Category: Blog
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Does Your Teen Need Help With Writing?
I’m excited to announce that I’ve opened a small online business aimed at helping teenagers from all over the world improve their writing skills. If you happen to know of any families seeking supplemental writing instruction because their teen is being home schooled or learning remotely, I hope you’ll share Advanced Writing, LLC, with them.…
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The Giver Of Stars by Jojo Moyes – A Book Review
A friend recommended this book and–if I’m honest–I didn’t think it would suit my tastes. However, I’m pleased to announce that I loved it. I’m not sure why I was initially hesitant. It features a group of librarians–some of my favorite people–delivering books–some of my favorite things–to citizens living in the Kentucky mountains during the…
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HBO’s His Dark Materials – A Few Thoughts
My daughter is a voracious reader, and though she’s never read His Dark Materials, I thought she might enjoy the show primarily due to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s participation. (She’s a huge Hamilton fan.) Of course, because it’s HBO, I decided to watch it with her both in order to spend time together but also to make…
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An Open Letter To Political and Educational Leaders
Before I begin, I’d like to state that I truly believe almost all teachers and administrators honestly want the best for their students. I cannot say “every” because I try not to deal in absolutes, but the vast majority of teachers and administrators with whom I’ve worked put the students first. Educational leaders are in…
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Getting Deep With the Bass
My oldest daughter, who just turned twelve, has been taking weekly guitar lessons for the last several years. Frankly, I’m consistently amazed by her talent. Of course, we have encouraged her to practice daily, so all of that hard work is now paying off as I listen to her play popular riffs and entire songs…
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A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane – A Book Review
A friend recommended this book to me, and it marks the first time I’ve ever read Dennis Lehane. For some reason, I envisioned this book involving some kind of international war and intelligence officers, but that’s not the case at all. The title actually refers to a gang war breaking out in the Boston area.…
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The Old Guard – A Movie Review
Netflix’s The Old Guard is a movie about four immortals who use swords and guns to do good deeds in the modern world. A young pharmacy tycoon wants to harness their genes in order to make another fortune just as a fifth immortal arises. There is lots of shooting, lots of cliches, and the obligatory…
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The Vast Of Night – A Movie Review
I watched this Amazon Original mostly because Amazon Studios rarely go wrong and the subject matter interested me … and because it’s only ninety minutes long. The premise is that during the 1950s a small town radio DJ and his friend start to investigate a strange sound emitting through the radio and telephone. They determine…