There's a detailed story in last week's New Yorker about the Tyler Clementi case. It goes into more depth than a lot of articles about it. You can read it yourself and learn more about what was going on in each student's mind, but another thing that comes out of it is just how much of teenagers' lives is on-line these days. Dharun Tweeted various things to his friends about his roommate, and Tyler searched for it and read it all pretty quickly. Both boys used to web to find out things about each other before they moved in together, and Tweeted, texted, or Instant Messaged stereotypes to friends. Tyler told a friend that his future roommate was "Azn" and that "his rents defs own a Dunkin" (meaning his parents definitely own a Dunkin' Donuts). Ravi Tweeted that his future roomie was gay after finding posts of his on a gay chat board. Both of them used "defs" for "definitely." It seems that kids today will put all sorts of things on the web without assuming that anyone else can read it. Both boys seemed to speak the same universal language at times ("defs"). These kids who grew up with the internet and Facebook are defs a different generation.
2/02/2012
Something I just read on the 'net
I just read this comment left by someone on the internet, in response to an Atlantic Monthly magazine article, and I thought it was worthy of reprinting:
"It takes full adulthood to appreciate that one's parents were simply human, often more than a little frightened, but who suppressed this in order to protect their children from that same fear, and in doing so became, however briefly and dimly, someone braver than themselves. As was said in 'Big' we are all 10 years old. Being a parent means you have to, have to, transcend that..."
So true. I pretty much thought my parents knew everything and could handle everything when I was growing up. Seeing them occasionally lose their cool, or be vulnerable, was the scariest thing in the world. I look back and see that they had me and my brother when they were 26 and 29 years old. How the heck did they really know what they were doing? They made mistakes, but it's hard to really blame them. What was the model for them to follow when, for instance, my brother had a learning disability? What did they know of that?
One thing I wish my mom hadn't done was be honest with my brother and me, when we were really little, about certain problems that were going on. Sometimes kids don't have to know everything. Sure, I want my kids to realize that life isn't perfect, but they also shouldn't have to worry about every little adult fear. I think I can be brave enough for that.
That said, there are still ways to capture your own youthful enthusiasm when you are an adult or a parent. I'm still a 10-year-old when I smell cookies baking. Give me cookies! Mmmmm!
I just read this comment left by someone on the internet, in response to an Atlantic Monthly magazine article, and I thought it was worthy of reprinting:
"It takes full adulthood to appreciate that one's parents were simply human, often more than a little frightened, but who suppressed this in order to protect their children from that same fear, and in doing so became, however briefly and dimly, someone braver than themselves. As was said in 'Big' we are all 10 years old. Being a parent means you have to, have to, transcend that..."
So true. I pretty much thought my parents knew everything and could handle everything when I was growing up. Seeing them occasionally lose their cool, or be vulnerable, was the scariest thing in the world. I look back and see that they had me and my brother when they were 26 and 29 years old. How the heck did they really know what they were doing? They made mistakes, but it's hard to really blame them. What was the model for them to follow when, for instance, my brother had a learning disability? What did they know of that?
One thing I wish my mom hadn't done was be honest with my brother and me, when we were really little, about certain problems that were going on. Sometimes kids don't have to know everything. Sure, I want my kids to realize that life isn't perfect, but they also shouldn't have to worry about every little adult fear. I think I can be brave enough for that.
That said, there are still ways to capture your own youthful enthusiasm when you are an adult or a parent. I'm still a 10-year-old when I smell cookies baking. Give me cookies! Mmmmm!
1/29/2012
Ferris Bueller 2 tease
And it is quite a tease!
UPDATE: Sorry for perpetuating the hoax. It was a teaser for a car ad. Still interesting, though!
1/15/2012
Two new Carrie Pilby reviews
...at Amazon. Thanks!
One says it's a good way to pass the time at the beach or the DMV. Hmmm, never thought of that.
12/27/2011
An e-mail OOPS!
12/24/2011
My favorite outdoor photos I ever took (roughly in order by favorite)
Frozen lake in Hightstown, N.J. Next to Cranbury, my favorite old town.
Frozen lake in Hightstown, N.J. Next to Cranbury, my favorite old town.
Binghamton, N.Y.
Nantucket, Mass.
New York City.
Roof of my old apartment in Hoboken, just after a thunderstorm, when marvelous mamatas clouds made a rare appearance.
Pittsburgh, PA
Cranbury, N.J.
Hoboken, N.J.
Near Burlington, VT.
Fairview, N.J.
More from Cranbury. Love these signs.
Hoboken, N.J.
Lower East Side.
Just kinda funny.
Bathroom in an old artists' lofts building in Jersey City. The building was demolished a few years ago. (Okay, this isn't outdoors. Well, might as well keep it for now.)
Boston
I just realized I don't have any good fall leaf photos here. I guess there's no specific one that stands out. Also, no snow photos! What's up with that? I'll keep trying.
12/11/2011
11/30/2011
Blue ghost signs
I don't often see blue ghost signs. But I saw these on 32nd Street in NYC this week.
According to a website called Ephemeral New York, "Doehler Metal Furniture owned the building these ads appear on, on 32nd Street. ...They seem to have had a lot of contracts with the Army during World War II. Manning-Bowman had a showroom on the seventh floor. The Connecticut-based electronics firm made things like waffle irons and coffee makers."
11/20/2011
From the web:
A new study finds pregnant moms with gum disease have a better chance of delivering full-term babies if they use mouthwash while they're expecting, as preggo women with periodontal disease have more premature babies than moms with healthy gums.
Researchers found when women used an alcohol-free mouth rinse, the risk of early labor seemed to be decreased by three-quarters, according to the news service.
Reuters notes staff and funding from the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, came from Procter and Gamble -- a company that makes mouthwash.
Researchers found when women used an alcohol-free mouth rinse, the risk of early labor seemed to be decreased by three-quarters, according to the news service.
Reuters notes staff and funding from the study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, came from Procter and Gamble -- a company that makes mouthwash.
Oh brother.
Hey, reading Carrie Pilby while you are pregnant has been shown to NOT INCREASE the risk of premature birth!!
11/19/2011
11/05/2011
A few minutes...
When I was growing up, my parents always put "60 Minutes" on. Of course, my 10-year-old self found most of it boring, but I really looked forward to Andy Rooney's commentary at the end. My parents noticed this, so they gave me a paperback full of Andy's short essays among my Hannukah presents one year.
I always preferred small presents to large ones -- small ones were usually something creative, like clay or markers or books. Large boxes usually meant board games or clothes, which weren't my preference.
My birthday presents, early '80s, since I don't have a photo from Hanukkah,
but you get the idea - the presents were always by the fireplace in our living room.
I remember getting several great small presents that Hakkukah, in fact: The newest Mad Magazine, which is something I asked for on pretty much every holiday (why no one just sprang for a subscription is beyond me), a silver paint marker (those were just getting big), A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney, and probably some other stuff I can't remember.
We had a couch that curled around the fireplace. So after I got the Andy Rooney book, I lay on the couch in front of a roaring fire and started reading it. That's why I remember that Hannkuah so well, because I felt so cozy reading my Andy Rooney book inside by the fire.
About a year ago, I wrote him a fan letter in shameless hope of getting him to mention Carrie Pilby on the air, since he sometimes complains about his mail during his segment. I told him all about how I'd grown up enjoying his segments and how eventually I began writing observational essays myself.
Just to give him a little extra incentive to mention my missive, at the end I wrote,
P.S. You were great in all those Andy Hardy movies with Judy Garland.
I figured that might sufficiently annoy him so he'd complain about it on the air. ("This girl says she's a fan, but she thinks I'm the same person as Mickey Rooney.")
No such luck. But I kept enjoying his commentary. Then, not long ago, I watched him say a fitting goodbye in his last segment for "60 Minutes."
It seems like just days later he went into the hospital, and now he's gone. He must have seen it coming when he decided to retire.
I guess if you've been watching someone on TV for more than 30 years, they're bound to leave sooner than later. But it's too bad we didn't get to see one last segment on hospital food and doctor's bills. He was probably writing it in his mind while he lay in his hospital bed. J'ever wonder...?
10/27/2011
Teach the children
I was snooping on Google to find out what happened to an old friend. She's a teacher now, like she always wanted to be. Anyway, this is what one of her students wrote about her on Ratemyteacher.com:
you give tooooooooooooooooo much homework. You give at least 3 hiours a day. (no exaduration)
10/19/2011
10/07/2011
Reader mail II
James from college was apparently inspired by my photo and sent this thoughtful sestet:
Was that a dirigible you spied
in the e'ening sky
over your town as darkness drew near?
Where did it go,
amongst the queries you pose,
and how will you know when it gets there?
I have sometimes wondered, upon looking at a plane, who was inside, where they were going, and did they realize that for a moment, I was wondering about them? We all had a connection we might never have again. Just for one moment.
But in this case, the blimp was advertising the Conan show on TBS. And you can track it at teamcoco.com. So, not as mysterious, but still nice to see.
James from college was apparently inspired by my photo and sent this thoughtful sestet:
Was that a dirigible you spied
in the e'ening sky
over your town as darkness drew near?
Where did it go,
amongst the queries you pose,
and how will you know when it gets there?
I have sometimes wondered, upon looking at a plane, who was inside, where they were going, and did they realize that for a moment, I was wondering about them? We all had a connection we might never have again. Just for one moment.
But in this case, the blimp was advertising the Conan show on TBS. And you can track it at teamcoco.com. So, not as mysterious, but still nice to see.
10/06/2011
9/06/2011
8/30/2011
Climb ev'ry mountain
Because I'm such a fan of the Sound of Music, I thought I'd post this update that was e-mailed out about the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe:
Greetings from our Green Mountains,
We have been touched to receive so many inquiries into the impact of Tropical Storm Irene. Both Stowe and the Trapp Family Lodge were very fortunate not to have sustained significant damage, in spite of over six inches of rain and heavy winds. Erosion and wind damage were the chief concern, but we sustained almost no impact to our buildings, roads, and trails. Our capable crew was well prepared for the event, and our guests were able to enjoy the day with a fire in the Lounge and service in the DeliBakery.
I spent much of the day outdoors, unplugging culverts and checking the status of buildings and trails- my Austrian loden hat is still drying out!
Unfortunately many towns near us were impacted significantly, as has been reported by the media. Our thoughts go out to those who suffered more damage than we did, and we look forward to doing our part to help neighboring communities...
Sincerely, Sam von Trapp Executive Vice President Trapp Family Lodge
Because I'm such a fan of the Sound of Music, I thought I'd post this update that was e-mailed out about the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe:
Greetings from our Green Mountains,
We have been touched to receive so many inquiries into the impact of Tropical Storm Irene. Both Stowe and the Trapp Family Lodge were very fortunate not to have sustained significant damage, in spite of over six inches of rain and heavy winds. Erosion and wind damage were the chief concern, but we sustained almost no impact to our buildings, roads, and trails. Our capable crew was well prepared for the event, and our guests were able to enjoy the day with a fire in the Lounge and service in the DeliBakery.
I spent much of the day outdoors, unplugging culverts and checking the status of buildings and trails- my Austrian loden hat is still drying out!
Unfortunately many towns near us were impacted significantly, as has been reported by the media. Our thoughts go out to those who suffered more damage than we did, and we look forward to doing our part to help neighboring communities...
Sincerely, Sam von Trapp Executive Vice President Trapp Family Lodge
