Random stuff on my day off.
I had a doctor's appointment this AM and so have had way too much caffeine and have been up for way too many hours already. Also, I'm a day off and keep thinking it's Wednesday when it's Thursday and now Thursday when it's still Wednesday. bargle.
❧ Totally wish I could do this to get to work. Although I'd settle for something a little "funner" (is that a word?) than driving on the post-rush hour southern state parkway.
❧ Campbell Brown calls Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendel on some rather sexist comments he made at the National Governor's convention about Obama's choice of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security:
Again Gov. Rendell, I don't mean to rake you over the coals. I know what you meant to say. But your comments do perpetuate stereotypes that put us in boxes, both mothers and single women. In government and beyond, men have been given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to striking the right work-life balance. Women are owed the same consideration.
I just added her show to my DVR.
❧ YWMC just started a new campaign called "Own It" to get more young women involved in politics. It looks promising but only time will tell if it will actually have an impact.
❧ From Stephanie Tyler's blog: Author Jo Leigh (aka Jolie Kramer) lost her husband on June 13 after he courageously battled cancer...In addition to being a fabulous friend to so many and a mulit-RITA nominated author who has written for Harlequin Blaze, Temptation, Intrigue, Special Projects, Silhouette Intimate Moments and Meteor Kismet, Jo is known across the country for the amazing writing classes she teaches, including one on plotting that is incomparable. She has been incredibly generous to so many in sharing her knowledge and expertise. Unfortunately, Jo has been left with a lot of medical expenses she will be struggling to cover as they had no health insurance, and we would like to help her out by holding several fundraising auctions.
❧ Jen Robinson hits the nail on the head writing about how children's books stay with us much longer than it takes to read them. I'd even argue that any book we read at a particularly trying time of life will stay with us.
❧ This interview makes me want to read the Octavian Nothing books. Good thing the library has both. MT Anderson just makes it all sound so ... purposeful.
And hey: "If we're going to ask our kids at age 18 to go off to war and die for their country, I don't see any problem with asking them at age 16 to think about what that might mean."
Anderson's attitude helps explain "Octavian Nothing," an ultra-challenging, two-volume young-adult novel that runs 900-plus pages and asks teen readers to contemplate the American Revolution from a wildly unfamiliar point of view.
❧And that's all I have today. I was out and about earlier and took about 450 photos of various Long Island places. I'll attempt to post some before the night is out, if not tomorrow. I'm really impressed with a couple of them. We'll see.
❧ Totally wish I could do this to get to work. Although I'd settle for something a little "funner" (is that a word?) than driving on the post-rush hour southern state parkway.
❧ Campbell Brown calls Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendel on some rather sexist comments he made at the National Governor's convention about Obama's choice of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security:
Again Gov. Rendell, I don't mean to rake you over the coals. I know what you meant to say. But your comments do perpetuate stereotypes that put us in boxes, both mothers and single women. In government and beyond, men have been given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to striking the right work-life balance. Women are owed the same consideration.
I just added her show to my DVR.
❧ YWMC just started a new campaign called "Own It" to get more young women involved in politics. It looks promising but only time will tell if it will actually have an impact.
❧ From Stephanie Tyler's blog: Author Jo Leigh (aka Jolie Kramer) lost her husband on June 13 after he courageously battled cancer...In addition to being a fabulous friend to so many and a mulit-RITA nominated author who has written for Harlequin Blaze, Temptation, Intrigue, Special Projects, Silhouette Intimate Moments and Meteor Kismet, Jo is known across the country for the amazing writing classes she teaches, including one on plotting that is incomparable. She has been incredibly generous to so many in sharing her knowledge and expertise. Unfortunately, Jo has been left with a lot of medical expenses she will be struggling to cover as they had no health insurance, and we would like to help her out by holding several fundraising auctions.
❧ Jen Robinson hits the nail on the head writing about how children's books stay with us much longer than it takes to read them. I'd even argue that any book we read at a particularly trying time of life will stay with us.
❧ This interview makes me want to read the Octavian Nothing books. Good thing the library has both. MT Anderson just makes it all sound so ... purposeful.
And hey: "If we're going to ask our kids at age 18 to go off to war and die for their country, I don't see any problem with asking them at age 16 to think about what that might mean."
Anderson's attitude helps explain "Octavian Nothing," an ultra-challenging, two-volume young-adult novel that runs 900-plus pages and asks teen readers to contemplate the American Revolution from a wildly unfamiliar point of view.
❧And that's all I have today. I was out and about earlier and took about 450 photos of various Long Island places. I'll attempt to post some before the night is out, if not tomorrow. I'm really impressed with a couple of them. We'll see.