Author: Josh
-
2016 Election Charts
Here I present my most shareable charts of 2016 voter turnout for dissemination on social media outlets. Please download and share. The purpose is to show the unused political power and its potential impact on the 2020 election and beyond. Voter turnout has been in decline for decades and it is particularly low for people under…
-
The Cloak of Solace
As fall arrives, and the weather again settles into my personal Goldilocks zone for outdoor activities, I am reminded of the spring just a few months ago. I escaped to the woods several times a week throughout March and April. This is among the best of times to visit the wooded hills and valleys of…
-
The Hook of Plenty
This is a collection of writings from a few sessions that just kind of sat here gathering cobwebs, and Valentine’s Day seemed like an appropriate time to scrape it together and shovel it out into the world. It’s been about a year now since I have felt a strong connection with someone, and that year…
-
A Statesman or a Traitsman?
Senator Portman: I had never voted for a Republican before 2016, but with the escalating partisanship in Washington and in all facets of political conversation in the public sphere, it seems increasingly important to support someone who has a steady approach to governance and who can work across the aisle to find common ground for…
-
A Berning Desire
When it first became apparent that Bernie Sanders would not win the Democratic nomination for President, I was sad. He seemed like the only answer to a political system that has over time put more and more power and influence in the hands of moneyed interests who are motivated by greed and privilege, not the greater good.…
-
The Tomato Manifesto
Imagine yourself at a nice little cocktail party, enjoying your favorite adult beverage and perusing a modest yet enticing buffet of appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, tapas, snacks, or whatever it is that you personally like to call them. A plate of crudites has been presented, and cute little cherry tomatoes are among the offerings. You…
-
The Joys of Agnosticism
There used to be a merry-go-round in the park where I would play as a child. About eight feet in diameter, its smooth metal deck sat centered on a very well-worn and well-lubricated hub, so that there was almost no limit to the speed with which it could be spun. Grab bars stood sentry at…
-
We’re number… three?
Regular season play is over and we’re moving into the NFL playoffs. This is always a stressful time for us Bengal fans, who have watched our team reach the playoffs for the last four years consecutively, only to be eliminated immediately each and every time. Under Marvin Lewis, our playoff record is 0-6. That’s shameful,…
-
Tempered Glass
A year ago I resolved to pursue personal truth in the haze of what distracts us from it: our expectations, the expectations of others, and the limitations we impose upon ourselves. I had suffered from a kind of fear that disguises itself as discipline, loyalty, or sensibility, and I had just begun, through personal upheaval,…
-
Pray for Paris, or Don’t
Bonjour, America: in less than 24 hours, the rhetoric about Paris has become divisive. I can’t say I’m surprised. When I went to bed seeing #prayforparis becoming so popular, I felt uneasy about the implications, but I also realized that I was overthinking it. This morning, while some encourage us to pray for Paris, others…