Mandy Johnson, NBCT

A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.

Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.

Cory Booker as he breaks Strom Thurmond's speaking record: "I'm not here because of his speech. I'm here despite his speech. I'm here because as powerful as he was, the people are more powerful."

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST). For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming. Thank you for your service”

USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency

Yesssss. So precious.

A black crow struts across a wooden deck

Head into next week with the confidence of a crow. 🪶

Wow, congratulations on looking incredible in all four of them! 🥰

I have "Fozzymandias" stuck in my head and have absolutely no idea whatsoever to do with it. "Look upon my works, ye mighty, and wokka wokka"? That's nothing. Infuriating.

Yes. I told my students at the start of the year. You’re a high school student. It’s okay to write like a high school student. And no one sounds like you. It’s good to sound like yourself.

And there are more elective courses in development. It’s meant students have multiple opportunities and options throughout their four years.

In our district in Southern CA, we addressed the scheduling issue by offering teachers across disciplines to receive ES training and write a course in their area of study with ES embedded. We have English 9-12, US History, art, dance, Spanish at multiple , theatre, Korean American Stories.

I was engaged in work things basically from 8 AM to 830 PM and my brain is exhausted. When is break.

feeling attacked! and seeeeeen.

This is a fact. When I saw the a TITLE of this song just now, I heard it with my entire body.

YES! and i teach all online, so we start all our classes with check ins - usually NEWS!! (their news, not the news), but this seems like more fun.

I love this whole thread. Thank you for bringing this to my life.

i have a lot to do, but i feel like it's financially responsible to finish reading this book first. my brother & i have a $200 bet on who can read more books each year. i've never won but this year I'M CLOSE. i'm never this close by this time of year and he's got a flight to NYC and back this week.

YouTube video by Carlyle W Dracula's Lament

My friend Carlyle did a whole ass animated short to Dracula's Lament as his final animation project in school
youtu.be/RP_LhiOp_Po?...

I never got over this not being a real thing. If Eli Roth can give us Thanksgiving, then Jason Segal should be able to make this a reality. We need it.

IT IS SO CUTE. Someone who blurbed it was like, "It's my comfort read" and I totally get that. I want to hang out in this coffee shop forever and be friends with all these people.

So much to do today! I assembled my new desk chair which is so excellent. I have listened to my Spanish podcasts. I am am reading Legends and Lattes, which is so cute and fun. I have sort of graded a project, and now I'm going to check on my dad's dog. I have not made plans for the new week. 🤷‍♀️

OH GOOD!!!! Also, I'm dumb because it's Saturday and I didn't realize that until right now. (I am not ready to go back to work whenever that is 😂)

Wait. Did you have class today 😳?

I have coffee and a long to do list of grading and planning and I am ignoring all of it so far 🫠

a cartoon drawing of alice from alice in wonderland ALT: a cartoon drawing of alice from alice in wonderland

Super proud of the time I took for myself and family this week. Trying to stay chill about the grading and planning I need to get done this weekend with just three weeks left in the semester.

This resonates. I have been collecting notebooks and planners in the last couple of months to diversify my journaling/planning and make sense of all the open projects I'm trying to manage but also thinking WHAT AM I DOING - but this is exactly it. My life as projects.

I didn't know about this and it is wonderful. 😍

Poetry is an orphan of silence.

—Charles Simic

This makes me think of Bradbury reading “If Only We Had Taller Been” to a bunch of rocket scientists at the Jet Propulsion Labs. He was like, “You’re my captive audience now. POETRY.”

Okay this is helpful! I like those things!