Life – Page 14 – Embrace the Absurd

My Miss Brooks

Our Miss Brooks was a highly successful comedy series on radio and early television that followed the life and career of a fictional high school English teacher, Connie Brooks. My Miss Brooks, Ann Brooks, was a highly successful teacher of the fifth and sixth grade Advanced Work Class at the Mather School in Dorchester, MassachusettsContinue reading “My Miss Brooks”

Ten Years of Taylor

‘The end of an era, but the start of an age…’ In honor of the end of The Eras Tour and Taylor’s 35th birthday, reposting my 2018 post, Ten Years of Taylor.

Give Me A Lever

Charlie DePascale I realized very early in my career that the law of the lever, as explained by Archimedes in some variation of the quote above, was critical to my success. In short, there was little that I could do on my own as an assessment specialist, or psychometrician, to improve education; but working inContinue reading “Give Me A Lever”

My 12 Memories of Christmas

As time goes by, certain memories of Christmases past become stronger than others. Most are filled with family, food, music, and fun; but a few other things manage to creep in as well. On Christmas 2017, here is a list of my 12 memories that mean Christmas to me. The First Noel My sister, 2Continue reading “My 12 Memories of Christmas”

New Year’s Resolutions

Charlie DePascale “If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong. The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is best.” – Thomas Jefferson The third week of 2017 has come to an end, and my New Year’s Resolution to improve my fitness level is off toContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions”

A Month of Goodbyes

Every baseball fan knows that October is a month to say goodbye – goodbye to another baseball season, goodbye to summer, and goodbye to another year. This year the Red Sox season ended rather abruptly on Columbus Day as the Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Indians. Whether the season endsContinue reading “A Month of Goodbyes”

In the blink of an eye

Charlie DePascale Last month, I attended my 35th college reunion, where my classmates optimistically and encouragingly still were focused on looking forward (who we will be when we grow up and how we will change the world) rather than on looking back. One of the first events I attended at the reunion was a townContinue reading “In the blink of an eye”

Interval Scales, Unicorns, and Non-stick Pans

There are certain things that you hear about for the first time and with all your heart you want them to be real. Although your brain tells you to be skeptical, you desperately want those things to exist and to have the magical powers that people ascribe to them. For me, interval scales, unicorns, andContinue reading “Interval Scales, Unicorns, and Non-stick Pans”

Is that all there is?

One of the benefits of giving up a late Sunday afternoon to travel to the site of my Monday morning meeting is the opportunity to leisurely read the newest edition of the Late Late Bell from the Fordham Institute. Last Sunday, as the Amtrak Northeast Regional rumbled toward Providence, I read the following in theContinue reading “Is that all there is?”

This Is My Fight Song

Arizona, Connecticut, and a fuchsia wristband Charlie DePascale Last weekend I attended a concert in Boston with my daughter; an opportunity that has become more rare and more appreciated since she left for college four years ago. We arrived early and waited in line to hear Rachel Platten perform her breakout hit Fight SongContinue reading “This Is My Fight Song”