Oh, that is where the phrase came from!
The origins of expressions and phrases used every day are not given much thought. Haven’t you ever wondered how the English-speaking world came to use these phrases? Here are the histories of just a...
View ArticleLibraries, Reading and Day-Dreaming
Author Neil Gaiman gave a lecture on October 15th as part of The Reading Agency annual lectures about the importance of libraries, reading and day-dreaming. In order to raise literacy in children, they...
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Bon Voyage English Department!
Once again, the semester has flown by and is coming to an end. It has been a wonderful experience to contribute to this blog. I have been able to narrow down the endless list of jobs available to...
View ArticleWhere Do I Commence
So my phone rings, and it’s my old mentor Lars Abraham, Professor Semi-Emeritus at Seattle State University. “How’s it shaking, Lars?” say I. “Not so good,” says Lars. “I had a premonition you would...
View ArticleLiterary Obituary: Gabriel García Márquez
The death of Gabriel García Márquez yesterday at the age of 87 closes an era of literary history. There’s a fair chance that when somebody looks at your dates, a few centuries from now, they’ll place...
View ArticleDoing the Math
A recent article by Rachel Riederer, “Teaching Class,”, has been making the rounds of social media, posted by many of my alert friends in the teaching profession. Riederer makes a point that is seeping...
View ArticleYou’ve Tried the Rest
So the phone rings, and wouldn’t you know it, it’s Lars Abraham, Past Professor Plenipotentiary at Seattle State University. “How now, Lars?” say I. “Things are not so good, Tim,” says Lars. “Raining...
View ArticleSo What Would You Suggest, Genius?
I have been sharply critical of the corporatizing of universities, and I realize that my attitude verges on gloom-and-doom handwringing that might reflect the utterer’s cynicism more than the objective...
View ArticleWelcome to the New Whatever
So the phone rings, and I know before I look that it’s Lars Abraham calling from Seattle State University. I’m so glad I got the idea of setting “Kol Nidre” as Lars’s custom ringtone. “How’s it going,...
View ArticleAssess Titanic
So the phone rings, and it’s my old pal Lars Abraham, Superannuated Professor of Sesquipedaliana at Seattle State. “‘Sup, Pops,” say I. “”I’m not doing so good, Tim,” says Lars. “When was the last time...
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