Category Archives: Uncategorized

Foul-mouthed and Free

Posted on April 28, 2015 by hessd

I heard a story yesterday that was unlike any I remember having heard before. Today, I’m going to tell it to you, cutting back a little on the narrative and expanding a little on the theoretical implications. It is…sigh…what I … Continue reading →

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Draft Day

Posted on March 31, 2015 by hessd

I’d like to tell you about the movie Draft Day.  I liked it a lot.  I don’t think anyone else did.  The critics didn’t, for sure.  Rotten Tomatoes said, “It’s a … dull-witted movie.”  Roger Ebert’s site says, “Both too … Continue reading →

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Sexism still sells cars

Posted on March 29, 2015 by hessd

I’d like to spend some of your valuable time today thinking about a topic nearly everyone would call “sexism.” I’m not quite sure what to call it, myself, but when you look at this Buick ad, you will know exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Society, Uncategorized, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2014 in review

Posted on December 30, 2014 by hessd

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,800 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway … Continue reading →

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President Obama Doesn’t Get It

Posted on November 8, 2014 by hessd

This essay is going to wander into some disreputable places, so let me start with the easy stuff.  First, I’ve been blogging for several years now and I have learned that “President Obama Doesn’t Get It” is a better headline … Continue reading →

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Is Forgiveness a Good Idea?

Posted on October 21, 2014 by hessd

I want to begin with as simple a phrasing as I can.  Things are going to get so messy that I want to have something to look back at, as I would look back at my own innocent youth if … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Uncategorized, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Eating Right”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by hessd

There are lots of other ways to say that.  One of the common ones, “eating healthy,” I reject on grammatical grounds.  It means “eating healthfully,” but no one says that anymore and saying it just changes the subject from “food” … Continue reading →

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Racism and Sin

Posted on March 28, 2014 by hessd

Am I a racist?  No.  I’m not. There.  That takes care of the substance of the matter.  I have blasphemed in public and I will be chastened by a lot of people whose social and political views are very like … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Politics, Theology, Uncategorized, Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Too Pretty to Work Here

Posted on July 16, 2013 by hessd

It is hard to write seriously about the Iowa dental assistant who was fired.  I am sure it is a serious matter for Melissa Nelson, the dental assistant.  It is probably about to become serious for James and Jeanne Knight … Continue reading →

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A Modest Proposal about Paternalism

Posted on July 12, 2013 by hessd

Today is a rescue operation.  I am going to try to rescue the term “paternalism.”  Very likely, I won’t succeed, but I have learned a phrase from my wife that I now use a good deal: “How bad could it … Continue reading →

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