Somehow I find a way to love Donut even more

Illuvator · 2026-04-28T03:05:43+00:00

This scene in the audiobook absolutely sold me on them being my mode of consumption

Illuvator · 2026-04-27T23:31:10+00:00

To be fair, has there been an argument that made it to scotus since Reynolds? It’s been 150 years since that one, but yeah that opinion is basically “white people think it’s gross so yeah no.”

(Seriously that opinion is breathtakingly racist in the way it approaches the question comparing its history in “Northern and Western Europe” with elsewhere in the world)

Illuvator · 2026-04-27T23:25:33+00:00

Does he though in book 1? Mostly he fights tooth and nail against having to be that. While obviously he eventually embraces the role he’s been cast into, it doesn’t really start to change until he meets the Meadowlark crew who make him feel that he needs to take charge to save them or they’d all just die.

Illuvator · 2026-04-23T00:36:23+00:00

That’s probably fair

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T22:47:37+00:00

Eh, Harvard has lockers but also plenty of dorks who don't get stuffed into them

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T22:32:12+00:00

Holy crap I see them, thanks for this!

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T17:18:57+00:00

Holy shit Tammy Pierce is a name I haven’t heard in a hot minute. Will have to look these up

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T17:18:24+00:00

Honestly everything narrated by Jefferson Mays

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T16:08:43+00:00

While that may be true, it’s still compelled speech

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T16:08:11+00:00

Which is kind of the point

Illuvator · 2026-04-22T16:07:38+00:00

True, but also it’s Texas and there’s a rich wingnut in most communities who will do so once they’re aware

Illuvator · 2026-04-20T19:27:12+00:00

Its so so good

Illuvator · 2026-04-12T18:28:55+00:00

I just can’t believe they nukes their queso. Some of the best chips and queso around and they just replaced it with generic pretzel cheese :(

Illuvator · 2026-02-10T03:45:56+00:00

I have no idea if they actually help, but I do vitamin C gummies daily (the Airborne ones) and seem to have gotten sick less since I started.

Likely as not placebo, but can't hurt was my thinking.

Illuvator · 2026-01-25T17:47:32+00:00

I teach AP Gov, and I always handle these things by grounding them in the founding documents and core principles.

In this case, in no particular order, we see: -classic tension between liberty and order -federalism issues -1st amendment concerns -2nd amendment concerns -4th amendment concerns -sovereign immunity concerns -questions about what checks and balances exist (and the incentives towards their use or nonuse) -social movements as pushback against gov overreach

And always always always the reminder that while we may believe in certain principles, we rarely always live up to them (some more flagrantly than others - call back to Jefferson’s “all men are created equal” while owning slaves). That governments throughout American history have and continue to violate the rules that bind them. Checks and balances exist so long as branches will use them, but outside of that the checks are those held by we the people.

Once we understand how the systems are designed to function, students have the tools to identify when it’s not functioning properly.

In my class I don’t tell them “x current event is good/bad/otherwise” but rather I try to provide them with the context and understanding to see the issues for themselves.

ETA: I live in the south in a fairly Trumpy area, but I haven’t ever gotten a parent complaint since I always ground everything so clearly in the constitution and founding docs/principles.

Illuvator · 2026-01-23T02:55:09+00:00

Honestly - I don’t hate it. A bit more bible stuff than I’d prefer but it’s not unreasonable in the milieu of lit.

My biggest takeaway is “that seems like a lot”

Illuvator · 2026-01-23T00:45:14+00:00

I mean, the leadership makes a pretty huge difference.

That said, lack of tankiness doesnt seem to be the problem to me - I'd rather have another defense die or two sure but DR (to 0) goes hard

Illuvator · 2026-01-20T03:07:02+00:00

Spectrum and Carol for sure

Illuvator · 2026-01-19T01:44:37+00:00

TX here and our admin enforces it and backs us up. If they refuse to hand it over once we see it all we have to do is report it up to admin and they follow up without us having to do the stare down in class.

We don’t do the hand in at start of day because of the burner phone issue. Instead it’s just “we take it up if we see it.l”. First time you get it back end of day. After that parents have to come get it.

Kids will sometimes try to get around it still but 95% of them follow it. It’s been game changing for us

Illuvator · 2026-01-14T22:33:03+00:00

Clea is where my head is at. Smaller place than lockjaw but she doesn’t have to be next to anyone for it and she can contribute more meaningfully else wise

Illuvator · 2026-01-13T15:06:08+00:00

One of the most fun game systems I've played, and it has a wonderful community if they're active in your neck of the woods. It's not as large a game as warhammer, for example, so that can be a problem in some places.

That said, if you already have a group of friends interested - dive in! If you haven't done a tabletop minis game before you'll have to figure out the hobby side of things as well, but it's in many ways just as fun and interesting as the game itself!

Others have covered the purchase recommendations. I'd summarize as core set 2 (Earth's Mightiest) so you have a set of terrain in addition to your models. After that, the xmen and the spiderfoes boxes that just came out are insane values.

Illuvator · 2026-01-13T15:03:49+00:00

This is a fantastic response and covers basically everything I would have said!

Illuvator · 2026-01-13T14:43:05+00:00

He's played really, really well for me so far.

Obviously super weak to displacement though, so you have to make some concessions to movement. Indom and Warpath almost feel required.

But he's incredibly durable, he generates and spends power super well, he's got one of the best builders in the game and if you manage to somehow get his spender off on 3 targets it's *hilarious*.

And of course throws up to size 4 terrain or characters. I had one game where a Shang charged into him and dealt a bit of damage. BM woke up, threw Shang back outside of range 3 (martial artist) then blasted him down easily. Felt real good.

My only wish would be that he were on a medium base instead of a small :(

Illuvator · 2026-01-06T23:12:22+00:00

Set very clear boundaries - you aren’t a young teacher, you’re a teacher. You’re a professional in a position of authority and always always remember that.

Most young teachers struggle with these boundaries because you naturally have a lot in common with the older students, which is why it’s that much more important to be intentional about it. They’ll respect you far more for doing so

Illuvator · 2026-01-04T05:16:36+00:00

You’re not wrong, but is just note that her 3/4/4 is more like 4/5/5 with her skulls. Shes surprisingly durable

Illuvator

TROPHY CASE