Today was our 37th wedding anniversary, and I knew it was going to be tough to top what I wrote last year, 36 F***ing Great Years, so I'm not even going to try. It was a pretty typical day; we both taught, got some takeout for dinner, and watched World News Tonight and the season premiere … Continue reading A Peaceful, Easy Anniversary
There seems to be a battle brewing in the world of live video streaming over Twitter. Such a service turns anyone with a smartphone into a broadcaster. The two apps that are competing head to head are Meerkat and Periscope. Meerkat was released about a month ago and Periscope was just released yesterday. At this point, … Continue reading Meerkat, Periscope, and Younow – the Next Killer Apps?
Harry Chapin, of Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle" fame, was one of the greatest singer-songwriters, social activists, humanitarians, and philanthropists to live. He was well known for "playing one night for me, one night for the other guy." After his life was tragically cut short in 1981 at the age of 38, he was … Continue reading So Do Something, and May His Song Be Sung
Given the avalanche of reader comments and questions I am starting to receive, I thought the most efficient way to reply would be to periodically answer several at once, so let's get to the mailbag. Dear Jim, What's with your obsession with Seth Godin, Bruce Springsteen, and Anna Kendrick? You seem to keep dropping their … Continue reading Reader Comments
I'm a big fan of routine. As an example, here's part of my morning ritual: peel four bananas, and place into blender pour 24 ounces of water in blender, and blend for about 5 seconds go to the fridge and get out the romaine lettuce and baby spinach add a heart of romaine lettuce to … Continue reading Stuck in a Rut?
I guess the question in the title of this blog contains a bit of hubris, since it implies that at least at some point my students did need me. While it may be true that the best way to learn something is to teach it to yourself, as a teacher, I have always believed (hoped?) that what … Continue reading Do My Students Even Need Me Any More?
I was reading the paper today, and there was a great story about Judy Collins, of "Both Sides Now" and "Send in the Clowns" fame. I was shocked to read that she is 75 years old! But quoting from the story: "(she) is still as enthusiastic about making music as she was in her heyday. … Continue reading Human Energizer Bunnies
Imagine taking college courses titled, "Bruce Springsteen's Theology", "Demystifying the Hipster", "What if Harry Potter Is Real", "Simpsons and Philosophy", and "Calvin and Hobbes". That could potentially be the greatest semester of my life. And while there is no one college offering all of those courses, those are all real courses that have been offered … Continue reading Life Design Class
Once again, I need to give credit to one of Christine Frazier's prompts - this time her suggestion of writing about a recurring daydream you may have, for the idea behind this post. While I don't really have any recurring daydreams, I do often wonder what it would be like to be someone else, what … Continue reading I Wonder What It Would Be Like to Be…
Borden's Blather 