Category Archives: Essays

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

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

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

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

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Steinbeck’s view of Seattle in 1961

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

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

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

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

Thanks to Sybil-Ann

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Wise observations on life

Definitely food for thought. Scroll down if interested.

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

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

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English gets pun-ished

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

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Individual rights and the common good

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

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Good news – a pleasant change of pace

Thanks to Sybil-Ann! Make sure to scroll down!

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Lightening in a jar

Thanks to Donna D! Have you ever thought what life would be like if you were born someone else?

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Wonders of the world

Thanks to Donna D.

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The House Selective Committee – view of Heather Cox Richardson about the January 6th investigation

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View from Heather Cox Richardson

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Do these resonate?

Thanks to Al MacR “I asked a friend who has crossed 70 and is heading towards 80 what sort of changes she is feeling in herself?She sent me the following: 1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my … Continue reading

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A Father’s Day Quest: Unraveling the Mystery of Your Dad

By Elizabeth Bernstein in the WSJ How well do you know your dad? Our fathers can be an enigma. They typically don’t talk as much as our mothers. They may not share their feelings readily. Many fathers, especially in an older generation, channel … Continue reading

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We Ran the Treasury Department. This Is How to Fix Tax Evasion.

By Timothy F. Geithner, Jacob J. Lew, Henry M. Paulson Jr., Robert E. Rubin and Lawrence H. Summers in the NYT The authors are former U.S. Treasury secretaries. Mr. Geithner and Mr. Lew served under President Barack Obama, Mr. Paulson under President George W. Bush, and … Continue reading

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Attacks on democracy continue

from Heather Cox Richardson

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How much can science really tell us about the future of climate change?

There are a few basic facts about climate change that we can be near-certain about: the global temperature is rising, this change is being driven by humans, and it represents a serious threat to a great many living things on … Continue reading

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One word explained

Thanks to Sybil-Ann Determination   Hope Contemplation Love Excitement Security Adventure Contentment Curiosity Heroism Aspirations Confusion Honor Accomplishment Perseverance Companionship Beauty Caring Relating Fruitful Awe Loneliness Tradition Tenacity May your troubles be less… May your blessings be more… May nothing … Continue reading

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The Great Unmasking

by David Brooks in the NYT For millions of Americans, the next six months are going to be great. The power Covid had over our lives is shrinking, and the power we have over our own lives is growing. The … Continue reading

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UP – that amazing flexible word

Thanks to Paul T. This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv.], [prep.], [adj.], [n] or [v].  It’s easy to understand … Continue reading

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50 life altering rules from the Stoics

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While Seattle City Council dithers, thank God for police

By John Wilcox Special to The Times On May 1, while walking along Olive Way in downtown Seattle at about 3 p.m., I heard the now common sounds of anarchists and their followers chanting, beating pans and making noise. This crowd … Continue reading

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Irrational Covid Fears

Ed note: Have you “herd” this? Perhaps in our restricted community of fully vaccinated people, it’s time to start lightening up a bit. A great place to start would be to remove the now unneeded barriers on our dining room … Continue reading

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