| Tintin Image from Conde Nast Traveler |
So I could really relate to the wonderful piece that Lev Grossman wrote
for Conde Nast Traveler about his childhood hero, who inspired in him a lust
for travel–not his parents, or even anyone he actually knew, but the
moon-faced comic book teenager Tintin.
Grossman loved Tintin for his sense of adventure go-getter attitude, and choice of exotic conveyances (seaplanes!). But also, “Like me, and so many other children of the American
suburbs, Tintin was nobody, and he lived nowhere, and he did nothing. In order
to do anything or be anybody, he had to travel.” Like Annie, Tintin was
fearless and unfettered by the rules binding most kids–bummers like school
and parents. Even better, Tintin is "about as close to a cipher as
a hero can get.” On this relatively blank canvas, Grossman suggests, anyone can
project his or her own self.
After all, there are the usual heroes— firefighters, astronauts, legendary
presidents, famous do-gooders, reality show stars – those brave wonders who do
what most of us can only dream of—and then there are those heroes (sometimes 2-dimensional
and blank-eyed) who inspire us because they allow us to imagine that we too
have within us such potential.
| Photo: Cristina Ferrare |
“She was genuine, humble, strong and true.”
-Paula Radcliffe remembering distance running champ Grete Waitz.
"I was just thinking, alright, I should just think of what ifs."
-How a Michigan teenager stayed calm, hiding under her bed while her house was robbed.
"There will definitely be change, good and positive change."
-China Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, reacting to the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
"...she is basically the kind of woman who loses her mind if a traffic jam keeps her from getting to yoga class and doesn't see the contradiction in that. There are a lot of us women out there, but she is the first to get her own show."
-Mary McNamara, writing about personal transformation narratives and Laura Dern's character on the television series "Enlightened."
 | Freedom is an inner awareness, a knowing that nothing can touch the truth of who you are; it is the "I am" that is within you and everyone. — Ed and Deb Shapiro |  |
Spectacular homes for spectacular books.
You can't see music, but this gives you a whole new way to look at Bach.
| Photo: Thinkstock |
What never occurred to me was that babysitters are a relatively recent phenomenon. Ruth Graham writes about the cultural history of the American babysitter in a smart, funny piece for Slate, explaining how the Depression created the babysitter, and dissecting the ways babysitters have been portrayed in the media, from the perfect (the aforementioned Baby-Sitters Club) to the bumbling (Jonah Hill in the new movie “The Sitter”) to the deranged (Marilyn Monroe in the 1952 thriller “Don’t Bother to Knock”).This piece is a must-read for anyone who ever was a babysitter, hires one now, or just enjoys smart analysis of American family life.
Read the original article on Slate, complete with an excellent slide show.
Read More:
The Truth About Mothers and Nannies
The Nanny Dilemma
 |
| Photo: Vintage and Modern |
If the recent auction of Elizabeth Taylor's legendary jewelry collection left you or a sparkle-loving friend longing for something special to call your own (and wear this New Year's Eve) then O's senior accessories editor, Tamara Rappa has a solution for you. One of her favorite websites to shop for the people on your list who have everything is Vintage and Modern (VandM.com)—where each bracelet, necklace, ring, pair of earrings has its own unique story. "It's like giving a friend a little piece of history," she says. Check out her top 3 must-have's (at left):
- For daytime earrings with drama, she suggests this pair of pyrite and brass chandeliers, "They're more offbeat than the crystal versions you see everywhere," Rappa says.
- Cocktail rings make a big statement when you're clinking champagne at midnight. Rappa likes this olive-colored one because the gold cutouts along the side are as eye-catching as the big stone in the center.
- This sterling cuff embedded with colorful minerals and shells was made by a master silversmith of the Laguna Pueblo/Chocktaw nation. "Many contemporary designers were inspired by Native American jewelry for spring, but this is an original," she adds.
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| Photo: Thinkstock |
In my current life, when I arrive at a museum and see a school bus lurking outside, I groan inwardly. And outwardly. The rowdy kids zooming through the exhibits, the teachers' futile attempts to control the herds. But if I try, I can still remember the unique thrill of being on a field trip myself. The magic of a day away from school, the dislocating experience of seeing your teachers out in the world as if they were normal people, the buzz of traveling in a huge group of peers. And maybe it is slightly possible that I was sort of a nerd (just kidding, impossible!), but I recall loving museums – the creepy, old–school taxidermy dioramas at the Field Museum in Chicago were my favorite – and the idea that the world was just brimming with exciting things to learn about. Dinosaurs! Space ships! Plus, a mini-McDonald’s in the museum basement!
So if you too are suffering from a bit of field trip
nostalgia, you’ll want to fill out your permission slip, grab a buddy, and take
Scholastic’s virtual field trip of New York City’s
Museum of Natural
History. The videos are hosted by Brian Selznick, the author of Wonderstruck
and The Invention of Hugo Cabret (the inspiration for the new Martin Scorsese
film Hugo). The very engaging Selznick narrates this series of short videos, offering behind-the-scenes looks at a few
of the museum’s most interesting exhibits. It's a little brain-break in the middle of a mind-numbing day.
Okay, so it’s meant to be for kids, but it works just as well for curious adults. And you don’t even have to ride a bus that kind of smells like feet to get there. Watch the videos on the Scholastic site.
Read More:
A Child's Sense of Wonder
5 Ways to Experience Awe in the Everyday
1. Cranberry Lemongrass Martini
2. Pineapple-Cucumber Mojitos
3. Pear Champagne Cocktail
4. Raspberry Champagne Cocktail
5. Peach Bellini
6. Hope Floats Cocktail
7. Pink Halo
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The retro drink that everyone loves
5 simple rules for enjoying sparkling cider
Rum at book club?
| We don’t know all the reasons that propel us on a spiritual journey, but somehow our life compels us to go. — Jack Kornfield | |
