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.

Narrative Seduction

Posted on May 6, 2012 by hessd

If you think carefully about the experiences you have and how fully you can trust them, this might be a difficult essay for you.  I already know it is going to be difficult for me. Let’s start with some conventional … Continue reading →

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

The Hunger Games

Posted on May 1, 2012 by hessd

I finally saw The Hunger Games.  I had to wait until the initial furor passed so Bette and I could get adjacent seats.  I have read all three books of the series—of which I thought the first was by far … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Paying Attention, Political Psychology, Politics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Stand Your Ground

Posted on April 23, 2012 by hessd

Since George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, a lot of attention has been paid to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” laws.  People have written about the effect of abundantly available guns on public safety, about the effect of the American Legislative Exchange Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Beane Soup 3

Posted on April 19, 2012 by hessd

I’ve been looking at the movie, Moneyball, as a movie about changing the way you think.  I was first attracted to this notion by looking at the scouts, who were entirely unwilling to change the way they thought about baseball. … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Good Samaritan

Posted on April 13, 2012 by hessd

I come from a religious culture in which the value of the questions to be asked is assumed and the Bible is taken to be the source of the answer.  I haven’t lived in that culture for a long time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Theology, ways of knowing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Church and State

Posted on April 10, 2012 by hessd

In Salem, Oregon, where I got nearly all my political training, there is a Church Street and a State Street.  The First Methodist Church of Salem sits there quietly at the intersection of Church and State where, by all rights, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Words | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Just Ignore Them and Make the Shot

Posted on March 28, 2012 by hessd

I’m giving some serious thought to ending my career as an educator.  But being an educator, I don’t just decide to stop and then stop.  Oh, no.  I think about it; I write about it; I examine whether I really … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Getting Old, Political Psychology | 3 Comments

I Want a Second Opinion

Posted on March 20, 2012 by hessd

The story goes that a mentally unstable and unattractive woman was seeing a psychiatrist.  She had been seeing him for awhile and no diagnosis of her difficulties was forthcoming.  “Well,” the shrink said, when pressed, “You’re crazy.”  “I demand a … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Uncategorized, ways of knowing | 2 Comments

Two Happy Guys on Mt. Rushmore

Posted on March 12, 2012 by hessd

Here is a little squib from the movie, Prairie Home Companion.  Guy Noir (Kevin Kline) was engaging in an extended fantasy about how good the Angel of Death looked when she came to the theater.  We are free to laugh … Continue reading →

Posted in Saturday Evening Post | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Remembering to Leave in Time

Posted on March 11, 2012 by hessd

I want to raise the question here of how to decide when to go live in a Senior Center of some kind—I’m thinking of a nice generic name like Paleo Acres.  This could be a Paleo Acres; I guess I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, ways of knowing, Words | 9 Comments