Level II Fun (Part 2): Out of the Pain Cave, Into the Light

If you’re new to this blog and haven’t yet read Level II Fun, Part I, you might want to go back and do so.  This post picks up where the last one left off.  For those returning to the blog, recall that I had had a very bad day on Mt. Tom, was sunburnt, dehydrated,…

Why The Humanities are Still King

When people hear that someone is majoring in English, chances are they think, “Oh, you are going to teach.”  Or, “Man, what in God’s name are you going to do with a degree in English?”  And it’s true, English majors largely end up as teachers; however, they bring a lot to the table that other…

Lacing up Your Boots: Picking up the Pieces After Relapse

St. Patrick’s day 2019, a bar in R.I.  “Hey, are you doing car bombs tonight?”  “Of course”, said the waitress, as I racked up another game of 8-ball for the four of us.  “Bring us a round.” For the second time in a week, and in the previous seventeen months, I was drinking, attempting to…

Three Books, Three Days: Here’s What I Learned

Are you a reader?  I mean like, are you mad about reading?  Do you read a lot?  At least a book a week?  If you’ve found this site, I bet you are.  I don’t post random inspirational quotes, nor do I put up a ton of pics.  I write. Also, my articles are probably a…

Lightning Lessons in Writing: How to Use the Comma

All too often, inexperienced writers view, or worse, use, the comma as a pause in a sentence.  While it’s true that we pause at commas, as we would any mark of punctuation, that is not their function any more than the function of a period is a pause, or a semi-colon or colon are pauses. …

How Nature Makes Us Better

Dear Readers, As I continue to try to find a work life balance that works for this blog, as well as the time to keep original content coming, please check out the podcast I’ve uploaded on how nature helps to keep us healthy and well.  If you’re a smartphone user click on the menu link…

Potty-mouthed Professors: Why They’re the Best

Trust me. I should know. I’m one of them.  And if you are someone easily offended by foul, vulgar, profane language, this essay might not be for you. There is an amazing essay written by Jordan Schneider in The Chronicle of Higher Education that covers why swearing in class isn’t that big of a deal;…