December 2010
3 posts
“God wants to develop you in such a way that your life reflects Him. don’t...”
– (via toutcequibrille)
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#reverb10 - Prompt 2: Writing
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...
#reverb10 - December 1, 2010
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...
August 2010
1 post
2 tags
BREAKING: Prop 8 ruled unconstitutional →
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...
July 2010
2 posts
3 tags
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“I love that sometimes we need to go to the opposite side of the world to realize...”
– Derek Sivers - TED Talks: Weird or Just Different?
June 2010
9 posts
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Motivational Moment: World Cup
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...
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Prop 8 Closing Arguments Set for Wednesday (June... →
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:
...
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Bonnets are Back
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...
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Summer Blog Challenge 2010 Participants
The following blogs are participating in the 2010 Summer Blog Challenge.
Critically Acclaimed - JBrady
Pocket Susan - Susan B.
Finding Focus - Richard Dedor
Waiting on the World to Change… - Tara Kermiet
Exchanging Keys - Regina Lattimore
Droplets: Even the Ocean Was Created by Rain - Kelly McDowell
Enjoy, and Happy Reading!
-JBrady
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Home Libraries Influence a Kid's Success in School... →
Bring back Book It!
It turns out, growing up with books around the house has a profound impact on educational achievement. Check out the article in the link above, courtesy of GOOD.
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With Foursquare, life is a virtual game - CNN.com →
Fascinating article about Dennis Crowley, co-founder of FourSquare - the popular location sharing iPhone/smartphone app.
“Crowley sees these video-game-style rewards as reason enough for Foursquare users to make more effort to explore the real world — and, in the process, to have more fun with their daily lives.”
CNN does a great job explaining the app for those who are...
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May 2010
5 posts
9 tags
Presidential Proclamation - LGBT Pride Month →
As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. -President Barack Obama
On Friday, May 28, President Barack Obama released this Presidential Proclamation that June would officially be recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
...
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Summer Blog Challenge 2010
Bloggers Unite! Susan and I have created a Summer 2010 blog challenge, and you’re welcome to participate if you’d like! To participate in the Weekly Summer Posts Challenge, bloggers must post at least one blog entry during each week, starting May 30 and continuing through September 4. For the purposes of the challenge, the blog entry must be posted anytime between Sunday at noon -...
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5 Ways Foursquare is Changing the World →
I became a FourSquare user on September 11, 2009, while visiting Austin for my interview for my current fantastic job at The University of Texas at Austin. My friend Tim had integrated his Twitter account with FourSquare, and introduced me virally to the location-sharing concept, which didn’t seem to have a large following at the time. Miami and Austin happened to be two of the fifteen...
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April 2010
3 posts
2 tags
“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish...”
– Anaïs Nin (via kari-shma)
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Attraversiamo.
Spring is here - and Austin is growing more beautiful with every day. The weather is perfect today for a leisurely lunch outside. From my seat on the patio furniture at Panera, I am enjoying the breeze and the view. The vibrant green leaves - newly sprouted on the tree branches - stand boldly against the brilliant, cloudless blue sky. Life is good.
My time in Austin has been nice so far. The...
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March 2010
7 posts
9 tags
Dream. Learn. Do. Become.
This post is part of the Blog Tour for Richard Dedor’s new book, Anything is Possible. Want to learn more about Richard? Visit his blog, Finding Focus & follow him on Twitter to keep in touch!
Writing this book, Anything is Possible has been an inspiring trek for myself and those who worked on this project with me. My three wonderful editors have (at least I hope they have) been inspired by...
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Anything Is Possible
Critically Acclaimed is proud to host my close friend, Richard Dedor tomorrow (March 4, 2010), with a guest post designed to inspire! Stop by tomorrow to get inspired, and have a chance to win one of two copies of his book, Anything Is Possible!
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Top 10 Ways To Be Happy At Work →
For most gainfully-employed people, the work week means spending more time in the office than any other location. I ran across this great article that identifies ten strategies to improve your happiness in your job, and loved how much of the responsibility is placed on the individual. Truthfully, you have the power to love - or hate - your job.
Check out the article, and consider what things you...
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Book It: Three Cups of Tea
In 2007, Allison Foster and I informally started a book club at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. During my time there, the group grew from the original two, to a regular group of eleven fantastic friends, and continued after I left in November, 2009.
What started as a fun lunch date became a thriving club of dedicated readers, and enhanced my value for literature and lively...
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“[C]ommunity and a close relationship with the land can enrich human life beyond...”
– Helena Norberg-Hodge (as quoted in Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea)
(photo courtesy of the University of Vermont Plant and Soil Science Department)
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Olympic Pictograms Through the Ages (NY Times) →
Before discovering the field of student affairs, I originally intended to pursue of a career in communication through graphic design. One of my favorite undergraduate classes in the College of Journalism and Technical Communication at Colorado State University was Visual Communication in the Contemporary World, which helped me bridge public relations and graphic design. For some time, I wanted to...
February 2010
4 posts
3 tags
Austin Men Targeted in Antigay Hate Crime | News |... →
I’m headed downtown for a march to City Hall, to share my support for these two individuals. I can only hope that this terrible situation leads to further understanding, acceptance, and change in society.
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I DO! - A Unique Way to Supporting Marriage... →
“It’s not hard to get married in Florida. Just ask Brian Feldman and Hannah Miller, two almost-strangers who were wed Friday, two days before Valentine’s Day, to make a political point. “Before a crowd of 30-some onlookers, Feldman and Miller took their vows just because they could — and because two people of the same sex cannot.”
Check out the rest of the article,...
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WatchI Love You Over and Over Again
(via The Moviefone Mash - I Love You Over and Over Again - AOL Video)
Thanks to Katie Trav for sharing!
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“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are...”
– Marianne Williamson, Return to Love
January 2010
17 posts
1 tag
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“Jonathan: Let me tell you something - this is the ultimate blended drink....”
– Serendipity
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“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and...”
– James Barrie
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Thanks, Drea, for highlighting one of my favorite...
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Harry Potter and the Complete Hardcover Set
In June 2007, I had just moved to Miami and started my job at Florida International University. Having moved to a new city knowing nobody, I would often head to downtown Coral Gables to browse the various bookstores - my favorite being Books & Books - a charming doctor’s-office-turned-bookstore-and-cafe, about a half mIle from my apartment. The building had been renovated to fit the bookstore...
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“I’d met other important writers in other creative-writing classes. Somehow...”
– Mary Beth Caschetta, in her article: Considering a Writing Program’s Worth - The Chronicle of Higher Education
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iPhone Apps List 2010: 700+ Apps Reviewed by... →
Mashable is one of my favorite sites, and I often find fantastic articles on social media by following their Twitter feed.
In this article, Mashable breaks down the top 700+ iPhone Apps reviewed on their site over the past year into several categories. I will definitely be checking out many of these apps over the next month!
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Martha Stewart Weddings Features Same-Sex Couple... →
“Martha Stewart Weddings featured the magazine’s first same-sex couple in its 15th anniversary Winter 2010 issue.”
The blog discusses the way the magazine article provided a fantastic look at the gay couple’s wedding, without emphasizing any political points whatsoever - it was simply to highlight the union as any other union would be highlighted in the magazine. SO empowering...
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Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres Discuss... →
Ellen’s response to the importance of sensitivity is outstanding! So looking forward to watching American Idol (once the auditions weeks are over, of course…). Enjoy!
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10 ways to get motivated for change in 2010 -... →
My friend Allison posted this fantastic article that breaks down the goal-setting process and helps put things into perspective. All-too-often, a new year means a new list of unattainables for many people. Check out these “10 things you can do to help yourself stay in a mindset to make positive changes in the coming year” from CNN - I plan to apply them to my goals for 2010, in order...
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FIU's gay fraternity one of many diverse student... →
Check out this article about the various diverse Greek-letter organizations at Florida International University (my former employer), and others around South Florida! Great press for some good student groups!
Thanks to my friend, Steve Rothaus, for sharing this positive news on his Gay South Florida Miami Herald blog.
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“When people ask if I moved to Texas, I say, ‘No. I moved to Austin.’...”
– Reed Rallojay (a new friend in the higher education world near Austin)
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“We in government don’t determine the quality or the validity of...”
– -New York State Senator Diane Savino, December 2, 2009
Check out the full speech.
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2010 New Year's Resolution Generator
Having trouble coming up with some fancy goals for the next decade? You could certainly make use of fantastic Goal Setting websites that provide some structure and added motivation, like Lululemon’s GoalTender, or 43 Things - an online community of goal setters and motivators. You could also snag a copy of Starbucks’ motivational book, One: How Many People Does It Take to Make a...