Julia Duin's books

10/26/2024

About 10 days ago, I attended my first heavy metal concert of The Hu, a Mongolian band and here's what I wrote. The shamanistic undertone isn't what their fans are thinking about, but 1. it's there and 2. some of the band members seem to have stepped away from their Christian beliefs to embrace it. eligionnews.com/2024/10/25/from-the-steppes-with-shamanism-the-hu-makes-hits-with-paeons-to-the-sky-deity/

10/23/2024

Worked my tail off doing this story about women who bring their handicapped babies to term instead of aborting them. https://religionunplugged.com/news/Mothers%20who%20keep%20their%20fatal%20pregnancies%20Has%20Become%20a%20Heated%20Political%20Issue

10/23/2024

Too often we hear of Texas women like Kate Cox who abort their handicapped children and we never hear about women like Yessica Guerrero who allow them to be born. Many thanks to ReligionUnplugged for running this story..https://religionunplugged.com/news/Mothers%20who%20keep%20their%20fatal%20pregnancies%20Has%20Become%20a%20Heated%20Political%20Issue

10/06/2024

I've always been fascinated with the history of journalism in Alaska. I did an (unpublished, sadly) academic paper on this 9 years ago and finally got a portion of my research on Alaska's press barons into Alaska magazine for their October issue:

Alaska has a legacy of bigger-than-life media personalities who ruled the presses like old-fashioned newspaper barons. 

09/27/2024

My father would have turned 100 today (Sept. 26) so a bunch of us: My mom (96), me, my sister-in-law Susan and niece Carley gathered for cupcakes and to wish Opa a happy birthday Up There.

09/22/2024

Sign of the Times: Attended a Steven Curtis Chapman concert - my first - in Tacoma last night and it was telling which song he chose to end out the evening. Not something patriotic or country; not even a worship song, but his 2022 composition "Don't Lose Heart." Am guessing he's picking up a lot of discouragement from the folks he meets during his road tours.

09/10/2024

Attended a pro-Israel rally yesterday in Bellevue that also included Persians against the current regime in Iran and Hindus upset about mistreatment of their co-religionists in Muslim-majority Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Jewish community of Seattle is so tiny, it has aligned with larger local groups (a big Indian diaspora in Redmond working ) to counter-act that very well-organized pro-Palestinian forces at the University of Washington. There were counter-demonstrators and police shoving both sides apart.

09/07/2024

After spending a few days in Canada, I am finding I cannot post news articles on my feed. I get this inane pop-up from FB, saying that "in response to legislation," news items cannot be shared in Canada. I know that FB is screwing Canadians over this but my location software (I've checked) says I am back in the USA. I have tried several ways to get around this but FB still thinks I am in Canada. Ideas, anyone?

09/04/2024

Be sure to read this fascinating story. Why is it so difficult to find a therapist who accepts your health insurance? In a project called “Why I Left the Network,” ProPublica reporters spoke with more than 500 behavioral health providers across 50 states who often felt like they were working against health insurers to care for their patients. Insurers know that if they make it too frustrating for providers to follow up on claim denials, the typical therapist will eventually give up and the insurance company won't have to pay out. Works like a charm. This strikes close to home for us.

Those who need therapy often have to pay out of pocket or go without care, even if they have health insurance. Hundreds of mental health providers told us they fled networks because insurers made their jobs impossible and their lives miserable.

08/31/2024

In case you wondered what the beaches look like on BC's west coast, here they are. The photo of Veeka jumping is at an expansive beach near Tofino (a hippie/surfer haven kind of town) and the other is taken on a hiking trail near Ucluelet, some 20 miles to the south (Veeka is crouched near the bottom gazing at a tide pool). I'd thought both beach towns were rich destinations like Carmel-by-the-Sea - instead they're New Agey spots full of Tshirt shops and German tourists.

08/30/2024

Veeka trying out her first beer. We're on Vancouver Island for a few days and the drinking age up here is 19, so of course V took the plunge. Unfortunately the local brew (we both thought) was quite bitter and she got dizzy afterwards. Up here, they demand two IDs - just her passport wouldn't do - so I had to run back to our AirBnB and retrieve her school ID.

08/20/2024

Ten years ago today, Veeka was starting third grade at University Park Elementary in Fairbanks. She was 9 years old and we'd arrived in Fairbanks the night before after a 1,500-mile drive from Seattle. It was the start of a very adventurous year. She still has that same lunch bag. Temps were in the 40s - fall had already begun.