Category Archives: Uncategorized

Opprobrium Entrepreneurs

Posted on September 9, 2021 by hessd

September 9, 2021 People who like to write about or think about or argue about American politics (overlapping, but not identical categories) owe a debt of thanks to Cass R. Sunstein for the term, “opprobrium entrepreneur.” Opprobrium is the imputation … Continue reading →

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Evangelize your friends. Or else.

Posted on August 30, 2021 by hessd

Today, I opened a Facebook post from a long ago friend. Still a “friend” in the Facebook sense of the term. The Bible…says Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father … Continue reading →

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The Use of Conflicts in the Gospel of Mark

Posted on August 10, 2021 by hessd

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus responds unevenly to the opportunities he has to engage in conflicts. There is an easy way to demonstrate this, although I am sure it would not persuade anyone who wasn’t willing to be persuaded. You simply … Continue reading →

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The Distrust Party

Posted on July 20, 2021 by hessd

In situations of persistent conflict, it is really hard to continue to wish good things for your self and your group without also sliding off to wishing bad things for “them.” That is one of the very large problems the … Continue reading →

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My colleague, the Honorable Scumbag from North Dakota

Posted on July 15, 2021 by hessd

It is a commonplace that the United States is now in a hyperpartisan era. People who think that is not true or who think it is not important often pass it off by saying that nothing is more naturally human … Continue reading →

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Living on Autopilot

Posted on July 15, 2021 by hessd

Human personalities are incredibly complex. I know that because I have one, myself. And for some purposes, I think we should lean into and fully appreciate the complexity. But there are other purposes—I am going to explore one today—for which … Continue reading →

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The Crusades (again) in the 2020s

Posted on July 10, 2021 by hessd

I had a friend once who descended from time to time into an irrational rage and he hated to go alone. I am going to describe the process in the form it finally became familiar to me. This will make … Continue reading →

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How well do you want it fixed?

Posted on June 28, 2021 by hessd

In the early 1960s, I dislocated my left shoulder. After many subsequent dislocations, I decided to see if I could get it fixed. I went to team of doctors who were said to have a lot of experience with athletes. … Continue reading →

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I can’t take him anywhere

Posted on June 15, 2021 by hessd

It’s a great line, but it has to be delivered just right. It is accompanied by a rolling of the eyes or a slow shaking of the head. It does some very good things when it is done right and … Continue reading →

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Oregon, Their Oregon

Posted on June 10, 2021 by hessd

Oregon has just revised our state song. It was filed with the Oregon Secretary of State yesterday. It doesn’t get any more official that that. The principal virtue of the new version is that it gets rid of some really … Continue reading →

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