Check out this cool website. It combines two of my passions: helping the impoverished and words. Basically, you match vocab words to their definition and the site donates rice to the UN food bank. Granted, I do not have respect for the UN and think that they often do more harm than good with regards to conflict resolution and foreign policy. However, as the largest supranational in the world, they do have considerable resources, and I have heard good things about some of their relief work. UNICEF in particular seems to be relatively effective.
http://www.freerice.com/index.php
P.S. I am currrently up to level 47.
July 30, 2008
July 18, 2008
It sure beats sports.
Yesterday I went to the Orange County Fair with Carol, one of my co-workers. It was actually larger and more interesting than I had anticipated. The fair was super clean and even had an elephant ride! Highlights:
- Being swarmed by goats and deer in the petting zoo. This also entailed having my shirt mouthed by one vigorous deer, whose predilection for fabric seemed to match mine for chocolate. We also petted wallabies. So cute!
- Fair food: a mini red velvet cupcake with chocolate frosting, a cinnamon bun (proudly proclaimed official fair food by the vendor), and a caramel apple with a chocolate shell further enhanced by sprinkles and Oreo crumbs. (Yes, yes, I know. But we shared.)
- A mini three-man circus with an aura of good-nature that ended with a Houdini "Metamorphosis" act in which two men switched places in and on top of a locked trunk. A black drawstring bag and circular curtain were also involved in the plot.
- A bonsai exhibit! So beautiful. I love miniature things.
- Standing inside a camera obscura, which uses mirrors and natural light to project (Warning: That is probably NOT the correct scientific term.) an image from outside onto a table inside. I was pleased to learn that we were essentially standing inside of giant camera. Evidently they have one from the 1800's in Edinburgh, but I don't remember it. I think it is similar technology to a periscope and started scheming as to how I could add it to my dream tree house/fort.
Also, Carol splurged on a henna tattoo. I actually like hennas, but felt that my money had already dispersed too rapidly that evening.
Later gator.
- Being swarmed by goats and deer in the petting zoo. This also entailed having my shirt mouthed by one vigorous deer, whose predilection for fabric seemed to match mine for chocolate. We also petted wallabies. So cute!
- Fair food: a mini red velvet cupcake with chocolate frosting, a cinnamon bun (proudly proclaimed official fair food by the vendor), and a caramel apple with a chocolate shell further enhanced by sprinkles and Oreo crumbs. (Yes, yes, I know. But we shared.)
- A mini three-man circus with an aura of good-nature that ended with a Houdini "Metamorphosis" act in which two men switched places in and on top of a locked trunk. A black drawstring bag and circular curtain were also involved in the plot.
- A bonsai exhibit! So beautiful. I love miniature things.
- Standing inside a camera obscura, which uses mirrors and natural light to project (Warning: That is probably NOT the correct scientific term.) an image from outside onto a table inside. I was pleased to learn that we were essentially standing inside of giant camera. Evidently they have one from the 1800's in Edinburgh, but I don't remember it. I think it is similar technology to a periscope and started scheming as to how I could add it to my dream tree house/fort.
Also, Carol splurged on a henna tattoo. I actually like hennas, but felt that my money had already dispersed too rapidly that evening.
Later gator.
July 16, 2008
Operation Christmas Child Intro
This is an email I wrote (with admitted plagerism) to introduce churches to Operation Christmas Child (OCC):
Greetings from Operation Christmas Child, a missions project of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse. In brief, Operation Christmas Child is a missions project that collects gift-filled shoe boxes and delivers them in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in desperate situations around the world. Last year we delivered 7,689,726 shoe boxes to over one hundred countries. One of the most profound aspects of this project is that each shoe box translates into another child touched with the love of Christ. These shoe boxes open doors for presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ by working in and through culturally appropriate evangelistic and follow-up programs. One of the things that makes Operation Christmas Child so special is its emphasis on kids helping kids. The project provides a simple, tangible way for children and teenagers to join adults in sharing the joy of giving to children around the world. There is no age limit to participation! National collection week is November 17-24, so the project will not interfere with any scheduled Christmas events.
Please visit our website for further information: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/. I would also be more than glad to send you an information kit. Please do give me a call if you have any questions or would like more information. I would love to discuss the project with you.
God bless,
Katie Brooks
Greetings from Operation Christmas Child, a missions project of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse. In brief, Operation Christmas Child is a missions project that collects gift-filled shoe boxes and delivers them in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in desperate situations around the world. Last year we delivered 7,689,726 shoe boxes to over one hundred countries. One of the most profound aspects of this project is that each shoe box translates into another child touched with the love of Christ. These shoe boxes open doors for presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ by working in and through culturally appropriate evangelistic and follow-up programs. One of the things that makes Operation Christmas Child so special is its emphasis on kids helping kids. The project provides a simple, tangible way for children and teenagers to join adults in sharing the joy of giving to children around the world. There is no age limit to participation! National collection week is November 17-24, so the project will not interfere with any scheduled Christmas events.
Please visit our website for further information: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/. I would also be more than glad to send you an information kit. Please do give me a call if you have any questions or would like more information. I would love to discuss the project with you.
God bless,
Katie Brooks
July 15, 2008
But I'm still awake!
One day I hope to have a job with flexible hours. Being mentally alert but bodily exhausted during my beloved night watches is rather disheartening. Ugh...mornings. Enough. Think happy thoughts: spiderwebs outside with no chance of running into them, sharpies, antique blocks, raspberry cordials. There, that's better.
I am reinstating my habit of getting rid of one item a day. This is not a strict rule, and there are no limits on the item's size or personal import. It's quite fulfilling to toss things, and will be especially beneficial to continuously downsize as an antidote to the outrageous materialism of the OC. Thus far, I have observed it to be somewhat less about appearance than expected (note the qualifiers) and more about accumulating. However, that could be because I have been spending gift certificates to decorate my room and explore/get out in the evenings. Now that I'm getting my bearings and also making/meeting up with friends I will try to avoid getting sucked into the multitudes of shopping malls (at least not regularly). Working for a nonprofit also helps to keep me grounded.
Now to bed. Drat.
I am reinstating my habit of getting rid of one item a day. This is not a strict rule, and there are no limits on the item's size or personal import. It's quite fulfilling to toss things, and will be especially beneficial to continuously downsize as an antidote to the outrageous materialism of the OC. Thus far, I have observed it to be somewhat less about appearance than expected (note the qualifiers) and more about accumulating. However, that could be because I have been spending gift certificates to decorate my room and explore/get out in the evenings. Now that I'm getting my bearings and also making/meeting up with friends I will try to avoid getting sucked into the multitudes of shopping malls (at least not regularly). Working for a nonprofit also helps to keep me grounded.
Now to bed. Drat.
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