

Carolyn Wedin, Beloved Friend and Mentor, 1940-2021
I wrote this for the funeral of my aunt Carolyn, two days ago. I share it now with a few hyperlinks plus light edits to clarify things...
Aug 9, 20214 min read
Why Can a Cop Shoot Someone in the Back Seven Times If I Could Be Fired Just for Losing My Temper?
I went to my local farmer’s market here in the north woods of Wisconsin, feeling happy for the beautiful day and the chance to be support...
Sep 1, 20202 min read


Roll Call for Those Absent
Click and think of all the extra names to add since this came out: (And of course please support the fantastic work of Ambrose Akinmusere.)
Jun 5, 20201 min read


I Watched Kanye’s Christmas Pageant So You Don’t Have To...
…Or… if you want to watch, or already did—if you are into that sort of thing—let’s compare notes. The production was fascinating in...
Dec 31, 20197 min read


Remembering: Terrible Jobs, Race, and Generational Changes
My aunt Carolyn retired from a college teaching career and moved into our family’s historic farmhouse in northern Wisconsin. When the St....
Aug 31, 20194 min read


Remembering Trauma with Pentecostal Trumpers, Left-Wing Rappers, and Others
What do we remember? How do we remember? What good does it do? I started this post while the media's weekly dose of infotainment was...
Aug 27, 20194 min read


Empathy Walls: Understanding Oppressed People Who Love Trump
There isn’t much point in sending readers of this little blog to Reading Religion, the American Academy of Religion’s review portal—I...
Jun 24, 201910 min read


Ashamed...in a Land Where Justice is a Game
Trump's friend and co-gangster Paul Manafort has received a 47 month sentence for multiple crimes. That's a slap on the wrist from a...
Mar 10, 20193 min read


Dog Park Sex and Why “Refereed Vs. Non-Refereed” Doesn’t Measure Quality
My previous post explained why “refereed” publications—those vetted by expert academic gatekeepers—do not reliably signal scholarly...
Oct 9, 20189 min read


Learning from the “True North Strong and Free”
Starting in January, and continuing through Spring 2018, I will be at the University of Alberta in Edmonton as a Fulbright Research Chair...
Oct 23, 20174 min read


Why are Religious Leftists Building Luxury Condominiums Outside My Window? How Can I Defend Them?
NOTE: I've tagged this for "oldies but goodies," partly because it's a follow-up to my piece on Chris Hedges referenced below, and...
Jul 27, 20174 min read