Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's Blog, page 9
January 20, 2014
The Quotable Nerdy Civil Rights Activist
As we here in the United States celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr Day, we thought it would be nice to take a moment and celebrate the Civil Rights Movement, especially the many women who influenced it. The women we quote below were all leaders of the Civil Rights Movement; several were recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal. We hope you are as inspired by these quotes — and these women — as we are.
Source: The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
“Give light and people will find the way.”
-Ella Baker, Activist
“No man or woman who tries to pursue an ideal in his or her own way is without enemies.”
-Daisy Bates, Journalist
“Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.”- Mary Mcleod Bethune, Educator and Activist
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
- Rosa Parks, Activist
“Surely nowhere in the world do oppression and persecution based solely on the color of the skin appear more hateful and hideous than in the capital of the United States, because the chasm between the principles upon which this Government was founded, in which it still professes to believe, and those which are daily practiced under the protection of the flag, yawn so wide and deep.”- Mary Church Terrell, founder of National Association of Colored Women
“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.”
- Dorothy Height, former president of the National Council of Negro Women
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”- Fannie Lou Hamer, organizer Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
“Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.”
January 17, 2014
The Quotable Nerdy Chick: Audrey Hepburn
I always wanted to have Audrey Hepburn’s voice with its unique European lilt. Or those distinctive eyebrows. Or that elegant, impeccable style. Alas, the only quality I share with Ms. Hepburn is size 10 feet.
Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina, found herself in front of the camera as a model, and made her first Hollywood movie, Roman Holiday, in 1953. Not only did she get to rollick around Rome with the dreamy Gregory Peck, she earned an Academy Award. She went on to star in such memorable movies as Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, and My Fair Lady.
1992—Audrey in Somalia
But Audrey felt her greatest role was as UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador. Having lived through the German invasion of Holland during World War II, she knew real hunger and suffering. For five years, Ambassador Audrey traveled to over 20 countries witnessing innocent children struggling for survival. Today the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund continues her work of bringing help and hope to the world’s children.
Audrey Hepburn Quotes:
• For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his hands through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
• People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw anyone out.
• Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands—one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.
• The “Third World” is a term I don’t like very much, because we’re all one world. I want people to know that the largest part of humanity is suffering.
• Taking care of children has nothing to do with politics. I think perhaps with time, instead of there being a politicization of humanitarian aid, there will be a humanization of politics.
• Anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist. I have seen the miracle of water which UNICEF has helped to make a reality.
You can read about Audrey Hepburn and here.
Or watch this documentary about the iconic Hepburn style.
In case you missed it…The winner of the DUCK DUCK MOOSE Giveaway was announced already! Click here to see who won.
January 16, 2014
Winner! Winner! Winner!
We have reached the end of our week-long Moose Day Celebration.Did you enter the MOOSE DAY Giveaway?
If you didn’t, I bet you regret it.
And if you did, you’re probably waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the winner.
I’m here to un-bate you. Because I’m just that kind of girl.
Just as a reminder, here is the lovely TRIPLE Prize:
So, are you ready?
Really ready?
OK, I won’t keep you waiting any longer….
The winner of the triple giveaway is:
@Loveofxena
CONGRATULATIONS!
Thanks to everyone for entering, celebrating, tweeting, posting, ducking and moosing…Mostly, thank you for helping me to welcome DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE into the world with all the love that I was hoping for. You’re the best!
(and if you’re REALLY disappointed, get a copy of your own at IndieBound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local independent bookseller!)
January 14, 2014
The Post Sudipta Told Me Not to Write, but…
I’ve held off for a few weeks. Actually a few months now. But I can’t keep silent any longer, despite the fact that my blogging partner advised me not to address this important-to-women issue. I mean, sure, her advice was sound: “We don’t want people coming to our blog after doing a google search for women with big but(t)s.”
I could see her point.
So back when it was published, I didn’t speak out about the recent Oxford study claiming not only that women with big posteriors are smarter, but babies who pass through the well-padded birth canals of these women are smarter too. Because how could I express my outrage over a study that links intellect to a woman’s physical attributes (thereby once again objectifying women) without mentioning the very topic of the study… big but(t)s?
Then I realized I could speak my mind, without using the word we don’t want popping up in search engines! After all, I was raised by a genteel southern lady who considered the aforementioned word just as vile as any curse word in the urban dictionary. We were simply not allowed to use the double t version of but in our house. So of course as kids, we developed giant arsenal of synonyms to use in front of my mother, all of which she pretended to like better than the forbidden four letter word: derriere, bottom, rear end, bum, fanny, booty, caboose, backside, hiney, behind, posterior, tuckus, and my grandmother’s favorite: hunkus. They all work. And since I seriously doubt perverted types are doing searches for “huge hunkus” here we go…
I have not read the Oxford study itself, so I am not arguing against the validity of its results. What I find offensive, is that there even was such a study. Was there a corresponding study of men with big bums? I don’t think so. Why not? If it’s important to know the anatomical advantages of hefty hineys for women, why isn’t it just as important to understand these for men?
I guess I always hope that scientific research will move humanity forward in some way. But what good does it do us to know that a tremendous tuckus is a trait of intelligence? We aren’t to the point where we can genetically control whether or not we have a big bum or a flat fanny. So I can’t see what purpose it serves for us to know that children born of narrow-hipped mothers are intellectually disadvantaged?
Unless…. unless the study helps men pick their mates in a way that insures their offspring have the best chance of having bigger brains! That’s it! Survival of the fittest! Thanks Oxford!
Still don’t think this is another excuse to objectify women? Google the study. What kind of images are paired with this scientific research? Huge hunkuses covered in chocolate. No, I’m not kidding. Close ups of short-short clad derrieres too rotund for garment coverage. Wow. Those images really help me take the study, led by male researcher Konstantinos Manolopoulos, seriously.
Before we know it, colleges are going to have a much easier time selecting female applicants. But look at the bright side, girls. No more stressing over SAT scores. You can just submit your measurements!
2013 was indeed a year of scientific advancement. We learned that drinking coffee reduces suicidal tendencies in adults, that exercise can actually cause your brain to grow, and there were major breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy.
But were these studies plastered all over Facebook and the blogosphere? Nope. Not like the study of colossal cabooses was. This, is my entire gripe with the study. It offers little more than another excuse to objectify women. I have friends with all body types, those with well endowed hips, and those who are rail-thin. Body type is never a consideration when I am choosing a friend, a colleague, an instructor, nor should it be.
For years, females have struggled to earn equal pay for equal skills – to be noticed for what they can accomplish, rather than who they are physically. This backside study takes us backwards. My rant is over.
The End.
After all of our advancements in science and society, did Queen have it right all along?
PSSSST: Today is the last day to enter the #DuckDuckMoose GIVEAWAY! Win two signed copies and more. Click HERE for details!
January 10, 2014
The Quotable Nerdy Chick: Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper (1909 – 1992) was born in New York City. In 1928 she graduated from Vassar College, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics and later received a MA and a Ph.D. from Yale University. She is known for being one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer. A US Navy rear admiral, Hopper also developed the first compiler for a computer programming language. Nicknamed Amazing Grace, Hopper coined the phrase “debugging” for computer problems, and has had both a US Navy destroyer and a supercomputer named in her honor. You can read more about Grace Hopper HERE.
Grace Hopper Quotes
Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’ I try to fight that. That’s why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.
Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down. Respect for one’s superiors; care for one’s crew.
It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.
I like these quotes! And while I’ve heard that third one many times, I never knew who to attribute it to. It’s true… but I hope my children don’t find this out for a while…
.
January 9, 2014
#MooseMoment
Our week of MOOSE DAY celebrations continue…if you haven’t registered for the TRIPLE GIVEWAY, there is still plenty of time! Click here to fill our the official registration form, and remember, any tweet or Facebook post about Moose Day with the hashtag #DuckDuckMoose is an entry to win! (Don’t forget to tag Sudipta, too – @SudiptaBQ on Twitter or Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Children’s Book Author on FB.)
We’re going to sweeten the deal, though — add the hashtag #MooseMoment to your posts/tweets, and get TRIPLE the entries!
What is a Moose Moment? you might be wondering.
We’ve all witnessed a Moose Moment. We’ve also all experienced a Moose Moment — probably many more than one.
A Moose Moment is a moment of disaster. When you accidentally back your car out of the garage — while the passenger door is still open. When you leave the house so early and so tired that you don’t notice you’re wearing two different types of shoes (this one I have done personally!).
If you have children in your life, you’ve seen plenty of Moose Moments. Here’s a fairly common one:
Toddler + chocolate bar = MOOSE MOMENT
Once, I left my daughters with a babysitter…who thought it would be fine to let them play with a ballpoint pen. Which lead to this Moose Moment:
Then there was the time I didn’t notice my daughter sneak the baby powder into the playroom:
Another memorable Moose Moment…(She looks so happy! So blissfully unaware of the MESS!)
So, why should we celebrate Moose Moments? After all, they just cause trouble, right?
NO!!!
Moose Moments are the best moments of life. They are the ones we remember for years, the ones we laugh about time and time again. They bring us joy in times of trouble and they put things in perspective when life gets too serious. Moose Moments are crystallized drops of inspiration.
DUCK DUCK MOOSE wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t witnessed hundreds of my children’s Moose Moments.
As we continue our Moose Day party, can you share your favorite #MooseMoment?
Please enter the official MOOSE DAY GIVEAWAY and win a great triple prize!
January 7, 2014
It’s a MOOSE DAY Party! (And a TRIPLE GIVEAWAY!)
It’s MOOSE DAY! It’s MOOSE DAY!
Shockingly, this is not an official, national holiday (though it should be!), so you might be wondering what Moose Day — today — is.
Simple.
Today is the book birthday of DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE! Hooray!!!
It is a day of joy! Of celebration! It is a day for all ducks and all mooses to put aside their differences and celebrate the true meaning of friendship! (The true meaning of friendship, coincidentally, is the theme of the whole book.)
A lot of people are already celebrating DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE.
It has been selected for the CBC’s Hot Off The Press.
Kirkus says, “Two ducks plus one moose equals mayhem, mischief and true friendship.” YAY!
Publishers Weekly says, “Moose’s pratfalls provide short-term entertainment and an opportunity for dramatic read-aloud performances.” Wow!
School Library Journal says, “Good fun that gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘duck.’” Woo-hoo!
Booklist says, “Though this silly story has a lot of well-earned laughs, the sweet ending is a touching reminder that clumsiness is easily forgivable.” HOORAY!
The lovely Robin Newman is celebrating Moose Day here. The fabulous Matthew Winner’s Moose Day Festivities are here. The most creative Creative Bookings is celebrating here. The adorable Darlene Beck Jacobson has her Moose Day party here.
The internet is just a-twitter with Moose Day Festivities!
Which brings us to the GIVEAWAY.
The TRIPLE GIVEAWAY.
In honor of DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE, we here at Nerdy Chicks Rule and going to give away a TRIPLE prize to one lucky winner.
Doesn’t that look lovely? (Oh, did you notice the hand-made paper rose decorating the gift bag?)
Let’s break down the swag:
One signed DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE
Another signed DUCK, DUCK, MOOSE
Cleaning supplies for the Moose in your life!
Yes, that’s TWO autographed copies for your ducks, and some cleaning supplies for your Moose (because you know he’s going to need it, right?).
How do I win? asks my faithful blog reader.
It’s very simple.
1. To register, fill in the form below with your name, email, and Twitter and/or Facebook handles. (Don’t forget to hit ‘Submit’!)
[contact-form]
2. Tweet or post about Moose Day with the hashtag #DuckDuckMoose and tag Sudipta, too (@SudiptaBQ on Twitter or Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Children’s Book Author on FB). Don’t know what to tweet? Use any of the links above or copy the pic below of the book cover and share that!
3. Every time you share using the handles you’ve registered, you’ll get one entry. The contest will close on January 14, 2014 at 11:59pm. At that time, we will gather up all the entries and choose a WINNER!
GOOD LUCK
and
HAPPY MOOSE DAY!
January 1, 2014
2013: A Year in Review
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2014 is off to a wonderful start for each and every one of you.
As we start this new year, the Nerdy Chicks wanted to take a moment and reflect on 2013. This past year was a great year for Nerdy Chicks Rule. We covered so many topics near and dear to our hearts — and we had a lot of fun, too.
We reflected on life, on education, and on mothers.
We discussed college, art, and losing.
We interviewed women we admire. We quoted women we respect.
We blogged about gardening, gifts, and gratitude.
We covered reading, writing, and arithmetic. And a whole lot of other things that don’t fall into cutesy category headings!
Like I said, it was a great year, and these are just a few examples of the kinds of posts we featured. If you missed any, take a moment to browse through and tell us what you think.
We are really looking forward to having you all join us for this coming year. Things are only going to get better.
December 27, 2013
The Quotable Nerdy Chick: Diana Nyad
Long-distance swimmer, Diana Nyad, caught the public’s eye in 1975 when she broke a speed record by swimming the 28 miles around Manhattan in under 8 hours. In 1978, her dream was to swim from Cuba to Florida, but she failed on her first attempt. She continued to break world records and retired from swimming at age 30. Diana became a television and radio broadcaster, author, and motivational speaker.
After her mother’s death, Diana reached age 60 feeling “closer to the end than to the beginning.” So she recommitted to pursuing her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida and resumed long-distance training. In September 2013, on her fifth attempt, Diana reached her goal by swimming the 104 miles in 53 hours at age 64 (without a shark cage)! See the The Other Shore film trailer here
Diana Nyad Quotes:
• You never are too old to chase your dreams.
• You can’t start to get into negative spaces…telling yourself it hurts too much, maybe another day… because even people with an iron will [can] talk themselves out of stuff and quit when things get tough.
• All of us suffer heartaches and difficulties in our lives. If you say to yourself, ‘find a way,’ you’ll make it through.
• Life is not over at this age [64] by any means.
• I believe endurance grows and we can never discount the mental…the powers of concentration and perspective of what it all means. What you are capable of is infinitely higher at this age [64] than when you are a young twenty-something.
• So many people discuss the journey and the destination. The destination was always my vision. The journey that took me several years was thrilling. The discovery, the people, and the looking inside at what you’re made of made reaching the destination euphoric.
• Whenever you’re pushing through the tough moments, find a way. If something is important to you and it looks impossible and you’re up against it, step back for a minute and ask yourself if you have the resolve to think of every -nth degree to get through this. And most times, we do.
• I wanted to teach myself some life lessons at the age of 60 and one of them was that you don’t give up.
• I am willing to put myself through anything; temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. I am interested in the unknown, and the only path to the unknown is through breaking barriers, an often painful process.
Diana Nyad’s website has links to her blog and to videos, including TED talks, so that you may enjoy the fuller experience of this Quotable Nerdy Chick. She is also a contributing writer to the Huffington Post.
December 24, 2013
Holiday Book Crafts
As we close out the holiday season, the Nerdy Chicks wanted to share some nerdy, fun, creative things to make your days more merry and bright. All you need are some books and some imagination (and scissors, hot glue, etc. — but that doesn’t sound as musical, does it?).
Paper flowers:
These are not just holiday crafts — these gorgeous paper flowers are good all year long. There are many different types of flowers that you can make, from roses to orchids to calla lilies and more! The petals are cut out of old book pages and hot-glued (make sure you use a low-temp glue gun) onto a toothpick or piece of wire. Sudipta uses these as bows on wrapped presents or glued onto alligator hair clips to make great tree ornaments. For some examples of different paper flowers you can make, visit the Elli Blog.
Book Christmas Trees:
These are easy to make, and we love the way they look. Basically, you just cut circles from the pages of old books, then thread them onto a dowel or skewer. Kami used vintage wooden spools for the trunks. You can get full instructions on how to make these, and other types of book-trees here.
Book Wreath (shown above):
This was Sudipta’s favorite 2013 book craft. Pages ripped from a book, rolled into cones, and glued onto a cardboard circle, and VOILA! Instant masterpiece! (And by instant, I mean three hours later. But, hey — totally worth it!) For instructions on how to make a similar book wreath on your own, visit this site.
