Articles and news stories are constantly pushing me to consider something new, broaden my perspective, or change the way I look at an issue. My husband likes to joke that my brain explodes with something new on a daily basis. These articles – and the brain explosions that result from them – are so beneficial for me that I wanted to create a place where I could share them, in case you might want to read them, too. Learn more about Things that Made My Brain Explode – and see past posts – here. 

Here’s a recent batch of Things that Made my Brain Explode:

• Why is it important that all types of bodies and abilities are represented in childrens’ literature, on television, in our society? Because earlier this month, a 10 year old boy committed suicide after being bullied about his colostomy bag.
• LOVED this piece from Teaching Tolerance on giving students the tools to approach, understand, and process complex narratives. This is how we change the world: Why “Both Sides” of a Story Aren’t Enough.
• The text of these Amazon biographies made me giggle, and then the details about self publishing made me think. Giggling and thinking… I’ll take it. The terrible celebrity biographies of Amazon, not explained.
• “When you mention that people sure do seem to dislike women in politics, people will very adamantly declare they love women. They just do not like those particular women. And it’s not that they’re sexist, people will assure you. It’s just that all these women have flaws.” Why It’s Impossible to Be a Likeable Female Politician. Facepalm.
• The recent Marie Kondo craze makes me laugh, because Mr. Fitz, an intense minimalist, doesn’t like the show but has been living the lifestyle his entire adult life. We both loved this article of the Shinto roots upon which Kondo’s fortune is based: What White, Western Audiences Don’t Understand About Marie Kondo’s ‘Tidying Up’.
• A step in the right direction. I think. Maybe? I can’t tell. Hospitals Must Now Post Prices. But It May Take a Brain Surgeon to Decipher Them.
• One of the wonderful (and so, so sharp) parents at my school posted this last week: “But today I want to tell you: watching your kids electronics for “porn” is about a tenth of the crap that you need to be watching for. You want to know how little middle school boys keep ending up in Washington DC buying and wearing MAGA hats? You want to know how a girl from the suburbs gets sucked into ISIS – our boys are getting sucked into Nazi culture using the same tactics. Look at youtube, Instagram follows, etc. And, no matter where you are on the political spectrum, people like Ben Shaprio are a gateway drug to the alt-right for teenage boys.” Alongside it was this article: How YouTube Built a Radicalization Machine for the Far-Right. I found this article TERRIFYING but so important. Thank you for sharing and making us all a bit smarter, Aimee! 
• She also shared this: “I know that in a white family it is easy to use words like “colorblind” and feel like we’re enlightened and progressive. But if you teach your kids to be colorblind, they may not understand the uniquely dangerous situations my child can find himself in. […] Engage in tough conversations about what you’re hearing in the news. Don’t shy away from this just because you can. He can’t. We can’t.” Aimee is killing it: To the White Parents of my Black Son’s Friends. 
• “I need the medical establishment and our greater community to understand the severity of our situation. I am simultaneously afraid for my son and afraid of him.” Suffering in Silence: The Dark Side of Autism.
• “This waiver is unconscionable, in no small part because it prioritizes federal contractors over kids in need of families.” I know and love people who foster children and fight to do what’s best for them in this incredibly complicated and problematic system everyday. Thinking of them – and what this will mean for so many suffering children in desperate need of help – made me cry. HHS Decision Allows Discrimination Against Jewish, LGBTQ and Other Families in South Carolina.
• I hope you manage to have this much fun today. 
• “Historically, all across the United States, it has been white people who have decided how land is used and who is allowed to live where. Charlottesville has the chance to change this narrative. This is the challenge, and the opportunity for our town. It is up to us to shape the kind of city we want to be.” Zoned out: How neighborhood associations and zoning regulations have shaped our city.
• They announced the 2019 Newbery and Caldecott winners this week!!!! Mercy Suarez Changes Gears was the big winner. I love Meg Medina, so I was so excited, but was surprised not to see my predictions (Front Desk by Kelly Yang, and Blended by Sharon Draper) on the list. Did you guess any of the winners?
• A little inspiration for all the aspiring authors out there: 8-year-old girl writes best-selling book about annoying little brothers. Write what you know, right? 😉
• You may have noticed that I have an intense fascination with social media marketing, branding, and advertising. (If you didn’t know I was a nerd before this, then… well, perhaps you need to learn to read more carefully.) How Pedialyte got Pedialit has it all: Branding! Instagram! Puns!!! I read this with an embarrassing amount of glee.
• PS – I haven’t forgotten about Black History Month!! Check back on Sunday for a post with resources and links, which will be updated regularly throughout the month.