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.

The 12 days of Valentine Season

Posted on February 10, 2019 by hessd

It does sound odd, I am sure.  But Lent sounded odd to me at first and so did Passion Week and Advent.  I think “the 12 Days of Christmas” sounded less odd than those.  A gift a day to a … Continue reading →

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Being friends with your adult children

Posted on February 9, 2019 by hessd

I want to begin with one of my favorite quotes from The West Wing.  Lisa Wolfe is a staffer in a Republican Senate, which controls the confirmation of federal judges.  Josh Lyman is a staffer in a Democratic White House, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Paying Attention | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s “Groundhog Day.” Again.

Posted on February 2, 2019 by hessd

I will watch Groundhog Day again on Saturday. I watch it every year. I just don’t seem to be able to help myself. (Just kidding about that last part.) In this well-known movie, Phil Connors (Bill Murray) discovers that his … Continue reading →

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“Realistic” as a slur

Posted on January 30, 2019 by hessd

I’ve been having fun recently thinking about two sets of terms that are so close to each other, in a way, and yet so very far apart. The first set is real/realistic. It comes from the most recent remake of … Continue reading →

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Doing agreement

Posted on January 20, 2019 by hessd

Last night, I watched—again—one of the final episodes of The West Wing. In it, Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) asks Arnie Vinick (Alan Alda) to be his Secretary of State. This seems odd, on the surface, because Santos has just defeated … Continue reading →

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Thou shalt not share false witness

Posted on January 12, 2019 by hessd

It looks just a little odd, doesn’t it? And yet, you know exactly what I am referring to. The language of the 8th commandment (by at least one ordering of the commandments) reads “bear false witness” and “share false witness” … Continue reading →

Posted in Paying Attention, Political Psychology, Sustainability, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What we know and how we know it

Posted on January 8, 2019 by hessd

This is a small enjoyment of something I think is funny. It can be taken seriously, too, (in which case, of course, it is no longer funny) but it is clear to me that these two fully instances point to … Continue reading →

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Eagles fumble the ball

Posted on January 8, 2019 by hessd

Eagles fumble the ball Apologies first. I am sorry for that intrusive “Play” symbol in the middle of the picture. I couldn’t find a way to get rid of it except by substituting a “Pause” symbol. Then there is the … Continue reading →

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The Blindness of Good Intentions

Posted on January 5, 2019 by hessd

It is true that moral fervor can make you inattentive to other aspects of the problem. That is true of any kind of fervor. [1] There are so many examples that I see immediately that this consideration of ignorance, blindness, … Continue reading →

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Happy New Years?

Posted on January 1, 2019 by hessd

A barista at Starbucks pronounced her good wishes on me as I left the store this morning with my hands full of Bette’s coffee and mine. “Happy New Years,” she said. I know this is going to sound crabby and … Continue reading →

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