Stuff We Like :: 11.18.16

TGIF. And that’s all I have to say about that.

around the web

• I love Math with Bad Drawings in general, but this little cartoon about mathematical alternatives to the electoral college gave me a much-needed laugh.
• Speaking of things we need, how about this chronological roundup of British historical dramas?
• Love this: The reading rules we would never follow as adult readers
• Meanwhile, in picture book conspiracy theories…

at home/school/life

• on the blog: A little board game inspiration for your Thanksgiving break
• one year ago: The truth about having it all
• two years ago: How unschooling shaped my social life

reading list

• I feel like the kids and I are on a continuous loop making our way through the Harry Potter audiobooks—as soon as we finish the last chapter of Deathly Hallows, we have to listen to the first chapter of Sorcerer’s Stone again. (This is my Buffy the Vampire Slayer viewing method, too.)
• I’ve marked up my old Chuang-Tzu so many times that reading it is almost like reading my own diary. Suzanne and I talked about comfort reads for the most recent podcast, and this is definitely one of mine. You can’t read stuff like this without slowing down and being in the moment: “Everything has its "that," everything has its "this." From the point of view of "that" you cannot see it, but through understanding you can know it. So I say, "that" comes out of "this" and "this" depends on "that" - which is to say that "this" and "that" give birth to each other. But where there is birth there must be death; where there is death there must be birth. Where there is acceptability there must be unacceptability; where there is unacceptability there must be acceptability. Where there is recognition of right there must be recognition of wrong; where there is recognition of wrong there must be recognition of right. Therefore the sage does not proceed in such a way, but illuminates all in the light of Heaven. He too recognizes a "this," but a "this" which is also "that," a "that" which is also "this." His "that" has both a right and a wrong in it; his "this" too has both a right and a wrong in it. So, in fact, does he still have a "this" and "that"? Or does he in fact no longer have a "this" and "that"? A state in which "this" and "that" no longer find their opposites is called the hinge of the Way. When the hinge is fitted into the socket, it can respond endlessly. Its right then is a single endlessness and its wrong too is a single endlessness. So, I say, the best thing to use is clarity.”
• We are reading Ivanhoe together, and is it weird that I never realized how hilarious this book actually is?

at home

• I’m so thankful for all the rituals of Thanksgiving—so much right now, I need the completely predictable rhythm of polishing silverware and rolling out piecrust and making turkey stock. Also, I’m pretty much counting down the days until potatoes and gravy.
• I am knitting these super cute bunny slippers for my daughter. (It’s for Hanukkah—don’t tell her! Aren’t they adorable, though?)
• After many years of having my office in its own separate room, I’m now working in one of our main family areas, and I love it so much. The hum of our family life is the greatest background noise in the world.

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