Back in pandemic days, when stores were out of yeast, I found a baking supply store that shipped me 20# of yeast and I sold the bricks to my friends (at cost!) I've had my pound of yeast all that time and I always proof it before baking--it's still as active as ever. That's freezer storage for you!

I really don't like oatmeal raisin cookies, but at least they stand for something. What even is a sugar cookie. All cookies have sugar/butter/flour in them. Bye.

I'll do you one better -- both Swedish Fish AND Twizzlers can get outta here.

This person pitched my news organization earlier this year, but I found the pitches suspiciously too perfect and turned them down. I had a thought of trying to force a confession but figured it would take too much time and effort -- I'm glad someone got to the bottom of it.

I just started this book. I manage my news organization's early childhood coverage and I think all the time about how we as sa nation are utterly reliant on child care workers who get paid basically nothing, even working full time. (The median wage is around $13/hr)

This is depressing as hell. Am I that old? And all the HBCU/Divine 9 folks in this video fumbling the ball! www.tiktok.com/@mrsdsilva/v...

thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting. now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.

Teen Vogue and @hechingerreport.org, where I'm an editor, worked together on several stories over the years. @leximcmenamin.com and @allegrak.bsky.social and many others were wonderful partners and this is gutting news. A list of just a few of the stories where Teen Vogue was a valued partner:

I’m at the laundromat washing comforters and I have forgotten how…assertive…you have to be at a laundromat. I am such a soft suburbanite.

Not a great picture but I was just struck by my red osier dogwood over here being quietly beautiful🌱

It's hard to keep track of everything, but the government shutdown means that more than 100 Head Start centers won't receive their expected funding on Nov. 1. Christy Gleason at @savethechildren.org told me how families in those programs are facing so many challenges right now.

My question is, what's next for these jewels? One could build a whole novel around that! You can't sell the jewels on the open market. If some evil billionaire paid for them to be stolen, there's no way he could ever display his ill-gotten gains, he'd have to just look at them in private.

The Education Department is close to functionally disappearing. I didn't think this could happen, and I was wrong, wrong, wrong. Here's a piece I wrote on how the hollowing out is affecting special education: hechingerreport.org/parents-advo...

I covered special education and children with disabilities for years before I became an editor - this week I had a chance to dust off the source list and pull together a story on just what the heck is happening in the federal special education office: hechingerreport.org/parents-advo...

A new normal for schools - trying to figure out how to fill budget gaps left because federal money has been delayed or cut. From one supe: “I had teachers crying, staff members crying. They thought they were going to lose their jobs a week before school."

If Isaac Chotiner ever said "Sorry, what did you just say" in a conversation with me, my whole life would flash before my eyes

Seemingly relentless attacks and funding cuts since the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term have been “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said one professor who left higher education on the eve of the pandemic, in 2019. “I’m hearing from a lot more people that it’s too much.”

It's amazing to me that I'm walking around with a $1,000 device in my pocket that I've had to disable some of the core functions of, because otherwise I would be overwhelmed with spam phone calls and texts. The calls come every day. The texts seem unstoppable/unblockable. And this is just...OK?

The Naked Gun was so stupid and funny. I went with my 12-year-old and he understood and laughed at more jokes than I would have suspected (or wanted)

Just got back from Fantastic Four. In terms of pure "this is fun" excitement, I think Superman was better. In terms of me understanding some of the deep lore, I'm a Marvel girlie so I had that background knowledge. But FF was good! Better than just another cog in the massive Marvel machine.

I have been sticking paint samples up all over my house (thanks, Samplize) and I'm happy to realize that even though I can perceive the difference between, say, Wind Chime and Soft Fern (two grayish greens) I don't CARE about the difference. I'm happy this is one thing I won't obsess over (much).

Man this really hurts. I grew up with him.

This pupster cannot be real. That face! 🥹

With inflation, it's now a 10-alarm fire

You don't have to be steeped in education policy like I am to be stunned at the disrespect demonstrated here. And I imagine this has happened in dozens of different federal agencies: hechingerreport.org/proof-points...

Does anyone else, confronted with a lot of housework, latch on to the most obscure and kind of useless task first? Like, I really should get the dishes in the dishwasher but I feel compelled to scrub and mop the floor under the dining room table. The floors are really not at a crisis point, and yet.

I don't know enough about how this works: is it possible that children who are born in the U.S. would still have access to Head Start even if their parent(s) are not citizens? Is Head Start considered a benefit to the child, or to the child's family?

So do I take my son to see Superman this weekend like a good mother would, or do I go see it by myself so I can actually enjoy it? 🤔 My son talks nonstop through movies (and also through life) so much of my time is spent shushing him (in movie theaters, and also in life)

I loved working with @arielgilreath.bsky.social on this story -- she got a chance to talk to such cool kids:

I don't get to write much any more, but last week I pulled together a piece on Mahmoud v. Taylor, which happens to be my child's school district. Thanks so much to @scribnerumcp.bsky.social and author Sarah Brannen for taking the time to speak with me. hechingerreport.org/supreme-cour...

😂

The Hechinger Report wants to know how the Trump administration is changing colleges. Share your stories with us here:

What I tell my editor when I blow past a deadline

Yesterday, June 2, was an interesting day at work. I was reporting a story about how the Education Department hadn't delivered a report to Congress on the Condition of Education, despite the June 1 deadline mandated by law. 🧵 (1/9)

So much Andor discourse! Okay, can I watch Andor and understand it if I've never watched any of these other Star Wars series and I've barely paid attention to Star Wars in general (I've seen some of the movies and get the basic gist of the lore.)

That little monster finished his essay and quickly submitted to his teacher before I could read it. 😡 Well, reading behind him, there's no way his teacher will think this was written by anyone but a 6th grader.

"The grants have helped fund such shows as Molly of Denali, Work It Out Wombats! and Lyla in the Loop."

Were you a part of #Americorps? Did you volunteer in a school? Write me: [email protected] or NirviShah.14 on Signal

Important info here: hechingerreport.org/the-return-o...

Aw. I remember when that place was called Wild World. Even though it was kinda busted, it was ours. Maybe we'll try to get out there one more time for old time's sake.

So my main takeaway from Sinners is that going into business with family can be challenging if everyone isn't on the same page regarding goals.

The Education Department's online library ERIC will be maintained after DOGE originally cut the funding, via @jillbarshay.bsky.social

Okay I had FOMO so I went to see Sinners, even though I am the most scaredy-cat person alive. And, I made it through! I only had to cover my eyes a few times. Anyway, the movie is really good. Recommend! Even for weenies like me.

I went outside for some fresh air before a raft of new executive orders come down, and I just liked the way the sun is hitting this golden groundsel 🌱

It was great to help @lindakwert.bsky.social with this piece on two education-related Supreme Court cases that will be heard this month -- both have far reaching consequences for public education (and one is based in my kid's school district 😬)

This is for all the guys who think they could win a point off Serena Williams

Some garden treasures at Hillwood Museum in Washington DC. A must visit for anyone interested in gardens and the lives of wildly wealthy people. 🌱

Back when I was a frequent poster on Television Without Pity one of the (many) rules was "no posting about the boards on the boards" meaning, don't talk about TWoP on TWoP. When I see how many people love posting ABOUT Bluesky ON Bluesky I understand that rule so much better. It's boring as hell!

I have never had a toaster over - never thought I needed one, plus counter space has always been limited - but I am getting one just so that my kid can be more self-sufficient for snacks.