iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I am very annoyed that @inquirer.com is FINALLY offering a teacher discount and I can’t get it because I’ve been a subscriber in the past.

000

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

new poem out today in BRAWL. this one bounced around for a long time before finding a home. shoutout also to @jxzzhndz.bsky.social who helped this piece achieve its final form, when I took a workshop w/ her way back when. www.brawllit.com/2026/sally-o...

brawllit.com

Sally O'Brien — BRAWL

241

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

he said “maximum lethality” and by golly he meant it

000

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

sarah clark (they) @sarahclark.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

we talk a lot of trash about john fetterman but he's going to really come in useful when it's time to hold a big door shut in the season finale of america

518528

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

🎃 Spooky Dog 🎃 @stinky-doggy.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Reposting with alt text because this poem is hard and I think it just about sums up what we all feel right now

You Who Wronged
By Czeslaw Milosz

You who wronged a simple man
Bursting into laughter at the crime,
And kept a pack of fools around you
To mix good and evil, to blur the line,

Though everyone bowed down before you,
Saying virtue and wisdom lit your way,
Striking gold medals in your honor,
Glad to have survived another day,

Do not feel safe. The poet remembers.
You can kill one, but another is born.
The words are written down, the deed, the date.

And you’d have done better with a winter dawn,
A rope, and a branch bowed beneath your weight.

021

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

@lydiakiesling.bsky.social maybe you’re the wrong person to ask but after reading Mobility I’ve really got a hankering for MORE LITERARY WRITING about the petrochemical industry. I have read Ducks by Kate Beaton and loved it as well. do you have any recs?

110

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Ryan Boyd @ryanboyd.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom

1055651587

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Sarah Mulhern Gross @thereadingzone.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Today is World Aids Day. The current administration has barred federal offices from acknowledging it. In middle school I memorized Elizabeth Glaser's Address at the 1992 Democratic Convention for a forensic competition, and I've never forgotten it. awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2017/03/21/a...

awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu

Address at the 1992 Democratic National Convention - July 14, 1992

[July 14, 1992 | New York, New York] I'm Elizabeth Glaser.

041

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

I have discovered so much fantastic stuff from browsing the new fiction / new nonfiction shelf at the library. One book sent me down a years long rabbit hole of reading everything else I could get my hands on about heroic age Polar exploration.

010

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

King Algamemnon @adamrothman.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying. teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...

If we would reach a degree of civilization higher and grander than any yet attained, we should welcome to our ample continent all the nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples, and as fast as they learn our language and comprehend the duties of citizenship, we should incorporate them into the American body politic. The outspread wings of the American eagle are broad enough to shelter all who are likely to come.

252632813

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

“If a Negro should improperly approach a white woman his body would be hanging on the nearest tree…If the same rule were applied on the other side, and white men who insulted or debauched Negro women were treated likewise, this Convention would have to be adjourned for lack of a quorum.”

010

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

@derfbackderf.bsky.social floored by this, an incredible feat of both storytelling and research!

Cover of Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, a graphic history of the protests on Kent State campus that ended with National Guardsmen firing into a crowd of students, killing four and wounding nine more

030

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

chapter infinity in the saga of "Philip Pulley is a plague on humanity"! I lived in a building owned by this notorious slumlord for about five years. I brought my son home to that apartment. Every single news item that comes out about him just makes him look worse. www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...

inquirer.com

Landlord Phil Pulley transferred ownership of West Philly apartments days before suspected arson, records show

Property records show the notorious landlord signed a deed transfer two days before the June 2025 fire. The new owners are now demolishing the building.

110

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Nate Holdren @nhold.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

everyone should have a life of individual free inquiry/creative pursuit and participation in collective versions of that as well.

041

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

As I get ready to take the beloved veteran in my life out to lunch this Armistice Day, I am thinking again of this piece by S Brian Willson, which I often return to.

veteransforpeace.org

Armistice Day Has Morphed Into Veterans Day* -

030

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

what I normally do for homework is have students read (usually a book of their choice, occasionally an assigned text) and fill out a log where they have to write a few sentences. this week I rolled out an alternate format where instead of writing every day they just write a book review at the end.

100

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

@marcusluther.bsky.social I SUCK at bulletin boards and the last two years I have fully intended to do this and it just…stayed blank thru June. but this is gonna be the year! finally got it populated! will let you know how the youth respond!

Photo of a bulletin board in my classroom that is now designated as the Beautiful Language Wall, a repository for great lines and sentences my students write

070

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

the youth of today are divided over whether John Proctor or Giles Corey has more aura. "...but just think about the way he went out in that last scene! refusing to lie on his name!" "...nah Giles Corey is peak aura. "MORE WEIGHT." as they are CRUSHING HIM to DEATH. bro WHAT."

100

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

third grade was in many ways a hot mess but my son STILL talks about reading Number the Stars, two years later. I can barely get him to tell me anything about his day at school but I can usually get a couple sentences out of him about what happened in Esperanza Rising.

140

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

me at 20: ugh I can’t imagine spending my life writing criticism about Homer that nobody outside the academy will read, what else can I do w/ my classics degree me at 40: yesss it’s my leisure time, can’t wait for my weekly Iliad zoom and then gonna crack open this new book of Homer criticism

Photo of the cover of Epic of the Earth: Reading Homer’s Iliad in the Fight for a Dying World

110

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

“Why rush to adopt new technology that we know to make us dumber when we have old technology—books—we know to make us smarter?” bars!!!

141

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Your feel-good #phled story of the day, courtesy of @newskag.bsky.social, featuring my amazing students and my equally amazing colleagues! I thank my stars every day that when I go to work I leave with so many reasons to be hopeful.

141

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

…the feeling when you’re in the teacher’s lounge yapping about the recent @laborjawn.bsky.social episode about the 1981 Philly teachers strike and your amazing colleague perks up and says “I wrote my undergrad thesis about that strike!!”

120

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

@uniondrip.bsky.social idk if this is official union gear but it is truly magnificent

1164

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

I did a big research project in 10th grade US history about the IWW, and it made me the person I am today (union schoolteacher & shop steward who closes out union meetings with a playlist of classic Wobbly songs)

000

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

The hours wasted on shiny new tech in the past 20 years by K-12 teachers across America is an astounding number of human hours

2285

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Isabella Segalovich @isabellasegalovich.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

“You can’t get into heaven without that union card” 👼🗑️ Day 8 of the DC33 strike in Philly, set to the melodious tunes of our dear city’s pub sing led by Ben Fink. Mayor Parker, PAY THESE PEOPLE. #parkerpiles #phillystrike #dc33

1274

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I am BEGGING for a comprehensive account of how much tax money has been spent as a consequence of Parker’s refusal to offer DC33 a fair deal—not just OT for supervisors at PWD & elsewhere but the cost of hiring contractors to service dumpsters / handle the July 4 set-up and breakdown / etc etc etc

030

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

It’s honestly so disrespectful and irresponsible that the national media has mostly ignored the DC33 city worker strike in Philly so far. It’s a huge story with massive implications for the 6th biggest city in the country. Hell, I’ll write about it for ya! Email me! www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...

inquirer.com

Philly is in its first municipal strike in the social media age. Does that affect how events are unfolding?

So far, the national press has largely ignored Philadelphia's first strike by city workers since 1986.

221883610

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

PA Working Families 🐺 @paworkingfamilies.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Trash piling up? Libraries & pools closed? Long wait times for emergency calls? Text DC33 to 30403 to contact the Mayor's office & tell them to give striking AFSCME DC 33 workers a fair contract.

A pile of trash next to a Philadelphia city trash can with a sign posted on it saying “Mayor Parker pick up your trash, give DC 33 a raise”.

065

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Dropped my son off for his first day of camp today. The pool at his rec center is closed, and the rec leader, a guy I trust and admire greatly, is on strike. THIS is who I want my tax dollars going to, not the “deputy director of strategic patronage”! FAIR CONTRACT NOW for @afscme.bsky.social DC 33!

110

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

AFSCME @afscme.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

AFSCME District 33 workers are on STRIKE for fair wages, dignity and respect. They’re holding the line no matter how long it takes. #AFSCMEStrong

8486135

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

@pftlocal3.bsky.social a beautiful day to support the DC33 strikers on the picket line! the workers where I was at had a lot of appreciation for our union—one that I talked to was a former PFT para.

A picture of me, a white woman wearing a baseball cap, with my PFT button on, holding an AFSCME DC33 picket sign. In the background is the library, which is closed because the library workers are on strike for a fair contract.

030

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Come gather round Philly Bad news to you I’ll tell The streets are piled high with trash And you can thank Cherelle! Solidarity with the striking workers of DC 33 from a member of @pftlocal3.bsky.social!

youtu.be

Solidarity with the hardworking folks from DC 33, featuring @shainakapeluck3676

YouTube video by Sally O'Brien

030

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I should be asleep, but can’t stop thinking about a striking sanitation worker I met today. He told me about the time a trash bag full of human shit burst in his face, and he had to spend two days in the hospital to ensure he hadn’t contracted any dangerous diseases. He makes $19 an hour.

833723668

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

A message from the striking municipal workers of Philadelphia:

A white sign reads “stop fucking around, pay labor a fair wage now!”

162608572

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

‪If every site is like this, it’s literally going to be 63 dumpsters versus the combined detritus of the sixth largest city in America during a 90 degree heatwave. JUST PAY THEM

921913

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

you can’t spell unicorns without unions

1154761

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

in addition to all the fascism, I found out today that one of my former students passed away. if 2025 was a movie I’d walk out and go sit in the mall parking lot and eat sour patch kids.

210

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

if you are my 10 year old reading this, please know that this does NOT change my answer about whether we can talk about Jason Voorhees lore before bedtime.

120