Ben

Going to get serious about brushing up my Swedish these next few months, as it has become criminally ringrostig. However, I need recommendations for more contemporary books. Tusen tack!

A field of blooming alkali goldenbush, with goldenrod flowers, bordered by poplar and mesquite trees. Desert hills can be seen in the background.

Once the surprise fog dissipated this morning, I went on a much-needed hike. The alkali goldenbush is looking mighty pretty after the rains.

A red diamond rattlesnake, positioned in a defensive stance underneath mesquite branches.

More rain in the desert today. I've been appreciating the mild weather and the frequent rain storms this past month. Compared to previous years, it actually feels like fall.

The animals have been appreciating the rain, too. Here's a red diamond rattlesnake I met on the trail a few weeks ago.

I haven't posted on here for a hot minute, but I'm hoping to change that. Hope y'all are well.

On a related note: check in on your teacher friends. It's been quite the year for us and, boy howdy, it's only the start of October.

I hate when someone unearths my pube-autograph to the world's most famous pedophile while I'm dying of cankles

Trust that California's public school system will be one of the first targets, which will mean that I'm screwed.

Student loan cancellation program could become Trump retribution tool, some advocates fear President Donald Trump is revamping the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, sparking concerns it could become a tool for political retribution.

"The Education Department...would strip the benefit from organizations involved in 'illegal activities,' with the final determination left up to the U.S. education secretary. A draft proposal...includes definitions of illegal activity that center on immigration, terrorism and transgender issues."

AP scores were released today, and there was a significant (18%) increase in my students' pass rate compared to the scores from the previous two years. No word as to how the dubious inclusion of "Stranger Faces" was scored, but I'm very proud of my students. ✨🧑🏼‍🏫

If you see this, post a duel

Now watching:

It really is. The digitalization of curriculum didn't help, especially when platforms offer excerpts in lieu of the whole text. Luckily, I've noticed positive changes in the last few years, so here's hoping that things continue to improve.

As an English teacher, I wholeheartedly agree. One of the most frustrating and tragic developments I've noticed in the curriculum is the tendency to manipulate texts so that they're supposedly more "accessible" for students, often at the expense of context and purpose.

Cirion, an Altmer, is standing on a bridge in the middle of the swamps near Seyda Neen, clad in chitin armor and wearing a helmet made of a mudcrab carapace and decorated with crystals that are a deep indigo. Because Morrowind.

Rebooted Morrowind and made it all pretty (and quirky, as shown with the mudcrab helmet). It's been ages since I played it, but the story and lore have stuck with me over the years. As have the memes. Looking forward to seeing how the modding community made this masterpiece even greater.

Dive Bar Beauty Queen: Pride Edition. ✨🌈💃🏼

I'll start:

Very good advice. As we teeter toward a war that has the capacity to be even more horrendous than either Iraq or Afghanistan, it's tempting to rage-skeet against that couch-fucking twat for trolling at the expense of trans kids. But ignoring him (and filling Bluesky with memes of him) is sound.

A green duck puppet speaks into a megaphone next to a blue-haired puppet in a safety vest. Caption reads: “Attention, freaks. It’s me.”

this is what Posting feels like

YouTube video by William Marshall The ancient Celtic Carnyx.

Also, if you haven't heard the haunting sound of the carnyx, here you go:

Doing some world building for a TTRPG setting that's been in my mind for a while, and I've decided that the Achaemenid-inspired dwarves in this setting play the carnyx into battle.

So metal.

PS - despite its reputation, the I.E. can be a beautiful place and deserves more credit. It has such a vibrant, diverse community and so many things to do. Now, if only we can get more public transit in place.

A picture of Etiwanda Falls on the Etiwanda Falls Trail in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

A Plummer's Mariposa Lily in bloom. The petals are pink fuchsia at the ends, with the interior being white with fuchsia dots. The anthers of the stamen are goldenrod.

After attending protests against fascism this morning, I ended up going on a hike in Rancho Cucamonga with a new friend that turned out to be lovely. We even found a Plummer's Mariposa Lily, which is a somewhat rare flower to find. All in all, a great day. ✨🌷

No Kings Day protestors line street of Cathedral City Hundreds of people gathered in the morning for the No Kings rally in Cathedral City in Southern California's Coachella Valley on Saturday. They lined the street near East Palm Canyon Drive and West Bu...

Even in 100°F heat, the protest in Cathedral City was sizable; I'd be interested to see the attendance estimate, but both sides of 111, including the median, were filled with protesters and immaculate community vibes. So proud to be working in and for this community.

The honking and visible support from the tow truck driver was *chef's kiss*

This is art.

I do find value in the silver lining that's noted, but, given that this passage appeared on my students' AP English Language exam form, I'm still livid. Looking forward to dual-enrollment opportunities for my students in the near future.

Author sides with students in revolt over book passage used in AP exam Author Namwali Serpell said she got bad reviews — and even death threats — after an excerpt from “Stranger Faces” was used without her permission.

"One potential silver lining, according to Serpell: As students watch the dispute unfold between Serpell and the College Board, they have debated literature, standardized testing and academic integrity.
'They’re actually learning more from this issue than the test itself,' Serpell said."

a woman wearing glasses and a pink shirt says " what like it 's hard " ALT: a woman wearing glasses and a pink shirt says " what like it 's hard "

Considering going back to grad school while simultaneously still working as a teacher.

Congratulations! Which book?

Based on the road closures in Twentynine Palms, it wasn't as if this person lived in a remote area; Adobe Rd. and 2-Mile Rd. have much more traffic than, say, the dirt roads in Wonder Valley. Did neighbors not notice anything? Did they just keep to themselves? Again, curious.