linkspam is weary of stupidity
Anyone reading me who isn't reading Ta-Nehisi Coates on a regular basis probably isn't going to at this point. But even if you are sick of me talking about him, I do recommend reading today's post about running and patriotism. I would not argue for a pride that insists America has worked out all of its problems, and evidences that work by exporting its institutions via tank and bomber. I would argue for a studied pride, a gratitude, that understands all that was sacrificed, that we could have easily tilted the other way, that the experiment is still, even now, fragile, and remains in constant need of the lost 19th century concept of improvement.
In other marvelous news: a centenarian finished the Toronto Marathon. Bravo, dude!
*
Get Rich Slowly has a comprehensive post on buying stuff on Craigslist. I wish I'd known that tip about the washing machines before I replaced my busted one... Sheesh.
*
One hazard of the internet is that one can discover that writers one enjoys might say things one finds horrifying or distasteful [insert here any one of dozens of links to such unfortunate statements].
One benefit of the internet is that one can discover that writers one enjoys might say things of great awesomeness. The link goes to Ursula Le Guin talking about how it is the writer's job to write, and the reader's job to find the meaning: Writing is a risky bidness. No guarantees. You have to take the chance. I'm happy to take it. I love taking it. So, my stuff gets misread, misunderstood, misinterpreted - so what? If it's the real stuff it will survive almost any abuse other than being ignored, disappeared, not read.
*
While this is by some measures the most politically progressive generation ever, young people have never been more disillusioned, as a group, about their ability to bring about meaningful change through the electoral process. The Kids Are Actually Sort of All Right, New York Magazine.
In the New Yorker, from last January: the battle over the US Constitution.
Sad news in the Native American community: Eloise Cobell died. She was the named plaintiff in the Cobell litigation, in which tribal members fought to get an accurate accounting of the trust assets managed (and mis-managed) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Atlantic has a ton of photos of the Occupy protests worldwide.
Fast Company has a long piece on the Great Tech War of 2012; the fighters will, naturally, be Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.
*
Another link for
rthstewart, or perhaps others considering writing for the upcoming Narnia Big Bang (check out
narniaexchange for details): A new history of British women during WWII; looks like it could be really good, especially on class issues--posh girls joined the Wrens, and Bletchley Park was full of debutantes.
And check out the prompst being posted for the Narnia Big Bang: some of them are totally awesome!
*
Speaking of fannishness, what does one call a fan who takes advantage of the creative product of the community for her own satisfaction but refuses to comply with community behavioral norms, gets defensive when challenged, and then claims misbehavior within the community justifies her behavior? She's coasting on the creative and structural contributions of other fans, but insisting she isn't even obliged to be polite.
I mean, seriously: just because some BNFs in Twilight fandom are apparently prone to wanking and throwing their weight around, that does not justify taking the work of writers in another fandom entirely, editing it without their permission, and distributing it via your own website. And then getting abusive when someone points out the violation of fannish etiquette. No amount of misbehavior over there justifies misbehaving here. Why is that so hard to get through?
I am forced to conclude that this entire business is a case study in the way a fan can justify unethical behavior when it gets one what one wants.
Crossposted from DW, where there are
comments; comment here or there.
In other marvelous news: a centenarian finished the Toronto Marathon. Bravo, dude!
*
Get Rich Slowly has a comprehensive post on buying stuff on Craigslist. I wish I'd known that tip about the washing machines before I replaced my busted one... Sheesh.
*
One hazard of the internet is that one can discover that writers one enjoys might say things one finds horrifying or distasteful [insert here any one of dozens of links to such unfortunate statements].
One benefit of the internet is that one can discover that writers one enjoys might say things of great awesomeness. The link goes to Ursula Le Guin talking about how it is the writer's job to write, and the reader's job to find the meaning: Writing is a risky bidness. No guarantees. You have to take the chance. I'm happy to take it. I love taking it. So, my stuff gets misread, misunderstood, misinterpreted - so what? If it's the real stuff it will survive almost any abuse other than being ignored, disappeared, not read.
*
While this is by some measures the most politically progressive generation ever, young people have never been more disillusioned, as a group, about their ability to bring about meaningful change through the electoral process. The Kids Are Actually Sort of All Right, New York Magazine.
In the New Yorker, from last January: the battle over the US Constitution.
Sad news in the Native American community: Eloise Cobell died. She was the named plaintiff in the Cobell litigation, in which tribal members fought to get an accurate accounting of the trust assets managed (and mis-managed) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Atlantic has a ton of photos of the Occupy protests worldwide.
Fast Company has a long piece on the Great Tech War of 2012; the fighters will, naturally, be Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.
*
Another link for
rthstewart, or perhaps others considering writing for the upcoming Narnia Big Bang (check out
narniaexchange for details): A new history of British women during WWII; looks like it could be really good, especially on class issues--posh girls joined the Wrens, and Bletchley Park was full of debutantes.
And check out the prompst being posted for the Narnia Big Bang: some of them are totally awesome!
*
Speaking of fannishness, what does one call a fan who takes advantage of the creative product of the community for her own satisfaction but refuses to comply with community behavioral norms, gets defensive when challenged, and then claims misbehavior within the community justifies her behavior? She's coasting on the creative and structural contributions of other fans, but insisting she isn't even obliged to be polite.
I mean, seriously: just because some BNFs in Twilight fandom are apparently prone to wanking and throwing their weight around, that does not justify taking the work of writers in another fandom entirely, editing it without their permission, and distributing it via your own website. And then getting abusive when someone points out the violation of fannish etiquette. No amount of misbehavior over there justifies misbehaving here. Why is that so hard to get through?
I am forced to conclude that this entire business is a case study in the way a fan can justify unethical behavior when it gets one what one wants.
Crossposted from DW, where there are
comments; comment here or there.