GRIN & BARE IT
Read (and subscribe to) Grin and Bare It, my daily blog on storytelling, productivity, current events, teaching, my family, and other musings.
I have been posting to this blog every day since 2005.
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Ideal keyboard design for the inefficient typist
Since I spend a good portion of my day on a keyboard, its design is important, especially the specific placement of the keys. I have Read More
We forget the terrors of the past
In 1976, three armed men kidnapped 26 California children and their school bus driver. They brought them to the desert and ordered them into what Read More
Disastrous beginning. Otherwise brilliant.
A friend recommended this talk to me, which is admittedly in my wheelhouse because it deals with two things I know well: McDonald’s and existential Read More
Grace seems a little ridiculous
Possible hot take — meaning you might not love this idea: The United Nations estimates that more than 10,000 children die from hunger and related Read More
Resolution update: October 2024
Every month, I report the progress of my yearly goals to monitor progress (or the lack thereof) and hold myself accountable. The following are the Read More
A big, happy, forgotten party
On April 14, 1971, my great-grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding jubilee. I learned this thanks to the newspaper. Someone sent me the article from The Read More
Matt’s Rules of the World
If I were ruler of the world, I would immediately enact the following laws to improve the quality of life for all of humankind: 1. Read More
No one has anything in common anymore
According to recent survey data from YouTube Insights, 43 percent of Gen Z audiences are in a fandom that nobody in their personal life has Read More
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” returns
One of the best gifts you can give another person is opening the door to something new and glorious. Elysha, for example, convinced me years Read More
Three things that make my heart soar
Three things that make my heart soar: When someone on social media says, “You’re stupid!” to me but uses “your” instead of “you’re.” When someone Read More
Alice in Wonderland sucks
Have you ever read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? I attempted to read it last year and eventually quit, finding it as indiscernible as Virginia Woolf. Read More
Relics still kicking
The world is filled with ridiculous relics of the past. From neckties—first worn by Croatian mercenaries during the 30 Years War(1618-1648) to hold the tops Read More
A teacher’s first name is an excellent name
If it were up to me, my students would call me by my first name. I find using last names and titles in education to Read More
No one is watching and everything is impermanent
A quick reminder that when it comes to social media: No one is watching as much as you think. Also, everything is temporary and utterly Read More
A pile of cardboard boxes
At a recent Patriots tailgate, my friend Shep described me as being built like a mailbox. “You know,” he said. “Like one of those big, Read More
Green Day’s “Dookie” — made special again
Many bands re-master their albums to improve sound quality, optimize for new formats, and sell the same album again. Green Day has done the opposite Read More
Chase those dreams
This morning, I will serve as the minister at a church in Hartford. It will be the sixth time I have worked as a substitute Read More
Jeni’s great night!
You rarely get to witness someone’s journey from humble beginnings to their crowning achievement. I had the honor and privilege of witnessing it last night. Read More
Two math realities you may not know
Here are a couple of math facts that not everyone apparently understands. If you do, forgive me. I’m not implying this is groundbreaking mathematics. Percentages Read More
Weekend theory
A colleague asked me, “How was your long weekend?” “I feel like I need another day to recover,” I said. Then, after a moment, I Read More
