Seán Collins
@sean-collins.bsky.social
ex monk (osb) & former network news producer (npr) who helps people tell stories about their family. Julia Child once made me lunch.
A professor of mine at Washington University had a poem that included a line describing the experience of opening the morning paper and seeing a story so outrageously fucked-up that only yesterday it seemed impossible.
This, boys and girls, is life imitating art.
This, boys and girls, is life imitating art.
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A professor of mine at Washington University had a poem that included a line describing the experience of opening the morning paper and seeing a story so outrageously fucked-up that only yesterday it seemed impossible.
This, boys and girls, is life imitating art.
This, boys and girls, is life imitating art.
Mary Kay Gumerlock, MD
neurosurgeon
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
neurosurgeon
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
August 17, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Mary Kay Gumerlock, MD
neurosurgeon
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
neurosurgeon
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
“Probably most catastrophes end this way without an ending, the dead not even knowing how they died...,those who loved them forever questioning "this unnecessary death," and the rest of us tiring of this inconsolable catastrophe and turning to the next one.”
—Norman Maclean
Eldon Diettert, 19
3/3
—Norman Maclean
Eldon Diettert, 19
3/3
August 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
“Probably most catastrophes end this way without an ending, the dead not even knowing how they died...,those who loved them forever questioning "this unnecessary death," and the rest of us tiring of this inconsolable catastrophe and turning to the next one.”
—Norman Maclean
Eldon Diettert, 19
3/3
—Norman Maclean
Eldon Diettert, 19
3/3
Norman Maclean, known for his book, A River Runs through It, was haunted not only by water, but fire as well. His other book, Young Men and Fire, is about those smokejumpers—guys in their teens & twenties—and their extraordinary bravery.
To this day people follow them onto the hills.
2/3
To this day people follow them onto the hills.
2/3
August 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Norman Maclean, known for his book, A River Runs through It, was haunted not only by water, but fire as well. His other book, Young Men and Fire, is about those smokejumpers—guys in their teens & twenties—and their extraordinary bravery.
To this day people follow them onto the hills.
2/3
To this day people follow them onto the hills.
2/3
On 5 Aug 1949, a lightning strike in Western Montana started the Mann Gulch Fire which would take the lives of 13 smokejumpers from a crew of 16. That event would change how wildfires are fought.
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
August 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
On 5 Aug 1949, a lightning strike in Western Montana started the Mann Gulch Fire which would take the lives of 13 smokejumpers from a crew of 16. That event would change how wildfires are fought.
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
It will be the mothers in America that end this dangerous game.
July 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It will be the mothers in America that end this dangerous game.
The whirring sound you hear is Murrow spinning in his grave.
July 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The whirring sound you hear is Murrow spinning in his grave.
"Sex and fresh vegetables" was the advice my colleague Lorin Cuoco gave me in the early 80s when I made one of many attempts to quit smoking.
The second bit of wisdom I picked up over more than 40 pack-years of nicotine addiction: “If at first you don’t succeed, quit, quit again.”
🧵1/8
The second bit of wisdom I picked up over more than 40 pack-years of nicotine addiction: “If at first you don’t succeed, quit, quit again.”
🧵1/8
July 15, 2025 at 2:25 AM
"Sex and fresh vegetables" was the advice my colleague Lorin Cuoco gave me in the early 80s when I made one of many attempts to quit smoking.
The second bit of wisdom I picked up over more than 40 pack-years of nicotine addiction: “If at first you don’t succeed, quit, quit again.”
🧵1/8
The second bit of wisdom I picked up over more than 40 pack-years of nicotine addiction: “If at first you don’t succeed, quit, quit again.”
🧵1/8
10 years ago, I had coronary artery bypass surgery at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis. I am forever grateful to my cardiothoracic surgeon Jennifer Lawton, my ICU nurse Victor Valencia, my many friends who got me back on my feet and my heart (and head) back in the game.
🧵1/2
🧵1/2
July 13, 2025 at 7:49 AM
10 years ago, I had coronary artery bypass surgery at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis. I am forever grateful to my cardiothoracic surgeon Jennifer Lawton, my ICU nurse Victor Valencia, my many friends who got me back on my feet and my heart (and head) back in the game.
🧵1/2
🧵1/2
I suspect this shows my naïveté, but I am surprised more federal agents are not refusing to comply with the orders coming from the Trump administration.
July 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I suspect this shows my naïveté, but I am surprised more federal agents are not refusing to comply with the orders coming from the Trump administration.
Today, monastic communities around the globe celebrate the Feast of Saint Benedict. Born in the year 480 CE, Benedict understood the difference between ear-listening and heart-hearing. In fact, the first lines of his "Rule" for monks include the words, "Listen... and incline the ear of your heart."
July 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Today, monastic communities around the globe celebrate the Feast of Saint Benedict. Born in the year 480 CE, Benedict understood the difference between ear-listening and heart-hearing. In fact, the first lines of his "Rule" for monks include the words, "Listen... and incline the ear of your heart."
July 6, 2025 at 2:45 AM
.
Oceans rise, empires fall
Next to Washington, they all look small
All alone, watch them run
They will tear each other into pieces
Jesus Christ, this will be fun
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da ya da
—Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Oceans rise, empires fall
Next to Washington, they all look small
All alone, watch them run
They will tear each other into pieces
Jesus Christ, this will be fun
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da ya da
—Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
July 4, 2025 at 4:48 AM
.
Oceans rise, empires fall
Next to Washington, they all look small
All alone, watch them run
They will tear each other into pieces
Jesus Christ, this will be fun
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da ya da
—Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Oceans rise, empires fall
Next to Washington, they all look small
All alone, watch them run
They will tear each other into pieces
Jesus Christ, this will be fun
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da ya da
—Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Someone was paying attention the day they taught law in Law School.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Someone was paying attention the day they taught law in Law School.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
There is a special place in hell for these smiling assholes. Unmitigated evil sons-of-bitches.
April 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
There is a special place in hell for these smiling assholes. Unmitigated evil sons-of-bitches.
Never trust a man who will lie about his lipid profile.
April 14, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Never trust a man who will lie about his lipid profile.
"...and any true Christianity. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from a place of security.” (Letter to Reinhold Niebuhr, 1939)
Art by: Kelly Latimore, Ben Lansing, Kreg Yingst, and Vano Bogomaz.
Art by: Kelly Latimore, Ben Lansing, Kreg Yingst, and Vano Bogomaz.
April 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"...and any true Christianity. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from a place of security.” (Letter to Reinhold Niebuhr, 1939)
Art by: Kelly Latimore, Ben Lansing, Kreg Yingst, and Vano Bogomaz.
Art by: Kelly Latimore, Ben Lansing, Kreg Yingst, and Vano Bogomaz.
"...Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that a future Christian civilization may survive, or else willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying our civilization...
3/
3/
April 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"...Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that a future Christian civilization may survive, or else willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying our civilization...
3/
3/
"... I must live through this difficult period in our national history along with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people ...
2/
2/
April 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"... I must live through this difficult period in our national history along with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people ...
2/
2/
Honoring the memory and witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Lutheran pastor, anti-fascist, theologian, spouse & parent, and martyr — murdered by the Nazis 80 years ago today at Flossenbürg concentration camp, 9 April 1945.
“I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America..."
🧵
“I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America..."
🧵
April 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Honoring the memory and witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Lutheran pastor, anti-fascist, theologian, spouse & parent, and martyr — murdered by the Nazis 80 years ago today at Flossenbürg concentration camp, 9 April 1945.
“I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America..."
🧵
“I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America..."
🧵
Saint Louis has done it once before (actually, twice) and it can do it again.
#KDNA #KDHX #communityradio #lorenzomilam #sexandbroadcasting
#KDNA #KDHX #communityradio #lorenzomilam #sexandbroadcasting
March 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Saint Louis has done it once before (actually, twice) and it can do it again.
#KDNA #KDHX #communityradio #lorenzomilam #sexandbroadcasting
#KDNA #KDHX #communityradio #lorenzomilam #sexandbroadcasting
Medieval cup holders. St Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Shot on the Solemnity of the Transitus of Saint Benedict.
March 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Medieval cup holders. St Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Shot on the Solemnity of the Transitus of Saint Benedict.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
+Pádraig
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
+Pádraig
March 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
+Pádraig
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
+Pádraig