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.

Starbucks Lost

Posted on October 20, 2018 by hessd

Apologies to John Milton. I don’t mean at all that I think of Starbucks as Paradise, but it is true that I have seen a Starbucks that was a lot closer than any Starbucks I now know. I feel sad … Continue reading →

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“Grammar Nazis”

Posted on October 18, 2018 by hessd

To tell you the truth, the “Nazi” metaphor was always too much for me. It treated lightly something I wasn’t ready to treat lightly. I am a veteran of a good deal of post-WW II anti-Nazi propaganda. I remember Nazi … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wife

Posted on October 13, 2018 by hessd

How shall we see this picture?  This is a letter from a fan, on the one hand.  Bette and I saw The Wife partly because Glen Close’s performance was getting very high praise–fully justified, I can now say.  But what … Continue reading →

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Policymaking in a democracy

Posted on October 10, 2018 by hessd

What will happen to the great coastal cities if the atmosphere continues to warm at the rate it is warming now? I think that is an interesting question. Even more interesting would be pictures—these would look like photographs, but would, … Continue reading →

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

Nicodemus lives in the Matrix

Posted on September 30, 2018 by hessd

  In John 3, in part of Jesus’ extended colloquy with Nicodemus, he says that believing in him—believing that Jesus is who he says he is—makes zōen aiōnion available. What does that mean? Literally, it means “the life of the … Continue reading →

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A Midlands family living in Greater Appalachia

Posted on September 29, 2018 by hessd

I come from a “set apart” sort of family.  I knew that when I was a little boy growing up in what is now a northern suburb of Dayton, Ohio. [1]  I was taught that it was a good thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Men who have not yet died

Posted on September 24, 2018 by hessd

I want to write a little about the relationships between men and women at the senior center where I live.  And I will.  I just want to play with a couple of words first. Words The first word is “dominate.”  … Continue reading →

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

Colin Kaepernick’s Triumph

Posted on September 12, 2018 by hessd

On Sunday, I tuned in to my favorite football show, Sunday Night Football [1] and I watched Colin Kaepernick’s triumph.  I was dumbfounded.  Then I was exultant.  They introduced the teams and then the teams lined up and there was … Continue reading →

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

In praise of verbally defined limits and rationales

Posted on August 21, 2018 by hessd

It has become a popular middle class notion [1] that saying No to a child is a bad thing. Like most of the mistakes we make as we ride the pendulum from unreasoning strictness to unthinking permissiveness, there is a … Continue reading →

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The Apostle Paul as a Sweep

Posted on August 15, 2018 by hessd

Let’s just grant “Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee” and get past it. Dick Van Dyke is without question the most famous chimney sweep in the world, but it isn’t chimney sweeps I want to talk about. [1] IBT … Continue reading →

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