1. I've actually seen some commentators trying to spin Iran as a big win for Trump, which makes me write them off pretty much immediately. I think the best case scenario here is a 'War of 1812' situation: America launches an incredibly stupid war based on unrealistic expectations, realizes that their expectations were unrealistic when … Continue reading Saturday Sundry: More Iran Thoughts, History, and the Dynamics of Service
Current Events
Monday Mixer: Mostly Current Events
1. Extra late this time. I was meditating on what to post, as well as coming out of spring break and trying to prep for the end of the year. 2. For the record (and I'm a couple weeks late in saying this), I am completely done with the Trumpster. I favored him all through … Continue reading Monday Mixer: Mostly Current Events
Friday Flotsam: Miscellaneous Thoughts, Equality, and ‘One Piece’
1. Everyone knows that the best way to encourage dissent and rebellion in a country is for a foreign power to launch an unprovoked sneak attack against it. 2. If a statement is true, it cannot be racist. If it is false, the falsity is more important than racism. Therefore, the first question should never … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Miscellaneous Thoughts, Equality, and ‘One Piece’
Saturday Sundry: US Foreign Policy, ‘Rear Window’ and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
1. US Foreign policy since about 1898 has followed a pretty consistent pattern: Step 1: "The US has gone into X:" "Yay! USA! This is a righteous and noble crusade!"Step 2: "The US has left X:" "Yeah, that whole thing was a stupid idea; why did we do that?" Step 3: Repeat 2. To put … Continue reading Saturday Sundry: US Foreign Policy, ‘Rear Window’ and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Sunday Sundry: Politics and Some ‘Pride and Prejudice’
1. It has been that kind of week: the ones where you wonder if you will be telling young people some day "I remember when that happened." Things seem to be escalating, and though I pray I'm wrong, I suspect they'll get worse before they get better. 2. All states have factions. States tend to … Continue reading Sunday Sundry: Politics and Some ‘Pride and Prejudice’
Saturday Sundry: Kill a Mockingbird and Stop Killing Games
1. I somehow escaped reading To Kill a Mockingbird during my school career. But since the 'sequel' (which, as I understand it, is actually a rough draft that Harper Lee's estate found in her papers and published with minimal involvement from her, but that's another story) is on my reading list this year, so I … Continue reading Saturday Sundry: Kill a Mockingbird and Stop Killing Games
“When the King Enjoys His Own Again”
Apparently today there is a 'No Kings Day' protest going on across the country. Because if there's anything that characterizes the modern world in general and America in particular, it's an excess of irresponsible royal authority. Like most protests, it's a costly, dangerous, over-elaborate way for many people to declare as a body "I'm a … Continue reading “When the King Enjoys His Own Again”
Saturday Flotsam: Prayers for the Pope and Tycoons
1. I think I crushed one of my students' spirit a little bit when I told the class that Braveheart was mostly made up. 2. Prayers for the Holy Father, who sounds like he's on his way out. Whether immediately or in another year, all accounts are that he won't be here much longer. Now, … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Prayers for the Pope and Tycoons
Sunday Flotsam: More Teaching and Some Fire Thoughts
1. From today's sermon: St. Augustine said that, "Peace is the tranquility of Order." That's a line to build a frame of life on! And, as you can tell by the fact that this is going up two days late (again), I lack order in my life. Something I need to work on. 2. Back … Continue reading Sunday Flotsam: More Teaching and Some Fire Thoughts
Friday Flotsam: Moving Cross Country, History in the Making, and Dickens
1. Well, this was certainly a week. For those who are just joining us, last weekend I moved cross-country, from Michigan to Arizona to take up a teaching post. It was three days' driving, and a chance to see more of the country than I yet have. The route took us, among other things, right … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Moving Cross Country, History in the Making, and Dickens
Serpent's Den 