Author Archives

I am entering my 21st year as a math teacher at Weston High School, the sole public high school in Weston, MA. It’s also my 44th year as a teacher altogether. In addition to my day job, I taught for 20 years at the Saturday Course in Milton, MA. I also teach at Harvard’s Crimson Summer Academy each summer; 2017 was our 14th consecutive summer.

Sometimes I work on educational software. I also read, cook, and continue building my model railroad whenever I can. For some reason I'm left with less so-called free time than would be ideal. Nevertheless, I manage to devote time to my wife, Barbara, and to our excessive number of cats as well.

• Dumpling Daughter and Vester

  By ljd42 on December 12, 2018

  

  Excellent lunch with great hospitality yesterday at two sister restaurants sharing space in Cambridge: Dumpling Daughter and Vester. I use the word “sister” quite literally, as the owners are a pair of sisters from Weston, Nadia Liu Spellman ’00 and… Read More ›

• What’s the difference between honors and regular math classes?

  By ljd42 on December 10, 2018

  When you were in high school, did you take honors or regular math classes? Or a mixture of the two, depending on the year? In any case, what motivated your decision? What’s the difference between the two levels — or,… Read More ›

• How geeky can you get?

  By ljd42 on December 8, 2018

  

  ‘There’s no excuse for being early,’ said Breslin. ‘No, I suppose not.’ ‘None whatsoever.’ ‘No.’ ‘It is forbidden.’ ‘Yes.’ He looked at his watch, studying it intently for several long moments before returning his gaze to me. ‘So now we’ve… Read More ›

• Lexicographers: Fact or Fiction?

  By ljd42 on December 6, 2018

  

  Do lexicographers really exist? Or are they like unicorns? Or perhaps they’re like mailmen. Lexicographers are unlikely protagonists of a novel — though of course they might not exist and could still be protagonists of a novel, as hobbits are. You… Read More ›

• The first film ever in Babylonian!

  By ljd42 on December 4, 2018

  What an amazing class project! Claiming to be the world’s first film in ancient Babylonian, it was made by members of an Assyriology class at Cambridge (not our Cambridge: the other one) along with some local residents. Their pronunciation is… Read More ›

• Is it Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, or … ?

  By ljd42 on December 2, 2018

  

  This post in All Things Linguistic is the best description I’ve seen yet of why there are so many English spellings of Hanukkah (but the author oddly leaves out “Chanukah” in her list at the end, even though it’s in… Read More ›

• Misplaced modifier

  By ljd42 on December 1, 2018

  

  Hmmm:  

• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 

  By ljd42 on November 30, 2018

  

  Meh. That’s my main reaction to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the dark film that I saw yesterday. Admittedly, there’s a lot to like about it — but there’s nothing to love. It’s certainly weaker than the previous nine films… Read More ›

• Dreaming of a white Dorchester?

  By ljd42 on November 28, 2018

  

  I’m truly embarrassed to have served on the board of directors of an organization that can commit a faux pas like this, especially in the current political climate. Here is this year’s annual Christmas holiday card from the Dorchester Historical… Read More ›

• How some people talk to teachers

  By ljd42 on November 27, 2018

  

  Excerpts from a recent article in McSweeney’s, “If people talked to other professionals the way they talk to teachers”: “Ah, a zookeeper. So, you just babysit the animals all day?” – – – “My colon never acts this way at… Read More ›