Category: Uncategorized
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On a 50th Birthday, and Few Milestones Sated, to Reflect or Worry?
When does a 53rd birthday connote a midlife crisis? A psychologically well and balanced man is confident and loves himself from and during early adulthood, his 20s, through middle adulthood, his 40s. Is it common to have to recover in your late adulthood from a childhood marked by psychological neglect and abuse? Is it a…
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Young Minnesota Students Avoid Trumpness by Performing History Research Projects
I helped to judge student performances at National History Day in Minnesota. I have volunteered as a judge since 2018. It’s my way to support students’ choices to engage in research and hopefully as thoughtful citizens of the world. Minnesota Junior high schoolers committed to research, understand and report about history for National History Day…
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When “Everybody” Has to Say Nothing about Something…
I want to write a cogent and intelligent 500-word essay every week. The difficulty in choosing a subject is remarkable. Nonetheless, I aspire to express my talent! There are weeks when, as eager as I am to observe and critique North American current events, I have few novel or special thoughts to contribute. I feel…
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Gene Hackman’s Best-Known Roles Might not Have Been His Best Work.
Not having seen Gene Hackman on a big screen in years, I’m fond of some of his roles. It is sad that Mr. Hackman, a deft and famous American actor, was found dead on Feb. 27. I recently watched part of “The Package,” from 1988. Part of the motivation was I remembered what he could…
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Where are Black American and Opera Together in Thoughts of Black History..?
Part of the raison d’être of Black History Month, beyond affirming or introducing typical historical icons, is showing Black American doing kinds of work, which surprise people. These might expand the perceptions of what brown and Black youngsters understand is possible. Brown and Black children might imagine themselves aspiring beyond common work lanes of sports…
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Feb 14th Holds Frederick Douglass Day and National Black Literacy Day Too
How many North Americans know about an easily forgotten Black man who, after fleeing slavery in the United States, became arguably the best known and most photographed person of the 1800s? Frederick Douglass, who maybe little known in the 2020s was a former slave who upon escape became a counterexample to the toxic propaganda about…
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After Jan focused on resolutions, Feb comes. (Sadly) It nudges us toward dating.
In February many adults focus on pursuing romance. Do they forget the virtues of self-care, which might come first? In the endemic phase of Covid (which “no one” talks about), mental wellness is a more open subject. The heat of Covid made it clear that many of us suffer common maladies like anxiety, depression or…
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Turn Your Head and Cough book event about “Man Overboard”
“Turn Your Head and Cough,” a conversation about men’s health with Craig Bowron, MD author of ”Man Overboard” with fellow author William Kreuger. This took place on Jan 22 at independent bookstore Magers & Quinn Booksellers. A few dozen interested people, mostly men, were seated on metal folding chairs facing the ends of bookshelves opposite…
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Not all U.S. Icons of Self Promotion are as Toxic and Demeaning as Trump.
On Monday January 20, which was a national holiday to commemorate Dr. Martin King, an implicit (at-best) bigot and felon, Don Trump, was sworn in as the 47th U.S. President. Voters who dislike that person and who believe that Trump will improve the economy (although it bankrupted four casinos from 1991 to 2009) re-elected it…
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The State of U.S. Public Memory, Democracy from Jan. 6, 2021 to Jan. 20, 2025
Between Jan 6, 2021, four years after attempted treason, and Jan 20, 2025 the second inauguration of Trump, the Republican Party eager revisionism, has revised our public memory. What will the consequences be to democracy and the status of truth within United States’ culture? What sticks with me is watching PBS Congressional Correspondent Lisa DesJardins…
Will Wright: Award-Winning Independent Journalism, Exec Oratory and More... 