Russellarbenfox

LATEST ARTICLES ( 622 )

• Listening to Macca #9: Flaming Pie, Etc.

  

  This month is the Paul McCartney of the mid- to late-1990s, Macca moving through his fifth decade, Sir Paul reuniting (sort of) with George Harrison and Ringo... Read more

  Posted on 30 September 2019 SOCIETY

• A Socialist on the Porch

  

  There wasn't a prayer at the beginning of the Front Porch Republic's recent conference in honor of Wendell Berry in Louisville, which is a fact that probably... Read more

  Posted on 16 September 2019 SOCIETY

• Some Notes on the First Mayoral Debate

  

  [Cross-posted to Wichita Story]The story of Tuesday night's debate is one of offense and defense. For better or worse, Mayor Jeff Longwell--at least at this... Read more

  Posted on 11 September 2019 SOCIETY

• Climate Change, Dirty Hands, and the Grace (and Hope) of Limits

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]Paul Schrader, the famed screenwriter and director, does not make subtle films. His latest movie, First Reformed--the stor... Read more

  Posted on 10 September 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #8: Flowers in the Dirt, Off the Ground, and Much, Much More

  

  This month, I had to admit to myself that one of the things I'm doing with this series is spinning a narrative about Paul McCartney's work and career, one that... Read more

  Posted on 31 August 2019 SOCIETY

• Why the Partisanship of Wichita's Mayoral Race is a Good Thing

  

  [Cross-posted to Wichita Story]Four years ago, as Jeff Longwell ran against Sam Williams in the 2015 mayoral race, I mourned that the primary had been such a... Read more

  Posted on 20 August 2019 SOCIETY

• 26th on the 13th

  

  26 years married, 13 years in Wichita, all beginning on August 13, 1993, and August 13 (or pretty close to that), 2006. I like the look of those numbers. Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2019 SOCIETY

• Local Socialism and Civil Society

  

  [Cross-posted to DSA's Religious Socialism blog; parts of this post were previous published here.]When The New Republic ran its package of articles on "The... Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2019 SOCIETY

• The Wichita Mayoral Race: Winners and Losers

  

  [For anyone interested, here is the original and somewhat more detailed version of my editorial on Tuesday's primary, which appeared in The Wichita Eagle this... Read more

  Posted on 08 August 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #7: Press to Play

  

  Mid- to late-1980s McCartney was, I suspect, trying really hard, and just getting frustrated with what he likely thought were paltry results. Read more

  Posted on 31 July 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #6: Pipes of Peace and Give My Regards to Broad Street...

  

  After multiple re-listenings, I can't help but feel that these two albums give us a McCartney that is fully of the 1980s; that's just the best way to put it. Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2019 SOCIETY

• Where Does "Restoration Christian" Authority End, and "Mormon Christian"...

  

  [I recently was invited to speak about Mormonism and authority at local ecumenical Christian conference here in Wichita, sponsored by the Eighth Day Institute... Read more

  Posted on 28 June 2019 SOCIETY

• The Wonderfully (if Perhaps Insufficiently) Radical Bill McKibben

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]I've been a fan of Bill McKibben's writings for close to 30 years. That doesn't mean I've agreed with, or even enjoyed,... Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #5: Wings Errata, McCartney II, and Tug of War

  

  I want to begin this entry with a rethinking of some of my comments last month, as I finished up McCartney's musical history with Wings. I'm not taking any of i... Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2019 SOCIETY

• Michael Austin's Enemies, and What He Says About Them

  

  [Cross-posted to By Common Consent]Michael Austin (who, for the record, is an old and close friend) does not fit most people's stereotype of a "patriot," the... Read more

  Posted on 27 May 2019 SOCIETY

• Bringing Wendell Berry (and Business) to Sterling

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]A week ago I was able to organize a small group of friends to attend a fine, relatively intimate event at Sterling College... Read more

  Posted on 06 May 2019 SOCIETY

• Arguing About Abortion (but Actually Mostly Other Things) in Kanas

  

  [I was asked to provide some commentary on the recent abortion decision by the Kansas Supreme Court which received so much national attention. Read more

  Posted on 05 May 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #4: Wings at the Speed of Sound, London Town, and Back to...

  

  This month was spent wrapping up McCartney's final experience leading a regular, formal band. To be honest, most shed no tears over this. Read more

  Posted on 30 April 2019 SOCIETY

• Listening to Macca #3: Band on the Run and Venus and Mars

  

  I obviously haven't finished my song-by-song march through everything McCartney did with Wings, but I will be very surprised if these two albums don't turn out... Read more

  Posted on 31 March 2019 SOCIETY

• What Urban Liberals Might Learn From Rural Rebels

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]Loka Ashwood, a rural sociologist at Auburn University, visited The Land Institute in Salina, KS, last September, and... Read more

  Posted on 29 March 2019 SOCIETY