tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17796280857300137602024-03-08T06:52:07.163-08:00Renaissance RoseBook reviews, thoughts on parenting and life, ideas that keep me up at night, occasional rants, and lots of links to stuff I like.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-292380807016276862022-12-31T14:40:00.005-08:002022-12-31T16:20:28.319-08:00Review: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Fowler<p>I hated this book until after the big reveal (page 77). If it hadn't been a holiday gift from my brother, I would have given it up long before that. The narrator is entitled, and it's all about her and her messed up family with their troublesome secrets, which she is not going to share with us yet.</p><p>The first real action, on page 7, involves a maniac drama queen screaming a her boyfriend in the college cafeteria, "You want space? I'll give you space!" And knocking over table and chairs. Our narrator gets swept up in the drama and ends up in a jail cell for a few hours. It's hard to see why she'd be drawn to the maniac. And you won't find out until at least 70 pages later.<br /></p><p>I'll be kind to those who prefer to read the book in order, and keep spoilers below the fold. But my recommendation is to skim the first 77 pages, and then dig in. The story is fascinating after that. It even feels like the narrator's voice changes.</p><p> </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a> <p></p><p>How would it affect you to be raised as a twin with a chimpanzee? You'd be, like Rosie, a bit of a monkey girl, right? </p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> </p><p> </p>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-21797158055257148322019-11-30T21:44:00.001-08:002019-11-30T21:44:19.047-08:00Thinking about Sophie's WorldMy friend, Gustavo, recommended Sophie's World. I like the idea of a story that has something bigger in it. (In this story, we have a history of philosophy.) But I'm only 30 pages in, and I'm seeing that I'll have lots to disagree with.<br />
<br />
I googled 'philosophical responses to Sophie's World', and got lots of study guides (no thanks!) and no critiques. I am not a philosopher myself, but I have read a few books by a radical feminist philosopher (Marilyn Frye, author of Willful Virgin and Politics of Reality) and try to see the world through an anti-racist, anti-colonialist lens as well. I don't think the author questions the world as widely as he might think he does. I would welcome responses here by liberationist philosophers.<br />
<br />
What I'm writing here are somewhat spontaneous notes. I expect to come back and edit them later. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
page 2: <i>Sophie's father was the captain of a big oil tanker, and was away for most of the year.</i><br />
<br />
My question: Will this create issues for Sophie, as her eyes open? (Perhaps my idea of philosophy is more political than the author's?) <br />
<br />
<br />
page 26: Around 700bc, much of the Greek mythologywas written down by Homer and Hesiod. Ths created a whole new situation. Now that the myths existed in written form, it was possible to discuss them.<br />
<br />
I know the book will oversimplify complex things, and that's not really the problem I have here. My problem is partly the credit that's given to writing, partly the implicit idea of progress, partly the Eurocentric path we are taking in this story, and partly settig up philosophy as a better way to understand the world than myth. I don't think he understands how myth works. Hmm. Do I understand well enough to spell it out? Not sure.<br />
<br />
I'd have to check with an anthropologist, but I'm guessing that unwritten myths evolve over time, shifting to contain more wisdom, perhaps. But written texts are static. For how many centuries did people simply believe Aristotle's proclamations? Scientific progress in the west was stymied for centuries.<br />
<br />
<br />
page 26: <i>During that period, the Greeks founded many city-states ... where all manual work was done by slaves, leaving the citizens free to devote all their time to politics and culture.</i><br />
<br />
He doesn't seem to wonder whether that class (caste?) division affected the philosophy they created.<br />
<br />
<br />
page 31: <i>So philosophy gradually liberated itself from religion. We could say that the natural philosophers took the first step in the direction of scientific reasoning.</i><br />
<br />
Except that, since all manual labor was done by slaves (lower caste), the philosophers were loathe to actually do experiments, which would involve manual labor.<br />
<br />
Bedtime. More later...<br />
<br />Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-66812392682298497622017-03-21T20:47:00.001-07:002017-03-21T20:48:41.125-07:00"Intersectional Feminism" and Kids' BooksI like that term - intersectional feminism. I've been hearing it a lot this past year or so. Today a friend posted a list of kids' books that supposedly teach intersectional feminism. One of the books was from Disney. Nope. Not my kind of list. So I took my bibliography of Kids' Books with Passion, and found all the books that had strong girls who represented something else too - things like racial diversity, different sorts of bodies or sexuality, class consciousness, or a connection with the Earth.<br />
<br />
Here's my list. Some of these books can (and should) be critiqued. I have left those in, because they expanded my world, even if they are flawed. Enjoy.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Kids’ Books and </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24.0pt;">“Intersectional Feminism” </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.0pt;">(ie strong girls and women who are also …)</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Picture
books.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Agatha’s
Feather Bed</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Carmen Deedy, ill. by Laura Seeley. Agatha spins yarn and weaves
cloth, and sells it in a little shop between two skyscrapers in Manhattan. She
explains to a young customer where cotton, silk, etc. come from. And then… Is
she spinning a yarn? </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Amazing
Grace</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Mary Hoffman, ill. by Caroline Binch. Grace loves stories, and loves acting
them out. When her class is going to put on Peter Pan, one friend tells her she
can’t be Peter because he’s a boy, and another says so because he’s not black.
Her mama and her nana help her through. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boundless
Grace</i> is great too (on families that don’t have the ‘required’ mother and
father).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Angel Child,
Dragon Child</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Michele Surat, ill. by Vo-Dinh Mai. Ut must start American school
while her mother is still in Vietnam. A boy calls her Pajamas, and other kids
laugh. Later she and the boy get in a fight, and the </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">principal finds a good solution.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Annie and the
Old One, </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">by Miska Miles and Peter Parnall. Annie tries to delay her grandmother’s
death by unraveling the rug grandmother is planning to finish before she dies.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Aunt
Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Faith Ringgold. Cassie and her younger
brother BB are flying over present-day New York when an old, ramshackled train
appears. BB gets on and Cassie is upset that he’s gone off. Aunt Harriet tells
her she can catch up with him by escaping slavery on the ground. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Baby Dance</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Ann Taylor, ill. by
Marjorie van Heerden. I love the pictures. I love the text (a re-working of
‘Hush little baby, don’t you cry’). When my son was small, I danced around with
him while I read it. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Born In the
Gravy</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Denys Cazet. Margarita tells her father about her first day in kindergarten.
She has some great stories to tell. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Crane
Girl, </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">by
Veronika Matenova Charles. Yoshiko is sad, angry, and lonely after her younger
brother is born. She becomes a crane, but still visits her human family. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Flossie and
the Fox</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Patricia McKissak, ill. by Rachel Isadora. Flossie’s taking eggs to Miz
Viola, and has been told to watch out for the fox. She outsmarts fox all the
way there. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Fox Song</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>by Joseph Bruchac, ill. by Paul Morin. Jamie is lying in bed,
remembering walks and talks with her gramma, the day after gramma has died.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">From Miss
Ida’s Porch</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Sandra Belton, ill. by Floyd Cooper. “There’s a very best time of
day on Church Street.” It’s evening, when stories get told on Miss Ida’s Porch,
about when Duke Ellington stayed with one of the neighbors, and when folks in
the neighborhood saw Marion Anderson sing in front of the Lincoln memorial,
because she wasn’t allowed to sing at Constitution Hall.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Grandmother’s
Pigeon</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Louise Erdrich, ill. by Jim LaMarche. Grandmother has sailed away on a
porpoise, and now the eggs in one of the old nests in her room<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are hatching. But the birds that hatch are
supposed to be extinct. Detailed, realistic pictures support the magical
realism of the story.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Hide and
Sneak</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Michael Kusugak, ill. by Vladyana Krykorka. Allashua, a young Alaskan girl,
gets lost following a creature that wants to play hide and seek with her. But
her people’s stone posts guide her home.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Liza Lou
and the Yeller Belly Swamp</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Mercer Mayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Liza Lou’s mother sends her on errands through the swamp but warns her
to be careful of the dangerous creatures. Liza Lou outsmarts them all. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Our Gracie
Aunt</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Jacqueline Woodson. Beebee and Johnson are home alone for a very long time.
A social worker comes and takes them to stay with their aunt. Scary situations
are handled beautifully.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Owl Moon</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Jane Yolen, ill. by
John Schoenherr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been waiting a
long time to go owling with Pa. It’s a cold winter night, and they must walk
through dark woods in hopes of seeing a Great Horned Owl. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Pictures
for Miss Josie</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Sandra Belton, ill. by Benny Andrews. A fictional story about a
real woman, Josephine Carroll Smith, who helped young Black men in college,
providing them a home away from home.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Quennu and
the Cave Bear</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Marie Day. With a historical note on ancient cave paintings at the
end,<span style="color: black;"> this story imagines what life might have been
like for Quennu, who seems to be destined to be the next shaman of her tribe.</span>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Silent
Lotus</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Jeanne Lee. Lotus cannot hear, and other children in the village won’t play
with her. But she loves to dance like the cranes. And when her parents travel
with her to the city, to ask for a sign – she finds a wonderful life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Smoky Night</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Eve Bunting, ill. by
David Diaz. How do you talk with children about something like riots? The boy
in this story is kept safe by his mama, but their apartment building catches
fire, and they must stay awhile in a shelter. Two cats who always fought make
friends and bring the people together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Sweet Clara
and the Freedom Quilt,</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;"> by Deborah Hopkinson, ill. by James Ransome. Sweet Clara, a slave sent
away from her momma before she was 12, was determined to get back. She learned
to sew, and was sent from the fields to the Big House. She listened to all that
was said, and sewed into a quilt a map for heading North.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Crane
Girl</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Veronika Martenova Charles. Yoshiko feels unloved after her baby brother is
born, and asks the cranes if she can be their baby. The cranes do a magic
dance, and she becomes one of them. [Japan]</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Library</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Sarah Stewart, ill.
by David Small. Elizabeth Brown loves to read more than anything. This is a
life with books. But at the end, she moves in with a friend, and they read
together, “page after page after page.” Very sweet. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Old Woman
Who Named Things</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Cynthia Rylant, ill. by Kathryn Brown. The old woman has named her
house, her car, her chair, and her bed. She has outlived all her friends, and
only names things that will outlive her. Until a shy brown puppy begins to
visit…</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Patchwork
Quilt</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Valerie Flourney, ill. by Jerry Pinkney. Grandma teaches Tanya and her mama
the value of memories. They all learn to value old age more.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The
Wednesday Surprise</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Eve Bunting. A little girl and grandma are keeping a secret from
the family. They’re practicing reading every Wednesday evening. Surprise ending
for the reader, too.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">To Hell
With Dying</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Alice Walker, ill. by Catherine Deeter. The young Alice was
friends with a dying, alcoholic old man named Mr. Sweets. Her dedication: “To
the old ones of my childhood who taught me the most important lesson of all:
That I did not need to be perfect to be loved. That no one does.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Where Are
You Going, Manyoni?</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Catherine Stock. Manyoni enjoys her hours-long walk to school,
through the African veld, in Zimbabwe.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Z’s Gif</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">t, by Neal Starkman. Z
reaches out to his teacher, who has AIDS.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Chapter
books.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">A Girl
Named Disaster,</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;"> by Nancy Farmer. 11-year-old Nhamo, mother dead, father gone, escapes
a forced marriage in a stolen boat, and travels through Africa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Catwings</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Ursula LeGuin. Ahh…
This is a chapter book with pictures on each page, a good place to start for
longer books. It’s very special. “Mrs. Jane Tabby could not explain why all
four of her children had wings.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Child of
the Owl</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Lawrence Yep. When Casey’s father goes into the hospital, she must go to
stay with her grandmother Paw-Paw in Chinatown (in San Francisco). It’s very
foreign to her at first, but with Paw-Paw’s help, it becomes home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Ella
Enchanted</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Gail Carson Levine. Ella is strong, her curse (to be obedient) is
dangerous, her adventures are many. Marvelous re-spinning of Cinderella.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Esperanza
Rising</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by Pam Munoz Ryan. Esperanza lives in Mexico, where her father owns a ranch.
When he dies, she and her mother lose everything and move to the U.S., where
they join other migrant laborers. She starts out sweet but spoiled, and learns
much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Homecoming</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Cynthia Voigt. Dicey
is about 12 when her mother walks into a mall and never comes back, leaving the
4 kids in the car. Dicey leads the others across Connecticut, and then further,
looking for a home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Julie of
the Wolves, </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">by Jean Craighead George. Julie must leave her village in Alaska, and
figures out how to live with the wolves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Moorchild</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Eloise McGraw.
Saaski is a wild child, who finds out her very strange history. Half elf, her
human life doesn’t fit right, and playing her pipes on the moor is her only
solace. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Roll of
Thunder, Hear My Cry</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Mildred Taylor. Set in the deep south, in the 30’s. Cassie Logan’s
family owns and farms 200 acres. The Logans have managed to protect their
children from the hatred of the whites around them, but this year will be
especially difficult.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Ronia, the
Robber’s Daughter</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Astrid Lindgren. By the author of the classic Pippi Longstocking,
this story has more depth. The robbers live in their mountain stronghold, with
young Ronia beloved by all. Ronia befriends a boy from the rival robber band,
and trouble ensues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Shadow
Spinner</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,
by </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Susan Fletcher</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">. A re-telling of Sheherazade.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Breadwinner</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Deborah Ellis. Set
in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, when women were not allowed outside, and
were required to wear head-to-toe covering burqas. When Parvana’s father is
taken away by soldiers, her family is in dire straits with no man. Parvana
realizes she can pass as a boy, and becomes the breadwinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Great
Gilly Hopkins</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Katherine Paterson. Gilly is in foster care. She tries to mess up
in each home, in hopes that her mother will finally come get her. Maime
Trotter, Gilly’s new foster mother, helps her to grow. (Sad ending…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The
Midwife’s Apprentice</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Karen Cushman. A girl has slept in the dung heap to keep warm, and
the midwife brings her home to do errands. Though she has no name and believes
herself stupid, her caring and help bring her friends and wisdom. (Also great: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Catherine Called Birdy</i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Music
of Dolphins</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Karen Hesse.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>An amazing story of a girl raised
by dolphins, and then (sadly for her) found. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The
Necessary Hunger</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>by Nina Revoyr. When Nancy Takahiro’s dad marries Raina
Webber’s mom, they must live in uncomfortably close quarters. How do you date
someone you live with?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The Ruby in
the Smoke</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Philip Pullman. It’s 1872, Sally Lockhart is 16, an orphan, and
caught up in the mystery of her father’s death. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">The True Confessions
of Charlotte Doyle</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Avi. Charlotte Doyle goes aboard ship, and participates in a
mutiny.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Tree Girl</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by T.A. Barron. A girl
lives at the edge of the sea with an old man, who warns her of the ghouls in
the forest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">Wise Child</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva;">, by Monica Furlong. Set
in Scotland in the middle ages, Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, who teaches
her to read, to work with healing herbs, and even a bit of magic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-45521473615534896792014-03-30T11:45:00.001-07:002014-03-30T11:45:45.902-07:00Brasil: A Bit of HistoryBrazil feels like a second home to me, even though I haven't been back since 1981. Here's an article dealing with <a href="http://thiscantbehappening.net/node/2186">the 1964 coup, the enduring power of the military, and the forces of democracy</a>.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-35262429460118314442013-05-31T15:14:00.001-07:002013-05-31T15:14:57.137-07:00Poem: Keeper of Words, by Ciara SankerMy friend Ciara, is a foodie. I guess she's a wordie too. I'd like to collect my favorite poems, and make a book out of them. This is a good one to start the series with, I think.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Keeper of Words</b><br />
by Ciara Sanker<br />
<br />
My words are getting<br />
hopped up on caffeine<br />
and strung out on nostalgia,<br />
and I am sitting here<br />
sober enough to record<br />
their antics. Their particularity<br />
is ridiculous and beautiful.<br />
They are holding themselves<br />
hostage until I figure out<br />
how to seduce them<br />
onto the page. Reaching out<br />
to grab them by the skinny<br />
wrist, I come away with<br />
ink all over my hands,<br />
and still they are laughing.<br />
Elusive and daring, skipping<br />
themselves like flat stones,<br />
they spark precocious<br />
and brilliant as lilies,<br />
fresh-faced and wearing<br />
a thousand tiny bells.<br />
When I grow quiet,<br />
curiosity overtakes them<br />
and they creep closer<br />
to peer over my shoulder,<br />
suddenly shy and pleased<br />
to find themselves there,<br />
perching comfortable<br />
as dark impish constellations<br />
whispering to each other<br />
then finally composing themselves.
Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-5244107685732595112013-05-28T08:49:00.004-07:002013-05-28T08:49:57.458-07:00DebtFrom Occupy, <a href="http://www.occupy.com/article/you-are-not-loan-strike-debt-and-challenge-rolling-jubilee">a post</a> about a group that buys debt to cancel it, and creates information on debt resistance...Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-47519207309225309862013-04-19T16:06:00.000-07:002013-04-19T16:06:05.114-07:00Link: HandwritingI've been posting all the intriguing non-math links I find at my facebok page. But the problem with that is it's really hard to search on facebook. I'm going to try to come back here.<br />
<br />
North Carolina and South Carolina have pending bills in the legislature to require that cursive handwriting be taught. <a href="http://dianeravitch.net/2013/04/19/handwriting-expert-to-nc-and-sc-dont-mandate-cursive-writing/">Diane Ravitch posted on her blog a letter from a handwriting expert</a>, Kate Gladstone, explaining why this is wrong, and how a legislator gave false testimony.<br />
<br />
Interesting.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-74376921633237138462013-01-20T11:56:00.004-08:002013-01-20T11:56:56.547-08:00R's Learning: Organizing My son is unschooling. That's a term mostly used by homeschoolers, but we don't homeschool. (I'm a single parent, working full-time. It's not possible for us.) He goes to a 'school' in my friend Melanie's home, with about 7 kids, where the philosophy is definitely unschooling. He does what he wants with his day.<br />
<br />
From Kindergarten to 2nd grade, he attended a free school with about 20 kids. (It closed in 2010.) Then for a year and a half, he attended 'school' with about 6 kids, in a number of locations, with a few different people 'teaching', run by a friend of mine. (It closed mid-school-year, at the end of 2011.) That situation involved classes he had to take. He hated that he couldn't opt out, and became (more) resistant to any structured classes during that time.<br />
<br />
During that time, I had to <i>force</i> him to check out a trampoline class at Head Over Heels. He loved it, and he's still doing it.<br />
<br />
Recently, I've noticed him opening up to new things. (Thanks, Melanie!) I had a hunch a few days ago, and said, "If you ever want to do some math, just let me know." He said he would. And that night we did some oral math problems while lying in bed. (For years he has said he hates math. I just now asked if he still does. He said no, and added that he never did. Ok...)<br />
<br />
Today I suggested we take the bus to Head Over Heels, so he can practice for when he'll need to go on his own. This is part of what will eventually get him a phone, so he has lots of reason to be interested. But he would not have been eager in the past. Today, he's eager.<br />
<br />
He asks me how to spell lots of words, because of things he's searching for online. And (the reason for this post), just now he needed the spellings so he could make folders for all the apps on his tablet! He has his stuff organized into travel, media and junk, games, and general. I told him people used to organize things alphabetically, but now, everyone organizes things their own way.<br />
<br />
I want to keep track of things like this. Maybe I'll post more this year.<br />
<br />Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-81152961187058062182012-12-18T08:47:00.005-08:002012-12-18T08:47:41.975-08:00Poem: Her NameI posted this on Facebook, and a friend asked to share it. I wanted to add the Creative Commons 'copyright' explanation, and for that, it's better to have it on a blog. Maybe I'll post more of my poetry here...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Her Name </b><br />
by Sue VanHattum (Fall, 1988)<br />
<br />
I never believed in God in his heaven.<br />
My God-Who-Might-Be always tried to be a She/He.<br />
Heaven was a pleasant thought,<br />
But as I grew, heavens of any sort seemed less important<br />
Than this world of ours, needy of our loving attention.<br />
<br />
I never believed.<br />
But when I started hugging trees<br />
I began to wonder.<br />
<br />
Here is my church, in the green splendor of trees and leaves,<br />
A temple filled with life.<br />
<br />
Sitting among onions in the dirt <br />
I meditate, pulling weeds.<br />
This earth is a generous mother, feeding us well.<br />
<br />
A hot spring, <br />
Its rocky pool surrounded by big white moon flowers<br />
Is sanctuary.<br />
I can worship sun, water, <br />
And the earth’s bony desert presence,<br />
Or just be still, at peace.<br />
<br />
The earth is my source<br />
Life and the forces of life<br />
Sacred and powerful<br />
Calling me home.<br />
<br />
I never believed<br />
But now I can name my joy and wonder<br />
As the goddess in me connects<br />
With the goodness in sun, water, earth, and tree.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en_US" rel="license"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" style="border-width: 0;" /></a><br />
<span property="dct:title" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">Her Name</span> by <span property="cc:attributionName" xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#">Sue VanHattum</span> is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en_US" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License</a>.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-26460107503635255402012-11-17T16:38:00.003-08:002012-11-17T16:38:34.423-08:00Parenting: Sleep TimeI was feeling bad last week about being a crappy parent, because I was guilt tripping my son, trying to get him to do more housework. It's hard to figure that one out. I don't want to do it all, and it's not easy getting him to do what seems like a reasonable share.<br />
<br />
But I'm not a crappy parent, and I think it might help to focus on what I offer my son that's pretty special. So much of what I do well as a parent, I take for granted. ("Of <i>course</i> I _____, how could I not?") Time to meditate some on my values as a parent - the values I really do practice in my life as a mom.<br />
<br />
People are often surprised when I mention that my son sleeps 11 hours a night when he's not woken (either by necessity or excitement). But I think lots of kids would sleep that long if we made space for it. Knowing that sleep is vital for brain development, this is a high priority for me.<br />
<br />
I take this for granted because it feels so basic, but I know most folks can't imagine how they'd give their kids this amount of sleep time. And I haven't been able to myself this past year. Ever since I started teaching 8am classes in January, I've been trying
to get us to bed earlier. But it's hard for me to sleep when I'm not
done with my prep for the next day, and it's hard for my son to sleep
when I'm still up. I'm very excited to have a schedule next semester with only two early starts. So my son will get shorted on his sleep 2 nights a week instead of 4. Last night he slept 12 hours, making up for what he missed all week.<br />
<br />
<br />
Does your child get enough sleep time? <br />
Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-2396036466055232612012-06-07T15:35:00.002-07:002012-06-07T15:35:25.247-07:00What Screentime Does to Our Brains<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Hmm, this looks like my first real post here in over a year and a half...]</span><br />
<br />
I've been reading <a href="http://kloppenmum.wordpress.com/">Kloppenmum</a>, a parenting blog, for a few months now. Today Karyn posted something I want my 10-year-old son to read. (It's pretty hard to limit his screentime, when I'm online all day, working on my book.) I'm trying to think about how to get it down to one page, and maybe how to make it a bit easier to read. What I'm going to post here is a revised version of what she wrote.<br />
<br />
[She gave her permission to post this, along with a request that I promote her books. If you like her blog, I imagine you'll like her books: <i><b>Why People Drive You Crazy: A Fresh Look at Temperament</b></i>, by Karyn Van Der Zwet ($7.40, due out in July), and <i><b>All About Tantrums: Why We Have Them, How to Prevent Them, and What to Do When They Happen</b></i> (due out by Christmas).]<br />
<br />
So read <a href="http://kloppenmum.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/what-screen-time-does-to-our-brains/">her post</a> first, and then you can check out my version of her work below. My question is, what can I take out? (And what would a bright 10-year-old be stumped on?)<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>What Screen Time Does to our Brains</b>,<br />
by Karyn Van Der Zwet<br />
<br />
<b>The Eye</b><br />
<ul>
<li>The fovea makes up 1% of the retina. Usually the fovea is meant to receive information on which we are concentrating intensely. The fovea, therefore, tries to send all possible information to the brain it can. </li>
<li>The rest of the retina gives us peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is there to distract the brain, so it doesn’t become over-loaded from all the information the fovea is feeding it; and it is used to ensure we notice anything sneaking up on us. </li>
<li>When we watch the screen, peripheral vision isn’t used at all. </li>
<li>Pictures and words on the screen are made up of pixels. These are small segments of information, which have to keep moving in order to appear solid. The eye keeps having to focus and refocus on the pixellated images. The brain assumes there is some kind of problem with our eyes and keeps trying to make corrections to the information it is receiving, but it can’t ever sort the problem out. This constant correcting process causes our brains stress. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Brain Reaction</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Brainwaves are given off at different frequencies, showing what kinds of activities our brains are involved with. The more complex the brainwaves the more our brains are being used, and this is what they crave: we experience this when we are in the zone and children are naturally in this state when involved in old-fashioned, open-ended play. </li>
<li>When we watch the screen our brains give off alpha waves. This usually shows our brain is in a state of deep relaxation, but the huge amounts of alpha waves given off show our brains are shutting down. They are over-whelmed. This is a similar state to that which we can get into if we are being mauled by a tiger – the brain assumes we are in mortal danger. This state is a pleasant place to be, but not where we are meant to be unless we are waiting for healing or death. </li>
<li>When we watch the screen, our brains give off theta waves. Theta waves are usually given off when we are storing information in short-term memory for later processing and they are also released when we are drifting off to sleep. When we watch the screen the abundance of theta waves show there is no conscious thought happening at all. We’re in a state of daze. (Slack jaw and wide eyes.) The brain cannot keep up with the huge amount of data we are expecting it to manage. </li>
<li>The fight/flight part of our brain automatically interprets flickering lights and loud noises as signs of danger. Pixellation is flickering. The constant stimulation of the fight/flight system while we watch the screen makes our brain release the stress hormone cortisol. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Automatic Replays and Stress reactions</b><br />
<ul>
<li>There are more psychiatric problems for those of us who live in noisy environments and the noisier the environment the less well children do academically. Electronic and mechanical noises are not the noises our brains were built to deal with. </li>
<li>We cannot turn off the impact of visual stimuli. Our brain constantly replays what it has seen to try to make sense of it. </li>
<li>After 9/11, the more a person had watched re-runs of the events, the more likely they suffered psychologically, regardless of whether they had lost someone or lived close to the sites. </li>
<li>People show the full impact of stress reactions after an event. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Addiction </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Happy brain chemicals are usually released during the brain activities associated with alpha and theta waves. </li>
<li>Any activity we do during which lots of alpha and theta waves are released, we want to do again and again. This is how addiction works. (As a simplistic example, alcoholics usually emit very low rates of alpha and theta waves.) </li>
<li>If a person cannot go without the screen for 48 hours, they are probably addicted. </li>
<li>The only way we can know if we are or aren’t addicted to electronic entertainment is to remove it, for 48 hours. If we are addicted we will begin to show the same reaction as anyone going through withdrawal: denial, anger and bargaining are the first three stages. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>The Positive Effects of Less Screen Time (After Withdrawal)</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Fewer arguments. Less violence, and general nastiness. </li>
<li>Fewer silly noises and baby talk. </li>
<li>Less frenetic running about and other seemingly out of control behaviours. </li>
<li>Better sleep patterns, and no Night Terrors. </li>
<li>Greater oral communication skills and more interesting conversations. </li>
<li>Greater co-operation. Increased ability to play alone and to entertain themselves. Greater calm.
</li>
</ul>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-81770064517264393392012-06-07T13:40:00.001-07:002012-06-07T13:42:06.686-07:00Stopped and Frisked? Use this app...<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Note: I pretty much stopped posting here when I started getting more responses to my Facebook posts than these. You can friend me there. But this one, I want to be sure I can find, and this is the better spot for it.]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">At occupy.com, check out <a href="http://www.occupy.com/article/stopped-and-frisked-theres-app">Stopped and Frisked? There's an app for that</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p_CnqKjiRQ0?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's local to New York city, but I'm sure that can be modified. </span>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-87767915750383240562011-11-03T07:07:00.000-07:002011-11-03T07:07:19.766-07:00Successful? What's that?“The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people,” writes David Orr in <i>The Earth in Mind</i>. “But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[found on <a href="http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/real-education-is-relevant/">Cooperative Catalyst] </a></span>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-52468271447831062302011-10-19T16:34:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:34:25.432-07:00Reading up on the Occupy X Protests<a href="http://starhawksblog.org/?p=645">Starhawk</a> pointed me to <a href="http://wildandserene.blogspot.com/">Riyanna</a>. And <a href="http://mathbabe.org/2011/10/13/wall-street-and-the-protests/">mathbabe</a> pointed me to <a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/10/david-graeber-on-playing-by-the-rules-%E2%80%93-the-strange-success-of-occupy-wall-street.html">David Graeber</a>. If I weren't a mama, I'd be there. The times are bad, and maybe people are finally rising up.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-79335865029076543692011-10-01T18:25:00.000-07:002011-10-01T18:25:52.662-07:00I hope Michigan can fight off the attacks on eduction<a href="http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/in-michigan-the-union-mobilizes-in-illinois-they-tell-members-to-sit-quietly/">Fred Klonsky</a> pointed me to this video:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qU4nmDTZUtU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-55948110728474720022011-09-27T07:54:00.000-07:002011-09-27T07:54:16.517-07:00CreepyThe police are watching I-80 Westbound this morning. It sure doesn't look like they're watching for traffic violations. A motorcycle cop has been on the overpass near my house for over half an hour, just watching the cars. There were cop cars at the 2 entrances I passed this morning, too. And I think I saw another motorcycle cop on the left side of the freeway lanes.<br />
<br />
I wish I knew what it's about...Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-15948404331053751012011-09-11T16:08:00.000-07:002011-09-11T16:08:12.653-07:00What is Debt? by David Graeber<a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/08/what-is-debt-%E2%80%93-an-interview-with-economic-anthropologist-david-graeber.html">Fascinating interview</a>. Here's my favorite bit so far:<br />
<blockquote>And, I might add, if Aristotle were around today, I very much doubt he would think that the distinction between renting yourself or members of your family out to work and selling yourself or members of your family to work was more than a legal nicety. He’d probably conclude that most Americans were, for all intents and purposes, slaves.</blockquote><br />
(Thanks to Cathy aka <a href="http://mathbabe.org/2011/09/09/debt/">mathbabe</a>.)Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-87993459351945425772011-09-05T12:16:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:16:51.474-07:00Happy Labor DayI'm watching a math video right now, but I hope I get a chance to watch this later today.<br />
<br />
Mentioned by Marc Bousquet, in his '<a href="http://howtheuniversityworks.com/wordpress/archives/292">Every Day is Labor Day</a>' post:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cxUuU1jwMgM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-26280529189129772142011-08-14T06:56:00.001-07:002011-08-14T06:58:08.379-07:00Charter Schools, Hmm...<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/09/1004935/-Florida-Christian-school-magically-becomes-public-charter-school">From Christian School to Charter School</a>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-47823216731496482622011-07-21T12:46:00.000-07:002011-07-21T12:47:12.874-07:00Gates Foundation: What Can Big Money Do Right?They interfere with the education system, and cause more trouble than good. But perhaps this initiative has a better chance of doing good in the world?<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fdwvuTrycYU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-78147802318354600562011-06-04T18:10:00.000-07:002011-06-04T18:10:12.770-07:00Visitors...Hmm, I've neglected this blog, and just now noticed that I went from around 500 page views last time I looked to almost 5 times that. There were some huge numbers in April, when I did nothing here. None of them commented (as far as I know), and I have no idea what brought them here.<br />
<br />
If anyone reading this can tell me what happened, I'm curious.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-73789724200865135742011-05-30T12:10:00.000-07:002011-05-30T12:10:14.115-07:00Good Article on Racism<a href="http://loveisntenough.com/2011/05/30/good-whites-bad-whites-a-false-dichotomy-prevents-the-anti-racism-progress-of-white-people/comment-page-1/#comment-1006031">Good Whites, Bad Whites: A False Dichotomy</a>Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-3860048304024361372011-03-17T07:40:00.000-07:002011-06-02T16:17:48.842-07:00Spam Evolves...It used to be "<span style="font-size: large;">You won big!</span>" Now, for the first time, I've gotten spam that's trying to scare me into replying:<br />
<blockquote><pre>Thank you for ordering from Bobijou Inc.
This message is to inform you that your order has been received
and is currently being processed.
Your order reference is 93611.
You will need this in all correspondence.
This receipt is NOT proof of purchase.
We will send a printed invoice by mail to your billing address.
You have chosen to pay by credit card.
Your card will be charged for the amount of 717.00 USD
and "Bobijou Inc." will appear next to the charge on your statement.
You will receive a separate email confirming your order has been despatched.
Your purchase and delivery information appears below in attached file.
Thanks again for shopping at Bobijou Inc.
________________________________________ </pre><br />
name="Doc-0357.pdf"<br />
Content-transfer-encoding: base64<br />
Content-Disposition: attachment;<br />
filename="Doc-0357.pdf"<br />
<br />
JVBERi0xLjMNCiWTjIueIFJlcG9ydExhYiBHZW5lcmF0ZWQgUERGIGRvY3VtZW50IGh0dHA6<br />
Ly93d3cucmVwb3J0bGFiLmNvbQ0KJSAnQmFzaWNGb250cyc6</blockquote><br />
Don't reply to junk!Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-84751276933738623682011-03-08T09:06:00.000-08:002011-03-08T09:06:45.585-08:00I Like Laura's Style of ParentingLaura Grace Weldon writes about <a href="http://lauragraceweldon.com/2011/03/08/guerrilla-encouragement-efforts/">Guerrilla Encouragement Efforts</a>.<br />
<br />
I wonder if I can get my son interested in some of these sweet games.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1779628085730013760.post-78282440008037416432011-03-02T07:40:00.000-08:002011-03-02T07:40:09.781-08:00WisconsinSeems I'm posting here once a month these days. I've been listening to the news on Egypt, but saw no blog posts I <i><b>needed</b></i> to keep track of. Wisconsin may not be as big a deal in the world, but <a href="http://howtheuniversityworks.com/wordpress/archives/282">this post</a> ... I want to read it again later.<br />
<br />
Overall, I much prefer finding non-violent ways to communicate, but I was tickled that the governor was told by a whole restaurant how wrong he is:<br />
<blockquote>However much he likes to talk about the silent majority who supports him, I have seen almost no evidence that anyone likes or supports Walker, let alone a majority. He literally cannot be seated in a restaurant in Madison. Walker went to one of Madison’s premier fine-dining restaurants, and the owners<a href="http://reality-based-world.org/2011/02/26/scott-walker-asked-to-leave-local-madison-restaurant-after-being-booed-by-diners" target="_blank"> refused to serve him</a>. </blockquote>The owner (or manager) asked him to leave because other customers were booing him. What if, instead, each customer came up to him and said, "Let me tell you what collective bargaining has done for someone I know." And include not only the (legitimate) economic benefits, but the way that unions have helped teachers to do their jobs better, or helped other workers to fight for safe working conditions.<br />
<br />
But perhaps booing is right, when he's so dishonest, claiming that there's a budget crisis when he created it by giving tax breaks to the rich.Sue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.com0