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The next time you need to go into battle…

Not a literal battle, I hope, but one of those fights for what you believe is right… Facing off against a school administrator to get your child the services she so sorely needs Shouting over the fence at the neighbor who refuses to put his erratic poodle on a leash Demanding a raise from your…

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Warning: Women with handbags crossing

Do you know what this sign warns motorists about? It’s okay if you don’t. Why would you? It has NOTHING to do with the purpose of the sign. Answer below. The sign indicates a school crossing, even though it more closely resembles two women with handbags rather than any child crossing the street. Can you…

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A tribute to Carrie Fisher

I’ve always thought that Bruce Springsteen should be frozen in time. Not permitted to die. Experienced by all future generations.  I think Carrie Fisher fits that category as well.  Below is a moving, tear jerking tribute to her by the Star Wars team. But anytime I see someone so young and vital who is no…

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How Can You Help Students Cope With Getting College Rejection Letters?

Slate asks: How can you help students cope with getting college rejection letters? The answer to this one is fairly simple, I think: Remind them of how many young people can’t afford to attend a college of any kind.  Show them the statistics on the enormous number of young people growing up in impoverished, crime-riddled neighborhoods,…

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New policy: Transform a meeting into an actual meeting.

As a teacher, I often find myself in meetings with teachers and staff from other schools in various buildings throughout the district. Up until this year, my habit has been to sit amongst my friends and colleagues in these meetings whenever possible, as most people tend to do. It makes sense. Sit amongst your friends.…

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Things I Do #6: I touch bricks

Last night I performed in a club in Lewiston, Maine constructed in large part of brick. Whenever I find myself adjacent to a brick wall, I reach out and touch a brick, knowing that a bricklayer once placed this brick, and all the rest around it, into the wall. Unlike sheet rock or plaster or…

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The one thing about Sean Spicer’s recent bout of stupidity that I haven’t heard mentioned

There isn’t much left to be said about White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s recent inane comparison between Hitler and Assad and his declaration that Hitler did not use chemical weapons in World War II. It was so, so stupid. But I think one thing has been missed in all the coverage that this moment…

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United Airlines is its own worst enemy. They need help. I have offered.

You’ve probably seen the video of the United Airline’s passenger being forcibly removed from an aircraft bound for Louisville. In case you haven’t here is one of the many videos:  The airline said in a statement that the flight was overbooked, and that no passengers agreed to voluntarily give up their seats. United said airline…

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People misspeak. When their words are bigoted or sexist, we automatically condemn. We should think twice.

Truth: We all say things we regret. We misspeak.We fail to consider the feelings of another person.Our joke lands poorly.We don’t foresee how a sentence will be received by others.We choose the wrong word or words.  Quite often, we forgive people for these moments. We know that they can happen absent any malice or intent.…

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