Category Archives: Uncategorized

The World of Mr. Hugo

Posted on February 17, 2025 by hessd

I have been attracted today by a character created by Simon Van Booy in his The Illusion of Separateness.  We never learn the character’s name.  As a German soldier, then a former German soldier he is referred to as A.  … Continue reading →

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Just lucky, I guess

Posted on January 8, 2025 by hessd

I’ve been noticing the way some very accomplished people attribute their accomplishments to luck and I’ve gotten to wondering whether that is a good idea. At the personal level, I suppose it doesn’t do very much harm.  It isn’t really … Continue reading →

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The Experience of Decline

Posted on December 24, 2024 by hessd

I remember using the argument that people should not be worried about me—and that I should not be worried either—because I was “on track.”  My wife had died of cancer and I was done with all the busywork associated with … Continue reading →

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A Christmas Visitor

Posted on December 22, 2024 by hessd

I like watching movies over and over.  Not all movies, of course, but they don’t really have to be good movies.  In my first approach, I think of myself as an audience member and I consult myself about whether I … Continue reading →

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The “right way” to watch a story

Posted on December 14, 2024 by hessd

At the risk of sharing domestic details, I am going to use my own recent experience as the illustration for a serious strategic dilemma.  It turns out that what I like best about stories is finding out how they got … Continue reading →

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Christmas Blessings to a Sad Friend

Posted on December 14, 2024 by hessd

Today, a friend shared with me a poem that I liked very much.  I still like it.  In fact, I like it more now that I did when I first read it, because I have put it through the mill … Continue reading →

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The Fiery Darts of the Wicked

Posted on November 14, 2024 by hessd

This morning, I happened on a letter by an Episcopal bishop, Sean Rowe. It was phrased in language I am familiar with and which I always like on first contact. But the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable … Continue reading →

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Watching myself teach

Posted on November 1, 2024 by hessd

I won a free throw contest once. A long time ago. It was set up as a tournament; I won my bracket and a friend of mine won the other bracket. So we met in the finals. The setup was … Continue reading →

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Complicity

Posted on October 29, 2024 by hessd

Deciding what is the right thing to do is hard enough when it’s just individuals interacting with each other. We could call that “conspiracy” if we wanted to. Complicity is a whole different matter. I’m going to go at this … Continue reading →

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Efficiency and Equity. Choose one.

Posted on October 14, 2024 by hessd

I was reading innocently along. I’ve been interested in school funding since the 1980s when I worked for an education planning agency in Oregon. I know how complicated it is; I know there are no perfect answers. Even so, the … Continue reading →

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