Skimming

For some time now, I've been meaning to post links to interesting things I've read online. I've emailed articles to myself from the NY Times, bookmarked pages, and sometimes sent links to friends. Then an image comes to mind of the box-loads of clippings my mom filled obsessively in her dementia, and it freaks me out a bit. She started small, too... However, there's a fine line, even a chasm, between that and sharing a few interesting links. Which is how weblogs started, no? (See? Rebecca's still slipping links into her pocket after all these years, and has not correspondingly slipped into senility, as far as I know.)

A couple of things that amused me today, distractions on a Friday afternoon:
(1) Text Messages That Would Have Been Helpful. (Found after reading Carmen's own amusing list on McSweeney's.) Before my yoga class commenced last night, someone mentioned text messaging and our instructor asked if anyone over 40 sends text messages ("they do if they have children"). I suggested that that's why God gave us opposable thumbs. But then I've never sent a txt msg in my life since I can't actually see the letters on my cell phone.
(2) Hawk swoops down onto teenager's head at Fenway Park. (Probably she didn't notice as she was text messaging at the time.) The great part about the story, though, is her name: Alexa Rodriguez. Oh, so close...

I'll leave it at that for today. Except... the review of The Flight of the Red Balloon in today's NY Times arrived in my email inbox this afternoon, just hours before my film group posted an event to go see it later this month. Looks good. Since my NetFlix account has come off hold, I may try to rent the original 1956 version before I see the new one.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone! Any fun plans?

Comments

[Lorianne]

Did you follow the link for the photo gallery accompanying the hawk-attack story? They have some remarkable images of the hawk, nest, and teen in question.

[leslee]

Yes, I did! (I was kidding about her not noticing and text messaging.) I'm glad she's okay - I'm sure it was scary. Sounds like they moved the nest (and presumably the hawk with it) somewhere safer for all concerned.

[Alice]

Texting is definitely a generational thing -- having had thumb problems in my 30s, I wonder if those ardent teen texters and video game players are going to have the dexterity needed to hold a glass when they are old enough to order a drink.

[Dave]

Damn! Yeah, I'm gonna have to move to the city so I can watch wildlife.

[Lucy]

'The red balloon' I'd forgotten all about it! We saw it at school when we were tiny, and there was a book from it too. Somehow it encapsulated a sense of Frenchness thst we internalised and held onto: winsome, thoughtful, a little uncertain of its own point, surreal and sentimental at the same time... I didn't know there was a new one, I'll have to look for it.
Thanks!

[Peter]

I've seen the movie, but when I hear of a red balloon, I automatically think of the poem you kindly let me republish.

[leslee]

Alice: Yes, I predict repetitive stress injuries to thumbs, not to mention things like car accidents that have already been attributed to texting.

Dave: It's hard to keep them down on the farm once they've been to the big city.

Lucy: NetFlix says it's on its way, so I'll see the old one before the new. Will try to report!

Peter: I'd forgotten about that! It was a red umbrella, though. When I report on the movie, I'll have to revisit the poem. :-)

[Peter]

But there was a red balloon in your poem, you know!

[leslee]

Oh right! I was thinking of the photo, not the poem!