Change the Focus

I have a complicated relationship with pop culture. I really enjoy pretty much all forms of entertainment and am fascinated by the people that can do those sorts of things. But I hate the attendant drooling over every single aspect of these people’s lives, especially when people start getting obsessed with bad things that happen […]

Big Ten Network Drops the Ball

Throughout the collegiate sports season, the Big Ten Network features a concept called Student U. This supplements the network’s normal coverage of conference athletics with broadcasts produced by university students. Since many of the schools have outstanding communications programs, this gives viewers extra coverage at a fraction of the cost. For wrestling, this allows the […]

Pack It In

Maria and I went on a trip recently. Nothing fancy, just a weekend in Washington, D.C., to see some tennis and have a celebration for our 15th anniversary a couple of months early. As is our usual custom, we flew by the seat of our pants for most of our plans. That meant enjoying lunch […]

When I Was Young …

I admire Andrew Dana Hudson. A graduate from Fordham University last May, he moved to India for a writing job after having no luck finding work near his home in Indiana. He chronicled his story today in the Chronicle of Higher Education. There might not be room for us recent college graduates in the job […]

Spell It Out

The other day, an item from one of my local TV stations popped up on my Facebook page. Let’s start off by getting a simple fact out of the way – I’m not a big fan of TV news. I have worked in newspapers all my professional life, either on staff or as a freelancer, […]

Why Do We Need These Things?

Sometimes, I have very complex philosophical views, especially when it comes to technology and business. You could say I’m almost the opposite of Amish. You see, I think we have been given the kind of knowledge and imagination that we possess as a species in order to stretch the limits of what we can do. […]

Dancing on Carrie’s Grave

A photocopy from a 1998 “Word of the Day” calendar hangs on a wall in my workspace. The word for January 13 of that year is “schadenfreude.” enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others I bring this up because I can see the photocopy right over my monitor as I chuckle softly with each passing […]