Author Archives: awtraughber

Sunday’s Best: Beyond Explanation

Posted on August 7, 2022 by awtraughber

Any classic Peanuts strip with Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty is an almost-guaranteed “Sunday’s Best.”  That’s definitely true this week.   Chuck really should have “stuck with his guns” with his recommendations instead of any explanation.  It’s all just downhill … Continue reading →

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Sunday’s Best: The Danger of Escalation

Posted on July 31, 2022 by awtraughber

Today’s a pretty good day for the funny pages.  WuMo does a nice job of reminding us, even farcically, of the dangers of escalation. (image from gocomics.com)

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Sunday’s Best: Calvin without Calvin

Posted on July 24, 2022 by awtraughber

Today’s classic Calvin and Hobbes is a rare example of the strip without either of the two title characters.  This one is all about Calvin’s dad and his joy in bike-riding.  It’s broadly symmetrical like last Sunday’s strip (with some … Continue reading →

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Sunday’s Best: Calvin and the Moral Law

Posted on July 17, 2022 by awtraughber

Today’s classic Calvin and Hobbes is one that I’ll be able to use in the spring when I’m reading Mere Christianity with my students.  That Calvin actually utters the phrase “the moral law” is pretty brilliant.  The simplicity and symmetry … Continue reading →

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On Tour with Tuor

Posted on July 13, 2022 by awtraughber

There was a time where I thought this summer would be the time to reread the Lord of the Rings.  I even  packed my bags in preparation for it.  But to read LOTR is no small task, not something to … Continue reading →

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Stranger Thors

Posted on July 11, 2022 by awtraughber

This past week was an interesting one with popular long-form storytelling.  I was able to catch the final two episodes of Stranger Things 4 while also watching the fourth Thor movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  While I enjoyed them … Continue reading →

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Sunday’s Best: Consumer Report

Posted on July 10, 2022 by awtraughber

Today’s full-form Frazz by Jef Mallett brings together running and the realities of being a consumer society.  And yes, it is a kind of anthropology.  Maybe that’s a degree of great use to all of us. (image from gocomics.com)

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Enchantment of the Clouds

Posted on July 6, 2022 by awtraughber

A couple of recent classic Calvin and Hobbes strips capture the interesting tension between an enchanted and a disenchanted world.  The first strip is brilliant on its own: The simplicity of each panel: all of the open space with a … Continue reading →

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The Three Movements of This Summer

Posted on July 5, 2022 by awtraughber

Today marks the beginning of the “third movement” of summer 2022 for me.  My summer officially started after our commencement service back in the first weekend of June.  From there, the summer divided itself neatly into three movements.  The first … Continue reading →

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Out to Pasture

Posted on July 4, 2022 by awtraughber

This short and recent piece by Alan Jacobs is about conservatism, but I can’t help but think it’s also true about so much more (like church or education).  It’s an interesting slant on ancient imagery about sheep, shepherds, and sheepdogs. … Continue reading →

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