"A fiery heart and a cold head" is a GREAT turn of phrase that I intend to borrow/quote/apply.

Agree. It's not the crime, it's the (lack of) cover-up.

Congratulations! I got to see this moment when my wife finished and sent off her dissertation; it's a magical time.

Loved these reflections on their own merits, but also because they rhymed with my own: my name is Tom, LotR is central to my moral, intellectual and aesthetic worldview, I'm an adult convert (Episcopalian), and I'm currently seeking to become a deacon. High five from a traveller on a similar road!

I've had a lof of jobs in my time, and only occasionally have I felt any "dignity" in the work. More common is the impression of either callous indifference or that I'm trapped in some kind of humiliation ritual.

There can be dignity in shared effort, but not the way we set up workplaces.

When I used to teach freshman writing I used the Gettysburg Address in a lesson about structuring and ordering ideas. It's the kind of great writing that rewards being read and thought through over and again.

A very interesting and informative thread; this adult-convert Episcopalian hopes you are right about the positive direction of Leo's time in office.

I like the way you put this. It fits, too, with the arrival of eagles at several points in the Silmarillion.

What is the best time to go to the dentist?

Tooth-hurty.