On "She likes Target, the Food Network and sun-dried tomatoes"
I think Mark Zuckerberg gets unfairly bashed in the press. I think a lot of his press is written by older people jealous of his success and absolutely sure that they know more than that whippersnapper. I think Aaron Sorkin, though I loved West Wing like anybody else, was kind of a complete asshole to Zuckerberg, and went so far as to admit his character was totally divorced from reality, but not so far as to apologize for what was, in the end, pretty much a smear campaign. I'm not saying I think Mark Zuckerberg is an angelic being, I just think that his actual faults are not the ones reported in the press - probably because his faults are identical to those of the folks reading things like the WSJ: ambition, ruthlessness, independence, etc. Any business leader's faults. I guess the way to put it is that he gets accused of arrogance and - well, yeah. He's the richest 28 year old on the planet, pretty much entirely due to his own brilliance and vision. Why shouldn't he be a little arrogant?
I don't know why this issue sticks in my craw so much, but I think it has something to do with the nature of this criticism, especially the bullshit lobbied by Sorkin - it's basically an indictment of startup culture, the Internet generation, and the future. He's the whipping boy for any old fart who doesn't think that the things they can't understand (technology) have any value, or that a future which feels foreign must be inherently terrible. Zuck isn't just laughing his way to the bank, he's laughing his way into the 21st century, and older generations can't stand that.
Anyway, I find their relationship very touching. I bring up his bad press because I think the proof of their relationship is evidence in Zuckerberg's favor. They seem like two very nice, exceptionally driven people who have demonstrated great loyalty, affection, and respect for one another. Mazel tov.
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On Aideah and Sophayden
@Lila Fowler
Polyhymnia O'Keefe. Can't fail.
2
On Aideah and Sophayden
@maybe partying will help
I'm a Diana too! It's weird and creepy when older relatives sing "Dirty Diana" to me because it's the only song they can think of with my name. The best song that uses our name is Rilo Kiley's "Men/A Man/Then Jim".
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On Men Are Not Space Aliens, She Claims
@travelmugs
I know it's a bit of a throwback but this is What We Talk About When We Talk About D.H. Lawrence. The only book I ever brought myself to damage intentionally was a copy of Lady Chatterly's Lover which didn't deserve to exist in this world. I'm not entirely convinced D.H. Lawrence ever met a woman or even saw one from across a great distance.
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On Text Me Possibly
@highfivesforall
How the fuck is it possible that I live in the Bay Area and can't get cell reception in my own house? I actually broke down and got a landline last month so people could reach me in a real middle-of-the-night emergency and so I could call people without having to put on slippers and walk to the sidewalk. I'm not in fucking Liberia here. Zero bars!
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On Text Me Possibly
@konata
Apparently you have a metal plate in your head blocking the subliminal messaging in this song. Because I cannot stop listening to it, despite all that reason and honor tells me. I don't even like Justin Bieber or anything. I don't even think I've heard a Justin Bieber song. But "Call Me Maybe" is making me feel things about a pop song that I haven't felt since "Toxic" came out.
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On Text Me Possibly
@Holden Cauliflower
This video is so much better! For some reason it makes me happy to see a bunch of absurdly famous and wealthy teenagers just hanging out and goofing around exactly like real 15 year olds do. The normal kids probably aren't doing so in an empty McMansion but still! I find this video really charming.
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On [Maybe] Good Books That Defined You
This entire post makes my heart feel funny. I was a lonely kid growing up and I became absolutely obsessed with reading. I still am. But this post is making me remember the way books used to make me feel, and I think that's part of why Harry Potter wrecked me when it finished - not just that one of the most formative reading experiences of my life was over, but maybe a part of me realized that nothing would move me quite as much anymore. Honestly, I'm always on the fence about having children someday but the one thing that always pushes me in the direction of "yes" is the possibility of giving my treasured books to my own child someday. I can't imagine anything more beautiful. All my favorite children's books were moody and lonely and mystical:
- everything by Madeleine L'Engle but ESPECIALLY A Ring of Endless Light. I'm pretty sure I decided to go to UC Santa Cruz because the thought of being close to dolphins was a sign that I was growing up like Vicky Austin. Literally a life changing book.
- the Alice books, because Alice was my literary BFF before Harry
- Jacob, Have I Loved and the Marguerite Henry books seem unrelated but they're all moody and set on islands
- Jane Eyre which I first read in second grade and then every year for the rest of my life, basically
I'm honestly getting choked up just thinking about all these books. It's like remembering the faces of long-lost childhood friends.
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On Friday Open Thread
@reebs14
Am I or am I not reading the Hairpin? Because not one person has suggested "Jolene" and this concerns me.
"Jolene".
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On Never-Complainers, Workaholics, and the Balding-and-Manly
@stuffisthings
Last month we had a big thunderstorm so we opened the blinds to look at the sky, put on Ghostbusters, crawled into bed, and ate kraut dogs. It was the best date we've had in the past two years. You're missing out.