Category Archives: Uncategorized

Inclusio

Posted on June 30, 2017 by hessd

I have, in mind for today a tactic to help me watch movies. I ran into it in biblical studies, where it is called “inclusio.” [1] I’m going to spend a little time on what this technique is, but let’s … Continue reading →

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The Risk-averse servant

Posted on May 18, 2017 by hessd

This story, recorded by both Matthew and Luke, has been given a lot of different interpretations. I’ve been working/playing with it recently and I have three observations I would like to make. Before I get into the observation-making business, let … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Paying Attention, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

North Carolina. First and Last in Flight

Posted on April 11, 2017 by hessd

I was an early fan of the saying, “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.” When I was young, my mother thought that I mostly wasted mine and I wouldn’t want to argue that she was wrong. On the … Continue reading →

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I saw it with my own eyes

Posted on April 5, 2017 by hessd

April 4, 2017 I didn’t hit any serious theory about how we see things until I hit grad school. Then we paid a great deal of attention to Gestaltists—illustrations, explanations, and most fun of all, experiments. I liked it all, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Last Word

Posted on March 29, 2017 by hessd

I am married to a librarian and every now and then she dips into whatever bag of tricks librarians have and produces just the right observation. That happened last weekend and I want to tell you about it. Telling you … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Movies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Resilience and its precursors

Posted on March 6, 2017 by hessd

So far as I have heard, everyone likes “resilience.” Especially in March. Only the good basketball teams wind up in their conference finals, and half of those good teams lose that game. And then they go on to play in … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Living My Life, Love and Marriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Groundhog

Posted on February 3, 2017 by hessd

So here is what Punxsatawney Phil actually said today. [1] “It’s mighty cold weather, you’ve been braving. Is it more winter or is it spring that you’re craving? Since you’ve been up all night and starting to tottle, I, Punxsutawney … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Become the Issue

Posted on January 9, 2017 by hessd

This is an essay directed at my fellow liberals. We can, in the coming months, shift the attention of deeply conflicted Trump voters, from President Trump’s behavior to ours. We can turn them into Trump supporters (not just protest voters) … Continue reading →

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Hillary and “the women’s vote” in Pennsylvania

Posted on January 5, 2017 by hessd

Emily Bazelon, who is as consistently feminist as any writer I know, wrote a piece for the New York Times that must have discouraged her deeply. It was published on November 15 and you can see it all here.  She … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Mug Shots

Posted on December 26, 2016 by hessd

You may not have noticed that there is a conflict of major proportions going on in this country. Very nearly anything can be turned into a weapon. If you are young, you will be surprised. If you are not young, … Continue reading →

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