Now with must reads: Part-time Indians, black witches and college students
Here are some things across the internet that I found or recently rediscovered that are really freaking cool and interesting.
Music:
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande – Nearly everyone knows this song exists, but have you actually listened to the whole song? It is a really beautiful declaration to self-love and appreciation to past relationships and how they help shape a person.
“Unity Song” by SNL – This song is about all the things that show how similar we are despite our differences. These are things like wet jeans, etc. Like most songs SNL produces, the replayability stems from the humor rather than the composition. This is after Thanksgiving, but if a scuffle breaks out during Christmas with the family, try this song.
Must Reads:
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian” – This short 2007 novel follows 14-year-old Arnold Spirit as he decides to take classes 30 miles away at a school off the reservation he lives on and the chaos that ensues. I checked this book out for free on Libby and it was narrated by the author, Sherman Alexie. I found out later there are illustrations in the novel as Arnold loves to make cartoons, so it is worth looking at an ebook or a physical copy.
“Today’s College Students Aren’t Who You Think They Are” – Roughly 74 percent of students fall into what people consider a “non-traditional student.” This short NPR article (audio clip available) shows the demographic shift in college enrollment and what colleges should consider to meet that demand. Lots of people, like me, fall into this and it can be a bit frustrating to be the “other” type of student, but now we are the norm.
”The Witches of Baltimore” – This Atlantic article interviews several black women about their experiences with embracing African witchcraft. Some of these women practice both this and Christianity while others have completely left all Abrahamic religions.
Movies and Television:
“House of Cards” (last season) – Kevin Spacey being removed from the show entirely was definitely different, but Claire Underwood and Doug Stamper hold their own in the final season. Luckily Claire’s ascension to power has been a slow climb for a few seasons, so nothing that happens is out of step with the regular insanity of the show.
“Toy Story 4” teaser trailer – Very reminiscent of the Valet skits, Key and Peele return for the second “Toy Story 4” teaser trailer.
Memes:
These memes come from a variety of places like iFunny, Reddit, Facebook and Twitter. Future blogs will feature videos as well.
More Ya Know:
“Love the Art, Hate the Artist” – This is the most nuanced discussion of this long-argued topic. She uses mostly references from the “art world” but also puts those points next to popular examples in film, tv, etc. This video is not meant to sway, but to get you to reflect on what you do with what you “see, consume and either actively or passively support.”
“My Worst Job Search Fail” – Hank tells the story of his “worst job search fail.” This also provides some insight on the dumbest ways people don’t land interviews and the easiest things to avoid while on the job hunt.
Fan-made “God is a Woman” animation – This is just 40 seconds, but it is so enchanting. @Naked_Cherry has a process video on this channel too.
“Duet” – This almost 4-minute hand-drawn animation was a short Google film made by former Disney animator Glen Keane. He is most famous for working on projects like “Fox and the Hound,” “Pete’s Dragon” and “Aladdin.” If you have certain Moto phones, you can have an interactive experience with this story.
“The facial prosthetics of World War I” – Most videos pertaining to the soldiers of WWI talk about the PTSD and record deaths, however many survived and those who did found themselves disfigured beyond what science could restore at the time. This fascinating video discusses how sculptor Anna Coleman helped restore confidence in those veterans and how her later war memorials would shape the way war was depicted in the U.S.
Animals doing things – These are just some clips of animals doing amazing things: a cow playing fetch, elephants saving a calf from drowning, cows using a massager and cat “says” what’s up.
