J.F. "Jeff" McCullers, Ed.D.
@jeffmccullers.com
Retired educator fascinated by just about everything, especially teaching, humanities, sciences, and coffee | Advocate for public schools | Policy wonk | Fifth-generation Floridian | Movie fan | Sometime artist, writer, and poet
Yeah, so you know the guy who invented these tangledy-dangley Christmas lights that look like light-up Spanish moss hanging from the drip edge? I’m going to fight that guy.
December 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Yeah, so you know the guy who invented these tangledy-dangley Christmas lights that look like light-up Spanish moss hanging from the drip edge? I’m going to fight that guy.
The convergence of being retired and also being a homebody: It just occurred to me that I cannot recall using a vending machine of any kind since before COVID.
December 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The convergence of being retired and also being a homebody: It just occurred to me that I cannot recall using a vending machine of any kind since before COVID.
Precisely placing the bay leaves on what will become the hambone soup requires a careful balance of reverence and exuberance.
December 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Precisely placing the bay leaves on what will become the hambone soup requires a careful balance of reverence and exuberance.
I was just in a gas station parking lot where I met a golden retriever named Dolly. She was radiating utter joy and she wanted me to let everyone to know that (1) She loves you with her whole entire heart, and (2) There's nothing wrong with a little slobber between friends.
December 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I was just in a gas station parking lot where I met a golden retriever named Dolly. She was radiating utter joy and she wanted me to let everyone to know that (1) She loves you with her whole entire heart, and (2) There's nothing wrong with a little slobber between friends.
Zhiyong Jing. (2023). My sunshine sleeps in your darkness. [Acrylic on wood panel.]
Artist site: www.jingzhiyong.com
Artist site: www.jingzhiyong.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Zhiyong Jing. (2023). My sunshine sleeps in your darkness. [Acrylic on wood panel.]
Artist site: www.jingzhiyong.com
Artist site: www.jingzhiyong.com
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
My take on Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" (2025) is up at Letterboxd.
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
A ★★★★½ review of Frankenstein (2025)
Notes on Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025): 1. This is a visual triumph. Most everything in the picture is the color of ice or putrefying flesh with the spectacular exception of Mia Goth's gown...
letterboxd.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
My take on Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" (2025) is up at Letterboxd.
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
Oliver Hermanus' "The History Of Sound" (2025) is a quiet meditation on love won and love lost, and a moving illustration of how deeply music can reach thoughts and feelings we can't quite express in other ways.
My review here: letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
My review here: letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
A ★★★★½ review of The History of Sound (2025)
Oliver Hermanus' "The History Of Sound" is a quiet meditation on love won and love lost, and a moving illustration of how deeply music can reach thoughts and feelings we can't quite express in other w...
letterboxd.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Oliver Hermanus' "The History Of Sound" (2025) is a quiet meditation on love won and love lost, and a moving illustration of how deeply music can reach thoughts and feelings we can't quite express in other ways.
My review here: letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
My review here: letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
Upon returning home, there is a liminal period when the traveling version of you has to allow the home version to regain control.
You don't have to tip anymore. You don't have to stay dressed. You do have to cook.
The traveling self wraps itself in a cocoon of forgetfulness and then slumbers.
You don't have to tip anymore. You don't have to stay dressed. You do have to cook.
The traveling self wraps itself in a cocoon of forgetfulness and then slumbers.
October 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Upon returning home, there is a liminal period when the traveling version of you has to allow the home version to regain control.
You don't have to tip anymore. You don't have to stay dressed. You do have to cook.
The traveling self wraps itself in a cocoon of forgetfulness and then slumbers.
You don't have to tip anymore. You don't have to stay dressed. You do have to cook.
The traveling self wraps itself in a cocoon of forgetfulness and then slumbers.
August 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Humanities moment: Here's naughty Argonaut Jason being barfed out by the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece. (The fleece hangs on the tree.) Athena watches, sensibly trying not to step in dragon slobber.
This is a from a cup made by a potter named Douris near Rome, who made it around 480 BCE.
This is a from a cup made by a potter named Douris near Rome, who made it around 480 BCE.
August 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Humanities moment: Here's naughty Argonaut Jason being barfed out by the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece. (The fleece hangs on the tree.) Athena watches, sensibly trying not to step in dragon slobber.
This is a from a cup made by a potter named Douris near Rome, who made it around 480 BCE.
This is a from a cup made by a potter named Douris near Rome, who made it around 480 BCE.
A ricotta soufflé, jerked shrimp tacos, dolmas in pomelo juice, BBQ butternut quesadillas, a grapefruit-smoked pork chop with peach pico de gallo, ginger-soy edamame, and half of a grape Pop-Tart found tucked under a bus seat walk into a bar.
The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
August 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
A ricotta soufflé, jerked shrimp tacos, dolmas in pomelo juice, BBQ butternut quesadillas, a grapefruit-smoked pork chop with peach pico de gallo, ginger-soy edamame, and half of a grape Pop-Tart found tucked under a bus seat walk into a bar.
The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
A good phone case feature would be miniature grappling hooks that pop out whenever the accelerometer detects that the phone is burrowing into the gap beside the seat cushions.
August 7, 2025 at 5:01 AM
A good phone case feature would be miniature grappling hooks that pop out whenever the accelerometer detects that the phone is burrowing into the gap beside the seat cushions.
On why some meetings take so long.
July 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
On why some meetings take so long.
On this day in 1969, I was eight years old and about as wound up as a kid can possibly be. Everyone around me had to endure non-stop chatter about Apollo 11 leaving Florida to go to the freaking MOON.
July 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
On this day in 1969, I was eight years old and about as wound up as a kid can possibly be. Everyone around me had to endure non-stop chatter about Apollo 11 leaving Florida to go to the freaking MOON.
The day after a death. The quiet space where words won't do. Laughter from another room. The hesitation to see who will sit in the empty chair. The smoke from the candle. Dust and birdsong. Waves crossing half the Earth to stumble and fall upon the shore. A shadow before, a shadow after.
June 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The day after a death. The quiet space where words won't do. Laughter from another room. The hesitation to see who will sit in the empty chair. The smoke from the candle. Dust and birdsong. Waves crossing half the Earth to stumble and fall upon the shore. A shadow before, a shadow after.
These awful new Alexa+ voices are saturated with vocal fry and whiny inflection. As a further annoyance, the voice for every Alexa device must be configured separately.
The unmistakable goal here was to make the all the voice options as insufferable as possible. I do not understand why.
The unmistakable goal here was to make the all the voice options as insufferable as possible. I do not understand why.
June 22, 2025 at 1:04 PM
These awful new Alexa+ voices are saturated with vocal fry and whiny inflection. As a further annoyance, the voice for every Alexa device must be configured separately.
The unmistakable goal here was to make the all the voice options as insufferable as possible. I do not understand why.
The unmistakable goal here was to make the all the voice options as insufferable as possible. I do not understand why.
A short short story that begins:
"The woman who wrote Beowulf considered it juvenilia."
xraylitmag.com/another-word...
"The woman who wrote Beowulf considered it juvenilia."
xraylitmag.com/another-word...
ANOTHER WORD FOR IT by David Hering
The woman who wrote Beowulf considered it juvenilia. She composed it during the years she roamed close to the old hall, hearing the revelry, watching the fighting and fucking from the slippery dark ou...
xraylitmag.com
June 20, 2025 at 5:16 AM
A short short story that begins:
"The woman who wrote Beowulf considered it juvenilia."
xraylitmag.com/another-word...
"The woman who wrote Beowulf considered it juvenilia."
xraylitmag.com/another-word...
My review of Boaz Yakin’s “Aviva” (2020) is up at Letterboxd.
It's streaming for free (and ad-free) on Kanopy.
It's streaming for free (and ad-free) on Kanopy.
A ★★★★ review of Aviva (2020)
Boaz Yakin’s “Aviva” (2020) is one of the most audacious naval-gazing films I have seen in some time, and I see an awful lot of navel-gazers. This one in particular has at least one if not numerous na...
letterboxd.com
June 15, 2025 at 3:05 AM
My review of Boaz Yakin’s “Aviva” (2020) is up at Letterboxd.
It's streaming for free (and ad-free) on Kanopy.
It's streaming for free (and ad-free) on Kanopy.
This whole piece by @hcrichardson.bsky.social is superb. I was especially taken by the simple and clear advice she gives at the end on why we protest and how to do it effectively. I've linked the video to that section in case you want to see it before the #NoKings demonstrations on June 14th.
Politics Chat, June 10, 2025
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
www.youtube.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:07 AM
This whole piece by @hcrichardson.bsky.social is superb. I was especially taken by the simple and clear advice she gives at the end on why we protest and how to do it effectively. I've linked the video to that section in case you want to see it before the #NoKings demonstrations on June 14th.
My review of "Take This Waltz" (2011). Again, I am reminded that all movies should feature Michelle Williams.
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
A ★★★★ review of Take This Waltz (2011)
We happened upon “Take This Waltz” (2011), which apparently slipped past us all those years ago. I was quite moved by it and quite vexed by it and ultimately quite satisfied by it, although none of th...
letterboxd.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
My review of "Take This Waltz" (2011). Again, I am reminded that all movies should feature Michelle Williams.
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
letterboxd.com/floydwilbury...
Happy 84th birthday to Lucky Wilbury — our vagabond poet, Jack of Hearts, and Nobel Laureate.
May 24, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Happy 84th birthday to Lucky Wilbury — our vagabond poet, Jack of Hearts, and Nobel Laureate.