Lessons

All Lessons 86

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The Strentzel Muir House is the Best Place to Learn About the Real John Muir

The Wanderers

John Muir is often referred to as the "Father of the National Park Service." If you ever wanted to learn about John Muir this is the place for you. He lived here with his family for over 20 years. Lot…

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US Presidential Election Deja Vu All Over Again

News and Views

Here we are the day after the presidential election in the United States.  Who would have guessed that Trump would win? Everybody, duh.

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Council Rock Newtown Little League in the Little League World Series

Sporting Competition

It is rare that a little league team from where I grew up makes it all the way to the Little League World Series.  It brought back a bunch of memories for me, especially about the last game in which I…

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Niagara Falls

The Wanderers

Niagara Falls Canada vacation during the summer of 2024.  Niagara Falls located at the southern end of the Niagara Gorge, is a breathtaking natural wonder that spans the border between Canada and the …

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The Captivating Beauty, Historical Depth, and Cultural Richness of Prague

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is often referred to as the "City of a Hundred Spires" due to its stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture. Nestled on the Vltava River, Prague boasts a…

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Road Trip Europe 2024 Part 1 - Zurich, Lucerne, Como, and Milan

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

For this year's trip to Europe we decided to rent a car.  Our route starts with Zurich, Switzerland.  Next is Milan - with a quick stop at Lake Como.  Then we'll stop for lunch at Verona on our way to…

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Road Trip Europe 2024 Part 2 - Bolzano, Innsbruck, Zurich

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

This is Part Two of our road trip in Europe.  Our route continues in with a stop for lunch at Verona on our way to Balzano.  Next is Innsbruk, and then back to Zurich. 

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The Arizona Trip - Grand Canyon and Beyond

The Wanderers

This spring we decided to visit Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park.  At the same time we wanted to visit a few other cool spots in Arizona.  So, our itinerary looked like these stops: Phoenix -> Sed…

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The Mountains are Imposing at Glacier National Park

The Wanderers

The National Park Service describes Glacier National Park as "a showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes."  We were sold!  In the fall of 2023 we explored Gl…

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The Apple Vision Pro is a Look at the Future Direction of Virtual and Augmented Reality

Key Technologies of the Past and Future

I found the Apple Vision Pro to be a wonderful first iteration of a VR/AR device from Apple.  Sure, it has its downsides, such as its weight and price.  But it gives you a glimpse into what these kind…

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March Madness and the Temple Basketball Program

Sporting Competition

As a Temple alum, I have to wonder what is going on with my former university.  In 2020 the Dean of the Fox School of Business was indicted on charges of submitting false data to U.S. News & World Rep…

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Nagoya has More to Offer Than I Expected

Japan Series: The Big Cities

This past fall we signed up for a bus and ferry tour of Shodo Island and Shimanami Kaido, which you can read about here.  To start the tour we had to take the Shinkansen to Nagoya.  So, at the end of …

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First time in Osaka? Here are some places to check out.

Japan Series: The Big Cities

Back in the early 1990's we visited Osaka on our way to Kobe.  Frankly I remember very little about that trip.  Then in 2023 we had a chance to stop in at Osaka for a couple of days, and we made the m…

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Visiting Tokyo for the First Time? Here Are Some Popular Places to Visit

Japan Series: The Big Cities

Tokyo is an eclectic city of contrasts - ultra modern skyscrapers, residential bedroom towns, and ancient temples and shrines. In this guide I will give you some ideas for things to do while visiting …

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Major League Baseball, the World Series, and my beloved Phillies

Sporting Competition

Well, it is that time of year. Two teams, one from each league, will compete for the "world championship" of baseball.  Two small market teams somehow made it to the World Series, the Texas Rangers an…

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Pent Up Demand to Visit Rome Almost Overwhelming

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

The last time I visited Rome I was taking a summer break from college, and had a full beard.  Almost fifty years later, it seems like it was just as I left it. Hope you like crowds!  It was like every…

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Firenze for the First Time was Well Worth the Wait

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

Florence, or if you are Italian, Firenze was a city that I had wanted to visit for a long time. I missed it on my very first trip to Italy in 1982, and it took quite a long time for me to finally make…

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The Stylish Heart of Austria, Vienna

Europe is Wonderful After All These Years

Our first stop in our Europe tour was Vienna, Austria. We chose Vienna primarily because of its musical history, particularly the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I was happy to return to Vienna afte…

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Kyoto will Always be the Heart and Soul of Japan

Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles

Kyoto is the heart and soul of Japan. It's ancient temples and shrines are a testament to the history of Japan, and even its future. Kyoto is a modern city with many contemporary buildings, and even i…

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Super Bowl LVII

Sporting Competition

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles played in the 2023 Super Bowl on February 12th in Glendale Arizona.

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The Beautiful Port City of Victoria

The Wanderers

Canada is blessed with a number of beautiful provincial capitals, but none are prettier than Victoria, British Columbia.

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Dual Massacres Show Disturbing Parallels

News and Views

History can draw some strange parallels sometimes. Two horrid massacres, though completely disconnected, reflect the level of discrimination that existed in the early 20th century in Japan and the Uni…

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Guns In the United States

News and Views

Gun violence is continually rising in the United States. Do Americans favor new gun laws to stop it? It is an excellent subject to discuss in your English class, especially for those that study US cul…

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War in Ukraine

News and Views

It's the beginning days of another war of conquest by Russia.  What is it all about?  Why now?  Wasn't Russia satisfied with capturing Crimea?  Civilians are killed, and the world is shocked.  What wi…

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