What's So Bad About Income Inequality?Apr 14th, 2012

There is a lot of talk about income inequality in the aftermath of the Great Recession but little time given to explain how income inequality is unhealthy for a society. Here is a good article explaining why income inequality is a problem.

I came upon this in my research for my research paper for my English Composition class.

Homework!Mar 9th, 2012

I have submitted and received, graded, 4 essays, for English Composition so far. Here they are in full, in MS Word (.doc) format.

In case you're wondering, the first 3 papers each received an "A-". The last, Driving a Status Symbol, received an "A". Those who knew me in high school understand just how significant that is (I never received an "A" of any sort, and probably rarely even a "B").

P.S., Please do not plagiarize. These works are copyright © William Flaherty.

So Far...Feb 7th, 2012

I am finding my first class, English Composition, to be rather enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, it's not fun to be in class until 9pm every Monday, but it is stimulating for the ol' grey matter and I can feel new wrinkles forming.

I've had 3 classes thus far and just received my first graded essay. I got an "A-"... maybe I'll post a link to the essay. We are required to write one essay each week and I hope one of mine will be "astounding" by the end of the class.

1st Class, Day 1Jan 22nd, 2012

I'm sitting in room 105 for English Composition 25 minutes early, wondering where this journey will lead me. I'm waiting with quiet excitement with the other early arrivals. Why are they here for a 6pm English 100 class? Do they have a better idea of what comes next than I do? Probably.

A prediction for the future of higher educationJan 20th, 2012

Here is an interesting piece speculating at what education will become by Lawrence H. Summers.

mobile.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/education/edlife/the-21st-century-education.xml

Working in IT, I can see some of this already happening outside of the institutions and a few even begin to adopt the idea of less memorization / more research skill, as well as greater emphasis on collaboration.

Our current education system has a long ways to go to catch up with the digital age it helped create; but Summers offers a bright vision for the future.

Stop SOPA!Jan 16th, 2012

On January 18, 2012, this site will be removed for the day and replace with this page to be part of the largest internet protest in the history of the free and open internet. Please follow the link to learn more.

Thank you.

In case you're wondering (post 0)Jan 15th, 2012

...here is why I'm writing this blog.

Basically, I think education is really damn important. Not just for me, but society as a whole. I intend to illustrate this point through this blog's meandering life.

Right now I'm a few months away from becoming a father for the first time. This exciting time has been extraordinarily thought provoking for me. I began to reflect on my own life and decided that my lackluster high school career (I barely graduated) and absence of any continued formal education since then would not suffice. Although I am now 30 and have learned much and even have a good job I can be proud of, I still itch to expand my knowledge and range of experiences greatly. But this is not only for for myself, I can only believe my decision to return to school will be a great example for my child in the future.