This semester I learned most of my freshmen had never taken an exam on which only one attempt was allowed.

I am… deeply frustrated with our education system.

High schools that offer students exam retakes are seriously impinging on students’ ability to succeed in college.

https://x.com/HKBradshaw/status/1870975068635054588?t=7YUeh8YU8DgwKajCJKd9rA&s=19

This explains a lot. I’ve been wondering why Freshmen expect to be able to rewrite the exam before even taking a look at the corrections. It makes no sense because if you don’t have a skill, you can rewrite a hundred times, and it won’t help.

But yes, it’s some sort of a new technique they are doing in high schools where you get endless retakes until you somehow stumble into a better grade.

Dear parent, don’t be a weirdo creep.

Seriously, can the dude figure out his own sex life without mommy and daddy helicoptering around?

I’ve been lecturing for years about the imminent threat of China effectively overtaking the Panama Canal. We will all be massively screwed when China and Russia control our number 1 trade route. I’m kind of shocked that finally somebody on route to the WH is taking notice.

People who are bleating excitedly about how horrible Trump’s statements are, please unveil your own plan. Forget who built what and when. What are we all going to do if China decides to cut us off from the canal it now largely owns?

I can’t believe this issue is finally getting raised, and I’m very glad.

Everything around us is set up to prevent us from accumulating wealth. More and more people rent because they can’t buy a house. Families increasingly need two or even three cars. The practice of fixing appliances or shoes is gone, pushing people to buy new ones all the time.

In the midst of all that, there are incredible suckers who facilitate their own despoliation by foregoing the biggest financial benefit of being in a relationship. Not having to pay two sets of rent and utilities is one of the few remaining ways we have to shore up our financial situation. But it’s easier to profit off us if we are unattached and alone. We are exhorted to remain unattached and alone (under the guise of freedom and choice, as always) because this makes us easier to fleece. And as absolute dummies, we agree. 

Also, these people do not love each other because sharing the day-to-day life is one of the most enjoyable parts of being in love.

I’m sick as a dog, people. Some nasty kid coughed in my face, and now I’m down for the count.

I still have to grade and respond to students and colleagues, which takes the form of me staring at each word I write veeeeeery carefully to avoid basic spelling errors. I misspelled my own first name twice in a row, so that you know what I’m talking about.

On a positive side, I received some nice anonymous questions and I’ll answer them later today.

I took Tanya and the boys to ride the train in Japan

What do you notice?

https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1870975093607940580?t=h_rkYvLWDYpba0s4hGnfQw&s=19

I notice that nobody except a rude American is sticking a camera into people’s faces. Of course, it’s too much to ask that a person Google the country he’s visiting to find out what behaviors are acceptable.

What can diabetic tourists have for breakfast in Mediterranean countries? Does anybody have any suggestions?

Yeah, hmm, what a mystery. How can this possibly be? It’s not like a psychosis-inducing substance has been legalized and made a staple of young people’s lives.

And for the fiftieth time, it’s not the same marijuana you consumed on 1973. It’s many, many times more potent. Also, if you used this drug in the past 3 months, your opinion on it is not valuable.

At this point I have to ask, are they trying to be funny on purpose? Because there isn’t a single word of this headline that isn’t uproariously funny.

That poor little dude, why did he agree to be used for this piece? Why did he need to be humiliated in such a way?,

People around here are very happy to see me in my Ukrainian fur coat. Passersby light up when they see it. I get endless compliments.

What I don’t get is, why don’t people wear them if they like them so much? And please don’t tell me they can’t afford. Every woman in Ukraine can afford a fur coat, and Americans can’t? We afforded them even in the USSR. I thought maybe people are opposed on ideological grounds around here but judging by the reaction, they aren’t.

It’s so warm in a fur coat, if you never tried, you have no idea. Warm, light, roomy. We are having the coldest winter since I moved to the area, and I can’t believe it’s actually cold enough for the fur.