In a more immediate sense, invoking demons can be a means of dehumanizing and delegitimizing political enemies, which has often been a precursor to actual warfare and political violence. “It’s a very useful way to get around the Christian imperative to love your enemy,” Matthew Taylor, a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University, told me.
The True History of New England’s Stone Walls
People love walls, especially the weather-grizzled, lichen-blotched stone walls that crisscross the woods, hills, fields, and gardens of New England. I am one of them.
I was just in Rhode Island and saw thes stone walls. A few year’s ago here in North Carolina, I gathered up and placed granite stones on the property line between our old place and new, and I was thinking of gathering more for a wall. I did leave spaces for the turtles to cross.
Finally felt good enough to finish a blog post about our trip to Acadia National Park. Highlights include meeting Drupal creator Dries Buytaert on the trail (I also reference my appreciation of @manton and other CMS developers). If I’d felt better I’d have eaten better in Portland, too. [fixed link]
Tonight in the forest outside there are two young owls begging for food with their screeches. Every year I hear a single juvenile, so two out there is pretty cool.
Even though I wasn’t feeling well, I was glad to have been able to see The Heavy Heavy at Ocean Mist in Matunuck, Rhode Island. They put on another good show. Fun music.
Departed in the pre-dawn ocean air of Rhode Island, arrived back in North Carolina, and immediately hit with a head cold. Allergies to this humid home state, or new symptoms of last week’s (self-diagnosed) cyclosporiasis while in Maine? Either way, added misery.
Came to Rhode Island this time to see a favorite band, The Heavy Heavy, at Ocean Mist. Rode this old bike from the cottage, walking across the rocky beach at sunset. Excited for the show.
A perfect day at the sea. I walked to watch the surfers, then along the already crowded beach. Now drinking coffee and watching boats float by. Ospreys soaring above.
Gentle waves, sunset at East Matunuck State Beach, Rhode Island.
My uncle is chasing his new favorite band the Legiana Collective around the Netherlands. I will need to listen to their music.
A pleasant first morning at the cottage in Jerusalem, Rhode Island. The Block Island ferry just left with a big crowd, Lady Frances is going by now for fishing excursion, flags are flapping in the breeze. This will be nice spot to chill after hiking in Acadia and eating in Portland. Erin back in NC.
Morning sailing off Portland, Maine on the Timberwind schooner.
In Portland, Maine. Took Casco Bay ferry to Peaks Island and Erin drove us around on a golf cart. Back on mainland and found Rí Rá Irish pub to watch second half of France-Morocco game (with a proper Guinness).
Tap & Barrel tavern in Bar Harbor was perfect place to recover from hiking Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain, watch the second half of the exciting Argentina-Egypt match, and enjoy good food (roasted beet salad and Amber grilled cheese were delish) and a beer (Orono summer ale).
We’re gathering in the cool (it’s 96°F outside!) Century Center for Carrboro’s 12th annual reading of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 The Meaning of the Fourth of July to the Negro. Erin has a smart part to read. USA at 250 is a complicated story and we believe in this country and it’s promise.
There’s a possibility that I may finally get to Netherlands this fall, and it just may coincide with tour dates of The Dire Straits Experience. That would be a great trip, to see where my ancestors lived and to hear some of my favorite songs.
I’m pulling for Egypt in this match but I’m wearing the Australia jersey we picked up in Sydney in 2018. The other night I wore Morocco jersey but wanted the Nerherlands to win, oh so close.
Browsing the web is such a frustrating experience in 2026. Every new site I visit requires my attention to get rid of a newsletter popup and set my cookies preferences. What does Gruber call these? Dickovers indeed.
Sitting on the porch under the fan, reading the New Yorker while I wait for the delayed Mexico-Ecuador game to start. The forest is loud with treefrogs (a Cope’s gray treefrog is what I found in the flower garden before).
Many mornings I wake, drink a glass of orange juice, brew a pot of coffee (beans from Gustos Coffee Company), then make a single fried egg that I enjoy with my homemade hot sauce, which mixes with the yolk in a most delicious taste that starts the day with wonder and awe.
