U.S. Constitution

By Ande Jacobson

May 2025, the heart of spring. While my favorite season is fall because I greatly prefer the weather compared to that of any other season, spring normally signals hope and energy after the winter recedes and the plants reawaken. This year, nature is doing its thing. The trees are green. The flowers are blooming. The bugs are starting to amass. Little squirrels and birds are running all over the place. But this spring still doesn’t feel like spring. Yes, the outside appears much the way it always does this time of year. Alas, the inside is different. There are always things to be concerned about, but this year it’s hard to know where to start because so many things are at risk that don’t have to be. There are many things to consider, and not all of them are related directly to the crises we face.

I recently posted an article across my various social media accounts about habits that will make us happier. It was a compilation of recommendations from a psychologist who heads the Department of Psychiatry at a major medical center in the U.S., and it was truly about self-care, something that becomes even more important during trying times. A friend commented on my post on one of the platforms I use that he didn’t think it was appropriate to feel happy when we’re losing our democracy, which got me thinking. Continue reading →

By Ande Jacobson

Teri Kanefield’s writing is often quite timely, and her latest book is no exception. At a time when individual rights are in peril, Kanefield’s upcoming book, Rebels, Robbers, and Radicals: The Story of the Bill of Rights, tells the story of not only how the Bill of Rights came to be and why it was needed but also how the interpretation of those rights has changed since their initial ratification. The book is due out on 20 May 2025, and it would be a great addition to everyone’s personal library, especially now. This concise volume, clocking in at a slim 224 pages, tells a story every American should know. The Bill of Rights is the collection of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and in those amendments lie the foundation of our individual rights under the law. The publisher lists this volume as appropriate for young readers ages 10-14, but in reality this book is also an excellent reference for anyone young or old. It’s written at same level that Kanefield used to write her appellate court briefs. She doesn’t talk down to her readers and seeks to inform them through compelling stories about real people from our history to illustrate the critical aspects of each of these amendments. She also incorporates applicable law, explaining terms where unfamiliarity may hinder understanding. Continue reading →