The Random Thoughts of Louis Schmier

It’s early. The humidity is up, but the sun isn’t. I’ve just come in from a soothing, invigorating five mile power walk. It didn’t start that way. It was a war. I fought it at the beginning with a quick series of starts and stops. At each skirmish, I offered up an “I ache too [...]

We of the Jewish faith have just begun an eight day period of observance called the Days of Awe. For a little over a week, beginning with our New Year–Rosh Hashonah–and ending with the Day of Atonement–Yom Kippur–we are asked to look deep into our hearts and acknowledge how they energize, direct, and hold sway [...]

It’s real early in the morning, about 4:45 a.m., and I’m in a pensive mood. As I was pounding the pre-dawn pavement, I was thinking about comments our Vice-President for Academic Affairs sincerely and excitedly at our beginning-of-the-year meeting urging the faculty to think about how to reach out to other departments and colleges of [...]

I was taking a break between plastering and sanding and priming and puttying and goodness knows what else as I struggled to reclaim my son’s ravaged bedroom for civilization. As I was reading my e-mail, on my screen popped a notice of a message from a first year student who signed up for my American [...]

“If you met a genie with a Ph.W. (Dr. of Wishes) who was willing to grant you one wish about _anything_ concerning education, what would you wish for?” Make it a good day. –Louis–