“More than any other time, if you are not on Twitter, you just don’t know what is going on.”

🗞️ Twitter comes of age - Marginal REVOLUTION

One upshot of the younger brother discovering where mom hid the oldest’s Christmas presents this morning is the beautiful strumming on the ukulele while I drank my coffee and got ready for the day.

Always something a little endearing when all the late assignments on the final paper are from the best students who fret and stress about every last minute detail and miss the deadline by 5-10 minutes. Average students (and below) just turn in “what they got.”

📚The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, Nicholas Carr.

This book was on my queue for later during winter break, but someone recalled it from the library. Alas.

Trader Joe’s. 📷

And with that, I’m done teaching for 2022—grading final papers notwithstanding.

About this time of the semester, the illusion of safety collapses for students who haven’t been coming to class. Suddenly, without warning, final papers are due. Never mind that they’ve been on the syllabus and Canvas since the start of the term. 🎓📑

USA USA USA

I recently purchased the new Criterion edition of WALL-E in 4k (half off on Amazon), but it arrives damaged from Amazon. (Replacement ordered, received without damage.) Then I stumbled on this review of why it’s the best cinephile film to watch with kids .

Since I’m not currently spending money on a music subscription, I need to fish in my boxes for the Christmas albums. My oldest recently discovered my iPod classic; it was like explaining 8-track or rotary phones, but now he’s eager to rip CDs and load them on the iPod.

One trend of the Twitter exodus, such as it is, is that quality of non-political Twitter has gotten better. My lists following other topics like sports, photography, literature… they’re all more active with better quality than even a few weeks ago.

Sunday after thanksgiving means finding that inner motivation to just finish off the pie and eggnog.

Buckeyes lost, but we had a good time watching the game with the kids. How Firm Thy Friendship.

It’s game day in Ohio. I was trying to explain to my students here in Tempe the level of commitment folks have for the Buckeyes and, of course, The Game. For many of them, the idea is foreign. Even the rivalry game against that team in Tuscon is underwhelming.

Go Buckeyes!🏈

Oh, hello, Strep and Hand Foot and Mouth, so nice to see you both again. Since you were just here a few weeks ago, we thought it would be a while before you came back. Make yourself comfortable (we know you always do).

My Black Friday shopping ritual is pretty straight forward. I don’t. Instead, I sleep in and then watch movies all day. But for those out snagging deals, may the odds be in your favor.

To retain some peace and quiet today, I’ll be off most (it not all) of the day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Cheers.

It’s all fun and games until the kids jump into the trunk of the minivan and squash the pumpkin pie.

In a shocking update, kids who go to bed late will still wake up at pre-dawn hours. You don’t know that, but now you know. 🤙🏽

I just informed an international graduate student about Trader Joe’s and his eyes lit up as if I had explained that time travel was possible. My work here is done for the day.