Author Archives: Jim Fair

The Second Coming – Williams Butler Yeats Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and … Continue reading →

It was a strange, unexpected feeling. The timing was ridiculous. It was August 15, the Feast of the Assumption (and my daughter’s birthday). My wife, mother-in-law, and I were getting ready to attend 7 p.m. Mass on this Holy Day. … Continue reading →

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. – G. K. Chesterton I have new neighbors who are instructing me in the fine art of tolerance. In our quiet little neighborhood in Chicago’s distant suburbs, we’ve been blessed to … Continue reading →

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others … Continue reading →

Friday the 13th is the feast day of superstition. I’m not sure what faith this feast represents, but it isn’t the Catholic faith but something more sneaky, more insidious. Perhaps you think I’m being a bit severe. Aren’t common superstitions … Continue reading →

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season … Continue reading →

There are some things about the World Cup of Soccer that can be predicted with near precision. Some are good and some are bad. And they will play out in Russia over the month-long extravaganza of sport and media fascination. Let’s … Continue reading →

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:18 It would be easy to get depressed by … Continue reading →

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is … Continue reading →

This is the first in what I expect to be a continuing series of reports on my long-term study of the effect of genetics and environmental conditions on the development of twin human beings. Let me make an important disclaimer … Continue reading →