Damien Damien, bro, you make a good start here but your essay lacks sufficient analysis of Pericles’ claims about Athens. I was super stoked on your opening paragraph about the context of the speech, and you absolutely crushed your explanation of his rhetorical choices, given Athens’ need to continue the war. But you crashed … Continue reading Watching Red Bull Rampage while Grading Student Essays on Pericles’ Funeral Oration

 I’ve been out of the classroom for just over two months and I still teach online as an adjunct. I’m certainly not anti-technology; in fact, technological connectivity is what has allowed me to move to a rural area and pursue my dual passions of outdoor recreation and teaching.  But as I’m occupied with the minutiae … Continue reading Tech Mania: The Thing I Miss Least About Teaching

Saturday, 1/13/2018 Trip Report: My Couch (southern segment)  Weather: 70 degrees, low humidity, 100% chance of ungraded essays.  Preparation: I planned for today’s trip by checking the weather forecast carefully throughout yesterday evening and then not setting my alarm for this morning. Awakening at 7am, I quickly loaded my gear onto the coffee table and … Continue reading Trip Report: Bad Skiing, Weak Satire

(Following is the text of a little chapel talk I was asked to give a while back). First, a translation: Esse quam videri means “to be, rather than to seem.” We might also say, “To be rather than to appear to be,” or “value the authentic over the superficial”. It’s a great motto and I … Continue reading On Being and Seeming