What’s Your Bias?
We’re taking a long, slow look at bias — that set of unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that inform our behavior without our being aware — this week. And, given the news we’re surrounded with, it’s timely. My first … Read More
I’m Prejudiced. Are You?
Let’s start here, with a 20-question quiz from understandingprejudice.org to test your understanding of prejudice and discrimination. Just to give you an idea, here’s Question 21 (optional): Imagine you’re having a private, late-night conversation with a new acquaintance about why there are so … Read More
“I am the greatest!”
He was like no one else we had ever known. Brash, beautiful, full of optimism, and, we thought at the time, full of himself. Go on; admit it. When Cassius Clay first appeared on the public stage … Read More
When Death Arrives
It was only a week ago. Last Tuesday, my last night in Ohio, I was sitting around the table after dinner, chatting with my daughter-in-law, Jenna. She’s been a nurse practitioner in family practice for a few years and … Read More
My Ramadan Fast Follow-Up and other concerns
I’m torn. My Follow-Up post, written a few days ago, follows both the Muhammed Ali funeral, which I was privileged to listen to on my drive out, and the Orlando tragedy, which I was spared news coverage of because … Read More
My Ramadan
Ramadan began yesterday. … And I realized that except for my years in Kazakhstan where one colleague observed the month-long fast, I don’t know much about this holiday celebrated the world over by 1.6 billion Muslims (7 million of them … Read More
What is an Apology?
Apologies have been in the news lately. President Obama’s recent trip to Hiroshima has been met with criticism from some Americans, reviving the “apology tour” reference. BACKGROUND INFO: during Mitt Romney’s RNC acceptance speech (in 2012), he referred to Obama’s … Read More
A Guest Post from Sasha
Hello all, Sasha here. Alpha mom asked me to step in again this week. May is a busy month here in Vermont, for the humans anyway. It keeps me busy trotting along beside her as she and Alpha … Read More
My 50th High School Reunion, Part II: Memories
Where to start! I went into my reunion weekend with three distinct expectations, as I listed in last week’s post. They all, to one extent or another, came true. And, so much more. One theme that kept coming … Read More