Hi my friends! Can we talk for just a moment about how great it feels to get a fresh pair of gym shoes? I’m not one to spend a lot of money on my gym gear because it’s all meant to be sweaty and smelly and really… I’m not trying to make a fashion statement at the gym, I’m mostly just trying to avoid eye contact. But… classic clean and fresh gym shoes? I’m feelin’ pretty fine. I use these new gym shoes to trot by this beignet cafe on the way to the gym. Yes it smells good. Of course it smells good!
There’s a lot of weight to this week which means there are a lot of perspectives to read on the internet. There’s a lot more going on in the world than how I feel about gym shoes. Let’s look:
• It’s really important to understand and pay attention to why Michael Brown died in Ferguson. We can forever distract ourselves with Instagram and celebrity news and Facebook updates, but we still have a lot to work out, don’t we America? A lot. Pay attention. I’ve found the best updates on Ferguson from VOX. And here’s a think piece. For real.
• Give Me Gratitude or Give Me Debt. A different and refreshing perspective. Thank goodness.
• Radius is a church in Los Angeles for people who think that church is irrelevant.
• This cat is really into this baby. Is it normal that my cat mostly wants to attack my face? Don’t answer that.
• I’ve Been Blogging For Eight Freaking Years and here are the right words about it.
• Our brains are really complex. Writing is a high-level task. We really just want to convey meaning. The and hte are impossible to spot! Why It’s So Hard To Catch Your Own Typos!
• Most common astrological sign for US Senators: Scorpio. Most common astrological sign for House members: Gemini. Can the Zodiac Explain Why Washington is So Messed? Maybe so.
• Is this meant to be so scary? Because it is. The Three Ring Birthing Circus
• Why did it take us so long to get the butterknife right!?
• On: Unschooling.
• How One Man Destroyed The Food Network. Dramatics… but why is Guy Fieri yelling?
Enjoy this beautiful day! I love you byeeeee!
PhilipB
Have to agree with the thoughts about Guy Fieri and the Food Network – and, along the same line of thought, let me know when YOU get back to cooking. All the rest of what you put here, who cares?
Todd Wagner
Hooray for the 8 year blogging post!!
Meghan
I agree with the other comments about the ferguson link. It seems important in this online world to take a moment of acknowledgement as to the violence that others live and are living with. Thank you, thank you for your social justice leanings and killer cupcake recipes. A winning combo if I ever saw one.
Sarah
What do you mean about Radius? Unless I missed something on their website it seems though they think their church and message are very relevant.
joythebaker
they are very relevant! check out their media page to learn more about their mission.
rachelquednau
Wow, that birthing story is breathtaking, fascinating and really puts you in the moment. Thank you for sharing.
Danielle
I rarely ever read the comment section and I’m pretty sure I’ve never left a comment in the many years of reading your blog, but this made me literally LOL. Love you Joy. Keep on writing whatever the heck you want!
Sara
Thank you!
Linda
I really liked the Give Me Gratitude or Give Me Debt article. I’ve often like her before attitude when looking at my kitchen after seeing my friends kitchens. It really helped put things in perspective!
meganmarie013
Love the list Joy! Hoorah for 8 years!
Stella
Dear Joy, Thank you for that illuminating and thought provoking think piece regarding a White Mother’s Privilege, I have shared this with my friends and family. Does not get any more real than that.
Erma
oh my gosh, these are really great links, Joy! Thank you!
Ella
That article about Guy Fieri is SO true. It’s like everyone worthwhile has been pushed back in favor of more trans fat, excited yelling about butter and just general hopping around for no particular reason. Yikes!
Have a great Sunday, Joy!
https://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Traci
I like your life posts, not just the recipe ones, in response to the guy who asked if you ever write recipes anymore! Do what you want!
Willow @ Will Cook For Friends
So many good links this week, thank you for sharing! And I agree completely, that we really need to give more attention to the Brown case. Everywhere I look (and I mean EVERYWHERE) I see a dozen stories covering Robin Williams — which is great, and I appreciate that his death is a huge impact, and that it has started an important conversation about mental illness and depression — but the Brown case is just as important, and much more distressing, and it isn’t getting hardly as much coverage, which saddens me. Also, love the link on unschooling — I grew up unschooled, and at the time no one even knew what it was. The word “homeschooling” was barely recognized, and more often than not it meant too-religious-to-put-your-kids-in-public-school. I’m proud to be unschooled, and loved my upbringing. I think a lot of kids do really well in the school system, but I would not have been one of them!
ted
good morning. this is my first post and i am pretty new to your blog. your recipes look special and interesting (i hope to try something soon) but the few “let it be sunday” posts have been more beautiful than the next.
today’s post linking articles regarding the events in ferguson and a mother’s thoughts on white privilege were exceptional, meditative and transformative. the police-sanctioned murder of michael brown is depressing and impacts my ability to be optimistic. i work in a company (think a modern-day “mad men”) and there is so much latent but very palpable racism, sexism and ageism. i try to ignore it but it’s a challenge and at times unavoidable and always critical. i don’t know how to begin approaching the issues in an environment that thinks of itself as being a meritocracy. i have a lot to think about. thank you so much.