Aaron Dinkin
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ajdinkin.bsky.social
Aaron Dinkin
@ajdinkin.bsky.social
81 followers 44 following 43 posts
Sociolinguist in San Diego, but my heart is in Massachusetts.
(he/him)
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Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
I got a pin at last weekend’s Pride parade—yes, Pride is in July in San Diego; don’t worry about it. —qxz
Quixley (a stuffed zebra) wearing rainbow earrings and a rainbow smiley-face pin.
July 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Murray is excited for the last day of the Tour de France today!
Murray (a plush anteater) sitting on a toy bicycle on a table, watching the Tour de France on television.
July 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Ruth joins us from her old job at one of the National Parks; here she is showing Rochester around when we came to pick her up on the #WildRepublicRoadTrip.
Ruth (a plush meadowlark) and Rochester (a plush bison) sitting on a fence looking at Balanced Rock, a rock formation that looks like a boulder precariously balanced on top of a pillar, with another rectangular rock formation next to it.
June 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Here's Archy in her onboarding meeting with Rochester, Alphonse, and Melora (who she'll be working with closely).
On a white blanket, from left to right: Archy (a plush meadowlark), Melora (a plush prairie dog), Rochester (a plush bison), and Alphonse (a plush hippo); in the background are pillows and bookshelves
June 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Now that we're back from the #WildRepublicRoadTrip, we can introduce the newest member of our office team! Meet Ruth "Archy" Archibald, joining us from the department of the Interior!
Ruth (a plush meadowlark) sitting on a threadbare tan pillow
June 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Back home in San Diego at last! (Well, a week ago, but we've been too busy unpacking to post about it.) It was a wild #WildRepublicRoadTrip, but it's great to be back!
A bunch of plush animals on a bed, with a black and white duvet, a pillow with a Steven Universe pillowcase, and a rainbow neck pillow. On top of the rainbow pillow, Pascale (a wolverine) and Marietta (a platypus); in front of the rainbow pillow, Odoacer (a round narwhal) and Tritica (a jaguar), and on the bed, Trudy (a shark), Rochester (a bison), the fox, Quixley (a zebra), and Barry (an elephant).
June 30, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
...and the giant sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park! #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Tritica (a plush jaguar) sitting in a hollow in a slab of a giant sequoia tree, mounted vertically to show its growth rings Rochester (a plush bison) looking up at a massive giant sequoia tree Tritica looking at a tiny tree sapling next to a sign that says "Sequoia Seedling / Plántula del Secuoya" with a "don't step on it" symbol
June 22, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
On Friday, Rochester and Tritica admired the Sierra Nevada in Tuolumne County... #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Rochester (a plush bison) and Tritica (a plush jaguar) sitting on a rock, looking out at trees and snowy mountains in the distance
June 22, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
I got to try an extraterrestrial beverage! —qxz #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Quixley (a plush zebra) on a shelf posing with a can of Star Trek–branded "Roman Ale Energy Drink".
June 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
...and Marietta and I took in the sights on the Extraterrestrial Highway! #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Quixley (a plush zebra) sitting on top of a crashed flying saucer, in an outdoor setting with trees and desert in the background Quixley and Marietta (a plush platypus) sitting on a highway sign saying EXTRATERRESTRIAL HIGHWAY in a space-age font, with the symbol for Nevada state highway 375 and a picture of a spaceship on it. A piece of paper is taped to the sign saying "DO NOT FOR ANY REASON WRITE ON THIS SIGN!! / MANAGEMENT". The sign is hung on a white wall which is covered in signatures and graffiti, mostly in black ink. Marietta and Quixley sitting on a step-stool in front of a flying saucer monument in a parking lot in the desert Quixley and Marietta sitting on a granite monument showing the "ID4" logo for the film Independence Day. On the front of the monument is a plaque with text on it (too small to read), and at its foot is a mosaic representing an alien's face.
June 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
More busy times on the #WildRepublicRoadTrip! On Thursday, Rochester admired the rock formations at Kolob Canyon at Zion National Park...
Rochester (a plush bison) in the foreground, looking across a parking lot and a vegetation-covered hillside to a mountain of reddish rock beyond Rochester sitting on a National Park Service placard, looking at reddish mountains beyond some trees in the distance
June 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Barry was excited to join in when he heard there was a rock formation called the "Parade of Elephants"; he said he was pleased by the recognition. #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Barry (a plush elephant) sitting on a fencepost in the foreground, facing to the left; in the background is the Parade of Elephants, a giant rock formation that looks *very* approximately like an elephant facing to the left.
June 19, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Rochester had an amazing time at Arches National Park today! #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Rochester (a plush bison) sitting on a fence in the foreground, looking at Balanced Rock in the background—a giant rock formation that looks like a boulder balanced precariously on top of a pillar. Rochester looking at the Double Arch: a rock formation in which two huge stone arches meet on the left, one closer to the camera and one extending back away from it.
June 19, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
At our hotel in Utah last night, we were invited to stay in the King Executive Suite! #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Stuffed animals lined up in front of the pillows on the head of a king-size hotel bed in front of a row of pillows: Barry (an elephant), Quixley (a zebra), Tritica (a jaguar), Rochester (a bison), Pascale (a wolverine), Trudy (a shark), Marietta (a platypus), and Odoacer (a round blue narwhal). The fox sits on the middle pillow above Rochester.
June 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
And later in the day on Monday, Rochester saw the sights in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming! #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Rochester (a plush bison) sits on the toe of a giant statue of a cowboy boot; the upper part of the boot is painted with pictures of Cheyenne buildings. In the back are a park and a sign pointing toward the Sand Creek Massacre Trail. Rochester sits on a statue of a young boy dressed as a cowboy and holding a saddle (Rochester is on the saddle). The statue is outdoors on a street corner, and a plaque identifies it as "Rarin' to Ride" by George Lundeen
June 18, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
And of course the high point of the #WildRepublicRoadTrip so far was a visit to Carhenge—a sacred space indeed!
Nine stuffed animals sit on the roof of a car in a parking lot: a jaguar (Tritica), a zebra (Quixley), a shark (Trudy), a round blue narwal (Odoacer), a bison (Rochester), a fox, a wolverine (Pascale), an elephant (Barry), and a platypus (Marietta). In the background is Carhenge, a replica of Stonehenge made of old cars painted gray (one car is yellow and orange).
June 18, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
And on Monday, he got to visit two historic rock formations in Nebraska—the Courthouse and Jail Rocks, and the famous Chimney Rock! He also enjoyed the museum at the Chimney Rock visitor center. #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Rochester (a plush bison) in the foreground, looking across a green grassy field at two massive rock formations emerging from the landscape in the distance, the Courthouse and Jail rocks: one smaller (but still huge), roughly cone-shaped rock and one about three times as wide as the other, narrowing slightly up to the height of the other one, with a smaller top section rising above the height of the first. Rochester looking past a fence and across a grassy plain at Chimney Rock, a giant rock formation that looks like a narrow, pointy chimney sticking out of the top of a wide, conical mountain. Rochester sitting below a round panel on the wall showing an illustration in red on a white background of an adult bison and a young bison, standing on a field in front of a river and two buttes with smoke rising from them. A placard says: "MIDDLE ARCHAIC FORAGERS. Middle Archaic people lived in this region about 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. They lived atop the buttes lining the valley, watching for game and enemies. Signal Butte and Barn Butte are well known to archaeologists, rich in artifacts and animal bones, and with numerous fireplaces, storage pits, and refuse dumps buried within them." Rochester looks through a pair of high-powered binoculars through a window at Chimney Rock in the distance
June 18, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
It's been a busy few days on the #WildRepublicRoadTrip, especially for Rochester! On Sunday, he got to visit the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Here he is admiring the Golden Spike and the Dale Creek Bridge, and operating a 19th-century telegraph and a modern train.
Rochester (a plush bison) sits on a table looking at a transparent plastic case containing replicas of a golden railroad spike and a gold and silver railroad spike. Rochester in front of a diorama of a trestle bridge extending from a canyon wall Rochester on a shelf with his left hood on the switch of a telegraph signal Rochester in a train operator's chair, facing a bank of switches and instruments, with the track visible through the train's front window
June 18, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Outside the museum, Marietta and I admire the USS Riverside. #WildRepublicRoadTrip —qxz
A model of a Star Trek ship, outdoors next to a lawn and a street. The ship's warp nacelle has a partly-visible label saying "...RSIDE NCC-1818". It sits on a pedestal saying "Riverside Iowa's Annual TREKFEST / The official future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk / www.trekfest.org". Marietta (a plush platypus) sits on the pedestal, and Quixley (a plush zebra) on a model shuttlecraft labeled "donations", next to the ship.
June 15, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
We made a side trip today so I could visit the Voyage Home Museum in Riverside, Iowa—the future birthplace of Captain Kirk! I sat in the captain's chair, worked at Data's desk, used the transporter, and wrestled the Gorn! #WildRepublicRoadTrip —qxz
Quixley (a plush zebra) sits in a replica of a Star Trek captain's chair, with various Star Trek magazines and cardboard cutouts visible in the background Quixley sits on a plastic table with a plaque saying "Data's Desk: Used in Next Generation and Voyager series. Also in theatre show with William Shatner / Donated by Ed & Rachel Harrigan / 2018". Also on the desk is a framed still from Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Data sitting at the desk, with part of a note written on the photo visible: "...The Riverside Museum / ...s for taking care / ...my desk! / Data". Quixley stands in a mockup of a Star Trek transporter pad. Also on the pad are life-size cardboard cutouts of Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Spock. A standing costume of the Gorn from the Star Trek episode "Arena", holding Quixley in the crook of his arm.
June 15, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Marietta was excited to stop for lunch at the World's Largest Truck Stop, home of the Trucking Museum! She played the world's largest Pac-Man game, but couldn't find a novelty license plate with her name on it. #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Marietta (a plush platypus) looking at a mural on a brick wall. On the mural, the word IOWA in large letters is made up of about 20 or 30 photos of people and trucks of various eras, one of which is a sign saying "Iowa 80 Truck Stop" with the Standard gas logo; at the top of the mural are the words "Since 1964". Marietta sitting on the sideboard of an old-fashioned red pickup truck, on whose door are the words "Iowa 80 Trucking Museum" Marietta at the controls of a game of Pac-Man; the screen is several feet high and takes up most of the wall behind the controls. At the top is a sign saying "World's Largest Pac-Man". Marietta in a gift shop looking at a rack of novelty Iowa license plate, which have names such as Maria, Mariah, Marissa, Mark, Martin, Mary, Matt, and Mason on them.
June 15, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Reposted by Aaron Dinkin
wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
This morning in Cleveland, we visited North America’s biggest candy store! Barry was in heaven #WildRepublicRoadTrip
Barry (a plush elephant) sitting on a bag of Tootsie Pops, Dots, and other such candies on a candy store shelf Barry standing among a display of large lollipops on a candy store shelf Barry standing in front of a mural for the B.A. Sweetie Candy Company
June 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
On the first day of the second leg of this year’s #WildRepublicRoadTrip, we stopped in Buffalo to meet the Shark Girl—and we have a buffalo and shark girl of our own!
Shark Girl—a statue of a girl in a blue dress with the head of a shark sitting on a boulder, on a walkway overlooking a canal. On the boulder next to her sit Trudy (a plush shark) and Rochester (a plush bison). Trudy and Rochester next to Shark Girl, seen from closer to the level of the stuffed animals, looking up at Shark Girl. Now Trudy is sitting in Shark Girl’s lap.
June 13, 2025 at 12:17 AM
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wildrepublicsd.bsky.social
Pascale says chag sameach!
Pascale (a plush wolverine) poses with a seder plate
April 13, 2025 at 9:56 PM
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drkatcarm.bsky.social
Continued IPA lessons at school! 🥺 My second grader spontaneously made this chart and started lecturing me about schwa and its relationship to the American English spelling system, — my heart grew 3 sizes this day! Little does he know, schwa lectures are my love language 🫶
March 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM