Monday, March 26, 2012

Things I'm Reading - 3

I hadn't read much last week, and then things picked up today. So here you go, an eclectic mix for you to enjoy.

(BTW, I never said this explicitly, but while I hope this remains a regular feature, I'm not tied to running it once a week. Before finding some more cool stuff today, there were only three links, and I was going to hold them for another week. It's working out as once a week right now, but I know that'll change, especially as I hunker down to work on a massive project/paper for one of my classes.)

1. A neat piece on ways to divorce-proof your marriage, according to science. Jevo and I have a few of these down, but I'm most amused by #6, given that we met way back in high school but never in a million years imagined we'd end up where we are.

2. This touching, thought-provoking piece by an African-American mother and how what happened to Trayvon Martin could happen to any young black man, including her own kids.

3. Homeopathy, a sham? Say it ain't so! I actually don't practice homeopathy, but I do believe in alternative health/medicine and do practice that (i.e., use of natural supplements to deal with health issues, use of aromatherapy for all kinds of things, from cosmetic to health). I'm averse to modern medicine and the standard practice of medicating problems away (instead of getting to the root of the problem or practicing preventive care). Maybe homeopathy is too complicated and costly for my taste, but I'm going to follow this series anyway.

4. Further fueling my obsessive frustration at the state of womanhood in this country, a (long) piece about the Republican war on women (and yes, I don't care where on the political spectrum you stand, there IS in fact a Republican war on women going on).

5. Pushy parents force organizers to cancel an Easter egg hunt. Yes, for real. This is actually why I avoid public kids' events, or large public events of any kind: the few times I've done something like this, I've been almost instantly filled with frustration over how some people are so entitled, so short-sighted, and so unfair, and parents are even worse because they pour this crap into their kids. That "the rules apply to everyone but me" mentality drives me insane. Related, while I totally get how hard it is not to be a helicopter parent, it's really a vile thing, sure to set kids up for a lifetime of dissatisfaction and an inability to cope with failure or mistakes - and worse, unable to figure things out for themselves. We live in a world that I do believe requires more vigilance and clear communication with our kids, but that's a whole 'nother thing. It seems like many parents today don't know the difference, and it's their kids who will suffer.

6. "Weiner reveals that one of the problems this season will revolve around Don and Megan's relationship. 'What's wrong with it? All I can say is, you know already. You've been told. But it's not what you think,' he says." What?? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN MATTHEW WEINER??? I NEED TO KNOW!!

7. Kinda cool that the AP did a feature on Cuba's patron saint, La Caridad del Cobre. It is essentially true, that Cubans (on the island and not), consider her a beloved icon. It's common to pray to her, have statues in the home, honor her on her feast day (Sept. 8) and make offerings, either at the home altar or the local sanctuary (though technically that's more of a Santeria thing, but the lines between that and Catholicism blur pretty easily).

8. Don't laugh at me for reading stuff on Oprah's site, some of that stuff is really helpful! Like this one, 5 Questions to Ask About Anyone in Your Life. It's simple, solid, and should help clarify on some folks you hang with but are wondering about. (Jevo, you passed, so congratulations, you get to stay!)

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Posted by Tere @ 3/26/2012   | | | links to this post

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Things I'm Reading - 2

Another week, another dollar. Or something like that. Whatever. I've just started my coffee and am not yet alive.

While I hoped to chill out right here on my couch for a good long while, the truth is that I have to be out the door in a half hour to get some errands done. These last weeks have been brutal on many fronts and I have to take care of this stuff before the next round of obligations and problems to resolve hit (which is this afternoon, so tick tock and all).

So herewith, the things I've been reading this week.

1. A very interesting look into the story behind Kony 2012. I was sufficiently intrigued by this *movement* to click on this link when someone posted it on FB, because this viral video thing reeked of band wagon-ness and a total lack of research on any band wagoner's part, but at the same time, I have felt disinterested in this issue (I have not seen the video but have read a number of reports about it). Not to be insensitive to the plight of Africans, just that all this buzz around "Kony 2012" (is it intended to sound like a campaign bumper sticker?), all the reposts and tweets, etc., made me instantly suspicious of it. This article pretty much sums it up, and I remain suspicious. What can I say? I have trust issue and the Internet's made them worse.

2. I take a daily tumeric supplement to help deal with my gut-infalmmation issues, so this piece about spices and the way they aid the heart caught my attention. I definitely feel the difference when I take my supplement (I'll do ginger, too, depending on how I feel on a given day), and I recall reading how societies who use these spices heavily tend to have less gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, I'm not surprised that it might fight fat absorption as well.

3. This incredibly bizarre piece about Robert Downey, Jr., possibly being the anonymous commenter who's been revealing all kinds of crazy shit at a blind item blog. Weird. Fascinating. I want to know more.

4. This very funny (and very true!) piece about mothers of boys - and the wenches who will one day steal them from us. I'm writing up my own contract as we speak.

5. Why does the U.S. still use petroleum food dyes? Good question - an interesting read about this problem - lots of links to more info and resources, too.

6. This moving tribute to "one ordinary woman." This is such a rich, touching piece, the story of one life that in very simple, constant ways left a deep mark in others.

7. A very thoughtful, well-written piece about the current attack on women and their rights. I'm feeling kinda crazy about this issue - frustrated, really - so reading stuff like this is both comforting and also increases my sense of helplessness.

And now, off to get shit done.

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Posted by Tere @ 3/17/2012   | | | links to this post

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Things I'm Reading - 1

It's been a while since I attempt to introduce a "regular feature" here, because frankly, I suck at keeping them regular (anyone remember my Obsessions of the Week? Exactly.). Most times, I just run out of ideas and the feature fades into oblivion.

But I'm going to give it another shot because I think this one might (and note that, might) be easy enough for me to maintain, despite my now-regular feeling that I'm too swamped to post here (though my draft pile is huge and full of stuff I'm dying to complete).

Just about every day, I read a few articles that either make me think more deeply about an issue, or make me laugh, or educate me. If I really enjoy a piece or have any kind of strong reaction to it, I'll share it on my personal Facebook account. Friends periodically message me to tell me they enjoy my links, while other times, a good discussion is generated in the comments. I enjoy this, a lot.

So I've been thinking, why not bring my phenomenal sharing powers far beyond the confines of my small FB domain and offer it to the world? Sounds pretty excellent to me!

And so, without further delay, here are Things I'm Reading this week:

1. I'll be posting a lengthier post about this issue in the next few days, but I find this piece so excellent that I have to share it now. Possibly one of the best articles I've read about Rush Limbaugh and how disgusting he is. A must read, so go. Read. (And them come back here.)

2. An interesting piece on Latina voters and GOP primary.

3. A too-short piece about a recent study about empathy in romantic relationships. I haven't found more about the study (actually, haven't had time to look), but while this piece didn't really have enough meat to it, it still made me think. The actual study is here.

4. Mad Men premieres in about two weeks, and I'm beside myself with excitement. A cool piece in the New York Times.

5. I found this mini-analysis of HBO's Game Change to be insightful and fair. I'm not sure I'll watch it, but this piece further intrigued me.

6. I LOVED this piece about important changes in attitude regarding breastfeeding. These updated guidelines, I believe, put us on the right path toward better breastfeeding (and hopefully maternal leave) policies.




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Posted by Tere @ 3/08/2012   | | | links to this post