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 Return of the Austin-Boston Axis

Posted on September 1, 2016 by hessd

It’s time to start thinking about the Hillary Clinton administration. The Republicans are. Here is an amazing paragraph from Thomas Friedman’s New York Times column this morning, August 31. Politico last week reported that while some G.O.P. officials may vote … Continue reading →

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

Civil Discourse is our “Commons”

Posted on August 29, 2016 by hessd

Did you ever have that terrific feeling when you pick up an article that makes brilliantly, the case you have been making poorly for years? I just had that feeling. How I missed “The Coddling of the American Mind” by … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Politics, Sustainability, Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Reading Strategies for the Next Generation

Posted on August 25, 2016 by hessd

Is there a right way to read a story? The first—the very first—discussion of a topic of general interest between the Hesses and the Jaenisches concerned that question. The Hesses are Bette and me. The Jaenisches are Bette’s daughter Melisa, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, sociability | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An inadequate joke

Posted on August 24, 2016 by hessd

I have a joke in mind. My mind produced it one night recently when I was sleeping. So far, no one has liked it, which makes it a really unfunny joke, and the experience has turned me to thinking about … Continue reading →

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

“Having” a Problem

Posted on August 23, 2016 by hessd

It is well-known that I am partial to redheads. Bette, for instance, is not confused about how much I enjoy being married to a redhead. [1] On the other hand, I formulated the instrumental significance of the notion of “problem” … Continue reading →

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Pacific Retirement Services

Posted on August 19, 2016 by hessd

For a lot of people, the word pacific is always capitalized (Pacific) and refers to a body of water just west of California. Nothing wrong with that as far as it goes, but it doesn’t really go very far. It … Continue reading →

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

“He can’t help retaliating”

Posted on August 10, 2016 by hessd

I heard that line on a Slate Political Gabfest. The question had to do with Donald Trump’s response to things he thinks of as insults. He hits back hard. [1] Hitting back hard” takes the place of “running a disciplined … Continue reading →

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The Muppet Musicians of Bremen

Posted on August 10, 2016 by hessd

In 1972, when The Muppet Musicians of Bremen was broadcast, my children were 12, 10, and 8, so I am pretty sure we watched it together. But somehow, the family got a CD of the show, and my kids were … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Go and do likewise

Posted on August 7, 2016 by hessd

I want to tell you right up front that the topic I want to get to is the teaching in Jesus’s story of the Good Samaritan. I mention that because it is going to take me a little while to … Continue reading →

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

Fitting in

Posted on August 2, 2016 by hessd

It isn’t always what you want to do, of course, but it is probably something you always want to be able to do. In Abraham Maslow’s well-known hierarchy of needs, “fitting in” and “not fitting in” are adjacent goals. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment