Comments on: "More information about penguins than I care to have" http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 22:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Baldhead http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1309303 Baldhead Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1309303 I Think, that if a book on penguins was really comprehensive, then "more than I want to know" would be a note of praise. Depends on if it's a 12 page book or a 1200 page book. I Think, that if a book on penguins was really comprehensive, then “more than I want to know” would be a note of praise. Depends on if it’s a 12 page book or a 1200 page book.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1309284 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1309284 The modern 10 year-old would simply tweet <i>penguinz suk seal dick lol.</i> The modern 10 year-old would simply tweet penguinz suk seal dick lol.

]]> By: Patrick Cavanagh http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1309193 Patrick Cavanagh Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1309193 In my family, when one of us has been talking on a subject for too long and realizes it, it's usual to say "I guess that's more than you wanted to know about penguins." I never knew where that came from, so thanks! In my family, when one of us has been talking on a subject for too long and realizes it, it’s usual to say “I guess that’s more than you wanted to know about penguins.” I never knew where that came from, so thanks!

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1309125 penguinchris Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1309125 I usually like to weigh in on penguin related matters here at BB but I too am just left desiring more information about the case. Though I must say that while I enjoy seeing penguins at aquariums, I tend to not actually be inordinately interested at learning all the details about them, or hearing about them when they do feedings. It doesn't help that the presentations are apparently aimed at 5-year-olds and are not intellectually satisfying. Aquariums do provide adult-oriented education programs (such as an excellent short lecture I saw at Monterey recently) but have dumbed-down the rest of the place, just as zoos and science museums have. Clearly I'm interested in penguins, but when I watch the penguin feeding demonstrations aquariums do (which I've done at several different aquariums around the country) it usually only takes a few minutes before I feel like this girl (reportedly) felt - I lose all interest. So this clearly <i>could</i> be a legitimate criticism of the book - especially at the time I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a particularly engaging book for kids (or anyone else). I usually like to weigh in on penguin related matters here at BB but I too am just left desiring more information about the case.

Though I must say that while I enjoy seeing penguins at aquariums, I tend to not actually be inordinately interested at learning all the details about them, or hearing about them when they do feedings. It doesn’t help that the presentations are apparently aimed at 5-year-olds and are not intellectually satisfying.

Aquariums do provide adult-oriented education programs (such as an excellent short lecture I saw at Monterey recently) but have dumbed-down the rest of the place, just as zoos and science museums have.

Clearly I’m interested in penguins, but when I watch the penguin feeding demonstrations aquariums do (which I’ve done at several different aquariums around the country) it usually only takes a few minutes before I feel like this girl (reportedly) felt – I lose all interest.

So this clearly could be a legitimate criticism of the book – especially at the time I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t a particularly engaging book for kids (or anyone else).

]]> By: jimmoffet http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308909 jimmoffet Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308909 Well done Mark. Well done. Well done Mark. Well done.

]]> By: Wreckrob8 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308871 Wreckrob8 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308871 Is this an objection to the quantity of information, or the specifics? I want to know. I feel disappointed. Is this an objection to the quantity of information, or the specifics? I want to know. I feel disappointed.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308832 buddy66 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308832 Too prolix for a ten year old. Sounds like it was written by a diplomat. The way I heard it fifty years ago, the girl wrote: "This book tells me more about penguins than I want to know." There, I fixed that. Too prolix for a ten year old. Sounds like it was written by a diplomat. The way I heard it fifty years ago, the girl wrote: “This book tells me more about penguins than I want to know.”

There, I fixed that.

]]> By: Geoduck http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308822 Geoduck Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308822 Since we're on the subject, I highly recommend scrounging up a copy of H. Allen Smith's classic Write Me A Poem, Baby, which is a collection of children's writing like this. Yes, it includes the penguin review. One of my personal favorites: A THANKSGIVING STORY Once upon a time there was a turkey. That turkey had an enemy. This enemy was a man. One day they had a fight and the man won. THE END Since we’re on the subject, I highly recommend scrounging up a copy of H. Allen Smith’s classic Write Me A Poem, Baby, which is a collection of children’s writing like this. Yes, it includes the penguin review. One of my personal favorites:

A THANKSGIVING STORY
Once upon a time there was a turkey. That turkey had an enemy. This enemy was a man. One day they had a fight and the man won.
THE END

]]> By: ZikZak http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308765 ZikZak Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308765 <i>The club owner here hooks me up with drugs, like cocaine or pot brownies. But last time I was in town he gave me a drug for attention deficit disorder, because he's afflicted. But I'm not, so what happened to me was I suddenly had an extra-long attention span. People would be telling me a story, then the story would end and I'd get all mad and shit. "Come on man, there's gotta be more to that story!"</i> - Mitch Hedberg The club owner here hooks me up with drugs, like cocaine or pot brownies. But last time I was in town he gave me a drug for attention deficit disorder, because he’s afflicted. But I’m not, so what happened to me was I suddenly had an extra-long attention span. People would be telling me a story, then the story would end and I’d get all mad and shit. “Come on man, there’s gotta be more to that story!”
- Mitch Hedberg

]]> By: laramie http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308763 laramie Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308763 Here's a slightly different version of the same story, from 1971: http://www.jstor.org/pss/40161171 No card, no book club.   Here’s a slightly different version of the same story, from 1971:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/40161171

No card, no book club.  

]]> By: Peter Ek http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308757 Peter Ek Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308757 It sounds so random. They just... sent this book. About penguins. Unprovoked. The girl acted in self-defense.  It sounds so random. They just… sent this book. About penguins. Unprovoked. The girl acted in self-defense. 

]]> By: BarBarSeven http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308744 BarBarSeven Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308744 Bingo! What is the book & what is the source of this quote. Bingo! What is the book & what is the source of this quote.

]]> By: MarlboroTestMonkey7 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308663 MarlboroTestMonkey7 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308663 Classic hipster stuff Classic hipster stuff

]]> By: neurolux http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308615 neurolux Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308615 Penguin TMI? Penguin TMI?

]]> By: skeletoncityrepeater http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308609 skeletoncityrepeater Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308609 I was sort of let down by this post. I was hoping to find out what the book actually was and to read a little article about the girl's letter. Instead, it's less than an anecdote. Is this real or made up? I was sort of let down by this post. I was hoping to find out what the book actually was and to read a little article about the girl’s letter. Instead, it’s less than an anecdote. Is this real or made up?

]]> By: brian12 http://boingboing.net/2012/01/02/more-information-about-pengu.html#comment-1308606 brian12 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136870#comment-1308606 I'm not sure where you are coming from or going to with this. It sounds like a 'determined to be dumb ' valley girl stereotype. Your diplomat Hugh Gibson is dead wrong. By the way, the finest piece of literary criticism is from the Times of London many years ago, I paraphrase, "For those that like this sort of thing, here is more of the same." I’m not sure where you are coming from or going to with this. It sounds like a ‘determined to be dumb ‘ valley girl stereotype. Your diplomat Hugh Gibson is dead wrong.
By the way, the finest piece of literary criticism is from the Times of London many years ago, I paraphrase, “For those that like this sort of thing, here is more of the same.”

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