Ryan Field's Blog, page 380
January 16, 2014
CrossFit Men; Bookshops vs. Amazon; What Makes People LGBTI
CrossFit Men
In case you haven't heard, there's a new fitness craze sweeping pop culture called CrossFit training. I know a few people who do it, I've looked into it personally, and there's a long, interesting piece about it in Time Magazine this week. I can't link to Time because they have paid content and I know a lot don't have subscriptions. But here are a few interesting things about CrossFit I thought were worth mentioning.
From CrossFit Journal:
2:57 Colin Clark’s Iron Oak CrossFit start...
In case you haven't heard, there's a new fitness craze sweeping pop culture called CrossFit training. I know a few people who do it, I've looked into it personally, and there's a long, interesting piece about it in Time Magazine this week. I can't link to Time because they have paid content and I know a lot don't have subscriptions. But here are a few interesting things about CrossFit I thought were worth mentioning.
From CrossFit Journal:
2:57 Colin Clark’s Iron Oak CrossFit start...
January 15, 2014
James Frey's Hot 7 Figure Deal
James Frey's Hot 7 Figure Deal
A few might not know who James Frey is, so I'm posting this link for more depth. In a more general sense, Frey is an author who wrote a non-fiction book titled, A Million Little Pieces, that garnered him the title of bestselling author. It was what's considered "a big book" in publishing. He gained a good deal of fame by going on Oprah. And then it was disclosed that his non-fiction book had been fictionalized, that he'd lied to his publisher, Opr...
A few might not know who James Frey is, so I'm posting this link for more depth. In a more general sense, Frey is an author who wrote a non-fiction book titled, A Million Little Pieces, that garnered him the title of bestselling author. It was what's considered "a big book" in publishing. He gained a good deal of fame by going on Oprah. And then it was disclosed that his non-fiction book had been fictionalized, that he'd lied to his publisher, Opr...
Chris Pine on Russia; Marriage in Oklahoma; Randi Zuckerberg's Web Site;
Chris Pine on Russia
I've posted about Chris Pine here before. He recently made his own comments about what's happening to the LGBTI community in Russia, all comments worthy of repeating more than once.
Chris Pine says the U.S. should have done more in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics to protest Russia's anti-gay legislation, which he calls "clearly awful, archaic, hostile nonsense."
"I think we should do more than just send gay Olympians there," the 33-year-old actor said in an interview while...
I've posted about Chris Pine here before. He recently made his own comments about what's happening to the LGBTI community in Russia, all comments worthy of repeating more than once.
Chris Pine says the U.S. should have done more in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics to protest Russia's anti-gay legislation, which he calls "clearly awful, archaic, hostile nonsense."
"I think we should do more than just send gay Olympians there," the 33-year-old actor said in an interview while...
January 14, 2014
Craigslist Story From Hell; Beth Robinson Vermont Supreme Court
Craigslist Story From Hell
In the past Tony and I have used Craigslist/Philadelphia for ads to find new tenants for our garage apartment rental and to sell things that range from antique rugs to cars. And other than a few of the expected quirky experiences most people expect on Craigslist, we haven't had any grand scale unusual issues. At least not until today, and I thought I'd post about it for other people in case they aren't familiar with Craigslist...especially if they have kids.
We'...
In the past Tony and I have used Craigslist/Philadelphia for ads to find new tenants for our garage apartment rental and to sell things that range from antique rugs to cars. And other than a few of the expected quirky experiences most people expect on Craigslist, we haven't had any grand scale unusual issues. At least not until today, and I thought I'd post about it for other people in case they aren't familiar with Craigslist...especially if they have kids.
We'...
Gabourey Sidibe's Revenge; Full Frontal Nude Shots; Simon & Schuster E-book Rise
Gabourey Sidibe's Revenge
The unfortunate thing about this is that when you put yourself in the public eye you are open to all kinds of criticism and some of it's not constructive and can be downright mean-spirited. This recently happened to Gabourey Sidibe after an appearance at the Golden Globe Awards. I've had that happen to me before on a much smaller scale than what recently happened to Sidibe when another author on a comment thread made fun of my name and also made reference to athletic...
The unfortunate thing about this is that when you put yourself in the public eye you are open to all kinds of criticism and some of it's not constructive and can be downright mean-spirited. This recently happened to Gabourey Sidibe after an appearance at the Golden Globe Awards. I've had that happen to me before on a much smaller scale than what recently happened to Sidibe when another author on a comment thread made fun of my name and also made reference to athletic...
January 13, 2014
Hiding Gays in Russia; Chris Christie Slams Trans People
Hiding Gays in Russia
When I read this piece on CNN I can't honestly say I was surprised. It's human nature. If you bully and push anyone too hard, and threaten them long enough, they are going to retreat and go into hiding. And that's exactly what's been happening in Russia with gay people, even some of the most prominent who have been openly out for a while.
A very openly gay bisexual from the Ukraine, Pavel Petel, was once candid about what he did and about who he was, until he and his partn...
When I read this piece on CNN I can't honestly say I was surprised. It's human nature. If you bully and push anyone too hard, and threaten them long enough, they are going to retreat and go into hiding. And that's exactly what's been happening in Russia with gay people, even some of the most prominent who have been openly out for a while.
A very openly gay bisexual from the Ukraine, Pavel Petel, was once candid about what he did and about who he was, until he and his partn...
Katie Couric Angers Trans; Lazybeagle Events; Timberlake Supports Gays;
Katie Couric Angers Trans (A teachable moment)
I didn't see this because I don't watch Katie Couric, so I'm just going by what I'm reading in the link. Couric of the privileged multi-million dollar, overpaid, tired news person variety had trans women, Carmen Carrera and Laverne Cox, on her show and evidently Couric's focus was more about their genitalia, which included what many are referring to as "invasive" questions.
An online firestorm erupted as a result alm...
I didn't see this because I don't watch Katie Couric, so I'm just going by what I'm reading in the link. Couric of the privileged multi-million dollar, overpaid, tired news person variety had trans women, Carmen Carrera and Laverne Cox, on her show and evidently Couric's focus was more about their genitalia, which included what many are referring to as "invasive" questions.
An online firestorm erupted as a result alm...
January 12, 2014
Phineas Swann-Our Vermont Wedding; 12 Year Old Boy in Utah Fights for Marriage
Phineas Swann-Our Vermont Wedding
In December, Tony and I got engaged and we celebrated with a few very close friends and kept it very small and quiet. But we did make plans for a wedding later this month, at one of the first Inns in Vermont where gay weddings started taking place from what I gather. We did this for several reasons. One, we've been to a lot of places but never to Vermont. In fact, it's the only state in New England we've never set foot in and we've both always wanted to...
In December, Tony and I got engaged and we celebrated with a few very close friends and kept it very small and quiet. But we did make plans for a wedding later this month, at one of the first Inns in Vermont where gay weddings started taking place from what I gather. We did this for several reasons. One, we've been to a lot of places but never to Vermont. In fact, it's the only state in New England we've never set foot in and we've both always wanted to...
Victoria, AU: No Gay Records; Michael Fassbender on Gay Marriage
Victoria, AU No Gay Records
I didn't know this, but up until 1981 there were "gay" crimes in Australia and gay people were arrested and convicted for having gay sex. This all ended in 1981, but evidently the criminal records of those who were prosecuted were not erased. These criminal records held a great deal of significance and those who were convicted were not allowed to do things like travel freely or volunteer or apply for teaching jobs.
And now, over thirty years later, Victori...
I didn't know this, but up until 1981 there were "gay" crimes in Australia and gay people were arrested and convicted for having gay sex. This all ended in 1981, but evidently the criminal records of those who were prosecuted were not erased. These criminal records held a great deal of significance and those who were convicted were not allowed to do things like travel freely or volunteer or apply for teaching jobs.
And now, over thirty years later, Victori...
January 11, 2014
Court Rules to Unmask Anon Reviewers; Brian Boitano on Coming Out
Court Rules to Unmask Anon Reviewers
When I saw this on social media in several places I figured I'd share because the topic often hits close to home with authors, publishers, and readers. Evidently, seven people gave nasty reviews with fake names on Yelp about a carpet company. The carpet company is challenging the validity of these reviews because they claim the comments made in the reviews were contrived. In order to pursue this legally the carpet company needed real names and Yelp refused...
When I saw this on social media in several places I figured I'd share because the topic often hits close to home with authors, publishers, and readers. Evidently, seven people gave nasty reviews with fake names on Yelp about a carpet company. The carpet company is challenging the validity of these reviews because they claim the comments made in the reviews were contrived. In order to pursue this legally the carpet company needed real names and Yelp refused...
