Blogs

Wow, what a week. As democracy continues to crumble in the USA, I’ve made some updates to my “Resist” page. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out. I’d also draw your attention to my “Citizen’s Manifesto” post, in which I outline some “working principles for democratic renewal.” I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, if you give it a read. Some things I bought recently that I’d recommend: Good Anger: How Rethinking Rage Can Change Our Lives by Sam Parker Harbor Freight’s new ICON Magnetic Tool Mat Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Fiber The Squatty Potty Toilet Stool This rotating Pomodoro timer for focus and productivity This small but incredibly powerful electric air duster Here are some other things I came across that I found interesting: ...

A lament, for a violent world in need of peace. “Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer) ...

Tired of hearing Christians go nuclear over a verse in Revelation or a line from Genesis? Me too. We can do better. (Note: I’ve frequently failed at this myself, so consider this a reminder for me as much as for you.) Here’s how to have a theological argument without losing your cool — or your brother or sister in Christ. 1. The Problem: Why Most Theological Arguments Go Sideways Most bad theological arguments have the same ingredients: ...

According to David Gushee in After Evangelicalism, “Christian humanism” basically means “orienting our lives by a version of Christian faith that is compassionately realistic about the human condition, reflects the best of human knowledge, and enables all kinds of human beings to truly flourish. It’s humane and for human well-being.” If this is the case, then the opposite of Christian humanism might be called Christian misanthropy (misanthropy: “a hatred or distrust of humankind”). ...

Here’s Meredith Whittaker on the “key to understanding the growing chasm between the narrative of techno-optimists and the reality of our tech-encumbered world” in a recent interview with Politico: What’s a technology that you think is overhyped? I’m going to give a sideways answer to this, which is that the venture capital business model needs to be understood as requiring hype. You can go back to the Netscape IPO, and that was the proof point that made venture capital the financial lifeblood of the tech industry. ...

I recently came across a Daniel Pink video that helped clarify and summarize some key insights about finding life’s purpose in a really actionable way. The framework was so helpful that I wanted to share it. Stop asking “What’s my passion?” Start asking better questions. Pink suggests that the classic advice to “follow your passion” often leads us nowhere. Instead, he offers seven more practical questions that can actually help you discover your life’s purpose. ...

I’m putting this out there because I’m genuinely stuck, and I’m hoping some of you have been where I am and can offer some wisdom. Here’s my situation: I’m in my 30s, married with three young kids, and I work from home in northwest Ohio. On paper, my life is full—and in many ways it is. But I’m also dealing with some significant loneliness and isolation that I can’t seem to shake. ...

Democracy is not a finished product but an ongoing experiment that demands constant deliberation, refinement, and renewal. The principles I outline here are working principles—I hold them with conviction while recognizing they must evolve through genuine democratic dialogue. Our constitutional framework in the United States of America was designed to be amended, our institutions to be improved, and our understanding of justice to deepen with experience and wisdom. The greatest threat to democracy is not disagreement about these principles, but the abandonment of our shared commitment to wrestling with them together in good faith. ...

No kings, save One, the King of Kings, whose kingdom peace and justice brings. No kings, but He who blessed the poor, and binds their wounds forevermore. No kings, except the Crucified, who, on a tyrant’s cross, died – No kings! – to save the last, the least, and bring them to His wedding feast. No kings, save One, who wore a crown of bitter thorns upon His brow. No kings, but He who rose to save, to lift the outcasts from their grave. ...

Let’s try to define (or at least describe) fascism, shall we? Fascism: “a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition” (Merriam-Webster) Notoriously difficult to define, Umberto Eco nevertheless highlighted 14 aspects of what he called “Ur-Fascism” (PDF): ...

The following 198 methods of nonviolent action are taken from Gene Sharp’s The Politics of Nonviolent Action. (For more information and resources along these lines, make sure to visit my /resist page.) The Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion Formal Statements Public Speeches Letters of opposition or support Declarations by organizations and institutions Signed public statements Declarations of indictment and intention Group or mass petitions Communications with a Wider Audience Slogans, caricatures, and symbols Banners, posters, and displayed communications Leaflets, pamphlets, and books Newspapers and journals Records, radio, and television Skywriting and earthwriting Group Representations Deputations Mock awards Group lobbying Picketing Mock elections Symbolic Public Acts Displays of flags and symbolic colors Wearing of symbols Prayer and worship Delivering symbolic objects Protest disrobings Destruction of own property Symbolic lights Displays of portraits Paint as protest New signs and names Symbolic sounds Symbolic reclamations Rude gestures Pressure on Individuals “Haunting” officials Taunting officials Fraternization Vigils Drama & Music Humorous skits and pranks Performances of plays and music Singing Processions Marches Parades Religious processions Pilgrimages Motorcades Honoring the Dead Political mourning Mock funerals Demonstrative funerals Homage at burial places Public Assemblies Assemblies of protest or support Protest meetings Camouflaged meetings of protest Teach-ins Withdrawal and Renunciation Walk-outs Silence Renouncing honor Turning one’s back The Methods of Social Noncooperation Ostracism of Persons Social boycott Selective social boycott Lysistratic nonaction Excommunication Interdict Noncooperation with Social Events, Customs & Institutions Suspension of social and sports activities Boycott of social affairs Student strike Social disobedience Withdrawal from social institutions Withdrawal from the Social System Stay-at-home Total personal noncooperation “Flight” of workers Sanctuary Collective disappearance Protest emigration (hijrat) The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: Economic Boycotts Action by Consumers Consumers’ boycott Nonconsumption of boycotted goods Policy of austerity Rent withholding Refusal to rent National consumers’ boycott International consumers’ boycott Action by Workers & Producers Workmen’s boycott Producers’ boycott Action by Middlemen Suppliers’ and handlers’ boycott Action by Owners & Management Traders’ boycott Refusal to let or sell property Lockout Refusal of industrial assistance Merchants’ “general strike” Action by Holders of Financial Resources Withdrawal of bank deposits Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments Refusal to pay debts or interest Severance of funds and credit Revenue refusal Refusal of a government’s money Action by Governments Domestic embargo Blacklisting of traders International sellers’ embargo International buyers’ embargo International trade embargo The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: The Strike Symbolic Strikes Protest strike Quickie walkout (lightning strike) Agricultural Strikes Peasant strike Farm Workers’ strike Strikes by Special Groups Refusal of impressed labor Prisoners’ strike Craft strike Professional strike Ordinary Industrial Strikes Establishment strike Industry strike Sympathetic strike Restricted Strikes Detailed strike Bumper strike Slowdown strike Working-to-rule strike Reporting “sick” (sick-in) Strike by resignation Limited strike Selective strike Multi-industry Strikes Generalized strike General strike Combination of Strikes & Economic Closures Hartal Economic shutdown The Methods of Political Noncooperation Rejection of Authority Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance Refusal of public support Literature and speeches advocating resistance Citizens’ Noncooperation with Government Boycott of legislative bodies Boycott of elections Boycott of government employment and positions Boycott of government depts., agencies, and other bodies Withdrawal from government educational institutions Boycott of government-supported organizations Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents Citizens’ Alternatives to Obedience Removal of own signs and placemarks ...

The following 20 “lessons” are taken from Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Here’s a video of John Lithgow reading the 20 lessons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXR5HLodsT8. (For more information and resources along these lines, make sure to visit my /resist page.) 1. Do not obey in advance Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do. ...

Here are 14 YouTube channels that I really enjoy. Do you have any other YouTube channels you think I might enjoy? Budget Mechanic ChrisFix Essential Craftsman First Class Amateur Grand Roofing Home RenoVision DIY The Honest Carpenter Practical Engineering Project Farm Silver Cymbal Smarter Every Day Stumpy Nubs This Old House Veritasium P.S. For more lists, visit my Lists page!

“The Bible is clear…” “The Bible says…” “The Bible is for/against…” How often—especially within American evangelicalism—do these phrases become rhetorical battering rams for partisan talking points? Let’s be honest: the Bible is not a monolith. It is a library of ancient, inspired texts written across centuries, cultures, and genres. “What the Bible says” on any given topic often depends heavily on who’s reading, how they’re reading, and what they bring to the text. ...

Are you using OpenFGA or another Google Zanzibar-inspired authorization engine in the wild—not just for a side project or proof of concept, but in a production environment with real users and systems? If so, I’d love to learn from your experience. My Interest I’m currently working on a centralized authorization system prototype based on OpenFGA. The design is aiming to support fine-grained, relationship-based access control (ReBAC) for multiple business units—each with its own data domain, developer team, and authorization needs. ...