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Laura Locke Estes

@lblestes.bsky.social
384 followers 354 following 163 posts

Assistant Professor at Pepperdine | writes on Syriac Christian exegesis, early Islam, and construction of religious identity

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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The über rich do not live in the same world as you or I. This guy's shock at totally normal security implies he goes years w/out pumping gas and suggests he's been offloading all sorts of typical tasks to human assts for a long time, & it's not surprising that he'd see an AI asst as the same thing.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I am not in the mood to be gaslit by recaptcha this morning. I selected all the motorcycles! and buses! and crosswalks! there are four lights!!!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The beginning-of-the-school-year respiratory virus has arrived right on schedule. 😐 Glad to have a long weekend to rest.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Every fall semester I forget that there is such a thing as being "in teaching shape," so I get home after the second day of school and my legs are tired, my voice is tired, and my brain feels like mush from too many hours of extroverting.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Come be my neighbor in the LA area!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
If anyone's wondering how the desk riser/walking pad set up is going, it's great! I do most of my grading, reading on a screen, email writing, and other not very deep work tasks while walking at 1 mph. If I'm actively writing I usually need to turn the pad off and just stand.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
So, the guy famous for finding immunity idols just won an immunity idol, right? #bb28
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
If anyone wondered, I will be sitting at my gate for 3 hours and I am indeed rather cranky about it.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I'm striking out in all the usual places... Syriacists, has anyone figured out how to get Word for Mac to stop breaking connections between letters after diacritical marks? (keyboard/font work fine in google docs, mellel, and on a PC, it's just this dang Mac Word update that finally snuck through)
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
After assembling my new standng desk, I put on my heat compression mask for dry eyes while laying on my cervical traction pillow and think: is middle age is just an ever-expanding nighttime routine?
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I'm planning for my first Oxford Patristics in 2027--any seasoned experts have tips for accommodation?
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
This is what it currently sounds like in my on-campus office. We did not receive any sort of construction notice. 🙃
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
My kids have had a Sherri, Shari, Cheryl, Sharine, and Shari (another one!), if anyone is looking for anecdotal evidence on most common names for preschool teachers.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
The first appearance of the Drs. Estes at graduation.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The university-required travel company is insisting we take a 3.5 hour layover instead of a 2 hour layover, so you all can look forward to me complaining in July about arriving to my gate 2+hours early. 😇
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
This seems like a great opportunity! (and can confirm, STL is great)
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
I'm honored to have been invited to join this remarkable group of scholars! Looking forward to sharing some thoughts on imagined prayers in the metrical homilies of Jacob of Serugh.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Not a single one of my 33 students told me that the Canvas module for today wasn't published (meaning, not a single one of my 33 students did the reading, meaning we're all going to encountering Kant together for the first time in class). Pray for me.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
If you're wondering how it feels to finally have my kids back in school after their two-week spring break that did not align with my university's break, the answer is: it feels like 1500 new words towards my current project!!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
A dear friend shared her Olympics local presale slot with me and now we're headed to the Men's Team Artistic Gymnastics finals at #LA28 (plus tennis and women's soccer!) fingers crossed we get another "pommel horse guy" moment of brilliance
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
As #SBLAAR26 paper acceptances go out, anyone who’s trying to figure out to juggle parenting while at a national conference should say hi! I presented at my first SBL w/my 4 month old in the audience (paper title, appropriately, was “Babes Who Need Milk: some subtitle about anti-Jewish polemic”)
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
It’s been couple years since I’ve presented a proper paper at #SBLAAR, but I couldn’t miss the chance to riff off Susan Ashbrook Harvey in honor of Scenting Salvation’s 20th anniversary. See you in Denver!
Congratulations! Your proposal, Scenting Idolatry: "Garlic and Onions" in Ephrem's Writings, has been accepted by the Syriac Studies Section program unit. The meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado, USA, from 21 to 24 November 2026.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Watching my tiny alma mater play Oklahoma’s only HBCU for the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship tonight. There’s something really charming about college athletics sans the crazy money and marketing machines.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
The one and only time I completed a March Madness Bracket, by total fluke, it ended up in the top 99th percentile of ESPN brackets. So obviously, I immediately retired. youtube.com/shorts/9U7xU...
youtube.com
The Girl Who’s Gonna Win Your March Madness Bracket
YouTube video by You Betcha
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
It's regalia purchasing season, so let me once again plug getting a custom gown from www.capandgowndirect.com I paid full price for the official one from our university. My husband paid 1/3 the price with Cap and Gown Direct. They look virtually identical, and his has pockets.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Somehow evaluating paper proposals for four different conference units, reading apps for a scholarship committee, and kicking off the search/being committee chair for our church's new children's minister all fell in the same week, and 10/10 would not recommend.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Putting together an SBL proposal and the 150 max word proposal abstract is TOUGH.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Today I did my taxes, replaced my key fob battery, prepped class notes for two weeks, wrote a quiz, cleared my email, and helped two lost transfer students find their class... all by 2:00!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Southwest implementing its no free checked bags policy before implementing assigned seating has created an absolute hellscape of plane boarding.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
what are the best staplers? the ones that never jam and aren't finicky, even if you're someone who has weak grip strength and likes to hold them sideways and staple in the air instead of using the table?? I would pay good money for the perfect stapler.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Sometimes I wonder if the overwhelming scale of #SBLAAR25 is worth it. But then I go to a panel on a topic tangential to my work but w/presenters who are just good thinkers & writers & question-askers, head back to my room, and bang out 750 words for a paper I'd been struggling with for weeks.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
If you’re at #SBLAAR25 and looking for a hearty breakfast/brunch, let me recommend Thornton’s. Huge portions, reasonably priced for a place walking distance from the conference center, quick service, and generous with the coffee refills.
Shakshuka and breakfast potatoes.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Last night’s Amazing Race episode had a Greek alphabet memorization challenge, obviously in honor of #SBLAAR25
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Which books need to be on my shopping list for #SBLAAR?
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
People grouse about colonoscopy prep, but honestly, the week before when you cut all the healthy fibrous veggies and whole grains and have a good excuse to eat nothing but meat, cheese, pasta, and dessert is pretty top tier.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Fall break means my university inbox is at zero, so no one is allowed to email me for the rest of the day.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
My 2yo is learning the Lord's Prayer and somehow got it into his head that the line is "deliver us from people," and you know what kid? fair enough.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
Is there a pdf of the 2025 SBL/AAR program available? I find the new online program book less convenient to navigate than a good, old-fashioned CTRL+F.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Looking forward to seeing how many of the 18 year olds who lapped me on the track this morning are in my classes today!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
New achievement unlocked (if I ever say I want to go back to school again, please give me a good shake)
Four diplomas hanging on wall
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Well, we somehow managed to win the academic lottery—my spouse will be moving into a tenure track role at Pepperdine this fall! Feeling super proud and super lucky.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Using a tablet and e-pen to offer feedback on writing is such a game changer, and I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to get on board. All sorts of ways to annotate that reviewer mode in word just can’t replicate.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
A high schooler just complimented the way I was wearing my shirt, so either she was making fun of me or move aside Gen Z, Gen Alpha is bringing back the French tuck.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
The other Dr. Estes’s robes are here! Totally customized and look great, with/slight differences between his and mine noticeable only side by side If you’re a PhD student looking for a more reasonable alternative but want your school’s colors instead of generic black, check out Cap and Gown Direct!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Greater love hath no man than this, that he do an LAX drop-off for his friends.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Vacation = reading time = finally getting around to @andytobo.bsky.social’s contribution to the Elements series. First chapter is a lovely, accessible summary intro to recent approaches to ethnicity that I wish I’d had to assign to students in my Ancient/Medieval Christianity class last semester!
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
It looks like I'll be in Durham for a workshop in December. Right now the plan is to fly in via Edinburgh, make my way down the coast with a stop at Lindisfarne, then spend a few extra days sightseeing. What must I be sure to see/do/eat in Northern England?
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Reposted by Laura Locke Estes
David Bloomberg #BB28 #Survivor #TheTraitors @davidbloomberg.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Me to Disney.
media.tenor.com
a man in a hat and leather jacket is talking to another man
ALT: a man in a hat and leather jacket is talking to another man
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you're waiting for reviewer feedback it WILL come in the day before you leave for a vacation.
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Laura Locke Estes @lblestes.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
I'd love to hear from folks who teach online courses to learn how you're creating assessments and discouraging cheating. It's always been harder online, but in the last two years it's just seemed impossible. I've liked picking up an extra course in the summer, but it's been so discouraging lately.
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