Tom Kephart

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The Internet: Cancelled because of bad ratings

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 18, 2012, 2:02 pm
Another way to think about SOPA/PIPA is to compare it to the pending cancellation of a favorite show. You love the show, and you’ve heard something about low ratings and that it might be cancelled. But you don’t tell anyone else to watch it, you don’t write the network to tell them how much yo...
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My email to Candice Miller regarding SOPA

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 18, 2012, 10:43 am
Text of the email I sent to Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI 10th) this morning. Similar emails were sent to Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). You can easily contact your Congressional representatives using this site. Dear Congresswoman Miller: I’d like to add my voice to those co...
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White House reacts to SOPA/PIPA opposition

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 14, 2012, 2:26 pm
The Obama administration issued a response to two petitions that oppose SOPA/PIPA today. It contains some encouraging information regarding the White House’s position on the bills and some of their more drastic elements, but also encourages the petitioners to come up with better ideas. The concept...
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SOPA and PIPA: Bad for (almost) everyone

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 14, 2012, 1:56 pm
Do you know about SOPA and PIPA? You should, because if these bills pass it would cause huge changes in the way the Internet works, stifling innovation, reducing economic growth and reducing or eliminating free expression and social media. The bills are currently being considered by the U.S. House o...
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Another new beginning and a flashback

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 8, 2012, 4:46 pm
One thing I especially like about teaching college courses is that we start over every sixteen weeks or so. It’s usually the same courses, although I always revise things a bit because I’ve learned new techniques or ideas I like and want to include, but it’s a new set of students (hopefully) e...
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The other side of the coin. A degree in acting.

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jan 7, 2012, 10:20 am
Yesterday, I wrote a lengthy post about studying the humanities. Today, let’s puncture a myth, though. A few years ago, I was in a production of the musical 1776 that included several young actors who were in high school or college. One of these young men (the show has a lot of men – they were ...
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Slide presentation from Lisa's memorial event

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Nov 1, 2011, 3:07 pm
Also, for those who couldn’t attend the event last Friday, here’s the slide show we put together highlighting her costume designs at SC4 and her makeup class teaching. Photos are primarily by Wendy Torello and Twana Pinskey. A Celebration of the Art of Lisa Sturtridge
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Lisa Sturtridge, theatre artist (1955-2011)

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Nov 1, 2011, 2:57 pm
From the remarks I gave at the beginning of “A Celebration of the Art of Lisa Sturtridge” at St. Clair County Community College on Friday, October 28, 2011: Our friend Lisa Sturtridge left us three weeks ago, but the “new normal” is taking a lot longer to get used to. I shared an office wit...
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Should you go to college? Yes.

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Aug 15, 2011, 12:02 pm
It’s almost time for school to start again. I’ve talked to a couple of my community college students recently who wonder if the expense of college is going to pay off for them later on. The short answer is “yes.” (I’ll get to the long answer in a bit.) A recent study by The Hamilton Proje...
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Do you have an online split personality?

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jun 22, 2011, 6:31 pm
Are you using social media both professionally and personally? Do you tweet at home and at work? How do you keep your separate lives, well, separate? Or do you bother? In March, an employee of Chrysler’s social media agency, New Media Strategies, sent out a tweet on Chrysler’s corporate Twitter...
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All Work and No Pay: The Great Speedup

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jun 20, 2011, 11:03 pm
American productivity is up. Corporate profits are up. How are you doing? Mother Jones co-editors Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery take a look today: In other words, all that extra work you’ve taken on—the late nights, the skipped lunch hours, the missed soccer games—paid off. For them. Th...
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Quote of the day

Tom Kephart posted an article on - May 11, 2011, 10:19 am
If there is indeed a clash of civilizations in this world, it’s not between the Muslim world and the Judeo-Christian one, or between East and West. It’s between rigid religious absolutists in all societies, and those they’d like to erase from view. Michelle Goldberg, from this article on The ...
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One last ankle update with photo from different angle

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Apr 1, 2011, 4:50 pm
Feeling much better this afternoon. Headed to Sarnia to do some dancing. Here’s one more photo of my ankle from a different angle. The lighting is a bit different, so my foot may look a little different. Tom's ankle - April 1st, 2011 Have a great Second of April tomorrow! Share this post:
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Considering using a new x-ray technique

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Apr 1, 2011, 4:15 pm
Couldn’t get into the hospital for x-rays, apparently there’s been a rash of bizarre injuries today for some reason. So I’m considering buying a pair of these. Anyone have any experience with them? New x-ray technology lets you see naked people easier than ever. Share this post:
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Update on the ankle – security cam image

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Apr 1, 2011, 3:44 pm
Apparently the Brass Rail parking lot security camera captured the moment I injured my ankle. I apologize for the grainy and disturbing image: Tom slipping in the parking lot 3/31/11 Share this post:
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Just what I needed…

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Apr 1, 2011, 12:51 pm
Getting around a little slowly this afternoon after twisting my ankle last night leaving the Brass Rail. Not too bad, I can put a little weight on it, but I’m thinking I might get an x-ray to make sure I didn’t break anything. I slipped and landed with my right leg under me, with most of my cons...
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Acting students: Read this now

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Mar 7, 2011, 2:38 pm
Scott Walters plays “Dear Abby” today and gives advice to a theater major about to graduate and face the real world. Those of you who have taken my classes will recognize the gist of this advice, but Scott says this better than I ever have. This post just became required reading in my acting cla...
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Bialystock and Bloom

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Feb 16, 2011, 11:16 am
Tim Ziegler reading for Leo Bloom with me at auditions for "The Producers" Share this post:
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Quotable: Harold Guskin

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Feb 16, 2011, 11:01 am
From How to Stop Acting by Harold Guskin (Faber and Faber, 2003): In rehearsal, the actor has to shatter any preconceived notion he may have about the character – defy it, until he knows what the character is not by trying out precisely those possibilities that seem ridiculous. The actor must no...
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Performance calendar through May 2011

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Feb 7, 2011, 1:47 pm
After not acting at all in 2010 (I directed four shows at the college, though), I’m plenty busy on stage this late winter and spring. Here are the dates for the upcoming shows I’m involved with: SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (McMorran Production) Playing Judge Turpin February ...
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I get to be a "Producer"

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Feb 6, 2011, 11:27 pm
Brad Oscar as Max Bialystock and Roger Bart as Leo Bloom I got a fun phone call Sunday morning. Jennifer McNamara, who’s producing Port Huron Civic Theatre’s May production of The Producers, called me to let me know that the audition board selected me to play Max Bialystock. I’m very pleased,...
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Opening night for "The Gifts of the Magi"

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Dec 3, 2010, 2:30 pm
Tonight is opening night for “The Gifts of the Magi,” a musical version of two short stories by O. Henry that I directed at St. Clair County Community College. It’s the first musical our department has done in several years, and tonight’s performance will be in front of many of the college...
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Pen and Stage launches

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Nov 20, 2010, 11:29 pm
So I finally, officially launched a new web magazine today: Pen and Stage. It’s an idea I’ve had for about six years, which should give you some idea of the mastery of procrastination I possess. The site will cover performing and visual arts and artists in my area, which is known as the Blue Wat...
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Destination: Maine – Day 3

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Aug 2, 2010, 1:56 pm
Left Brattleboro around 11:00 a.m. for the approximately five-hour final driving leg to our destination. We spent a little time finding some excellent local Vermont cheddar cheese in several varieties, including a super sharp that was aged four years and was so dry it was amazing. Best cheddar I’v...
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Destination: Maine – Day 2

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Aug 1, 2010, 10:16 am
Me and Ty A short drive to Cooperstown, New York to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It was fun to see the historic bats, balls, uniforms and other items on display, most of which were connected to baseball moments that, as a lifelong baseball geek, I was familiar with. Doreen asked me if ...
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Destination: Maine – Day 1

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jul 31, 2010, 9:23 am
Launched the Maine trip yesterday with a marathon 580 mile drive to Johnson City, New York (the “Home of the Square Deal.”) After finishing last minute preparations and dropping Raven off at the boarding kennel (the “pet resort” is what I’m calling it in my mind so I can imagine her having...
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Pandora One – The best $36 you'll spend this year

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jul 28, 2010, 10:45 am
You’ve probably heard of Pandora, the streaming music service. Maybe you already use their free browser-based service, which uses the Music Genome Project to find music you might like based on an artist or song you enter. I’ve found many new artists that interested me using Pandora over the past...
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If you no-hit the Tigers, does it count?

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jul 27, 2010, 6:29 pm
Big Al at Bless You Boys suggests that Matt Garza’s no-hitter against the Tigers last night should have an asterisk because so many of the hitters in Detroit’s lineup were fresh outta Toledo (or perhaps should be headed there?), including immortals Will Rhymes, Ryan Raburn, Don Kelly, Gerald Lai...
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The Spot – lonelygirl15′s beach party ancestors

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jul 21, 2010, 3:40 pm
A popular old post reprinted from my former “New Tech Heroes” blog, way back in 2008: In late 2006, when the fuss over lonelygirl15′s real identity and the fact that her YouTube videos had been scripted was at its peak, I had a sense of deja vu. I remembered The Spot. Wired ran a...
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I'm forever yours… faithfully.

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jul 6, 2010, 12:04 pm
Clem Snide visit the Onion’s A.V. Club to cover Journey’s “Faithfully.” Stick around to the end for the big finish! Clem Snide covers Journey Share this post:
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Unsung heroes

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jun 13, 2010, 9:30 pm
There’s usually a divide between the actors and everyone else working on a stage production. It’s not always a bad thing; it’s natural that everyone is focused on their responsibilities, and as long as there’s an understanding that the show doesn’t go on without the per...
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The fat guy changes his habits

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jun 10, 2010, 11:17 am
So. I’m morbidly obese. I have a body-mass index of almost 40. I’m 6’2″ and weigh 310 pounds (on my bathroom scale, which also thinks I weigh 317 and 298, so precision isn’t guaranteed; but what’s a few pounds here or there once you get over 300?). I like the term...
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When a Stranger Chats

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Jun 2, 2010, 4:55 pm
Courtesy of xkcd:
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Time travel was possible…

Tom Kephart posted an article on - May 20, 2010, 10:15 am
Thanks to Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal!
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Song of the day: "The Letter" by The Box Tops

Tom Kephart posted an article on - Mar 18, 2010, 10:00 am
In memory of Alex Chilton, who died yesterday at the age of 59. Chilton was the lead singer of The Box Tops, who had a #1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967, when he was only 17 years old. He joined the power-pop group Big Star in the early 70s, and while you may be less familiar with their o...
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