iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Look it’s really simple. It’s always about money. Always. .ai has been a boon to Anguilla. Team Trump has found a way to steer that money to them instead. Which country owns .si ? Slovenia. Gee, wonder how he’ll manage to get a huge cut of the forced domain registrations.

010

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

The Worldbuilding Workshop @wrldbuildingwrkshp.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

In this week's episode, @steveslota.bsky.social & @thergenrader.bsky.social debate whether digitizing artifacts (particularly to train #LLMs) justifies the loss of their physical forms: www.theworldbuildingworkshop.com/podcast/epis... #EduSky #genAI #museum #history #library #mediastudies

Album cover-style image for The Worldbuilding Workshop Companion Podcast depicting a pencil-holding hand hovering above a city skyline. The podcast features conversations between co-authors Stephen Slota and Trent Hergenrader.

122

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Ok; Spanish VERBA is now live at play.verba-game.com, joining Latin, French, and an English version designed for ML learners. Since the collapse of the old bird place, the WL network isn't as large. Please share widely and let me know what you think! If you are new, verba-game.com has the details

play.verba-game.com

VERBA

042

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Earlier this summer we brought the Latin version of VERBA online; web-based, free to use -- verba-game.com We're excited to soft-open the English version (for ML learners) and French. Spanish *will* follow, but it's a matter of being cautious and conservative with scale.

verba-game.com

VERBA - The Pericles Group Foundation

Putting the _____________ in Language Learning VERBA is the language learning card game developed by The Pericles Group. The concept is incredibly simple — one player (acting as a judge) ...

142

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Aven @avensarah.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I played the physical version of this game with my Latin classes back when I was teaching and it was lots of fun, so I recommend checking this out!

052

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

verba-game.com

VERBA - The Pericles Group Foundation

Putting the _____________ in Language Learning VERBA is the language learning card game developed by The Pericles Group. The concept is incredibly simple — one player (acting as a judge) ...

142

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Stephen T. Slota @steveslota.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

How often does @kballestrini.bsky.social think about Rome? Every day! But not for the reasons those weirdos on Twitter do... Tune in to learn about the development and implementation of the text-based Latin #language #ARG #RPG Operation LAPIS! #EduSky #roleplay #classics #Latin #k12 #highered

012

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

jon christian @jonchristian.net · 10/07/2026

NEW: The brand-new logo of the Donald J Trump International Airport appears to be AI slop, featuring an eagle with garbled talons, an asymmetrical number of feathers on each wing, and more glaring irregularities futurism.com/artificial-i...

futurism.com

The Logo for Donald Trump International Airport Appears to Have AI Slop in It

The logo for officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport appears to be generated with AI.

871647391

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Dan Conway @magisterconway.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

You ever have an idea that sticks in your head and won’t leave until it’s complete? Well, that was me and my idea for a Latin reader based on the Roman values listed on the AP syllabus. So here it is: an anthology of Latin exempla, free to use and enjoy! magisterconway.blogspot.com/2026/07/more...

6389

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The big reveal was at the American Classical League Institute yesterday, but VERBA (the language card game) is now available as a web-based digital platform, absolutely free to use. Latin is available now; other languages to follow down the road: play.verba-game.com

play.verba-game.com

VERBA

010

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

And yet, a week later, here we are again.

010

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm sure it's entirely a coincidence that each week, without fail, that on Friday afternoon the situation in the Strait devolves and breaks down, but is magically resolved by Monday morning. If only there were some kind of opening and closing bell that the posturing was being built around.

020

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Hell, I’m here for the Teen Girl Squad reference alone!

130

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

For anyone looking for some summer PD opportunities or just general collegiality with fellow Classicists, CANE Summer Institute will be fully virtual this year and open to anyone, no membership in CANE required! caneweb.org/csi/

caneweb.org

CANE Summer Institute - CANE

Questions? Please contact Mark Wright, the director of the CANE Summer Institute, at summerinst@caneweb.org.

010

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Oh, the people who blow up ships are the bad guys? Huh.

A timeline of US strikes on boats that have killed at least 187

20384692673

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

The Lion, the Witch, and the IKEA Brimnes

120

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Thor Benson @thorbenson.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

But I was told we needed to tone down the rhetoric

19048401015

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

The answer is never. The media is irrevocably broken and has failed entirely at their primary purpose for at least the last decade.

000

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

For anyone preparing for the looming Latin AP exam, I’ve been working to get more informational texts (many are AP EKs) loaded onto the site: lapis.practomime.com/index.php/in... It’s time to move towards history and culture being embedded language content rather than tacked on English.

lapis.practomime.com

informational texts

The hub for Latin tiered readings, supplementary readings, novellas, and the material related to Operation LAPIS.

111

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

lapis.practomime.com

informational texts

The hub for Latin tiered readings, supplementary readings, novellas, and the material related to Operation LAPIS.

111

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Guess #actfl has too many quality Latin presentations this year. I mean, last years total was like 3, with a cancellation. Too much competition to accept little ol’ me 🤣

020

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Amy Pistone @apistone.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I have SO MANY thoughts about these schools and the broader movement and gave a paper about them at a conference last month. Overall, this isn't an awful article but I do have an issue with the credulous parroting of this "apolitical" line www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

This teaching method, backed by conservatives, is on the rise
Classical schools focus on Western content and American ideals. “We are going to honor the creation of our flag. We are going to honor George Washington,” one principal said.

Yesterday at 6:00 a.m. EDT

The model at the Florida school, known as classical education, emphasizes Western history and literature, and draws on teaching methods from ancient Greece and Rome. The approach has found new popularity among families who say the methods offer more rigor than schools that have relaxed their grading policies or use screens for much of their teaching. And, supporters argue, the Eurocentric content is more proven than evolving modern teachings.

While the model is apolitical, it is also being pushed by conservatives, who say it celebrates American ideals and Western thought. Classical education’s newfound popularity comes as the Trump administration seeks to promote patriotism and frames criticism of the darker chapters of U.S. history as un-American. The president is also attempting to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from schools, governments and workplaces.

Critics of the classical approach, including some education experts, say the schools can be a Trojan horse for conservative ideology and promote a myopic worldview — undermining efforts to expand curriculums to better reflect the experiences of all students in public K-12 schools, the majority of whom are not White.

Of the 895 classical schools in the United States, one-third opened or adopted the model between 2020 and 2024, according to a database published by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank. The vast majority of the schools are private and Christian, but a growing number are public charter schools, which are independently operated and taxpayer-funded.

Defending the model, Wheeler said students receive “a very wide view of the world and our country.” The classic European teaching methods that the school uses — seminars, memorization and recitation, character development — mold children into critical thinkers who can reason and communicate effectively, according to Wheeler. They study texts known

More than 2,700 children attend Pineapple Cove’s three campuses in Brevard County in central Florida. Like many classical schools in the U.S., it has ties to Hillsdale College, a small, conservative Christian school in Michigan that has partnered with the Trump administration. It’s known for promoting “patriotic education,” and in 2021 published a K-12 history curriculum that teaches that “America is an exceptionally good country,” echoing rhetoric from President Donald Trump.

Wheeler, however, said Hillsdale’s work at Pineapple Cove has been nonpartisan. The college provides curriculum and other supports to classical K-12 schools.

Every classical school is different, but they are bound by a focus on cultivating virtues and teaching the liberal arts of grammar, logic and rhetoric — or effective communication. Children study American and Western European literature written between the 8th and mid-20th centuries, mostly by White men, including Homer, William Shakespeare and John Steinbeck. Pineapple Cove students also read the memoir of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and school staff say they think there is sufficient exposure to different perspectives.

193

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It’s almost as if they are all in on it too…

110

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

“UConn missed 18 of its first 19 attempts from 3-point range and finished 5 for 23. The fifth will be remembered in Connecticut for generations.”

010

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Patrick J. Burns @diyclassics.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

So many of you have asked—happy to announce... Latin BERT v1 now available on HuggingFace 📦 Model: huggingface.co/latincy/lati... 📝 Preprint: arxiv.org/abs/2009.10053 Original weights, experimental repackaging—leave issues/etc. in the HF discussions #nlproc #digiclass cc: @dbamman.bsky.social

huggingface.co

latincy/latin-bert · Hugging Face

We’re on a journey to advance and democratize artificial intelligence through open source and open science.

13817

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

The is the federal government telling news stations to provide favorable coverage of the war or their licenses will be pulled. A truly extraordinary moment. We aren't on the verge of a totalitarian takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Act like it.

25023160013637

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

It’s crystal clear now that Trump has lost control of this war. He badly misjudged Iran’s ability to retaliate. The region is on fire. 1/ I’m going to explain to you in this🧵what I’ve learned - in part from closed door briefings - about the four biggest current crises.

333109944506

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT 15 years ago, a group of us started The Pericles Group (periclesgroup.org) in order to formally work on our games & learning endeavors. It has been an amazingly fulfilling ride creating Operation LAPIS, successful Kickstarters (CARD-tamen, VERBA, Underlings of Underwing), (1/7)

periclesgroup.org

- The Pericles Group Foundation

The Pericles Group is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including the development and support of curricular materials for the learning of Latin and other languages, as wel...

133

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Getting close to last call for registration for the CANE Annual Meeting, March 20-21 at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. Check out the details and program here: caneweb.org/annualmeeting/ Can't wait to see you there! The program looks great!

caneweb.org

Annual Meeting (Membership Wall) - CANE

CANE’s Annual Meeting is a two-day gathering where educators from New England and beyond network and share best practices about teaching and learning

010

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

periclesgroup.org

- The Pericles Group Foundation

133

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Classical Association of New England @caneweb.org · 22/02/2026

You can now register for the Annual Meeting, being held at Brandeis University from March 20 to 21. A draft program and more information is available at caneweb.org/annualmeeting.

caneweb.org

You can now register for the Annual Meeting, being held at Brandeis University from March 20 to 21. A draft program and more information is available

064

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19/02/2026

American not only becoming a cult of personality but becoming the dumbest cult of personality in the history of the human species is a lot to process

31291571515

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Jason N. Smith, Ed.D. @drjasonnsmith.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Tomorrow is our first #LGBTQIA+ #Educators #Affinity Group for language teachers who identify as LGBTQIA+. I'd love to see you there! Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested or reach out to me with questions. @actfl.bsky.social #languageteachers #wle www.actfl.org/educator-res...

actfl.org

ACTFL | LGBTQIA+ Educators Affinity Group

For language teachers who identify as LGBTQIA+

001

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT As of January 1st 2026, John and I are **no longer** the owners of Complexly (the educational media company we started 15 years ago that makes Crash Course, Eons, SciShow, Study Hall, and a bunch of other shows.) We have been the sole owners for all that time...

562862237

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Ami Fields-Meyer @fieldsmeyer.com · 25/01/2026

I wrote the speech I *wish* Chuck Schumer would give tonight - as an actual opposition leader. Here it is: "My fellow Americans: At this hour, an unrestrained force of militarized and violent federal officers is carrying out a project of ethnic cleansing in the streets of American cities." 1/14

16711293

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Nick Pettigrew @nick-pettigrew.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

The people who'll tell you today's murder victim in Minnesota shouldn't have turned up to a protest carrying a gun are the same people who said Kyle Rittenhouse was perfectly entitled to do the same thing.

5571672532

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

(1/X) People often say things like "why does Trump appeal to people?" The answer is simple: he tells them what they want to hear. He has no beliefs of his own so he has infinite flexibility to do so. That is what narcissistic sociopaths are like. And that is why in any discussion of Trump...

401629284

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Two very exciting sales through the weekend! For Spanish teachers/learners, VERBA Español for less than the original Kickstarter pricing ($25!) tpg-104198.square.site/product/span... For Dragon fans, Underlings of Underwing also for $25 tpg-104198.square.site/product/unde... Please share widely!

tpg-104198.square.site

Spanish Core Set | The Pericles Group, LLC

VERBA: Español core set. Includes 50 "grey" sentence cards and 146 "white" noun cards. Designed for the novice learner.

024

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

tpg-104198.square.site

Spanish Core Set | The Pericles Group, LLC

VERBA: Español core set. Includes 50 "grey" sentence cards and 146 "white" noun cards. Designed for the novice learner.

024

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

The Worldbuilding Workshop @wrldbuildingwrkshp.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Hi there, #EduSky! We're so grateful to have such a rich, talented community of educators with whom we share a passion for innovative, creative, and empathetic pedagogical design. Can't wait to trade worldbuilding-based teaching practices, assessment methods, activity ideas, and more! ✨🌎

032

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

(NBC News) - President Donald Trump's pick to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics was among the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the White House saying he was a "bystander" who wandered over after seeing coverage on the news. @ryanjreilly.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

15925261115

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Raven Oak @ravenoak.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

It really is this simple. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Father Nathan Monk posted on Facebook a message. This is a screenshot of the message, which says, "You are about to watch the whole world respect a chosen name. It's that easy."

65145114001

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

(1/X) Can this country to back to the way it was before Trump? No, it cannot. Narcissistic sociopaths break things in ways that can't be fixed.

351111178

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Just watched @chrismurphyct.bsky.social on @thedailyshow.com last night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqLf... This should be on loop in the office in every congressional Democrat so they can internalize what needs to happen. Chris can be, and should be, the party leader at this point.

youtube.com

Sen. Chris Murphy - Dems Need to Take More Risks & Make Gov’t Work Again | The Daily Show

YouTube video by The Daily Show

000

Kevin Ballestrini @kballestrini.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Final weekend to register for next week's CANE Annual Meeting @ Yale University: caneweb.org/annualmeeting/ Reminder to CAES and CAAS members, you're invited without being a member of CANE! DM me for more details! We'd love to see you there! #classics #latin

122

Reposted by Kevin Ballestrini

Heba Gowayed هبة جويد @hebagowayed.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I have lived in authoritarianism before, and participated in a popular movement against it. My political voice was born in it. I was just talking to a friend - this moment is *triggering* because it feels like so few people are reacting on the magnitude of what I know is coming.

673498790