Hello everyone! I have been a writer, a researcher specializing in various aspects of the justice system but especially juvenile justice and child welfare, among various other paths along the way. I like to have fun with my posts but also can be very passionate about certain issues, particularly those that I feel most directly affect children and adolescents. I am the proud Dad of a 19 year old college freshman, a graduate of the University of Missouri (One Mizzou!) and try my best to be open minded about everything.
The continuing rage of wildfires in California where roughly 58% of forest lands are federally managed/owned, and the scourge of myopic posts that don’t recognize the incredibly complicated factors contributing to these horrific events, lit a fire under my ass and prompted this post. As I think some of you understand, the literature and research … More Wildfires
A really informative, in -depth, and thoughtful interview with Flint Michigan Police Officer Scott Watson. A number of my friends have posted articles or interviews with different Black law enforcement officials (e.g., former Sheriff Clark), Black retired football players (e.g., Herschel Walker), and others, in attempts, I think, to discredit BLM efforts and/or to suggest … More It’s not black and white: Dealin’ with the messiness
So, ok, today I was with a group of friends in Reno and some of them maintain that George Soros is funding and/or supporting the riots in Portland. Well, of course, there is no tangible evidence of that, as there was no evidence of Soros’s role in the immediate protests after the death of George … More Oh those conspiracy theories
The last 48 hours I have come across a number of recordings and videos on YouTube of Grateful Dead songs being performed by incredibly diverse people, from the Austin (TX) Ukelele Society and the Earl Grey School Choir offering beautiful renditions of “Ripple”, to Norah Jones giving a gorgeous version of “They Love Each Other” … More Let there be songs …
Over the past couple of weeks, a couple of friends of mine who remain quite skeptical of climate science and human’s role in exacerbating climate change, have been posting stories that indicate the bushfire crisis in Australia primarily stems from arson and poor forest management, not global warming. Let’s let that sit and burn for … More Wasting my time on climate change
“Although both the United States and Iran now appear to be backing away from a larger military confrontation, the new intelligence suggests that the loss of life from the downing of the plane was a direct result of those heightened tensions between the countries.” New York Times, January 9, 2020 I been thinking, I know … More What would you do?
I play drums and I play them badly. Yep, there are no ifs, ands or buts about it, I just plain suck. Not all the time, mind you, just some of the time. Despite the fact that it takes all I’ve got just to stay on the beat, there are moments when I don’t stay … More On being a bad drummer
Full disclosure, like it’s needed. I am a Deadhead. Been one since 1971. It all began that fateful (grateful?) evening in COMO when a friend gave me a drink, took me down the basement stairs, strapped headphones on my ears, and turned on the reel to reel. Live Dead. Yep, that’s when it all began … More Musings about Dead & Co
Tis’ now 2020 and the notion of New Year’s resolutions always seems to bare and rear its’ ugly head ’round this time. Yeah, you grammar heads, I know, there’s gonna be lots of apostrophes , abbreviations, and other violations of basic grammar. So be it. So here are my resolutions. These are not yours, go … More New Year’s Resolutions
One of my good buddies recently made the following comment and it has fostered some strongly felt responses. My responses follow his remarks. “So, we’re now at the point where, except for Faux news and the NY Post , every major news outlet has called for Trump’s impeachment. If he truly cared about America he … More On impeachment, the media, ethics, the economy … and stirring shit up
