“Don’t believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.”
― Douglas Adams
Yes, yes, you correctly surmise that the links are late. Because my first week back from holiday was so badly managed that I spent Saturday comatose or lying on the bathroom floor due to nausea (or worse). Migraines are no joke, kittens, practice self care better than your negligent Aunt C.
Hilariously one of my non-resolutions was to get back into proper blogging but this far I’m making a hash of it. Bear with me while work evens out and I’ll rise to the surface again in no time. Here are your links, share more good things you’ve found this year so far in the comments!
How are those New Year Resolutions coming along?
Why thank you, don’t mind if I do!
I spent several mesmerizing minutes watching these short vids from Chanel showing some of the beautiful work the members of the atelier do in creating the haute couture designs.
This week in Mormon news, armed takeovers of government buildings! Organise 100% peaceful and non-disruptive events promoting women’s ordination and, you’ll be excommunicated, wholly cut off from salvation according to the faithful. But seize a government facility, notable supporters armed and claiming inspiration based on the church’s teachings and/or scripture, and you’ll be “strongly condemn[ed]” on the official news site, by golly. I’m withholding further snark until this pans out more, but at the moment I find it irritating, depressing, and frightening.
[Added later] Far more relevant thoughts than my own on the Bundy case regarding the difference race and religion make to this scenario in this country.
[Added yet later] Well fine, I think I’m just going to keep posting links on this all week. Twitter responds with it’s usual mix of poetic and profane. A few days in and I’m still irritated, but I’m also increasingly baffled.
[Later still…] Seriously. Send snacks? Using a mail system run by…the government you are protesting? Back to your regularly scheduled links, kittens, this is past cray cray.
Xarissa alerted me to the fact that this exists and now I’m counting down the days.
Fantastic interview and the idea of tenacity at work is something I’ve been meditating on lately.
Haute couture meets the hijab and the results are pretty fab. They are also an interesting commentary on the strange ways cultures and wealth intersect the the globalized age.
And finally, something pretty to try, to cleanse yourself of reading the internet too much this week.
“As life goes on it becomes tiring to keep up the character you invented for yourself, and so you relapse into individuality and become more like yourself everyday.”
― Agatha Christie, An Autobiography
By the time this goes live I’ll be in the country ringing in the New Year at a friend’s country estate. Not a word of that is exaggeration, kittens, and believe me I’m just as baffled as you as to how these things happen. I’m just grateful that they do. However, it must be said, that if no one is murdered (as I believe is customary for house parties in the country), I will consider the BBC and a large part of my childhood reading to be nothing but a bastion of lies.
Happy New Year, ducklings. It’s been a hell of a ride in 2015 and I’m very much looking forward to seeing where 2016 takes us. See you on the other side!
Well that’s just positively heartwarming!
I finished the novel Girl Waits With Gun in one sitting (highly recommend), and was delighted to read more about the historical, true story and aftermath. The author’s website has more photos, plus slightly less inflammatory headlines–modern ones at least.
The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker in 360!
I’m a bit in awe of this woman’s lifestyle.
National Geographic‘s photo competition entry shots are a delightful way to inject some wonder into your day.
Anglo Saxon London, quite a bit roomier than these days.
How US-based brands sell abroad.
And speaking of Refinery29, I’ve recently discovered they have some genuinely smashing YouTube series that are well worth checking out. The stories I have really enjoyed lately are the Style Out There series which looks at how people and places create unique fashion and lifestyle ideas. Start with this one on Tangiers and help me plan a vacation there immediately, and then check out this one on two Orthodox Jewish fashion designers.
A piece I enjoyed and which made me think a great deal about how changes in society influence changes in our storytelling. And vice versa.
“It is the summer of the soul in December!”
– The Muppet Christmas Carol
Hi darlings! On this festive eve, I bring you an extra long set of links to keep help you have interesting tidbits to discuss across the table. It’s been a rough couple of weeks in the lead up to Christmas but I have lovely images from around the city to share, tales of what might be the most amazing vintage/secondhand shop I’ve yet discovered, and new years resolutions to catch you up with.
Meanwhile our house is crammed to bursting with food. Seriously, we might have overdone it a bit! In Rodgers family tradition we eat our big meal on Christmas Eve and so, to work! Happy Christmas, ducklings.
Rough week? The internet it here to help!
There is nothing about this that is not amazing.
The world’s best dressed subcultures.
And on the other hand, girls really can’t win.
A different kind of fetishization with Victoria Secret. And yes, 100% appropriate to read at work.
How the rich shop, fascinating reading for anyone in sales, marketing, or just interested in retail!
Guns don’t kill people, selfies do. Or do they?
Urban living and its attendant stresses are not a new thing.
Proto-written language may be older than we think. Which is amazing.
Interesting and only mildly horrifying.
In the spirit of the season, Santa suits!
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
― Hamilton Wright Mabie
We have been slightly struggling to get into the Christmas spirit this year–unusual as I tend to go giddy with the carols and candles and food the day after Thanksgiving–but today we solved it by marching out into the city and returning with a tree and the first batch of presents. I’m currently alternating between Vince Guaraldi’s charming Peanuts Christmas music, the Cambridge Singers and the MoTab (that’s Mormon Tabernacle Choir for those less familiar with Mormon slang. I may not attend services anymore but you will pry their holiday music from my cold, dead fingers). As a result, holiday mood activated.
Other weekend highlights include vigorous email exchanges with Katerina about her latest manuscript, a long overdue Skype session with Xarissa, and a massive binge on library books. Since my work life balance has been somewhat restored in the last few weeks I’ve been able to get back into reading for pleasure and it’s been such a great relaxant. Here are your links, piglets, and let me know what you’re getting up to this week–emphasis on holiday goodness!
I have a black tie event next week and I’m not sure what to wear.
Power perfumes are back, baby!
A tiny drop of faith in humanity restored.
A roundup of the important cultural happenings this year…
Six different ways to make French toast. Hie thee to a kitchen, kittens.
All Songs Considered top 2015 list.
Thoughts on Mr. Rogers.
Read this and then remember the immortal “Stuff” lecture by Miranda Priestly.
There are two places in the world where men can most effectively disappear — the city of London and the South Seas.
-Herman Melville
I’m getting old, kittens, I have now taken a day-time nap two weekends in a row. This is unprecedented as I historically have been unable to sleep at all during the day unless pretty badly ill indeed. I’ve also found a silver hair so my goal of achieving Cruella de Vil like locks may yet become reality.
The weekend is just winding down here at Small Dog headquarters, so I’m off to bed with a pile of library books while Jeff unwinds with basketball. We spent the last two days taking in markets and Christmas decorations but alas, Monday and responsibility beckons. Here are some links to help postpone it just a little while longer…
CGP Grey has a new vid on the inequitable bio-hazard swap of the Columbian Exchange. Let’s hear it for the “soap and soup” phase of history.
Belgium, I love and miss you, you brave and wacky bastard. As long as Belgium stays defiant and weird, guys, I genuinely believe hatred and terrorism are doomed.
Thoughts on managers and the perfect opportunity to share stories about good and bad bosses. To the comments!
Another YouTube link, this time from the Royal Ballet on the history of pointe work.
Thoughts on tiny houses, living with less, and appropriation.
Why is American dress so casual, and is it a bad thing?
This sent me on a delightful half hour of Etsy searching.
Gotta say, there’s still plenty of park canoodling these day.
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Something pretty for your Monday, kittens.
Covent Garden often has installation artwork on display, but the city went nuts (myself included) for Charles Pétillon’s installation Heartbeat.
It’s down now, replaced by festive decorations (check those out too), but I’m still thinking about the gorgeousness weeks later, so I thought I’d spread some of the fond memories to kick the week off on a positive note. I’m waiting until Thanksgiving has passed to crack out the Christmas music and kick off yuletide, just three more days, but this is a nice amuse bouche, non?
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Jeff is off to Cyprus for a couple of days for a work training, because his lift is such a trial. Meanwhile I’ve had to get out my winter coat for the first time as the temperature has dropped here in merrie old England. In all seriousness, we’ve been keeping an eye on the news as we’ve had no idea what kind of travel security issues might arise at the last minute. It’s a complicated world we live in, and we live pretty physically close to some of the volatile spots. On a related not there are quite a few ISIS based links today because it’s been on my mind this week and several stories and pieces have caught my eye, and I think we need to understand its methods and motivations much better than we do.
When I was in high school, 9/11 happened. I was the daughter of an active-duty military officer and lived on a military base at the time. It was an event that affected the lives of my friends and family and has immeasurably shaped the world my generation came of age in. But for all I’m a staunch supporter of the armed forces, my father is retired now but my brother is an officer (fulfilling a dream and intention he’s had since he could walk), I don’t think terrorism in general and the particular breed of it ISIS represents can be overcome by force.
Curious as to your thoughts, though, kittens, as I’m not sure there are any positive answers as to why people do the things they do. Here are your links, be safe this weekend
I have good intentions, I really do, but the capsule wardrobe escapes me as well.
Guilty but getting better.
One or two of these rules actually aren’t terrible…but most fill me with the urge to make rude sounds and hand gestures in response. So, failure?
Hey, Jeff! I think we’re doing alright.
We haven’t had a Mormon-y link in a while: here’s video project out of a Brigham Young University grad regarding the LDS church’s recent changes to their policies regarding gay members and prospective members. Personal and heartfelt.
For more insights into this particular policy and how it’s resonating in the Mormon community, this post from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago is academic, accessible, and most importantly accurate. It’s a great primer into the policy, the conflicting theological emphases behind reactions both in favour of and against it, and why it’s made as many waves as it has.
Well this is is pretty horrifying.
Annabelle has a bright future ahead of her.
Some long reading on the selfie.
Typical language warning as with all Cracked references, but ISIS has a magazine (really) and there’s a lot of info about the organisation that can be gleaned from it.
For a more high brow take, this NYT piece gives a personal look in to how ISIS finds recruits, friends, and allies. And it’s terrifying.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
It was an odd weekend where we’ve been glued to the news except for a brief interlude to celebrate Jeff’s 30th birthday. It was good to spend some time just focusing on being together. The world we live in is messy but there is much to be thankful for and far, far more reasons to hope than not. That quote above is something I believe firmly and fiercely. Here are your links, kittens, and let me know the bright sparks you’ve found or held on to this weekend.
Caitlin Moran’s pre-posthumous letter to her daughter has some pretty good advice.
A sad story, but amazing that we have a record of this woman from this time in a minority group.
As we are scrimping until Christmas, I pinned a bunch of recipes from this. Because we will never give up brunch.
This Instagram account had me in stitches!
I got 1370. Meaning A.D.
For the sleep deprived amongst you.
Bill Blass is back. Thoughts?
Finally, most importantly, Peace for Paris.
Read up, kids, Aunt C. is busy!
True story, I planned on being a spinster when I grew up. Then I became a child bride at 23, Jeff ruining all my plans. Look at what I’ve missed out on!
Great interview with girl and nerd crush Kate Beaton.
Well this total isn’t existential at all! But it’s a really good read.
Might need a cuff from this shop.
It’s Movember, let’s hear it for the boys!
I have Imposter Syndrome something fierce, and really liked this read–particularly with the story of the Buddha–from the NYT “sketch guy.”
Best books of 2015, per Goodreads.
A short blurb on topic on my mind lately.
Small Dog Syndrome 