Author Archives: Robert Basil

Vancouver histories

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Robert Basil

I am much enjoying rereading “Vancouver Special,” a funny but unsparing collection of essays written by local writer and comic Charles Demers and published by Arsenal Pulp Press (with photographs by Emmanuel Buenviaje). A note in his chapter on the … Continue reading →

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Happy to help

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Robert Basil

Twice in the last week I have helped to prevent a calamity from befalling a colleague. One colleague was irritated and the other was infuriated to receive my editorial help, though they each requested it. Both will come out “smelling … Continue reading →

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Getting it over on Google

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Robert Basil

As someone who has taught digital and social media to super-smart marketing students, this cracked me up: Why would Rudy Giuliani associate and indicted dealmaker Lev Parnas name his company “Fraud Guarantee”? Is there a worse name for a company … Continue reading →

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Posted on October 30, 2019 by Robert Basil
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Discussing parapsychology in the classroom

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Robert Basil

A few days ago I had the good fortune to chat (via Skype) with advanced undergraduate students at Brooklyn College. Our topic was “parapsychology.” The gifted and nimble instructor of Psych 3585 was LeAnne Flaherty, who was a student in … Continue reading →

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Better research posters

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Robert Basil

I often give up in frustration when faced with “research posters,” especially as I get older and my eyesight declines. They are hard to read – too much text, not enough appropriate visual organization telling my eyes where to look. … Continue reading →

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Enders

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Robert Basil

There are two claims your antagonist will typically corroborate right away: “You’re being defensive!” “You always need to have the last word!” A friend in network news told me that the proper response to the first claim is “You’re changing … Continue reading →

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Posted on September 16, 2019 by Robert Basil

Olympia, Washington downtown community a few summers ago. (Un-fiddled-with photo.)

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To judge others

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Robert Basil

I teach my students that, by and large, the purpose of social and workplace communications is to “foster and maintain relationships” (and “to not screw up”). A few years back blogger @rsocialskills noted that this rule does *not* carry the day … Continue reading →

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Posted on July 14, 2019 by Robert Basil

Be pacific. No contest communications.

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