At the chess club holiday party.

Peter looks forward to his Wednesday evening visits to the Monroeville Chess club. (Last one until mid-January.) Similar:That moment when you're logging into a table read of #RUR (Rossum's Universal Robo…PersonalSnape and Ginny at the Hogwarts Club event.PersonalBrett Favre Urges Ban On Youth Tackle Football, Pleads For No Hitting 'Til 14Concussions in sports often a…

Commentary: What My Struggling Students Wanted Me to Understand

I haven’t taught a developmental course at SHU, but when I teach freshman writing, I often encounter students who struggle with the transition from high school to college writing. Those who were praised all their lives as good writers can tell good personal stories, and they can deploy accurate summaries of non-controversial, “correct” facts. I give…

Other than #StarTrek memes, my favorite part of the web is how it’s a rhetorical battleground for the fate of the free world.

Saturday, Donald Trump tweeted that he knew Flynn lied, and that’s why he “had to fire” him. Critics immediately raised concerns, noting that if Trump did in fact know Flynn had lied, then Trump’s request that FBI Director James Comey “let this go” amounts to an obstruction of justice. Sunday, Trump’s lawyer John Dowd told…

Carolyn and Alex in “The King and I”

Similar:Pfully Pfizered and pfeeling pfine so pfar. Current_EventsSo this is Pi DayMy wife says she bought the pies intendi…AmusingMidterm Grades Spring 2025: Posted!I planned ahead pretty well this term. I…AcademiaA Conversation with Dennis Jerz, Actor — WAOB Audio Theatrehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU6vs0ZB…DramaYeet with Emily Dickinson (according to my auto-correct}PersonalTalked too much during a meeting today.Talked too much during…

I rather like my camera. Bought a new zoom lens a few months ago.

Similar:To my daughter for 2020: “You shall prevail.”PersonalAn important day to remember.Never again.PersonalAnother 10 sq cm of #steampunk control panel. Trying to add a subtle pattern to the light-…One of many steampunk control panels I’v…AestheticsMy big brother and my son facing off at chess. I am outclassed!  GamesThe girl will be Mrs Lovett in Stage…

The Girl at rehearsal (where else?).

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Alex and Carolyn rehearse for “The King and I” Saturday night

Similar:Talk with us about books! English as a minor or second major @setonhilluniversityAcademiaMany familiar faces in this cast but this one is my favorite. Sold out opening of Grand Ho…Personal#4C18 snack still life.PersonalA colleague bakes Irish soda bread to share on the Humanities floor every St Patrick's DayPersonalThe barbican at Mickelgate was pulled down in…

A woman approached The Post with dramatic — and false — tale about Roy Moore. She appears to be part of undercover sting operation.

This looks like a deliberate attempt to plant a “fake news” story, presumably in order to discredit the Washington Post for falling for it. Verify, verify, verify. The Post did its homework, and did not fall into the trap. Sadly, this story will be used to discredit people who come forward with legitimate sexual assault…

Fallout Monopoly with the boy.

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Curse you, conference proposal word limits.

I’m frustrated by these accursed conference proposal maximum word counts. (10) Curse you, conference proposal word limits. (6) Damn proposal word counts!! (4) Cut wherever possible. (3) Trim wordiness. (2) Simplify. (1) Actually, that helped. Back at it. Similar:Children of Eden (Stage Right, April 2014)My wife and I in Biblical costumes for C…CultureLoved part 2…

Did you share Russian fake news? Facebook, apparently unable to insert items directly in our feeds, will make you jump through hoops to find out.

Did you share fake news from Russia during the US Presidential election? Grudgingly following up on a Congressional order, Facebook will permit you to jump through hoops to find out. Because Facebook apparently does not have the technology to insert items of its choosing directly in user feeds, the social media company has helpfully provided…

Controlling behavior of HQ CEO hijacks what should have been a puff piece about popular HQ host Scott Rogowsky

A few minutes ago I heard about HQ for the first time, through a friend’s Facebook post. An item or two down in my feed I saw a different FB friend had linked to this story. The Daily Beast describes a tense encounter with a CEO who calls a reporter, threatens to fire his own…

Taking Harassment Seriously Requires Serious Distinctions

Editor and columnist Jonah Goldberg questions his fellow conservatives who call for the resignation of Al Franken (a Democrat; junior senator from Minnesota), equating the allegations against him with the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, all the while downplaying the serious allegations against Roy Moore (a Republication; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of…

Details drive the news (new handout)

I have nothing against essays, but not every writing task requires an essay. I tell my students they will be more successful if they produce a narrative personal essay because it’s the right genre for the occasion, not because it’s the only genre they feel comfortable writing. This handout is my latest attempt to help…