It’s official — I’m a Longhorn now. The tower got lit up all orange and everything! Also, you can’t really tell from this photo, but the lit up windows spell out “16″ in honor of the freshmen class of 2016. Well done, UT. Well done.
- According to research out of Norway, teen girls who mistakenly believe that they are overweight are much more likely to be overweight in their twenties than teen girls who are happy with their weight. This doesn’t surprise me, but it serves as such a good reminder of why we need to be supportive of teen girls’ psyches and bodies.
- America had a strategic military plan in case the UK decided to attack us using Canada. Take Halifax, then on to New Brunswick! It’s dangerous that we let this information become public. Now what are we going to do if the mounties try to move in on Minnesota?!
- The actor who played R2D2 and the actor who played C3P0 didn’t get along…at all. may be the saddest thing I learned all week.
Links
- Apparently, I’ve made my love of Alana from Toddlers and Tiaras so public that my friends know to send me any article they find about her. I’d act like I think they’re crazy for doing it…but I love it. No need to lie. Anyway, this Slate article about Alana and the social history of the hillbilly brings up some thought-provoking points about the American love/hate of the hillbilly lifestyle:
And such ridicule has always been politically coded: The hillbilly figure allows middle-class white people to offload the venality and sin of the nation onto some other constituency, people who live somewhere—anywhere—else. The hillbilly’s backwardness highlights the progress more upstanding Americans in the cities or the suburbs have made. These fools haven’t crawled out of the muck, the story goes, because they don’t want to.
This idea that the hillbilly’s poverty is a choice allows more upscale Americans to feel comfortable while laughing at the antics before them. It also pushes some people to embrace the stereotype as a badge of honor.
- As someone who is facing the prospect of a decent amount of student loan debt, I loved this article on xoJane in which women were asked to share how much debt they have. Money is such a huge, taboo subject, that it’s nice to have it be actually discussed publicly. It makes it less terrifying, at least.
- Two authors discuss what it’s like to read the awesome YA classic The Giver for the first time as adults.
- Want some good old fashioned cooking? Check out these great Weight Watchers recipes from the 70′s for inspiration. Mmmm…mousse of salmon. Or how about a nice frankfurter spectacular?
- Tom Hanks = nicest guy in Hollywood? I think this Reddit thread may be proof: “My friend met Tom Hanks, stole his glasses and pretended to be wasted.”
- Your dog acting up? Shame him on the internet!
- Sarah Von is dishing up the advice — 33 Things I’ve Learned in 33 Years (Can I get an amen for #1, #6, #15 and #28?)
- I love this tutorial about how to frost a perfect, “messy” cake. Going to have to try this!
- Ray Bradbury on writing Fahrenheit 451 in the UCLA library basement
- Remember when I shared my friend’s boyfriend’s awesome online comic? Well, guess who he featured this week! Oh yes. I am ridiculously happy about this. Thanks, Danny!
