Fuckitty Fuck Fuck

An article that features the word, "fuck" 127 times AND actually has something valuable to say? 

FUCK YES! 

An article that introduces me to this showstopper of a photo (which I incidentally want to frame and hang over my marriage bed)? 

Fuck yes AGAIN!

Winning, Mark Manson. You are winning. You won. All others loose. Except if they recognize that you've won. That's it. That's all I have. All the fucks I have to give. There they are.

Immigrants Then and Now

These photos were taken by a clerk at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1925. I am amazed that in one hundred years globalization has wiped out ethnic dress in so many cultures. 

Looking at these people who were once considered a scourge and have become our nation's pride, I think about the current refugee crisis and marvel that so many of us, having sought refuge ourselves or having benefitted from the asylum our ancestors received, deny those classified as "others" the same solace.  

I think about how, in a world of 7.4 billion people, immigrant numbers are going to continue to rise as climate change yields extreme weather events and increased pressure on limited resources. 

"The global age has turned our world into a society of strangers. That is not a threat to faith but a call to a faith larger and more demanding... The Bible commands us only once to love our neighbor, but it never tires of urging us to love the stranger." - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

I wonder what is in store for us (and by us, I mean all of us). 

The Animal Kingdom

I grew up on Wild America and Nature specials so imagine my delight when I learned that the torch of wildlife education still burns bright and has been passed on to the likes of Beast Boy and Ze Frank. 

Other species you may or may not be familiar with...

Flying Dandy

1. Take Me To Church : Hozier

2. Ex's & Oh's : Elle King

3. Workin' Woman Blues : Valerie June

4. Like A Hobo : Charlie Winston

5. Over My Head : Asaf Avidan

6. I'm Torn Up : St. Paul & The Broken Bones

7. Birmingham : Shovels & Rope

8. S. O. B. : Nathaniel Ratcliffe & The Night Sweats

9. How You Like Me Now : The Heavy

10. Red Golden : Pimps Of Joytime

11. José : Anis

12. Jolie Coquine : Caravan Palace

13. One Day : Paulo Nutini

The Kickassery of YA

The paths I wear into library carpeting more often than not lead to the children's and young adult sections. The books I find there are populated by heroes and heroines whose courage and wisdom often eclipse my own and I like that. That and they are entertaining as all get out. I like that too. These are the ones that have stood out to me lately...

It's rare to find a young female protagonist who is so unabashedly confident and smart. And so completely her own person. In addition to creating a delightful character, Alan Bradley published the first of his Flavia De Luce mysteries at the age of 69 and for that I love him all the more.  

Despite losing all cover contests, Walk Two Moons is wonderful. Its touching evocation of love among three different generations reduced me to a puddle of tears by the end of the book.

A coming of age story and gay romance that transcends sexual orientation, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (the title's probably the weakest part of the book) is a valuable addition to the sex positive reading material that exists in the world. 

Hunger Games meets Ender's Game, Red Rising is about a space chase and revolution among the astroids. Irresistible, even if it's not wholly original.  

Why did the fan who drew this rendition of the Lunar Chronicles team choose to put them all in their underwear? Dunno. I do know that this futuristic retelling of classic fairytales is surprisingly awesome and addicting. 

I'm A Late (Podcast) Bloomer

Everyone and their mother has been hip to the trick of listening to podcasts while traveling for ages now it seems. I, however, am new to the genius of educating myself while being propelled through space by powers that are not my own... 

My favorites? 

Ones I like, but can't keep up with due to the volume of episodes they produce? 

Being Mortal

With folks living longer than ever before, we are all facing a protracted bout of old age. In the United States, we spend more time clinging hopelessly to youth than we do figuring out how to support the elderly in having the quality of life they both deserve and desire. 

Atul Gawande's provocative and thoughtful new book, Being Mortal, asks us to shift our focus from warehousing our parents in nursing homes to meaningfully promoting their health and well being late into life. 

When I finished reading this book, I wanted to force it upon my entire family. With my parents pushing seventy, I am aware of their mortality and health in ways I haven't been before. I want my brothers and I to have prophylactic and creative conversations with our parents about the potentially difficult decisions ahead before we get to those crossroads, while they are both sound of mind and body. 

Dr. Gawande puts forward practical advice and information in his book that I really value. He stresses the importance of foot checks and foot care in preventing falls. He frames fracturing a hip as the gateway drug to poor health among the elderly. He touts geriatricians as the unsung heroes of the medical world. His overarching message, however, is both intuitive and familiar: 

Those who thrive in old age have been able to retain meaning, connection, and love in their lives.