Tim Stahmer

Lesson planning was a part of my job that I actually liked. It was all about considering the students in each class and adapting the resources to fit their needs. I don't get how an AI bot could understand the kids well enough to do that.

Let's start with candidates and organizations still sending me email "from" James Carville. Any Democrat still taking advice from that guy (and consultants like him) deserves to lose. We need leaders who are willing to fight back - hard - and clearly present voters with ideas for real change.

Also, already subscribed to the podcast.

Loved the original book! Recommended it and “borrowed” :) from it for many discussions and inservice activities back when I was still employed. I’ll have to take a look at the 2.0 version.

We bought a new car last December, about a year earlier than planned. The selling price on that model has already jumped by about $500, mostly based on the threat of tariffs. It will likely spike higher when all this stupidity really kicks in.

K12 math education in this country is totally screwed up. Kids/adults need a solid understanding of statistics far more than Calculus.

Oh, and Petri’s essay is very funny. Curse the @washingtonpost.com for letting her go.

If you ever have the chance to see WWDTM in person, don’t hesitate to grab tickets! Last time for me was a year ago at Wolf Trap (with Anthony Fauci!). Remember when things were so much more optimistic? 🫤

See also: Audrey Watters’ “Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning”. We have sooooo been here before.

DOGE builds AI tool to cut 50 percent of federal regulations The U.S. DOGE Service is using a new AI tool to eliminate federal regulations, aiming to cut 50 percent of rules by the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

DOGE builds AI tool to cut 50 percent of federal regulations

AI in general has been - at best - a mixed bag. There's no reason to believe a system built by Musk's minions will be anything but a complete mess.

Charles Lindbergh was a Nazi puppet—and his famous flight was overrated. Here’s why. The aviator was so impressed by German propaganda that he grossly overestimated Hitler’s airpower.

Charles Lindbergh was a Nazi puppet—and his famous flight was overrated. Here’s why.

"Can a legendary human endeavor ever be celebrated if the 'hero' turns out to have been so deeply flawed?"

Good question. Another example of how real history is often more interesting than the myths and legends.

I discovered Tom Leher, Stan Freberg, and Mad Magazine about the same time in the early 60's and all warped my sense of humor for life. I am eternally grateful.

I still have The Remains of Tom Leher (a collection of his works on CD) on my bookshelf and it is the soundtrack for this afternoon.

When we were shopping for a car last December, I got into a couple of odd chat sessions with the “customer experience specialist” at a local Honda dealer. We found another dealer for the test drive and emailed them to tell them why. Got no response so I guess they didn’t need the business.

According to the New York Times: "Japan promised to import more American goods and will pay a tariff on exports of 15 percent."

I understand basic economics better than the @nytimes.com! Japan won't pay for this stupidity. American companies, and ultimately consumers, pay the tariffs!

Idea for HBO:
Hire Colbert to replace Bill Maher (who hasn’t been funny since 1999).
Hire Jon Stewart (before Paramount fires him) for a weekly show.
Give Jordan Klepper his own show.
With John Oliver, you now have the best of the Daily Show every week.
I’d subscribe just for that combo.

That’s why we were in town: to make great pics. 😊

Afternoon “appointment”? Definitely over.

Is this line on Draft Kings?

Big surprise and great pleasure. Keep rolling!

If he actually likes BBQ potato chips, that would be disqualifying. :)

I know it’s far from an historical record of the Scopes trial, but Inherent the Wind (1960) is one of my favorite movies of all time. Outstanding writing and performances.

Virginia’s top prosecutor targets drugs, crime — and Northern Va. schools While Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has tackled other issues like fentanyl and fraud while in office, schools have been a centerpiece of his tenure.

Virginia’s top prosecutor targets drugs, crime — and Northern Va. schools

Please, Virginia, pay close attention to our off-off-year elections this fall. Vote out this guy - and the rest of the MAGA wannabe GOP ticket.

Watched the Love Boat in first run, saw Wrath of Kahn the week it first opened, and remember the Chrysler Cordoba ads. Old enough for you.

(oh, and being picky, it was "rich Corinthian leather" not fine. :-)

It only takes a relatively small number of ignorant, unserious, selfish people to screw up society for everyone else. Unfortunately, that's who we have running national health policy at the moment.

Coding For All? Nevermind. Not too long ago, we were told that every student in K12 should learn to code. The “experts” said that computer programming had become an essential skill, not only leading students to good, s…

Coding For All? Nevermind.

It's time for educators to stop jumping on every new tech bandwagon and take a serious look at the kind of learning kids in K12 really need.

Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are just overrun with waste, fraud, and abuse.

Except for me and my family.
Or anyone I know.
Or anyone in red states.

Google Chrome (iPhone, iPad, and Mac) regularly asks for permission to connect with Bluetooth devices and I cannot figure out why. I guess these companies haven't made enough profit from the personal data they've already collected. :)

Do not get that reference at all. This is a good time to be blissfully ignorant. :)

I was unaware that Musk had assembled anything in the first place. I just assumed “America’s Party” was vaporware like so many of his other products.

MEDIC!!

;)

I'm booking a trip to another country over July 4, 2026 just so I don't have to be around for whatever grotesque circus they devise.

Tradition The following is a slightly-edited post from last year. A rerun but still relevant. Today is Independence Day here in the US. And around our house we have a tradition for this holiday.

Tradition

Too many people in this country forget that there is more to "patriotism" than getting drunk, shooting off fireworks, and shouting U-S-A at the top of your lungs.