There’s a new fraternity for Christian men at the University of Kansas. Although the president of the new Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity does not elaborate on the religious beliefs of the organization, he says there are rules about alcohol use—abstention for members younger than 21 and officers during their terms, and that other fraternity members…
The f-word has been used in the theatre, in the movies and on premium cable television, almost as long as the 18-year-old freshmen we are teaching at our universities this fall. Just listen to the way many of our students talk to each other on the streets, in bars and coffee shops, and sometimes even in the classroom…
I was awakened this morning, randomly, by one of the “Golden Oldies” on my iphone. There he was, Elvis Presley, in all his hip-swaggering glory, imparting great philosophical wisdom with just nine words—“I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” I mean, Kierkegaard couldn’t have said it better. First you must want…from that want…
Okay, the morning paper reports another skirmish yesterday between the KU basketball and football teams. Turns out it’s “a dispute over a woman who used to date an athlete from one team and now dates one from another.” So who is this noirish femme fatale? Can we get her to write her tell-all memoirs? Give…
A Kansas University sophomore basketball guard suffered a dislocated left thumb two days ago after a skirmish between members of the KU football team and basketball team. Did he by any chance step on any toes he shouldn’t have? So much for bipartisanship, in college athletics or anywhere else.
The roof of the 800-year-old church in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare is buried is caving in. Whatever else happens during the renovation of the church, I hope no one makes the mistake of disturbing the Bard’s remains. Be forewarned! The epitaph on his grave reads: “Good friend, for Jesus sake forebear To dig the dust enclosed here.…
We are all self-involved, but some of us are more self-involved than others. Quite honestly, I’m tired of talking about me. Let’s talk about you. So tell me what you think of me.
“Sophia Loren is 75 years old today,” I said to my next-door neighbor, a graduating senior at the University of Kansas. “We should all look so good when we’re 75.” He looked perplexed and said, “You want to look like a woman when you’re 75 years old?” Well, at least he didn’t say, “Who’s Sophia…
Peter and Paul are now without their Mary, our Mary. Like Puff, the Magic Dragon, she’s gone—on a jet plane, to a better place. Leaving us here, bereft, still asking the same old questions, still having a hard time hearing the answers which are blowing in the wind, still wondering where have all the flowers gone, still trying…
So here’s a scene from my own remake of The Greatest Story Ever Told. The twelve apostles are having their Last Supper with Him. Seated on the far right is Judas, clutching a bagful of silver coins, campaign contributions which have poured in during the night from the far right. Him: (Picking up a piece of bread) Eat,…