it is evening

It is evening and I have nothing
on my mind. I can’t even think
of a subject or a theme
for this poem. This poem which
will always remain a complete
abortion, or no not that, but
a stillbirth. A stillbirth is something
to speak about in dismissive tones
that belie the deep suffocating
tr… Read full post »

Captured: realpolitik into a stray

microphone. After the election, I’ll have

more flexibility. But amateur day

was not over yet. As the shock wave

travelled, and word got to the Mitt

he promptly stretched his mighty calve

until his foot into his… Read full post »

This is the first letter in a series of 17 between a Navy man and his wife during the second world war.  I "won" these on Ebay about fifteen years ago and I thought they would make some interesting reading. 

I have left out their last names since there may well… Read full post »

In the early nineties, when I considered myself a conservative, the movement had a different vibe. For example, Rush Limbaugh was actually funny. Back then, Rush presented his listeners with an upbeat and positive persona that belied the fact he was apparently blowing out his eardrums on prescription… Read full post »

To day I went to an interview. The company is some kind of wedding/party service that needs attendants for the portable photo booths they rent out on weekends. I didn't sound like a great job, but I figure if I can handle a room full of college students without getting into… Read full post »

Praeludium

I am waiting for you to come
through the door like the clouds
wait for the sunrise to throw just
enough light to trace the 

supple line of your mouth, or
the curve of your waist. All morning
I have sat here and wasted my time,
until this time. Until this now

when you open the… Read full post »

As I write this essay, I am looking at my high-school graduation tassle, which I have draped across the corner of my laptop. I found it the other day when I was looking for an old usb wireless antenna. I wasn’t surprised to see it. The faded red and white strands… Read full post »

a dog lies on the
warm stone floor of her house
oustide there is snow  Read full post »

I don't know if readers of OS are into this kind of thing, but here is the first in a series of video guitar lessons that I am working on.

I am not so naive as to believe that the Internet could ever provide me with a "get rich quick" scheme. However, in these dark times (I'm too old to get a fast-food job and too dumb qualify for a good job...and my field of expertise,… Read full post »

If you should have the good fortune to live until you are forty years old, then you no doubt have a lot of junk that you collected in that time. It's not all junk. Some of it is useful, other pieces are precious to you, but most of it is just… Read full post »

Having received an Xbox 360 for Christmas, I did what any self respecting forty year old man would do. I went out as soon as I could and got a copy of Modern Warfare 3 and spent the rest of that day ignoring my family.

I really tried to… Read full post »

I haven't played a Star Wars game since X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter. But, I have to admit that I was intriqued by the awesome cinematic trailer for Old Republic. 

As I was making some notes for a short lecture on academic etiquette, I hit upon the complete philosophy and cabbalistic secret of how to bring about world peace. I welcome suggestions for additional items. Here it is:

Hierarchy of Academic Etiquette

I.       &nbs… Read full post »

The following is the email I sent to my current employer after being told that my "FSS Report" (which I assume is something like a TPS report) shows me to be below the average and therefore I may not recieve any classes to teach.

It will be an interesting test… Read full post »

Whenever I begin teaching a new composition class, I tell my students the following “As far as I am aware, there is no physiological difference between any of you and, say, Aristotle, or Socrates.”  It is an important part of my philosophy to acknowledge that college students… Read full post »

Dear Village of L-.

I'm extremely sorry that this payment is so late. Your letter was in a rather large stack of bills and I didn't notice it until now. I hope that you will still accept my payment of one hundred and fifty dollars. I have not received my paycheck… Read full post »

A Sonnet for the Debt Collector.

This poem has been crafted just to let
whomever it concerns about my bill
know that even though I wish to, I regret
to tell you I can't pay the damn thing 'till

some money (oh that wondrous key to life
without… Read full post »

I am determined that, before they finish the semester, I will teach my students one simple lesson: Every paragraph should only have one main idea. They should have learned it at the secondary level and I'm sure their teachers tried very hard. Still, they don't know how to do it.… Read full post »

Class Blog

    As part of your composition class, you will be contributing to the class blog. It is my hope that having a single blog for the entire class will help to spur everyone's thinking process and give us all a lot of material from which to get ideas.

Grading
    T… Read full post »

In response to Rolling's questions I thought it might be useful for others if I describe the process as I try to design and implement a class blog for my college English Composition classes. This seems like a better use of my spare time than the hours I waste playing Call… Read full post »