I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO SAY ABOUT READING

Which is why I'm yelling 😆 But seriously, this is very important:

#1 Reading should be enjoyable.

#2 The original intent of fiction books was entertainment.

#3 You don't have to finish a book if it isn't enjoyable.

I have a degree in English. I used to be an English teacher. And I still firmly stand by all of the above. Yes, in school you have to read what you're assigned, but guess what?

Outside of school you can read what you want. No one can tell you what to read. No one can force you to finish something you're not enjoying.

I am a member of a Facebook group about fiction reading. Actually, I'm in two. One is specifically for romance novels, and it's a blast. The other one I feel is a little bit snobby. They read "literature." The other day, someone posted about a book and asked, "This book is depressing me so much. Does anything hopeful happen? I don't know if I can finish it unless there's some light ahead."

Last I checked, there were 64 comments. Some simply answered her question. "No, it's dark and sad." Everyone else lectured her on how it was "so accurate to the time period, what do you expect?" and "not every book is light and happy you know" "the best books challenge us to think."

Oh boy. You better believe I chimed in. I said, "Just know that if this book is too much for you emotionally, there is nothing wrong with ditching it and reading something lighter."

I could not believe people were acting all high and mighty to this woman like it was SO SHALLOW of her not wanting to be depressed while reading FOR FUN. In the year 2021. After a year of a pandemic, murder hornets, and rioting, she didn't want to read a depressing book? YA THINK?????

So, here I am, a certified English teacher giving everyone permission to not finish books. For whatever reason. It's depressing. It's boring. It's scary. Whatever. If anyone makes you feel bad for it, screw them. They have a giant stick up their pretentious ass.

Now excuse me while I go read this romance novel with a sexy man in a cowboy hat on the cover

(Seriously, that's what I'm reading right now.)

Mathematician. Leader. Heroine. Remembering Hidden Figure Katherine Johnson

Tonight, count the stars and remember a trailblazer.

We’re saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. She passed away at 101 years old.

An America hero, Johnson’s legacy of excellence broke down racial and social barriers while helping get our space agency off the ground.

Once a “human computer”, she famously calculated the flight trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

And when we began to use electronic computers for calculations, astronaut John Glenn said that he’d trust the computers only after Johnson personally checked the math.

As a girl, Katherine Johnson counted everything. As a mathematician, her calculations proved critical to our early successes in space travel.

With slide rules and pencils, Katherine Johnson’s brilliant mind helped launch our nation into space. No longer a Hidden Figure, her bravery and commitment to excellence leaves an eternal legacy for us all.

“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” - Katherine Johnson 1918 -2020

May she rest in peace, and may her powerful legacy inspire generations to come! What does Katherine Johnson’s legacy mean to you? Share in the comments.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

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linzmj

2 years ago

#someoneunfreezeAustinPowers!

Ladies, ladies, not all at once [blocking pornbots left and right]

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linzmj

5 years ago