WordPlay #3 : Liberty-Library-Libra just like Freedom-Books-Justice
If you live across cultures you can stumble on language quirks– words your brain hears or sees differently than intended simply because you’re not a native speaker.
Last time I flagged Vote/Stem/Stemmen/Tuning –where “Stem” is Dutch for “vote,” and multiple votes is the equivalent of the English “tuning.” Our votes should thus “tune” the instruments in power. (but how many Listen?).
“It’s Not Just Magic..” 3 Reasons to Check Harry Potter (even if you’re Christian)
🕑 5 minutes(#HarryPotterBookNight this 6 Feb, I’m reading at Expeditie-E!)
I was leaving High School when the Harry Potter phenomena struck. The hype repelled me and some Christian background flagged “witchcraft” as skip.
Sorry Harry…
Fast forward 20 years. My kids’ school sends a letter urging parents to mind “trends and hypes,” characters with magic or super powers like Elsa and Superman came under fire.
Resist: What the White House and Skeksis Have in Common
🕑 3 minutesI saw The Dark Crystal as a little kid. It was epic, wonder-full, and so timeless I gladly shared it with my own kids some years back. Now Netflix created a stunning Series version: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Season 1 is a thrilling prequel to all that unfolded in the original movie.
[Warning: Spoilers]
The Weak Will Defeat the Strong?
I remember two lone Gelflings and the seemingly uber mighty, lumbering, vicious Skeksis. These rash and rude, self-proclaimed rulers of Thra were stealing power from the Crystal to live forever. And the little, almost hopeless Gelflings had the impossible task of defeating them…
WWVD? 9 Life Hacks from Voltron, Legendary Defender
🕑 6 minutesThe new Voltron (Netflix) blows my mind. I never saw the original (ahem, Thunder Cats), but 30 years later with my own kids, I’ve been longing for cartoons with solid stories and, uh, steady volume. We even blocked a few “kids” channels since so much was like junk food.
But Voltron-Legendary Defender has been a revelation. Rich story lines, deep and diverse characters, 23 glorious minutes of adventure and self-reflection.
One day my little had a meltdown about having to bike to school. My eldest had to go ahead without us. I hated separating and spontaneously asked her, “What would Voltron do?!”
That got me thinking, so here’s my Top 9 Voltron – Legendary Defender Life Hacks for some fun and encouragement.
Busting Religion: Why I Let My Kids Play with Ninjago, Elsa, Anna, Batman…
🕑 4 minutesIn February I got an email from my kids’ school to be alert for “trends and hypes.” All parents were encouraged to give extra thought to the cartoon figures we let our children wear or bring to school, via bags and lunch boxes. My kids attend a school that identifies as Christian, so we knew, in addition to extra singing/music, bible stories and praying, there would be attention to avoiding really frightening stories, or stories of witchcraft, zombies, etc. But this email called out Elsa, Anna, and even Superman. Uh, What??
The Nitrous Oxide Connection: 6 Tips to Keep Your Joy/Power Tank Full
🕑 4 minutesThis starts with a snail named Turbo who dreams of speed. When Turbo almost drowns in an engine filled with nitrous oxide–and my kids and I started getting nervous— I started to wonder, hey, isn’t that laughing gas??
SNL skits with Steve Martin flashed before me, and I checked Wiki: sure enough the stuff that numbs pain and causes giggles is the same stuff that turns car horsepower into unicorn power. Pow!
I don’t believe in coincidences, what’s the Universe trying to say?
Speed and Joy can go together like Slow and Annoyed, but does the connection run deeper? What if Fun, Laughter, and Joy are some of our Greatest Weapons in this life?
Is that why they’re constantly under fire?