Barrel O' Linkage

[rj_anderson]

Roundup time! I just keep finding links to amazing things so I have to share them with you all.

Firstly, lainitaylor has a gummi bear. She also has an entire chandelier made of them, if you go to the bottom of the post. But you should congratulate her on her personal gummi bear first, just to be nice. Oh, and she also finished a book.

Secondly, this may come as a surprise to certain people who think they know me (or at least think they know what Those Conservative Evangelical Christian Types are Like), but I am in complete and total agreement with the points that John Green makes in this awesome and funny (yet at the same time very not funny) vlog post about a group of people who are trying to prevent his book Looking For Alaska being taught in schools. A book which I have personally never read, but have decided I need to go out and buy RIGHT NOW, because it sounds awesome. Anyway, how about I just let him explain:

Thirdly, snickelish pointed to this brief essay by mrissa explaining something about introverts that many people just don't understand, and it is brilliant and so true that I think you should all read it. It's here.

Fourthly, uh... I've forgotten. Oh yeah! I just watched the new episode of House. Y HELO THAR PRODUCT PLACEMENT BY APPLE. Also, I kinda adore Kutner -- he's such a complete dork.

And now to bed! And now to bed!

Comments

[sharigreen.livejournal.com]

Looking for Alaska IS an excellent book -- definitely worth reading! And John did a great job on that vlog post. Go John! Now I'm off to read that thing about introverts....

[penwiper26.livejournal.com]

About the introverts: yup.

And the vlog was brilliant.

[ljrags.livejournal.com]

I loved the vlog (and introvert essay) and will be going to buy said book today.

[m-stiefvater.livejournal.com]

*drool* House love . . . I saw the new episode too and I'm amazed that even though I thought I would be completely unimpressed by them putting in a new team . . . I wasn't. I was entertained.

And I keep meaning to get Looking for Alaska and keep forgetting when I'm in the bookstore!

[meredith-wood.livejournal.com]

I've added Looking for Alaska to my list. He did a great job with that vlog and I agree with all his points myself. Off to read the essay now.

[snickelish.livejournal.com]

Clearly the product placement Failed, because I didn't notice it was an Apple.

And yes, isn't Kutner so nice and uncomplicated and completely without angst? I actually like the whole new team far better than I liked the old team when we were this far into the first season.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

There were the two desktops with Mac OS prominently displayed, and then the iPhone later on -- it was almost as blatant as the Ford Focus promotion they did on Alias a few years ago (although, in truth, NOTHING could be as ham-handed as that was -- they even wrote stilted conversations to the effect of "Hey, is that a Ford Focus she's driving? Looks like a great car!").

But anyway, yes, I really like the new team.

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

Most excellent (and I'm sure satisfying!) vlog rant. Even being one of those Conservative Christian types myself - or perhaps exactly *because* the experience has sharpened my perception of the evils inherent in unthinking aversion - I was cheering his every point. Also, LOL-ing at the 'Godot' bit.

[labellerose.livejournal.com]

The vlog was brilliant-thanks for putting it out there.
As a parent, yes I do restrict some content that I don't believe is age-appropriate or is out of sync with the values we try to instill in our home. Most of it is entertainment. (If I had $1.00 for every time I've heard "but everyone else's parents let them watch /insert R rated movie here/ I'd have a wardrobe of designer bags at the very least.)
I don't have an issue with students using their critical-thinking skills in order to study content that may have mature or disturbing elements. Particularly if it's actual study that requires higher-order thinking, not just glassy eyed consumption that just needs eyes and thumbs. If somebody else has an issue with a specific book, that's their right.
But this kind of censorship-don't think so.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

Loved the vlog. And how cool is that E-mail addy? Wish I'd thought of it. I'll be putting that book on my reading list.

I think that the school's solution of sending permission slips to the parents was brilliant and appropriately sensitive, and I'm sorry they're getting flak for it. What would be wonderfully cool, since they're going to be discussing the book critically, and since other classes have done so, would be if John Green supplied some study notes as to what he sees his book and various scenes to be about.

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

OK, I definitely need to read that book now. I think we should print out "Shut up and stop condescending to teenagers" on a banner across the library--there's a reason I'm in youth services, and the reason it not "young people are stupid so I can coast."

Also, the thing about introverts was great. I'm always trying to find good explanation that I can show to people so I don't have to find the words to explain myself on my own.