Tag Archives: education

Total eclipse of the sun

Posted on August 10, 2017 | Leave a comment

My favorite subject in college had nothing to do with my communications major.

I took Astronomy 101 and 102 to avoid the chemistry sequence that my BS degree required. I will always be grateful to the University of Kentucky for this ‘broadening of my horizons,’ because it introduced me to Professor Thomas Troland.

Dr. Troland was one of the best teachers I have ever had. His sense of humor made his classes zip by, and made me a true fan of astronomy, a subject I had little knowledge of prior to college.

If you are interested in the upcoming total eclipse of the sun, I encourage you to give a look-see to this UK news story featuring Dr. Troland, who I am proud to say is a good friend to this day.

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Posted in Astrology, College, Education, Humor

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A thousand words

Posted on July 3, 2016 | 2 comments

I had a hilarious astronomy professor in college who sometimes used questionable photography in his lectures to make sure we were awake.

I saw one of his more fabled pics Friday on a greeting card in a Detroit airport gift shop:

I wish I could remember what point my teacher was making in class when he used it…

My mind is drawing a blank.

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Posted in Advertising, College, Education, Humor, Photography

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Be together

Posted on March 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

Inspired!

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Posted in Advertising, Education, Entertainment, Humor, Television

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Say it like it is

Posted on November 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

I ran across a feature today online poking fun at the titles of young adult novels.

I recently took a couple of classes in YA lit at NYU, so this naturally caught my eye. And of all the ‘what they really should be called’ entries, this one made me say, “Oh, hell yeah!”

princess

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Posted in Books, Commentary, Education, Humor, Internet

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Suitable for framing

Posted on October 4, 2015 | 3 comments

Look what finally came in tbe mail:

image

It’s official!

Now, where should I hang it….

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Posted in communication, Education, Humor, Life, New York City

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Seeing blue

Posted on May 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Pro basketball has never held my interest. The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and my only question is…

“Any former UK players still in the mix?”

When pro ball and UK intersect, I’m in…if only briefly. That’s why I’m stoked about tonight’s NBA draft lottery, which takes place at 8pm right here in New York City.

ukdraftclass

With seven UK Wildcats in the lottery–and freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns the projected #1 overall pick–I can’t wait to watch the action on ESPN.

As soon as my Wildcats find a home, I will wish them well, and then probably not think about pro ball again (until they start making headway and headlines for their respective teams).

That shouldn’t take long.

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Posted in Basketball, Education, Humor, Life, New York City, Sports, Television

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Bless your heart

Posted on April 28, 2015 | 3 comments

A friend in the education biz recently developed a course on customer service for his company.

I provided some general communication tips, but realized today that I didn’t mention a personal perspective that I have gained from years on the phone with customer service representatives:

southern accentIf the customer service representative speaks with a Southern accent, I:

a) believe they want to help me;

b) have found that they do help me; and

c) am in a better mood when I hang up because they are friendly — regardless of how I felt when started the call.

Now, I tend to believe that the people on the call on true Southerners. You can’t fake that hospitality…

Or can you?

It’s something the companies who depend on customer service — and, really, what company these days doesn’t — need to consider.  We can teach people how to lose an accent…

Why not teach customer service folks to have one?

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Posted in Business, communication, customer service, Education, Friends, Humor, Life, Relationships, Technology, Travel

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Back to school

Posted on February 15, 2015 | Leave a comment

While The Egg has spent almost six years (!) pondering all things trivial, my friend John McCoy dares to discuss books from your high school reading list in his new podcast Sophomore Lit.

sophomore-lit-art-2I know — you think this is above my pay grade.

Wait for it.

I am a guest on the third episode, where John and I discuss a favorite book of mine, The Great Gatsby.

I invite you to listen to the episode and others in the series.  You may learn something.  (I certainly did.)

And, yes, I did make a few* references to the movie versions of Gatsby.

* Okay. Quite a lot, actually.  As my mother would say, ‘you can’t escape your raising.’

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Posted in Books, Commentary, Education, Humor, Movies

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Scare tactics

Posted on December 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

I saw the movie Whiplash last night, and found it extremely compelling.

Are you planning to see it? Here are a few things you should know.

Whiplash-5547.cr2

 

  1. It’s not about jazz.  They play music, sure…but the selected songs — even the title track — are simply vehicles for the story.  The film could have just as easily taken place in the world of sports or the culinary arts.
  2. It is about abuse. The relationship between a music student and his no-holds-barred instructor — portrayed with gut-wrenching intensity by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons — is difficult to watch. Teller is attacked emotionally and physically at every level, and like a hostage in a kidnapping incident, has a twisted love/hate relationship with his captor that boggles the mind.
  3. It’s hard to watch. In the theater where I saw the film, there were several horror movie trailers that preceded the feature presentation.  I found that odd until I saw the film.  There are definite similarities.

 

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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Education, Entertainment, Humor, Movies, Music, Relationships

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The new phone book’s here!

Posted on December 14, 2014 | 1 comment

During a class meeting today, I had reason to utter the words —

“I’m somebody!”

…which brought to mind the iconic scene from The Jerk starring Steve Martin.

When I mentioned the movie to my class, they stared at me unknowingly.  One student, trying to be helpful, said, “I’ve heard of Steve Martin.

That’s awesome.

So, for their education — and everyone’s viewing pleasure — I include the aforementioned clip here.

I hope you are inspired to watch The Jerk…

And learn your special purpose.

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Posted in Celebrities, Comedy, Education, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies

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