Haven't opened my Finch app today, so it texted my phone with "You are not alone." Giving some Duolingo owl vibes there, Finch...

Next to "Baby, It's Cold Outside," my least favorite Christmas song may be "Mary, Did You Know?" YES SHE KNEW SHE WROTE A WHOLE SONG ABOUT IT MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD OF IT IT'S IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE LIKE TOWARD THE BEGINNING AND EVERYTHING

Bothered. Moisturized. Here. In my lane, I guess. Unfocused. Floundering.

At the end of The Voice, there is always a notice: "Michael Bublé is a paid spokesman for Rolex." My headcanon: That isn't required disclosure at all. Bublé just wants it known. He's just flexing. He wanted to add "Niall, Snoop, and Reba aren't paid spokespeople for Rolex" but they said no.

Doing the last bit of grading before grades were due at midnight, I saw a speech from a student titled "Adult Activities." I blinked. I did not remember approving that topic. Warily, I opened it. It was "Adult OUTDOOR Activities" and about exercising as you get older. Can I have the first one?

I need some reassurance that I am not actually the crazy one here. Asked my mom to define parameters for the Christmas list that SHE requested and got this reply.

Just watched @myqkaplan.bsky.social's special at www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0uf.... Worth a listen! Thought-provoking, funny special. Myq commands a crowd very well with an excellent sense of timing and recurring motifs. (cont)

Unregulated capitalism is the love of money. It seems I've heard something about the love of money. When anyone praises capitalism, picture toddlers playing in lead dust. It's possible to recycle lead safely, but it's expensive here. So they do it in Africa. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Many on the right value "capitalism" (which isn't pure capitalism--it's plutocratic crony sham capitalism) far more than they ever valued democracy. Voight sees NO PROBLEM calling for an overthrow of democracy. variety.com/2025/film/ne... America sees itself as a capitalist democracy, but...

It's almost (*almost*) a pleasure to see Larry "women just aren't good at math" Summers in the Epstein emails. Rolled eyes at that guy since he was a Neanderthal at Harvard and rather resented that he served in Democratic administrations. Sometimes gut checks are right.

I read a lot of happiness research and literature (instead of working on my own happiness--everyone needs a hobby!) and the idea that purpose is a key component of happiness isn't new. Among other places, it's in Lyubomirsky's 2007 book. I do think there's an underesearched aspect of happiness (1/3)

Has the pope considered, I don't know, excommunicating people who claim Catholicism while acting in obvious, direct, *defiant* contradiction to Jesus' teachings? I recognize that the sacraments, especially communion, create in us the bond with Christ that it mirrors, but...

This is smart. It's not enough, but it would be a good start.

One of the hardest things about being partially disabled is knowing what mobility aids to bring where. I've had a major foot reconstruction surgery and finally can walk on the foot... but that doesn't mean I can run marathons on the foot. One leg is shorter than the other now. (1/2)

Dick Cheney died today. Does he regret i-- NO, HE DOES NOT. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX1s... This sketch was a light bulb moment for me in noticing one of the aspects of many prominent Republicans that I see less often in their Democratic counterparts: regret, apology, admission of guilt and error.

I am very confused by that show about 911 that keeps showing astronauts. That is pretty far outside the jurisdiction of any 911 call.

Just saw a commercial for Pampers diapers. The commercial claimed that their diapers are "up to 100 percent leakproof." Doesn't that mean "not leakproof"?

Best thing about this quiz at @nytimes.com: they had to issue a correction because one of the questions was originally worded SLIGHTLY wrong: www.nytimes.com/interactive/... (paywall, sorry). I got 10/25, but then, I've never lived there.

The indictment of Comey is probably (99 percent probability) wrong. That said... BuT hEr emAiLs

If I could make only one low-stakes media-related wish, this is it. I wish for Chance the Rapper to host @saturdaynightlive.bsky.social again, and I want his Lazlo Holmes to cover #Quidditch (now apparently known as #Quadball). I need this, world.

I admit: I'm rather fond of AI. But LLM's use of copywritten materials is theft. I know it, and you should know it too. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Speaking as someone who actually teaches college courses, Greg and Karen got this #Luann SO WRONG. www.gocomics.com/luann/2025/0... You attach a "12-minute animated graphic" to a READING QUIZ and if I'm NICE, I ignore it. On a bad day, I ask for a redo that just answers the ******* questions.

If the far-right misogynist with a bad haircut wants to villainize independent women, Jezebel is more than happy to be the hag of his nightmares. www.jezebel.com/we-paid-some...

The power went off ten minutes into class. No big deal; I kept teaching in the dim light (and increasing heat--fortunately, I teach in the afternoons). At the end of class, I asked if there were questions and a student raised his hand to ask this: "Will we have power on Wednesday?"

In my apartment, poorly-maintained cars and trucks sit in the parking lot and idle. Their rumbles are so painful to me. I know I have ear problems, and my ear problems are not their fault, but this is beyond awful. It's like low bass, randomly, but for way too long. Hurts. Hurts hurts hurts.

It's an interesting distinction, but #DustySlay is the filthiest clean comic I've ever heard. By that, I mean he talks about gross things. In his first special, there was the extended bit about (not) handwashing... in his second, we have vomit *and* urine. And indirectly, earwax.

Um... you guys... I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but potentially replacing a con artist and gifted grifter with an uncharismatic but genuine True Believer is absolutely NOT an upgrade.

Every day some new fresh sign of fascism. BlueSky can't operate in Mississippi because of new age verification laws meant to discourage freedom of assembly and speech. I'm no fan of Bolton (REALLY no fan of Bolton), but he's been targeted for speaking out. And a bunch of teachers in (1/2)

You know what makes me #Grumpy? Most things, but today, haikus. 5/7/5 syllable writing is very different in Japanese than it is in English--it's far more terse, more sparse and spartan. I will die on this hill. #VSS365 #Grumpy

The Husband and I watch #BachelorinParadise, and how DARE they make me root for that creep Brian. There is not a single likeable person on this show. Except Jesse. His disgusted headshake in the credits at the beginning was the one thing I agree with tonight.

This is how you get people who create Jurassic Park. No.

Pet peeve: "It's just a game! You take it TOO SERIOUSLY. You need to go touch grass." Anyone who says that should be forced to go on a reality TV show and confess the hobbies, fandoms, odd things that they love passionately. Then they will receive public mockery for them.

Very, very grateful that my husband does not require #mankeeping. That sounds exhausting.

I don't understand why ICE agents are wearing black masks that obscure their faces. It's SUPER hot out. They should consider something more breathable in a lighter color. Have they thought about maybe just draping white sheets over themselves?

The only thing I hate about the apartment where I live is the intermittent bass. It hurts. It's physically painful, makes me angry and depressed, saps all my motivation, and gives me revenge fantasies about tying people up and putting them in a room that will destroy their ability to hear.

I don't understand how anyone is okay with this.

The wrong people always have imposter syndrome. You know who SHOULD have imposter syndrome? Alina Habba, the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor in New Jersey who has repeatedly demonstrated how unqualified and therefore incompetent she is in that role. But she seems... confident. Unwarrantedly.

A powerful preacher died today. We have lost a shrill voice in the world constantly calling out how evil humanity is (without any call to make it a better place). We lost a powerful man covering up for sexual abusers in his church. Gone is the guy who said "it's a disposable planet." Frankly? Good.

Are these ICE workers in a decade (God willing) all going to say "We were just following orders!"?

My hot take of the moment: anybody who dragged Katy Perry for "Rise" because it was thematically and lyrically like "Brave" by Sara Bareilles should now be dragging Kelly Clarkson, because "Mine" is a LOT like Gabby Barrett's "I Hope."

Well-phrased commentary by @michaelianblack.bsky.social: michaelianblack.substack.com/p/the-presid... Basic argument gist: Crassness at the top sets the tone for the culture. Crass language is also indicative of how the president doesn't just *speak* crassly but *acts* without thought or care.

I feel like too few people know that military and police are separate in free societies for VERY GOOD REASON. They are NOT the same thing. They are NOT interchangeable. And you NEVER turn military on your own people, even the ones you don't like very much.

I just watched the Honest Trailer summation of the new (and much-hated) Snow White. I didn't expect to think "Actually, she goes around lecturing people into submission and tells them to BE BETTER PEOPLE while throwing off tyranny? I could get behind that." www.youtube.com/watch?v=610u...

Dear neighbors across the hall AND upstairs, you are the reason justifiable homicide was invented. You are the most selfish creatures I have encountered in quite a while. I am not enjoying your subwoofers. I hope you go completely deaf and suffer at least a tenth as much as you're making ME suffer.

Today in leopards and faces: www.ajc.com/news/georgia... I feel for them. But if you elect a whimsical autocrat who doesn't think he answers to anyone, you get a whimsical autocrat who won't answer to anyone.

Look, people. LANGUAGE. CHANGES. OVER. TIME. Yes, the *historical* definition of decimate was to kill a tenth of a group as a punishment for the whole group. That is NOT the current meaning, and it is therefore not the so-called "correct" meaning. Go be pedantic over something accurate, please.

Well, good? Come on, this is the ONE time it would NOT be appropriate to go on and on about how vaccines save lives--when a family is burying a little girl who died of measles. That's the ONLY time to shut up about what they ought to have done. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I enjoy singing talent shows, but one thing that baffles me is hearing judges and audiences go absolutely BONKERS over good gospel singers. I'm looking at you, Idol and the Voice, and even AGT. Have y'all never been to a moderately-sized church during a revival? This is STANDARD.

In an innocuous extra-credit public speaking assignment to watch a particular TED talk and analyze what the speaker does well and where she could improve, I legit had a student say "she should smile more." Oof, swing and a miss, bro.

Got the shingles vaccine (first dose) today with my husband @correonlink.bsky.social. Did you know that the shingles vax can cause diarrhea? I did not, and now I really, *really* do. How did it hit him? Glad you asked. He's sleeping.