James Tigerlobo White
As a retired teacher of English, James shares his expertise in thinking strategies, twenty-first century learning skills, and writing tips for students of all ages.
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- Contributor since
- 6/26/2007
Education/Experience
San Diego State University, BA in English; Point Loma Nazarene University, Sgl. Subj. Cred.Interests
Education, Writing, Thinking Strategies, Acrylic/oil painting, Reading, Horror Movies, Bible, biblical allusionMotto
Have a Day!
Displaying Results 1 - 116 (of 116) for All Content
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Indifference in the American Classroom: If the Horse Won't Drink, Then What About Race Day?You've probably heard the tasteless metaphor about needing to use the restroom like a race horse. What if the horse that's been led to water and hasn't drunk for a week or so? -
How to Survive Senior-itisThat spring, prior to graduation from high school, inexplicably calls for total momentary sloth in all aspects of life. Sure, they call it senior-itis! -
Indifference in the American Classroom: The Horse Won't Drink, What Now?You can't make the horse drink, and you can't make the student learn, but you can--as long as the water is there and the lessons are available--keep leading the horse to the water and the student to the lesson. -
Indifference in the American Classroom: The Horse Won't DrinkThe old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." What would happen if you tried to force the horse to drink? -
Indifference in the American Classroom: Scholarly SlothOf the seven deadly sins, sloth is that spiritual indifference. In the classroom, literary and scholastic sloth give way to this oxymoron: scholarly sloth!
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Caring Teachers Come in All Shapes and SizesI have never quite looked like a teacher of English, but my students don't seem to mind much. They know I care deeply about them and their ability to succeed, so my biker look is of no consequence.
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Teacher Tips: Writing Teachers Should Be Active WritersThere may be something to that old adage: those who can, do; those who can't, teach. Not so for the writing teacher. We have to be active writers to be able to teach writing effectively.
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First Person: Rocky Mount, N.C., Side-Steps South-Sweeping SnowstormThis latest snow storm of the young wintry season affected everyone in my family, delaying my affinity for such inclement distractions of nature.
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Teacher Tips: Using Reality Television to Bring Literature to Life AgainBiblical characters lend themselves easily to such reality shows as "The Amazing Race," "The Real Housewives of the Old Testament," and "Tool Academy!"
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First Person: Weathering the Snow in Rocky Mount, North CarolinaHaving plenty of experience driving in snow storms in the mountains of California, I found it hard to believe that so many stores would curtail their hours, if they opened at all. (This is just a sample piece.)
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Teacher Tips: Preparing High School Students for English Class MidtermsStudents prepare more effectively when given less information about the actual content of their midterm examination.
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Teacher Tips: Using Reality Television to Bring Literature to LifeStudents benefit when teachers find ways to incorporate today's technology into classic literature. Imagine.
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First Person: The Ups and Downs of Being a Charter School TeacherThis teacher's perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of teaching for a charter school after sixteen years in a regular public school. The point and view may surprise you! -
A Teacher's Perspective: 5 New Year's Resolutions for My ClassroomFrom classroom decor to classroom management, teachers are just as likely to resolve to improve their surroundings...and just as likely to forget them by January 5th.
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Parts of Speech Instruction Drives Us All NutsLike sticking your hand in that black box: do you really want to read about parts of speech and rekindle those old nightmares? Triple dog dares are in order here. -
Teacher Tips: Getting the Most Out of Data AnalysisData analysis causes teachers to look not only at how well students are learning but how well the teacher is teaching! -
Teacher Tips: One Sure-Fire Way to Create Enthusiasm for Vocabulary StudyAdulate others; ingratiate yourself; bamboozle your friends with the whole list of this week's vocabulary in long and involved single-sentence abominations that may, in fact, be grammatically sound. -
Comedic Horror, the Latest Movie GenreA humorous look at going to the movies. -
Teaching Bible Literacy on a Public School CampusKnowing the people, stories, and patterns of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures is vital to the well-rounded education of a twenty-first century learner. Come enjoy the academic ironies of our first year.
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Effective Writing Requires SupportAs a math teacher expects students to show their work, so an English teacher demands solid support that backs up a simple statement. -
Bonus Points: The Key to Motivating High School StudentsHigh school students respond well to upfront bonuses rather than extra credit on old work by rewarding proper behavior, making classroom management easier and more pleasant for teachers.
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Teacher Tips: Checking for UnderstandingUpon setting students free to practice a new concept, I ask them whether it is like eating cake or eating concrete--is it easy or difficult to understand what to do.
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First Person: Practicing Blended Learning in a High School English ClassCreating a virtual learning environment where students share their learning with others, collaborating and creating new knowledge, truly blends what they acquire in the classroom with what they can do on the Internet. -
Motivating Students to Learn the Vocabulary We TeachWhile standardized testing ruins the authentic enjoyment of learning new words, a simple shift in scoring may be the answer to rekindling that lost love.
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First Person: Motivating High School Students to Avoid PlagiarismFirst-person, reflective writing greatly diminishes the chances of those who would plagiarize under pressures of performance and deadline.
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First Person: Obama Spends on Education, but N.C. Teacher Is Fine Doing WithoutPresident Obama signed a bill that funds 300,000 teachers' jobs. But holding one's breath for a pay raise suggests a certain naivete among educators in America.
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The Ninetieth PieceWhat does one do when staring at the amount of content produced and wants just one more? Produce! -
The Sheetz Has Really Hit This Fan in Rocky Mount, North Carolina!Nonpareil among gas station convenience stores, Sheetz offers its customers a wide array of products and courteous, upbeat service, as well as a discount gas card. -
Getting Lucky Without "Good Luck!"A humorous jab at the unfortunately beleaguered term of good fortune.
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Local Petition Discouraged Threat of Club DisturbanceA quaint neighborhood united to keep a disreputable bar from becoming the garrison to the community.
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On the DVD Release of "The Clash of the Titans" 2010 Remake: A CommentaryRather than the standard review of The Clash of the Titans movie on DVD, this commentary reflects a reactionary response to the meddlings of the screen writers.
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Are Students Accountable for Their Summer Reading?If summer reading is required, then teachers must hold students accountable during the first week of the year, using online discussion, blogs, and assessments to make the summer reading timely, meaningful, and authentic.
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Distracted: A Sense of EveThe first man set the tone for those who ignore their wives; what was he thinking letting her wander about the property? -
Let's Get Kraken!My son devoured the first of Riordan's PJ series like a boulder in swaddling clothes!
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Syfy Channel's Latest New Series: Faked or FactFaked or Fact on SyFy channel is proof I have the wrong job! These guys get to tool around the country, performing countless lame experiments to prove nothing extraordinary--beats the tar outta my day job!! Like "Jackass" for the paranormal.
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Vicariously Living the Monster Jam FantasyDefinitely a video game for everyone, dad enjoys Monster Jam for Playstation 2 as much as his children
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The Outskirts of Bravo's HousewivesRiding the coattails of melodramatic hilarity over the drama behind one network's tale of housewives in the Garden State, this perspective suggests staging v. reality.
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Clout Eight Feels Great!A blurb about the joy this Content Producer feels for having reached a new clout level and what has been learned since Clout Two.
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Dissolving My Own Writer BlockIt's writer's block, but as far as being one writer, the block will be modified by the adjectival treatment of a perfectly good noun: writer block.
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Writing FreelyPeter Elbow, author of several books on writing, says free writing is good for its own sake, regardless of grammar and standard convention.
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Ode to My ChellA poem for my wife.
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How to Motivate Students to Read Over the SummerSummer reading lists fly off the desks of teachers as early as May, but students typically hope the teacher will forget by August that any reading was assigned.
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Twenty-First Century Summer SchoolThe 21st-century summer school looks a lot like a computer lab these days, but the work is rigorous enough to justify the recovered credit.
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Look at it from My Point of ViewI have yet to find one of my favorite poems, "If I Were You," which clearly shows that we are unique.
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Adam, Samson, and IInspired by David A. Reinstein's poem, "Samson and I Got Haircuts," the lessons of Samson and Delilah are fun to ponder.
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Diabetic's HaikuA diabetic look at sugar irony.
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Ya (Purple Hike) Hoo!A haiku for the purple Yahoo!
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Haiku-nessInspired by Riordan's Apollo and a recent follower, I butcher my first haiku ever.
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Deviled DiabeticA poem about my diabetic journey.
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Summer SchoolA poem about summer school.
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Facebook is an Excellent Portal for Teachers and StudentsFacebook is a waystation where teachers, students, parents, and community leaders can collaborate and communicate with one another while pursuing the educational tools that make learning experiences effective and meaningful.
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A Sample Firsthand Biographical SketchFor my students, I want them to see a firsthand biographical sketch. This is an old one, but telling in its format.
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A Little League Move in the MajorsRobbie Alomar produced a double play using a sneaky Little League move.
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Motivating High School Students to WriteIn the age of texts and chats, getting students to write in standard written English requires a little finesse. Here, you will see the initial motivating technique of one teacher.
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Welcome to the Madness!Inspired by my typical invitation to the joys and sufferings of being a part of a new environment.
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Surf or GirlA poem about surfing and the other woman who interferes.
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Procrastination Has a NameA poem of sloth.
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Dr. ScarletA poetic perspective of grading.
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Empowering Students to Educate ThemselvesStudents and teachers, alike, have gotten used to being told what to learn. This is a glimpse of one teacher waking up to what he should have been doing all these years.
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Raw ChaosWhat good is it to revise an old poem that seemed relevant once? Emily Dickinson would surely have balked at any change, but I'm not so sure. Enjoy if you can.
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How to Survive as a First-Year TeacherCome spring time and first-year teachers get the jitters. Lessons falling apart, students misbehaving. It's easy to think, among novice teachers, that this profession's all wrong, but it's not!
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I Am Fairly Certain I Detest JanuaryThis rant sums up my overall negative, slothful attitude toward the first month of the calendar year.
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Marlboro 54s: The Latest Menthol CigaretteCompared to the 1970's stale green and white packaged Marlboro Menthol classic, 54's produce considerably less hacking per puff, regardless of the pack/per/day chain smoker's quota.
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Bodyshots Little CigarsWhile the smoker's tax has nicotine addicts poised to throw a North Carolina Tobacco Party, Cheyenne International, LLC, has introduced a flavorful shot of some popular mixed drinks into their little cigars for less than $2 a pack.
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Virginia Slims Superslims Purse Pack: Cigarettes or Lollipop Sticks?In an ever-shrinking market of tobacco smoking, Virginia Slims is trying to squeeze its already slim cigarette into an unprecedented "super slim" niche with the introduction of its Purse Pack.
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My Mission StatementWhat good is a mission if one doesn't invite others to hold one accountable?
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Post-Midterm SurveyThis is an actual survey that I used with my English 10 students at Rocky Mount Preparatory School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. We should survey our students more often; it helps us reflect more effectively on our own practices.
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Aldi's in Rocky Mount, North Carolina: A German Grocery InvasionAldi's is new to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, with its coin-deposit shopping carts and absence of bag boys, but the German markets are popular in eighteen countries between Europe and the United States.
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Man-Beast #7: Closure is a Foreign Word to MenEmbedded in this article are many observations about the way I see the darker side of men.
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Man-Beast #6: Men Don't Change, but If They Do, Wives, You Ought to Be There!A yearning, if not impatient, wife posted words of frustration and unhappiness, and this was my reply. Feel free to comment on my choice to present the unedited reply.
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Man-Beast #5: We Men Love Our AddictionsThis is the latest installment of my man-beast articles originally published at Cafemom.com as a reply to an "Ask a Man" post.
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The Baby's Daddy: Are You Letting Him Make You Wait?A friend asked me why the daddy of her baby doesn't leave his present girlfriend. This article was my reply to her. The article contains mature content and terms, but I felt this was worth sharing with a larger audience. Enjoy and comment freely!
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Unappreciative Husbands--As Observant as RocksMore of my Man-Beast Thoughts. This one is about husbands who forget to notice their wives.
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Men Are from Dung Hills, Not Planets!The next installment of my Man-Beast series about the all-too-secretive side of men!
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Chaotic Pandemonium is My MySpace NameIt seemed as if writing about the name I used would either give the name meaning or give me peace.
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Men Love to Pursue Their WomenThe first installment of a series of responses to women's questions about why their men behave the way they do. In the spirit of Dear Abby, I give you "Mike says"
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Camel Signature Blends: Robust BlendOf the four signature blends by Camel, I have had the "pleasure to burn" its Robust blend.
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ADHD in My Home: Disorder Has Kicked Me Between the LegsAfter my son got suspended from the school bus, we learned that he may have ADHD.
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San Diego's Historical Sites: Mission de Alcala, Presidio Park and Balboa ParkVisiting San Diego, California, will be one of the greatest vacation decisions you will ever make. The historical significance is unparalleled.
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Ant Biters: The Killers of My Driveway!These fierce, carnivorous beasts chomp our toes every step we take!
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The Marlboro Virginia Blend: Chain Smokers Rejoice!Touted as Marlboro's "only single leaf blend," the Marlboro Virginia Blend is a smooth stick, from lighted to butt.
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Sparks: Energy Drink with an Alcohoic Zing!These alcohol-laced energy drinks keep you standing while you buzz around.
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How to Manage Your Grade in Mr. White's English ClassOne teacher's take on how students should view their progress reports.
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Enjoy Outer Banks, North Carolina on Just $30: The Beach, Taco Bell and MoreMy wife and I were able to enjoy a day to ourselves in Outer Banks, North Carolina, - on just $30 - while a friend watched the kids!
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Refinancing a Mortgage: Advisors, LendingTree are Among Good ResourcesSeeking is much more profitable than being sought after. Your decision to refinance mustn't be swayed by the constant barrage of telemarketers. When should you hide and when should you seek?
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Michael Vick: Is Shame Now Nothing More Than a Literary Device?Do we not feel shame for the love of a sport that churns out fallen heroes? Do our fallen heroes feel no shame for their criminal actions? Are Adam and Eve and numerous literary characters the only ones who do feel shame?
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Flexibility is an Effective Teacher's Best Friend!As I enter a new school year and things are already going wrong, I am reminded yet again to be flexible in planning and in problem-solving so that students receive the best possible education.
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Should Teachers Be Allowed to "Hit" Students?This essay is currently ranked number one at Helium.com out of 14 entries. All arrogance aside, it is the best piece I have written all summer. I hope you enjoy it, too.
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Proofreading 101: How to Proof a Paper and Eliminate Sentence FragmentsThis is a sure-fire way to eliminate run-on and fragmented sentences.
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Does it Take Getting Sick to Slow Down and Appreciate the Simple Things in Life?I don't normally take Henry David Thoreau's notion of simplification to heart until my insides spew outwardly.
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Mad-Croc Slammin' Citrus-Flavored Energy GumMad-Croc Energy Gum energizes without any formaldehyde after taste!
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Even as a Teacher, it is Easy to Lose Sight of the Big PictureJust as boats on the water do, teachers have to correct their sails to maintain the right course.
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Good Reading and Writing Habits Require Clear ThinkingLet's see if I can shed any new light on this old cycle!
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The Four Best Beaches in San Diego, CaliforniaWhether you like to sun, surf, walk, party--San Diego beaches have it all.
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To Complement Retro-Designed Cars, Wouldn't Retro-Designed Drive-In Theaters Be Great?Imagine taking your date in your new 2008 convertible Camaro to the drive-in.
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Did Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz Cause the Same Grief that Attacks Harry Potter?How much research does it take to find complaints against The Wizard of Oz?
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A Student's Guide to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CaliforniaPoint Loma Nazarene University sits atop San Diego, California's premier peninsula, Point Loma, just yards from the Pacific coastline.
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Teach the Mythology: A Tip for English and Language Arts TeachersMythology is literature.
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The Stress of StraussWhat happens to a man when he loses his job?
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Woo Hoo! My Clout Reached Two!I want to inspire the new CPs feeling stuck at Clout One and invite the rest of you to help me reach Clout Three
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Writing Workshops Prepare Students for Real-Life Writing SituationsStudent writers must move beyond the five-paragraph essay to become effective writers outside the classroom.
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Isn't Our Shock-Value Society Ready for the Suicide Drink?Of all the drinks on the market now, why hasn't anyone mass-marketed the Suicide?
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Favoritism Beyond the ClassroomHow favor is treated may be the crux of this issue. How relationships are affected may be closer to the crux.
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Marlboro Smooths Are Indeed Smooth!Even the rough smoker of the Marlboro Reds will enjoy the minty smoothness of these new cigarettes.
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I Had Loved Alcohol from the Very First SipOnce it was cool, but nevermore!
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Rocky Mount Preparatory School in Rocky Mount, North CarolinaRocky Mount Prep, as we call it, is a gem among North Carolina public schools.
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The New Battle in the Cola WarsI took the Pepsi Challenge back in the late seventies, the staunch Pepsi drinker that I was, and...picked Coke!
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From Rebellion to ParenthoodIrony and hypocrisy riddle the lives of parents whose days as teenagers who rebelled against their parents!
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A Student's Guide to San Diego State UniversityIt is the same now as it was twenty years ago: where to eat and why!
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Home-Made Tacos: An Event, Not Just a MealI have borrowed the whole night of taco-making from my wife, and I won't relinquish any of it because I enjoy it so much!
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Dressing Your Salads with a Wishbone's New Spritz!Always in search of the perfect oil and vinegar dressing, I may have found a great new way to dress my salads.
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On a World CruiseI was twenty-five when I wrote this.
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Snap-Tight TubsToday's tract homes do not afford the amenities with which I grew up.
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Seasoning: From Herbs to ExperiencePondering on this word has provided insight into the ways we use words.
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Tabasco EnemaIf your ducks must be in a row, then pucker up!
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Cape Hatteras Spiral ClimberA marvelous exercise in lighthouse sightseeing!