Beyond FOOD: Same Café Video on TheNextUs.com

Denver’s Same Café is featured in a video just up on TheNextUs.com! TheNextUs, “a journey into the heart of America,” features “those who are thriving while supporting high standards of community, sustainability, ecology, and cultural evolution.” Founder and filmmaker David Mackenzie puts it this way: “I need to find stories of people finding a way to prosper, grow and live larger than the fears that grip us all from time to time. It’s time for me step out into this country I love. In small towns, cities, backyards, Genius is blooming. I intend to find and celebrate it, show it and champion it to the best of my ability.” Visit The Next Us site and check out all their impressive videos to see how David and his crew are living up to their own high standards.

Photo of Same Café owners Libby and Brad Birky from the café website at SoAllMayEat.org.

Beyond FINESSE: Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Shirin Ebadi

When human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, she was the first Iranian woman to win the prestigious award. Three weeks ago, Iranian officials became the first national officials to steal the award from one of its citizens.

Ebadi actively campaigns for the rights of women, children, and refugees, and is an outspoken critic of the Iranian administration’s record of human rights violations. She has reported intensified threats against her safety and the safety of her loved ones since early 2008.

While this Thanksgiving I’m thankful for friends, family, health, and home, I’m also thankful for truly heroic people like Shirin Ebadi.

Beyond FUN: Top Ten Clues T-Shirt for Writers

Yes, I should be doing something productive, but this t-shirt is too much fun not to share with others who may suffer from writerly tendencies:

Top ten clues you may be a writer:

1. You would rather talk to the voices in your head than the person sitting by you.

2. You know the library’s phone number, but not your work number.

3. Some of the letters on your keyboard are completely worn off.

4. You have a favorite pen that no one else can touch.

5. Books are your favorite scent.

6. If you could meet anyone in the world, it would be your favorite author.

7. You eat macaroni and cheese for a week because you spent all your money at the bookstore.

8. Your/you’re errors drive you crazy.

9. You named your laptop.

10. You would rather write than go out.

OK, #10 is lacking in my book since going out is the best way to gather fresh fodder for writing projects...especialy if the folks you’re out with are heavy drinkers. :) So I’m challenging writers to come up with a better 10th clue that you may be (oh, give it up! you’re definitely) a dyed-in-the-wool writer and there’s not a lot of hope you’ll ever grow out of it. My suggestion:

10. You can’t help but blog about a funny t-shirt for writers.

While this shirt’s available via Amazon, I’d much rather put in a word for Deb Ng of Freelance Writing Jobs, a terrific resource for folks who not only find writing enjoyable, but actually make a living at it. Thanks, Deb!

Beyond FINESSE: Paul Malmont and Operation Warrior Library

In an attempt to resurrect BEYOND Understanding on a manageable basis, I’m going to experiment with brief posts on resources that deserve recognition. For starters on this Veterans Day, I’d like to help spread the word about author Paul Malmont’s program for providing books (print and audio) to U.S. troops, including those who’ve been injured and hospitalized. Visit Operation Warrior Library to learn more, then check out Paul’s home page to see what he’s up to...beyond his notable, noble efforts to support American servicepeople when they need it most.