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Hold the Confetti
A younger version of myself would have been elated. In his eyes, this was a dream scenario, a climactic moment of ultimate victory on one of the key battlefields of the culture war for America’s soul. But the present version of myself couldn’t celebrate. I couldn’t even muster a half-hearted smile. When the Supreme Court…
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Thinking Music: Death Edition
Call me morbid, but I’m fascinated by death. It’s not that there’s any hurry for me to get there (I love life and want it to last as long as possible), but the finality and mystery of our inevitable demise have a way of arousing an endless array of questions and curiosities in my mind.…
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What Boston Taught Me
It all started as a sixth grader on the middle school cross country team. I wouldn’t have considered myself a runner at the time; I was just a shrimpy basketball player who wanted to get in shape for hoops season. But somewhere deep in my psyche, a seed had been planted. Since then, running has…
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Thinking Music: Spirituality Edition
Some people like music that makes them dance. Some people like music that makes them cry. I like music that makes me think. For as long as I’ve been old enough to know my own musical tastes, I’ve gravitated toward artists and musicians who approach the songwriting craft with a philosophical bent. It’s not that…
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A Hell of a Problem
On the evening of August 14, 1994, two young women were walking together down a quiet street on the outskirts of Casper, Wyoming. Best friends since middle school, Tammy Sloane and her roommate Jennifer Durkin were returning home from their shift at The Rusty Spoon, a local diner where they both worked as servers. They…
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14 for 14
On a snow-covered day in March of 2008, my life changed forever. I was just a kid back then, and I didn’t have any clue what I was doing. But it turned out to be the best thing I’ve ever done. I haven’t been the same since. And now, in March of 2022, I get…
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That Ain’t It
If you’re looking for high drama and political intrigue, you’re not likely to find much of it here in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Our humble little slice of America isn’t exactly the most exciting or influential of places. But in the past few weeks, a notable controversy has captured headlines and caused quite the stir. It…
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Fact and Fiction
I saw a sign in front of a bookstore not too long ago. It said, “A book a day keeps reality away.” I thought it was cute. And witty. And an unfortunate expression of what I believe to be a completely misguided cultural notion about books, reading, and the benefits thereof. Remember the classic Beauty…
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Resistance Is Freedom
There’s nothing enjoyable about the sound of an alarm on a January morning when the hour hand is still flirting with the number four. This is no time for human consciousness. This is no time for physical exertion. This is a time for burrowing deep into memory foam and cotton sheets. But downstairs a pair…
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My 6 Favorite Reads of 2021
A lot has changed since 2016, but one reliable constant throughout these tumultuous times has been my end-of-the-year reading recap. Those who have been around for awhile now may remember how this works. As I look back on the books I’ve spent time with since the start of the year, I set aside the six…