Holidays Should Be Reconsidered, Again
If holidays are so stressful, why do we keep doing them the same way? Let’s rethink what we’re doing.
Social Observation
Santa’s Nice List Comes With Caveats
Deciding who’s going on the naughty or nice list is one of the most difficult things Santa has to do.
What The Atlanta Murders Teach About Sex Work
The racist murder of eight people at Atlanta-area massage parlors demands that we reconsider our views on professional sex work.
This Isn’t Nam, There Are Rules
Not everyone plays fair. They step over the line. When cheating hurts the poor we have to speak out. This isn’t Nam, Dude. There are rules.
Intentional Acts of Generosity
Companies are adjusting their spending on Super Bowl commercials prompting us to consider our moral imperative to give to those suffering
Staying The Course For The Change We Still Need
The inauguration of a new administration does not mean we have time to relax. Long-needed change requires continued vigilance and passion.
Answering Our Call To Live
Disney/Pixar’s movie “Soul” raises the question of “What is my purpose in life?” We’ve asked that for centuries. The answer is simple.
Sunday Sermon: New Year, Old Problems
The actions and events of this week require a response if we are fulfilling our obligations to making this year a better one.
Advent: Believing In What’s Impossible
The message of the Fourth Sunday of Advent leads us to believe in the possible part of impossible.
Advent: Finding Joy In The Midst of Despair
How do we find joy in the midst of a pandemic that leaves many empty places at the table?
Redemption: Advent in a Time of Turmoil
May the Peace of Justice find us embracing repentance and redemption not only for ourselves but for those who we may not consider worthy.
Advent In A Pandemic
What in our future is worthy of anticipation? The following article was first published November 29 on Facebook Today is the first Sunday of Advent in the Christian tradition. Around the world, churches are lighting candles, hanging the green, and enduring bad versions of Magnificat. Secularly, it marks the beginning …
Who Are We?
Our actions during the pandemic betray what we claim as our national identity. We are not nice people.
What If We Don’t
What if we choose to not return to the old normal? We have an opportunity to better our world, but will we?
Summoning Reluctant Spirits of the Holidays
References to Charles Dickens abound as the spirits of past years are summoned in search of a hopeful spirit for the holidays.
Five Things No One Needs To Fear
There is a lot of fear in our lives and many are unnecessary. We look at five fears you no longer need.
Name Calling Aside, Saving The Planet Requires Being Radical
Rhetoric is irrelevant; climate change now threatens everything, eliminating the opportunity for a measured response. Note: I realize that since we’ve spent 20 weeks with the novel there haven’t been a large number of links in what we’ve written. Our links are not underlined or colored, they’re bold italic. When …
This Is Where We Are Now
Have we reached a state of permanent dystopia and injustice or are there some things we’re missing? We look at the numbers across the board.
Petty Annoyances That Keep Me Grumpy
I often am accused of being a grumpy old man. Here are five reasons for why I’m less than pleasant.
Modern Language: Talking The Talk That Others Talk
Language is constantly changing. What it means to speak English is different now than it was last year. The older we get the more challenging it is to keep up.
Wait, Let’s Talk About This
Before we blindly accept what we’re reading, perhaps we would do better to sit and discuss them a while.
Nothing I Say Is Inspiring
A lot of my morning time is spent reading. The first 60-90 minutes of every day are spent perusing countless articles while consuming infinite cups of coffee. Fortunately, I read quickly so I am able to consume a significant amount of material within that period of time. Since the majority …
Five Lists That No One Needs
There are lists everywhere this time of year but how many of those lists do any good? We found five types we can do without and five that actually help.
Things I Learned From Listening To Children’s Play
What children tell us during their playtime can be very enlightening, encouraging, and sometimes just a wee bit frightening.
Genetic Revolution That Improves Who We Are
Nobel Prize-winning research offers the possibility to dramatically alter human DNA in positive ways. There are opportunities ahead but there are also significant risks and all of it could lead to revolution.
Life Is Volatile & I Need A Wing Person
Our brains are constantly distracted as Life grows increasingly volatile. We can’t do this alone. We need a wing person.
Faith & The Superhero: Two Sides of a Gilded Coin
Faith compels us to be better people. So do superheroes. Neither gods or superheroes can be proven to exist, but our society clings desperately to both
You Are The Reason We Have 8 Cats
Cats make wonderful pets for people who have the personality to handle them. Typically, two cats are enough for most households. Any more than that and it can feel overwhelming. Four years ago, I agreed to get one kitten. One. So why do we now have eight cats? I am totally …
The Fairness Doctrine We Need Now
We cannot discuss the inequality in society until we address the unfairness ingrained by thousands of years of history. “That’s not fair!” We hear those words almost every day. If one has children, the sentence is likely screamed rather than merely stated. A sense of fairness is instilled in all …
Navigating Holiday Events When You’re Not A Social Person
Hopefully, we respect ourselves enough to know that we are dynamic people who can’t be described adequately in one sentence. —Darrah Brustein , [email protected] You’ve been in this situation before: Someone you don’t want to disappoint has invited you to a holiday party full of people you don’t know and aren’t totally convinced …
Time Is Up For America’s Malls
“I think now, we think of malls as these things that double as minimum security prisons or something because they’re so boring to visit and so walled in, and now they’re not the cool, new place to be.” -Jan Rogers Kniffen I remember the first mall I ever visited. Woodland …
When Real Life Mimics A Television Series
Frankie Bergstein: What brand would you smoke if your husband turned out to be gay? Clerk: Uh, Newports? Frankie Bergstein: For 20 years? Clerk: Lucky’s. If you’re one of those people who has never been exposed to the Netflix original series Grace and Frankie, you are living a deprived life. The …
Do Halloween Ads Actually Sell Anything?
Scare tactics from Mars to Burger King. Source: The Scariest, Freakiest and Funniest Halloween Ads of 2017 – Adweek Holiday ads, in general, are special beasts in the advertising world. Budgets are larger and there is more expected from them. Therefore, they tend to be more creative, more effort is …
I’m Only Leaving Home For The Fun Stuff
ne of the joys of living when we do is that modern conveniences, particularly the Internet, make it increasingly possible to not have to leave home when we don’t want to. This is important because part of abiding well means being able to spend long hours in meditation and contemplation …
Say It Loud, Say It Clear — Better Writing in the Age Of Abiding
Entertain, don’t be afraid of a bit of filth, but be cautious with your XXXs – the essential guide to getting your message across while avoiding the pitfalls of communication Source: Don’t press send … The new rules for good writing in the 21st century Writing is an essential part …
Responding to the Whiner In Chief
Among all the character flaws one might attribute to the 45th president of the United States, one of the most annoying is that he is a chronic whiner. Almost every time he takes to Twitter it is for the express purpose of whining and complaining about one thing or the …
Pornhub Users Are Exchanging Food Recipes And Cooking Tips On The Adult Website
The website is becoming quite educational. Source: Pornhub Users Are Exchanging Food Recipes And Cooking Tips On The Adult Website – DesignTAXI.com I can hear the excuse flying now. Spouse discovers Pornhub listed in the browser history and confronts their significant other, “You’ve been watching porn, haven’t you?” Defensively, the …
Distraction Destroys Even The Most Noble Protests
People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up as far as, you know, giving freedom and justice and liberty to everybody. -Colin Kaepernick Much of the United States has seen one protest right after another for more than a year now. There …