she had more in mind than just that, but I doubt that she had … Continue reading →

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Peter, you Rock!

Posted on April 2, 2023 by hessd

One day, Jesus looked at his most outspoken disciple and said, “Peter, you rock!” As an opening line, that makes sense in so many different ways that it doesn’t really make a point at all. It does open up a … Continue reading →

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Make Northern Idaho College Great Again

Posted on March 30, 2023 by hessd

When I first began taking political science seriously, it was moving rapidly to the left and demanding a much higher level of empirical support for its propositions. The Old Guard, deplored by my first political science professors, were “conservative” about … Continue reading →

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Foster, by Claire Keegan

Posted on March 25, 2023 by hessd

We are not cheap moviegoers, really. It is just that we do stay and watch until the last credit has appeared on the screen. That is how Bette and I found out that the movie we had just seen, The … Continue reading →

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