Archive for January 2017
The Today Show: Educational television at its best
I no longer wear a necktie unless specifically required to do so. They are ridiculous artifices of the past and literally (and perhaps figuratively) nooses around the neck of anyone who wears one. If you enjoy wearing ties or like the look, more power to you. If you are forced to wear a tie but…
Read MoreOur President is a sex offender or pretends to be a sex offender.
I have many thoughts on this historic Inauguration Day, but here is one that I will carry with me for the next four years: Our President – who has not released his tax returns and will violate the Constitution on his first day in office under the emoluments clause – has either admitted to being…
Read MoreA short-sighted and fairly presumptuous name
I’ve recently learned that Occidental College received it’s name from the fact that it was the western-most institution of higher learning in the United States at the time of its establishment in 1887. Occidental (from the root occident) means “the countries or lands of the West” (in contrast to “Oriental,” which implies countries or lands of…
Read MoreI might know more about education than Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary.
Betsy DeVos is Donald Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary. Here are some facts that emerged from yesterday’s Senate confirmation hearing: She called the public school systems a “dead end” even though she did not attend a public school, did not send her children to public schools, and never taught in a public school. She has…
Read MoreFind something to be this excited and happy about…
May we all find something that engenders this much excitement and happiness in our lives. This dog is my new spirit guide. My first, actually.
Read MoreUnfair assumption #29: Football fans are more effective in emergencies
As we left the house last night, our 19 year-old babysitter was settling in to watch the end of the Atlanta Falcons – Seattle Seahawks playoff game. She’d been watching the first half of the game at home before coming over. When I arrived home from the show five hours later, she was sitting…
Read MoreSpringsteen on parents (and perhaps a path to my salvation)
“We honor our parents by carrying their best forward and laying the rest down. By fighting and taming the demons that laid them low and now reside in us. It’s all we can do, if we’re lucky. ” — Bruce Springsteen I have walked for a long time in the shadow of parents whose decisions…
Read MoreThe best thing about my wife’s family might surprise you (but shouldn’t)
There’s many things I love about the family that I have married into. Their absolute acceptance of me despite our many differences Their support and encouragement of my teaching, writing, and performing career Their unbridled love for my children There are also some quirky aspects of the family that I have grown to adore. Their…
Read MoreLittle Guy Defeats Big Guy
It’s sometimes hard to imagine but important to know that the little guy is perfectly capable of defeating the big guy, as improbable as that may seem. When it doubt, remember this:
Read MoreSpare your parental advice unless you know how to give parental advice
If you’re a parent of a child of any age, I would like to suggest that before you dispense with any parental advice to fellow parents, you carefully consider if you’re qualified. Much of the advice that I am offered or overhear has one or two problems: It presents a bleak future. It’s often…
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