Links to Click This Week: July 21, 2023
A rabbit invasion, Barbie's wheelchair, and more
You made it to Friday, so let’s celebrate with some link clicking opportunities. This week’s fresh post on Sunday is a little heavier than I had intended, so consider this your palate preparation/save this for after the meatier stuff to have a little treat.
Speaking of food, my plate is full this weekend, between two friend dates on Friday, teaching two yoga classes on Saturday, seeing Barbie and her friends in Clueless on Saturday night, then spending Sunday starting one of my major papers for my current counseling school class (which I am excited for, as I’m going to write 10-12 pages on Groundhog Day).
I hope your weekend is shaping up to be what you need it to be.
My Work This Week
Over at , I wrote about how the right owns a news cycle by creating fake news, spreading the fake news, then getting attention from reputable outlets for the fake news. That, plus a very lengthy book censorship news roundup. It’s not good, and it’s not getting better.
Notes this week included a look at why the Digital Public Library of America’s new banned books initiative is one to be met with skepticism and frustration, a Book Riot story I wrote 10 years ago this week about book censorship, and a reminder to keep telling libraries about the planned “storytime” events courtesy of Brave Books and Kirk Cameron. I have let four area libraries know about this in the last two days. Those facilities may not cancel the events–they get to decide–but telling them to prepare extra security and alert any staff on schedule that day about the event is going to be important.
What I Read This Week
The Case Against Travel: this piece resonated with me for several reasons, especially as someone who actually enjoys traveling more locally than abroad. Indeed, it inspired a draft I’ve got going here about the real joy you can find in choosing to be a “traveler” in your own community if you shift your mindset to just that. If you love traveling, there is nothing here to worry about. Rather, it asks why we partake in certain adventures when in certain locales and whether it makes us a “better person” or simply taking part in a ritual because we feel we need to.
Fuzzy invasion of rabbits has Florida suburb on hunt for new owners: If the rabbit you see outside is not brown with short ears, it’s domesticated and has either gotten loose or more accurately, been dumped. That said, I love the images of this flock of lops, even if it’s for a sad and dangerous reason. Clearly someone/s has been caring for them.
Why Songs Get Stuck in Your Head—and How to Stop Them: What’s the one you always get stuck in your head? A surefire way to wash it out is thinking about “It’s a Small World After All.” Sorry!
Eco-Anxiety: Climate Change Affects Our Mental Health – Here’s How to Cope: I’ll admit to thinking the “how to cope” bit is not actually useful but I do think acknowledging that it’s a big and real feeling, that others have it, and that it’s tied to a love of life are perspectives to consider. As someone preparing to help others with their mental health–and especially young people–eco-anxiety is going to be a real thing that pops up. I admit to often rationalizing things I do with my two-year-old with “it’s not like we’re leaving her a planet in good shape” (i.e., yeah, McDonald’s sounds good for dinner tonight for the kid. It’s not like we’re leaving her a planet in good shape so why not let her enjoy some nuggs?”).
College Students Shun Teaching As a Career: You mean to say a field which has high burn out, high stress, high work loads, low pay, low support, and is relentlessly under attack ISN’T appealing?
'Anti-dopamine parenting' can curb a kid's craving for screens or sweets: Ignore the headline and ignore the advice, the parent shaming, etc., that all comes with how to do things right in a situation that is LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE PARENTING IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS HARD NOR A COMPETITION. Instead, read this because it offers some interesting insight into dopamine and new research on it. Dopamine, which we thought was a happy neurotransmitter, is actually more aligned with desire.
You can stop here if you have no interest in Barbie. If you do have interest in Barbie, then these three are for you:
Sending folks over to Twitter feels like ick, but I promise this thread is worth it. Katie Pennick compares her wheelchair to Barbie’s wheelchair.
I may not be an adventurer when it comes to travel, but I sure am here for armchair travel. Check out these fun Barbie pink places around the world.
Lastly, here’s a gift link to read about what it was like being Margot Robbie’s body double for Barbie.
Be well, y’all. See you Sunday.