grin and bare it
A blog by Matthew Dicks
More than Words: 1990 and 2023
In September of 1990, the band Extreme released their balled “More Than Words” off their album Extreme II: Pornograffitti. Unlike anything the group had ever done before, the song features just two of the band…
Read MoreBrandon returns in plastic
One of the prizes that I gave to my students last week was a small, plastic boy with red hair. Long ago, my children played with this boy, but being in middle school now, these…
Read More“Burn it to the ground.”
Opposition is hard, but it’s not always impossible. See Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, who stands opposed to anti-transgender legislation, including a bill that would outlaw gender-affirming therapies for those 18 and younger, as well…
Read MoreDiaries of Note
Here’s my latest obsession, which should also be yours: Diaries of Note From the About page of the website: Every day, beginning on January 1, 2023, a new (old) diary entry will be published on…
Read MoreBeginnings matter a lot
During the 1980s, the average chart-topping song had 21 seconds of introductory instrumentals before the vocals kicked in. As streaming services took the place of physical music, the music industry realized that a big, catchy…
Read MoreThe constant evolution of Elysha Dicks
My wife, Elysha, is currently learning to become a teacher of English language learners. She’s working through an intensive, year-long program that has essentially stolen away vast swaths of her weekends all year long. It…
Read More10 rules of productive online communication – gen Z edition
The substack Many One Percents offers ten rules of productive online communication for people in the Gen Z population. I found the list a little silly at times. Incredibly annoying at others. 1. Never end…
Read MoreAt last, an explanation
Why do teenage boys wear shorts in the winter? Why does a 50-degree day in October feel so different than a 50-degree day in March? At last, some actual answers, based in science. An excellent…
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