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Times, They Are-A Changin'

Here's a cup of Joe on me. It's my lame attempt to apologize to my two or three readers. I hope to be better about keeping up with this blogging stuff. More to come!

your humble blogger,

S


picture courtesy of Chris Perry

Why I'm now a College Football Fan

Hurray for College football! I'm no football fan or a Longhorn fan at that, but while thousands of Longhorn Fans spend the weekend in Dallas, I basked a day in Austin's rare fall weather. I managed to hit four of Austin's staple places where I smothered myself in an abandoned town.

Stop #1: Book People

Forget Borders and Barnes & Noble. If you live in Austin, this Austin independent bookstore reminds the avid reader why Austin is great. If reading were a vice, I'd be in trouble! I sometimes forget that there's only one location, and it's in downtown Austin. 6th and Lamar.

Stop #2: Trudy's

I'll be honest. I'm not the biggest fan of Tex-Mex food, but for some reason, which I believe to be the drinks, Austinites love this eatery. There's always a wait, which also bugs me. But today, the weather was in the 70s and the sun invited the remaining Austin-dwellers (which I'm convinced were 30) to enjoy a Flaquitie Plate.

Stop #3: Spider House

Why stay indoors when this cozy coffee house and wine bar attracts you with an airy outdoor patio. Conveniently located on the same block as Trudy's, on weekends, Spider House offers their house wine special at $3... Even better you get to pick: Merlot, Chardonnay, or Cabernet. Why pick? You can have all three under $10.  

Stop #4: Arab Cowboy

As the night cooled into the low 60s, I meandered indoors to my regular sheesha lounge. What can I say? I was in the neighborhood. More about this new escapade in a previous blog.

More Balloon Boy, Kind of

A funny thing happened to Adrianna Huffington--yes, of the Huffington Post--on the way to talk about Afghanistan on the Ed Show.

She was ambushed! Not physically, but accidentally. Long story, short. She and Ed--yes, of the Ed Show--had a heated argument about why the media was still talking about the Ballon Boy incident. Both brought up fair points. But, why do I feel bad for Adrianna? Well, why not? If I had an angy Ed yelling at me on live television, I might cry. Watch it.

Tarka Indian Kitchen

Clay Pit, Austin's downtown Indian restaurant, has a fabulous baby sister: Tarka Indian Kitchen. A smaller, fast-food, self-serve, and more casual environment attracts anyone from the hot-tolerant to the mild-tolerant. And since its opening, two weeks ago, the new eatery has drawn a crowd every night. 

The menu includes Indian classics such as kebabs, saag, tandoori chicken, biriyani, basmati rice, flaky naan, and (my favorite) crispy, buttery samosas. Yum. The drink selection--ranging from Limca, to Coca-Cola, to wine, and Indian beer--is limited, but suits the fast-casual setting.

Tarka's only downfall? Choosing which two or three menu items to limit yourself to. You'll want to order the entire menu. And the food is incredibly fresh, you won't believe it's fast! Hands down, it's some of the Austin's best (and most inexpensive) Indian food.

Location: 5207 Brodie Lane 
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. 
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

La Dolce Vita

On October 15th, Austin's outdoor Museum of Art, Laguna Gloria, will host the 20th anniversary of the international Food & Wine Festival, La Dolce Vita. With over 20 Texas wines and spirits and over 50 restaurants to sample from, the $100-per-person event draws a few thousand to sip and taste a bit of heaven. A little pricey? Trust me, the festival is well worth the money.

If you get a chance to make it out, my only advice is to bring an empty belly and a designated driver... Three hours of wine tasting should come with a disclaimer. Cheers!

Just a Little Bit: Jane Lynch

What would have happened if Arrested Development, Julie & Julia, Best in Show, and, most recently, Glee had not cast Jane Lynch? Disaster, perhaps. No matter what role she plays, Lynch is freakin' fierce. And, NPR's All Thing's Considered co- host, Melissa Block, agrees.

Here's a blurb from the NPR interview:

NPR: Your Internet Movie Database entry shows about 70 credits in the last five years. That's roughly one new credit every three to four weeks. Do you have a clone?

Lynch: Yes. Glenn Close does roughly three-fifths of my work. 

Finish reading Lynch's biting Q&A here.

Calling All Calling Cards

If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm a pretty big advocate for the slow movement. (Although, I'll admit, I have yet to make the complete transition to bike and foot.) That said, do you remember the calling card? No, not the long-distance calling card, but the private calling card.

Still doesn't ring a bell? Try thinking back to the earliest mystery novel you read or crime scene you watched, on TV of course. A sleuth or gumshoe (I secretly wrote this entry so I could use these words) would leave behind a card. Along the same lines, the movie Hitch, where Will Smith's character was selective about who had his information, also offered a calling card cameo. Still, try not to think of these as business cards, rather think of them as a calling card for your personal life.

The calling card allows you to be as versatile and creative as you want. Below are some examples of crafty calling cards. (I thought about scanning my calling card, but realized that it might defeat its purpose.) Enjoy!

Lucky Duck Press creates calling cards and letters for special occasions or just because. For more information on this New York pressing establishment, visit Etsy.com.

Want to keep it simple? Visit Kimberly Austin's Austin Press website to get this one-character card.

 

The kind creator at Happy Girl Greetings will patiently work with you to get your text, image, font and design just right. She doesn't stop at calling cards either. Like several of these providers, she ventures to help you create letterheads and more. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Vince Letter Press will personalize your card with your favorite pose. You send the picture. They print the card.

Making great gifts, the cards vary from as little as $15 for a set of 50 to as much as $200 for a set of 250. Didn't see something you like? Visit Etsy.com for an infinite number of suppliers.

A Spelling Endemic

Not only has the H1N1 Virus (a.k.a. swine flu) debilitated the nation's health, it has also impaired our physicians' spelling ability.


My sincerest appologies for this blog entry.

Google Wave: The Next [Electronic] Generation?

You have to wonder if we will ever stop outdoing ourselves.

In Google's case, I can safely say, not any time soon. It's latest? Google Wave--promoted as the new online tool for real time communication and collaboration (I'm still trying to figure out what that means)--is the recent buzz among digital aficionado. Google describes it as "a wave [that] can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more."

Normally, I wouldn't mind having an electronic best friend that has an automated, boisterous spell-check/grammar (God knows I need it), a best friend that acts as a translator in 40 languages (since I only speak three) or one that can also inform me about what is current in the world. It's like having your own electronic super hero that saves the world one communication barrier at a time, right? It does sound very appealing. However, I can't help but wonder: What problems does Google Wave pose?

In their defense, the creators, themselves, raise a fair question: Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents? In an effort to improve communication, Google Wave introduces what may be a revolutionary idea for businesses, companies, organizations, etc. Hm... this sounds oddly familiar to what the Nextel phone did for businesses.  Perhaps Google Wave should come with a disclaimer: If not used in moderation, this product may become a nuisance. 

On the other hand, it promises to ease communication for contacts across the world. However, if none of these (work or distance) apply to you, it may prove to be either (1) too complex or (2) more of a hassle than your regular email and IM. Trust me. I want to like the gadget, but am simultaneously skeptical. 

That said, if this sounds like your kind of toy, sign up to be one of the 100,000 that gets invited by Google to play with Google Wave before it's released to the public.

GLEE! - Not Just For Your Average Choir Nerd.

Glee, FOX's new one-hour musical comedy-drama, is in its fourth episode and already has a strong following. The series is downright witty, scandalous, crafty, and funny. While the direction of Glee uses opportune dramatic zoom-ins to add tension and comedic relief, the light-heartedness leaves me coming back for more.

The premise: An Arrested Development-like comedy set in a high school environment, filled with clichéd characters, soap-opera drama (which could be overbearing but is handled with humor), hidden innuendos, and quick dialogue.

The triple-threat cast: So when Ryan Murphy, creator of Glee, needed to find a cast, he needed to get it right. And in an interview with FOX, according to Murphy, "In Hollywood, it's rare to find a cast-full of actors that can do all three-- sing, dance, and act". Luckily, he struck gold. And as much as I'd love to brief you on the 12-member cast, I'll stick the four that in my opinion are noteworthy.

The compassionate Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), the high school Spanish teacher who becomes the Glee Club director. An evil cheerleading Coach Sue Sylvester (the talented Jane Lynch), who is tyrannical and manipulative. Then there's the egotistical, talented student, Rachel (Lea Michele)--who is endlessly bullied while believing that being part of something special (like Glee Club) makes her special. And we can't forget about the all-around, misunderstood jock that joins the Glee Club, Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), who you can't help but root for.

The dialogue: My favorite part of this new series! The witty and quick dialogue is shared among the entire cast. From a one-minute cameo to a leading role, the cast gets to bravely state things like: "The staircase was made by Ecuadoran children." "This, this is the room where our girl or gay son will sleep." I have to admit, I'm impressed with FOX. The content seems a little risky at times.

One of the things the writers pride themselves in, according to their FOX interview, is that the series doesn't break out into a song randomly like it would in a movie. They claim that the musical scenes happen in organic rehearsal or performance settings. While this is mostly true, there are still a few musical numbers that sneak up randomly. (Not that I have a problem with that.) Nevertheless, the numbers are always fitting to the scenario. 

FOX's new musical comedy-drama series, Glee, is a hit! Notice, I say this proudly... So this is far from a guilty pleasure. (Even though I will admit, I too, belonged to a vocal jazz ensemble throughout high school. Uh, forget I mentioned that last part...) And who cares if the L in glee stands for loser? It's a comedy-drama that's bound to get you hooked.

Watch Glee, Wednesdays at 8/7 central on FOX.

I'm From Driftwood

At 28, Nathan Manske-- the creator of I'm From Driftwood, a website that publishes true stories by gay people from all over the world--has dedicated the last six months to developing this website and it's quickly gaining a lot of attention.

What recognition? A month ago, the Advocate.com, a lgbt publication, caught up with Manske about his Harvey Milk-inspired vision. And on Thursday night, Oilcan Harry's, one of Austin's first gay bars, hosted the live readings of first-person accounts from IFD.

What amazed me the most? Most of the narratives were surprisingly optimistic, hopeful accounts. The majority of the stories ended in a parable-quality, leaving the entertained audience responding with an, "Aww."  And, aw is right! These swift stories say more with less.

Overall, the reading was not just great, but inspiring. So if that's part of Manske's vision, then well done. These far-from-fiction accounts were so good, I had to share one with you.

Note: To read more of these stories, visit the IFD website.

People don’t usually ask you what it’s like to be gay. They ask you how your parents reacted when you came out to them. They ask you when you knew. But they never ask what it feels like or what it means to you. When I tell straight people that I’m gay, sometimes they fall all over themselves trying to let me know that it’s okay with them. Sometimes, they get really quiet and end the conversation. Lately they’ve been asking if I got married before Prop 8 passed...

Just a Little Bit: Poet, Carrie Fountain

While some may feel that poetry is a dying profession, it is proving to be the contrary for St. Edward's own faculty member, Carrie Fountain, who was one of five poets to recently win the prestigious National Poetry Series's 2009 Open Competition. (Open, meaning anyone and everyone can compete. Big deal!)

The five winners of the competition are published with one of five leading publishers. And Fountain, a former fellow of the Michener Center for Writers, picked up what's arguably the most honorable publisher: Penguin.

Do I hear a resident faculty position in the near future? I wouldn't be surprised.

If you're interested in hearing some of Fountain's award-winning Burn Lake, she'll be reading at St. Edward's tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 24th at 7:30 p.m. Free.

Austin's Music(?) Café

After the movie (see previous blog), my friend and I headed to Music Café on South Lamar (right across from Olivia—my favorite restaurant). I've been here a few times before and the great atmosphere is what keeps bringing me back. With trendy black couches, round, french tables and a soft lit patio, this wine and coffee bar is the perfect place for a drink after dinner or a coffee while studying—offering from my favorite teas (Mighty Leaf) to their great house wine... Not too wet, not too dry. Just right.


However, like anything great, the café has its drawbacks. For the cheese-hostile person (a.k.a. lactose intolerant) such as myself, there is absolutely nothing to order for food but chips. For you, I recommend having dinner or lunch before camping out and making ground here.

Sadly, another drawback is their low-quality sheesha (both the water pipe and tobacco). And having traveled the Middle East for approximately two months, I can confidently say I know what a good sheesha (argila, hookah, water pipe, etc.) is. These sheeshas aren't smooth, flavorful, relaxing sheeshas.

So, I know what you're thinking... where's the music in this? Good question. I have no idea! I've been there about five times now, and there is never live music there. I must be choosing odd nights to go. And while they do have a lineup about every other day, I feel the café has yet to earn the word "music" in their title. This is a quick fix. If you absolutely must hear music, check the lineup beforehand.

Albeit, it pains me to mention the ugly because I really enjoy coming back to this Eden like environment, sitting under trees with grapes hanging on every entrance. And they have a friendly staff. And really, I just want to like the place. Ultimately and unfortunately, their food selection is limited and their sheeshas, mediocre. But for the cheese-lover and non-sheesha-smoker, this is a place made in heaven (Austin).

A Little Review: Inglorious Basterds

After a month of its release and not having read a single review, I finally watched Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglorious Basterds. One thing was sure, I experienced the movie in three phases—(1) the preview, (2) the plot, and (3) the verdict.

Phase 1: In the preview, I mostly witnessed Lt. Aldo Raine's (Brad Pitt) speech to a group of eight soldiers, the Inglorious Basterds themselves. A pacing, intimidating Lt. Aldo led me to believe that this was anything far from a laugh-inducing moment. In the midst of his speech, snippets of terrorizing scenes would flash on the screen. The preview left me curious about Tarantino's interpretation of elite Nazis versus the Jewish-American Basterds. (It was later brought to my attention that there were other previews that more accurately illustrated the movie's spirit. Why I didn't see any of them? I don't know.)

Phase 2: The movie began with a familiar structure to that of Kill Bill, another QT film that is subdivided into Chapters. Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time... in Nazi Occupied France. It was one of my favorite chapters; from exposing a multilingual cast to a 1941 green, French farm landscape to the introduction of Christopher Waltz's character, Hans Landa—an expert at locating Jews and killing them.

During Chapter 2: Inglorious Basterds, Lt. Aldo opens with the speech from the preview. Having just witnessed a somber opening of Chapter 1, I hesitated laughing during parts of Lt. Aldo's speech, parts of which were meant to be comical, even if only for a second. I laughed anyway, and to my relief, I wasn't the only one. It still felt a little awkward. For purposes of not telling the entirety of the movie, I digress at chapter two.


Phase 3: The following is not meant to insult your intelligence nor is it supposed to come off as condescending. But after reading mixed reviews and watching the movie, I think it's important to know that this is a Quentin Tarantino film; not an documentary. Therefore, yes, it is a little too gruesome for some (especially the annoying girl to my right). And, yes, the movie has vivid images of shootings, brutal beatings, spies, scalping of soldiers, betrayal, and of course, lots of blood. Also, no, this is not meant to be an accurate account of history. But, I believe Tarantino meant to tell a story, with other stories weaved within. Tarantino uses abrupt flashbacks, discrete humor, slightly more-than-necessary dialogue and chapters to develop an intricate story--it gave the film a page-turner-like quality.

Needless to say, I didn't put it down. And it especially didn't feel like 2 1/2 hours.

Cissi's Market: My New Neighborhood Destination

Yesterday, I roamed over to the heart of the SoCo District and stopped by the Austin Under 40 (AU40) Kick-off Happy Hour at Cissi's Market. Despite that fact that the social hour wasn't anything memorable (or at least wasn't my cup of tea), it was well worth the time at Cissi's.

Cissi's Market, advertised as "a neighborhood destination," is in fact an all-in-one wine bar, deli, cafe and grocery. [Sidenote: I'm moving into the neighborhood in a week, and I'm ecstatic over it!] Considering it's slightly pricey for a college student like myself, I make sure to make my pennies count. So I aim straight to the deli, where Cissi's sandwiches are no ordinary sandwiches.

At Cissi's (pronounced Sissy's), my usual is THE BAT sandwich, a rendition of the BLT. The BAT--cured bacon, arugula, and tomato—is grilled pressed to the perfect crunch. All for $8.50. Delish. You can have it to-go or for dinner, and during the summer it's always nice to pair this light meal with a glass of wine. And with their five-page wine bar menu (a menu longer than their lunch and dinner menus), you are sure to find a glass (or bottle) that suits your taste buds!

So even thought the AU40 event wasn't my cup of tea, Cissi's glass of wine made up for it quickly.

The New Bumper Sticker Slogan: You Lie!

If you're reading this, then by now you've probably (1) seen or (2) heard about Joe Wilson's, Republican from South Carolina, "You lie!" outburst in the middle of President Obama's speech on Tuesday night.

If I'm just now catching you up, I suggest reading Maureen Dowd's column, Boy, Oh, Boy, where Dowd wondered whether the congressman really meant to shout, "You lie, boy!" from the right-winged bench. (From this you can probably gather where some of my political views ally themselves. Hint: I lean to the left. However, please take the time to read a few impartial articles, like Kate Phillips' article.)

And while I could discuss the blatant disrespect and downright stupidity on Mr. Wilson's part, I choose to let him do all the talking:




So, what do you make of calling a president, who wasn't lying, in fact a liar? What do you make of his reasoning behind his actions? And lastly, how do you feel about the new Wilson-inspired slogan, "You lie!" on bumper stickers and T-shirts? A little too catchy?

And the Emmy goes to....

... Dr. Horrible's Musical Sing-Along Blog!!!

If you recall, I briefly mentioned this web video during my first week of blogging.

To make a ridiculously long description short, the Dr. Horrible premise is about Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), the worst, not to mention, most likable supervillian ever. Supervillian loves girl, Penny (Felicia Day). [Spoiler Alert:] Supervillian accidentally kills girl, while attempting to destroy his nemesis, "superhero" Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion).



Like it? Watch it! You will enjoy the short, 45-minutes. At least Emmy did...

Just a Little Bit: Leo Babauta

I was never too big on reading blogs, until I started writing one, admittedly so. But I'm enjoying getting lost in and finding sweet treasures all over this dizzying web.

Recently, I stumbled on one of the top 100 most read blogs, Zen Habits. The owner is Guam resident, Leo Babauta-author of the new best-selling book, The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essentials... in Work and in Life.

He recently posted a blog entry which I found rewarding. A few things I walked away with were:

• Be yourself, loudly.
• Read, read, and write.
• Be passionate.

Oddly enough, this simple, yet inspirational, entry is essentially my to-do list. (Has been for years and is still growing...) Click here to read Babauta's blog, Do Interesting Things.

Live, Love Austin

Why am I not surprised? When it comes to the top cities for college students, Austin comes out on top.  Don't tell me, don't tell me... I'm on an Austin rant today. Well, when you live in a city like this, how could you not be? 

As far as the report goes, the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) examines the off-campus quality of life at the nation's university cities, and in midsize metro city with a population between 1 and 2.5 million, Austin ranks in at #2.

 Visit the Austin Business Journal to find out what other cities were among the top ranking ones.

Austin, You Big Spender, You.

 Long Center for the Performing Arts

As a native Austinite, I never hesitate to proudly boast my appreciation for living in Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World. However, I do sometimes think twice before using that composition of words, simply because I'm not sure that's always the case. I know what you're thinking: As if events like SXSW and ACL didn't already prove that.

But today, I proudly say: The Live Music Capital of the World.

Why? Because despite the troubled economy, the Long Center for the Performing Arts has pumped $43 million back into the local economy since its opening in March 2008. It's not uncommon for a venue to generate a lot of money, but to give millions back... Well, that's a rarity.

In their Economic Impact Study Report released today, the Long Center states how much they made and spent in the last year. Not surprisingly, it supported 950 part-time and full-time employees. And chances are you helped generate that income. Thus, helping create an economic boost. Go ahead, Austin, give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it!

Nonfiction One-on-One with Alicia Partnoy: Nothing But The Truth

Poet, Alicia Partnoy

In my personal nonfiction class today, Alicia Partnoy, Argentine poet and human rights activist, read from her published works and spoke to our class about truth. Truthfully speaking, you'd never know this smiling spirit was held captive in a concentration camp, with no charges, for two and a half years. She has published a few books and is now in alliance with a small publishing company, What Books Press. Interestingly enough, for being honest, Partnoy is in denial about being a writer.

Having survived hardships unimaginable to most, Partnoy informed us about the risks in writing (nonfiction, mostly). Warning Webster: You may not be familiar with these terms.


Risks (in nonfiction):

1. Vulturization - (a made up term) signifying the reader's detective response. They will most likely ask themselves, "Is this person telling the truth? The whole truth? Nothing but the truth?"
   
2. Trivilization - (another made up term) signifying the experience. Does a writer truly experience certain situations, or are they imagining what they would have been like?
   
3. Deagency - (yet another made up word) signifying the stripping of agency.
   

Truth, as Partnoy explained, is subjective. That's no secret, everyone knows how fickle one's memory may be. However, it's what Partnoy proposes that struck a chord with me.

Proposal: Co/labor/actions (Merriam, did you get that?) This is Partnoy's method of returning the agency to the "true" victim/persona/character. Thus, raising them to the author's "level."(a.k.a. Giving credit where it is due.)

In short, Partnoy's brief tutorial answered the tough questions readers ask of writers. Oh, I don't know... writers like, David Sedaris, for example. Are they telling the truth? An author, Partnoy claims, needs to be fair to the reader, persona (character), and themselves.

Essentially, it's a good thing for the audience to question the validity of a piece of literature. It's okay for them to inquire about the truth. As long as they know that everyone's truth can be interpreted and viewed differently. No two eyes see the exact same thing. Now, that's no lie.

To hear or read some of Alicia Partnoy's works, click here.

A Fulfilling Fast-A-Thon

I have a feeling Allah must have rolled his eyes when I RSVP'd to an Iftar dinner three days ago. Yes, I RSVP'd to fast a day in honor of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. I can see Allah now, replying to my email, Thank you for your RSVP, Sara. I welcome your fast.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, having sex, or indulging in anything ill-natured from dawn till dusk. (Borrowed from Wikipedia.) So I did, as Mohammad (peace be upon him) did, and as several hundred millions have done after him.

Before sunrise, I ate a filling breakfast made up of eggs and toast; downed a 20 oz bottle of water; and washed dishes, all before 7:15ish a.m.. Give or take five minutes, I drank the last drops of water before my 13 hour fast.

By noon, I was on campus, and my stomach was demanding its meal right away. I had two classes back-to-back, and made it a point to conserve as much energy possible by mostly sitting. Instinctively, survival mode kicks in. But before I knew it, the time was 5:45 p.m., and only two hours remained. At close to 11 hours without food or a drop of water, I was surprised to only be bothered with a headache. I immediately thought to myself, I can do this! No problem.

The Iftar Ceremony began at 7:30 p.m. Sunset was at 7:51. On each white linen table were a dozen dates, and a silver pitcher full of water. A few minutes before sunset, a soft-spoken woman wearing a navy blue hijab (headscarf) said a few opening words. At 7:51 p.m., the Adhaan, the Call to Prayer, called forth the Muslims in the room. It was like refreshing water to my parched throat, literally. And the sweet dates helped my headache go away.

In the Maghrib Prayer, the prayer after sunset, approximately 40 people gathered facing Mecca, performing a choreographed prayer I have seen before, offered in the streets of Cairo. To the limited spectator, the prayer may remind them of a dance from their youth, a "head, shoulders, knees and toes" movement. I, on the other hand, was taken back to Cairo. Simply humbling, simply beautiful.

Just before the prayer ended, 8:00 o' clock struck, and I am convinced Allah spoke because in the background of the Maghrib, I could hear the faint Catholic church bells ringing.

If you ask me, they harmonized quite beautifully. Indeed, Allahu Akbar, God is great.

If you, like me, are not Muslim, here are a few good things to know when fasting.

1. Pre stock your fridge with ingredients and food for a filling ( but not stuffing) breakfast.
2. If possible, avoid driving.
3. If possible, take a nap.
   
4. Do NOT leave mints, tangerines, or gum in your reach (bag, backpack, locker, etc.). It will tempt you.
   
5. Do NOT ask me how I know that.
   
6. Enjoy it. The experience is cleansing.
   

Speaking of Google Books...

As mentioned in our last posting, we all may very well start reading Google Books. -- Okay, okay, so those weren't my exact words. However, we very soon might be!

On Friday, September 4th, the (already extended) Opt-Out Deadline for the Google Book Settlement will come to a close. So if you're an author, illustrator, a publisher, or someone who owns a U.S. copyright as of January 5, 2009, you're probably not reading this... But, if you are an author, illustrator, a publisher, or someone who owns a U.S. copyright, then you are probably included in the gigantic Google settlement.

If I am just catching you up with the not-so-latest, then here's a conveniently short description:

This lawsuit involves the Google Library Project. In 2004, Google announced that it had entered into agreements with several libraries to digitize books, including books protected by U.S. copyright law, in those libraries’ collections.

Later this year, a judge will decide on the settlement. But, the-soon-to-be-monopoly, Google, has some mighty big opponents on the other side of the ring. Three of the biggest: Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Yahoo!. Bloomberg.com reports that "A coalition including Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo! Inc. argue that Google is trying to control the access and distribution of the world’s largest database of books."

These big corporations aren't the only ones raising strong points. Germany-yes, the country-protests too! Germany's main argument, however, focuses on the effects on the E.U., agreeing that The Google Book Project “runs afoul of the applicable German national laws, as well as European public initiatives to create non-commercial worldwide digital libraries. ”

The overall consensus seems to be: STOP trying to monopolize, Google!

Personally, I'm still not sure where I stand on the whole debate. I have a feeling this blog entry will be a multiple-parter. What I do know, however, is that it is important to me that my personal information remain secure and private. Can you handle that, Google?

My next question: Why is the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department investigating this settlement?

For more information about the settlement, click here.

Take it Slow

"It's sad, really," I was telling Chris, a best friend who lives in Dubai, "I'm studying English at school, and essentially, I'm studying it to be a writer. But everything is online now. I have a feeling my résumé will include works published online, rather than offline (books, magazines, journals, etc.). And it makes my soon-to-be profession feel ... cheap, disregarded even."

Last week, John Freeman of The Wall Street Journal shared my exact sentiments in his recent article, A Manifesto for Slow Communication. Freeman explains that words like "speed" and "urgency" are not synonyms for "effectiveness" and "accuracy."

"Making decisions in this communication brownout, though without complete infor­mation, we go to war hastily, go to meetings unprepared, and build relationships on the slippery gravel of false impressions."

As a writer, I feel this speaks to me on a deeper level: my career. There is something great about admiring, holding, smelling, and caressing a book or magazine or newspaper with one's own text printed on it. Personally, the romanticism behind it is greater in comparison to seeing text on a monitor. But more importantly, literacy standards continue to fall. Everything else seems to be improving but ... our literacy skills? Freeman illustrates the following:

"It [the Industrial Age] has made it more difficult to read slowly and enjoy it, hastening the already declining rates of literacy. It has made it harder to listen and mean it, to be idle and not fidget."

This manifesto runs parallel to the ongoing multi-tasking and the frying attention span debates. In the blink of an eye we can read headlines without being fully informed. In the next blink we can be briefed about the latest celebrity gossip. Next we are glancing through our email, then we are skimming through a Google Book just to make it quickly to the next eye's blink. Are any of these things ever done carefully? Or effectively? Or with our full attention? Is it fair to the authors who have worked on what you're reading? Another question: Did I lose you?

My stance is not to be confused with a stance against fast communication, rather to know when to opt for slow communication. Like Freeman states in his manifesto,

"We need to uncouple our idea of progress from speed, separate the idea of speed from effi­ciency, pause and step back enough to realize that efficiency may be good for business and governments but does not always lead to mindfulness and sustainable, rewarding relationships."

Well said! Now, if I could only get this in print...

Extra! Extra! Tweet All About It!

Do you live in Austin, TX? Do you use Twitter?

Austin Social Media Examiner, Kevin Sullivan, has updated Examiner.com with at least 40 different Twitter accounts including news sources, entertainment experts and celebrities, all of which are related to Austin.

Click here for more Austin Twitter accounts.

Giving a whole new meaning to "Craig's List"

The Conspirare Symphonic Choir Season 2009-2010 has officially begun.

Today at 8:45 a.m., a little under 100 voices of the Conspirare Symphonic Choir gathered at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church to begin rehearsals for the 2009-2010 season, led by renowned conductor, Craig Hella Johnson. This season promises to be an eclectic mixture: from rich Spanish lyrics of Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, to an organ and chorale duet favorite, Duruflé's Requiem. The excitement of this coming season already permeated. I am convinced the music is not solely responsible for the excitement. In fact, I am certain Craig is an inspiring man all on his own.

I met Craig a year and a half ago, during my audition. In the middle of the audition room was a grand piano. And at the piano, on a black, shiny seat was Craig, playing chords. His slim body was hunched, his chin was dipped, and the blond hair tips hung slightly over his forehead. He looked my way, took his hands off the piano, clasped them between his knees and smiled a wholesome, comforting white smile. Oddly enough, his smile had an embarrassing-quality to it, sheepish even. He was so much smaller close up which struck me as odd, primarily because I had been to several Conspirare concerts, where he always had an ostentatious, revered aura about him. At that moment, he looked like a humble, blue-eyed boy.

That humility is one that I embrace in getting to sing in one of his ensembles. A feeling, I'm certain, that is shared among all the musicians that work with him. It's a magical experience to be on the Conspirare roster, or as I call it, Craig's List.

If you have yet to make it out to a Conspirare concert, I strongly suggest you make the time this coming season to experience one. It promises to be a spectacular season.

A Thousand and One Nights

Sabaya

Sabaya, Austin's bellydance troupe composed of (from left) Lily, Yasmin, Maribel, Rania, and Stacey, will be performing tonight at Red Fez's An Arabian Night. Having had a lot of influence from well-recognized bellydancers, like Aziza and Suhaila Salimpour, Sabaya has achieved several noteworthy and international achievements.

I was first introduced to Yasmin, in a class under the instruction of Z Helene (little did I know then that Yasmin had been studying and performing for a long time herself). Not too long after studying under Z, I got a job at The Arabic Bazaar, a Middle Eastern import store owned by a Syrian woman, Zein. Naturally, I took classes under Zein. However, it was during my free time that I would watch a variety of bellydance performances, from the beginner student on VHS to professionals on DVDs. It is in that store where I saw all but one (Stacey) of Sabaya's dancers begin to evolve. The women of Sabaya, if I may speak so boldly, have come a long way.

Stacey, in my opinion, as bellydance student and performer myself, is definitely noteworthy. Check out Sabaya's Bellydance Collective Blog to see what she has achieved. It's definitely worth a look.

If you want to check out the troupe's performance tonight, here are the details:

Friday, August 28th, 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Red Fez
209 B W. 5th Street,
Austin, TX 78701

Just A Little Bit: Gimme some mo' Tancharoen!

As I develop this blog, I plan to weave in a series called Just A little Bit that dedicates a bit of time to different writers, musicians, and artists. Thomas Edison once wrote: "What man's mind can create, man's character can control." With that said, creativity deserves recognition.

Today, I begin with the Tancharoen Tag Team, composed of Maurissa Tancharoen and younger brother Kevin Tancharoen. In the last couple years, the siblings have been garnering lots of positive attention.

Maurissa Tancharoen is a television writer, actor, singer, and lyricist, who most recently co-wrote Dr. Horrible's Musical Sing-Along Blog with the Whedon brothers, director and writers of tv series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse. Last year, Dr. Horrible's Musical Sing-Along Blog, a hybrid of a three-act online webisode, received several awards along with an Emmy nomination. Needless to say, the musical was great. However, the prize jewel I fell in love with was not one of the main cast members, even though they were all great (I love you Felicia Day and Neil Patrick Harris!), rather Groupie #1--Maurissa Tancharoen, or Mo, as I like to call her. I also like to think we're good friends.

But why Mo? Here's what I've figured out so far, and I'll limit it to three. 1) Mo is talented and does not take herself serious. How many people can say that? 2) Adds to #1, Mo makes fun of herself. On The Commentary! The Musical, commentary for Dr. Horrible's, Mo wittingly sings about the scarcity of non-stereotyped roles in television mostly addressing her own, Asian. 3) Mo checks herself. On Twitter, Mo's bio states that she's a "thesp in things you've never seen."

Kevin Tancharoen, Mo's baby brother, is already receiving a lot of attention for directing and reincarnating the musical, Fame. In 2004, he choreographed the film You Got Served, a movie I never saw, yet where the previews exhibited innovative, body breaking dance moves. In an interview with Variety, baby brother Kevin stated something that was reminescent of the Tancharoen spirit: "You can't make a movie about teenagers who want to be famous and cast superstars. With a movie like this, why not make stars?" I like this mindset, a lot.

Who wouldn't want to work with a director like Tancharoen? Universal Pictures, that's who. Universal has invited Tancharoen to direct a sci-fi action film, Arcana.

From the large screen to the iPhone, the Tancharoen blood is helping bring originality, creativity, and enterntainment to every glowing portal. Many audiences are still not be familiar with the Tancharoen name, but they will be. I dream of a time in the near future where audiences will be asking for, "Some mo' Tancharoen. Make that two."

For more links to Mo's shenanigans click here.