Hell yes. Finally the U.S. has managed a seriously impressive soccer/football/futbol victory. As much as I enjoy watching La Furia Roja, I gotta give it up for Team USA.
Check out the full story at ESPN.com.
PS. ESPN, why no ShareThis buttons or a similar system? Make it easier to share your great content, por favor.
Classic Gonzo: Some Choice Hunter S. Thompson Quotes
June 23, 2009
Sure, everyone knows that when the going gets weird the weird turn pro, but you may not be aware of these equally excellent but less popular quotes:
“Like most of the others, I was a seeker, a mover, a malcontent, and at times a stupid hell-raiser. I was never idle long enough to do much thinking, but I felt somehow that my instincts were right. I shared a vagrant optimism that some of us were making real progress, that we had taken an honest road, and that the best of us would inevitably make it over the top. At the same time, I shared a dark suspicion that the life we were leading was a lost cause, that we were all actors, kidding ourselves along on a senseless odyssey. It was the tension between these two poles – a restless idealism on one hand and a sense of impending doom on the other – that kept me going.“
- The Rum Diary
“Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish — a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow — to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested…
Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll. “
- The Gonzo Papers, Vol 2.
“The massive, frustrated energies of a mainly young, disillusioned electorate that has long since abandoned the idea that we all have a duty to vote. This is like being told you have a duty to buy a new car, but you have to choose immediately between a Ford and a Chevy.”
- Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail
*The last one was written in 1973. I think the tide is finally turning, 40 years later.
Christiane Amanpour on Journalism
June 16, 2009
“And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.”
“In emerging democracies like Russia, in authoritarian states like Iran or even Yugoslavia, journalists play a vital role in civil society. In fact, they form the very basis of those new democracies and civil societies.”
– Christiane Amanpour
These two quotes seem particularly apt given recent world events. And by journalists, I don’t mean just the official press, I mean the courageous citizen journalists like the twitter users who are giving everything they have to make sure the world hears their story and perspective from inside Tehran.
The Revolution Will Be Social
June 14, 2009
Everyone who doubts the power/usefulness of social media should read Andrew Sullivan’s post, “The Revolution Will Be Twittered“, and then check out the #iranelection hashtag on Twitter.
The key force behind this is the next generation, the Millennials, who elected Obama in America and may oust Ahmadinejad in Iran. They want freedom; they are sick of lies; they enjoy life and know hope.
This generation will determine if the world can avoid the apocalypse that will come if the fear-ridden establishments continue to dominate global politics, motivated by terror, armed with nukes, and playing old but now far too dangerous games. This generation will not bypass existing institutions and methods: look at the record turnout in Iran and the massive mobilization of the young and minority vote in the US. But they will use technology to displace old modes and orders. Maybe this revolt will be crushed. But even if it is, the genie has escaped this Islamist bottle.
I think the days of CNN breaking the news are over – people will share their stories themselves, bypassing the mass media conduit if necessary, and the role of the media will be to verify, organize, track, and curate the information reported via liveblogs, Twitter, etc. The Huffington Post is doing a great job of that right now with their page on the Iran elections and subsequent fallout.
Introducing the Kindred Project
October 13, 2008
I know I’ve been away from the blog for a while, but there have a been good reasons (and a few not-so-good ones, like Notre Dame football games). However, I do promise to resume posting on a more regular basis.
That said, one of the reasons I’ve been absent is a new project. The Kindred Project, to be exact. It is many things – a group that organizes international travel experiences with distinctly personal connections, a group with a mission to open doors to the world and create connections within our multicultural communities, and it is a group that celebrates differences, understanding, and diversity. We are working towards a world where intercultural experiences and global awareness are the basis for informed decisions as voters, consumers, and donors.
As Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
There will be more information (and more regular posts from me in general) soon.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
August 28, 2008
It is truly the most wonderful time of the year: college football and Spain’s La Liga both start play this weekend, and next weekend the NFL begins its season as well. And my beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish take the field a week from Saturday.
Let’s go Irish!
On Being “That Guy” in Social Media
August 18, 2008
Shannon Paul’s latest post discusses how not to behave on social media sites incredibly well – in fact, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Check it out: Don’t Be That (Social Media) Guy.
Out of the Echo Chamber
August 13, 2008
Maybe it is because August is vacation month for most of the world, but staying out of the blogging/new media echo chamber is pretty refreshing at the moment.
I think it is making me smarter more original.
Great Books That You Haven’t Read
July 31, 2008
This article entitled “Great Unread Books: What Classic Are You Ashamed To Admit You Have Never Read?” makes me laugh. First of all, it is highly unlikely that even the most dedicated individual could manage to read every so-called great book ever written – that list is as endless and subjective as a list could be. You might as well try to watch every “great film” or see every UNESCO World Heritage site; sure, you can try, but that at that point you are probably doing little more than checking items off your list.
Anyways, despite having not checked every book in the literary canon off my personal list, there are not any that I am actually ashamed to have not yet read. I also read a lot, and as a former English major, I certainly had the incentive to read and study more great books than many people. However, there is one gaping hole in my collection.
Since I am a female writer, people tend to assume that I am a fan of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. Now perhaps I’m a bit of a traitor to my gender, but I have never actually finished any of their books, and I don’t intend to do so any time soon. I’ve never even made it all the way through the movie versions, although there is something charming about the Bollywood adaptation.
Are there any books you can’t get through, or have consciously chosen to leave off your personal list? On the other hand, are there any classics you’re planning to read soon?
Hi Freelance Switchers!
July 14, 2008
Hi FreelanceSwitch readers!
For those of you who came here from another source, check out my post on FreelanceSwitch: Freelancers: It’s Not About You.
Viva La Furia Roja!
July 1, 2008
As every futbol fan already knows, Spain took the Euro trophy yesterday, ending a long dry spell of international victories for la Furia Roja.
In other news, Sergio Ramos was one class act during the celebration.
A Brief Guide To World Domination
June 25, 2008
I’ve written about Chris Guillebeau before, and he recently emailed me about his new ebook/manifesto with a textbook example of how marketing types/people with something to promote should approach bloggers (but of course he gets it, he has a blog of his own).
It is called A Brief Guide to World Domination: How to Live a Remarkable Life in a Conventional World *and other Modest Goals.
First of all, with a title like that, how could you not be interested? More seriously, it is a great and inspiring read, especially if you’ve been in a rut lately. I agree with much of his philosophy and ideas as well – I’d write more about them, but really, you owe it to yourself to go read it. Moreover, it is beautifully designed and laid out (and only 29 pages) – perfect for a break from work or a nice literary nightcap. So go check it out!
Color Me Surprised
June 18, 2008
I’ll admit that when I first heard about Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop*, I thought it was kind of…well, useless would probably be the most accurate word. However, lately I’ve found it to be amazingly useful for several blogging/marketing projects – it is a great and quick way to get an overview of all the best and most relevant blogs for each topic.
*Alltop is an aggregator that collects posts from “all the top” sites on the web for a variety of topics, and they keep adding new ones.
Out of the Ordinary Eats: Bizarre Foods
June 16, 2008
“Part of the secret of success in life to eat what you want and let the food fight it out inside.”
– Mark Twain
I’m working on a recently assigned piece about bizarre things I’ve eaten. Now, I’ve never considered myself an incredibly adventurous foodie type, however, now that I write it out, I’ve eaten some strange, strange things. For instance, sea cucumber, huge prawns/gambas with the heads and feelers still on, and various other creatures of the deep; a variety of small birds including pigeon (Americans usually think this one is weird), goat (I found it tasty but again, most Americans find this one weird), and assorted offal like tripe, sweetbreads, and even an eyeball (in order to win a bet). I also thoroughly enjoy morcilla and most blood sausage, which is one more thing that my fellow Americans find odd at best.
Despite the fact that I’ve definitely eaten some sketchy street food in places where doing so is probably…ill-advised, I’ve never had any ill effects. Of course, many of the things Westerner types think of as bizarre (e.g. goat) are perfectly normal or considered treats in other parts of the world, but really, I’m starting to understand why I got this assignment.
So, what are the oddest things you’ve eaten?
A Bit of a Hiatus
June 8, 2008
It seems that when you’ve got more work (and more options for gigs) than you can possibly take on, new and former clients seem to come out out of the woodwork. Don’t get me wrong – being busy and have tons of options for what to work on is fantastic – but something about the summer heat and such is making turning on the computer when I’m not working the very last thing I want to do.
Of course, this the best time of the year to be living in Chicago, with all the summer events and festivals and gorgeous patios and terraces (and my building’s awesome rooftop deck with views of the city and Lake Michigan from twenty stories up). And I have a new place (twice the size of my old one!) to decorate – I promise to post pictures when I get all my furniture set up and everything arranged the way I want it. Last but not least, I’m working on something new and exciting that has to do with travel and cultural immersion and other good things that I can’t quite talk about yet, but it is going to be awesome.
