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Just a beautiful wallpaper I came across via the social networks.

ruckawriter:

Neither World Cup nor Olympics authorities seem to mind Qatar’s and Russia’s human rights violations, so it’s up to consumers, players, and sponsors to take action themselves.

Yes. This. Call them out.

All the time.

I am not a soccer fan. But I’m a fan of liberty, and no one deserves to live as a slave.

ruckawriter:

Joe McNally recounts shooting Tom Clancy for the cover of Newsweek, at The Photo Society.

His (presumably) last novel will be released on my birthday later this year. We’ll see how quickly I get through it, though this go-around, a certain relishing and remembering may be in order.

tbridge:

Look, I know there’s a lot of conflict about TBBT, but this moment from last night was really lovely.

Due to prep for the Cub Scout fall campout, then the actual campout this weekend, I didn’t get around to seeing this episode until last night. It was worth the wait. Certainly the best so far this season, and because of this scene, the heartfelt love from Howard, a character who has shown so much growth when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex, has vaulted past the competition to my #2 all-time favorite Big Bang Theory episode.

Well done, writers, cast and crew.

ruckawriter:

Reporters for “Le Monde” spent two months clandestinely in the Damascus area alongside Syrian rebels. On the scene during chemical weapons attacks, they bear witness to the use of toxic arms by the government.

This article contains graphic descriptions and some very powerful and disturbing photographs. You have been warned.

One the one hand, something must be done. On the other hand, what that something should be isn’t all that clear. For now, prayers for those affected, which doesn’t feel sufficient, is all we can offer.

minimalmac:

minimalmac:

Understand: I’m a fan. That way a person is a fan of a rock band.

Yep. Me too. Having worked in software development for a few years, one would think I would not think of these guys as mysterious demigods. But, seriously, I get giddy as a school girl whenever I get to even exchange emails with a developer of one of my favorite apps.

You can count me in that group. Which made this lunch last year pretty cool:

“Proof that @tapbot_paul (left) does leave his hermit hole. @agiletortoise checking live blog of iPad mini announcement.”

And off camera was Patrick Burleson (@pbur), whom I’m proud to call friend.

tbridge:

The Velociraptor is carrying an American flag. And Reagan is firing an automatic weapon.

Because: America!

There are some little touches in this that make it even more awesome than the big premise Tom notes.

lsuverse:

Way back in the fall of 1896, coach A.W. Jeardeau’s LSU football team posted a perfect 6-0 record, and it was in that pigskin campaign that LSU first adopted its nickname, Tigers.

“Tigers” seemed a logical choice since most collegiate teams in that year bore the names of ferocious animals,…

minimalmac:

Every year, on this day, I take some time out to remember my friend Rodney. Rodney committed suicide via a gunshot to the head on June 15th, 2002 after a long struggle with depression. He was a dear friend, Mac fan, and talented writer. I miss him dearly.

Every time Apple releases something incredible or posts record sales, I can’t help but think about how much he would have been enjoying it. That is, as much as depression or the medicines used to treat it allow you to enjoy anything.

Some who know me know that I live with bi-polar disorder (manic depression). I have spoken about it before. I have been hospitalized for attempted suicide myself many years ago.

There is no real cure. After many years of medication and therapy treatment that had varying degrees of success, I now use a combination of mindfulness meditation and non-violent communication to help me navigate through it. It has been the most successful of all.

That said, there are struggles. I would be a liar if I said that I don’t understand what it was that made Rodney ultimately pull the trigger. Despite having a successful job, a loving wife, a nice house, and being a respected writer for several sites, none of those things matter when the chemistry in your brain decides it is time to go and that it will never get any better.

This day also happens to be my wedding anniversary so it is always a bit bittersweet. In fact, I normally wait until the 16th to post this but, for some reason, that did not feel right this year. I guess because the fact is that he died today. That there is no glossing over it. That denying such is in some way denying that life is filled with both things gained and loss. That both are OK and deserve all of the emotions appropriate for each.

Finally, if you or someone you know is suffering from a mental disorder, I urge you to use compassion and empathy when speaking with them about it. But, please do so. Ask them to seek whatever help they can. Let them know how you feel.

Not sure what more to say other than thank you for listening  to me fight through the tears once again.

Fuck suicide. Fuck it to hell.

P.S. The best way to celebrate a writer is to read his writing, most of which is linked or archived on Low End Mac.

Note: For a few who have asked, here is the book that has guided me on using mindfulness meditation to treat my mania and depression: The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn

Also, I would be an idiot for not mentioning… National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - With Help Comes Hope

I had the pleasure of several e-mail exchanges with Rodney, and had hoped to meet up with him at a Macworld Expo some time in those very early Aughts. I wouldn’t say we were friends, but I certainly miss his wit and writing.

I will echo Patrick: suicide is not the answer. There are people who want to help you. Please utilize those resources.

Openness like this is why I’m pleased to support Maciej.

Jeremy traveled to Rwanda in August 2011 with filmmaker Laura Waters Hinson to document survivors and perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide who have reconciled and are living life together peacefully in the same community. Inspired by my Jeremy’s “Voices of Haiti” photo essay, the portraits in this series capture the survivors of the genocide standing with the killers of their families, whom they’ve now forgiven.

“More than a mere blockbuster, the Star Wars franchise became a record-setting media empire. Six live-action films and a computer-animated movie have filled theaters. An animated Star Wars TV series has been on the air for four years, with a fifth season set to debut in the fall; a live-action series, ‘Star Wars: Underworld,’ is in preproduction. Profits from licensed merchandise have dwarfed box office revenue, and an estimated $20 billion worth of toys, clothing, prop replicas and other memorabilia have been sold since 1977.”

tiffanyb:

I kept looking for a quote to pull for Tumblr, but every paragraph was better than the last, and just… read the whole thing.

My wife tweeted this link earlier today, so I only thought it proper to include it here as well.

tiffanyb:

*swoon*

Suddenly wishing I knew where the load-bearing walls were upstairs…

Looking this over, I fall into the Geek camp, though I do have Nerdish tendencies.

Bruce Schneier’s exasperation is informed by his job-related need to spend a lot of time in Airportland. He has 10 million frequent-flier miles and takes about 170 flights a year; his average speed, he has calculated, is 32 miles and hour. “The only useful airport security measures since 9/11,” he says, “were locking and reinforcing the cockpit doors, so terrorists can’t break in, positive baggage matching”—ensuring that people can’t put luggage on planes, and then not board them —“and teaching the passengers to fight back. The rest is security theater.”

“Abby and I sat back and marveled, recounting how Jesus also went through lots of difficult moments in his life. How he chose to become human and experience a world full of harshness. He didn’t remain aloof, or skirt over touchy issues. He dug into people’s messy, broken, dirty lives and loved them with a perfect heart. And when his friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. Jesus was real.

"Abby and I talked of the blessings God has given each of us.

"God loved us enough to become a man and ultimately conquer sin and death in order for us to be with him forever. (Hello, Good News!)”

“If the Tigers win the BCS Championship, it might not be fair to call this the best team of all time, but it might be the most tested team of all-time.”

I think it’s totally fair for the most tested team of all-time, should they win the national championship, to be declared the best team of all time. And yes, I say this from a totally biased standpoint.

“Some warn that America’s freedom, like all things human, may crumble into dust. The reason it doesn’t is because in times of trial our country produces men and women of courage and fortitude, honor and sacrifice. Which is another way of saying America produces self-effacing heroes like last weekend’s hunting companions.”

Yet another gorgeous typeface that makes me wish I had a reason to buy more fonts and use them.

(Via my pal Dave.)

Well, it’s pretty much everything.