| Roger Arpajou/©Sony Pictures Classics |
* It was nice to learn what the real Ernest Hemingway looked like in a swimsuit after completely falling for Corey Stoll's hilarious yet smoldering portrayal of the lion-wrestling, hard-drinking ultra-macho writer in the utterly charming Midnight in Paris (go see it this weekend!).
* Having received two heart transplants, 31-year-old Erik Compton knows "golf is not that big of a deal," but that only makes the fact that he won the Mexico open and qualified for the PGA tour that much more impressive. [PGA Tour]
* We spent some time this week cataloging the unique advantages of being a woman. A male cheerleader whose Bring It On-worthy performance has gone viral reminds us that anyone striving to make us forget our differences is worth celebrating too. [Towleroad]
* Surely you will be shocked to learn that men don't visit McDonald's for the salads. Still though, this infographic of guys' fast-food habits has plenty of fun facts—like how many hot sauce packets the average guy has squirreled away at home. [Mashable]
* "We were united, we were strong, we were righteous, we were unmovable, we were funny, we were corny as hell and as serious as death itself...Together, we told an older, richer story about the possibilities of friendship that transcended those I'd written in my songs and in my music. Clarence carried it in his heart."—Bruce Springsteen remembers Clarence Clemmons
 | Real
beauty isn't about symmetry or weight or makeup; it's about looking
life right in the face and seeing all its magnificence reflected in your
own. — Valerie Monroe |  |
| Photo courtesy of the Reeve Foundation |
That's what motivated John Carson, a triathlete who was struck by an SUV during a training ride just a mile from his home in Long Island, New York. He suffered a serious spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic. Carson threw himself into rehab, and (you know where this is going) within a few months, he stunned doctors by slowly, carefully putting one foot in front of the other. Carson still lacks sensation in his feet—his spinal surgeon refers to him as a "walking quadriplegic"—but just one year after his accident, Carson competed in the 2010 Lake Placid Ironman. He then raced in this year's Boston Marathon and, last weekend, in the Coeur d'Alene Ironman in Idaho.
Carson's near-miraculous recovery story provides inspiration for anyone facing insurmountable obstacles. But what really struck us was what Carson decided to do after he exceeded the expectations of his doctors, his family and himself. Carson told The New York Times last week that he was planning to retire from Ironmans after the Coeur d'Alene.
"Racing used to be the most important thing in my life," said Mr. Carson. "But ... this is a very selfish sport. I've done enough. That five or six hours I spend on a bike Saturday mornings, the run on Sunday, I want to take that time I'd be spending out there and put it to better use."
Carson, now 30, told The Times he would rather devote his energy to his wife, his family and his fundraising work with the Reeve Foundation.
It sounds as if his epiphany came not when he lost his physical abilities, but when he regained them. He reminded us that even when we go beyond where we thought we could...we still might need to go a little farther to get where we want to be.
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| Photo: Lomography |
Celebrate the holiday weekend early with something special just for you...
La Sardina Camera, $59. The nautical packaging is inspired by vintage sardine cans, but instead of fish you'll find 35 mm film inside. Perfect whether you're on land or at sea this summer.
Violent LIps American Flag Temporary Lip Tattoos, $14.99 for 3. Red lipstick is always festive, but for a very patriotic pout come Monday press on one of these.
Simeli Dress Guards, $85. Not only will these colorful crocheted (crocheted!) wheel guards keep your clothes from getting splattered with mud, but they'll instantly dress up your bike. [via Honestlywtf.com]
Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock SPF 50, $10.99. No more excuses--now you can reapply every two hours without even drying off. Earning a gold star from your derm has never been easier.
| Compared with that profounder site That polar privacy A soul admitted to itself -- Finite infinity. — Emily Dickinson | |
| Compared with that profounder site That polar privacy A soul admitted to itself— Finite infinity. — Emily Dickinson | |
I have this idea. I've had it for a while. It's a good one. Are you ready? A trampoline amusement park. You're probably thinking, "I want to go there." And you might also be thinking, "Lawsuit waiting to happen." And to that I say...well, it's possible that you're right. The thing about my trampoline amusement park is that I think it would be a fun place to visit, but that doesn't mean I have any desire to invest in real estate or equipment or liability insurance or even, for that matter, the time it takes to do a Google search showing me I would apparently have a number of competitors.
| And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings — W.B. Yeats | |
These days, I know friends who indulge in all kinds of secret activities: say, smoking a forbidden cigarette or overeating alone. In my case, I wait until a night when my husband has to work really late and watch mindless romantic comedies back-to-back until 1 in the morning, while guzzling Diet Coke and a 2-pound bag of fat-free Twizzlers. Nobody, not even my husband, needs to see me passed out on the bed, mentally wounded (by choice!) from Kate Hudson movies, aspartame and artificial strawberry flavoring.
Then along with 4 million other people, I saw this video of a cat barking.
The important part came when the cat realized that his owner was taping him and began instantly to meow. I wanted to say, "Don't change yourself for anybody! Bark it up! Be different! Be yourself!"
Instead, I thought about my old friend. I called her up. "Is the reason you don't wash the floor in front of your boyfriend, now husband, because you're embarrassed and you think he'll think of you differently?"
