Monthly Archives: December 2016

No, you didn’t attend “University of Life” or “College of Wikipedia.”

Wikipedia is certainly a valuable resource, a reservoir of accurate, sophisticated information–revolutionary in almost every way. Wikipedia includes information going far beyond a “regular” encyclopedia. It includes information about important academic articles and thinkers, too, for example. Wikipedia is the world’s largest and most accurate encyclopeida in the history of the world. However, in contrastContinue reading “No, you didn’t attend “University of Life” or “College of Wikipedia.””

Natural resources are not “free” – Hidden Power of Words Series, #27

“Free” has acquired so many connotations in the lexicon of capitalism that it inevitably calls into focus a structuralist-based binary of free vs. not free. “Free,” in other words, is a term that describes a concept necessary because of our current economic ideologies. Saying something is “free” implies that economic systems are natural and necessary.Continue reading “Natural resources are not “free” – Hidden Power of Words Series, #27″

People fear and ignore science because it’s true.

This thought-provoking meme came in my Facebook feed this evening and provides an opportunity to connect a few different thoughts:  Take the following example: I currently have (and have had) a tumor in my brain around 4 or 5 mm that the doctors are closely watching. I can’t see it. I can’t feel it. AndContinue reading “People fear and ignore science because it’s true.”

AJP’s take on Benjamin Alire Saenz’s “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” (2014)

This past Sunday, I finished reading the first novel that I have read in a really, really long time. I read all the time but mostly nonfiction. And I couldn’t have started with a better novel. Dr. Benjamin Alire Saenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is excellent. I don’t want to provide a longContinue reading “AJP’s take on Benjamin Alire Saenz’s “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” (2014)”

AJP’s take on Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” (2016)

I just finished watching The Birth of a Nation (2016), which was released for home viewing today. While there has been a great deal of excitement, frustration and disappointment surrounding this film, I was surprisingly pleased. Below I provide some immediate, working thoughts. Certainly, The Birth of a Nation ignores the role of Black women as active agentsContinue reading “AJP’s take on Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” (2016)”

A Different Kind of Final Exam: Celebrating Learning and Success

There are so many things that I love about teaching. One being that I have academic freedom to try different things. Today, I discuss my very successful experiment with Final Exams!!  Some time ago I read “What kind of noise does your final exam make?” The basic idea being that the “Final Exam” need not be limited toContinue reading “A Different Kind of Final Exam: Celebrating Learning and Success”

Toward Coherent Thoughts on Recent Events and Trumpism

Almost a month after Donald Trump was declared President Elect, coherent thoughts are still difficult to come by. So many different things are happening. Here I share a few thoughts with you:  If you’re not very mad, very afraid, and actively analyzing Trumpism, please open your eyes and mind and heart. What have you done today to promoteContinue reading “Toward Coherent Thoughts on Recent Events and Trumpism”