Don I learned a lot of new words today and remembered some older ones too. I learned what it’s like to be in a country where you don’t speak the language. I got a break too because at least here in Quebec City there are lots of people willing to help visitors who don’t speak French. … Read more
One of my favorite quotes is,”education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” by William Butler Yeates. Yet, most of the emphasis in education today is on how much is in each pail. We continue to weigh the pail as though with each measurement we are increasing the mass … Read more
Five years ago I could never have imagined how I spend my life these days. I retired from public education three years ago. That was frightening at the time. What would I do I thought. How should I re-invent myself. There was a lot of angst. Since then, I’ve found new life as a volunteer in … Read more
Last week on Thursday I had business at the Prendergast Library in Jamestown, New York. I was there for a meeting and after a fifty-mile ride I stopped in the library’s lavatory to refresh myself. While I was there a fellow came into the same space and he looked unkempt, smelled like he hadn’t had … Read more
I read an article this morning which stated that more developers use Macs than Linux and while I can’t disagree with that I am perplexed by my recent upgrade to El Capitan. My four year old MacBook Pro continues to perform well despite its age. I’m happy with that, but after upgrading to El Capitan from … Read more
Last night was tragic for St. Bonaventure University’s Men’s basketball post-season aspirations. The team came out flat against a very good and well coached Wagner College team. In October of last year while assessing St. Bonaventure’s basketball fortunes I told a friend that I didn’t think we’d have much to cheer about this year. I … Read more
Twitter and the blogosphere are still alive with the news that St. Bonaventure University’s Men’s basketball team got snubbed by the NCAA. While those facts have not changed, it’s time to move on. Let’s demonstrate to the world that’s watching what it means to be a Bonnie and a Franciscan University. People get knocked down … Read more
I admit that I was disappointed that the St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball team didn’t get the nod from the NCAA selection committee tonight. It seems the process is skewed in favor of better television markets than those of Olean and Allegany, New York. Nonetheless, the Bonnies made it as the number one seed at … Read more
I’ve been blogging for ten years. A lot has changed in my life since then. Two children have graduated from college. Both of them are married and we have a grandson now too. In the ten years since I began this blog, I returned to school and earned another master’s degree. In the process, I met … Read more
I just got home from spending a few hours volunteering at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Franklinville, New York. Earlier this week, Paul Goodhand, local director of the pantry called and asked if I could volunteer today. I got to the pantry about 9:15 am and was greeted by many other volunteers all of … Read more
