What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?
(Author: Leo Babauta)

While there may not be one action I do each and every day, I do have a handful of weekly tasks that keep me busy, and have taken me away from my writing goals (exhibited clearly by my lack of updating this blog regularly). One of those hobbies would be watching my two favorite television shows each week - Brothers & Sisters, and GLEE. Ultimately, I love both shows and could argue that I am learning from the writing styles of the fantastic storytellers behind both series, but I don’t watch either through that lens. While I could eliminate my weekly television shows, I wouldn’t want to, as they provide a nice relaxing and destressing break within my week.

Plus, I am in love with Matthew Morrison. And Lea Michelle. Chris Colfer. Jane Lynch. Oh, pretty much ALL of the GLEE characters, really. I mean, who isn’t, right? :)

Thanks to my friend Richard, I’ve decided to participate in #reverb10 (check it out at www.reverb10.com) I’ll post more about the project later, but am submitting my first post from my iPhone, so bear with me. ;) To meet today’s deadline, I’ll simply respond to the prompt (below).

“December 1 One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)”

2010 - RENEWAL The year has brought about change, growth, confidence, development, clarity, understanding, and overall renewal of life.

In a year, I hope my word will be BALANCE. :) Cheers to making this happen!

SO EXCITED!! PRAISE GOD! Thank you, Chief Judge Vaughn Walker!

CONCLUSION Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis,the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

Where in the world?!?

thedailywhat:

Carmen Sandiego IRL of the Day: There she is!

[@adamkovic / reddit.]

Earlier: Waldo IRL.

World Cup fever has taken over my office, and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the groans and moans of coworkers shouting about their disdain for every bad call, missed goal, and score for the other team. (Working in an officle - a cubicle with a door - means I get the pleasure of overhearing a lot of fabulous things that others may not realize they are sharing with me.) Now, I’m not an avid follower of soccer (aka- el fútbol americano - yes, I paid attention in high school Spanish class), but I definitely don’t enjoy missing out on things (what Marc would refer to as ‘FOMS - Fear of Missing Something’), so I decided to join in the fun by creating a fantasy pool on Yahoo! Sports.

Shocked that I’m not an avid follower? Didn’t I play soccer in my childhood, like most other elementary school kids? In all actuality, I did, for two years (to my knowledge), before dropping out during the third year. Let me explain. My first two years, I served as the goalie (at least, in my mind, this is what happened. I have no idea if this is true or not - but I definitely know that in my mind, I was the best goalie to ever play on the Loveland Parks and Recreation team. Definitely.) I am fairly certain I spent much of the time standing in front of the goal and thinking about how great of a goalie I was.

In my third season, my parents dropped me off at practice wearing a red hoodie. (In all actuality, they may have been there watching the practice, but again, in my mind, I was all alone. Hopelessly alone.) The coach lined up the kids, and started calling out different field positions, and each boy would take his turn running to the field triumphantly to show the other guys that he knew what he was doing. Given my not-so-extensive-yet-self-congratulatory experience in the world of soccer, I watched as the other boys ran to their positions and I kept creeping closer and closer to the front of the line. My anxiety rose steadily as I watched boy after boy run onto the field, seemingly knowing everything about the sport. These guys were geniuses - and I quickly realized I was not. Instead of watching and learning from their brilliant knowledge, I panicked as I realized that I only knew of one position - goalie.

My spike in blood pressure due to my nerves was exacerbated by the teasing of the bully behind me in line, who made it very clear that red hoodies were not in style that season by repeatedly pulling the hood over my head and laughing maniacally. (I still have an aversion to red hoodies. Jerk.) As the last kid before me reached the front of the line, the coach yelled, “Oh this one’s easy - GOALIE!” And as he ran to his position on the field (I mean, who doesn’t know where the GOALIE stands? Clearly, he won this round…), I started bawling. Needless to say, that was the end of my soccer journey, which may have contributed to my not-so-avid followership of the sport.

So why get into the sport again now? Other than my regular battle with FOMS, I must admit I had an additional incentive to join the World Cup fun in the office this year. Meet my motivation:

“Hello. My name is Michael Ballack, and I am ridiculously attractive. Also, I am a German Midfielder in the lovely game of soccer.”

“What’s a midfielder, you ask?”

“Don’t ask JBrady.”

“PS- I hurt my ankle, and won’t be playing in the World Cup.”

Wait, what? That’s right, Ballack is out of the game (at least for now, to my knowledge. Then again, we’ve already established my expertise in all things soccer…). But it’s okay. My pool is actually doing pretty well, thanks to the advise I got from my coworker. “Just cheer for Mexico. Jose (our admin associate/friend) would want you to.” That, and the fact that soccer players are generally a rather attractive group.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. -Charles W. Eliot

(photo courtesy of Ellen SIlverman and Real Simple)

As the state Supreme Court case over the California ban on same-sex marriage comes to a close this week, Frank Rich provides an outstanding op-ed in The New York Times, blending pop culture references and factual political evidence eloquently in his support for marriage equality. His compelling argument in ‘Two Weddings, a Divorce, and ‘Glee’ (linked above) includes this gem:

Domestic partnerships and equal economic benefits aren’t antidotes, Boies explains, because as long as gay Americans are denied the same right to marry as everyone else, they are branded as sub-citizens, less equal and less deserving than everyone else. That government-sanctioned stigma inevitably leaves them vulnerable to other slights and discrimination, both subtle and explicit. The damage is particularly acute for children, who must not only wonder why their parents are regarded as defective by the law but must also bear this scarlet letter of inferiority when among their peers.

Regardless of the ruling, it is likely that the case will be heard in the Federal Supreme Court in the upcoming years, and will certainly be an interesting time to live in America. I hope Rich’s words above (and the rest of his outstanding article) are read by people on all sides of the debate, and don’t fall on deaf ears. Check out the complete article above.

Dear Fashionistas,

Bonnets are back. That’s right, you heard me correctly - all the latest rage.

Now I am not talking about the traditional mid-18th century brimless house bonnet – those are so last century. I am referring to the ever-so-brilliant calash bonnet, with the intensely large stiff brim – you know, to protect your hair from the gale. (Thank you, Wikipedia, for clarifying such an important distinction in headdress history.)

How do I know they are back in style? Well, as Susan and I were leaving campus on Thursday, we caught a glimpse of a woman walking across campus wearing a burnt orange UT shirt and a daffodil yellow bonnet with a tiny pattern (perhaps floral?) – she was really too far away to tell what the pattern was. Since Austin is the fashion capital of the world, we see plenty of trendsetters walking our campus.

Don’t believe me? Consider the following t-shirt:

Not-so-fashion-forward, you say? InStyle Magazine, Teen Vogue, College Fashion, and the Fashionable Housewife (among others) beg to differ. Perhaps we’ll see tie dye bonnets soon.

Admittedly, tie dye shirts can be seen around town on many-a-fashion-forward Austinite, whereas the bonnet has yet to achieve such mass appeal. That being said, one can definitely understand how I might have questioned my initial assessment of this woman’s sleek and saavy sense of style. I decided to put out a feeler into the social media world and see what kind of responses I could get. I shared the following letter on facebook:

Dear Random Woman walking across campus, Susan and I want to know why you are wearing a bonnet. Please advise. Sincerely, Justin

Over the next twenty-four hours, I received a handful of outstanding conversational comments, including:

MR: is she the sun maid raisin girl? that would be fun…that is the only person I can think of who wears a bonnet :)

CK: Or, Holly Hobbie!

MR: oh fun game! Maybe strawberry shortcake?

JB: Perhaps a Precious Moments model?

TR: Perhaps she is Menonite

AM: Perhaps its Baby Jane.

LD: Omg can’t a girl wear a bonnet anymore!??? Maybe she was honoring one of the many fashion icons from little house on the prairie!

While the comment game provided some great entertainment, it also demonstrated the general population’s discomfort with fashionistas. I am truly sorry, 2010 Bonnet - perhaps the world just isn’t ready for you.


(Old woman in sunbonnet, (c. 1930) - Special thanks to Doris Ulmann for this fabulous photo)