If at first you don’t succeed…

Trappe atlantic crossing in helium balloons

Jonathan Trappe’s attempt to cross the Atlantic, Up-style. Photo by Paul Cyr

While his attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean floating under hundreds of helium balloons came to an end before he’d even left North America, I still revere the true adventurer’s spirit of Jonathan Trappe.

I, for one, am pulling for him to try again soon.

Check out this article in the Daily Mail for some beautiful photos and a video of this great (albeit short) adventure.

Today, I’d rather just watch a video

Does anybody else remember this cartoon? I found myself singing it to my daughter yesterday, which led us to the internet, so that I could show her what I was talking about. Which is what I have been doing a lot lately (the internet, that is) because, while I am beyond happy that school is back in session and that the endless (childcare-less) summer of ’13 has finally been laid to rest, I suddenly find myself overwhelmed with all of the things that need doing now that we’ve returned home.

It’s fun to be away for 2 1/2 months. Until you get back and realize that those piles of unfinished business haven’t magically evaporated into nothingness. Or better yet, been transformed into crossed off items on a monumental to do list. Yesterday, I avoided reality by getting a pedicure and going to a yoga class, but today with a sore body and my feet presentable again, I feel like I need to start tackling the to do list. (Which I can’t even bear to write.)

Or, I could just watch videos.

So in honor of one last day of procrastination, here are a few links to some moving images I’ve found online that will help keep you away from doing whatever it is you are supposed to be doing. For a little while, at least.

Here’s a TED talk that’s right up my alley, about why digital communication, the internet and social media are sort of evil and make us more isolated.

Oh but here’s another talk about why the collaborations that are now available to us because of the internet are making incredible things possible.

Jon Stewart doesn’t understand why Fox (and CNN for that matter) seem all bent out of shape about the the new Syria peace plan. He’s confused about why avoiding a war is suddenly a bad thing. And so am I.

Check out this video of Paul Friedlander’s kinetic light sculptures. Maybe there are such things as wizards in England after all.

Despite it’s YouTube URL, this is not a video. It’s really great song called Some Place by a band called Nick Waterhouse and the Turn-Keys. They sound like they’re from the 60′s, but really they are from now, bless them.

Have you guys all seen the genius PSA Sarah Silverman and some friends made for “The Black NRA?”

Humidify me

stadler form humidifier

A humidifier that won’t bum you out every time you see it.

School starts tomorrow, and we’ve just gotten back to home base after basically two months away. So today is going to be spent trying to get ourselves together (school supplies, anyone?) The regular Monday links post will have to wait.

But while we’re on the topic of preparing for the upcoming seasons, here’s something else instead. Links coming soon…

I know it’s still hot and everything, but labor day has passed, the cold and flu season is quickly approaching and as I just happened upon this incredibly attractive humidifier (what?? seriously??) by Stadler Form, I figured I should share it with you all, should any of you perhaps be in the market for such an object.

Monday, monday: a celebration of labor

wwII riveters

Two women at work during World War II. Photo © Emmanuel Joseph.

In my life, Labor Day is generally a bittersweet day marking the end of summer. Bitter because the lazy afternoons on the beach or by somebody’s pool are pretty much done for a year. Sweet because school is about to start, meaning my days as sole care provider for my daughter are rapidly coming to an end.

Not that I don’t love hanging out with her, but, as anyone with a young kid can tell you, keeping up with them is a full time job in itself, let alone feeding them and preventing them from killing themselves by doing things like skateboarding across the street with their eyes closed or jumping into the deep end when they can’t swim.

I am exhausted, and am looking forward to a September full of more sleep, solo trips to the market and not having to squeeze my own work in between 6 and 8 am or 10 pm till midnight.

But I digress.

In reality, Labor Day is actually a celebration of, well, labor. And I am lucky lucky lucky to find myself surrounded by a bunch of women whose work is truly inspiring. So in honor of this auspicious holiday, please allow me to share some of the amazing things my friends are getting up to these days. — Read more

Wish upon a star

eco stars recycled crayons

Recycled crayons in the shape of stars. In loads of great colors. What’s not to love? Photo courtesy of organicfundough.com

So it’s time to start supplying your kids with their back-to-school supplies. If you’re in the market for new crayons (because the old ones are like little stumps with shredded paper attached to them) may I suggest the Eco Stars crayons pictured above? Made from crayons recycled in the National Crayons Recycle Program (which you can participate in, by the way, ridding yourself of the old stubs without adding to the landfill) these little stars will add a festive sparkle to the arts and crafts table. They make great gifts, too!

Available at the Ultimate Green Store, which is well worth a bit of a browse, while you’re at it. Lots of great stuff to be had there…

Monday, monday

ET Williams at the March on Washington, 50 years ago

Ok see the guy in the sunglasses a little up and to the right of Dr King in this photo? That’s my dad, fifty years ago, being part of history at the March on Washington.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the original March on Washington, a few links to get our minds moving…

Danny Glover does a beautiful reading of Langston Hughes’ poem “Montage of a Dream Deferred.”

Ever spend time actually thinking about what happens to a dream deferred? In the case of one of our most famous collective dreams, Gary Younge believes that Martin Luther King’s most famous speech has been misremebered.

Check out these 10 slogans that helped to turn dreams into reality and changed the world (not always for the better)

But then sometimes, those dreams start to fall apart. Like that silly fantasy about all Americans having equal rights to vote. Seems the Supreme Court doesn’t feel it’s a right worth protecting. Read a little about what that decision means in the real world.

When do we dream? Often while asleep. Neuroscientist Russell Foster lays out what happens when we sleep and why we need it so much.

Learn how to interpret your own dreams online! (could be total bunk, but hey, you never know…)

And then get Sheri Clyde’s book A Child’s Library of Dreams and help your kids learn how to cope with, learn from and be empowered by their own dreams.

This is not your ordinary dance class

Ok granted, I’m a bit paranoid, but I have always secretly believed that at some point, the apocalypse is going to really happen and the world-as-we-know-it is going to come to an end.

And in that new Terminator/Matrix reality, we’re going to need a whole different set of skills to survive, and a whole new breed of heroes to potentially save us and put things right again. Our new best friends will be the people who can build things with their hands, grow their own food, jump over buildings, and hack into computer systems to thwart the bad guys.

And as our primary job as parents is to ensure that our kids survive (and because one of my movie heroines is Terminater uber-mom Sarah Connor) my overly imaginative brain has been particularly concerned with ensuring that my daughter become one of these skilled people. — Read more

Tie em up

hair ties made from cute elastics

Cutest hair ties I’ve seen this summer.

The hair accessories fall fully under the category of things-I-could-totally-do-myself-but-lets-be-honest-I’m-never-actually-going-to-get-around-to-it-so-I-may-as-well-just-buy-it, but there you have it.

I was wandering though a store in San Francisco with my daughter who clocked these immediately and insisted that we buy them. And while I had the above mentioned feeling of why don’t I just make this myself-ness, I came to my senses and bought them. And my kid’s ponytails have been looking festive all summer, as a result.

The ones we bought out west are actually by a company called Calliope, but they don’t seem to have a website (only a facebook page– but then again, I’ve also just been trying to get my daughter to sleep for 3 hours, so I’m not the best web researcher right now)

The ties pictured above are by Mane Message and you can buy them direct from your laptop, which is a good thing for those of us who only have time to shop between 10:15 and 10:45 pm…

Speaking of which… time to order some more multivitamins from Amazon…

Monday, monday

Listen to gardener/activist Ron Finley talk about planting food in South Central LA and then go grow your own food.

Who knew that fermented food is amazing for supporting your digestive system? Turns out, fresh isn’t the only thing to look for when it comes to eating right.

I am totally going to try this recipe for braised pork loin. No for real. It looks delicious and evidently it can’t be messed up…

My favorite kids cookbook these days.

Just think about how much cuter my grains would look if they were stored in these jars

We all know that drinking soda is bad for us, and worse for our kids, right? (Please say yes…) But did you know that soda is actually making our kids more violent?

And, for no good reason, I am including this article I just read a few minutes ago listing the 20 cities most vulnerable to flooding given the current state of the world. Which scared the bejeezus out of me, by the way, and made me wonder why oh why am I so attached to NYC?

Shelter Island deliciousness

Reddings pizza

The pizza menu at Reddings Market on Shelter Island.

This week, we visited some friends who are renting a picture perfect house, right on the water in Shelter Island. It has everything you could want… a big yard for the kids to run around in, equipped with an amazing old fashioned wooden playhouse (with real window boxes, a toy kitchen, a picket fence– the works!) Plus, right out front, the beautiful bay with a sweeping view of both sunrise and sunset.

If you looked up perfect childhood summer memories in the dictionary (remember dictionaries?), the first photo would be of this place.

The only thing they don’t have on site is an endless supply of food. For that, we headed over to Reddings Market, a great local gourmet market that alone makes the ferry ride worthwhile. — Read more