Magpie Needs A Job
LightNews LightNews
banner
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Magpie Needs A Job
@magpielaughs.bsky.social
360 followers 610 following 1.6K posts
Veteran teacher looking for a new career in San Antonio; avid reader, sometimes writer, rapidly approaching the “maybe I’ll start a podcast” stage of unemployment madness. If you promote AI in schools I will fight you. She/her.
Posts Replies Media Videos
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Sorry!
Alt text here:
another title at the library by the very same writer. houstonchronicle.com She sneaks in a little fun and wonder whenever she can - but she doesn't know why she should have to sneak at all. "I feel like a spy," she said. "I snuck in a poem, you know. I sang a song today." It's been her choice, she says, to stay at a district under conditions that feel less like teaching and more like compliance. She loves the kids, loves the community. But she's made up her mind. She won't be back next year. Two other long-time teachers quoted in this column said the same thing. We're not losing teachers because they don't like change — as Mike Miles often claims. We're losing them because they don't like change that hurts kids. A curriculum that denies actual books to children cannot be healthy, no matter what the test scores purport to say. Rose just wanted to read a riveting novel about a brave little mouse. Her teacher shouldn't have to risk her job to make that happen Miles' singular focus on standardized testing
November 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Why are good teachers leaving teaching?

We became teachers because we love kids, and we care deeply about their ability to learn and grow.

We can’t be complicit in a system that wields us a weapons to harm our most vulnerable students.

We won’t help them hurt kids. We will find another way.
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
I did a Democracy!
A smiling middle aged woman with brown hair proudly points to the I Voted sticker on her paisley blouse. She is parked in a vehicle with live oaks visible through the windows of the car.
November 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
We made it to Thursday, y'all!
I felt like looking at some pretty pictures today. Wanna look at a pretty picture with me? How about the view from Thingvellir National Park in Iceland:
A landscape captured at Thingvellir National Park in Iceland in May 2023. The dominant features are mountains enshrouded by mist (and some rain heading our way) in the distant background. Running up towards the mountains in the midground is a relatively flat valley with a meandering river, patches of green scattered throughout the brown shrubby vegetation, and a little chapel and five conjoined white houses with pointed roofs. Tiny people in brightly colored jackets are visible walking on the trails around the river. The foreground is dark, rocky brush falling steeply away to the valley. Not pictured: My oldest child and I, huffing and puffing and colder than we expected on the trail behind the camera. The temperature was manageable. The freezing wind and rain (and ice pellets hitting us in the face) was harder to cope with! If we return, we will be better prepared.
October 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Show me a guy more fashionable than this:
A stately, imperious pigeon deigns to acknowledge the viewer from his perch on a fountain in Ribeauvillé, France. His warm amber eyes are only slightly turned backwards toward the camera, as if he recognizes your presence with a flicker of annoyance. He has a white ribbon of plumage like a cappuccino mustache just above his beak, and his perfectly curved neck sparkles with purple and green iridescence. His speckled plumage starts out mostly white at the top and deepens to a velvety gray at his wingtips, creating an effect like an ermine cape. Even his perfect orange toes, curved over the bronze water spigot, seem to be demure and manicured.
October 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
AI Horror:

Littlest made a sweet little video recording for me on his iPad and sent it to me last night. The topic was mundane- just goodnight chatter- but precious to me because it’s my kid talking to me.

And AI changed his video without our knowledge or permission, creating a nightmare.
A screenshot from a video my youngest child sent me, made on an iPad. In the video his mouth makes bizarre and disturbing movements as he speaks, and a second mouth-like hole appears to the right of his mouth. The foreground is just the child’s face, distorted by AI; the background is an attic room with bookshelves.
October 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Gone are the halcyon days of peacefully hanging out on the porch.
Now they are constantly vigilant for nice ladies with strollers, kids on skateboards, retirees getting their steps in, and worst of all - NEIGHBOR DOGS.
That's right. Neighbor dogs are everywhere.
Our pups needed help.
A large bernedoodle and a small, shaggy goldendoodle survey their rustic winter kingdom from the top of the porch steps. They all both awash in glowy golden morning light.
October 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Moppy the Goldendoodle was... less helpful on the land, but to be fair, she's still a baby. Her main job is being adorable and pestering Cups in the way all little sisters pester their big sisters.
These two partners in crime spent all of their time living the good life in rural NC.
Sunlight dapples a black and white bernedoodle and a small tan goldendoodle frolicking in the light dusting of snow with a young child. They golden doodle is captured in mid-air as she leaps forward toward the child, and the larger bernedoodle is hot on her heels, also running. Both of their ears are flapping in the wind. The background of the photo reveals they are on the edge of a wooded section of the property, with snow-dusted hollies and bare sprigs from sweet pepper bush and blueberry bushes scattered under the taller trees. A medium-sized tan goldendoodle and a large black and white bernedoodle gaze sleepily back at the camera. They have curled up together on the big bed (which they aren't supposed to do), and appear slightly indignant at being disturbed. The bernedoodle is the big spoon, and the goldendoodle is the small spoon. Both of them are disheveled from a long day of dog fun.
October 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Cups working on our land in North Carolina. A black and white dog with a closely cropped haircut looks back at the camera from a distance in a wooded area. It's December, so the usually dark and shady woods are full of light because the branches of most trees are bare. The ground is thick with fallen pine needles, oak leaves, and dormant grape vines. In the background, you can see the hollies and pines that have retained their leaves through the winter. Winter and early spring are the best time to clean up the woods because the dormant deciduous plants make it easier to navigate without getting tangled up in greenery.
October 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
So we've had THE DOGS for a while, and they fit in pretty well to our North Carolina life.
Cups the Bernedoodle is amazing at being a farm dog. She loves to help when I'm out working on the property, whether it's dragging big branches I trimmed, or scaring off rabbits from the garden.
Cups the Bernedoodle is laying down on a wood-look floor looking up at the camera. She is dog-smiling and wagging her tail so hard that it is blurry. She is a black and while fluffy dog with long shaggy ears and expressive brown eyebrows. Her paws are soft and creamy and her nose is shiny, black, and boop-able.
October 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Sure, yeah - nothing disturbing here.

What do you mean, “some people have individual bottom teeth”?

Oh, and I suppose your lips go all the way around your mouth, too.
A closeup of the AI generated mouth of the subject of this article. The top teeth are a little iffy (some irregularities in length, some appear to be blurring together, but not too bad. The bottom is a solid white mass like a fish’s mouth. No teeth, just a white bone rim inside the lips (which stop well before the corner on the right side of the image).
October 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
When your kid has a scholarship to a school you could never afford, it makes you a little eccentric:
Text conversation between parent and a child at college on scholarship: Oberlin, OH Student: I can always skip my lectures that week Student: For thanksgiving Parent: BOO0O000 n000000000 Parent: No skipping expensive Oberlin classes Student: Yeah you're right okay Parent: Each class costs like 17k Student: Lol Parent: That works out to like 455.00 per day you are in class for each class Parent: More than a plane ticket Student: okayyy Parent: Just constantly remind everyone around you how much one minute of education costs if they are late to class lol Parent: Oh, you're one minute late? That's $10 bucks. 2 minutes late? 20. 5 minutes late? HALF A HUNDRED DOLLARS
September 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Hahaha my college freshman just texted me about this topic this morning. A whole bunch of students are BIG MAD at institutional acceptance of AI in the face of all evidence:
(They uploaded backwards so start at the end, sorry!)
Text from college student to parent about AI survey in private liberal arts college: Student: "How do you feel in general about the use of generative Al?" Question I was asked in a survey from the college. Text from student response (extremely lengthy) follows in subsequent photos; parent responded supportively here with: Student: long rant against AI Parent: Oo000000 interesting Student: I ATE THEM Parent: YES Text from student about AI survey response at college: Page 3: …tools that are vulnerable to hacking could exacerbate this issue. What is Oberlin's commitment to my data privacy, and how does the institution intend to protect my information against the vulnerabilities of Al systems? Finally, generative Al has demonstrated risks to student health. Most notably, the attorneys general of California and Delaware raised concerns to OpenAl after the death of users. Meta has also fielded complaints and suits regarding teen health and wellbeing following their chatbot deployment. Studies have also shown reduced cognitive activity in conjunction with Al use. The skills lost in outsourcing cognitive tasks are crucial to the core of higher education. I want my degree to have value. I want it to be understood that a person with a degree from a prominent liberal arts institution can think critically, read critically, and write critically, without the use of ChatGPT. That's what my degree means to me. I am learning how to think in new, complex ways, and it is challenging. But if I outsource these tasks because they're challenging, I don't gain those valuable cognitive skills. Furthermore, if it becomes common practice at my institution to outsource these core tasks of learning, generating ideas and crafting them into coherent products, that devalues my degree, regardless of whether I choose to take part. A degree from Oberlin College should mean something. Keep Al out of the classroom. Student survey response about AI in college page 2/3: …found to have poor or inadequate defenses against adversarial attacks, and according to a 2020 Gartner survey, nearly 45% of companies reported experiencing significant security vulnerabilities in their Al-powered systems. Researchers from UC Berkeley found that certain types of machine learning models, like those used for image recognition, can be reverse-engineered within hours by hackers. These reverse-engineered models can then be exploited to gain access to private datasets or manipulate the model to make inaccurate predictions or classifications. If generative Al models were introduced in classrooms, this data could be at risk. It only takes one breach for students' personal data to be stolen, misused, or sold. A 2022 report from EdTech Magazine indicated that 80% of educational institutions surveyed did not have sufficient security measures in place to protect Al systems from hacking or exploitation. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education reported that over 30 million student records of personal information were exposed across various breaches, many of which involved Al-based educational platforms. The introduction of Al tools that are vulnerable to hacking could exacerbate this issue. What is Oberlin's commitment to my data privacy, and how does the institution intend to protect my information against the vulnerabilities of Al systems? Finally, generative Al has demonstrated risks to student health. Most notably, the attorneys general of California and Delanare raised Student survey response about AI in college: I have 3 main concerns. 1. Ethics and the Environment 2. Data Privacy 3. Student Health and Learning. Firstly, I would like to establish my personal connection to Al. I have lobbied in Congress multiple times for different organizations, including the ACLU, urging for regulation and protections, especially regarding students. This is an issue I'm educated and passionate about. Generative Al models are trained on large databases of stolen work. Large Al Companies have settled multiple copyright cases out of court for up to billions for their blatant intellectual property violations. Anthropic just settled a case this month for over 1.5 billion. This raises serious ethical questions for the use of Al in higher education. Academia has always held high standards in regards to plagiarism and ethical use; I don't see any way to incorporate generative Al in academia without undermining these standards of integrity. Furthermore, Oberlin College has an established commitment to the climate. Oberlin cannot maintain its reputation as a leader in environmental sustainability while simultaneously encouraging the use of tools that are recklessly energy inefficient and crippling the environmental health of communities across the globe. Secondly, Al systems are exceptionally susceptible to data breach vulnerabilities. Al systems are extremely susceptible to data breaches. According to Kaspersky, in 2020, 60% of Al systems were found to have poor or inadequate defenses…
September 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Yes, Texas (one of the most voter-suppressed states) voted for Trump in 2024. That means 99% of all Texans are rabid MAGATS.
No? Well, then it must be more like 9/10. Those evil Texans love their Trump.

Oh more than 40% voted for Harris?
But 5 mil people don’t count because they’re Texan, right?
Texas tribune data pulled from source: Associated Press showing a table with the Texas results of the 2024 election. Donald J. Trump (with a check mark because he won) is named beside 6,393,597 votes representing 56.2% Kamala Harris beside 4,835,250 votes representing 42.5% Jill Stein won 82,701 votes at 0.7 percent Chase Oliver won 68,557 votes at 0.6% The table illustrates that about 5/10 people in Texas voted for Trump - hardly the monolithic victory for stereotypical Texans villainized by Bluesky.
September 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
I’ve been scrolling for an incredibly long time and…
None of y’all think it’s Cheerwine?
Like, nobody?
It just tastes like medicine, but somehow not as good as medicine.

I mean, just look at it! That’s not delicious soda. That’s something else.
An alarming blood-red glass bottle of Cheerwine that urges you to drink it with an oval shaped label around the center of the bottle reading: Drink Cheerwine Soft Drink Since 1917 The bottle bodes. It’s ominous. The flavor reassures you that the contents weren’t actually blood, but that you have been chosen and by downing the elixir, the ritual has begun. They will come for you in the dark.
September 15, 2025 at 3:01 AM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
It’s explicit in the text! Let’s talk about how and why it matters, and bring in the other Brontë with Mr. Rochester’s charade in Jane Eyre!
Highlighted sentence from Wurthering Heights indicating Heathcliff’s Romani heritage: It's bonny be-haviour, lurking amang t' fields, after twelve ut' night, wi' that fahl, flay-some divil uf a gipsy, Heathcliff!
September 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Look at this chiaroscuro- so pretty! (See alt text for details of the scene)
A paused scene in which the windows to Colin’s apartment are opened for the first time. The scene looks like something out of Caravaggio, with lovely deep shadows everywhere except on the subjects, who are positioned in the center left of the frame (opposite the window). There is hard but warm light on the subjects (a girl pushing a boy in an Edwardian wheelchair), but despite the contrasty light, the highlights on the children are preserved. It creates an ethereal, angelic effect. The light pouring in the panes of the windows fills the space (and the exterior is intentionally blown to keep the focus indoors), and is accentuated by a well-placed mist to give the negative space more weight and balance the scene. Just beautiful.
September 13, 2025 at 8:12 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
I officially have the dreaded ’vid, so I’m holed up in my bedroom so as not to contaminate the house.

I’ve found something to pass the time- The 1993 version of The Secret Garden is even more charming than I remember, and sure to hasten the healing right alongside Mary Lennox’s character.
The cover of the 1993 The Secret Garden film. It shows sun-drenched Edwardian-garbed children at play in a verdant space with flowers that seems to be transitioning to autumn from the warm tones in the background trees. A girl wearing a light-colored, floaty dress and large hat is running along a path from left to right, and is partially turned, apparently to exhort the young man in a wheelchair (who is being propelled by another young man) to keep up. There is a goat and at least two fowl in the midground. The whole scene is framed with a green flowery arch, creating a vignette. At the bottom, the words “THE SECRET GARDEN” appear in a yellow serif font.
September 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
I turned in the accoutrements of teaching today. Handed in my printer fob, security badge, and the key to my classroom. It’s bittersweet as I look in earnest for my next role, but my students made sure I felt cherished as I left. That means so much.
Some of the gifts shared with me by current and past students on my last day. There were cards, letters, and emails (always the most precious), a mug, chocolates, a blanket, hair clips, a raspberry lemonade, hand cream, multiple Starbucks gift cards, flowers, candy, lip balm, an eye mask (ha! These kids see my tired face every day), Katabasis by R.F. Kuang, real, O.G. Tomoe River paper in a notebook for my fountain pen addiction, and a literature-themed coloring book.
September 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Okay it’s true, my grandparents’ house was paneled like the bottom photo, but my little brother’s best friend’s mom was a cool young divorcé (to us), and her house had art in this style in the formal living room (remember formal living/sitting rooms?).
A close up of a poster in the colorful 80s bedroom described above showing a stylized woman with black, white, and red pop art features
September 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Like, seriously?
Y’all do this too?

Get outta here.
A Fiesta coronation gown from 2025. The gown is yellow and fully beaded and embroidered with an elaborate design featuring flowers, lions, scrollwork, and crowns in coordinating hues of rose, emerald, and amethyst. Oh, and did I mention the trains are like 10 feet long and enormous in addition to being ornate? They are. Viva San Antonio.
August 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Oh no. I just saw the TWSBI Eco in Serpentine and have developed grabby hands.

Everyone repeat after me:
Magpie Laughs, you DO NOT need another fountain pens. You already have more fountain pens than you can use. You do not need a beautiful green fountain pen with brass accents.

It’s a trap!
A stunning, forest-green pen that shades from teal to harvest gold. The color undulates and entices, as though it is carved from precious marbled stone. It is accentuated by brass hardware on the nib, pen clip, and bottom of the cap. It is as tempting as the serpent in Eden.
August 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
Watched K Pop Demon Hunters with the little kids today (Eldest is still off being grownup 😭), and it was delightful. It reminded me of watching My Little Pony stuff with them when they were younger. If you enjoyed MLP themes, color palette, and music, KPop Demon Hunters is all of that turned to 11.
A promo photo for the Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters showing the eponymous characters in a fighting stance. The characters are girls dressed in dark futuristic clothing. One has very long dark pink hair, one has a very long purple plait, and one has short black hair worn up. They each wield bladed weapons that glow pale blue. They are posed in front of a giant screen displaying their likenesses as reserved (they are looking down at the camera, so potentially condescending). The colors are 90s Taco Bell neon.
August 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
It turns out the “write with a random fountain pen ink” game can backfire.
All Sailors:
Manyo Hinoki: beautiful, ethereal
Studio 162: aquatic, mysterious
Yurameku Amamoyo: earthy, delicate

I pulled Robert Oster’s Blue Water Ice out and started to write with it. I’m so repelled that I can’t go on.
Ink samples from 3 Sailor fountain pen inks and one Robert Oster. The first ink is Sailor Manyo Hinoki, which settles into a grape with pink and green shading. The second is Ink Studio 162, which is gloriously mossy and watery. It’s a muted green with hints of pink. The third is the garish, violently electric Robert Oster Blue Water Ice. It is a very saturated with a red sheen. It makes me feel nauseated. Finally, we have Yurameku Amamoyoi, which I actually employed for writing before I pulled the Robert Oster out of the bag. It’s a soft brown pink, like a newborn gerbil, that sheens green on Tomoe River but just stays a gentle muted earthy brown on my Leuchturm paper.
August 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
magpielaughs.bsky.social
It doesn’t show the same dimension in my Leuchturm notebook, however (not that it is an impediment). In the Leuchturm, there is almost no hint of green, pink, or purple- just a lovely, dimensional watery blue.
A photo of Sailor Manyo Hinoki fountain pen ink in a Leuchturm 1917 notebook with dotted lines. The ink is a muted grey-blue and looks very watery. It shades from pale, transparent blue to a deep almost-purple navy, but lacks the green and pink that show up on Tomoe River paper.
July 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM