Interesting article from the NYTimes about a private company that takes over failing libraries (including my much beloved Jackson County Library system). As to the questions in the article about whether people will still recieve good and community-based service once the library is run by an outside company, I can say without a doubt that the staff (and volunteers, of which my mom is one) remain local folks who are very committed to the library and the people it serves. It's not staffed with corporate drones all of a sudden. I definitely don't know enough to have a solid opinion about the issue, but I do know that the entire County was about to be library-free until this company took over, so it's hard for me to feel like they are a horrible idea across the board. Ideally, such involvement from a private company wouldn't be necessary, but when it is, I would much rather see a publicly-run but open (and much-used, in the case of the Ashland library, left) then a closed public one...

Image: source.

SFGate: Judge rejects lifting disabled inmate decree: "Nearly nine years after a federal judge ordered California to protect mentally disabled inmates in state prisons, those inmates are still being beaten, robbed and deprived of food and sanitation, the judge said Thursday in refusing to lift the decree."

Image: source.

Incredible video of one man's journey to overcome depression and being out of shape, to complete a marathon. And find happiness. (Yes, I cried).

Tilt-shift Van Gogh.

Amazing. From the BBC: Put Cameras on a Peregrine Falcon and a Goshawk. Prepare to be Amazed. (I want to be able to fly!)

The Indy: "What rights do undocumented immigrants have when they become crime victims?" via The Immigration Prof. Blog.

Love this redesign of a pizza box. Very clever.

Image: source.

On Richard Scary and social change.

A somewhat daunting discussion of retirement funds and how much you should be putting away. I just "rolled over" money into my IRA account, marking my 6th year of having the world's smallest retirement account. I've started adding to it again, however, and am hoping I'm pleasantly surprised by it's growth...

I've liked Mark Bittman's columns on eating for one - much more like my form of eating (albeit, a LOT healthier) than most recipes etc I see. For the last three weeks I have spent Saturday or Sunday afternoon cooking and packing my lunches for the week. It saves me money and makes me eat a lot healthier, but it's gotten pretty boring. Any suggestions for affordable, reheatable meals to make for the week ahead welcome. (Also I'm currently in my second day of cutting sugar out of my diet for a week (maybe longer). This might not be huge for a lot of people, but I have at least one baked good (scone, cookie, muffin) a day, as well as 1 or two candy bars, and then also dessert. I know, a lot. So it's feeling hard to cut it out. But hopefully will lead to me feeling healthier and having more energy....)

Dan Savage and his husband assure kids suffering bullying and homophobia that It Gets Better.

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Another prisoner with mental illness dies in solitary confinement. When will this stop?

They Draw and Cook, a collection of illustrated recipes.

Currently re-reading two long time favs: An Unsuitable Job For A Woman and Skinny Legs and All. (Sometimes when I'm in a reading slump, I need to return to the tried and true winners). Also, finally getting around to reading: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Image: source.

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The time will come

when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

- Derek Walcott

Image: source.

U Visas Speed Up for Immigrants Who Flee Abuse.

Loved this ode to Jane Tennison, Helen Mirren, and Prime Suspect.

This might just be the perfect house. Wow. Old farmhouse, with updated solar technology. Worn wood floors. Tons of windows. Yes.

Image: source.

Amazing base jumping video. I wanna go!

Typography love. And Typography for Lawyers!

More on solitary confinement and mental illness. Stop the torture!

[W]e can also just see what we do - not only with honesty but also with a sense of humor - and then keep going and not make a whole identity out of it. - Pema Chodron

Dave Eggers can be pretty annoying, but I can't help but love these animal drawings.

Image: source.

It's been a loooong time since Woody Allen came out with a movie I liked. Actually, scratch that: it's been a long time since he came out with a movie I've loved, because that's how it is with his movies and me - I actively dislike most of them, and love 5 of them. But those 5 are in my top 10 movies of all time.

So while I doubt anything will match the perfection of, say, Manhattan or Crimes & Misdemeanors ever again, the interviews he's giving about his new movie sound promising. Dare I hope to LIKE a Woody Allen movie?

Image: Jenny Holzer. Chicago (2008).

Amazing photography of the oil spill in the gulf.

What's on my tv (computer screen, really): looking for a new show, I started watching Nurse Jackie but I can't say that it's pulled me in. I want to like it - Edie Falco seems like a cool lady and I love that the show has a number of "real-looking" cast members. But the acting and writing seem forced to me and I just don't really....care. I'm on the final season of The L Word (via Netflix) and, while I will be sad to see one of my favorite guilty pleasures go, I really cannot wait to have Jenny Shecter out of my life. I have been dreading that character for years and the fact that she's now (spoiler alert if you're like 3 years behind in pop culture like me) sleeping with Shane just increases my ire (jealous much?). Goodbye, weird drama of LA faux-lesbians, you served me well. Other show that everyone seems to love: Mad Men. I have read and seen so much about it, I pretty much don't care anymore. However, I watched a few episodes from season 1 and enjoyed it, so I'm giving it another go. Same with The Wire and True Blood, both of which I have only seen 2 or 3 episodes. Let's see if any of those series grab me on second viewing.

This past weekend I completed a triathlon! It was only a "sprint" distance race, but hard for me nonetheless, and it felt awesome to accomplish. My only goals were to complete it, and to run (well, jog) the entire running portion (i.e. no walking), and, despite some bike complications on mile 2 (fixed by men with trucks and tools - gotta love Oregon), I achieved them both! Next up: a 5K and a 10K, both in October. I really hate running, so I'm open to any suggestions on how to get past that. So far, downloading the Nike+ app to my iPhone (only $3 and it keeps track of distance, time, etc) has helped with the motivation. That and the fact I've already told people I'm going to do the races.

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am.” - Sylvia Plath

Image.

From the WaPo: "Gay couples seeking immigration rights."

And from the WSJ: Most Illegal Immigrants Don’t Get Legal Representation. Discuss.: "Our federal government rounds up a lot of immigrants -- about 400,000 per year, to be precise. But only a fraction of them are afforded legal representation."

Happy Roald Dahl Day!

Image: Things Happen.

New EP from The Tallest Man On Earth. Always beautiful.

"Build personal wealth / in the comfort of your home / read to your children." Atlanta Street Artist Writes Poetry on Illegal "Bandit Signs."

SF jail installs condom dispensers. It's not about being "progressive," it's about health, safety, and human rights.

Beautiful gardening calendar makes me wish I gardened...someday when I have a yard (or so I tell myself).

Respect for the handmade.

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I adore this beautiful and simple ring.

Absolutely amazing card catalog makeover. Wow.

Awesome. "Taking over 2 years to complete the laborious process, photographers Aneta Grzeszykowska and Jan Smaga shot people in their homes from above, meticulously piecing together the photographs to form detailed floorplans of each."

More coverage of the on-going horror that is solitary confinement.

‘The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.’ -Thich Nhat Hanh

I love this whole series. Via.

Do I *need* a $40 lunch box? Certainly not. But do I appreciate its sleekness, its adorable pockets, it's commitment to keeping foods separate? I do indeed. Via.

So much gorgeousness at the Rifle Paper Co.

Image: rare 1841 parade banner from Maine.

I'm doing a sprint triathlon tomorrow (my second - my first was about 7 years ago) and I'm not feeling at all prepared. I hurt my back two weeks ago, and then was on vacation this past week, so my training has been less than perfect. However, a wise person reminded me that it's just another 2 hours (hopefully) of my life that I'm showing up for and doing my best at, and that is the mindset I'm trying to take into the weekend. Wish me luck!

“Where there is no joy, there can be no courage, and without courage, all other virtues are useless.” - Ed Abbey

Image: source.

Today I watched "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" and had a pretty mixed reaction. It's less a straightforward documentary about Bill Kunstler and more an autobiographical exploration by his two daughters about their upbringing, being the children of such a public and controversial figure, and their residual anger at him for his choices ("representing bad people").

At first I had a hard time with how clear they make their disapproval of many of their father's decisions, but in the end I found the film to be a chance to reflect not only on the fight for civil rights and social justice, the work of Kunstler and his choices as a lawyer (about clients, trial techniques, etc), but also on the relationship between parents and children, and the role of parents in educating and radicalizing their kids. Recommended.

(I'd also recommend Kunstler's autobiography, My Life As A Radical Lawyer, as well as the wonderful documentary "The Weather Underground" which, while not directly related to Kunstler, gives a complementary vision of the U.S. the 60's).

Image: William Kunstler (July 7, 1919 - September 4, 1995)