Here is this week’s list of blog posts, quotes and other tidbits from my favourite corners of the web.
Before I send you around the web can you guess what one of the most common search terms for this blog was over the winter?
on-the-other-hand.com and christianity.
I have no idea why so many of you like that phrase but if you’re one of the people who found this blog that way I’d love to know how you thought it up!
Socializing is as exhausting as giving blood. People assume we loners are misanthropes, just sitting thinking, ‘Oh, people are such a bunch of assholes,’ but it’s really not like that. We just have a smaller tolerance for what it takes to be with others. It means having to perform. I get so tired of communicating. – Anneli Rufus
Why Are We So Ashamed of Our Women Heroes? One of the unexpected bonuses of moving away from Northwest Ohio was getting away from this attitude. Toronto isn’t perfect but blatant sexism is much less socially acceptable here. In my experience the (non)reactions of other people to discrimination or prejudice can be just as damaging as the actual incident. I’m saying this as someone who has also been the bystander who should have spoken up.
How Should Men Act Around Children? The saddest thing about stranger paranoia in North America is that we’re blaming innocent men when 30% of sexually abused kids are hurt by relatives and 60% are hurt by family friends or authority figures.
Lovecraftian Playground. I hereby reserve the right to play here someday. Sometimes the most mature option in life is whooshing down the slide with a grin on your face.
From I am the 47%:
As it turned out, government cheese is Helluva Good. We ate it for four and half years, and I really did see it as part of God’s provision for our family. Uncle Sam’s chick peas floated us through the lean seasons, which lasted from autumn until tax time.
Romantic Wisdom From Rap Genius via Jason Oberholtzer. Do you over-think lyrics? Have you ever stopped liking a song once you realized it’s actual message? I have a tendency to extrapolate way too much information from pop music. Maybe that is why I enjoyed this post so much!
Animals Made Out of Food. Yes, this is as adorable as it sounds.
We need more people like Amanda Palmer in the world:
To be honest with my readers the character development was weak and there were a few snarled plot threads but the premise of this book is so chilling I think you should read it anyway. Modern society still treats certain people as inherently less valuable than others and has encoded these prejudices into law at many different times and places in human history. It doesn’t stretch my imagination to envision it happening again.
What have you been reading?
I too loved the Palmer TED talk — amazing.
Yes, I “over-think” lyrics all the time. That is also why I hate a lot of poetry — beautiful words and turns of phrases are not enough for me when conveying bad ideas — same with music. But I can forgive the music when the words are hard to hear! 🙂
Heh, there is something to be said for lyrics that are overshadowed by the music.
Hey friend, thanks for linking my piece “Why are we ashamed…”. I’m glad to find folks who see the same thing and hope to curb it.
You’re very welcome, Charles. Thanks for stopping by!