For all of us children of the 1970s, forty years have passed since John Travolta strutted down that Brooklyn street swinging his hips and a paint can to the tune of the Bee Gees’ hit song “Stayin’ Alive.” Film critic Gene Siskel once called Saturday Night Fever his favorite movie–and with good reason. The opening […]
“You Should [Still] Be Dancing”: Saturday Night Fever at Forty Read More »
(Note: Pictured above are my Armenian-American friends, Artur Mazmandyan and Kristina Grigoryan, and their two daughters, Nelly and Siranush. Today they will honor the memory of their Armenian countrymen who died over one hundred years ago during the Armenian genocide. The family lives in Denver.) Over the weekend, I went to see The Promise, a
April 24 is Armenian Genocide Recognition Day Read More »
(Special this week to the Academic Redneck: guest columnist and Pikes Peak Community College student Tina Bopp discusses her efforts to overcome a learning disability. Tina is enrolled in my English Composition I class this semester.) When I first started going to school, it was evident that I had a learning disability called dyslexia. Dyslexia
Like Hula Hoops or Something Read More »
Many of the political disagreements I’ve had with staunch progressive friends end with their telling me I “shouldn’t watch so much Fox News.” Whatever the political topic, I can usually expect this precise dismissal. Apparently, no other explanation than, “You are wrong because… Fox News” is necessary. My other conservative friends and colleagues report similar
Lazy Arguments: On Right-Wing Media Bashing Read More »
Last week my colleague Jerome Parent wrote a column called “Donald Trump as Tricky Dick Reincarnated.” In it, he argues that the two presidents share uncanny similarities. Parent predicts that Trump will “meet a similar fate” as the president brought down by the Watergate scandal. On a positive note, I am encouraged that the
Trump as Tricky Dick? Steady On! Read More »
I was sitting in the Denver airport waiting to fly to Alabama to visit my mom in the nursing home when my “smart” phone turned dumb. More precisely, two years and one month after I bought it, my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 died of old age, leaving me scrambling to communicate with friends and family.
Planned Obsolescence Read More »