Better late than never, I suppose. 

Here's a tribute to moms and Mother's Day I wrote for Intellectual Takeout.

​https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/all-good-mothers-have-one-trait-common

"Call me Ishmael."

So Herman Melville begins the classic Moby Dick.

Were I to begin such a saga, my opening line would be "Call me Bumfuzzled."

The post below mentions several of my puzzlements, including the rush by some Americans to embrace socialism.  I mean, I understand a few of the motivations: the desire for greater security (which doesn't happen), the desire to make us all more equal (which doesn't happen), the desire to live out John Lennon's song "Imagine" (Love the tune, but not the words).

At any rate, copy and past if you wish.

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/dumbfounded-american-socialism
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Another article from intellectual Takeout. This one is about followers. Cut and past the link below, and enjoy! https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/leaders-and-followers-forgotten-part-equation

 Over the next few weeks, I hope to write two or three articles about heroism. Several events and readings have prompted my interest in the topic: a doctor's account of his escape many years ago from the Killing Fields of Cambodia, a mother who put her the welfare of her unborn baby ahead of her own survival, the death of a young man from Waynesville, NC, and my contemplation of those whom I have met and considered heroic in my life. 

You'll find the first article below the break. Please copy and paste. 
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We live in strange times.

We speak of diversity, but some of us then decry anyone who steps out of the lockstep march what they consider diversity. Some of our universities, which should be playgrounds of ideas, no longer allow those they regard as conservatives to speak on campuses. Some politicians want a rainbow coalition of supporters as long as the whites stand at the back of the crowd and keep quiet. And some dislike anyone who happens to mention the differences between men and women.

The article below the page break celebrates those differences. 

Hello all,

Fifteen years ago, on May 17, my wife Kris died of a brain aneurysm. Her death was sudden, unforeseen, and devastating to me, to my children, and to all who knew and loved her. If you have ever gone through so unexpected and monstrous a tragedy, then you understand the shock, the blur of events and memory, and the sadness that follow in the wake of such a loss.
           
Fortunately, my battered family had help. We were part of a large homeschooling community. These people, and my relatives, rallied round us, providing meals for months, offers of transportation and babysitting, and money for a college fund my mother-in-law encouraged us to set up. These supports eased our sadness and our way into the future.
           
​I often think of those good people, even after so many years. I am thinking of them particularly right now. 

Please find below a book review from the Smoky Mountain News. More reviews later.


https://smokymountainnews.com/aae/item/26788-something-satisfying-in-a-good-mystery

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Ten great guides--and I can think of many, many more--for young men venturing out into the world. These also make great graduation gifts! Click and paste.

​https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/ten-guides-turning-boys-men

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Below is a link to Intellectual Takeout and my article on slavery. 

When we think of slavery, we may think of the slaves of the Roman Empire or of the United States before passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. We may also think of those countries that have yet to banish slavery or that tolerate it.

But one might make the case that slavery is a much more widespread than we might anticipate.

​Read the article and see what you think.

Hello all,

I hope this April morning--it's chilly and gray here in Virginia--finds you all well. 

For any Mid-Western readers, especially my friends at Intellectual Takeout, prayers and a shout-out for you as you face Winter Storm Wesley. 

For my brother Chris, happy birthday! Keep bring the world your tunes, good brother.

Below you will find some comments on the importance of writing  and teaching composition, including a review of a book that offers many good tips on composition. 

https://smokymountainnews.com/aae/item/26685-the-art-of-writing-can-certainly-be-learned

Best wishes to you all, Jeff