In this roundup, stories about historic bathrooms, relationships, war, and a very promising job opening in Antarctica.
The Arena
Is it okay to use Grammarly?
Grammarly is an AI tool. Therein lies the problem.
Further reflections on Liberty U and other Christian institutions
While Susan Wise Bauer’s experience at LU is much worse than average, it reflects real concerns in Christian higher education.
Better a slow horse than a show horse
The slow horses aren’t always what they seem.
How can we end the semiannual time changes?
As we struggle to get through the first workday of daylight saving time, the big question is: why are we doing this again?
On this International Women’s Day, celebrate by reading women
The intellectual world of those whose reading diet does not regularly include the work of women is greatly impoverished.
What’s next for Russia?
All is not well in Russia. The unknown future, however, should worry us even more.
Song of the Day: Rhiannon Giddens sings Paul Simon’s “American Tune”Â
Rhiannon Giddens’ adaptation of Paul Simon is art in its own right.
Kenneth Craycraft’s new book, Citizens Yet Strangers
“We have learned to speak American while forgetting to speak Catholic.”
Some like it cold
If there’s anything that unites all Americans, it is our love of cold beverages. We love our drinks cold. Ice cold.
The Blessing of Unicorns: Byzantine mini mosaics, busyness, the language of flowers, and more
Mysterious Byzantine mini mosaics, translating ancient epics, Mike Cosper’s new book, women of the Superbowl, valorizing busyness, pregnancy as disease (or not!), and the language of flowers.
Civil religion is different from Christian Nationalism
The frequent references to God in national life or even to a divine source of human rights are not necessarily the same thing as Christian nationalism.
Are smart phones ruining our culture?
Ted Gioia’s analysis of our technological culture and its addictive nature is simultaneously disturbing and convicting.
Mrs. Haley does not go to Washington?
Nikki Haley fights on, but is her campaign a lost cause?
Kansas City at the center of the American experience
This essay first ran a year ago, when the Kansas City Chiefs won the 2023 Super Bowl. In honor of the team’s second victory in a row earlier this month, we invite you to re-read it now. The Kansas City […]
A Blessing of Unicorns (02/23/2024)
This week’s unicorns include maggots on a plane, WaPo on squirrels, oldest lipstick, Flannery O’Connor, marriage penalties, toxic productivity, the future of the humanities, and the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The good failures of unplugging: seven months later
Tech resistance and unplugging isn’t about superhumans doing perfectly that at which ordinary people fail; it’s about ordinary people dusting themselves off repeatedly and trying again, because the goal of a more humane life is worth pursuing.
Some additional thoughts about Hillsdale
Further thoughts in response to feedback from Monday’s essay: additions, concessions, clarifications.
Navalny’s death and Russia’s school of fear
Navalny’s assassination is just another class in Russia’s state-sponsored school of fear.
Presidents Day headlines have a story to tell
Presidents Day headlines have a story to tell–by omissions as much as inclusions.