I love surfing the internet with a cup of tea or cocoa, preferably while perched on the couch with something I’ve seen a hundred times before on the television. It’s my favorite way to relax and recharge when I’m a little burnt out. When I find something good, I pause the TV, and read. And anything I really like, I add to a list to return to later. This list often turns into blog posts later on when I have a chance to think about things more seriously, or pair up articles that send my brain spinning.
But sometimes these articles and links build up on me, or I don’t have anything to add, but I keep them handy anyway. Here’s a peak at my current list:
1. My new favorite blog is SelfAwarePatterns. The author, Michael Smith, hits just the right level of depth and detail when talking science, math, philosophy, and pretty much everything that’s interesting about life. He picks great topics and shares a lot of really cool stuff. I often struggle to find the right tone when talking about reason, metaphysics, empiricism, etc., bouncing back and forth between way-too-academic-for-anyone-to-care-about and so-oversimplified-it-seems-like-I-don’t-know-what-I’m-talking-about, but this blog is perfect. I’m currently reading my way through the archives, and it is awesome.
2. Another blog I love, even though I don’t have children of my own, is Talking Math with Kids. This site offers great examples of how to support a child’s mathematical development beyond just doing homework problems.
3. This awesome ad for Guinness, featuring the Society of Elegant Persons of the Congo (aka, the Sapeurs), is great for so many reasons. American society is so afraid of men being interested in clothing, so I love how this ad pairs such stereotypically masculine jobs with the attention to fashion and showing off with such celebration. The ad reminded me of some awesome men in the swing dance scene who put time and effort into looking great and finding fun ways to express themselves through clothing. It also reminded me that I haven’t broken out my tweed blazer in a while, and it’s high time.
4. This puff piece on 5 True Stories Cut from Movies for Being Too Unrealistic is a fun read, and a fun reminder why reading non-fiction is just as entertaining as reading fiction.
5. This short essay called “The Relativity of Wrong” by Asimov is free on the internet. Who knew? I’m keeping this in my back pocket for the next time I teach an introductory philosophy class and my students claim that because there is no right answer, they can never be wrong.
6. I’m sure everyone has, by now, seen a video of an elephant painting. But did you know you could buy the art they create? I’d love to have something painted by an elephant up on my walls!
7. I’m going out to California this summer for my best friend’s wedding, and we’re making a trip of it. I’m shamelessly using The Well Traveled Wife blog to augment our travel plans – Thai cooking class? Yes please. The author points out all sorts of fun things to do to go beyond the usual touristy stuff, and also makes really thorough recommendations. It’s just a really lovely blog.
4 thoughts on “Wandering the Internet”
Professor VJ Duke
Wow, you follow intelligent blogs. I think the professor needs some more intelligence! 🙂
Michelle Joelle
Well, I also follow some fashion, wedding, and home decor blogs, too. I like a healthy balance of mentally stimulating and “Ooh, pretty!” in my life. 🙂
SelfAwarePatterns
Wow, I’m honored Michelle. Thank you!
There’s some good stuff here, particularly the Asimov article which I only heard about recently.
Michelle Joelle
You’re so welcome! I actually had this post written up last week (I like to stay ahead of schedule), so imagine my excitement when you reblogged me the other day!