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.

Matthew pairs Jesus and Moses

Posted on December 23, 2017 by hessd

Matthew spends a lot of time in his gospel presenting Jesus as the new Moses. It has not been lost on scholars, for instance, that in Matthew, Jesus’s first sustained teaching was on a mountain. Moses went up the the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Biblical Studies, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do revolutions eat their children?

Posted on December 18, 2017 by hessd

Usually, yes. They do. I don’t think it is unavoidable, though, and I’d like to think about it with you today. The “revolution” I have in mind today isn’t really a revolution in the strict sense; it is the women’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Paying Attention, Politics, Society, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recharge your battery!

Posted on December 13, 2017 by hessd

There is a new ad by a product called 5 Hour Energy that I found really appealing—until I had a chance to think about it. [1] Then I found it appalling. Today I’d like to write about the appalling part. … Continue reading →

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

Wise Men. Not too smart though.

Posted on December 11, 2017 by hessd

I am going to write today about the geopolitical savvy of the Wise Men.[1] They were academics who studied the stars and when they saw one that portended a new king of the Jews, they knew immediately where to go. … Continue reading →

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My first victory lap

Posted on December 10, 2017 by hessd

The first day of my first victory lap is December 17, 2017. That will be the day after I turn 80. I can hardly wait. What is a “victory lap?” It’s an old story, well known by my family. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Assembling a Convidium

Posted on December 9, 2017 by hessd

Nope. Not a word (yet) so far as I know. I hope to have the better known “colloquium” after all the members of the convidium see the movie clips. So, for instance, there are two reflections on forgiveness that I … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Living My Life, Theology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why the CHEB is so important

Posted on December 6, 2017 by hessd

CHEB is a flimsy response to an important issue. CHEB is a discipline I am going to try to follow as a way of referring to President Trump. [1] It stands for Current Head of the Executive Branch. I called … Continue reading →

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

Righteousness v. Mercy in Matthew’s account

Posted on December 1, 2017 by hessd

Joseph was a righteous man. Matthew 1:18 That’s what it says right there. “Her husband (it says in the previous line) being righteous AND not willing to expose her publicly.” OK, let’s start off with the apologies. First to Professor … Continue reading →

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Cherished Memories-1

Posted on November 30, 2017 by hessd

This is what you think it is, but it might not be where you thought it might be. It is the International Airport of Vienna, the Flughafen Wien-Schwechat. When I saw it, I laughed out loud. I was the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Personal authenticity and robots

Posted on November 29, 2017 by hessd

I had never heard of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics (FRR) until I read “Bad Day for Human Dignity” in This Week magazine, [1] but there is such a foundation and I’d like to explore today what it might propose … Continue reading →

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