“There are many things that would be lost if we slowly lose the cognitive patience to immerse ourselves in the worlds created by books and the lives and feelings of the ‘friends’ who inhabit them.”
What does immersing yourself in a book do to your brain? (LitHub)
One word, according to this writer: Stoics. (Paging @paulcraig901.)
Catastrophe overload? Read philosophers and poetry instead of headlines (The Conversation)
The only thing that really compels me to post on Twitter and Facebook these days: a daughter’s pride in her slime creations. 🤨
In lieu of homework, F and I made shimmery golden slime, which looks much more shimmery and golden than it does in these photos. F modified a basic recipe with metallic powdered pigment. We assure you that no photobombing cats were harmed in the making of this slime.
“… other newbies include: aquafaba, beatdown, zomboid, twerk, sheeple, wayback, bokeh, botnet, emoji, facepalm, frowny, hivemind, puggle and nubber.”
Scrabble adds 300 new words to US version of game (BBC News)
My friend Gayle has a sweet sideline as a dog sitter. Frannie and I got to hang with her and her two newest clients today. 📷
It’s a new frontier in homiletics when the priest uses the word “frenemy” in a sermon.
Pokémon Go had its monthly Community Day today. We joined the hordes of players wandering through Wilder Park and the adjacent Elmhurst College campus in search of the prized shiny version of the Pokémon called Chikorita. Frannie caught 10; I caught three.
“All God wants of man is a peaceful heart.” — Meister Eckhart
The Reinhold Niebuhr monument at Elmhurst College shares space this weekend with a sukkah adorned with symbols and messages of peace. Chag Sameach to those who celebrate.
Grateful for seasonal cool weather after several hot and humid days. (Hoodie weather! Woo-hoo!) Even more grateful for a weekend after another long week.
Unfortunately, this feels very familiar. And as my daughter enters the tween years, this alarms me all the more.
How Puberty Kills Girls’ Confidence (The Atlantic)
Gives new meaning to the term “lobster pot.”
Lobster pound owner thinks she has a kinder ‘exit strategy’ for her lobsters: Get them stoned (Portland Press Herald)
This appears to dovetail a bit with Ross Douthat’s recent column on conservatism after Christianity.
Emily Ekins: The Liberalism of the Religious Right (N.Y. Times)
Random photo: Punta Gorda, FL, March 2006. 📷
I don’t watch awards shows much, but I have managed to replay the video of Glenn Weiss' proposal to his girlfriend on last night’s Emmys about 10 times this morning. Thank God I bought all that Hello Kitty tissue the other day.
At last, I have reached the Pokémon Go mountaintop.
“… for a growing number of users – and mental health experts – the very positivity of Instagram is precisely the problem.”
Instagram is supposed to be friendly. So why is it making people so miserable? (Guardian)
Been rooting around Etsy for typewriter ribbons and now I’m jonesing for a second typewriter — one with cursive type. I blame the growing typewriter tribe here, including @paulcraig901, @grayareas, and @rnv.
So, we went shopping at a giant Korean supermarket today. And no, I didn’t get the toilet paper. I did, however, get the facial tissue for some comic relief.
Yes, You’re Becoming More Introverted With Age (Psychology Today)
“Other scientific studies honored this year included those highlighting the benefits of using a voodoo doll to take out anger on a boss and attempts to hasten the passage of kidney stones by riding roller coasters.”
Do-it-yourself colonoscopy wins Japanese doctor one of 10 2018 Ig Nobels (Japan Times)
Trying to shake off its ultra-conservative image, Saudi Arabia launches a new industry: fun (L.A. Times)
“Micro.blog … may never reach the heights of Twitter, which might be a good thing. Pricing alone may help curate the feed.”
Twitter’s Tech Pro Problem: Where Do We Go From Here? (Dice)
Random photos: Home, July 2015. Hunting for fireflies. I miss the leisurely summer twilight.
Found out yesterday that our new parish rector still has a flip phone. I found myself envying him.
‘Dumbphone’ sales rise as people seek to disconnect and be more mindful (Independent UK)