Tolkien, the movie
The new biopic, Tolkien, was clearly written for me. But you’ll enjoy it too. What, you may wonder, do I mean by claiming that it was written for me? Of course that is not literally true: the film-makers don’t know… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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How many ml in a liter?
So I’m in a certain store in Jamaica Plain today — name kept anonymous to protect the oh-so-innocent — and I ask the clerk if they sell Hennessy Privilege (a cognac, for those of you who don’t know). She says… Read More ›
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High School SCOTUS
Can high-school students conduct an excellent interview and write an excellent article about it? Anna Salvatore and Joe Hanlon certainly can! No, I have never taught these two. I have never even met them. But I highly recommend Anna’s blog, High… Read More ›
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A Raspberry Pi class
This time the student teaches the teacher! I had a great time yesterday at MakeIt Labs in Nashua, participating in a four-hour class taught by a former student of mine, Johnathan Vail, who was in two or three courses of… Read More ›
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The Odd Clauses
As you know, the President of the United States takes an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” And of course our current president does that faithfully — right? — but not everyone is familiar with… Read More ›
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“Math teachers should be more like football coaches.”
As you probably know, John Urschel is both a professional mathematician (at MIT, no less) and a recently retired professional football player (in the NFL, of course — recently retired from the Baltimore Ravens). What a combination! A few days… Read More ›
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Arabic numerals? Oh, no!
Did you hear that they’re teaching Arabic numerals in public schools? I’m shocked, shocked. In America, no less! What is this world coming to? A recent poll showed that 56% of Americans don’t want public schools to teach Arabic numerals…. Read More ›
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Why do Americans think that Asians mix up R and L?
Speaking of Asia, why do so many Americans think that Asians mix up R and L? (Asians? East Asians? Chinese and Japanese? How far does this stereotype go?) Before we answer this question, I need to point out a more… Read More ›
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Writings by a former Weston student
My former student Julia Metraux is a staff writer for The Tempest, an online magazine that describes itself like this: The Tempest is the guide for diverse women to share, feel, and claim their voices – and power. We’re the… Read More ›
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William’s iPad
William is helping with the iPad:
Featured Categories
Books ›
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Tolkien, the movie
May 24, 2019
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The Odd Clauses
May 17, 2019
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Back from New York, Part 1: The Tolkien Exhibition
May 1, 2019
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The Silk Road, the Noodle Road, and Confucius
April 24, 2019
Dorchester/Boston ›
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Excellent carpentry, Verizon!
April 13, 2019
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Our Stories, our Stuff, our Somerville at the Somerville Museum
March 31, 2019
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Another #1 for Weston, plus a public service flowing from Weston to Dorchester
March 29, 2019
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Over the cliff
March 23, 2019
Food & Restaurants ›
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Back from New York, Part 4: Food, transportation, and ethnicities
May 8, 2019
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Boston Chops
March 1, 2019
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The Kosher Wok
December 25, 2018
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Another excellent Asian lunch
December 13, 2018
Life ›
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Arabic numerals? Oh, no!
May 14, 2019
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Writings by a former Weston student
May 10, 2019
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William’s iPad
May 9, 2019
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Puzzle of the Week
May 2, 2019
Linguistics ›
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Why do Americans think that Asians mix up R and L?
May 12, 2019
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Linguistics podcasts updated
April 26, 2019
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A 5% discount (or is it a five percent discount? or a 5 percent discount? or a five % discount?)
April 16, 2019
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Friends of Dorothy
March 22, 2019
Math ›
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How many ml in a liter?
May 23, 2019
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“Math teachers should be more like football coaches.”
May 15, 2019
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Back from New York, Part 3: Museums
May 7, 2019
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Weston: New England Math Champions!
April 27, 2019
Model Railroading ›
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A Raspberry Pi class
May 19, 2019
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Bay State Model Railroad Museum Spring Model Train Show
March 6, 2019
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Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show
January 27, 2019
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Murder to Scale
January 8, 2019
Movies & (occasionally) TV ›
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Panic
March 18, 2019
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All the King’s Men
January 16, 2019
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The first film ever in Babylonian!
December 4, 2018
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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
November 30, 2018
Teaching & Learning ›
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High School SCOTUS
May 21, 2019
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An upcoming reunion — words and all
April 22, 2019
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Roots and wings
April 21, 2019
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The Israeli election, consciousness-raising, a potential Nobel Peace Prize winner, the college admissions scandal, the U.S. constitution, and mostly a Sierpinskitasch — all in one post
April 19, 2019
Technology ›
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Some other favorite podcasts
April 29, 2019
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Code Girls
April 12, 2019
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A Truck Full of Money
April 10, 2019
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Recommended podcasts
November 20, 2018
Travel ›
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Back from New York, Part 2: The High Line
May 5, 2019
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Is it “Music City” or “Athens of the South”?
October 19, 2018
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Weston alum blogs about Ireland and Tanzania.
July 11, 2018
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Cinquecento etc.
June 26, 2018
Weston ›
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Congratulations!
March 25, 2019
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Weston’s 17th Fractal Fair
March 13, 2019
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A beautiful concert
December 17, 2018
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Dumpling Daughter and Vester
December 12, 2018
