history
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On Martin Luther King Jr Day
It matters why we do things. This is not because good deeds are less helpful when motivated by selfishness, or because bad deeds hurt less when carried out with the best of intentions. On an individual basis, a deed is only a thing done, for better or worse. Our motivations matter because they shape the… Continue reading
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Superman is a Human Being
I want to talk about my favorite moment from the new Superman movie. Yes, I saw the new Superman movie; perhaps you’re thinking, “of course you saw the new Superman movie, this is exactly the sort of movie you go to see.” There’s something to that, as I am a huge nerd. I was always… Continue reading
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Juneteenth
The other day, I was picking my wife up from work at the library. I arrived on the periphery of her conversation with a coworker, who was exasperated by a recent interaction with a patron. This patron was a person I have never knowingly laid eyes upon, but I understand her to be a white… Continue reading
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How to Listen to The Beatles: Part 1 of 2
You may be thinking just now, “I know how to listen to the Beatles, David: you type ‘the beatles’ into the search bar of the appropriate app and click on the nicest looking playlist that comes up.” Sure, wise guy. Go ahead and do that. You will almost certainly have a very nice time. But… Continue reading
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Jimmy Carter
This new year will be the first in a full century without a living Jimmy Carter in it. Of course, the first several years of his existence were not especially consequential to world history. He had to first be brought up, educated, and established into life before his actions could begin to matter more than… Continue reading
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The Small Season
Consider the following Christmas lines (emphasis added): When what to my wondering eyes did appear,But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick,I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. I cannot be the only person who was ever struck by these lines in the… Continue reading
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Now that that has happened
There isn’t a whole lot more that I have to say about what happened on November 5th this year, except that I meant every word I said two weeks ago, and that while I remain loath to predict anything, I will predict that it won’t be a month after Inauguration Day before Donald Trump gives… Continue reading
Ink Tea Stone Leaf 