Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Give a Damn!

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Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else). So here is this week’s For the Love of…

Today I’m loving the Give a Damn Campaign

Equality. Get Informed. Get Involved. Give a Damn!

“The Give a Damn Campaign is for everybody who cares about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

But, it’s especially for all you straight people out there! Whether you’re already an active supporter, want to show your support for the first time, or hadn’t given equality a lot of thought before and now want to learn more, we are here to help you get informed about the issues and get involved, at a pace that works for you.”

Learn more at: wegiveadamn.org And grab a banner for your site at: www.wegiveadamn.org/stuff/ They have some cool ones with stats that I hope will make people think.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Sloan

Obama extends health care rights to gay partners

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Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else). So here is this week’s For the Love of…

Today I’m loving this news…

Obama extends health care rights to gay partners
“The White House on Thursday released a statement by Obama instructing his Health and Human Services secretary to draft rules requiring hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid payments to grant all patients the right to designate people who can visit and consult with them at crucial moments.”

“It said Medicare-Medicaid hospitals, which include most of the nation’s facilities, may not deny visitation and consultation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.”

It’s a start. A step toward ending discrimination in a time of great importance like the hospitalization of a loved one.

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Sloan

Sometimes, TV gets it right

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Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else). So here is this week’s For the Love of…

I don’t watch Desperate Housewives anymore, but I was glad to see they recently had a happy ending for a lesbian couple. Robin and Katherine walked off into the sunset together (or rather Paris). I think some thought the storyline was over too quickly, but at least it didn’t end tragically or with a “I changed my mind” kind of a thing.

You can check out “Desperate Housewives” mini-cap: Sometimes, TV gets it right on AfterEllen.com.

Anyone watch the show? What did you think of the ending to their story?

Have a great weekend!
Sloan Parker

Now that’s a class act!

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Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else). So here is this week’s For the Love of…


Photo Source: via Flickr

Today I’m loving Julianne Moore. She’s filmed her cameo appearance on “As the World Turns” to help say goodbye to her old daytime soap (her role on ATWT ran from 1985-88). ATWT will be ending its 54-year run later this year. You can see a photo of her on the ATWT’s set at Zap2it. Her appearance will air on April 5.

Not many Academy Award nominated actresses would take the time to return to their former daytime career. Pretty classy of her.

Oh and she’s just plain gorgeous, so yeah I’m kind of a fan. ;)

Cheers to her and Happy Friday to all my blog followers,
Sloan Parker

Brainstorming – my next book is calling me

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Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else). So here is this week’s For the Love of…

Writers are usually very solitary people. We spend hours and hours in our own heads, playing with thoughts and images until we get a story poured out onto the “paper.” We spend a lot of time listening to made-up people. It’s rewarding and challenging, but it can also suck when you get stuck on something. Group brainstorming can help.

Last weekend I spent two days with a group of local writers. We rotated between individual writing time and group brainstorming. It was a rare chance for me to get input and story inspiration from others, as well as an opportunity to help brainstorm in other genres. It was a productive, fun weekend. The entire process helped me get a jump-start on some conflict ideas for my next book.  (And let me just say, I’m so mean to my characters…it’s worth it though).

That’s the great thing about group brainstorming. No matter how many of the ideas I end up using, the entire process motivated me and also sparked my own ideas after I got home and my mind kept running through my story.

Thanks to my writing pals: Connie, Jennie, Lesly, Rita, and KateLynn. You guys rock!! I loved hearing about your stories. Best of luck on your writing!

Any other writers out there ever try group brainstorming, either online or in person? What process works for you?

I’d love to hear about it.
Sloan Parker