Tuesday marked the end of Mardi Gras. Perhaps you've been or just witnessed it on the internet. Either way, you'll probably agree it's a spectacle. It also gives a glimpse into the the unusual, mystical city itself. In a way, Mardi Gras is the anthem of the musical opus of New Orleans.
Tips on How to Spend 4+ Hours in an Airport and NOT Be Bored (Spoiler: it includes books and spying)
As I've mentioned before I spend an inordinate amount of my life in airports. Sounds totally boring right? Not for me and it doesn’t have to be for you either. Here are some fun ways to spend your time if you’re stuck in an airport.
Now seems like the perfect time to remind America exactly where we'd be without immigrants (hint: we wouldn't exist) because unless you're a Native American, your ancestors were immigrants. Here are 10 books (fiction and nonfiction) about American immigration that are definitely worth the read to help become more enlightened about the plight and the contributions of immigrants. These books remind us that immigrants are people, just like everyone else, with hearts, minds, ideas and struggles.
As a child, I apparently had a bit of a doll problem. If a doll existed, I wanted it. As an adult, I got over my doll collecting obsession because you can't be an adult who buys and collects dolls, right? Therefore, instead, I transferred that obsessive nature to collecting other things, books obviously. (And, shhh, shoes too.)
I love movies almost as much as I love books. And I love watching the Oscars. However, if there is a movie based on a book, I'd really prefer to read the book first. So, I'm always interested to know what movies have books as their basis. If you are too, here is a list of the movies nominated for Oscars that are based on published books and novels.
• This week in Northern Virginia we again saw record highs, all week. Not just one day, not just one afternoon - all week. In February in the Washington, DC area, the cherry blossoms are budding. So, let's talk about climate change and how to educate ourselves and others on this topic through information and books!
Following bloggers is very personal. The blogs I read regularly are the ones in which I feel some sort of personal connection to the content or the blogger's point of view. That means they're usually book related. So, for some Friday Fun, I'd like to introduce you to some of my favorite book bloggers.
You shouldn't judge a book by its cover. We've all heard that before. And I, who has a whole #booksoverlooks blog series about the importance of valuing thought and reading over superficial materials, agree - when it comes to people. But, when it comes to books, I say, yes you should! The cover is part of the whole book experience and a lot of thought likely went into the artwork. So - go ahead - judge it!
This week the US is faced with yet another policy shift - increasing deportations. Whenever I ask people who are in favor of this policy why they support it, they say it will make our country safer and get rid of illegal immigrants who take Americans jobs. Why would this be bad? Here's the thing - that answer is just too simple. If you have a simple answer to a complex problem, you're not thinking. But, why do we do this? Why do we gravitate toward an easy explanation?
K.L. Kranes 