“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” — Mary Anne Radmacher
I've been lax in writing for you, particularly when it comes to your Monday Ripples. Let's just call it one of the charms of blogging and be done with it, okay? I would like to say it is â┚¬Å”life getting in the wayâ┚¬Â but lately my time has been about making a buck and whether that has to do with life or not is debatable.
I hope you'll let bygones be bygones, so we can get down to the great work at hand: Rippling. Below you'll find a few links that I hope you'll click and be inspired by in your week ahead. Maybe together we can make this week about more than paying bills.
Hottie with a Heart
Ian's Birthday
Remember Ian Somerhalder in The Rules of Attraction? Hot as fuck and playing a gay guy so effortlessly that I was surprised to find out later that he isn't gay. (A disappointment second only to finding out that Dermot Mulroney doesn't smoke sausage, after seeing his wonderful performance in Longtime Companion.) He popped up on Lost and is now all the rage in Vampire Diaries. I like to imagine Ian is a huge fan of Scottie Saves the World, so I'll refrain from giving a critique of VD â┚¬â€œ suffice to say he is the reason to watch. Anyway, Ian is turning the spiritually significant age of 33 and he has a birthday wish for you to send money to his foundation. As you can see from the link, Ian Somerhalder Foundation is just 11 months old and has already made a difference in the world.
Attitude Check for Two
Are urban bicyclists just elite snobs?
An intriguing read from Slate taking a look at the politics of cycling. Do cyclists have an elitist disposition or are they simply a victim of circumstance? Are Tea Party politicos behind the demonizing of cycling? Do demographics play a role in where bike lanes wind up? Peruse Will Doig's article â┚¬â€œ I think you'll find it sticks with you.
Jonah the Brave
What’s Going On..
It’s possible that you’ve seen this video by now because it has gone viral, but I wanted to share it just in case. It was made by an 8th grader and gives the viewer a heartrending look into the live of a bullied kid. It shows rare courage to have made a video like this, then post it for the world. We owe it to Jonah to nurture a world that is kind. We owe it to Jonah to never stop fighting homophobia. I look at his beautiful face and I see ghosts of people who didn’t make it, wrapping my heart in a heavy cloak. You do have a millon reasons to stick around Jonah, never forget it.
Scottie's Christmas List
TOMS Shoe Drop Necklace
I know around this time, you begin stressing about what to buy your favorite online columnist for Christmas, so I've decided to give you some clues as we approach the big day. You're no doubt familiar with TOMS the awesome company that gives a pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair of shoes you buy. I think this charming necklace captures the spirit of this amazing company. Just like the shoes, if you buy the necklace a pair will be donated.
