The Everywhereist

It’s Friday, folks. I’ve spent the entire week at home, and we’ve had sunshine nearly every single day. And if that wasn’t awesome enough, today is the 51st anniversary of the first issue of “The Incredible Hulk.”

I’m going to see if I have any torn purple jeans (I want to wear them while I wander around my house, smashing things). While I do that, you enjoy these links.

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Given how many talented designers Rand and I are friends with, I often take for granted how difficult it is to design beautiful stuff. But this blog, dedicated to all things ugly, is an excellent reminder: Whoever Designed This is An A**hole.

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The New York Times has some interesting (and proven) ways to defeat jet lag. Get ready to unleash your inner rock star: most of them involve wearing sunglasses on planes.

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It is going to be 80 degrees in the Pacific Northwest this weekend. EIGHTY FRIGGIN DEGREES. The weather is so nice that one school has cancelled class due to sunshine. No, I’m not even remotely kidding.

I am getting out from behind my desk right this second, and heading out to enjoy the day (after safely slathering on some sunscreen and putting on a hat). This links were hastily put together because, really, all I wanted to do was go out and play.

But they’re still worth a gander. Enjoy.

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Foreign Policy culled together the top 500 most powerful people in the world (the list includes presidents, past and present, dictators, and even leaders of drug cartels). I can’t tell if I was more surprised to learn that Henry Kissinger still has influence, or that he’s still alive.

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Paul Miller writes about the year he spent offline without the internet. And what it felt like to return to this world wide web of ours.

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I just got back to Seattle yesterday, after spending a week in Los Angeles with family – including my 9-month-old nephew. I have now have a suitcase full of clothes smeared with baby food and drool, and I’m completely exhausted. After a week. A friggin week.

But people who become parents do this sort of thing FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

I don’t how they do it, but I salute them. Without their efforts, none of us would be here. They deserve cupcakes and backrubs and looong vacations.

For those of you (parents or not) who have enough time to browse through them, I give you the week’s links. Enjoy.

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Photographer Haley Morris-Cafiero takes photos of people who mock her for her weight and appearance. Read her explanation of her work, and you’ll be infuriated by how cruel people can be, and awed at her courage and sense of self.

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In the wake of the Boston bombings, The Atlantic explains why there are so few Chechens in the United States.

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Good heavens. It’s been a rough few days. I hope you are all well. I hope you are all safe, and warm, and that your loved ones are, too.

Stuff remains crazy this morning, as it has been all week. I’ve tried to find some fun, pithy links to include in this roundup, but those have been hard to come by this week. It hasn’t really been a fun, pithy week, has it?

While it seems like today would be a great day for diversions … but I keep frantically looking for more news coming out of Boston. Here’s my best attempt at the links for this week.

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As usual, the Onion makes a few poignant comments about this week.

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Donald Glover talks about some of the responses he got on his campaign to be the next Spiderman. And really, why the hell can’t Peter Parker be black?

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I needed a good laugh or three this week. Below are a few links that made me smile.

I hope you enjoy them, too.

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There is an adorable little mouse that is totally awesome. It eats scorpions and howls at the moon.

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Roger Ebert passed away last week. This prescient post about how he doesn’t fear death (written a year and a half ago!) is beautiful, heartbreaking, and comforting all at once.

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Just when I thought I couldn’t like the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs any more than I do, they went ahead and banned smart phones and camera devices from their shows. That’s kind of badass, is it not?

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I’m out of town yet again this week and next – I will sincerely try to get some posts up and ready to go for that time, but if I don’t, I have a reasonable excuse:

I was in the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling. With my husband.

Yeah. YEAH. I know. I’m probably snuggling with a wallaby right now as you are reading this. Life is grand.

While I’m off getting a tan and befriending a koala or three, you enjoy these links:

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This video, of two teenagers rocking the Beatle’s Let It Be (on the cello and violin) is nothing short of amazing.

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A collection of some of the greatest senior portraits, ever. (Note: I really wanted senior pics before I graduated, but they cost something like $300, so I just got one snapshot of me wearing a crocheted rainbow top and a choker. Because that’s how we rolled in 1998, apparently.)

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The first day of spring was on Wednesday, and Seattle’s weather almost seems to be complying with the season. Which I guess means I’m going to cave and shave my legs. Probably. Maybe. Eh … there’s a fifty-fifty chance.

You know what? I’m just gonna wait it out. If it gets warm, I can wear long pants and tank tops.

Which means, dammit, I’m gonna have to shave my underarms. Probably.

While I contemplate these difficult decisions, you enjoy these links.

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I really need to start using some of these wonderful obsolete words. Spoiler: “spermologers” and “queerplungers” are not as interesting as they sound.

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Oh, man. Once again, The Onion hits the nail on the head, and reminds me of just how damn lucky I am that I can spend so much time on this silly little blog of mine: “Do what you love … in between work commitments.”

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It is sunny in my damp little corner of the world. The hippies are already congregating in the park, beating their damn drum incessantly. And this Sunday, despite we’re all going to collectively be an hour late to something. In short: spring is coming. Personally, I can’t wait (except for the damn hippie drum circle).

I’m going to go find my sun dresses and earplugs. You enjoy these links.

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A talented father draws fun little pictures on his kids’ sandwich bags every. single. day. The gallery of his work is delightful.

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This just may be the greatest headline, ever: “Beards Keep You Young, Healthy, & Handsome, Says Science.” (Via my friends Ruth and Justin, who know how to appreciate some good facial hair).

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