The Hotel Bethlehem opens its doors for a 100th anniversary celebration.
A perfect example of farm-to-table dining.
The Vice Presidential debate that was held on October 7, 2020 did little to apprise the American people on the candidates’ plans for the future of this country.
As the 2020 Presidential election moves closer and closer, it seems that the citizens of the UNITED States are drifting farther and farther apart.
The fact that this pandemic has become, in many ways, political hat turned much of the attention away from what truly is important: understanding and dealing with exactly what is occurring.
Answers to Study Guide questions: Book 3, Chapters 3-6
This lesson includes Study Guide questions for Book 3, chapters 3 -6 and answers to questions for Book, 3 chapters 1 and two.
This Lesson will provide Study Guide questions for Book 3, Chapters 1 and 2; answers to questions for Book 2, Chapters 9 and 10; and answers to Grammar Practice assigned in Lesson 20
It’s important to be able to pick out the subject of a sentence so that you can make sure to use the correct form of the verb.
Science fiction...Or Is It?
“1984”: Dystopia Continues
Poorly constructed sentences never result in a good piece of writing.
“1984” might be considered a dystopian novel, but as you continue to read the book it becomes evident that many of the elements that would be considered science fiction are closer to reality than we might like to admit.
Choosing the right words to use in your writing can mark the difference between a good piece of writing and a masterpiece.
This lesson presents Study Guide questions for Book 1, Chapters 3-7 and answers for Chapters 1 and 2. There are also answers for Lesson 13.
Now is probably The perfect time to read a dystopian novel like 1984. This lesson will introduce the novel and give study guide questions to guide you through chapters 1 and two.
If you want to understand a poem, it really helps to EXPLICATE it.
If you occasionally have trouble deciding whether to use the singular or plural form of a verb, these tips will solve that problem.
In this lesson we’ll review words that often are confusing and then provide some practice exercises.
Sometimes the difference between a good piece of writing and a great piece of writing depends on whether or not it’s punctuated correctly.
Using a study guide might give you a better understanding of a story.
This lesson will focus on reading and understanding innovative poetry.
A continuation of explication: Taking a poem apart and putting it back together
In order to understand a poem it helps if you are able to take it apart and put it back together again.
This is the third in a series of “online classrooms” offered during the pandemic.
This is the second of a series of “online learning” experiences I’ll be offering during the pandemic.
Day after day of being confined at home thanks to COVID-19 (or anything else) can lead to loneliness and boredom. To help alleviate this, I’ve created an “online classroom” on which I’ll share some reading, writing, and grammar tips and also offer some practice exercises.
The Democratic debate that took place on March 15, 2020 focused to a great extent on the current corona virus pandemic.
This was the second-to-last debate before the Democratic nominee for President of the United States was selected. The tenth Democratic debate demonstrated the pressure under which the current candidates were operating.
If the February 19 Democratic debate is any indication, the Democratic Party had better find a way to unite before they divide and fall.
President Trump delivered a polished account of the state of the (key word:) Union on February 4, 2020.
In many ways, society seems to have been taken over by technology.
Sometimes online dating can be exciting and rewarding. Sometimes it cannot. This article reveals some of the things you need to know in order to avoid being scammed.
This book is a must-read for all of us who think we know what it means to be “educated.”
A discussion of the disappearance of ethics, morals and kindness
Considering a trip to Ocean City, New Jersey? Don't miss a visit to the local farmers' market, where you'll find an incredible selection of treats, both edible and otherwise.
A look at using rhyme effectively in unconventional ways
a summary of the debate held at Hofstra University on September 26 with observations on the 2016 Presidential campaign
A lyrical account of a dream encounter with the Easter Bunny
Observations on partisan politics and politicians, the definition and direction of "news," the state of current debate forums, et al as the race for the Presidency continues.
a look back at the second Republican debate and the increasing phenomenon of groing support for candidates who are not career politicians
A Look at the Consequences of a Mis-Diagnosis of Dementia
a synopsis of the first debate among the Republican hopefuls who are looking towards the 2016 election for President of the United States
A poem illustrating the idea that, just as we are unable to control the weather, we can't expect to have total control over our lives.
Mae Holland works for the world's elite, cutting-edge technology giant. When you read this reality-based science fiction novel, however, "cutting" and "edge" take on a whole new meaning.
observations on what appears to be happening to The Movies, with comments on specific films
poetic words of encouragement for teachers who are about to retire
Once upon a time, before there were computers, or cell phones, or i-pods, (not all that long ago) people actually were able to come up with ways to amuse themselves. ( I know; it's a stretch, but bear with me.) Not only that....they even managed to...
This article offers an unbiased view of political campaigning in the United States.
Despite the fact that Gillian Flynn's novel, GONE GIRL has been at or near the top of NY Times Best Seller list for months, I did not find the book to be the kind of page-turner entertainment I expect from a mystery/thriller.
Did you ever wonder how someone could possibly conceive of Death putting on a costume and attending a masquerade ball (“The Masque of the Red Death”), or a person who feels compelled to commit murder simply because his neighbor’s eye is...
If the name Stephen King conjures up visions of evil cars (Christine), demented dogs (Cujo), or certifiably wacky women (Misery), you’re in for a surprise if you decide to tackle the author’s 849-page tome, 11/22/63. This book deftly sets...
A trip to Musikfest in eastern Pennsylvania offers a unique look a 28-year tradition.
The novel begins with the premise of a young woman whose birth was genetically engineered so that she could become the donor her sister, who suffered from a rare form of leukemia, so desperately needed. Its scope encompasses many of the personal/ethical issues involved.
Moana had always thought that doctors and nurses and hospitals existed to help sick people. After all, hadn't a really nice doctor in the local hospital saved her from a scary sickness when she was only eight years old? From that time on, she had...
There are a few things you need to know before taking Prilosec (generic name: omeprazole.)
Some lessons learned during a trip to a Tampa golf resort.
Unlike many other science fiction novels, Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel THE HUNGER GAMES makes a smooth transition to the silver screen.
What makes Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games so appealing to readers of all ages? Why is the March 23 release of the movie of the same name arguably the most eagerly anticipated film premiere since the Harry Potter and Twilight series hit the...
The Language of Flowers focuses on the plight of a young woman whom the foster care system has failed and her efforts to stay afloat in a world with which she feels little connection.
Often, adults neglect to read a book because the cover or the plot teaser on the inside flap make the book seem to have been designed only for children. The Harry Potter series teaches readers never to judge a book by its cover.
Many years ago in a not-so-far-away land lived a forty-something woman who smoked only ten cigarettes a day. (No, this is not a fairy tale, though I wish it were.) Anyway, this woman.... let’s call her “I”.... had convinced herself for years...
"The Holidays" (inclusive of all religious and secular celebrations) is a subjective block of time that each of us defines in his/her own way. For some people, the term refers to Christmas week. Others see it as just the days they don’t have to go...
So.... Christmas is less than ten days away (yikes!), and you haven’t finished your shopping, baking, and decorating, not to mention the burgeoning card list that you’re been neglecting. Everything is becoming one giant red and green blur that...
Three males have had a major effect on my life. As each embodies a unique style,I felt that it would be appropriate to construct three poems that differ stylistically. The first poem represents my young grandson. The other two, I hope, speak for...
Who told me not to dream? You did. Then you went on to place A bright, lovely star Impossibly high In a lackluster sky, And I sat and watched The rise and fall Of a dream That had no place For me. It fell, But, for a time, ...
Wow, senior year is going to be great! Today was the first day of school, and I love my classes. I really like English and history, but the chemistry teacher is awfully cute. I think I’m going to like German III the best, though. I would love to...
This poem , first inspired by an old Duncan Hines commercial and later reinforced by Gail Collins’s When Everything Changed , addresses the changes and challenges that those of us who grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s faced as the doctrine of...
I wrote this poem way back when I was in college and recently reworked it to clarify the theme, which is we’ll try anything when we’re young, especially when someone (a parent, older sibling, aunt, grandparent, etc.) is there to assume...
Look, child, look.... Open your eyes and see the world Of laughter, music, lights (Fights?) And oh, So Many chances! (Romances? Not for now.) Anyhow, Just focus on the light. Bright! It’s too bright! It hurts my eyes!...
Simple Simon Crashed the fair And Met a group of characters. Old Simon, He was happy there- That place Was a con man’s haven, Full of derelicts, Unshaven Drunkards, tattered former ‘sirs,’ Small of mouth and drawn of...
Cradle of cornsilk on dais of rosethorn: How can you co-exist? When were you born? Blanket of petals with pillow of ragweed: What is this meadow for? Where does it lead? Sat in the meadow to count blades of grass, Watching the gray...
The face in the mirror is a face I can’t see. I seem to forget what that face used to be. I’ve searched and I’ve prayed for that face to appear, But all that I see is a cracked, broken mirror. I hear endless missles explode in my...
Wonder Where all that time Went? Spent The decades in Repose? Suppose You’d kept a close Account: Amount Of minutes spent on things Not Consequential, Essential, Or Enlightening. Frightening, Isn’t it? ...
Living in a world Of dreams Seems to be non-productive. For, though you’ve spun that web Yourself, The shelf You’re sitting on Can be a lonely place, Space enough for your dreams Only... Lonely, Any way you Perceive it....
He looks at me so strangely. His gaze strays right above The place where I am sitting. His eyes Are filled with love. You fool! His eyes are focused on The ceiling and the wall... He gazes there in boredom And sees you ...
Some people absolutely Insist That life is a free verse piece and sneer at the mere suggestion That rhyme and meter Play any kind of role In the genre. It flows, they say, Not from point a to point b, But meanders, As a stream...
Vision Five weeks have passed, a drop of time that seems To pass before eternity and weep. I hear the echo of those promises As benediction for a blessing past. Now I reflect upon the hallowed heights We scaled, attempting to connect the...
If it was nothing then, Nothing now.... How can nothing stretch on Into so much Forever? No answers. Few questions? Merely a meadow. If that meadow were mine- truly mine- I would be Content, Without questions For which there...
If you search through your soul to the mirror of your mind, You might be amazed at the image you find. Continue to stare (though you might think it odd), And you'll spot something glowing beneath the facade. Next, if you have the...
Back in 1982-’83 or thereabouts, the middle school concept was embraced by our local school district (and many others) as the panacea to replace what many saw as an outdated junior high school system. Ninth grade was bumped up to the high school;...
September 11, 2001 changed our perceptions forever. This poem is just one of the many tributes to the victims of those tragic events.
Hurricane Irene was the cause of our power outage. The electric company was the cause of our frustration.
a look at the political- and often expensive- nature of public schools in the USA
You might be "too rich" or "too thin," but can you ever be "too ethical"? In other words, can a concept be modified?
For years, Atlantic City reigned as the Gambling Capital of the Eastern United States. Things have changed, thanks in large part to the flourishing gaming industry in neighboring Pennsylvania.
The ranks of the senior citizen rapidly have been increasing, particuarly this year, when the first of the Baby Boomers turn 65. The communities labeled “over 55” are filling up rapidly, and education, volunteer, and entertainment options abound...
Think about it: If July 4th had no significance other than being the fourth day of the month, where would we live? Would our country be called the United States of New Britain? Who would be our leader? We’d undoubtedly be ruled by a monarch who...
No one sets out to write the “wrong” way. In fact, some might claim that there is neither a “right” not a “wrong” way to go about it. It may be true that in the area of creative writing, pretty much anything goes, as long as spelling and...
Timmy is a boy whose short stature has made him the brunt of endless bullying..... until he decides to change the definition of "stature."
A middle school teacher views her upcoming retirement with mixed emotions.
Ah, June.... the beginning of summer, the promise of longer days and brighter nights, the laughter of students counting down to the last day of school, the moaning of teachers.... What’s that? “Why would the teachers be moaning?” you ask....
Bethlehem, PA has become a thriving mecca for education, culture, and entertainment. Located in the center of the Lehigh Valley, the area offers a multitude of vacation options.
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you wanted to write an editorial to try and convince people to agree with your views? Perhaps you've been assigned a persuasive essay on a subject of your choice and aren't quite sure how to tackle...
A mentally limited man has surgery to increase his IQ.
Remember the days when a news article was composed of facts, when merely a hint of an opinion relegated an article to the depths of "yellow journalism?" It seems that those days are long gone. Even the front page, which once was devoted to printing...
Originally, this was going to be a follow-up to my "Novels of the 50s" HUB, with a discussion of novels that played a key role during the decade of the 1960s. When I began organizing my thoughts, however, I realized that the first novel I planned to...
Things had finally gotten back to normal for Doggy Max, possibly the World's looooooooooooongest dachshund. Not too long ago (except that it seemed like forever), his idol, furry red aunt, Katie, had gone to Doggy Heaven. At least that's what his...
Good writing involves more than being creative and using an impressive vocabulary correctly. The manner in which a piece is punctuated can make or break the final copy.
a discussion of books that were published during the 1950s and 1960s that rose to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list
As the original Baby Boomers were growing up, they probably weren't aware that they were part of the major cultural changes that were sweeping the nation. In addition to the introduction and tremendous growth of TV, the culture was undergoing some...
Many years ago, in a land remembered only by old people, there was a ten-year-old girl who was a pretty good speller. Okay, here it is unembellished: When I was ten, which actually was beyond many years ago, my fifth grade class had a spelling bee...
In order for a school community to operate efficiently and harmoniously, each member of that community must do his or her part. If each student. teacher, parent, and administrator keeps this in mind, your school should be a relatively pleasant place...
It's somewhat strange to see the term Baby Boomers and the number 65 together, particularly for those of us who fall into that category. (Wasn't it just a few years ago that 65 and Ancient Mariner seemed synonymous?) We can't ignore realty, though;...
a discussion of the possibility and the merits of time travel
A look at the ways school districts are choosing to deal with funding shortages.
Chances are that you've probably never known someone touched by Asperger's Syndrome, or, if you did, you probably had no idea why he was acting so strangely. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of Asperger's. In fact, it was only after I had...
Increasing your vocabulary might sound like a chore (and a bore), invoking visions of high school vocab quizzes and the like. If you use this method, however, you might be better able to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words, thereby...
Max and his current cohort. For five years, Katie was Queen. Her mommy and daddy waited on her hand and paw. When her big sister came home from a place called "college," she covered Katie with kisses and took her for long walks. Katie, you see,...
A discussion of the dangers of bullying and what should be done about it.
As I waited in the check-out line at a local department store, I heard the young sales clerk concluding a transaction with, "Thanks, Hon." "That's it," I thought, "The last straw." For a long time, I had bristled but kept my mouth shut each time...
Pop Quiz: Choose the correct answer: The boss rewarded Bob and (I, me.) Are you sure? If not, get rid of the word Bob. Now what do you think? No question about it: "The boss rewarded me is the correct answer. Whenever there is a proper noun...
Remember the days when you were in school and a substitute teacher walked into the room? Recall all the sideways glances and smug smiles hinting that this might just be a fun class after all, at least for the kids? Well, things haven't changed all...
This article shows how teachers can stress the elements of a short story while inspiring their students to create their own stories.
My husband and I were leaving the mall after a fine morning of shopping for bargains at Target, when we were almost sideswiped by a van that couldn't manage to stay in its own lane to make the turn into the parking lot. "Of course!" my husband...
When writing an essay or article of any kind, it's always important to capture the reader's interest immediately and maintain it throughout. One of the best ways to hold reader interest (in addition to writing about an interesting subject, of...
Have you ever read a well-written letter in the newspaper or article in a magazine only to find that some of the words, often homonyms, were misused and/or spelled incorrectly? When that happens, it casts an unattractive shadow over what could have...
"Games?" you ask in horror, "in the classroom?" "Absolutely," I say with the assurance of one who has played classroom games numerous times with success. When I was teaching English, whether it was in middle school or high school, I learned...
"The Catcher in the Rye," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Fahrenheit 451"and "In Cold Blood" deliver chilling, timeless messages.
Poetic musings on how age and experience can change one's perceptions on the nature of dreams and reality
A discussion of the second leading cause of dementia
How many children have visions of Disney World dancing in their heads? If you've ever been to Disney World, I'm sure you'll agree that children are not the only ones whose dreams feature Disney. In May of 2010, we flew to Orlando's Magic Kingdom...
Writing tips that lead to the creation of a quality essay
Do you remember when the only women who worked outside the home were those who were either unmarried, childless or widowed, and the only jobs available to females were those of teacher, secretary, or nurse? If you do, you might also remember WHEN...
I can not believe how popular I am. No matter where I am or what time of day it is, I am always the center of attention. The down side to that, of course, is that I don't get much sleep. You would think that people would be more interested in...
The health care system can be confusing and often frustrating. Implementing a few key strategies, however, will give you far more control over your own health care.