Personal expressions of the world around us through text, sight and sound.


Filter Article list:
Article Scope:  

The Author, Category and Topic selectors will reflect the Article Scope setting.

Date range:    
Current: articles posted within the last 30 Days
Recent: articles posted within the last 3 Months
Sort Order:    

Hints on searching Articles

Some articles may be restricted—viewable only to logged-in users with the appropriate Security Level.

You can narrow your search using one or all of six criteria:

  1. Article Scope:
    • This Collection Only (default) limits search results to this article "home page."
    • All includes all articles (including blog entries) on the site.
  2. Date range:
    • Current shows articles posted within the past 30 Days
    • Recent shows articles posted within the past 3 Months
    • All includes all articles within the Collection Scope.
    • NOTE: Based on the number of articles found and other filter settings, the Date Scope may be adjusted automatically. However, in most cases you can still use the form to choose a specific range.
  3. Author--regular contributors are listed by name; "special" is used for ocassional or one-time authors. (They are idenitified by name in the article list using a "byline" field in the database).
  4. Category—each article is assigned to one category ( a master category list is used for Articles, Blog Entries, Resources, and similar features on the site).
  5. Topic—each article can be assigned to multiple topics (also uses a master list). You can narrow the search by one topic at a time.
    Even though we try to keep the number of topics limited and as general as possible, the list of topics is long and constantly growing simply because of the wide scope of content covered by aritcles on the site. A good alternative to using the drop-down list is to click on a topic from the Summary View of the Article List, or the category and topic summary at the top of an Article.
    NOTE: Because topics are added over time, some topics may not be associated with earlier articles to which they could apply. From time to time, we update category and topic links.
  6. Keywords
    Looks for a word, phrase or part of a word in the component parts of the article.

Viewing the Results

In addition to the "Most Recent" and "Top Articles" lists, there are three Views of the searchable Article List: (where you are now):

  1. Quick. Shows Categories in alphabetical order, with a list of articles by post date (most recent first), title, author. This is the default view. Return to it anytime by selecting "Clear Filter" in the Article Filter.
  2. Minimal. Shows a list of Categories in which articles for this collection appear, including the number of articles in each category. Activate this view by clicking on "View Category names only" under the gray view description bar.
  3. Summary. Expands a single Category to include a brief description of each article, the primary category, and any topics assigned to it.

Actions from the Article List

  • Click on an Article title to view it.
    • A link at the bottom of the article will bring you back to this page.
    • If you have expanded the Collection Scope to All, and view an article or blog entry outside this collection, the return link will take you to the corresponding "home" page. To return to this page, use the Back button in your browser or use the Site Menu.
  • Click on a Category name to expand the list into Summary View, which will include more detals about the articles within that Category, including the topics associated with it.
    • If you have selected "All" in the Article Scope, the initial Summary View will reset the Article Scope to "This Collection only." From there, you can go back to "All" if desired.
  • Click on a Topic name (Summary View) to see recent articles associated with that topic. From there you can expand to "All" articles or narrow the search using the Filter.
    • There are some categories that also appear as topics. In this case, the filter will set the topic, since that will return the greatest number of results. From there, you can modify the Search Filter to narrow your search.

Actions from the Article (listing of Categories and Topics at top of Article)

  • Click on the Category or a Topic and you will be taken to the Article List page with the search filter set accordingly. (The notes under Article List also apply here).

Printing the List or individual Articles

Using Print this page at the upper left will print the content displayed in the Articles List or an individual Article, without any of the surrounding page elements. The filter form in the list view is replaced with a summary of the filter settings.

Please note: Using the "Print this page" option is highly recommended over the print options available through the Share utility (described below).

Additional Hint: On some smaller devices you may find it helpful to use the Print option to display a simpler content-only view. Depending on the device, you may not actually be able to print, but it may produce a view that is easier to read. You will need to close the print window to get back to the site navigation.

Sharing and Commenting on Article Lists and Individual Articles

There is a lot of discussion about the merits of commenting within a site. At this time we have decided not to integrate it into the site. The AddThis Share utility that appears at the upper left on the page as well as at the end of articles allows you to share the selected page through Facebook, Twitter, and more than 200 other social media services. Most of these options allow you to add comments.

You can also comment through the site's own social media connections, which are linked through the icons in the site masthead (only active social media accounts are shown).


7 articles found.

SUMMARY VIEW  Expanded details within a Category. Click on article title, Category, or a listed Topic

To change sort order or make another search, modify the form above

News & Current Events

 47 records found

Finally, Democrats Have a Good Week by Garrison Keillor


(August 1, 2024)
A miracle has happened: Democrats became a party united in happiness, something we are unaccustomed to…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight • History • Humor • News • Politics • Social Movements • Voting & Elections


Open the Doors, Let the Young Mingle Among the Treasures by Garrison Keillor


(June 6, 2024)
For Teen Night at the Met Museum in New York, admission is whatever you care to drop in the box, a couple bucks, the change in your pocket, high school kids mobbing the joint, the Picasso lady, the naked Venus, the Rodin folks…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment • Current Events, News • Future • Hopes & Dreams • Humor • News • Politics


My Position on Congestion Pricing, Plainily States by Garrison Keillor


(May 16, 2024)
I like congestion. It's part of city life. Why try to turn Manhattan into Minneapolis?…
Topics: Change • Coping • Cost of Living • Financial • Government • News • Policy, Policy Formation • Politics • Social Issues


Pull Up Your Socks, People, Let's Get Going! by Garrison Keillor


(February 22, 2024)
The country needs something marvelous and fascinating to disperse the current gloom…
Topics: Change • History • Humor • Politics • Technology • Travel • Trends


Last Wedneday, Stuck in a Traffic Jam by Garrison Keillor


(February 15, 2024)
New Yorkers have the ability to express despair and municipal pride in the same sentence. Joe Biden's visit created traffic jams, so I over-tipped the cabbie and hiked 12 blocks to my doctor who took my blood pressure and said it was excellent…
Topics: Attitudes • Contemplation, Insight • Coping • Humor • Lifestyle, General • News • Optimal Aging • Politics


We Need Each Other, It's a Fact by Garrison Keillor


(February 8, 2024)
We can get along without Wi-Fi and cellphones and streaming video, but we can't get along without each other. Come back to the zoo, Flaco. You're a celebrity, people want to look at you, accept your role in the world…
Topics: Animals • Freedom • Humor • Nature • Relationships


Looking Forward to a Week of Uninformation by Garrison Keillor


(January 18, 2024)
Fighting evil is noble but in my old age I've come to feel that cheerfulness, gratitude, comedy are the essence of life, and so I look forward to the imminent arrival of my English relatives who love this country so sweetly…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Government • History • News • Optimal Aging • Relationships • Social Issues


Hope and Help During the Issraeli-Hamas War by James N. Watkins


(October 13, 2023)
Jim shares past posts that help direct our thoughts as images of another war fill the news…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Crisis • Current Events, News • Dying and Death • History • Hopes & Dreams • News • Prayer • Terrorism • War


Is it Really Hotter Now than Any Time in 100,000 Years? by Darrell Kauffman / The Conversation


(July 28, 2023)
Recent heat waves underscore Earth’s new climate state while revealing a fascinating history…
Topics: Change • Coping • Crisis • Current Events, News • History • Nature • News • Research • Science & Technology • Weather


Why I Won't be Playing Golf in Oman by Garrison Keillor


(June 29, 2023)
If the law doesn't apply to the big guys, then the peons and pissants are not going to abide by it either…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Ethics & Morality • Legal • News • Politics • Social Issues


Gay Pride Prompts Sad, Shameful Aniomisty by James N. Watkins


(June 16, 2023)
May I offer a compromise to the sad and shameful animosity between those celebrating June as “Gay Pride Month” and those who believe that homosexuality is a moral “abomination.”
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Change • Communication • Current Events, News • News • Relationships • Social Issues • Social Movements


Why I Am Not Joining the Strike by Garrison Keillor


(May 11, 2023)
I salute the Hollywood writers who went out on strike this past week but I can tell you that we essayists won't be joining them…
Topics: Arts & Entertainment • Communication • Current Events, News • Language, Meaning • Media • News • Popular Culture • Writing


The Six-Minute Video Speaks Louder than Words by Garrison Keillor


(April 6, 2023)
Everyone should look at that six-minute video of men moving down the hall of the Covenant School. They don't stop to confer, discuss options — lives are in danger, terrified children in lockdown, and they run forward toward gunfire…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Crisis • Dying and Death • News • Social Issues • Tragedy


Here're Your Orders: Make Something Beautiful by Garrison Keillor


(June 30, 2022)
Don’t be disheartened. Deal with the problem.. . . Exercise your gifts. Create beautiful things…
Topics: Beliefs • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Government • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


May We Not Just Ache by Leona Bergstrom


(June 3, 2022)
The celebration-filled days of June take a tragic turn as events in a small Texas town once again force us to grieve and struggle to help the hurting…
Topics: Coping • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Dying and Death • Faith • News • Social Issues • Tragedy


Some News, As We Know, is Realer than Other News by Garrison Keillor


(June 2, 2022)
In the aftermath of Uvalde: Life is good in this beautiful country that God has blessed, and the paranoids in our midst are missing out on all the best stuff…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Current Events, News • Dying and Death • Dysfunctional, Broken • News • Social Issues • Tragedy


Sitting Scared in Church, Thinking About Evil by Garrison Keillor


(March 17, 2022)
America has been so fascinated with our own circus, we didn’t fully appreciate true evil and now here’s Putin taking his place with Lenin and Stalin…
Topics: Crisis • Faith • News • Politics • Religion • War


Reality is a Good Antedote, America, Take a Long Hard Look by Garrison Keillor


(March 10, 2022)
Who will be our Zelensky?…
Topics: Coping • Crisis • Dying and Death • Government • War


Bridging the Divide by Stu Johnson


(January 15, 2022)
A reminder as we look back at The Capitol Insurrection and approach Martin Luther King Jr Day that the divisions we face are not new and that there are ways to bridge the divide…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Civility • History • Media • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Issues • Technology • Trust • Values • Voting & Elections


Where Are Those Christmas Presents? by Rebecca Heilweil / Vox


(December 18, 2021)
The history of the metal box that's wrecking the supply chain…
Topics: Business • Change • Christmas • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • History • Holidays • Holiday Season • News • Trends


Conspiracy Theories and Human Psychology by Russell Johnson


(September 18, 2021)
While conspiracy theories may not actually be increasing, awareness of them is, and it is important to understand the role they play in American culture…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Media • Mental Health • Popular Culture • Psychology, Psychological Health • Social Issues • Social Movements


Is It a 'Life' or a 'Choice'? by James N. Watkins


(September 3, 2021)
Texas law turns up the heat on a debate that will not die down…
Topics: Advocacy • Beliefs • Choices and Decision Making • Government • History • News • Social Issues • Social Movements • Values


Responding to the Afghan Airport Terrorist Attack by James N. Watkins


(August 27, 2021)
How CAN we respond to such a heinous attack?…
Topics: Comfort & Consolation • Compassion • Coping • Dying and Death • Faith • Loss & Grieving • News • Religion • Terrorism


Racism and Religion by Rusty Wright


(April 23, 2021)
Sanctified bigotry, or unity and diversity solutions?…
Topics: Christian Life • Faith • Grace • News • Racism and Inequality • Relationships • Religion • Social Issues • Trust • Unity, Unified • Values


How is Your News Literacy? by Stu Johnson


(January 28, 2021)
Learn how to be a literate news consumer during News Literacy Week…
Topics: History • Knowledge • Learning • Media • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Media • Social Movements


Preventing a Second Civil War by James N. Watkins


(January 7, 2021)
Echoes of a day that tore the nation apart…
Topics: Current Events, News • Faith • Government • History • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


Unprecedented, Not! by Stu Johnson


(January 3, 2021)
2020 was quite a year, but not without precedent . . . setting expectations for 2021…
Topics: COVID-19 • Crime, Justice, Punishment • History • Knowledge • Politics • Racism and Inequality • Social Issues • Voting & Elections


It's Not All Bad by Nicole E. Kobie / WIRED


(January 3, 2021)
20 things that made the world a better place in 2020…
Topics: Achievements • COVID-19 • Innovation, Invention, Creativity • Inspiration • News • Social Issues


Earth and Heaven by James N. Watkins


(October 2, 2020)
What it means to me to be a citizen of both…
Topics: Beliefs • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Faith • Government • Language, Meaning • News • Religion • Social Issues • Social Movements


Down to the Wire Reports from the U.S. Census Bureau


(October 2, 2020)
Census count exceeds 99% as court orders extension of counting…
Topics: COVID-19 • Demographics • Government • News • Research • Trends


Another Milestone by Stu Johnson


(September 24, 2020)
Another look at COVID numbers as we hit 200,000 deaths in U.S.…
Topics: COVID-19 • Dying and Death • Demographics • Disease • History • News • Statistics • Trends


It's Only Temporary by James N. Watkins


(August 1, 2020)
Hope for those who see no end to the COVID-19 pandemic…
Topics: Coping • COVID-19 • Current Events, News • History • News


Mobs and the Workplace by Veronique De Rugy


(July 30, 2020)
'Cancel Culture' needs to slow down…
Topics: Communication • Current Events, News • Freedom • Language, Meaning • News • Racism and Inequality • Social Issues • Social Movements


A World of Blessing by Stu Johnson


(July 16, 2020)
People unite in virtual choirs to bless cities, countries, the world…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events • Comfort & Consolation • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Faith • God • Innovation, Invention, Creativity • Inspiration • Music • News • Relationships


Explaining White Privilege By Lori Lakin Hutcherson


(June 26, 2020)
An honest response to a white friend…
Topics: Current Events, News • History • News • Racism and Inequality • Relationships • Social Issues • Social Movements • Trends • Values


How Are You Faring? Reported by Stu Johnson


(June 24, 2020)
Report provides insights into COVID-19 impact…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events • COVID-19 • Current Events, News • Demographics • Depresson • Fears, Concerns • Financial • Housing • Loss & Grieving • News • Social Issues • Work


Destroy or Be Constructive by Bill Nichols


(June 7, 2020)
More than ever, the church needs to follow Jesus' example…
Topics: Civility • Compassion • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Discipleship • Faith • Jesus • Racism and Inequality • Religion • Social Issues • Trust • Values


The Whole World is Watching . . . Again by Stu Johnson


(June 5, 2020)
Will the response to George Floyd's death be a game-changer?…
Topics: Compassion • COVID-19 • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Current Events, News • Dying and Death • Faith • News • Racism and Inequality • Social Issues • Social Unrest, Division


About Those Numbers by Stu Johnson


(May 19, 2020)
Putting COVID-19 numbers in perspective…
Topics: Communication • COVID-19 • Crisis • Dying and Death • Disease • Ethics & Morality • Media • News • Research • Social Issues • Trust • Writing


No Revision Needed by George Garrison


(May 15, 2020)
Finding reliable information in the age of COVID-19…
Topics: Bible • Change • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Media • News • Trust


Coronavirus: Revival or Revolution? by James N. Watkins


(May 8, 2020)
What will the crisis bring?…
Topics: Change • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Faith • Future • News • Social Issues


Bringing Out the Best in All of Us by George Garrison


(April 24, 2020)
In it together now, but?…
Topics: Coping • COVID-19 • Crisis • Disease • Faith • Inspiration • News • Relationships


Remembering 9/11 by James N. Watkins


(September 11, 2019)
A collection of thoughts on this day of remembrance…
Topics: Contemplation, Insight • History • Loss & Grieving • Memories • Terrorism • Tragedy • Tribute, Testimony


Innocent Until Proven Guilty by James N. Watkins


(November 17, 2017)
A call for perspective as accusations begin to fly…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Media • News • Relationships • Social Issues


'Sanctity of Life' from womb to tomb by James N. Watkins


(January 22, 2016)
Going beyond today's 'Right to Life' march…
Topics: Choices and Decision Making • Christian Life • Ethics & Morality • News • Social Movements


Shoo the News Blues by James N. Watkins


(January 18, 2016)
Intervention for a news junkie…
Topics: Circumstances, Life Events • Coping • News • Personal Issues


Would You Vote for Deez Nuts? —Iowa farm boy scores big in poll by Stu Johnson


(August 21, 2015)
The wacky, but worrisome, relationship between politics, polling, and media…
Topics: Government • Media • Popular Culture • Research