Andrew Delbanco Says

 

Andrew Delbanco, Alexander Hamilton Professor of American Studies at Columbia, points out that the United States was founded in an accommodation between two fundamentally different societies. Perhaps he is exaggerating, but my addendum is that if you have studied American history you will see that the division and polarization we have today has been with us from the beginning.

From Jackie Hontzas

 From Hunter:

Update from Doctor: Overall, she is doing much better than yesterday. Lungs are improving. Ventilator turned down significantly. Pronation has helped but they don’t see the need to continue it as her lungs are performing much better. As we continue on this upward trend, our next steps are to lower pressers, ween off propofol and work to remove the ventilator. Bronchoscopy results aren’t final but they don’t see anything in the cultures so far. Peep down to 10% from 12%. Heart Rate: 104 BP: 126/58 Oxygen: 93 Vent: 40% output I have been talking to her this morning and she is giving me some acknowledgment (blinking and moving her eyes around).

You Folks

 You folks go ahead and see the movie "The Hobbit." I outgrew that kind of stuff in college. If I got drug to that picture against my will I'd cover my face going in and out of the theatre. I had friends in college who were Tolkien freaks. They're all dead now from overdoses or have lost their minds on drugs. I do well enough losing my mind without that fantasy pablum. "Hey man, far out, that Tolkien, huh?" Yeah, right. Don't bother me with the superlatives. I heard it all back in college.

I've had enough "far out" already to last a lifetime.

As Merle Haggard Says

 As Merle Haggard says, if we make it thru December everything's gonna be all right I know. I am not naturally sentimental, yet in my attic is the baseball glove, the camera, the microscope, and the telescope that Santa/parents brought me in the childhood years. Somebody stop me before I start crying.

Dr. Johnson Tells Us

 Dr. Johnson tells us that the prospect of being hanged does wonders to concentrate the mind. I would add so does a cold, sullen, winter rain first thing in the morning.

I got my do's in order for the day. The cold, sullen, winter rain will not stop me.

Daniel Boorstin

 

It seems to be time for Daniel Boorstin again.  The famous historian (famous for being famous) came to the Auburn history department spring of 1970.  I listened to his talk and had a brief interaction with him.  In my undergraduate arrogance I was not impressed with him.  

I asked him a question about Charles Beard and the progressive historians and he responded that I should stick to history and not venture into historiography at my tender age.

I thanked him but bristled underneath.

Everyone is talking about his prescient book "The Image."

Okay, I am going to read it, but I still have bitter memories of my encounter with the historian famous for being famous.  

Undergraduate arrogance dies slowly.

Adam Hochschild American Midnight

 

‘American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis,’ by Adam Hochschild

America has fallen prey to mythical enemies and demagogues several times in its history, as Hochschild reminds us in his portrait of one era, 1917 to 1921, when racism, white nationalism, and anti-foreign and anti-immigrant sentiment challenged the country’s ideals.