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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.