Wednesday, September 30, 2026
4 A.M. Tuesday Morning
It was four a.m. on Tuesday morning of this week. A 15-year-old stole a car in Minneapolis. Another 15-year-old was in the passenger seat. Five more teenagers were jammed into the back seat.
The driver slammed into a semi. Three of the teenagers died, including the driver and front seat passenger. The other four were hospitalized with injuries. The driver of the truck was ok.
There is so much wrong with this story. 15-year-olds, on a school night, stealing cars at 4 a.m. is a symptom of many things going wrong.
One of them is not taking seriously enough the fact of 15-year-olds stealing cars. These cases should not be dismissed or diverted if there is sufficient evidence. There are not that many kids out there acting that stupidly with so little parental supervision, and the few that are doing it need to be incapacitated. Not forever. Not for ten years, even. But they need to be charged, adjudicated, and kept from creating this kind of mayhem.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
College Football Update!
We have been through four weeks of college football now, and the season is starting to shape up. Here's who is doing well... and who's not.
Looking Good!
-- University of Texas (Ranked number one, quality win over Ohio State)
-- Notre Dame (With a weak schedule, looks almost certain to make the playoffs)
-- Miami (They may be back in the championship-- and win it)
Still in it:
-- Indiana (undefeated, but looked pretty weak in a 29-23 win over Northwestern)
-- Georgia (not actually struggling, but upcoming schedule is pretty brutal, with three games against top-10 teams)
-- Ohio State (one-point loss to Texas looks pretty good at this point)
Better luck next year:
-- Oklahoma (two losses include one to a not-so-great Michigan team)
-- Florida State (two losses hurt, especially the one to SMU)
-- Wellesley (pictured above in 35-7 loss to Ohio State)(jump to Division One football not looking like a great idea)
Monday, September 28, 2026
The Dream Dinner
Ah, I think I hit a chord this week! There were some great entries, including this one from my mom (what would you serve?):
Gloria Steinem
and St. Paul as guests, I would
just sit and listen.
and St. Paul as guests, I would
just sit and listen.
We got this from John Owens:
Carolyn and Art
Crab cakes and Yuengling set out
While we reminisce.
Crab cakes and Yuengling set out
While we reminisce.
And Jill Scoggins, too, was from the heart:
I would give all that
I have for just one more meal
With my dear mother.
I have for just one more meal
With my dear mother.
Mark L., can I come, too?:
Dinner with Warhol
Maybe he’d take my photo
And sign it for me.
Maybe he’d take my photo
And sign it for me.
Same, Christine:
Dinner with Nora
Great conversation and
Maybe she will cook
(The late Nora Ephron)
Great conversation and
Maybe she will cook
(The late Nora Ephron)
Anonymous had an intriguing plan:
Disciple Peter
Long to hear all his stories
Beginning to end.
Long to hear all his stories
Beginning to end.
And someone else wants Abe!:
How dare you steal him,
Professor? —my Glory date!
Suffer, Triumph—Abe.
Professor? —my Glory date!
Suffer, Triumph—Abe.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Sunday Reflection: The beauty of books
I'm a believer in books. My friend Bob Darden says that books change the world, and he is right. In fact, I am on sabbatical right now, working on a book. (My friend IPLawGuy, a prodigious reader, has said I write more books than I read, which is kind of an exaggeration).
While books and the printing press were not a thing yet, Jesus lived in a sub-culture of literacy and learned study of texts. The Bible, a book, has been the principle focus of Christianity for centuries. The faith (as we know it) has spread and been defined by books and reading.
Is it a bad thing that many people read or watch short-form posts or videos on their phones rather than read books now?
I do worry that it leads to a few dangers. One is that the algorithms that determine what is in a persons feed is so prone to manipulation and misinformation-- and there are actors who want to define what people believe by what they see on their phone. The second problem-- and many of us teachers see this already-- is that attention spans seem shot. Professors no longer assign whole books because students can't complete the task of reading them.
AI, of course, will accelerate all of this, as people can complete tasks without reading.
Are we in trouble?
Saturday, September 26, 2026
The case for communism
At about 4:40 of this clip, hear a surprising voice speak up for communism:
Friday, September 25, 2026
Haiku Friday: Dinner with anyone!
It's a familiar game: if you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? Let's haiku about that this week! Here, I will go first:
President Lincoln:
Do you have dietary
Restrictions to share?
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern, and have some fun!
Thursday, September 24, 2026
PMT: The Midterms!
In a little more than a month, the fate of the U.S. House and Senate and a clutch of key governorships will become clear after the midterm elections.
There is a lot prognostications and attention to polls right now. If you are like me, your inbox (or, hopefully, spam filter) are full of desperate-sounding missives from candidates who sound the alarm about polls moving this way or that.
Ignore most of it. Polls, we have learned over the last few elections, don't really work that well anymore. People don't answer their phone for people they don't know, so phone polling is increasingly based on assumptions and adjustments.
It's true that there seems to be momentum towards Democrats, and no wonder given the state of the economy (at least in terms of buying stuff like gas), but quantifying that is thorny business.
My hunch is that there will some surprises-- lots of them, actually-- this November. Time will tell...
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
The Slow Path to the End of the World
The debate over A.I. right now mostly involves the starkest existential threat: That A.I. will find a way to kill us all in some kind of Terminator-type dystopia.
That is a threat, of course. But the fact that this is the concern about A.I. right now masks the threat that technology poses to us in ways other than exterminating us with germs, guns or bombs.
Right now, this moment, A.I. is disrupting the pattern of teaching and learning that sustains a civilization, is warping out politics by systemic social-control misinformation, and undermining our ability to even tell our own stories.
Having computers do our thinking for us will lead our minds and moralities to atrophy. The road to extinction by A.I. may not be in a flash of light, but a billion instances of losing the light in the eyes of our fellow humans.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
If he's not on TV, does he exist?
This week has seen a truly bizarre escalating battle between President Trump and the major television networks. After Trump barred CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, the major television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CNN) have pulled out of the press pool that covers the President.
That led to an incident at an event where the President proudly revealed the new heliport at the White House. Without the major networks only lower-tier outlets covered the event, and no one seemed to get proper audio. So it turned out like this:
Monday, September 21, 2026
The Foods of Fall in poem
Great stuff, everyone! I especially enjoyed this from John Owens:
Leaves falling gently
Pies baking in the oven
Time to grab a fork.
Pies baking in the oven
Time to grab a fork.
And this from Liz Buckingham (I love that scent of pumpkin):
Just baked pumpkin bread
Spicy fragrance fills the air
Serve for tea today.
Spicy fragrance fills the air
Serve for tea today.
IPLawGuy isn't baking, but he is eating!:
Fall- Football weather
Popcorn, nachos, chicken, beer
While watching TV.
Popcorn, nachos, chicken, beer
While watching TV.
Christine has her own take:
Seasonal apples
Gooey caramel, a stick
So crispy and sweet.
Gooey caramel, a stick
So crispy and sweet.
And this anonymous entry made me smile (and maybe want some soup):
Butternut squash soup
Warm, silky, creamy, cozy
Vitamins galore!
Warm, silky, creamy, cozy
Vitamins galore!
Des is enjoying endless summer:
Best fall food is what
I froze from summer— pesto,
okra, eggplant parm.
I froze from summer— pesto,
okra, eggplant parm.
Medievalist, I know your pain/joy:
A chill in the air,
Caramel apples are here,
Sticky lovely mess.
Caramel apples are here,
Sticky lovely mess.
And this anonymous entry is about something I have never heard of! (but want to try):
The bones being chilled
Welcome Mother’s Swiss
Veg/Beef Soup—Dumplings!
Welcome Mother’s Swiss
Veg/Beef Soup—Dumplings!
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Sunday Reflection: The sermon from last Sunday...
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Previously, in America
Friday, September 18, 2026
Haiku Friday: The Favorite Foods of Fall
Where I live, the trees are just starting to show their fall colors-- the start of my favorite time of the year. Part of it is the food of the harvest time, some of which is being surveyed by my sister Kathy in the photo above. Let's haiku about that this week! Here, I will go first:
The year's best dessert:
Pumpkin pie... no, it's apple pie!
I'll have both, thank you.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun!
Thursday, September 17, 2026
PMT: The Fed and the Prez
Yesterday, in an effort to forestall more inflation, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter-point. It was a move most experts expect and supported, given current economic conditions.
President Trump wasn't happy. He wants the rates to go down, not up (presumably to juice the economy before the midterms). Now he is threatening to cut off trade to countries with which we have a trade deficit.
It's an odd threat. Cutting off trade in that way will hurt businesses large and small, right before the midterms. However, there is logic of some kind deep within the head of one man-- and what he wants is lower interest rates.
Meanwhile to the north, Canada is pursuing "Associate" status with the E.U., a move that (if successful) would be the biggest move ever by the EU outside the continent of Europe. There is no secret as to why Canada is looking away from the US at the moment-- but it is likely there will be more provocations in the future.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
A truly dangerous invasion
The latest invasive species we are facing here in the US is the European Green Crab, which has recently expanded to the West Coast.
Apparently, the things are incredibly voracious, and devastate other shellfish like clams. The destroyed habitats on the East Coast in the 1800s, and still cause problems. The critters probably traveled as larvae on ships from one coast to the other.
It seems to be insurmountable challenge to engage in international commerce without spreading things other than what is traded. The leading invasive species in terms of destruction-- zebra mussels and Asian carp, for example-- traveled the same way.
How nasty are these things? Well, they are cannibalistic, often eating their own young. Yikes!
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Pretty good weekend in Detroit
I went to the pretty thrilling Detroit Lions/New Orleans Saints game last Sunday, which Detroit won. All in all, it was a good weekend for Detroit-area sports:
-- The Lions won in overtime
-- The Tigers swept
-- The Michigan Wolverines inexplicably beat Oklahoma 17-10, and
-- That Red Wings didn't lose.
None of them are winning a championship, but still... not a bad weekend.
Monday, September 14, 2026
On the Muppets
There were three great poems this week. Des, WHAT? Really? I did not know this:
Who knew it’s a “p”
and not an “f”? Big, fluffy
SnuffleuPagus!
and not an “f”? Big, fluffy
SnuffleuPagus!
And Christine is bringing back the OGs:
Big Bird, Burt, Ernie,
Elmo, Oscar, Miss Piggy
Original Cast
Elmo, Oscar, Miss Piggy
Original Cast
While Anonymous isn't wrong:
We are Oscar-grouchy
Then lovely as La Piglette
Or crazed Animals!
Then lovely as La Piglette
Or crazed Animals!
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Sunday Reflection: The hymn mystery
For my sermon this morning, the liturgical reading (Matthew 18:21-35) is about forgiveness-- right up my alley!
The Minister asked me if I had a hymn in mind to go with it. What I found was pretty shocking: though the hymnal is full of praise songs and seasonal pieces, there was almost nothing about forgiveness.
Which is odd! After all, it is a theme of Christ's teaching and right there in the middle of the Lord's Prayer. How could it be that we don't have songs about it?
Any thoughts on that?
Saturday, September 12, 2026
A question no one is asking....
So, if you were thinking "How can I hear Mark Osler blather about stuff this weekend?" (which no one was, probably), you have three opportunities:
1. On Sunday night I will appear on the second segment of 60 Minutes, which examines the current landscape in federal clemency. It was a thrill to be interviewed by Lesley Stahl.
2. On Sunday morning at 10 A.M. I will be giving the sermon at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church at 240 Chalfonte in Grosse Pointe Farms.
3. This morning I have an opinion piece in the Waco paper about flock cameras which you can read here: https://wacotrib.com/opinion/column/article_890da36a-c965-4060-8de9-70545a553b8c.html
Friday, September 11, 2026
Haiku Friday: The Muppets
Most of us alive in this country at this point grew up with some input from the Muppets. Let's haiku about them this week! Here, I will go first:
Bunsen Honeydew
Looks like some people I know
But I won't tell them.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun....
Thursday, September 10, 2026
PMT: The Convention!
I'm not sure why, but the BlogGods are not letting me post pictures right now. But.... do you really want to see a picture of the Republican convention in Dallas?
So far, the big surprise has been the appearance by Senator John Fetterman, who is also saying he will never ever ever switch parties. What is going on with that guy? I have read that he basically does not like his job, which is true of a lot of people.
Fetterman's message, that he was willing to work with Republicans, isn't anything problematic-- in fact, more work on common ground would be a welcome thing. But there is something about this dude that seems out of place to a lot of people.
My own hunch is that he will switch parties, perhaps after the election at a moment in which that switch will retain Republican control of the Senate.
The next race for him in Pennsylvania will be tough for him whether he switches parties or not, as he is likely to face a primary challenge. But right now he is not on the ballot-- which makes it all the more intriguing that he is getting so much attention.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Clemency Shenanigans
Yesterday, the lawyer for Lindsay Clancy, whose jury was hung in her recent Massachusetts murder trial, announced that he would seek a pardon for her from President Trump.
It's a very strange request. The President (as I explained to the New York Times) just doesn't have the ability to pardon people from state charges. Not that President Trump hasn't tried-- he already granted a "pardon" to Tina Peters, the election-denying court clerk in Colorado.
In the Peters case, though, the Democratic governor of Colorado later gave her an actual, effective pardon. Perhaps that is the pattern that Clancy's lawyer is pursuing. And the whole mess is a sign of the odd times for clemency we are living through at the moment.
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Adieu, Minnesota State Fair!
Yesterday was the last day of the State Fair, which is a big deal here in Minnesota-- pretty much the whole state shows up for some part of it, and it brings together the cities with the rest of the state.
One of the things I love to watch at the fair are the events in the arena, which include rodeo and lots of horse events. Yesterday I saw the barrel racing finals, which included what seemed to be men and women and boys and girls all competing as equals. It was thrilling to see those who were the best at it, working so in sync with their steed!
It also is the height of political season, of course, and the aisles were full of stands promoting various candidates. At the Republican booth, you could buy as sweatshirt reading "Trumpkin Spice... with ICE!" and similar materials.
I do realize that the point of a lot of Republican politicking is to agitate people who aren't Republicans. It's the classic bullying technique from middle school, where the mean kid says something to upset their target and then pillories them for reacting: "Oh, are you going to cry now?"
My hunch, though, is that it doesn't help much with the midterms, even if it is "fun." The people both sides need to convince are those in the middle, and those people aren't so happy with ICE, especially in Minnesota.
It's that kind of blindness to mission (seen on both sides) that can matter in a close election, and might be a factor this time around.
Monday, September 07, 2026
On shirts
It wasn't the volume we saw last week, but there were some great haiku this week (including one involving Danskins, which I hadn't thought about in a long time).
I was really wowed by this one, from Christine; it's a whole story in a few lines, elegantly told:
Tattersal oxford
My favorite sleeping shirt
I keep my Dad close.
My favorite sleeping shirt
I keep my Dad close.
And here is the Danskins entry, from anonymous:
Soft, stretchy, pull on
No zippers, buttons, velcro
I loved you, Danskins!
No zippers, buttons, velcro
I loved you, Danskins!
And another:
Oh, sleeveless white top
You go with all my outfits!
Perfect travel shirt
You go with all my outfits!
Perfect travel shirt
And a third, all of them great!:
Cardigan sweater
Essential travel wardrobe
Counts as a shirt, right?
Essential travel wardrobe
Counts as a shirt, right?
Sunday, September 06, 2026
Sunday Reflection: The value of wilderness
In such a crowded world, wilderness is a luxury. When managed well, though, it is a luxury available to all, and that is something too rare these days as recreational space is locked up behind the gates of golf clubs and billionaire's mountain reserves.
Over the past few years, wilderness has been threatened by all kinds of new encroachments, usually in the form of something viewed as giving economic value to that land.
But isn't there a problem with everything being about economics? Is that the only kind of richness we recognize?
It would seem that Christians should be able to see the value of preserving God's creation, even if money could be made by destroying it.
Saturday, September 05, 2026
I do love Ted
Friday, September 04, 2026
Haiku Friday: Favorite Shirt
We all wear shirts (or at least most of us do). So probably you have a favorite! Whether its in your closet or just in your memory, let's haiku about that this week. Here, I will go first:
My own favorite?
Snoopy feeling kind of ill
Got it just last month!
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun!
Thursday, September 03, 2026
PMT: Again. and Again.
I have a lovely view from my 4th floor office at work, looking over the downtown area of Minneapolis.
Yesterday, I rode my bike into work, and it was safely leaning against a bookshelf in my book-filled office as the sun got low in the September sky. I was thinking of heading out for home when I noticed an unusual number of sirens outside. It seemed that every police car and ambulance in the metro area was converging on a spot just a few blocks from where I stood.
And then even more came, marked and unmarked, sedans and armored vehicles and more.
My heart sank. The last time I saw something like that was the morning of the shooting at Annunciation School, and I knew that what was happening a few blocks over was likely some kind of mass shooting. And it was.
There is some sickness in our society that leads people to want to address their grievances with guns, by shooting people. It's a cultural issue, and one we need to address. It does matter that so much of our entertainment is violent, people shooting each other in television, movies and video games.
Violent crime is at record lows in many places, in fact. I do think that decline is largely cultural-- it does not correlate to police numbers or any kind of interdiction. But we need to go farther, and consciously.
I don't want to spend another moment in my office, hearing the sirens, and knowing what that means.
Wednesday, September 02, 2026
Dolly
I've learned more about Dolly Parton in the last week than I expected, and I'm glad for all of it. She had three attributes that are too rare: she was decent, she was bold, and she was humble. It is possible to be both humble and bold, and she showed how: by acting boldly for something other than yourself.
One of the fascinating things I've come across is testimonials about how the Imagination Library she started. It sent books to kids from 1 to 5 every month. It really mattered, and boosted literary levels. Over 300 million books were sent. What a legacy!
Tuesday, September 01, 2026
It's football season again!
And last Saturday, my alma mater of William and Mary was down by 10 with 53 seconds left... and somehow won without overtime! This could be a very strange year.
