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Category Archives: Essays
Philosophy for growing old
Thanks to Al MacR. Make sure to scroll down–wonderful pictures to go with the thoughts!
Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, Photography
2 Comments
La Lectora
The last of her kind, Gricel regales Cuban cigar-rollers with readings and good humour Part of a Cuban tradition dating back to the 19th century, the lector de tabaqueria is tasked with reading to entertain the workers, or rollers, in cigar factories. … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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An inspiration for us all
Thanks to Donna D.
What is an American?
Ed note: As a nation we tend to be pretty hard on ourselves–perhaps our own worst enemy. Other nations may be hard on us also, but some individuals still marvel and look up to how we’ve managed to have such … Continue reading
U.S. mishandling of COVID echoes the 20th century eugenics movement
by Knute Berger in Crosscut Ed note: In addition to this captivating article, there seem to be a number of undercurrents allowing the pandemic to spread, a major one being the tension between saving older people vs. keeping businesses operating. … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Business, end of life, Essays, Health, History, Social justice
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Barack and Michelle: Scenes From a Marriage
by Tim Egan in the NYT He walks too slowly, a languorous Hawaiian ambler. She’s a get-to-the-point woman, in gait and gab. He’s a politician. She has no use for the type. He gets tangled up in fancy talk. She … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Essays, Government
1 Comment
Pope Francis: A Crisis Reveals What Is in Our Hearts
In the NYT: In this past year of change, my mind and heart have overflowed with people. People I think of and pray for, and sometimes cry with, people with names and faces, people who died without saying goodbye to … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Climate, environment, Essays, Government, Homeless, Politics, Social justice
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The Rotting of the Republican Mind – David Books in the NYT
Ed Note: Do you agree with David Brooks in this essay? I can’t help but think of the college educated guy I met in San Diego with his MAGA hat on. He said, “What’s not to like?! We got our … Continue reading
A Conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Sexually Speaking with Dr. Ruth, How Music Connects Us with Meklit Hadero
Thanks to Ann M! View the web version of this message THE GRADUATE SCHOOL // OFFICE OF PUBLIC LECTURES Hello from the Office of Public Lectures! We are so excited to share our exciting … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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The radical aristocrat who put kindness on a scientific footing
Ed note: This article is a reminder that life isn’t just about competition and survival. It’s also about compassion and support of one another. From Aeon by Lydia Syson: Five years had passed since Czar Alexander II promised the emancipation of … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Five Great Things Biden Has Already Done
by David Brooks in the NYT Many of our best presidents have been underestimated. Truman was seen as the tool of a corrupt political machine. Eisenhower was supposedly a bumbling middlebrow. Grant was thought a taciturn simpleton. Even F.D.R. was … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Government, happiness, Philosophy, Politics, Race, Safety, Social justice
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These states are ditching Columbus Day to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead
A statue of Christopher Columbus at a downtown Los Angeles park is surrounded by a chain-link fence on October 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The city council voted in August to replace Columbus Day, today, with Indigenous People’s Day, … Continue reading
Coping amid disaster: How we can mentally prepare for a pandemic winter
From KUOW by Kim Malcolm and John O’Brien This week marks six months since Washingtonians were directed to the stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The changes have affected all of us. Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical … Continue reading
The International Apostrophe Protection Society
From Aeon Punctuation is dead – or is it? If you’ve ever texted ‘im here’ or ‘its in the car’, you’re in good company. Most of us have, at some point since the dawn of texting, transgressed the boundaries of … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Five-minute coronavirus stress resets
Thanks to Linda W. for sending this along. By Jenny Taitz • Illustrations by Rozalina Burkova – in the NYT In this emotional equivalent to an ultramarathon, it’s key to have some stress-reducing strategies available that work quickly and efficiently to … Continue reading
The Benefits of Talking to Strangers
By Jane E. Brody in the New York Times. Thanks to Put B. for finding this. I’m a lifelong extrovert who readily establishes and relishes casual contacts with people I encounter during daily life: while walking my dog, shopping for groceries, … Continue reading
The Barnacle Theory of Life
By Mel Walsh (thanks Mary Jane F. for finding this) Barnacles….marine undesirables, clinging sea-shelled critters. They grab onto and weigh down everything from sea turtles to boats that have to be put into dry dock to scrape off the cluster … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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‘Stay away.’ ‘Biggest petri dish in the world.’ The view from Canada, of us, isn’t so nice.
By Danny Westneat Seattle Times columnist Remember how people would joke about moving to Canada when things would go terribly, politically? Like, say, after America had invaded the wrong country. People here, especially liberal Seattle people, would vow: “That’s it, I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Seven wonders of the world
Thanks to Mary Jane F.
Posted in Essays
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Do old lives matter?
There is a tension between opening up the economy and allowing the virus to spread. 90% of all deaths from COVID-19 are occuring in those over age 60. What is the value of a life? Are these older lives truly … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
2 Comments
Is the end of meat here?
From the NYT by Jonathan Safran Foer – Thanks to Diana C. for send this. Is any panic more primitive than the one prompted by the thought of empty grocery store shelves? Is any relief more primitive than the one … Continue reading
The least and the most
Thanks to Sybil-Ann
Posted in Essays, Uncategorized
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The Daffodil – a different look
Yes, I do take a few liberties here and there with the ancient myths and legends. I can only hope the flowers will forgive me! This one pretty much speaks for herself. DAFFODIL by Charles Coghlan Our Skyline Ikebana teacher … Continue reading