Comments for literarylens.org

Comment on Polaroids and Penguin Love by Becky

Becky — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:25:01 +0000

Wow, actually you sound really busy, despite the cancelled meeting! It’s funny how when meetings are canceled there’s always something else to put in its place. Also, I love the photo! I’ve never been to an aquarium, but I love zoos – there’s something about seeing animals you don’t normally see that’s just really exciting and adventurous.

Comment on A REAL Thanksgiving by Lauren Felton | literarylens.org | Polaroids and Penguin Love

Lauren Felton | literarylens.org | Polaroids and Penguin Love — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:34:18 +0000

[...] at 7am for a flea market excursion in the deathly cold weather, followed by an aquarium visit with Kayla’s family and best friend, Morgan (one of our future housemates!). The picture today is one of those fake [...]

Comment on New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 by M.J.

M.J. — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:30:59 +0000

I love the way the picture turned out. The pose of you putting your hair up really completes it. I’m also going to try and read 50 books, though the past two years I didn’t reach either of my reading goals, which were less than 50. And I’m very interested in the 52 Weeks project, since I won’t even bother attempting the 365 days challenge. Sounds like you got some good stuff to do this year. :]

Comment on A REAL Thanksgiving by Becky

Becky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:42:12 +0000

I’m really happy you got to have a Real Thanksgiving. There’s nothing like crazy conversations and loud people to make a party. Although I have to wonder … why no holidays at your place?

Comment on A REAL Thanksgiving by M.J.

M.J. — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:00:37 +0000

Pretending to understand football and having awkward conversations with people you are not sure you should be speaking to are part of the joy of holidays. Fortunately your friend’s get-together didn’t include crazy Italians drunk on homemade wine and rehashing arguments that started fifteen years ago. So I’m glad you had a good time :]

Comment on An Alternative Shabbat by Becky

Becky — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:49:23 +0000

I was reading this entry and my boyfriend Chris came by, and the first thing he said was, “Wow, they look so happy.” I’m really glad that events like this can happen despite intolerance that seems to be everywhere else.

I am not religious in the least, but I can definitely see the appeal to the community aspect, and the culture is pretty neat too. It’s so cool to see so much tradition.

Comment on Rutgers United Against Hate by Maria Celina

Maria Celina — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:16:52 +0000

I will never be able to understand anyone who pledges allegiance to any type of hate and then mask it in the name of religion. In fact, it may not even be the inability to understand than the refusal to understand. Yup, refusal sounds right. Indeed, this is coming from someone who subscribes to a religion that has notoriety for intolerance and disturbing amounts of conservatism. =P

However, the rally that you guys did to counter the vapid remarks and stances of the WBC is a wonderful thing. You guys did it peacefully, drowning out the noise of hate with the voices of peaceful allegiance. I really hope this is something that benchmarks an even deeper alliance between groups.

Comment on Like Farmville, but with real pumpkins. by M.J.

M.J. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:48:51 +0000

I love days like this, bumming around with friends. I buy so many pumpkins this time of year, usually just for an excuse to visit the pumpkin patches regularly.

Comment on Puddles and food and Virginia Woolf. by Becky

Becky — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:40:28 +0000

I think a lot of people feel as if that’s the only way they can control their lives – through regulating and controlling one’s weight. If a woman’s relationship with her mother leaves her feeling helpless, she could turn to anorexia as a way to achieve the control she needs. Very interesting analysis of the book. Makes me want to read it!

Also, lovely photograph as usual.

Comment on Puddles and food and Virginia Woolf. by kate

kate — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:15:07 +0000

… which would send me back to the central scene in *To the Lighthouse*, in which Mrs Ramsay, the pre-war matriarch, serves a huge, steaming dish of boeuf en daube (you wouldn’t like this – too meaty…) which looks and smells quite wonderful – though once again, I don’t remember anyone – the daughters, the guests – actually *tasting* it – it’s used for aesthetics – like a dish of fruit in the middle of the dining table. Here, though, the maternal coercion, even if not consciously there, is food used as family/household unifier – emphasizing her own centrality, her own power to bring people together and have them merge. It couldn’t have been done with some cold cuts and wilted salad. Which would reinforce your excellent point about manipulating food (though I’m quite sure she didn’t cook it herself) as a surrogate for all kinds of other manipulation…