Monthly Archives: September 2008

Social Media

Friday links! Ears, bags, treats and ads

  • The Washington Post says you should “Leave That Ear Wax Alone in a sort of gross but ultimately informative report by Kathleen Doheny.

  • I bought some reusable shopping bags from Target awhile back, and I love them. A few of the bags sort of zip up into themselves to form a little wallet-sized packet, and they’re super-handy. When I saw them, I thought, “Boy, that probably wouldn’t be too hard to duplicate.” And then I thought, “Zippers! Argh!” And then I didn’t take the thought process any further. But someone at Whipup did! Here’s here tutorial for a wallet-sized fold-up reusable shopping bag.

  • There’s a group out there on the Internet called the Daring Bakers. Each month, they issue a baking challenge. August’s challenge? Chocolate Eclairs. Yum. I’ve joined the Daring Bakers, but I don’t think I’ll get my first challenge until October. Stay tuned.

  • Casey at Moosh in Indy is coming to terms with the fact that some things — like being a superstar or a cheerleader — aren’t in the cards for her. But she’s dealing with it gracefully and looking at the sunny side in “Never Always.”

  • Speaking of the sunny side: Peanut Butter Cups at Have Cake Will Travel! I keep thinking I’m going to make my own peanut butter cups, but it has yet to happen. For now, I’ll just drool over these.

  • Writer Rachel Beckman takes issue with targeted advertising in “Facebook Ads Target You Where It Hurts” at the Washington Post. I hadn’t paid much attention to the ads on Facebook before I read this, but I’ve been keeping an eye on them this week. They haven’t been too rude to me thus far.

  • McSweeneys occasionally features someone with an interesting or unusual job, and this recent interview with Joel Pierson, cruise ship pianist is a great one.
    • Family matters

    I've got the Eric Carmen blues

    21 Comments
    Works for Me Wednesday logo

    It’s opposites week at Works for Me Wednesday! Rather than offering up tips, bloggers are seeking answers.

    So here’s my question: How do you make friends? Don’t laugh; I’m serious.

    We’ve moved around quite a bit over the last three years, and I haven’t made a single real connection in that time. We’ve been in our current location for a year. We go to a regular playgroup, but it’s hard to have any sort of meaningful conversation when you see someone for 45 minutes, once a week. And during those 45 minutes, you’re busy preparing snacks or rescuing small people from atop the monkey bars. We also go to church most every Sunday, and I’ve been volunteering in some of the childcare classes during services.

    But I still haven’t made a friend.

    Is there a trick to this? Do I smell funny? Help me out, folks. Any advice would be welcome.