Chris Dean

Just a dad and former #apush teacher, and high school administrator trying to be a little better every day. #becuriousnotjudgemental

[Bob Elder @southernphd]

I never met Gordon Wood, but I have a story about him.

In one of my grad school seminars, we read Wood’s Creation of the American Republic. The sheer erudition and evidentiary depth of the book bowled me over.

Back then, before kids and before life accelerated to warp speed, I used to call my mother every Sunday to catch up. Lots of times, we ended up talking about what I was reading that week in my grad seminars or for leisure. Mom had an omnivorous mind, and she was always looking for something else to read. She was a true intellectual—curious about almost everything, always eager to integrate new arguments or ideas into her existing schemas of how the world worked or to have those schemas challenged and changed.

When we talked that particular Sunday, I think I tried to describe to her part of Wood’s argument about the relationship between the state constitutions during the Articles of Confederation era and the federal Constitution. Maybe I was tired, maybe I didn’t completely understand her questions, but the end result of the conversation was that Mom had questions about Wood’s argument that I didn’t answer satisfactorily. I told her that she should probably just read the book, and we said goodbye.

She did eventually read the book, but the next Sunday, Mom started our conversation by saying, “Well, I had a lovely conversation with Gordon Wood this week.” For a split second, I thought she was joking, but then I remembered who I was dealing with. I started to sweat. “How?” I asked. A whole variety of unlikely scenarios in which the foremost historian of the American Revolution and my mother, who lived in Wichita, Kansas, might have met ran through my mind. “Oh, I just looked up his office phone number on Brown’s website and called, and he picked up!” Mom said. I decided I would have to find another profession.

As it ended up, Gordon Wood spent about an hour on the phone with my mother answering her questions about the Constitution. Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for the man when I imagine him picking up the phone in Providence and finding Becky Elder from Wichita on the other end of the line. His generosity in that moment spoke very well of him.

Rest in peace, professor.

[Danny Deraney @DannyDeraney]

Every year, I share this video of French caretakers who take sand from Omaha Beach in Normandy, and scrub them into the letters to give them the gold coloring.

They do this for all 9,386 US soldiers who died.

France also gave us this land as American soil. #MemorialDayWeekend

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

We are so back!

[People @people]

Pizza Hut's 'BOOK IT!' Summer Reading Program Returns to Provide Voracious Young Readers with Pizza Parties and More https://t.co/k7LZLaDSMy

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

@Jeopardy What is On the Road?

[Clint Lamb @ClintRLamb]

Since Nate Oats’ first year, Alabama has six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances with five of those including a trip to the Sweet 16 (four straight)…

20-21: Sweet 16
21-22: NCAAT
22-23: Sweet 16
23-24: Final Four
24-25: Elite 8
25-26: Sweet 16 (currently)

[Darren Rovell @darrenrovell]

The star of tonight’s Jim Irsay collection at @ChristiesInc is Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road” scroll.

It was bought by Irsay for $2.4 million, but should go for north of $3.5 million tonight.

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

@Coach_NMalantis @ProQuickDrawPQD @CalebSoreano 🦌🧹

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

@Coach_NMalantis

[Tyler Raley @traley34]

What a night for @omhsbasketball

The Eagles picked up a big second win in the area over Hoover on the road tonight and have created chaos in Class 7A, Area 6.

It’s the first time Oak Mountain has defeated the Bucs since Jan. 11, 2022

@AlecEtheredgeSC @andrewtsimonson

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

@Jaayy3_ @MattGuerrieri @mccomb_shane @bobbycarr11 @PrattvilleFB @ChadSimmons_ @samspiegs @TomLoy247 @adamgorney @GregBiggins

[Atlas Press @realAtlasPress]

Marcus Aurelius, an underrated one

[Chris Low @Clowfb]

“Everybody would just remember me as the guy who took all this money and went to Miami or Tennessee for his last year. But I was a captain. I put my hand and footprints in the cement at Denny Chimes. I would have lost everything that I built at Alabama.” — Ty Simpson

[friendscallmeJay @Jaypotta]

Good morning. Here’s Bob Weir performing “Morning Dew” on stage for the 408th and final time, featuring Sturgill MF’n Simpson no less.🔥

[Jimmy G @jimmygards]

Worst thing to happen to ducks since

[friendscallmeJay @Jaypotta]

Some people will try to tell you that Jason Isbells ‘Foxes in the Snow’ is not a good album. Don’t listen to them. Here’s “Crimson and Clay”.🔥

[Saving Country Music @KyleCoroneos]

Sturgill Simpson or "Johnny Blue Skies" is working with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on new music.
https://t.co/Fc64wwu0YP

[Chris Dean @cdean71]

@JoshPhillipsPhD Imagine reading monte Cristo as a serial…