I'm reading this really interesting book right now called The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell. It's basically about how ideas or trends reach a point where they spread like wildfire, and how and why that happens. I've barely begun it, but I'm completely fascinated.

Right now he's talking about Connectors. Basically, people who know lots of people, and connect them with other people or places or things. What I found really kind of interesting was that near the end of the section he talks about the types of relationships these people have -- namely, the people they're connected with are generally speaking, more acquaintances than friends. The relationships never go beyond a certain level, and they're fine with that. Moreover, the value that these people have as Connectors is actually higher BECAUSE their relationships aren't "deep friendships." If they were intimate friends of yours, chances are that you would already know all of the contacts that they already know. Because they have less intense relationships, they are more likely to be in contact with people from a broader spectrum, and therefore are more likely to be able to connect you with the person/job/whatever that can help you.

Sound familiar? A little bit like Twitter, even?

I suspect I'll have much more to say about this book as I progress.

Reading a biography of Trudeau which is incredibly detailed to the point of being boring (not at home right now, or I would add the book info). What's striking me, however, is the combination of arrogance, self-discipline and desire for self-improvement he's showing at this stage of the book, where he's in his early '20's.

He's arrogant enough to say that he feels sorry for people who will not be able to say that they "met him when..." (Paraphrasing, but that's essentially what he wrote.)

He's self-disciplined enough to stay up late and study to ensure that he gets top marks, and aware enough to express thankfulness that he's healthy enough to do so.

And he's focused enough to make reading lists for himself to work on improving his mind, and to say things like, "THIS is the kind of man I want to be, and this is what I should be reading to help me get there." I don't think I know anyone in their early '20's who does that. And it's making me want to challenge myself more in my reading material.

(Side note: typing this from a computer lab in a high school, where I'm volunteering at the BC Disability Games, and I should just like to say that I truly detest Macs. That is all.)

I just finished reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

'K... so is it just me, or was Frankenstein a bit of a tool?

He builds this creature. Immediately gets freaked out and runs away from it, abandoning it to whatever fate it can scrape together for itself. Spends months just trying to forget it exists. Comes face to face with the creature, who it turns out, is remarkably sensitive and intelligent for something built out of dead people parts by a mad scientist type. Is shocked to discover the thing isn't too thrilled with him as a result of his treatment of it, and just for good measure, curses the beejeezus out of it. Promises to build it a mate, so it can stop being lonely and pathetic. Builds the mate... then changes his mind and destroys it right in front of the creature... then is SURPRISED when the thing gets pissed off and starts killing off everything near and dear to him.

I dunno. By the time I was done I sorta just felt like Frankenstein got everything coming to him, and more.

I'm reading Paul Martin's biography, Hell or High Water.

I have to say, I really wasn't expecting to read that he went skinny dipping with Brian Mulroney. Nope.

- Watched the U.S. Vice Presidential debates last night. Surprisingly, Palin did better than expected. On the other hand, considering how low everyone's expectations were... is that anything to brag about?

- Am grumpy that the debates took place too late to be skewered by The Daily Show, and today's Friday, so now I have to wait until *MONDAY*. Bah!!

- Reading The End of Faith by Sam Harris. Barely started it, and was getting bored initially, because really, do I need another book telling me that faith is irrational? Old argument, old news, got the t-shirt. However, then he began to build a really interesting case for religious moderates being just as dangerous as extremists -- don't know that I agree with it, but it's a new point of view and I find the way he built his argument both interesting and logical. And it looks like now he's leading into an argument that spirituality still has a valid place in the world, and I'll be interested to see how he builds that, considering everything he's already stated. So it looks like I'm in for the long haul.

- Due date is Sunday. Am less nervous than I was, which is nice, although still fairly nervous. Have been sending "Come Friday" vibes down to the Tiny Dictator. We shall see.

- Was in Van yesterday and dropped in at my old workplace to see former co-workers, which was so awesome. Then ran into a former client on the way out, which was also awesome! Then met up with a friend and her new baby, and we hit the baby sections of H&M and Zara, and basically made complete fools of ourselves over the cuteness. BTW, I love that H&M has super cute, but cheap baby stuff... Zara, on the other hand, has even CUTER baby stuff except the prices are about three times higher. Of course. Also, it hurt me to walk past all the adult fall clothes at H&M, cuz there were about 50 things there that I think would look amazing on me, if I had a waist and stuff.

I went to check out Bitch's plea for help this morning and was super happy to see that they've reached their goal and can put out another issue. Yay!

This incident, combined with reading Atlas Shrugged recently, really got me to thinking though. I'm not an economist, so bear with me as stumble through this thought process.

If a product can't support itself through its normal business practises, doesn't that there's either a) something wrong with the product, or b) something wrong with their business model? Is it reasonable to expect that a failing product with either be propped up by the government or survive through the charity of the average person? I sort of think it's not.

I recognize that for me to have access to something that's not "mainstream" I'm going to pay more, and I think that makes perfect sense. I've bought many issues of Bitch in the past, and although I don't remember how their pricing is, I assume it's probably higher than the average magazine. I have no issue with that whatsoever... what they sell is worth way more to me than the $5 or whatever I'd spend on some brainless gossip magazine or a lame fashion magazine that's going to talk down to me and tell me to buy a $500 purse. In the same way that I will happily pay way more for a meal in a good restaurant or any other higher quality product -- it's worth it. On the other hand, for whatever reason I've never cared enough about Bitch to actually buy a subscription. Why not?

So for a bunch of reasons, both because the publishing industry is not doing well at the moment, and Bitch caters to a niche audience, Bitch isn't doing well. That's a sign of the times, I think -- and doesn't it make sense that nature/the market should take it's course and Bitch (in its current form, at least) should fail? (I say this even though on an emotional level I would hate for that to happen.) I believe in giving money to charities you support, but I don't necessarily believe in propping up failing businesses. On the other hand, how do you tell the difference between the two in this case? If I believe in Bitch's message, shouldn't I be willing to give them extra money so they can survive?

I didn't give them anything this time around, by the way. I thought about it, and didn't for a bunch of reasons, one of them being that I just don't have a ton of extra cash kicking around at the moment. I do think, however, that I'm going to buy a subscription very shortly. I can do that with a clear conscience. :)

I finally finished Atlas Shrugged and I question whether one should really be experiencing such a profound sense of accomplishment over the simple fact of getting to the end of a book. Seriously, reading that thing was one long, hard task.

I enjoyed it, sort of, but the preachiness really got to be enough after a while. Ayn Rand isn't afraid to beat a horse half to death, sit and gloat over it for a while, then finish the job with a rocket launcher. That 84 page radio address near the end of the book? I got through about two pages, skipped a few pages ahead, skipped a few more, then gave up and blatently flipped to the end. I get it, Rand. Capitalism good. Socialism bad. Would you like fries with that?

In further news, I think I might have experienced a Braxton-Hicks contraction today... either that or it was the weirdest, hurtiest but most short-lived back injury of my life. I was getting out of my car when I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my lower left back. It was... totally debilitating. I broke out in a cold sweat, tried desperately not to puke and stood there trying to figure out a way to feel better. Eventually I managed to ease myself back into the car so I could at least not be standing, which didn't help at all. The whole thing lasted a couple of minutes maybe, which felt like forever, then slowly faded away, after which I felt fine, although slightly mentally spacey. If that's labour, uhm... I'd like to take a pass, please. Also, please pass the drugs. Thank you.

Also in further news, I went to a toddler's birthday party today, and met Tegan of Tegan and Sara there. That was sort of cool and all sorts of random. And totally more impressive than my meeting Kurt Lockwood story, although not nearly as amusing.

So it occurs to me that I'm not actually the only woman in the world who's ever been pregnant, and my pregnancy has actually been pretty problem-free and relatively easy compared to many, and I was REALLY whiny in the post yesterday. Also my husband came home tonight with two dozen roses and a jade pendant, and seriously I need to get over myself 'cuz DAMN do I have it good.

So. Let's talk about Atlas Shrugged.



I'm getting near-ish the end... well, the last third of this incredibly long book at least... and I find myself continually conflicted. I basically agree with a lot of what Ayn Rand thinks, although she takes it to a ridiculous extreme. I believe in capitalism, I am somewhat fiscally conservative, I'm more or less on board with what she has to say (although her views on charity could do with a little, uhm...softening). None of which changes the fact that I find her insufferably smug, annoyingly long-winded and OHMYGOD the damn horse is dead already, please stop beating it.

Also, I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure she views other women with a certain amount of contempt. It seems like her protagonist is the only intelligent woman in the whole book, thus far at least, and if other women are smart they're either evil, misguided or locked into very traditionally female roles. The heroine has no female equal in this book, and Ayn Rand sort of strikes me as one of those women who just mysteriously doesn't have any female friends because she thinks they're all below her. (Totally surmising here. For all I know she spent every weekend at Womyn's Retreats getting in touch with her inner goddess, or whatever.)

I'm also finding myself really, really irritated with the choices the main character is making, because after a certain point they just don't make any sense. She's supposed to be this smart, forward thinking woman who is viewed as cutthroat because she's so logical, but at the point I'm at she's just made the most illogical decision she could possibly make, and it's just not well justified.

Last night I picked up The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumberg.



I've just begun it, but the first few pages brought up some interesting thoughts about body image, fat phobia, and my soon-to-be-assumed role as a mother to a little girl.

I'll cut this, as I'm gonna transcribe some paragraphs and it may get lengthly.

( Read more... )

I don't read a huge amount of fiction, except for my obsessive compulsive reading of all things Agatha Christie. However, B picked up a copy of Robertson Davies' What's Bred In the Bone the other day, and since I've packed most of our other books, I decided to give it a try.



This is my first exposure to Robertson Davies, and, uhm, wow. What in incredible book, and and what incredible story teller. As I was reading, I kept wondering if something more was going to happen, and then realizing that I didn't care -- just reading it was pleasure enough. In a way, it reminded me a bit of the way I feel when I read C.S. Lewis... you get swept away in the pleasure of the words, to the point where you almost don't care what's being said. With C.S. Lewis it's a bit different for me, as I'm always aghast at the WAY he says things, with the way he gets complex ideas across with such elegance and simplicity. I don't remember specifically thinking that at any point with Davies, but I certainly got swept up in the story and the life he was creating.

I'll be reading a lot more Robertson Davies in the new few months I'm sure... I'm excited to see what else he's written.

I've just finished reading two books about parenting that I found really interesting.



The first is Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children from the Culture of Hyper Parenting. Basically it talks about the trend towards "helicopter parenting," where the parents hover around the child in an effort to give it everything the parent never had. It covers everything from the tendency to wrap children in bubble wrap to keep them from hurting themselves, to the need to hyper educate the child starting while it's still in the womb, in an effort to have some sort of super genius child prodigy who's composing concertos at the age of three. It describes a childhood in where kids require daytimers to keep track of their extracurricular activities, and parents are required to keep the children entertained and busy with educational and enriching activities every second of every day.

I think the biggest idea I took away from this book was the idea that boredom is not a bad thing for a child. That it's in moments of so-called boredom where they learn to entertain themselves, and when their minds are not being channelled in one particular direction that they will find the freedom and creativity to branch out into uncharted mental territory. I like that idea, and looking back at the imaginative games I invented as a child while playing in the sandbox with a plastic shovel or pail, or a refrigerator box with a couple of crayons, I think it makes a lot of sense.



The second book I read was Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do. I will admit, I started this book with a slight hope that there would be some concrete evidence against violent video games. With the Daddy in this family being a huge gamer, it's disturbs me to think about my kid spending hours in a dark room, sitting still instead of moving around (especially with a family history of diabetes behind her), being exposed to the violent and sexist images that seem (to my unschooled eyes) to be prevalent on most video game boxes.

According to this book the truth, sadly, is far more complex than that. First they examine other video game studies that have been done, and show up a lot of faults inherent in those studies. And fair enough, any study will have flaws -- but these ones seemed fairly major to me. Then they explain the criteria for their own study, and present their results. The conclusion: they do indeed find a correlation between anti-social behaviour (bullying, petty theft, getting in trouble in school) and prolonged usage of violent video games, but they don't believe there's conclusive evidence to show that the violent video games are the cause of that behaviour -- it's possible that the child with a tendency towards antisocial behaviour will simply be drawn to violent games.

It's a complex issue, to say the least, and it makes sense to me that a violent child will be drawn to a violent game, and that that violent game will then encourage the child's violent tendencies. After reading the book, I wonder at the liklihood of a normal child with a normal amount of agression being influenced by a violent game... it seems more likely to me that a child will absorb the values of his/her parents, and be able to discern between reality and fantasy.

I'd say that after reading the book, a lot of my fears about violent video games were put to rest. I'd still like to put down some controls around which games my child was allowed to play at a young age -- no Vice City until they're older, thankyouverymuch -- and I would definitely want defined amounts of time that they're allowed to play. My hope is that a certain amount of physical activity will be a part of their life that they don't even think about, it's just there, and that I'll be able to instill an example in that.

One concern that I have about video games was not covered in any kind of detail in the book, and that is the tendency towards sexism in games. The predominance of male characters, and the fact that female characters are often drawn in a highly sexualized way. (Lara Croft, I'm looking at you.) So I'm not 100% sure how I feel about that issue, and I don't know that the sexism in games is any worse than the sexism I see in most commercials, TV shows, and movies. I'm not sure that it's even possible to shield her from those messages, or if I even should be. I hope that by pointing out things that I see, I'll keep her eyes open to these things, so that she's both prepared for the world and has a strong enough sense of herself that she'll be somewhat insulated from the negative messages out there. The idea of raising a girl in this world really is terrifying on some level.

Any gamers out there have any thoughts on this?

EDIT: slatergirl sent me this. Watch it. Maybe not at work.



EDITED AGAIN: I followed ladykutenay's link to her friend snowmit's LJ, and followed a link from there to an article that snowmit wrote about Grand Theft Auto IV. I think it's totally worth reading and you should check it out ASAP.

So the husband and I have reached a new point of commitment in our relationship. It's been a long time coming, but I think we're ready, as long as we take it slow and don't try to rush things, you know?

I'm ready to combine my book collection with his.

I know we've only been married for 11 years, and I don't want to be too optimistic here, but I really have a good feeling about this. It feels right.

So it's time. Time to take the leap and hope for the best.




If we break up and he tries to steal my Chronicles of Narnia box set, THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY.