Chocolate chip pancakes on World Down Syndrome Day.

On the griddle, three pancakes feature chocolate chips in the shapes of the numbers three, two, and one, respectively

Currently riveted by this book — told by a man who was a young Catholic Worker in the mid 20th c, in the circle of both Berrigan brothers, plus Day, Merton, so many others. If you only see the draft-card-burner rabble-rouser in this character, you’re missing so much.

The cover of Jim Forest’s At Play in the Lion’s Den. Fr Berrigan stands in handcuffs and making a peace sign.

I’ll be speaking with my philosopher colleague Jacob Stump at a Veritas Forum event on March 25 on Northeastern’s Boston campus—a dialogue about the nature of anger. Register with this form.

A poster for the event reads with the title: Can rage be righteous? There are headshots of the two speakers and a QR code to register. Thai food for dinner is provided; the event is on March 25 at 7:30 pm in Mugar Hall 201.

on labels and kids and schools

I need to write a long post about the many parents I know who come to me for advice about accepting an ADHD/related dx and the requisite IEP or 504 bureaucracy for their very average kids. It’s a well-meaning move from all parties to “do everything we can to help” by intervening. But the longitudinal data on labels is pretty damning and on medication is mixed at best. Again: good intentions from everyone.

Continue reading →

Friends in MA and NY: Skylark Ensemble performs a Lent program this weekend. I am so sorry to miss it — this group is incredible.

Officially: gonna make it

In a patch of ground next to a fence, the tiniest green shoots spring up.

Currently reading: Burdened Agency by Travis Pickell 📚So many strong concepts and integrated thinking here.

Glad to see my colleague in disability/design @pauldefazio here on Micro! Do please welcome him.

A student-built ice cathedral at Notre Dame.

My PhD student is being advised left and right to let Claude do her lit review, write her qualifying presentation, summarize the books she needs to read to prepare. She is holding fast to the conviction that this slow, frictionful work is the work she signed on for. Immensely proud of her.

My son Malcolm (15) and I are on our fourth watch-through of Band of Brothers — a winter tradition. I think I’ve seen it twice more before that, so I’m officially versed in the 101st airborne. Other fans here?

Hundreds of tasks to go and still more snow coming down, but we’re in to our new place! It’s very quiet here.

A shot of our living room with furniture, records, artwork strewn about.

here we go

A bunch of moving boxes by a wall in our old apartment, ready to head out

I have plenty of complaints about the UI of Substack, but there is a burgeoning network of professors there sharing principled and ingenious pedagogy for the age of LLMs.

Current status: moving week, new apartment! We’re having to get snow removal just to fit the truck out front, but such is the process.

Our bare living room and dining room, gleaming white walls and wood floors.

You guyssss Bruce Herman’s latest work.

Three photos of the tortured fleshy figures chased by skeletons in Bruce's latest paintings.

I’ve been in San Francisco for a few days enjoying a break from winter, but this polar bear is living her best life.

Our Great Pyrenees, Agnes, stands white and fuzzy in a snowstorm.

Currently half-nursing along an idea for a book—intellectual memoir, I guess?—called After Sustained Reflection, I Changed My Mind.

Coming your way soon if you’re a Comment subscriber!

The cover of the spring issue of *Comment* has Christian Smith on sociology, L.M. Sacasas on AI, and me on pattern recognition (design and architecture).

A great salve to trudge through the tundra yesterday for the 5 pm mass.

In a blizzard, the entrance of a church welcomes with its warm light.