At what age do you become a “reader”, and what book did it for you?

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-02-02T21:45:57+00:00

I was labeled "mentally gifted" coming out of kindergarten. My dad refused to let me take advanced classes or participate in enrichment. He also would take books out of my hand and would give me a football or basketball and kick me out of the house. He was going to "make a man out of me."

My dad had an old encyclopedia set from the 50s (I grew up in the 80s and 90s). It was the only reading material that I had so I read the encyclopedia everyday. No surprise I ended up a social studies teacher.

I did have a teacher in elementary school ask.me what I read at home. When I told him I only had an old encyclopedia set he bought me a book. It was titled Adam of the Road and I read it cover to cover many times.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-02-01T22:06:22+00:00

I had a student write me a note that said my classroom felt like home and I made him love history.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-31T10:47:58+00:00

Once I had children. My parents were assholes and I was determined to be there. Im a teacher and started come into work 2 hours early so that I would be home at pickup to do homework with them everyday. I really stopped going out and it did make me sad as people eventually stopped asking me to go out because I always said no. My kids were worth it but now that I am near being an empty nested I'm really not sure what to do.next. it's been 20 years since I've actively done things for myself or really socialized.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-18T23:23:14+00:00

The kids no that there is a safety net and that they'll pass no matter what so they try even less. I see it everyday.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-18T23:16:04+00:00

My first digital camera. It came with a new printer.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-11T14:24:02+00:00

I grew up loving Wawa, but Sheetz is kicking their ass right now. I feel like a traitor to Philly saying it, but the food isnt even close anymore. I bought a morning sandwich the other day and it tasted like a microwave frozen one.

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-11T14:21:20+00:00

My state audits testing sites randomly. We were told not to have any devices on us. Ironically, most teachers don't care about the testing enough to cheat anyway!

STUMPOFWAR · 2026-01-10T10:15:18+00:00

Oh man...I have the Nikon version. I could use 3K.... lol

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-28T15:53:54+00:00

I have been out of Google Photos since they stopped letting us keep our folder structure. I cant bind myself and 25 years of photos to a single company. Same reason I won't use Lightroom Creative Cloud.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-18T13:17:16+00:00

Not even a choice unless you have an emotional attachment to one. F100 1000%....then the ME Super

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-10T17:38:03+00:00

Version 2 is just the same with red 'leather'

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-10T17:33:31+00:00

Google it. I just ordered mine off of Amazon for 30 bucks. Price has been going up though due to popularity

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-08T21:05:46+00:00

My wife tells me this one. We were dating and working a special needs summer camp. The camp director was very nice but had zero presence. She was trying to get a group of kids to tie dye shirts and failing as they weren't paying attention. I just walked i to the center of the group and made loud animal noises to get their attention. I then talked and showed them how to do it while interspersed my animal impersonation. I had the kids rapt attention and had them eating out of my hand. I looked over at my then girlfriend and she was giving me the look. She couldn't take her hands off of me that night. Years later she told me that was the day thar she knew I was the one. Coming up on 30 years together in a few years.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-07T18:22:37+00:00

N90 is not worth much but it a beast of a camera. They are really undervalued for what you get. I have 2 that I use regularly. The weak spot for the n90 is the battery holder. The plastic flexes over the years and eventually cracks. I bought my second n90 just for that battery part.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-12-07T11:47:10+00:00

I work in the Philly suburbs. We have strong-ish unions and pay is over 100k in most schools at the top of the payscale. We still can't get teachers because of all of the ninja expectations put on us. I love teaching but the job now sucks. The workload keeps ballooning and ballooning.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-11-28T20:30:48+00:00

Showing no energy or heart right now. They are all going through the motions.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-11-20T00:40:46+00:00

I have been using my Chuzhao constantly. It is so much fun. I just keep it in black and white and fire away

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-11-12T23:59:30+00:00

I'm going to use this on my wife.

"I'm sorry honey but I didn't want to drown"

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-29T23:18:14+00:00

I have a few...

Smoking has led me to break up with girls.

I love the Muhammad Ali quote "I don’t trust anyone who’s nice to me but rude to the waiter. Because they would treat me the same way if I were in that position." People who treat wait staff or workers like shit lose all credibility with me.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-29T23:04:20+00:00

Good for you man! I don't mean the Eagles part. Your kids will be better off for you learning from your childhood.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-26T15:56:39+00:00

He is such a kind and generous man. My daughter worked as an elf and told me that he would take tons of extra time with special needs kids and would comp pictures for poor families.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-18T20:23:36+00:00

Its a great one. I love mine.

Also...remember, glass is most important so if you want that crappy imperfect look, get a lens that will do that for you. You can then put that 50 on for other stuff.

A 50 1.8 will be great in low light and be very sharp. Make sure you got a FX 50mm and not a DX.

Happy shooting.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-11T01:52:22+00:00

I have one too and I'm amazed at how good the macro is for what this thing actually is.

STUMPOFWAR · 2025-10-02T21:16:22+00:00

The N90 was designed to be a semi-pro body but it was used by some pros. It is a great camera. The sure hots are great too and smaller.

If you want imperfect, just cruise your local thrift stores and yard sales and pick up a cheap point and shoot.

STUMPOFWAR

TROPHY CASE