Monthly Archives: November 2005

Those Liberal English Teachers

November 25, 2005
A friend of mine just forwarded an article to me from the CNN website. It’s about a history and English teacher in Vermont who was recently called on the carpet for giving a “liberal” vocabulary quiz. Here’s one example, in which the students had to circle the correct word in parentheses: “I wish Bush would be (coherent, eschewed) for once during a speech, but there are theories that his everyday diction charms the below-average mind, hence insuring him Republican votes.” Yeah, maybe that one went a little too far. It reminds me of my time as a liberal English teacher in Hudsonville, Michigan. It was the year 2000, and the presidential race was really heating up…
Posted in society | 3 Comments

Egg Poacher Toaster

November 16, 2005
When it comes to food, my main concern is almost always efficiency. Efficiency and convenience. Don’t get me wrong–I think flavor is important, too, and I appreciate good-tasting foods as much as the next guy (though apparently *not* as much as my wife and her friends, who geek out on recipes and related culinary matters as much as I do on computers). But in the end, taste is only secondary for me…
Posted in self-indulgence | 5 Comments

Fall Photos

November 7, 2005
Last week I took my camera to Calvin College and snapped a few photos on campus. It was a lovely day, and the leaves were peaking, so I thought I’d share a few of the pics on this here blog…
Posted in photography | 2 Comments

Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents

November 2, 2005
A recent issue of PC Magazine noted that the organization Reporters Without Borders has released a “Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents.” The free handbook is intended to help those who want to get a message out, but face persecution if caught divulging unflattering information
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