E.B. White Snows Another Victim (Thanks to...
In today's Washington Post, Jonathan Yardley sings the praises of Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style."And, once again, I'm amazed at the snow job White pulled. Basically, he took a book of instructions for students writing term papers for one teacher a century ago and marketed it as "rules" for you and me.It's like me telling you that you can't chew gum because one of ...
You Don't Know Me, Computer Thingy! Wait....
By reading Language Log, I learned of a site called Typealyzer. There, you type in the URL of a blog (presumably your own) and the program analyzes your language to identify your "type."I typed in the URL of my home blog, and in less than a second Typealyzer produced the following assessment of Li'l Ol' Me.The analysis indicates that the author of http://conjugatevisits.blogspot.com/ is ...
Irish Center At Elms College
I will be showing photographs and talking a bit about my Irish book this Sunday, April 13 in the Alumni Room of the Dooley Campus Center at Elms College. The event is being hosted by the Irish Center of Elms College, and I'm very honored to be part of their spring offerings.
A 30th High School Reunion
1. Click here for a few reunion pictures, courtesy of Stan Fairbank username: friendofsfpassword: photography (www.Stanfairbank.com) 2. Click here for lots of pictures, courtesy of Troy Davis! 3. Steven Bergman Photography, please follow directions below (this link no longer has our reunion available, but Chris Kelly is creating a cd for anyone interested. Please email ...
10,000 Hours In the life
I watched Rachel Maddow's show last week and she was talking to Malcolm Gladwell, the author of The Tipping Point. She asked him about the recent appointees to President Elect Obama's cabinet, many of them holdovers from the Clinton era. He said no, this might be a good thing. In order to be a master at something, you have to spend at least 10,000 hours on what it is you want to be good at.10,000 ...
Mojo Magazine readers vote "In The Aeroplane...
I'm awfully pleased to report that the Mojo Magazine readers poll for Book of the Year 2007 are in, and my oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel made it into the top 5!And the winners are: 1. There's a Riot Going On - Peter Doggett2. Bowie, Bolan and the Brooklyn Boy - Tony Visconti3. Teenage - Jon Savage4. Bit of a Blur - Alex James5. 33 1/3: Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Kim ...
I've been Spark'd!
Recently, I did a phone and e-mail interview with Lynn Rosendale, the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing and managing editor of Spark, the alumni quarterly magazine of my alma mater, Calvin College. http://www.calvin.edu/news/2008-09/lisa-mcmann/ is an extensive interview, and http://www.calvin.edu/publications/spark/2008/fall/bookshelf.htm is a book review/interview. For fellow ...
Oh me, Oh meme
When you have a background in teaching, it sounds like nails on an oldschool chalkboard to confess a score of 47%. The test does confirm my fear that I am the least adventurous person I know... at least in the physical sense. I do, however, put myself out there in emotional ways that could make most sky divers feel like chickens. 1. Started your own blog2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a ...
Registration is now for my WRITING THE...
From the New York Time's Modern Love essays to Newsweek’s My Turn, to best selling anthologies in every bookstore in the country, personal essays have captured everyone's attention. In this class you'll learn how to turn your thoughts, feelings and experiences into real, funny, and deeply moving art. Memoir can take years to finish. This is a quick form. You will learn how to use literary tools ...
So you want to be part of...
SO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL You have a great show that you love. Perhaps it is a one person show (the kind I always do) or maybe you are part of a terrific, dynamic group that does top notch drama, a musical or sketch comedy. All your friends rave about the production and tell you how much better it is than the garbage on TV or the local stages. You KNOW that if ...
