this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities

After 16 winters in Madison, WI, I finally subscribed to the snow plowing updates. This evening the snow plow philosopher offered this wisdom: “Midwest weather just does Midwest weather things. So it goes.”

This is surreal. 4 Oglala Lakota men kidnapped by ICE in Minneapolis have finally been located. One of them was released but the other 3 are being held at Fort Snelling, a former concentration camp used to imprison Native people incl. the Dakota 38 during Dakota Wars. ictnews.org/news/north-c...

There you have it; the Trump admin allows ICE lawyer James Rodden to stay on the job. His personal social media account praised Hitler, supported white nationalism, and said that America started going downhill the day that Lincoln was elected.

Rev. Two Bulls image of Paul Jones is on my desk. I think Jones and Whipple would have gotten along.

This print of “The 38 Tears of Bishop Whipple” by the Rev. Robert Two Bulls is always within reach in my study at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston in the Lone Star State. My previous congregation was in the Twin Cities in the North Star State. ⚓️

1. jesus was jewish. i’m having to say that with increasing regularity. 2. the gospels contain a lot of judeophobia. 3. well-meaning christians: don’t tell jews that this arsonist isn’t a real christian. re-claim the tradition like a church father mad at marcion.

just keep thinking about my colleague's @racketmn.com piece that Fort Snelling, this building where ICE is HQ'd, is the site of a concentration camp, part of institutionalized genocide against the Dakota.

Reading Ada Palmer’s “Invention of the Renaissance” right now. Offers interesting perspectives on the present moment

I know everything is awful right now but I spent the weekend at a ballroom dance camp where every coach and judge criticized me for my posture and frame. I also saw a lot of great dancing and learned some things. It was wonderful

Couple of new versions of the trolley problem dropped recently.

This is absolutely nuts.

so between "if you work for the feds on immigration, seek counsel for the sake of your immortal soul" from the bishop of dallas and now "clergy, update your wills then hit the streets" from the bishop of new hampshire, I feel that a shift has begun in 2026 in the rhetoric from episcopal leadership

I’ve used “feckless” in my thoughts and sermons more often in the last year than in my previous life, and always in reference to congress

Let’s make 2026 the year of the bog. The world’s most unique and interesting plants, clean water, cooler climate. Bogs deserve our thanks, care, and deep respect. Please join me and love a bog today.

I’ve been doing this for almost twenty years and today as I was celebrating and said the words of institution I was overwhelmed by the joy and responsibility of making Christ present in the Eucharist. I hope you also experience that

Our “No Kings” Epiphany skit

Instead check out @zeteo.com @propublica.org @flaminghydra.com @404media.co @wired.com @marisakabas.bsky.social and the like. If you've got an independent site or individual journalist you love, add them to the replies here.

No doubt one of Noah’s family brought measles onto the ark

Given the discourse here about Jim Hankins, I can't help but point out that for several decades, Harvard had quite the reactionary Early Modern tag team with him and Steve Ozment. I never had Hankins, but Ozment was for all practical purposes my dissertation director and I taught for him.

Attended services at All Souls Cathedral, Biltmore Village NC where Andie McDowell was also present. Several years later, saw her at a shoe store in Asheville with daughters? One of whom must have been Margaret Qualley

Please everyone stop everything you're doing and wish the oldest living cat, Flossie, a very happy 30th birthday 😭

In the early 90s, I was working in marketing for a seafood processing company in Massachusetts. It was just before Christmas; we were selling frozen shrimp to Costco and Sam's Club. A truckload of shrimp never made it to its destination. A week later it was found at the truck stop in Sturbridge, MA

The boys got a new cat tower. Dami seems to have taken to it #Caturday

Jauchzet, frohlocket! Blasted the first chorus from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on my way to church this morning! Preaching once again on “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” ⚓️

Procession at 10:00 mass

Merry Christmas!

"privily" #9LC

When you’ve been preaching Christmas Eve for going on 20 years, you begin to wonder whether you have anything new or interesting to say. Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit still moves. Move quickly, Spirit ⚓️

Let’s get creative

Maybe it is okay, after all

We bought a new sheepskin for the boys but Cosmo isn’t interested in it

We bought a new sheepskin for the boys but Cosmo isn’t interested in it

The battle of the construction cranes outside my office window

This week in the collection plate: currency and coins from Mexico and Venezuela and 2 counterfeit $20 bills. Our stewardship campaign is very successful!

An exceptional read of religion in this film

The boys have been cuddling up together more. It’s probably because of the cold weather but maybe they miss Macrina

1st Sunday of Advent: 9” of snow; 2nd Sunday of Advent: 3” of snow; 3rd Sunday of Advent:

I want to pop it’s perfidious bubble of belief #knivesout

We have accompanied nine cats on their journeys through life. Today, we said goodbye to Macrina. She was 18 years old, born in our backyard in SC. The last five years, she has been friends with Dami and Cosmo.

Apparently, the doctors at urgent care couldn’t help the patient

My dad was a contractor and finish carpenter. I worked for him every summer from the time I hit jr high until graduating from college. 40 odd years later, I approach every home improvement project with fear and trembling. Imagine my delight that I installed a light fixture today. It took an hour.

I don’t post about sportsball but I couldn’t resist this article about the Ohio State Michigan rivalry that features my hometown of Archbold., OH. My childhood dream as a tuba player was to dot the I on script Ohio. I didn’t even apply to OSU. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Meanwhile in Wisconsin our legislators are protecting us from margarine: madison.com/news/state-r...

I dreamt about the Furman Religion department last night. Not quite a nightmare, but.... Must be all the #AARSBL in my timeline over the weekend

Apparently the Badgers are going to win tonight. I wonder whether the revelers will still be out when I drive to church at 6 tomorrow morning