Headed to Denver for #ncte25. Come see us if you want to provide your students with opportunities for authentic writing in places and spaces outside the classroom.

Hey, @craigwallwork.bsky.social! Just started The Skin We Feel Most Comfortable In. Even though I hated to wait quite so long (I wanted to read a physical copy), I’m so glad I didn’t read “The Many Ghosts of the Deep” before our flight to the UK. New phobia unlocked! (And I’m loving the stories!)

Last November I started watching all Tony Scott’s movies in chronological order of release. I finished today. 16 movies later, here’s my final ranking . . . #moviesky 🎬🎥

As befits such a massive book, an equally massive reflection about Michael McDowell’s Blackwater. (Although its current [lack of] engagement on Instagram reminds me why I shouldn’t spend 90 minutes writing a review.) #BookSky 💙📖 www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Less than 200 pages from the end of Michael McDowell’s Blackwater, and I finally figured out what it reminds me of. It’s a Pixies song. LoudQUIETLoud.

Had to say goodbye to Toby yesterday. It was quick, and I was grateful to be there to give him one last cheek scritch at the end. He always tucked himself under my arm each evening as I read. I’m finding it hard to open my book tonight. Sleep well, buddy. You were the best. #catsofbluesky

Oh fun. Just discovered our second book was one of those stolen by Meta to train AI. It’s not like we make any money from an academic press, so this is even more infuriating.

A big stack o’ books by authors who use humor effectively. Guess which one doesn’t belong! #BookSky #books 📚💙

Celebrating International Women’s Day with some of my favorite authors! #BookSky #books 💙📚

Hey, Democrats. Wearing pink and holding up cutesy signs in front of a fascist autocrat isn’t just not the flex you think it is, it’s NOT A FLEX AT ALL. No one has ever said, “Gosh, we really could have avoided the Holocaust if only people had held up some signs in front of Hitler.”

I’d sooner plunge my face into a mound of fire ants than watch this display of state-sponsored fascism. Props to those of you with stronger stomachs than I.

Republicans: Remove references to DEI from everything! Also Republicans: WHY DID THE MEAN MAN TOM HANKS SAY WE’RE RACIST?!

Catching up on last night’s SNL Homecoming concert, which is pretty freaking great. And after somehow making it this far in my life without ever hearing Brandi Carlisle, her performance of “The Joke” – what a song! – has me immediately checking out her discography.

Severance, but the other guy reads my student evaluations at the end of the semester.

The USPS seeing if Sam Rebelein’s new book can fly. Spoiler alert: it cannot.

This has been the longest 22 days of my life.

In a tale as old as time, a coterie of mediocre white dudes – presumably the same ones who suddenly cared about Lizzo playing an old flute a few years ago – are all over social media complaining about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance. They “don’t get it.” (1/3)

In a shocking turn of events . . .

A Venn diagram of the mediocre white dudes who are suddenly experts in the Roman salute and the mediocre white dudes who suddenly cared about Lizzo playing an old flute is a single overlapping circle.

#NowSpinning: Blur – Parklife Blur’s masterpiece still sounds as fresh as it ever did. In the Blur vs. Oasis kerfuffle, the Gallaghers had the better debut, but Blur were better over the long haul. And Parklife is as good as Definitely Maybe, giving Damon Albarn and Co. the win. #MusicSky #Blur

Some of my music nerd friends and I have a text thread where we hold March Madness-style single-elimination brackets on various music-related themes. I’m currently running one on best movie soundtrack. Disqualifier: it can’t be one where a majority of the songs were written FOR the movie. (1/3)

It’s adorable that people are just now discovering the GOP’s decades-long quest to destroy and privatize public education. Some of us have been shouting about it for years, but the mainstream press – including many respected education journals – told us We’Re JuSt BeInG pArAnOiD.

I love all the progressive starter packs, and it would be fun to be included in one. But the expectation to follow people back is a problem. I don’t want my entire feed to be taken up with Trump stuff. Because even anti-Trump stuff is still Trump stuff. And the less of him in my life, the better.

“You’ll be visited by three spirits.” The three spirits:

Volume 3 is beautiful. #MusicSky #TheGoBetweens #vinyl #records

7 years ago, at Amanda’s school’s Christmas party, I ate this monstrosity, the barbecue pork parfait. What’s the dumbest dish you’ve ever tried at a restaurant?

December purchases (so far). As I prepare for my book-buying ban and TBR-clearing project, I continue to defeat the purpose of it by buying all the books now that I would’ve bought later. #BookSky #books 📚💙

The semester is done, which means all that’s left is to leave my students’ course evaluations sitting in my email like an unexploded land mine until I’m ready for their criticism. So, 2028 at the earliest.

#NowSpinning: Lauren Mayberry – Vicious Creature As a huge fan of CHVRCHES, I greeted the news of Mayberry’s solo debut with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. The good news is that it’s fantastic: tuneful and dancey and smart in equal measure. #MusicSky #vinyl #records #LaurenMayberry

You can tell by the expression on my goofy face that I loved Jonathan Janz’s Children of the Night 2: The Night Flyers. Read my full review at the link: beta.thestorygraph.com/reviews/cd7c... #BookSky #books 📚💙 @jonathanjanz.bsky.social

As I start thinking about my year-end best-of lists, I always like to revisit my lists from the previous year. Here’s my Top 10 Reads of 2023. I think they all still hold up a year later. See any of your favorites in here? #BookSky #books 💙📚

Well this is a totally normal thing to happen in a functioning democracy.

I’d rather have a Maeve Fly movie, thanks. #BookSky #books 💙📚

Yesterday was one of those long days where the work was never-ending, but I did try to squeeze in a few pages of Liz Kerin’s First Light while sitting in my office at school. #BookSky #books 📚💙

OH BABY #FilmSky #MovieSky 🎬🎥

In an absolutely shocking turn of events, women seem increasingly resistant to the idea of dating male Trump supporters. Wonder why?

#NowSpinning: Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More It took Kim Deal 38 years, but she’s graced us with her first solo album. Unsurprisingly, it’s great. It sounds at times like the natural sequel to The Breeders’ Last Splash, but it’s also its own (very good) thing. #MusicSky #KimDeal #vinyl #records

My January 4 will be better than your January 4. (I mean, maybe. You could be doing something really cool, too.) #MovieSky #FilmSky 🎥🎬

The cats are doing fine, too, although they have to live their best lives after the puppy is asleep. (They also fully endorse this Costco blanket, which I can verify is super comfy.) #CatsofBlueSky #cats

Not that I think I’m an arbiter of quality filmmaking or anything, but here’s my current Top 16 of 2024 if you’re looking for something to watch this weekend. #FilmSky #MovieSky #movies 🎬🎥

It’s expansive and kinda messy, but the sprawling origin story of Fury Road’s kick-ass heroine is the Mad Max saga turned up to 11. #FilmSky #MovieSky #movies 🎥🎬 boxd.it/7ZmBtX

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #BookSky #books 💙📚 18.

Starting Jonathan Janz’s Children of the Dark 2: The Night Flyers. The first installment was a fun coming of age horror novel that fits comfortably alongside It, Summer of Night, and Boy’s Life. I’ve got high hopes for the sequel. #BookSky 💙📚

Status report: The dogs still get along. #DogsofBlueSky #dogs

The (current) top 4 contenders for my favorite read of 2024. #BookSky #books 📚💙

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #BookSky #books #CJLeede 💙📚 (Guess who forgot he was doing this?) 17.

My review of a French Canadian puzzle box that rides the line between enigmatic and inscrutable until its very satisfying conclusion. #FilmSky #MovieSky 🎬🎥 boxd.it/7YEvHh

I’ve exited my “silently judging who you voted for” phase and entered my “silently judging the quality of your Spotify Wrapped” phase.

Take it from me, when you’re feeling down, an hour-long Parks & Rec gag reel will be the cure for what ails ya. #TVSky #TV #ParksandRec 📺

When you see this expression on my dumb face, it means I loved the book. Check my review of Sam Tallent’s novel about the world of standup comedy and a road dog who can’t get out of his own way at this link: app.thestorygraph.com/books/18ddcb... #BookSky #books 📚💙