Category: Season 51
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Even White People Get Ashy
Between Michigan winters and psoriasis, I’ve become a ‘dehydrated lizard.’ A look at the reality of skin maintenance, student jokes, and choosing your health battles.
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The Tricorder in My Pocket
Is a smartphone a convenience or a necessity? I explore the “Tricorder” in my pocket—from the “off the grid” fantasy to the vital FaceTime bridge to my kids.
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Challenger 40: The Generational Echo
Reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the Challenger explosion, Rob explores the “generational echo” of time, personal memory, and the realization of mortality.
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Take Kid 2 to Work Day: An Unexpected Win
When a “polar vortex” and a scheduling crunch forced a 180-minute round trip and a “Take Kid 2 to Work Day,” I was bracing for a disaster. Instead, I found an unexpected win. Read how a day in my “Sanctuary Classroom” offered a fresh perspective on the parenting grind, the…
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Strong Enough to Sob
Can a superhero movie or a 90s tear-jerker actually define your philosophy on life? From the heroic end of Tony Stark to a ‘George Costanza’ moment during Home Alone, I’m looking at the father-son dynamics that shaped me. At 51, I’ve realized that being ‘strong enough to sob’ isn’t a…
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The Architecture of Hypocrisy: Cheap Labor and Heavy Hands
As federal enforcement escalates in Minnesota, we must look past the headlines at the architecture of hypocrisy: the demand for cheap labor versus the violence used to “remove” it.
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From Nottingham to the Mitten: What Happens When the World Discovers America’s ‘Third Coast’
Why does it take a stranger to show us the beauty of our own backyard? From the viral sensations of British travelers Josh and Jase to the iconic “mitten point” of the Motor City Machine Guns, discover why Michigan is truly “America’s Third Coast.” A personal reflection on the geographic…
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50,000 views
Rebuilding Rob just hit a massive milestone: 50,000 all-time views! 🚀 Even more incredible? 70% of that traffic arrived in just the last two years. Whether you’re new here or a long-time reader, come see which posts are driving the momentum and join the journey as we keep building toward…
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Beyond Inflation: The True Cost of Regret and the Art of Balance
Everything is getting more expensive, from the price of bread to the cost of living. But as an old Van Halen video famously pointed out, nothing is more expensive than regret. This week, I’m looking at the economics of the heart—and why “Option C” is the one investment you can’t…
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The Only Good Reason to Get Married (12 Years Later)
Twelve years after first sharing Kelly Flanagan’s famous letter on marriage, I’m revisiting the theory of “dismantling the ego.” Is total vulnerability a beautiful goal or a dangerous risk? From the perspective of “Option C,” I’m looking at why true connection feels like capturing lightning in a bottle and what…
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