Archive for March 2011
Swallowing the apology
The request for an apology is a clear indication of a person’s likelihood to be eaten first in a zombie apocalypse. That is, if the zombies can stomach the sense of entitlement and degree of self-importance.
Read MoreGreat moments in academia #3
Last year I mentioned that I had three great academic moments while in college. The first pertained to a poem that I wrote. The second (and perhaps my favorite) pertained to a Toni Morrison novel. Here is the third. My first English class at Trinity College was Feminist Literary Criticism. Four female students plus me…
Read MoreThe changing faces of Matthew Dicks
For your general amusement, my school ID cards from years gone by: Seventh grade (1983): Ninth grade (1985): Manchester Community College (1994) Trinity College (1996)
Read MoreHug a teacher. Or at least send a note of thanks.
Yesterday a former student stopped by my class to say hello. He stood awkwardly in front of me for a second until his friend told me that he wanted a hug. Nothing was wrong. He just hadn’t seen me in a long time and missed me. And he had told his friend as much on…
Read MoreLemmings unwillingly launched to the sea
Lemmings don’t leap off cliffs and commit commit suicide as they migrate. It turns out that the phrase “like lemmings to the sea” is nonsense. The metaphor derives from the 1958 Academy Award winning Disney film White Wilderness, in which staged footage was shown with lemmings jumping to their death in a scene of faked…
Read MoreKnow thyself, or just read what festival organizers have to say about you instead
My appearance at the upcoming Connecticut Book Festival has been finalized for those interested in attending. I will be speaking on Sunday from 10:00-11:00 AM at the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus. I’ll then be signing books from 11:00 AM -12:00 PM. More details to follow, including the schedules for the other authors appearing. …
Read MoreOne of those annoying “My daughter is perfection” posts. But the video is damn cute.
Based upon my daughter’s behavior this evening, I suspect that she is vying for a new dollhouse or perhaps an extended bedtime. Clara is playing with her little people. They are spread throughout the living room, which she informed the dog tonight is now her room. Elysha tells her that it’s time for dinner. Without…
Read MoreMovies that are better than the book: Part 2
A quick update on yesterday’s post by the same name: It turns out that as I was writing my list, Jason Bailey at Flavorpill was making a list as well, and his is complete with video trailers, which makes my list look considerably less impressive. Of course, his story can only be read by clicking…
Read MoreWaking the dead with a Datsun B-210
My sister tweeted this: I’ve had my license for 20 years and I always thought that the larger vehicle always had the right of way. Apparently that’s only true at sea. This is not surprising. I took my sister out for her first driving lesson when she was sixteen. We drove around the cemetery where…
Read MoreMovies that are better than the book
I just finished reading Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. The movie, as you may know, is a classic. Genuinely great. And I feared that this would be one of those rare instances that the film is better than the book. I almost didn’t read the book for this very reason. I bypassed it several times,…
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