Oh phew... because I was just saying the other day how annoying it was that pharmaceuticals are SO cheap.

Since I wrote this, I've seen more high-level republicans pushing the "trans people are dangerous" narrative (with assistance from right-wing media). The FBI is discussing labelling transgender people "violent extremists." Quotes below.

I usually just email these, but there are BIG education conference proposal due-dates coming up, so if that's your thing, don't miss them: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Is there a reason that there isn't a call to censure Reps Mace and Jackson? Is there a reason these comments aren't being covered more widely in the news? Warning, there are slurs in this piece and down this thread from members of Congress medium.com/@mrtomrad/a-...

"We only want the most normal thing. We want our loved ones to live. We want each of all of us to have a fair chance at being happy and safe and supported, and barring all that, we want these weirdos to leave people alone." mrtomrad.medium.com/a-new-and-da...

Current Texas Rep. Former Chief Medical Advisor to Trump. “We have to get them off the streets, and we have to get them off the internet, and we can’t let them communicate with each other… this is a virus, this is a cancer that’s spreading across this country.” www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/18/r...

Thanks @mrtomrad.bsky.social for sharing this fantastic idea! In our elementary library space it took the form of each student writing or drawing something they like to read on a brick to build our “lego” display. Kids are so excited to search and show their contribution to others!

On the Neurodiversity Podcast. @emilykm-lpc.bsky.social and I talk about vulnerability, neurodiversity, and embracing your weirdness. There's things in this podcast I didn't even realize until I said them out loud. I'd love to hear what you think of it. neurodiversitypodcast.com/home/2025/9/...

There’s no one left in the upper levels of government who ever did their fair share of work on a group project in school.

Man, when you open a book and it just instantly feels like nothing you’ve ever read; its own powerful thing….. to be surprised by what words can do having read millions of attempts at sitting them next to each other in interesting ways…..

I’m watching game of thrones for basically the first time, and so far, this is by far the best moment.

Is this good????

On a whole lot of days, my ADHD ass getting stuff done around the house and on work looks like one of those old Family Circus dotted line cartoons.

This dude sucks.

Is anyone else getting an unreasonable number of political spam texts these days? I just counted, and in the last six hours, I've gotten 9 different texts telling me Trump is laughing, Trump is sobbing, that THIS IS THE END, to say YOU NEVER CALL!!! (oh, wait... that one was my mom)

Any teachers want some free good activities and strategies to help create a positive & affirming culture in your classroom? Here's a free Educator's Guide for my Bucket and Friends books, but you don't need to read the books to most everything here. #edusky www.capstonepub.com/sites/defaul...

!!!!!

"Shut the gates to the peasants. They belong in the field, not our capital." Cersei Lannister

"Bucket and their friends are my own little square of the world, my piece of hope, my own picture of the world exactly as it should be." Please read (and share) my blog post on giving room for hope in your school, classroom, or space. www.capstonepub.com/blog/saving-...

Love it!!!!

This includes the full text of the subpoena by DOJ to various health care locations who offer gender affirming care. Look at #11 and tell me one good reason why DOJ would need the names and social security numbers of patients. www.lawdork.com/p/judge-orde...

Does anyone else feel constantly gaslit by the news that is like “there’s troops in DC and Trump told Texas to redraw their maps in order to keep power and is aggressively dismantling every piece of our government, and heres why it’s a tricky political problem for Democrats”

1. This makes me so excited for my own Week 1 (and also reminds me how much work I have to do to get ready!) 2. How could you not want your own kid to have this experience? Seriously: it's phenomenal. 3. So, so many resources! 🙏 (I'm also using @mrtomrad.bsky.social's activity this year!)

!!!!!

Shared this with a few colleagues because we’re all looking for different ways to connect with our kids this year and 3 of us are trying the word wall next week!

Wow. The University of Chicago, a world-class institution whose humanities faculty in the past has included Homi Bhabha & Lauren Berlant & Ralph Ellison & Hannah freaking Arendt, is getting rid of basically every graduate department involving the acknowledgment that other cultures & languages exist.

When we allow just a little transphobia, when we pretend it is contained to political posturing, when we treat the existence of trans youth as a reasonable 'difference of opinion,' real awful shit like this will keep happening. www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

'Trump urged homeless people living in Washington, D.C., to move out “IMMEDIATELY” and claimed “we will give you places to stay" that are "FAR" from the nation's capital.' Guess what? There is no ACTUAL plan. No places to stay. 'find a shelter or go to jail' is it. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

Books 22, 23 and 24 The Bucket Series by @mrtomrad.bsky.social I love these! I’m going to read them aloud to my second graders this coming year. There is SO much social-emotional learning woven into these stories. Highly recommend!!!

"Show us the world we could build for kids for the price tag of the Golden Dome, what each golf trip could do for a rural school, what the money we spend to terrorize immigrant communities could do for elders in all communities?" mrtomrad.medium.com/dear-democra...

Congrats to BA alum (and former MN Teacher of the Year!) @mrtomrad.bsky.social on publishing THREE chapter books this month: *Bucket and Friends Argue and Then Save Part of the World *Bucket and Friends Save Part of the World With a Wall *Bucket and Friends Save (Part Of) the World with a Name

I see at least 3 dissertations that could be written from this one short post.

My kid and I have both watched the new War of the Worlds. I maintain the Ice Cube did a pretty good job through most of it, and also agree that it is terrible. My challenge to him: Which actor would you re-cast in the lead role to make it way better (or sillier) to watch. My vote was David Tennant

This run of rap albums started October 28, 2024... with JID's new album dropping August 8th. Absolutely absurd.

Gotta love a nice review! mombian.com/2025/08/05/2...

Someone sent me a voice memo of their kid talking about one of my Bucket and Friends books. There's all sorts of metrics and blahblahblah that will try to tell you if a book is successful or not, but man do they feel silly and small next to the voice of a young reader.

One very neat thing about writing these books is that if you want to just get one paperback book, it's like 8 bucks! So you could go buy one right now wherever you buy books and it wouldn't even cost that much to do a nice thing!

Do I know anyone else going this year, or in the Madison area that wants to say hey? #gtotmw

"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations" cpb.org/pressroom/Co...

I just got these sweet bookmarks from @capstonepub.bsky.social! Love the tag-line of 'Inspiring optimism for kids growing up in a difficult world.' I'll put some links below this if you're interested in learning more:

Tom's "One Word Wall" activity is a good one

Really, really enjoyed this piece + conversation at @cultofpedagogy.bsky.social with @mrtomrad.bsky.social — already making some notes/adjustments to incorporate aspects of this when students show up in September! www.cultofpedagogy.com/classroom-de...

I got to do an episode (#255) AND blog for Cult of Pedagogy! Jenn has long been one of my heroes and one of the most thoughtful voices in ed. I share a few practices that will help teachers save time and give the walls of their classrooms to kids. www.cultofpedagogy.com/classroom-de...

A few wonderful moments from #SDCC2025 : Top Moment: Sharing a panel with my son, who I co-designed a project for the Comic Con Museum Maker Space with.

Are you going to #sdcc2025? Want a panels you don't need a pass for? Thursday at 12 I'm talking about the project I worked on with my kid for the Comic Con Museum maker space! I'll be around all con if anyone wants to meet up or suggest another must-see to a first timer #sdcc #sdcc2025

I'm working on this month's email of Ed Conference Proposal due dates. If you know of any coming up, send them my way! If you'd like to get the email, add your info here: forms.gle/yckjSXJCjZvf...

I get to go to #ComicCon next week to do a panel about a project my kid and I did for their museum... But also... squee. 4:15PM-5:15PM: Project Hail Mary Book Club – Andy Weir, narrator Ray Porter, and film producer Aditya Sood.

A heads up for #EduSky

What if we welcomed kids back to school with a message of hope? Each of my Bucket and Friends books is written as a tool for kids living in difficult times. Lesson plans, brainstorming sheets and resources are all here, all free, for anyone to use: www.mrtomrad.com/hopewall.html #HopeWall

To be completely honest, no quippy language or anything: This shit is terrifying. So many small steps brought us here and they are nowhere near close to the end of their campaign to strip the rights of transgender youth. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...