Archive for March 2015
If the teacher tells you that your child is not gifted, it’s more likely that it’s the teacher who is not gifted.
The most common response to a piece I wrote last month entitled 12 Things Teachers Think But Can’t Always Say to Parents was a suggested addition to the list. It was phrased in many ways, oftentimes sarcastically, and it generally went something like this: Your child is not as gifted as you think he or…
Read MoreStudents were required to listen to Ted Cruz – under threat of fines – which seems just plain mean. Also agonizing.
In case you didn’t hear, the students at Liberty University were required to attend Ted Cruz’s speech announcing his candidacy for President last week. Failure to do so would have resulted in a fine of $10. Even worse, when students attempted to leave after realizing that they were at a political rally, they were refused…
Read More14 Things That Annoy Me (and probably you)
1. People who live in the suburbs of a city but claim residence to that city 2. Drivers who fail to understand that “No Right on Red” really means “Be careful before making your perfectly legal right on red.” 3. Continuous discussions about body ailments and/or illnesses 4. Invitations to play stupid Facebook games 5.…
Read MoreThe two reasons that people like foods that they initially despise are exactly the two reasons that I still don’t like those foods.
I’m known to have a limited palate. It’s not as limited as many of my friends contend, but there are admittedly large numbers of foods that I do not like, including salad, a great number of vegetables, many nuts, most Asian cuisines, most sauces and dressings, and more. I also don’t drink coffee or alcohol.…
Read MoreI want this life.
The author Julian Barnes would kill me, and defacing books is a terrible thing, but don’t you think this is also an AMAZING idea?
While attending a book club recently, a woman told me that the book they read before my book was Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending. “And something really strange happened with that book,” she said. Almost as soon as the discussion began, the woman became confused. “It was as if they had all read…
Read MoreMy son’s excitement over a recent visit to the mall is slightly disconcerting
Thankfully, I think it has nothing to do with the shopping and everything to o with the indoor play area.
Read MoreTeachers of writing at any level: Read this immediately. Nothing is more important.
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Patrick Modiano, who had this to say about the writing process during his acceptance speech: Writing is a strange and solitary activity. It is a little like driving a car at night, in winter, on ice, with zero visibility. You have no choice, you cannot go…
Read MoreI don’t know Kathleen Hampton, but based upon her lawsuit, I suspect that ‘entitled and insufferable” are likely descriptors.
Perhaps you’ve heard about the woman who wished to dine solo at a Portland, Oregon restaurant on Valentine’s Day and is now suing the restaurant because she claims she received rude service. Kathleen Hampton is asking for $100,000 in damages and apologies both in person and in print in ‘the news and local newspapers,” so…
Read MoreIs Ted Cruz really this stupid or is he simply pandering to idiots?
Serious, sincere question: When someone like Ted Cruz continues to reject the realities of climate change like he did last week on Late Night, does he really believe what he is saying, or is he merely pandering to the idiots he needs to win a primary? I really want to know: Is Ted Cruz a…
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