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.