Society

April 29, 2026

Gay People Are Part Of Every Family

I was reminded this week of a truism. Gay people are a part of every family. One of the chief bullies from my high school years has a gay brother in a long-term committed relationship with his partner. Good for the brother. That fact intersects with my life, and to be honest, I hope that… Continue reading

Society, hancock, Gay Rights, Plainfield

hancock, writing, lgbtq, gay, bigotry, queer, lgbt, Plainfield, Gay Rights
April 27, 2026

Why N Word Has No Place In Janesville Bar

When I heard the following story for the first time, I blinked a few times and then asked it to be repeated. The story did not take place 30 years ago in Mississippi or 15 years ago in a redneck bar in Hayward. The story occurred just a couple of weeks ago in Janesville, Wisconsin.… Continue reading

Janesville, Racism, Social Commentary, Society, wisconsin, Words

black-men, Janesville, n-word, politics, Racism, Society, wisconsin, Words
April 26, 2026

May 1st Is A Teaching Moment Outside Of Madison’s School Classrooms

May 1st is International Workers’ Day and often referred to as a “Day Without Immigrants”, where immigrant rights groups, labor unions, and folks like you and me join forces to organize protests advocating for worker rights, protesting immigration policies, and demonstrating the economic impact of immigrant labor. Many school districts have chosen to close their… Continue reading

Books, Education, immigrants, madison, Racism, Social Commentary, Society

bigotry, classrooms, Education, immigrants, learning, madison, may-1st, teachers, teaching
April 25, 2026

Just Another Day In A Gun‑Soaked America At White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Some days it feels like this country is held together with duct tape and the hope that the next breaking‑news alert won’t be about another shooting. But then it happens again. Tonight, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, of all places. A night that’s supposed to be about jokes, journalism, and a little Washington glitz… Continue reading

donald-trump, Gun Control, guns, nra, Social Commentary, Society

Gun Control, gun-violence, guns, news, nra, politics
April 23, 2026

And Then, C. J. Sansom Came Into My Life

During my medical physical this week, I was given a series of questions about whether I was feeling moody, depressed, a lack of interest in eating, an inability to sleep, or thoughts of self-harm. While I feel for people who have those concerns, I fall far on the other side of the equation. The varying… Continue reading

Books, hancock, Social Commentary, Society

book-review, book-reviews, Books, c-j-sansom, fiction, ken-follett, reading
April 22, 2026

Eight Black Kids Are Murdered With A Gun, Nation Yawns

There’s a point in a nation’s decline when the extraordinary becomes ordinary, when the unthinkable becomes background noise. That line could have been written every day since Inauguration Day 2025. But I write to refer to this past Sunday. And I write regarding the way eight Black children were violently shot to death in Louisiana,… Continue reading

conservatives, Gun Control, guns, nra, Social Commentary, Society

Gun Control, gun-violence, guns, nra, politics, Society
April 18, 2026

Letter From Home: “That Neighborhood Feel” Reprint From 7/8/09

It was a pleasant sound that drifted across the warm air. A group of about ten women from a writers’ group had gathered on a neighbor’s back patio to talk about their creative projects and offer each other feedback. (Our neighbor is sending out her first children’s book to publishers.) Their light‑hearted banter and gentle… Continue reading

hancock, Isthmus, Letter From Home, madison, Madison Police, Society

hancock, Isthmus, life, madison
April 17, 2026

Madison Comes Together In Severe Weather

James and I spent the tornado warning early this evening in Target on University Avenue. It was the same store we spent a few hours in during the amazing 15-inch rainstorm in 2018. No, that was not a typo. Then we watched from the high windows as cars floated on University Avenue. Today I grabbed… Continue reading

Weather, Society, madison, Isthmus, Social Commentary

Dane County, life, madison, travel, Weather
April 14, 2026

Even Good News Carries The Weight Of Our Time

The news was welcomed, and from a legal perspective, not surprising. Still, it was all very troubling. To settle a lawsuit from LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups, the Trump administration agreed on Monday to allow a rainbow Pride flag to continue flying at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City after removing it in… Continue reading

donald-trump, Gay Rights, Law, Social Commentary, Society, Strengthen Democracy

gay, history, lgbtq, national-park-service, politics, pride, pride-flag, stonewall
April 13, 2026

Americans Suffer From Psychological Jolts Due To Donald Trump’s Outlandish Absurdity

James and I were relaxing during the rain on Sunday. Following the much-desired electoral ousting of Viktor Orban and the hoped-for renewal of ties with the EU, we watched The Murder at the Vicarage, Agatha Christie’s first Miss Marple detective story. We read books and drank coffee and tea. As such, we were separated from… Continue reading

donald-trump, Religion, Social Commentary, Society

christianity, donald-trump, jesus, politics

Recent Columns

Humphrey History Minute

Coffee Shop Banter

jnd911 on Why N Word Has No Place In Janesville BarMay 2, 2026
I think the band is to be commended for “not playing this gig.” Perhaps, we could ask this band if…
Gregory Humphrey on Why N Word Has No Place In Janesville BarApril 28, 2026
I wondered how to handle this matter, as there is a band involved, too. Thanks for your comment.
PurplePenquin on Why N Word Has No Place In Janesville BarApril 28, 2026
There is a joke I keep in my pocket for situations like that… “What do you call a black man…
Gregory Humphrey on Jan Swoboda, Political Navigator For Former State Representative Lary Swoboda, Dies At 82April 27, 2026
I am glad to have known Jan and Lary as friends and shared as many times laughing as doing legislative…

Perfect Addition To A Cup Of Hot Steaming Coffee

My book is about a rural family, finding a way through the years of being bullied, and the suicide of my best friend. Many recollections about the days in broadcasting, the state legislature, and coming out as a gay man.