Category Archives: America WTF?

Serving Up Democracy

It’s the questions, Stupid! Back in Bill Clinton’s day it was “It’s the economy, Stupid! That’s not the case anymore. We’ve gotten ourselves mucked up with too much political hypocrisy, lies, and general incompetence. (Look at Herschel Walker, an incompetent … Continue reading

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November 22, 1984

I was one of the lucky ones. I lived in modern times. It wasn’t easy opting for an abortion on Nov. 22, 1984. That day wasn’t a happy one. It emphasized another reason to dislike that November day, the first … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Family Matters | Tagged , | 1 Comment

People Who Need People

The Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron advises us to cultivate curiosity, to promote loving kindness in ourselves so that we extend it to others. Even to strangers, which is why I smile or say hello to the most disheveled people walking … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, Managing Minneapolis, Politics, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kansas, Oh Kansas!

We’re steeped in Doublespeak. In the late 1970s I gave a talk at the Southwest Harbor Library on George Orwell’s “1984,” a prescient masterpiece that I’ve taught to high school students. Did I ever imagine that historical lies would become … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, Politics, Read, Read, Read | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Missing Ashley

Forget about Amazon.com! All book lovers, please purchase your books from bookshop.org! Not only will you be helping independent bookstores like my former Oz Books, but I’ll be suggesting book lists for anyone who’s interested. My first list is, of … Continue reading

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Techno-Bullshit No More

I don’t know about you but free online deals entice me. Now I realize they can only come to no good. Whether it’s Hulu or Door Dash, The New York Times, or search engine optimizers, I’m done. Remember the old … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, Managing Minneapolis | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A little bit of power

I must pass my Minnesota Class D knowledge test, which wasn’t easy. Previously, I failed it three times Maybe that was because I hadn’t fully studied the driver’s handbook. Ya think? Perhaps recalcitrant me thought, I’m not going to do … Continue reading

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Why does it take so long?

A balanced life is knowing that most of it is over, without morose or dwelling in the useless land of regrets. “A Balanced Life” is the name of a Pilates website I follow. Young Robin Long, the mother of four … Continue reading

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Getting ready to vote in Minneapolis…

When I was a teenager I read Photoplay magazine religiously. I didn’t want to be a celebrity but I was interested in how the rich and famous lived their lives. I cared more about being smart than popular or pretty. I … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, Managing Minneapolis, Out West, Politics | 2 Comments

Noom and Nor

Recent events in Afghanistan got me thinking about two of my favorite former students. Noom, an Iraqi American, wore an hijab every day. Nor was Palestinian American and did not. Both dressed in typical teen tight jeans. Noom and Nor … Continue reading

Posted in America WTF?, Bopping Around Tucson, Fight wimpiness, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments