I came down with the worst cold this week and while I have a couple soap box posts in the works, the ranting and raving will have to wait until I’m more coherent. I do, however, have a few links to share.
- I’m always amazed at the creativity of people. (Do you have a favorite? I’m torn between a few different ones.)
- I wonder if I can get my teenagers to indulge me in sketchbook or craft time this summer.
- No beach vacation for us this spring break, but I’m daydreaming.
- Another place featured in my daydreams.
- Best list of lists.
- I watched this, agree, and would watch another season. Feel free to judge me. I judge myself.
- March watches on Hulu and Netflix. (I’m Apple+ Ted Lasso watching.)
- Found this article on Montessori interesting.
- Just…squeeeeeeee. I’m in love.
- I used to have this happen as a kid and I still have left behind-esque rapture dreams. (What’s really messed up is I still think “God’s warning you to get right” when I wake up from them.)
- Close up.
- “All True At Once” (TW: suicide. Thank you for the link, Rita.)
- Thinking about a 30 day challenge for April.
- Lisa Olivera is someone I recently found this post of whispers and nudges contained lots of wisdom.
- I worked here the summer between high school and college. So many stories.
Unrelated, I’m wondering (after a debate this last weekend) are Sesame Street characters muppets or does that designation belong to muppet show titled characters only? What do you think?
Happy weekend!
Hello Kate! You always find the most interesting things. I loved the quirky dolls and the teeny building materials, and those close-up photos in the Atlantic were simply amazing. Number 1, Nature’s Pitfall, is haunting and foreboding.
The Montessori article was so interesting. I didn’t actually know a lot about Montessori before reading it, and I found the bit about play tea sets versus *real* tea sets (and her thoughts on work and children) fascinating.
Number 10: My heart goes out to you, Kate.
(Btw, no worries about the delay on responding to my second comment on your last post. I realized, when it went to moderation, that it was likely my two links that had caused that, and I never for a moment considered your delay in responding as anything other than a technical glitch. 🙂 )
I just wondered why my comment went to moderation, and then I read this one from you! 🙂
Thank you for your kind and reassuring words about the comment, Marian. I think you must be right about the links, as Rita’s comment also had the same issue.
Those teeny building materials sent me right over the edge. I want to create a need for them I love them so much. (I know I’m not alone in just loving mini things.)
You pointed out one of the things I found most fascinating about the real vs. play. I’ve always thought Montessori was play based but reading that article was eye opening.
As for 10, it used to be a funny “ha ha” joke in my family, but it wasn’t until I read that article that I realized it isn’t really funny. It’s actually weird, but a weird that other people would understand too. I’m still trying to parse out how I feel about it all, so I appreciate your kindness, Marian. I really, really do.
Sesame Street characters are muppets! The World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts agrees (https://wepa.unima.org/en/muppet/). 🙂 What I’m really wondering about is why Thumb Fun was called Thumb Fun. Do you know?
I have such conflicted feelings about Dewey Decimal system being on the list of best lists. On the one hand, it’s such an ambitious undertaking, and of course it’s had great influence on many things. On the other hand, it’s problematic AF: “For instance, Black history is not part of American history; “women’s work” is a separate category from jobs; non-Christian religious holidays are situated with mythology and religion; and LGBTQ+ works were once shelved under “perversion” or “neurological disorders” before landing in the “sexual orientation” category.” (Full story here: https://www.slj.com/story/move-over-melvil-momentum-grows-to-eliminate-bias-and-racism-in-the-145-year-old-dewey-decimal-system)
While much here is thought-provoking and worth discussing (religious trauma, SO many thoughts), my favorite link is the first. I just love their outfits. And I love that someone spends their time creating such things. Someday, I’m gonna be one of those someones. That is my life’s ambition. It could happen. Probably if I spend more time with Lisa Olivera.
Okay, so I’m a bit biased, because I’m from Michigan, with a lower peninsula that actually looks like a mitten, but Wisconsinites often claim (wrong, IMO) that they look like a mitten with Door County being the “thumb” of the state.
I had to think about your thoughts on Dewey and the term “best” in best lists. I wonder if “best” isn’t necessarily a moral superlative (similar to how Time’s Person of the Year isn’t necessarily given as an honor) but more a nod to the scope of the undertaking. (Other lists in the full 100 include People’s Sexiest Man Alive and Van Halen’s 1982 tour provisions.) And while of course Dewey is problematic, I do want to defend it a little. I think of it like the original Constitution – shaped by the time in which it was created, flawed as any overarching undertaking will most certainly be, and requiring updating and debate. (I say this all before reading your link, so I may have to come back and correct myself.)
I love that you attached a reference to your argument and I forwarded your link to my friend before I even finished typing my reply to you.
I think my favorites were either the veggies or the tea bags. I don’t know why I find them so adorable. I just do. And what a great ambition. It absolutely could happen (in fact, you may have already started with your home collage projects.)
Okay, I’m back after clicking on the link you shared and I am so glad you did! That article was eye opening, amazing, and of course, I geeked out at all the different ways people are choosing to adapt and reorganize their systems. I know you know this already, but librarians are just some of the coolest people. I mean, I know that they are people and so probably some of them suck, but all the ones I know are seriously just awesome. In a parallel universe I finished my Library Science degree, but in this one, I feel lucky to know all the librarian people I do.
I could geek out for a loooong time on library classification systems. I completely agree with you about influence/impact being a reason to include Dewey’s list on the list of lists. And, there are so many ways in which Dewey just doesn’t make the best sense for school libraries, which is where I worked. We like to teach students that the numbered books are all “non-fiction,” but most of the 800’s consist of imaginative literary works–that which we think of as fiction. It just creates confusion. But I’ll stop. 🙂 I’m glad you liked the article. And I appreciate your kind words about librarians. I have met quite a few over the years, and I have to say that I agree with you. I’m trying to think of any I’ve met that I think suck (and believe me, I often think people suck, so it’s not like I can’t see suckiness), and I can’t. There are certainly a range of perspectives and personalities and beliefs among them, but they’re some of the most caring, intelligent, and accepting people I’ve known. By “accepting,” I mean that they accept all kinds of people as they are. They create large rooms. I like that about them.
I appreciate you sharing reasons that Dewey doesn’t work – and the reasonings.
And “they create large rooms” YES.
I love the carrot guy but the whole teabag family is great too. That is clever to the nth degree.
I often think about doing a thirty day challenge, but that’s as far as it gets. I don’t know why the idea of one intimidates me, but it does. I understand that I’m not going to be graded and my yearend bonus doesn’t depend on it, but I hesitate. Probably could use a few therapy sessions to figure that out.
I think Sesame Street characters and the Muppet Show characters are all muppets.
Oh, your year end bonus/therapy comment made me spit out my coffee. (Seriously, I had to get up from replying to comments to clean my monitor). I completely get hesitating. I’m often similar in that if I don’t think I will complete something or won’t complete it to my satisfaction, than I don’t even want to start. I think that’s why I’m going to try to do it. Practice my recovering perfectionism a bit.
We agree a lot in the post – I also think Sesame Street characters are muppets and the tea bag family is too sweet!
I was happy to see Jekyll Island on the list of best beaches. That is one of our family friends favorite yearly beach trips.
The underground library!! đź–¤
At this point in my life, I am completely anti-church. When someone says the word “church,” and I respond, “Oh, you mean a cult?” my family is mortified. I’ve turned into one of those people…
I believe the Sesame Street characters are Muppets because the Muppets were created before Sesame Street.
Kari, your church/cult comment made me laugh. I don’t know how I feel about faith/church/religion. I know that I grew up in a church culture that didn’t allow for “I don’t know” but was that a church thing or a people thing? Because there are a whole lot of people who really do think they know (everything). Anyway, I love that you’re one of those people.
I’ve only been to one of the beaches listed. But it definitely has me wanting to add more – it was the first I heard of Jekyll Beach, but hearing that it’s a repeat vacation destination for your friend confirms it to me!
I like your reasoning on why Sesame Street characters are muppets! (Your conversation starter is what brought about the debate because there was debate about whether Oscar was a muppet.)
I just read my comment ahead and realized there might be some confusion. I don’t think you’re a person who thinks they know everything. (Oh jeez!) I love that you’re a person who feels comfortable speaking up about how you feel church is a cult. (Because…it fits the description…)
Sorry for any confusion! I’m blaming NyQuil!