I do understand the “lesser of two evils” argument that I reject. I also feel the force of it. And I remember that I live in Idaho, which is as likely to go for Hillary as for the sun to turn green next St. Patrick’s Day. So I know that compared to my brethren in …
Which Would Be Unseemly
Information About “The River Thief”
So the movie The River Thief releases today, and I want first to give you information about the movie, and how you can arrange to watch it. I will begin with that general info and a behind-the-scenes discussion about how the movie came to be. Then after that I will make a few comments about …
Not Exactly the Return of Seabiscuit
The only reason why either of the presidential candidates is still in the game is that they each had the very good fortune to draw a terrible candidate as an opponent. And the way the system works, when one of them wins (as it seems one of them must), the world of politicos will not …
The Religious Right Is Dead. Long Live the Religious Right.
In the ongoing aftermath of the ever-generous fiasco that we call the Trump campaign, Russell Moore wrote that if Donald Trump has accomplished anything of value, it is that he has snuffed out the religious right. The first half of his piece says a lot of things that are pertinent, trenchant, on the mark, and …
A Fight in the Leper Colony
Introduction: It is easy to treat the spectacle that is presidential politics in 2016 as though we were dismayed spectators, but we are not spectators at all. We are all participants. We are not watching a movie that contains a food fight in a junior high cafeteria; we are in the cafeteria. And if it …
Tacky Trump Tape
I will have more to say about this, probably Monday, but I did want to take a moment to tell everyone something important. With the release of this TackyTrumpTape, we all ought to sit down, compose ourselves, and on the count of three, put on our surprised face. What about this did anyone find surprising? …
Too Self-Aware
“J.R.R. Tolkien had a problem, along with C.S. Lewis, and as we should also, with sentences that begin like this” (Writers to Read, p. 75).
Ouch
His books well trimm’d and in the gayest style, Like regimental coxcombs rank and file, Adorn his intellects as well as shelves And teach him notions splendid as themselves. William Cowper
Love Up Stream and Down
“Honoring our parents (and ancestors) does not need to reduce to mere tribalism. Loving and nourishing our distant children is not superstition” (Writers to Read, p. 71).