My American Collegiate Adventures

Summer 2009, staying in Madison for the summer for the first time ever! Some clerking, some journal-finishing, etc, but mostly six weeks of teaching a pre-college enrichment program for some nice kids from out East, who come to Madison to learn that the midwest exists. The curriculums? Two session of writing to get A's, and one each of criminal justice and...strangely enough...sports reporting.

How I introduced myself to my new favorite mini-coastie friends:



I proposed learning "how to write to get A's" by diving into it. Worked, to mixed reviews.



The program was a great way for the kids to spend a summer in an awesome spot, tour the colleges of the Midwest and balance the chance to learn a bit with a healthy dose of fun.

Operation Red Gym

Buffalo River Trail

Spring Break 2009
ALPs Gone Wild(erness)

Buffalo River Trail


Boxley to Pruitt
36.5 miles
4 nights


R. Jones, M. Kolars, M. Carlson, L. Schlecht, J. Oschwald, M. Van Dyke, M. Weimer. Great for beginners and advanced hikers alike

Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails is indispensible.

Gorgeous scenery, enchanting river, delightful elevation challenges, good camping.

Almost Wikipediaed

I set out to write my first wikipedia page. Encyclopediaing something I know better than just about any one else on this planet. Adventure Learning Programs. Unfortunately it didn't even make it a day. ALPs, it turns out, is not noteworthy...





My entry on Heves, though? Still standing a year later. Noteworthy, apparently...

Turtle-Flambeau Flowage

Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Solo Seakayaking

Beautiful islands (195) and shoreline (300+ miles). Many, many great campsites (60) scattered across innumerable lakes and bays (14,000 acres).

Wilderness feel despite some houses on shoreline. Heavy usage by long-term fishermen who use campsites as week-long base. Availability was an issue, even in late Spring.

Great training ground for Apostle Island paddling. Open lakes feel like big open water. Orientation/navigation can be tricky, especially when you're first getting familiar with the flowage.

Put-in and take-out at Springstead Landing, nice developed landing.

5/20/2008 Site C7
paddled through Voluntary Quiet Area
5/21/2008 Site C2



Site Review:

A1 - really nice access, quiet bay, lots of open space
B1 - group site is spacious, secluded private bay, nice fire ring, no beach
C1 - very close to C3
C2 - Beautiful spot above little beach, awesome view of islands
C3 - very close to C1
C4 - really nice island
C7 - great site, but out in the open
D2 - great location, picturesque, secluded
D5 - very small island, looked bumpy
D6 - great fire ring, but lousy tent sites
D7 - nice island, but dinky site
D8 - better situated, 2-way views
D9 - MIA? Site might have suffered from a recent storm?
D11 - nice quiet bay
D26 - fun setting, but no tentpad on isthmus
D30 - nice views with multiple tentpads
D34 - nice bay, but not secluded
D35 - magnificent sand beach all along bay, but smallish site

How to Teach How to Debrief

Leading an SLP workshop on the art of debriefing.

Adventures in Footnotes

Justice Jewett is ready to rule. But I don't always agree with the majority.

My favorite dissent doesn't have much to do with legal points. Instead, i'm attached to one particular dissent because of a wild case of footnote-ism. 19 in just over four pages. Here's a breakdown of what each footnote accomplished:

1. invitation for appeal
2. sarcasm
3. scold plaintiff
4. additional information
5. additional information
6. clarify
7. idealism
8. clarify
9. scold plaintiff
10. cite Wikipedia
11. self-promotion
12. again, cite Wikipedia
13. clarify
14. perspective
15. defend
16. hedge
17. joke
18. cite a cheesey website
19. cite case law