Category Archives: Uncategorized

Politics, Government, and the Federal System

Posted on November 9, 2016 by hessd

So…President Trump?  I find it hard to type the words, but if I had had a blog in 1980, I would have found it hard to type “President Reagan.”  I don’t pretend to have begun, yet, to come to grips … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

“…and painful shoes”

Posted on November 7, 2016 by hessd

Where would a phrase like that come from? A shoe salesman? Possible, especially if there were a more comfortable and more expensive pair of shoes available. A podiatrist? You can see that, although in my experience, podiatrists are more likely … Continue reading →

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Trump calls for sabotage

Posted on November 7, 2016 by hessd

Every losing candidate for the presidency in recent years has conceded defeat in the election and wished his opponent well. I don’t think that is going to happen this time. This time, it looks like the Trump-led Republicans (that isn’t … Continue reading →

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Look like what you mean

Posted on October 13, 2016 by hessd

The great thing about fighting a war with intercontinental ballistic missiles is that you don’t have to know a lot about your enemies. You load up a barrel full of destruction and heave it off to “do bad things” to … Continue reading →

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

“One plucky leper”

Posted on September 18, 2016 by hessd

I have been a fan of Gary Trudeau’s work for a long time.  He does a lot of current political things.  I’m pretty sure, for instance, that there will be a caricature of Donald Trump in today’s cartoon.  But a … Continue reading →

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“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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“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

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

The D and R Conventions

Posted on July 30, 2016 by hessd

They are over now. At least for me. For the last two nights, I have watched a bunch of very capable Democrats giving really terrific speeches. If it were just for the pleasure of living in the world their words … Continue reading →

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