Category Archives: Essays

“Meritless to the point of demagoguery” – The National Review

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson

Posted in Essays, Government | Comments Off on “Meritless to the point of demagoguery” – The National Review

Bittersweet from Charles Coghlan

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Skyline’s Ikebana teacher shares the thoughts of the cherry tree Double cherry blossoms flutter in the wind, one petal  after another.              Shiki As the years pass and we grow older, we realize that no moment repeats itself. They are … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Bittersweet from Charles Coghlan

Heather Cox Richardson update

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Heather Cox Richardson update

In the War Over Ukraine, Expect the Unexpected

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Jim deMaine

by Thomas Friedman in the NYT Every war brings surprises, but what is most striking about Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine — and indirectly against the whole democratic West — is how many of the bad surprises, so far, have … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Kindness, War | Comments Off on In the War Over Ukraine, Expect the Unexpected

Ohio boy’s touching story

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Sybil-Ann

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Ohio boy’s touching story

Update from Heather Cox Richardson

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Diana C.

Posted in Essays, Justice, Law, Race, War | Comments Off on Update from Heather Cox Richardson

Jack Palance Vs. Vladimir Putin

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Jim deMaine

by Sunny Bunch Thanks to Mary Jane F. On weeks like these, it’s hard not to feel … well, a little silly or impotent writing about movies and their business. So instead of doing that, I’m going to relay a … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Essays, History | Comments Off on Jack Palance Vs. Vladimir Putin

He Wanted to Make the Whole World His Patient

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Sadly we note the passing of a pioneering physician sociologist who has inspired so many. The foundation Paul Farmer left behind, Partners in Health, is a charity well worth supporting. His book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, was reviewed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Health, Obituaries | Comments Off on He Wanted to Make the Whole World His Patient

A COLLECTION OF APHORISMS

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on A COLLECTION OF APHORISMS

Portrait of a city – exploring doughnut economics

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Marilyn W and Diane S

Posted in Advocacy, Architecture, Business, environment, Essays, happiness, Poverty, Safety | Comments Off on Portrait of a city – exploring doughnut economics

Carl Sagan speaks of the small blue dot

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Paul T.

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Carl Sagan speaks of the small blue dot

TRUMP’S NEXT COUP HAS ALREADY BEGUN

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Jim deMaine

By Bruce Gellman in The Atlantic

Posted in Essays, Government | Comments Off on TRUMP’S NEXT COUP HAS ALREADY BEGUN

A professor invites you to have a cup of coffee

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

Posted in Essays | 1 Comment

Life lessons

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: My friend and colleague, Dr.Randy Curtis, has been diagnosed with ALS of the brainstem. His speech now sounds like he may be drunk. He will face swallowing and progressive respiratory problems–how ironic for a leading critical care and … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Life lessons

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 25, 2021 by Jim deMaine

It’s once again that time of year to repost this legendary Art Buchwald article, first published in the International Herald Tribune in 1952, and reprinted by the IHT on many Thanksgivings for many years, by the Washington Post in 2005 and by the New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Holidays | Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving!

Facebook knows you

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

Posted in Business, Essays, Government, technology | Comments Off on Facebook knows you

Good morning. Is it time to start moving back to normalcy?

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Jim deMaine

From the New York Times. Thanks to Mary Jane F. Ed note: I think in some sense we’re all beginning to adjust to whatever the new normal is. We’re not sure yet, we’re uneasy, but COVID will recede into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, environment, Essays, Government, happiness, Health | Comments Off on Good morning. Is it time to start moving back to normalcy?

Executioner was convinced he would be condemned to hell; others also suffer long-term effects

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Bob P. From the ABA Journal BY DEBRA CASSENS WEISS NOVEMBER 11, 2021, 2:44 PM CST  Corridor in an abandoned penitentiary. Image from Shutterstock. After Craig Baxley connected a plastic tube to vials of drugs to stop the heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, end of life, Essays | Comments Off on Executioner was convinced he would be condemned to hell; others also suffer long-term effects

Steinbeck’s view of Seattle in 1961

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Jim deMaine

In rereading “Travels with Charlie” recently, I came upon Steinbeck’s commentary about Seattle as he and his precocious dog traversed the country. Does his description of our city echo with your views some 60 years hence in 2021? Is he … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, Essays, History, literature | Comments Off on Steinbeck’s view of Seattle in 1961

Saying farewell to a friend and visionary, Professor Emeritus Thad Spratlen

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Put B. for forwarding these memories of a cherished friend at Skyline. Ana Mari Cauce Yesterday, we said goodbye to a friend. But we also celebrated his truly extraordinary life and legacy with a community of people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, History, Race | Comments Off on Saying farewell to a friend and visionary, Professor Emeritus Thad Spratlen

From the pilot of an SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest plane ever

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Sybil-Ann

Posted in Essays, Government, War | Comments Off on From the pilot of an SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest plane ever

Wise observations on life

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Definitely food for thought. Scroll down if interested.

Posted in Essays | Comments Off on Wise observations on life

“A VAST CRIMINAL RACKET”: SEBASTIAN JUNGER ON HOW THE U.S. CORRUPTED AFGHANISTAN

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Four successive American administrations utterly betrayed the public trust—and lost a righteous war. BY SEBASTIAN JUNGER in Vanity Fair The Taliban delegation to Jalalabad in the summer of 1996 was a dour bunch of old men who took their meals together … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Government, War | 1 Comment

English gets pun-ished

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Sybil-Ann. Scroll down, as you groan. These are good!!

Posted in Essays, Humor | Comments Off on English gets pun-ished

Individual rights and the common good

Posted on August 28, 2021 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: These two concepts (individual rights and the common good) don’t necessarily have to be in conflict. We have a long history of the common good of public health: clean water, food safety, construction regulations, federal response to disasters … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Government, Health | Comments Off on Individual rights and the common good