Author Archives: Boz

Grammar, Meet God

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Boz

Although I care deeply about language and am passionately interested in its origins and characteristics, I have no claims as a linguist. Therefore, what follows comes more from my heart than my head–mostly emotion tempered with a bit of knowledge … Continue reading →

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My Brief Encounter with Erney Krongard

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Boz

Despite the apparent obscurity of this World War I-era postcard, the charm of its rough sketch of doughboys at the front and the accompanying doggerel prompted me to buy it from eBay along with others more charming still–and of much … Continue reading →

Posted in cemetery, family, history, World War I | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Nothing’s Fair

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Boz

For more than two years, I have been immersed in a project designed to commemorate the centenary of World War I in my freshman composition classes and–this November–across the campus of the community college where I teach. I have already … Continue reading →

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Saying Goodbye to Maggie

Posted on August 25, 2018 by Boz

On November 1, 2016, a calico cat now known as Kedi (after the movie) gave birth to four kittens. By the beginning of December, even though the calendar had not officially passed the winter solstice, the weather was cold, and … Continue reading →

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The English Major and Ford Madox Ford: A Tale of Passion

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Boz

                  The Chemistry Major At this late date, newly minted Medicare card tucked safely in my wallet, I suppose it’s time to admit, mostly to myself, that I have always been what … Continue reading →

Posted in education, history, language, literature, review, World War I, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bible Belt Billboards

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Boz

I am very much aware of the Great Commission. I memorized it in Sunday school when I was about eight years old, at a time when the King James version was still in vogue and children still memorized Bible verses: … Continue reading →

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Bearing Witness: Reading and Telling the Great War

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Boz

Midway through the World War I centenary, I decided that I would use that largely unacknowledged anniversary as the theme for my freshman composition class on writing across the curriculum. The students write a literature review about shell shock for … Continue reading →

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Dear Jay and Gina: An Open Letter

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Boz

The five “increasingly savage paragraphs” of this obituary were published in the Redwood Falls [MN] Gazette on June 4. That same day, Stu @RandBallsStu posted it on Twitter. By the time I heard about it three days later on All Things Considered, it had … Continue reading →

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Ennui; or, The Cat Who Read Mallarmé

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Boz

La chair est triste, hélas! et j’ai lu tous les livres. [The flesh is sad, alas! and I have read all the books.]

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Graduation on My Mind

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Boz
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