Kevin Shirley
@kevinshirley.bsky.social
Educator, granddad, and fan of all things Star Wars, Star Trek, and (of course) Tolkien. Volunteer - DragonCon.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
31 years ago this month, I warned that America was becoming a two-tiered society composed of a few winners and a larger group left behind, whose anger and disillusionment could be easily manipulated.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
A Warning from 1994 of a Two-Tiered Society | Robert Reich
Robert Reich
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
31 years ago this month, I warned that America was becoming a two-tiered society composed of a few winners and a larger group left behind, whose anger and disillusionment could be easily manipulated.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Universities are racing to incorporate AI into their curriculum—but there’s a better way to prepare students for the future, Michael Clune argues.
Colleges Are Preparing to Self-Lobotomize
The skills that students will need in an age of automation are precisely those that are eroded by inserting AI into the educational process.
bit.ly
November 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Universities are racing to incorporate AI into their curriculum—but there’s a better way to prepare students for the future, Michael Clune argues.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Goals for us all 🌌
October 30, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Goals for us all 🌌
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
It's the #DragonCon2026 Hotel Hunger Games part 2!
Tomorrow at 10 AM Eastern, all overflow (aka non-host) hotel booking links will be updated and live.
Please review www.dragoncon.org/hotels/#atla... for booking instructions and hotel specific booking policies.
Tomorrow at 10 AM Eastern, all overflow (aka non-host) hotel booking links will be updated and live.
Please review www.dragoncon.org/hotels/#atla... for booking instructions and hotel specific booking policies.
October 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
It's the #DragonCon2026 Hotel Hunger Games part 2!
Tomorrow at 10 AM Eastern, all overflow (aka non-host) hotel booking links will be updated and live.
Please review www.dragoncon.org/hotels/#atla... for booking instructions and hotel specific booking policies.
Tomorrow at 10 AM Eastern, all overflow (aka non-host) hotel booking links will be updated and live.
Please review www.dragoncon.org/hotels/#atla... for booking instructions and hotel specific booking policies.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
GO GO GO (but remember to hydrate and sleep).
We hope you enjoyed some of the more “unusual” placeholder data that was in the app the last few days.
Regretfully, due to continuing mineral shortages the "Build your own thermonuclear warhead" event has been postponed until a later date. We’ll continue to work on it.
Regretfully, due to continuing mineral shortages the "Build your own thermonuclear warhead" event has been postponed until a later date. We’ll continue to work on it.
August 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
GO GO GO (but remember to hydrate and sleep).
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the things our tracks are working on for you all… T-minus 15 days…
August 12, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the things our tracks are working on for you all… T-minus 15 days…
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Can't take away my phone's picture of it.
July 31, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Can't take away my phone's picture of it.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Take the car, go to Mum's, ☠️ Phil, grab Liz, go to Atlanta, have a nice cold pint, and wait for Dragon Con to start. Welcome Simon Pegg to #DragonCon2025. Simon will be hanging with us at the Winchester (or the Pulse - whichever) on Saturday & Sunday only this year.
July 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Take the car, go to Mum's, ☠️ Phil, grab Liz, go to Atlanta, have a nice cold pint, and wait for Dragon Con to start. Welcome Simon Pegg to #DragonCon2025. Simon will be hanging with us at the Winchester (or the Pulse - whichever) on Saturday & Sunday only this year.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
“Why? Because the greatest obstacle to dictatorship is an educated populace. Ignorance is the handmaiden of tyranny.” Robert Reich
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Why They Hate Education
What Trump, Vance, Stefanik, and Viktor Orban have in common
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“Why? Because the greatest obstacle to dictatorship is an educated populace. Ignorance is the handmaiden of tyranny.” Robert Reich
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Ok, so Republicans just introduced a 900 page bill none of them have read. But my team is going through it line by line and on this 🧵you can see the hidden provisions we found. Will update all day.
1/ NEW Medicaid cuts, so now 17 million - instead of 16M - lose health care.
1/ NEW Medicaid cuts, so now 17 million - instead of 16M - lose health care.
June 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Ok, so Republicans just introduced a 900 page bill none of them have read. But my team is going through it line by line and on this 🧵you can see the hidden provisions we found. Will update all day.
1/ NEW Medicaid cuts, so now 17 million - instead of 16M - lose health care.
1/ NEW Medicaid cuts, so now 17 million - instead of 16M - lose health care.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
National Endowment for the Humanities staff dwindles as two-thirds of workforce laid off
Around 100 workers at the US federal agency were let go on Tuesday, following orders from the Trump administration
buff.ly/ThHRgmi
Around 100 workers at the US federal agency were let go on Tuesday, following orders from the Trump administration
buff.ly/ThHRgmi
June 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
National Endowment for the Humanities staff dwindles as two-thirds of workforce laid off
Around 100 workers at the US federal agency were let go on Tuesday, following orders from the Trump administration
buff.ly/ThHRgmi
Around 100 workers at the US federal agency were let go on Tuesday, following orders from the Trump administration
buff.ly/ThHRgmi
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
At a time when people are understandably focused on the daily chaos in Washington, these articles describe the rapidly accelerating impact that AI is going to have on jobs, the economy, and how we live.
Behind the Curtain: Top AI CEO foresees white-collar bloodbath
Hardly anyone is paying attention.
www.axios.com
May 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
At a time when people are understandably focused on the daily chaos in Washington, these articles describe the rapidly accelerating impact that AI is going to have on jobs, the economy, and how we live.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
We are saddened by the passing of a dear friend of the convention, Peter David. Rest in power, friend. You will be missed among the stars.
May 26, 2025 at 2:15 AM
We are saddened by the passing of a dear friend of the convention, Peter David. Rest in power, friend. You will be missed among the stars.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
PETER DAVID
This is a 1987, classic Todd McFarlane Wolverine vs Hulk cover at the beginning of Peter David’s 8yr run on the title
💥
Last night, Peter David passed away at the age of 68 after struggling from a long illness and the failure of a comic industry to take care of their creator’s health.
💫
This is a 1987, classic Todd McFarlane Wolverine vs Hulk cover at the beginning of Peter David’s 8yr run on the title
💥
Last night, Peter David passed away at the age of 68 after struggling from a long illness and the failure of a comic industry to take care of their creator’s health.
💫
May 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
PETER DAVID
This is a 1987, classic Todd McFarlane Wolverine vs Hulk cover at the beginning of Peter David’s 8yr run on the title
💥
Last night, Peter David passed away at the age of 68 after struggling from a long illness and the failure of a comic industry to take care of their creator’s health.
💫
This is a 1987, classic Todd McFarlane Wolverine vs Hulk cover at the beginning of Peter David’s 8yr run on the title
💥
Last night, Peter David passed away at the age of 68 after struggling from a long illness and the failure of a comic industry to take care of their creator’s health.
💫
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
On the blog: remembering Peter David. I've been a fan of his for 40 years and a friend of his for 35 years, and I have a lot of great memories........
decandido.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/p...
decandido.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/p...
Peter David, RIP
After several years of increased health issues, Peter David’s body finally gave out on him. The writing world has lost an icon, and more importantly, lost a good person. I first came across P…
decandido.wordpress.com
May 26, 2025 at 6:32 AM
On the blog: remembering Peter David. I've been a fan of his for 40 years and a friend of his for 35 years, and I have a lot of great memories........
decandido.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/p...
decandido.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/p...
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Inside Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”: Judicial Silencing (Sec. 80121(h)). This might be the most authoritarian section in the entire 1,100+ page bill.
May 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Inside Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”: Judicial Silencing (Sec. 80121(h)). This might be the most authoritarian section in the entire 1,100+ page bill.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
I spoke to Tony Gilroy about Star Wars: Andor Season 2 for @scriptmagazine.bsky.social! scriptmag.com/tony-gilroy-...
Tony Gilroy On Crafting the Opening of Andor’s Second Season
Bryan Young sits down for a chat with "Andor" showrunner Tony Gilroy to discuss season two's tone, structure, and more.
scriptmag.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I spoke to Tony Gilroy about Star Wars: Andor Season 2 for @scriptmagazine.bsky.social! scriptmag.com/tony-gilroy-...
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
AHA executive director @jgrossman.bsky.social said about the lawsuit: “The NEH leverages its very small budget to support work in nearly every venue where Americans engage with the humanities. . . . It makes no sense to eviscerate the agency that helps all Americans.”
The AHA, along with the ACLS and the MLA, have filed a lawsuit to restore the programming and institutional integrity that have been stripped away from the NEH. Announcement and PDF of filing in district court are here: www.historians.org/news/america...
American Council of Learned Societies, American Historical Association, and Modern Language Association File Lawsuit Alleging Illegal Dismantling of National Endowment for the Humanities - AHA
Lawsuit aims to reinstate NEH grant programs, divisions, and staff. For Immediate Release / May 1, 2025 (New York, NY) — The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Assoc...
www.historians.org
May 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
AHA executive director @jgrossman.bsky.social said about the lawsuit: “The NEH leverages its very small budget to support work in nearly every venue where Americans engage with the humanities. . . . It makes no sense to eviscerate the agency that helps all Americans.”
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million for Humanities Councils
The emergency funding came after the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled most existing grants
The emergency funding came after the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled most existing grants
Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million for Humanities Councils
The emergency funding came after the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled most existing grants, part of a pivot toward President Trump’s priorities.
www.nytimes.com
April 29, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Mellon Foundation Announces $15 Million for Humanities Councils
The emergency funding came after the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled most existing grants
The emergency funding came after the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled most existing grants
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
AP NEWS 4/14/25
"The Republican administration’s deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government has led the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES to cancel its grants for state humanities councils"
apnews.com/article/fede...
"The Republican administration’s deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government has led the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES to cancel its grants for state humanities councils"
apnews.com/article/fede...
Plans to celebrate America's 250th anniversary were underway. Then came the federal funding cuts
Leaders of state humanities councils throughout the country say federal funding cuts by President Donald Trump's administration will force them to scale back or eliminate celebrations next year commem...
apnews.com
April 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
AP NEWS 4/14/25
"The Republican administration’s deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government has led the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES to cancel its grants for state humanities councils"
apnews.com/article/fede...
"The Republican administration’s deep cost-cutting effort across the federal government has led the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES to cancel its grants for state humanities councils"
apnews.com/article/fede...
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
The National History Day contest equips students w/ skills in historical research, communication, project management, & critical thinking.
National History Day got DOGEd, losing $336,000 in funded thru next year. $137,000 can fund the contest this year.
They’re taking donations.
NHD.org/donate
National History Day got DOGEd, losing $336,000 in funded thru next year. $137,000 can fund the contest this year.
They’re taking donations.
NHD.org/donate
April 13, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The National History Day contest equips students w/ skills in historical research, communication, project management, & critical thinking.
National History Day got DOGEd, losing $336,000 in funded thru next year. $137,000 can fund the contest this year.
They’re taking donations.
NHD.org/donate
National History Day got DOGEd, losing $336,000 in funded thru next year. $137,000 can fund the contest this year.
They’re taking donations.
NHD.org/donate
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
I had the chance to see the famous “unfinished portrait” of FDR before speaking in Warm Springs today. I’m reminded that the America FDR fought for remains unfinished & we must continue working to build a country that lives up to our highest ideals.
April 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I had the chance to see the famous “unfinished portrait” of FDR before speaking in Warm Springs today. I’m reminded that the America FDR fought for remains unfinished & we must continue working to build a country that lives up to our highest ideals.
Reposted by Kevin Shirley
On the road back from Warm Springs after a great visit to FDR’s Little White House. FDR came here for his own healing & saw the healing that needed to be done for others. I’m taking the spirit of Warm Springs back with me to Washington with a determination to build on FDR’s unfinished legacy.
April 12, 2025 at 9:47 PM
On the road back from Warm Springs after a great visit to FDR’s Little White House. FDR came here for his own healing & saw the healing that needed to be done for others. I’m taking the spirit of Warm Springs back with me to Washington with a determination to build on FDR’s unfinished legacy.