I am a recently retired professor of physics at Colgate University. While at Colgate, I taught physics courses at all undergraduate levels, and especially enjoyed teaching Solid State Physics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Electronics, and the Introductory Calculus-based sequence. I also held four administrative positions: Chair of the Scientific Perspectives Program (general education); Department Chair (8 years); Director of the Division of Natural Sciences (3 years); Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (2 years), and co-authored the university's Middle States Evaluation Report. My primary research was in low temperature physics, and more recently in granular matter. Since retirement, I have written (with Colgate colleague Kiko Galvez) and just (2015) published a textbook for the introductory level Classical Mechanics course, called Physics from Planet Earth. The book uses the theme of astronomy and space science to "drive" the traditional topics of mechanics, and contains many theme-based problems featuring contemporary discoveries in astronomy and planetary science. You can see a description of the book at https://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439867839, and I expect to have a website up and running soon to provide additional materials to instructors.