iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Just released, the wonderful picture book WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON BOWED TO THE NEW NATION by @barbaracroberts.bsky.social shows the founders’ commitment to the new democracy; they carefully planned GW’s public resignation of his military commission. He bowed to Congress—No Kings in our new country!

Picture book front cover. Title: When George Washington Bowed to the New Nation. Author: Barbara Carroll Roberts. Illustrator: Anne Yvonne Gilbert. White background with illustration of George Washington bowing, his tricornered hat stretched out in one hand behind him and the other hand over his heart. He is wearing his blue and buff-colored general’s uniform.

An open two-page spread from the picture book WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON BOWED TO THE NEW NATION. A multi-colored, page and a half illustration in the style of an old engraving shows a diverse throng of people gathered around George Washington as he makes his way through Annapolis, Maryland to meet with Congress.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Waited too long to read this brilliant book. Reminded me of Frankel’s MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING; both show men who keep their humanity intact under appalling conditions. What will this generation’s Frankel or Solzhenitsyn write for us about surviving inhumane conditions without losing one’s humanity?

Cover of paperback book titled One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Author is Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Cover art is modern art-style in pinks, purples, browns, and greens featuring barbed wire swirling in front of a mustached man in Russian-style hat. Cold air seems to be exhaling from his mouth. A guard looms nearby.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Step aside, Flat Stanley! Flat Odysseus is looking to travel this summer. The talented @garethhinds.bsky.social created Flat Odysseus. He is also author/illustrator of fantastic graphic versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I thought all I had to do for #NoKings day next weekend was to sign up for a location and make a sign. Turns out that reading @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social ‘s new book (thoughtful & hopeful) was also a smart move. I’m infused with excitement and hope. Can’t wait to keep the momentum going on March 28.

Photo is a screenshot of the cover of THE BEGINNING COMES AFTER THE END: Notes on a World of Change by Rebecca Solnit. Pink background with white lettering.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Amazing 19th century cake pans in an illustration found by researcher Jamie Schler @lifesafeast.bsky.social

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Sweet potato pudding, recipe from Amelia Simmons’ 1796 AMERICAN COOKERY; updated for modern cooks by Rebecca Suerdieck of cookingandfire.wixsite.com/workshops. We made this at Rebecca’s Nov hearth-cooking class and I wanted to try it at home. Sweet potatoes, apples, raisins, cream, eggs—delicious!

Sweet potato pudding, orange-hued and browned on top, cooling on the stove top in a Williamsburg slipware pie plate.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

I love this for many reasons, one of which is that my history-loving Oma was from Württemburg and if she were still alive, we would definitely have discussed this.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Enjoy some fascinating history over the holidays with the amazing James Wright’s @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social online talk HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE LANDSCAPE on Dec. 30. For Americans like me, it’s a chance to get a dose of well-researched British history from the comfort of our state-side armchairs.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

That’s quite a journey for this piece of iron, plus amazing to see the story revealed by science. This post made me think of Jack Whyte’s novel The Skystone, first book in the Camulod Chronicles. I loved the notion that Excalibur could have been forged from a meteorite.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

We roasted chicken, made cheese, and baked pie, pudding, and cornbread at Patrick Henry’s Virginia home Scotchtown last weekend. Instructor Rebecca Suerdieck led us expertly through a fun and informative day of hands-on hearth cooking, with a feast at the end. cookingandfire.wixsite.com/workshops

Large 18th century-style fireplace with hearth cooking set-up: roast chickens wrapped in string hanging on chains over the fire, hanging kettle, three cast iron camp ovens with coals top and bottom, and iron trivet with small copper saucepan..

Lattice-topped apple pie in cast iron Dutch oven over coals, on hearth.

Patrick Henry’s home (1771 to 1778) Scotchtown, in Beaverdam, Virginia. Cream-colored wooden house seen from the rear side, with 8 equidistant tall windows and an entry door in the middle with small portico. There are two chimneys on the broad shingled roof. Empty grounds surround the house and a tour guide stands in front.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Proud to be from Virginia where we just elected Abigail Spanberger. In a year of depressing political news, this was the best news.

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William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 05/11/2025

I am glad on’t; ’tis a worthy governor.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

When real-life reminds you of a dystopian novel In a Hot Mic Moment, Xi and Putin Muse About Living Forever www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/w...

Photo is of the book cover for The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer and features award medals (Printz, National Book Award). Cover is red and black with a stylized scorpion.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Did you know that in 1925, Indiana had the highest per capita KKK membership in the USA? Read all about it one of the best nonfiction history books I’ve read this decade: Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan. Con man/politician Stephenson is a dead ringer for our current national leadership.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Middle grade novel IT AIN’T SO AWFUL, FALAFEL by Firoozeh Dumas provides a child’s-eye view of what it was like in the 1970s to be a refugee fleeing Iranian dictatorship and settling in the USA. The young protagonist reminds us that military parades featuring tanks & guns are a dictator’s game.

Shows cover of the book It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas. Picture includes a preteen Iranian girl in 1970s flared jeans and orange form-fitting top, and a scarf around her neck. Her hair is uncovered and her hands are jauntily on her hips. In foreground are household packing boxes labeled kitchen, books, etc. Behind her are a blue car and palm trees. Printed blurb from People magazine states: “Insightful, sobering and hilarious”

Photo of page of the book. Text reads:

police, SAVAK, would take the protesters to jail and torture them. This always scared others away from protesting, but apparently it isn't working anymore. Protesters are actually getting killed, but people keep demonstrating.
"Wow. That's huge." She wipes crumbs off her shirt.
"The shah likes to scare people. He buys the most modern weapons in the world for his military and shows them of during parades. My dad says you don't see tanks and guns on parade in America because democracy keeps the country together, not fear of the military."

Photo of text on the book’s page. Text reads:
Carolyn looks at me thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, that's true. I've never seen a tank in a Fourth of July parade, just marching bands, dogs wearing tutus, and people dressed like Uncle Sam. Once, I even saw a dog dressed like Uncle Sam!"
I nod, relieved that she understands. "You're lucky that people can do that kind of stuff in America and no one ends up in jail."

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Congratulations, Sydney, to be part of this well-curated collection of books with mental health-related themes. I loved seeing your book RACING THE CLOUDS along with other favorites. @highlightsfound.bsky.social really know what they’re doing when it comes to kids’ well-being and children’s lit.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

This is my second share of this article because it explains so clearly why AI-driven search/research is no substitute for an educated human working with original documents, making unique, spontaneous connections with their creative, innovative brain.

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NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

While the gospels say that Judas led the Romans to Jesus, a new theory is gaining traction with some Biblical scholars. There is evidence, some say, that Judas merely shared Christ's location on an insecure group chat that accidentally included several Roman officials and journalists.

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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

As the 14th Amendment clearly states: “Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Our government needs to remember that.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Every American should read or reread 1984 because we’re heading there fast.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Stories help us understand recurring patterns in world events. Recent horrifying deportation news reminded me of 2 excellent YA books: THEY CALLED US ENEMY by @georgetakei.bsky.social & INTERNMENT by @samiraahmed.bsky.social If you haven’t read them, I recommend reading & sharing w/a young person.

Cover of graphic memoir by George Takei titled They Called Us Enemy. Illustrator Eisinger Scott Becker. Blue and brown colors predominate. Illustrations shows a line of 1940s clad civilians lined up with their backs to us, their shadows silhouetted against a desert landscape. A young boy with Asian features holding a suitcase peers back at us from the line. In the distance we see a fenced enclosure with a watchtower and an armed sentry in khaki.

Cover of book with title Internment in red and “The New York Times bestseller by Samira Ahmed” in black. Illustration is in red, black and white featuring a young woman wearing a black baseball cap with “RESIST” on it in white. The pattern on her black shirt has red barbed wire, a crescent, and stars. Her hair is blowing in the wind, partly obscuring her face. There are grey clouds in the background. A red strip running vertically on the right side of the cover contains scattered stars and blurbs about the book: “Terrifying, thrilling and urgent” from Entertainment Weekly and “Potent and impassioned” from NY Times Book Review.

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Dr. Sarah Parcak @indyfromspace.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I love history, so I am excited to live through the 1840s, the Robber Baron era, the 1918 Pandemic, the Great Depression. 1930s Germany, and the 1960s at the exact same time

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Thursday night at Scrawl Books in Reston, VA, RACING THE CLOUDS author @sydneydunlap.bsky.social was interviewed by talented historical fiction author Kate Albus. Fascinating insights from both into author’s craft and inspiration for writing. Both authors’ newest books came home with me. #kidlit

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I’d like to introduce Frederick McKinley Jones, inventor of the refrigerated truck. I first learned of him when my son researched Mr. Jones for a 2nd grade class project. When you buy fresh produce at the grocery store, remember this innovative man #BlackHistoryMonth www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

mprnews.org

This Black northern Minnesota inventor changed the world. Many Minnesotans don’t know him

Frederick McKinley Jones invented refrigerated shipping, allowing trucks and trains to move food worldwide. The self-taught engineer who lived in Hallock held dozens of patents that transformed Ameri...

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Grocery prices have gone up and the packages seem smaller. I’ve activated my long-dormant discount shopper persona to meet the moment. Here’s my $100 Wegman’s “market basket.”Their advertised “Hot Zone” specials really are bargains. Acknowledged splurges are nigiri and bakery bread ($21 of total).

Photo shows an array of groceries on a counter including 1 lb ground beef, 5 lb chicken thighs, 10 lbs potatoes, gallon of milk, bran flakes cereal, half and half, sour cream, cream cheese, fresh onions, garlic, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, jar seasoned salt, bread, two dozen eggs, peanut oil, tray of 9 nigiri sushi, block of Monterey Jack cheese, and two gallons of spring water.

Wegman’s receipt showing a total of $100.67 and the following groceries.
Wegmans
Every day you get our best!
11620 MONUMENT DRIVE
FAIRFAX, VA
22030
(703) 653-1600
02/25/25
OP# 487282
WB VIT D MILK GL WEG HALF & HALF WB SOUR CREAM
WEG MONTERY JACK
KR PHIL CRM CHEESE
2 e 5.79
WBO LG BRN EGG
2 @ 1.19
WB
FYFGA SPRING WT
WB
BRAN FLAKES
WB PEANUT OIL LAWRYS SEASON SALT WB BI CKN THIGHS FYF GRND BEEF 80/2
NIGIRI-9 PC
PLAIN TUSCAN SUN POT WEG RUSSET 5# BUTTER POTATOES BROCCOLI CROWNS CAULIFLOWER 12
ONION
SPANISH
HASS AVOCADO GARLIC BULK SQUASH GREEN
TAX
**** BALANCE

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

My copy arrived in the mail today. Already started reading! #kidlit

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

I just got my copy in the mail. Congratulations, Sydney! It’s a beautiful edition, with lovely artwork and graphics on the cover and inside pages. #kidlit

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Just finished INDIAN NO MORE by Charlene Willing McManis w/ @tracisorellauthor.bsky.social Great to read elementary-level MG hist fiction with authentic native voice. Sad, hopeful, reflective, shocking, centering, and real. Eye-opening, too, to read of U.S. govt terminations in the 1950s. #kidlit

Photo showing illustrated cover of book INDIAN NO MORE by Charlene Willing McManus and Traci Sorell. Girl in foreground with braids, wearing a 1950s dress. In background there are mountains and trees with Native American symbols (triangles and spears). Also in background is a silhouette of a city skyline, palm trees, and a 1950s car.

Page 30 to 31 from book INDIAN NO MORE with the following text:

Neither would I." Peewee hugged me too
But children often don't have choices."
Chich smiled and hugged us back. " know
Peewee wiped away a tear. "That a sad won,
Chich."
"It can be seen as a sad story," Chich agreed.
"But it is also a proud story. Many more tribes were removed and brought to Grand Ronde to form our community. The story shows that our people survive. Even in the harshest conditions."
"Then you think we will survive this move?"
I asked.
Chich looked out the window, pursing her lips. Then she stroked our hair. "Well, we are Umpquas. And we come from survivors. What do you think?"
Like I said, our stories strike a different chord
than fairytales.
Morning came, changing midnight skies into robin's-egg blue. I stared out the window from the passenger car. Tall poles held thick black
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wires that waved across the rows of crowded business buildings. Ford Fairlanes and Chevrolet Bel Airs whizzed by along the highways and paved city streets. I saw nothing with green firs or black cottonwoods. No golden-yellow fields.
No silvery-white streams. No emerald-green mountains.
No familiar homeland at all.
31

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Congratulations, Sydney! The banner and those rankings are well-deserved. RACING THE CLOUDS is a compelling story. You are a master at age-appropriate handling of a timely, relevant, difficult topic. #kidlit #middlegradebooks

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Someone at the American Bar Association ate their Wheaties this morning.

ABA
It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day.
Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law and in an orderly manner that respects the lives of affected individuals and the work they have been asked to perform.
Instead, we see wide-scale affronts to the rule of law itself, such as attacks on constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, the dismantling of USAID and the attempts to criminalize those who support lawful programs to eliminate bias and enhance diversity.
We have seen attempts at wholesale dismantling of departments and entities created by Congress without seeking the required congressional approval to change the law. There are efforts to dismiss employees with little regard for the law and protections they merit, and social media announcements that disparage and appear to be motivated by a desire to inflame without any stated factual basis. This is chaotic. It may appeal to a few.
But it is wrong. And most Americans recognize it is wrong.
It is also contrary to the rule of law.
The American Bar Association supports the rule of law. That means holding governments, including our own, accountable under law. We stand for a legal process that is orderly and fair.
We have consistently urged the administrations of both parties to adhere to the rule of law. We stand in that familiar place again today. And we do not stand alone. Our courts stand for the rule of law as well.

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John Schu @mrschureads.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

I'm on page 150! It is really, really, really good!

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Dr. Davies @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social thoughtfully and eloquently explains why there’s no substitute for primary source research, and why AI can never replace this important interaction between researcher and documents.

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Netherton Foundry @nethertonfoundry.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Steve Duke, host of podcast The Factory Next Door came to visit us. Like any good journalist, he was keen to explore the who, what, where, why and how of Netherton Foundry. And how better to do this than to see and hear it for himself. PS Boo, the owl is home. open.spotify.com/episode/2GHa...

A montage of hand drawn illustrations and a self potrait of Steve Duke on a pink background, advertising his The factory next door podcast

A hand drawn illustration of a netherton Foundry prospector casserole

Netherton Foundry's founder Neil, talking to Steve Dule, podcaster in the Netherton workshops

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Since, apparently, the price of #breakfast drives election results, I’ll be interested to see what happens with the price of my fave ingredients during the next four chaotic years.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Stove eye cover? Griddle? Probably both, and still smooth and ready to cook a pancake or a couple of eggs. Considering it’s older than any person alive today, that’s one durable piece of cookware.

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

This is so well-stated and exactly right ⬇️

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Debbie Reese/P'oesay P'oekwîn @debreese.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Our annual Best Books list is ready! We invite you to look it over, write to me if you have questions about anything, and share the list in your own networks! americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2024/12/aicl... Here's a sample of book covers for books you'll find on our list.

americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

AICL'S YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024

Designed to help readers develop a critical eye about representations of American Indians in children's and young adult books

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This is a fantastic list. I’ve used five of these collections with students. A few are new to me and I will be ordering them posthaste! Adding to the author address list: @ellenoh.bsky.social @erinentrada.bsky.social @authorgracelin.bsky.social @debbimichiko.bsky.social

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

It’s cold & rainy outside—my favorite weather for making/eating Nederlandse poffertjes. I remember eating these treats at The Hague’s cozy Paviljoen Malieveld malieveld.nl on days like today, with rain spattering the big windows. Poffertjes originated in 18th c monasteries. #foodhistory #poffertjes

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Corinne Wetzel @what-a-story.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Yes, this is happening with increasing frequency, with Wikipedia and other unvetted sites, yielding echo chambers of misinformation.

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Rachel Pope @prehistorian.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Fact check. Peggy did not study at Cambridge. We checked records. This notion survived from an old, unsourced Wiki entry (I tried to delete it but Wiki wouldn’t let me). It was then repeated as fact in a blog (that used Wikipedia as its source) and now the blog is used as the source on Wikipedia !

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Rachel Pope @prehistorian.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Moral of the tale. Don’t use Wikipedia for your blog post. Don’t use blog posts for your journalism. This is how misinformation grows.

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