Things that make me go "hmm."

Happy weekend, y'all! First of all, please help me out with some blog decisions by taking my survey. You might have noticed I didn't participate in Friday's Fancies yesterday for the first time in over two months, and I haven't had an "original" post (i.e. not a link-up or part of a series) in more than a week. I love link-ups and the opportunities they have given me to meet new bloggers, but I've been feeling a little restricted lately in my content, and I'm also worried I might be posting too often and therefore clogging up your Google Readers and irritating you.

I was originally going to wait until my blog had been active for a year (which is only next month!) to create a survey, but I figure there's no better time than the present, right? This blog will inevitably being going through some big changes this summer as I transition to my new job as a traveling consultant, and I would love your input as I prepare for those changes! Thanks so much in advance. And now, on to my interesting links from the past week (and one of my favorite pins):

Source: cntraveler.com via Megan on Pinterest

Whimsical visual abstractions of the reading experience. (a.k.a. sweet photos)

This new Tumblr.

Powerful, phenomenally written story about the Joplin, Mo., tornado last summer. Long read, but definitely worth it. (Warning: You will probably definitely cry.)

A funny cartoon about the future of books.

This short video (and by short, I mean under two minutes!) illustrates the dance and fashion styles of the past 100 years.

From Thought Catalog: 5 Misleading High School Myths Found In 90s TV

And finally, in a shameless plug for my place of employment: Outside magazine is giving away $10,000 to fund "a smart, creative, and (perhaps) slightly foolhardy project that we’ll feature in an upcoming issue"! Enter to win by May 18.

What are you plans this weekend? My old college roommate is in town for Easter, so we have an exciting weekend planned! I'll definitely be tweeting and Instagramming our adventures.

P.S. — If you're on Instagram (especially if you're a new Android user like me!), feel free to leave your username in the comments!

Things that make go "hmm."

Hello all! Happy weekend!

Source: tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

This pin represents my plan for today: Drink copious amounts of coffee in order to finish Catherine the Great in time for the Final Four games tonight! And so I can count it for the Winter Nest Book Challenge, which ends tonight. But of course, first I'm here to give you my interesting link round-up for this week. And if you missed my commentary on the young adult fiction debate that was in the New York Times on Thursday, please check it out and share your thoughts.

Photos of Swedish students with all their earthly possessions piled up around them show how to “live with less.”

A fascinating essay on the fashion evolution of the NBA and black America. Biggest “hmm” line: “Americans weren't used to seeing rich black kids, which is why we were asked to watch The Fresh Prince through the eyes of a poor black one.”

This blog.

This pin.

This very unique, Modern-Family-opening-credits-inspired vacation video.

My grandma always said she liked going to Mass when she traveled because it was the same everywhere. This beautiful post from C’est Christine captures a similar feeling.

An awesome infographic about interns in New York City. (The survey pool only included 100 people, but it covers a nice variety of topics. Plus, my friend Becky helped!)

What are your weekend plans? Also, I can't decide if this song is so bad it's good, or just bad. What do you think?

Things that make me go "hmm."

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Megan on Pinterest

My favorite pin of the week!

This is not a statement about the ethical issue of cloning one way or the other, but this cloned baby goat is adorable! See more pictures here. 

This cute and clever video from the New York Times explores the question of what makes a native species. (Spoiler alert: We European humans aren’t exactly native, if you were wondering.)  

I’d say these students could use some “cultural sensitivity” training. 

Funny longread: What happens when a 35-year-old man retakes the SAT? 

The 20 coolest bookstores in the world. (Oh, and the best ones are on my Pinterest already.)  

Having a long day at work and just need to “get outside” for a little while? This awesome trail view website can help. 

A drunk klepto with a conscience. 

Score one for endangered turtle species!  

TIME magazine announces the 140 best Twitter feeds of 2012.  

Absolutely crazy: This guy’s Reddit comments led to a movie deal!

Did you know we have eight new U.S. Historic Landmarks? Because we do!

Things that make me go "hmm."

Happy weekend, everyone! I wanted to start your Saturday off right with this adorable turtle picture. My friend Caroline posted it on my Facebook timeline for my birthday, and I just cannot get enough of it! It looks like it's saying: "GIMME A HUG!"

Source: Uploaded by user via Megan on Pinterest

Now, on to the interesting links I found this week:

The quirks of living alone.

Image via holliefernando on Flickr
I have a rather scanty list of "Things that make me go hmm" this week, so I'm also going to use this post to expound on one particularly interesting article I found last week: "One is the Quirkest Number: The Freedom, and Perils, of Living Alone" from the New York Times. (And be sure to read my postscript for an exciting announcement!)

Things that make me go "hmm."

Welcome to this week's edition of "Things that make go 'hmm.'" I had a ton of interesting links this week, so I tried to edit them down, but there were still just too many good stories to pass up. (And in honor of Mizzou playing Kansas today, I present you with an adorable baby tiger.)

Source: adayinthelifeofblakey.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

This author's new book was rejected 12 times before she sent it out under a pen name and sold it within three days. Definitely putting it on my to-read list solely for that reason.

So people can be good when left to their own devices.

Composite sketches of some of literature's most infamous characters, from Daisy Buchanan to Mr. Ripley.

A new study (refreshingly) suggests social structures and nature are more indicative of a country's happiness than it's GDP. Take that, big money!

The myth of 8-hour sleep cycles: Why it might be a good thing to wake up in the middle of the night.

This immature ex-boyfriend definitely deserves jail time. What do you think?

Limits on food truck locations in San Francisco? This cannot be.

The answer to the world's high demand for meat? Growing burgers from stem cells, of course.

Do you think honesty boxes would work in America? I have to say, I'm skeptical.

This couple found love while traveling. Aww factor: “I tried to convince her to come up to California by asking her for her favorite fruit, vegetable and flower,” Monger explains. “I told her if she came to visit, I would have all of those growing in my garden. She said raspberry, carrot and sunflower.” (Spoiler alert: He kept his promise!)

How would you feel if you found out you didn't have cancer after you already had the mastectomy? Relieved, angry or a little bit of both?

Fruits and vegetables like you've never seen them before.

I realize this video is a little long, but if you have an extra eight minutes, you HAVE to watch this. It's a 160-square-foot apartment, but completely livable!

Things that make me go "hmm."

Happy weekend, everyone! I was pretty busy at work this week (making cool stuff like this), so I don't have as many fun links from the week as I usually do, but I hope you enjoy what I've found!

Source: adayinthelifeofblakey.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

Random picture of the week: Did you ever play airplane with your parents when you were little? I think this is such a cute reminder of that (but not with your parents, obviously).

The world's first ski-in/ski-out Starbucks opened at Squaw Valley last week! (You have to scroll down the page a little to find the story.)

A sweet love letter from my new favorite website.

Robots riding camels? Yes, it's true. And has been since 2005.

Introducing: The best (and easiest!) egg sandwich you'll ever have.

Is sportsmanship dead?

Man has heart attack at Heart Attack Grill. You can't make this stuff up.

The new, environmentally friendly slogan for Mardi Gras beads? "Catch and release."

Things that make me go "hmm."

Source: outsideonline.com via Outside on Pinterest

This photo doesn't have anything to do with the links below, but I just think it's gorgeous. Do you agree?

Did anyone else notice the middle finger during the Super Bowl halftime show? I thought something controversial might have happened when my screen freaked out for a minute, but I wouldn't have even noticed if the network hadn't tried to censor it (too late).

Have you been craving some iguana meat? Then you're in luck!

How did I not know about this?

Be careful when streaming Netflix away from home, or you could get an $10,600 bill like this family.

This is probably old news, but I've never seen Toddlers in Tiaras, so I don't know. I do know I'll definitely never watch it now!

Did you know Americans eat almost half of the world’s yearly supply of chocolate?

This Victoria's Secret model retired to save her body for her husband.

An interesting controversy over whether home-schooled students should be allowed to participate on public school athletic teams.

And you thought you had a big salt- and pepper-shaker collection.

A New York Times "Modern Love" essay on how a woman became her own in-law. Yup, you heard that right.

And just because I am a complete nerd: The evolution of a turtle's shell.

Happy weekend! I'm skiing up in Angel Fire today. What are you doing? Anyone seeing/saw The Vow?

Things that make me go "hmm."

Time for week two of my new series - "Things that make me go "hmm." Enjoy the little tidbits I've gathered from across the web over the past week! But first, this video:

 Don't feel like you have to watch the whole thing, but watch about the first minute or so and
then skip ahead to 2:15. You won't want to miss it!

  

A beautiful argument for the written word (and against book-banning).

Did you know: LeBron bikes to work "all the time"!

Looks like students aren't the only ones who obsess about higher SAT scores.

Your community doesn't have to be rich to have a good library system. Good to know!

This was quite funny to me, considering I read Jonathan Franzen's Freedom on my Kindle and hated it. But somehow, I don't think that had anything to do with the fact it was an e-book....

30 travel terms that don't exist but should.

And finally, the most relaxing song of all time. You're welcome.

Things that make me go "hmm."

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Amanda B. on Pinterest

Have I mentioned all the awesome things about my internship yet? No? Well, I can't decide what the best part is, so I'll let you decide. Is it:

A) The fact that "business casual" actually means "jeans,"
B) Having my own office ... with a window!

or

C) Getting to troll the Internet all day for cool/interesting/weird stuff?

While you ponder that, I'm going to elaborate on option (C) a little bit. My first job every day when I get to work is to find interesting stories for our "News From the Field" column, which consists of four to five briefs every morning linking up to other news stories around the web. (See some examples of the briefs I've written so far here, here and here.) Unfortunately, a lot of the cool stuff I find doesn't really fit in with the theme of Outside magazine. Fortunately, I can still share it with you here, on my blog! From now on, every Saturday will feature a post with my favorite links from around the web. Get excited!

So you want to be a Disney princess?

A Finnish graphic design student recently created life-like portraits of what he imagines 13 Disney princesses would look like in real life. Neat, right? I'm including my favorite images in this post, but you can see the full collection here.

Ariel is my favorite princess, so I had to include her!

This is my favorite of the bunch, artistically. I think it's the most life-like.

I had to include Megara because that was my nickname as a child. :)

Doesn't Rapunzel look strangely like Amanda Seyfried? (And not Cosette?!)

Plus: The biggest change for Disney since pantyhouse became optional for female workers.