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.

First dates and last dates

Posted on August 12, 2019 by hessd

“Your subscription has been successfully adjusted.” That’s the response I got when I “unsubscribed” from a site called Trip Trivia. [1] For some reason, it made me think of my early dating years. [2] There were girls I wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Love and Marriage, Words | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bible/Anthropology 201

Posted on July 31, 2019 by hessd

At Holladay Park Plaza (HPP), where Bette and I live, [1] there is a set of electronic bulletin boards, telling what is going on that day/week.  Each event or activity is identified by a little icon, telling what kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Paying Attention, sociability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Prodigal Son–for Women

Posted on July 27, 2019 by hessd

My friend, Fran Page, gave me a gift last week.  In the narrowest sense, it was just the gift of an astute observation.  She said that the story of Martha and Mary was the story of the prodigal son—for women.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Paying Attention | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

And thank you, Mr. Tweedly

Posted on July 21, 2019 by hessd

My niece, Lisa Hess (thank you, Lisa) reignited our family’s love of Stan Freberg’s humor this week.  For her, the occasion was a meeting with women writers in which she was supposed to “share something that shaped my love of … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Politics, Society | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Alternative antonyms

Posted on July 20, 2019 by hessd

English is a language that is congenial to antonyms, but it is not always clear just what constitutes an antonym for a particular word. For instance, what is the opposite of “responsible?” I can think of two: irresponsible and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Words | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Making people better cogs

Posted on July 15, 2019 by hessd

Professor Karen Levy has been studying the automation of the trucking industry.  That is why New York Times writer Noam Scheiber interviewed her in preparation for his article on robots in the Amazon warehouse on Staten Island.  Schreiber and Levy … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Who took my phone book?

Posted on July 7, 2019 by hessd

  So…I ran into my old friend Ted Nelson last week. That’s a real person. I’m not making any of this up. Ted is co-author of a very popular text (Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Conceptual Approach) now going into … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Hunger Games for Democrats

Posted on July 1, 2019 by hessd

When I began watching the Democratic debates this week, I started thinking of this as a sort of tournament. Each candidate is not so much a way of envisioning who the Democratic Party should be this year and next, but … Continue reading →

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Abortion and Whack-a-mole

Posted on June 12, 2019 by hessd

Gov. Janet Mills, of Maine, is in the process of putting on the books a law that will allow physicians’ assistants and nurse practitioners to perform abortions.  I had not thought of that approach and when I read it in … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Goodies-in-the-hamper time

Posted on June 10, 2019 by hessd

Below you will find the text of the prayer of confession we used at our church this week.  I liked it a good deal when I first read it.  Now I have worked with it a little since then and … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment