Happy Satan

It's impossible to overstate the necessity Salmon have been to entire cultures globally for tens of thousands of years.

I get that the humor around this video may not be "that deep," but capitalism and colonialism divide us all from the sacredness and inherent value of all lives. Many of us have become completely disconnected from the cycles of life which support us every day and from the food that nourishes us. If a music edit about salmon moves you, hold onto that. Foster that! Salmon have always moved us. Listen to a story in Tlingit about the Salmon People:

Shanyaak’utlaax̱: Salmon Boy Told in Tlingit (with English Subtitles) - YouTube Find stories about Salmon in the Irish Folklore Collection:

A post containing many links to read about Indigenous TK (Traditional Knowledge) as valid scientific methodologies:

Read about what Salmon are to Peoples of the North Pacific, from the Ainu people to the Ulchi people:

Information on Indigenous salmon management, research, history, and long-term plans:

Equiping an armor tutorial

A mysterious rider follows a crowned crane through an eerie forest.

This past month, Parks & Rec has been doing a lot of work on the field adjacent to my school. They have trucks with flatbeds, mowing/tree-cutting/postholing machinery, etc. And when they arrived, I (campus monitor) was told I would need to herd the kids away from the trucks/machinery and basically prevent them from creating a dangerous situation.

So when recess came around and the kids stampeded out the door I held them up and I said (being funny but at the same time serious, you know how it is, kids listen better if you're funny)

"Okay, I know that you're all smart AND mature, right? And talented and good looking? Definitely the smartest and most talented class in this school? (I say this to every class, they're all 'my favorites'.) And because you're SO intelligent and mature, I don't need to actually TELL you that these guys have vehicles and machinery that you need to stay clear of, right? Because I know you figured that out already, and I also know that YOU know how sad I would be if any of you were run over, or squashed, or had a pole fall on you. I would be SO SAD, like, I would probably have to lie down on the floor and cry. So you're not going to make me cry, right? I can trust you to stay away from the trucks and machines no matter where they are on the field? Because you're wonderful and amazing? My favorites? My inspiration?"

And they're laughing at me of course, because I'm being so dramatic. Some of them are "Yes, and-"ing my dramatics and inventing more involved mourning processes I should undertake if any of them get run over. Some of them are yelling at me that they are NOT mature yet and they are VERY STUPID and I should know this.

It's been three weeks. We had one conversation about it. None of them have gone anywhere near the trucks. This is actually in excess of the typical elementary-schooler's working memory and I'm very proud of them. I haven't had to blow the whistle at ONE person for getting too close even when the trucks were literally 40 feet from the actual playground.