What Made Me Think on the Interwebs this week

I like reading other bloggers’ weekly round-up articles, because that’s where I find my most thought-provoking reads many times.  Here’s what made me think as I was perusing the nets:

The War on Work - J.D at GRS and Mike Rowe from (Caution: the next two links automatically play video, with sound.  Annoying) Dirty Jobs & Deadliest Catch teamed up to provoke some thoughts.  Even without a job, I work a lot.  I have a list of things to get done each day (which I rarely totally complete, but I generally get most of it done).  Now that I don’t punch a time clock, I have more flexibility with how I spend my time, but if I want to accomplish anything, I need to put work into it.  I work on the blog, and on learning how to run a website.  I work on the house and on getting meals made in time to eat, without breaking the bank.  I work on my health.  When I accomplish tasks from my list, I feel fulfilled and like I’m contributing to something larger than me.  The days that I don’t do this work, I feel awful about myself.  I feel useless and like nothing will ever change for me.  I think there’s a lot of value in work, but I think that J.D.’s definition is too narrow.  I think he’ll enjoy semi-retirement, because he’ll just work on projects regardless of whether they make money.  I think accomplishing things is one of the most important factors in my happiness, and I’m glad these two men made me realize that.  (@ Get Rich Slowly)

To celebrate the legacy of our awesome dog - Wil Wheaton made me cry.  A lot.  Because he and Anne are awesome dog owners and advocates.  And because we’re approaching the 1-year anniversary of my dog’s death.  And because I’m just a crier.  If you don’t know that by now, you will.  I donated, even though we’re on an extremely tight budget.  Since Hubby teased me about donating to the Humane Society in Pasedena, instead of somewhere local, then had to figure out how to donate to the local Humane Society.  Wil & Anne have reached their $10,000 goal, but you can still donate here.  They’ll be walking on Sunday, so you probably have until then if you want to help out. I only did $5 to each, so it’s not like I’m throwing a ton of money around.  But I know each bit helps.  (@ WWdN: In Exile)

Your Mortgage May Not Be As Expensive As You Think It Is - Made me feel a lot better about the decision to buy our house.  And about not paying more than we do on the mortgage each month.  Also made me love inflation, but I don’t think that part will last. Of course, then NPR told me that economists are worried about deflation, which would have the opposite effect on my mortgage, right? (@ all financial matters)

J.D. at Get Rich Slowly also posted a link to this awesome furniture video (will also automatically play, with sound.  Less annoying, since it is a video link).  Now I want to have a transformer house.  What this really made me think about was actually the fact that I could probably have my dream house with a lot less square footage than I’d originally thought.  I always wanted to have enough space for a huge dining room, plus a huge kitchen, plus a cozy library/reading room, plus a living room, plus a media room (then there are bedrooms and bathrooms and a wardrobe room…).  Now I’m pretty sure that I could make most of that happen in a lot less space.  Plus, transformer house.  It truly is the Age of the Geek. (@ YouTube, via Get Rich Slowly)

How to Pronounce Oregon- are there native Washingtonians that put an “r” in there?  I remember hearing lots of folks say “Warshinton” as I was growing up, but I thought they must not be from here.  Of course, my mother taught me to pronounce the “r”s in February and Library, too, and I don’t necessarily hear folks saying those (Feb-you-airy and lie-berry instead). (@ BasicInstructions)

Naomi at IttyBiz also read some Dr. Seuss to me.  She’ll read it to you too, if you ask.  Or click on the link. (@ IttyBiz)

One thing I love about the interwebs is that you can find such interesting stuffs through links between pages.  I have a book, The Pinball Effect: How Renaissance Water Gardens Made the Carburetor Possible – and Other Journeys,that was written before the internets had fully grown into what they are today.  It is almost like a choose your own adventure in the history of inventions; as you’re reading along, you see footnotes to turn to a different page if you’re interested in reading about the tangent they just mentioned.  In the mid-nineties, when I purchased this book, I thought it was the awesomest thing ever.  Now I have all of that in my laptop (or on my iPhone), whenever I want.   Round-up blogs like this one are one of the reasons it’s so easy.

One thing I hate about the interwebs is how you can look up one thing you’re thinking about and suddenly realize that four hours have elapsed and you didn’t realize it was getting dark outside.  You’ll have to provide your own self control.  I only provide the links.  And now that I have a blog, I can pretend all that web surfing is research…

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