Links

Own Your Failure

Own your failure
- Link via MightyGirl

Rabbit Hole

You know how it is when you start looking at something then you see a link to another site...and that's interesting so you keep reading...then you link to another site...and so on and so on? Yeah, that was me the other day. Some fun stuff to look at later.

http://flexistentialist.org/blog/archives/2005/07/17/made-my-own-messeng...
http://eeio.blogspot.com/2004/12/recycled-banner-golden-mean-messenger.h...
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/06/make_a_messenger_bag_out_1.html
http://www.homegrownevolution.com/
http://www.ramshacklesolid.com/
http://blog.holyscraphotsprings.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete
http://www.velacreations.com
http://www.strandbeest.com/

Late to the Game

me: Interesting article on solar technology http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html
Chris: I got the tweet from Tyson
me: I feel suddenly uncool

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The Mustache is Coming Off!

We've reached our goal of $500 in donations to AASK, Aid to the Adoption of Special Kids!! This means that Chris will be shaving his 'stache before the wedding! Thank you all for donating to a wonderful charity and keeping the 70's out of my wedding pictures. Chris will be shaving it on Friday, May 30th and I'll be sure to document the momentous occasion.

Thanks to everyone who donated! AASK is truly a special organization. I know this because for the past two months I've been a part of their Special Friends program. It's a program to match adults with youth in foster care to provide them with healthy relationship.

I'm a mentor in the program to an awesome, awesome young women. Her privacy is important so I can't share any details, but she's awesome. I see her about once a week and we just hang out. My focus is to be her friend and just have fun with her. It's a good way for her to get a break from the group home and to broaden her experiences. We do the things typical teenagers like - go to the mall, eat out, go to the movies, play on the Internet.

This last Sunday when we hung out, we ran into some of her friends and she introduced me as her "homegirl." That was one of the best compliments I've ever received. This relationship is enriching my life so much. I'm learning about unconditional love and withholding judgment. I'm getting out of my comfort zone. I'm realizing new levels of gratitude for my parents and my childhood. It's giving me a realistic view of my city and this entire country. It's blessing me.

I am so thankful for AASK and the opportunity to help someone else while learning so much for myself. Thank you all who donated to this wonderful organization.

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Chris Quoted in Arizona Republic

Chris was quoted in an article in today's Arizona Republic! It was an article about Fund-A-Stache.

Speaking of the 'stache, we're getting close to our goal of $500 of donations! So far Chris has raised $368.38 for AASK and only needs $131.62 to shave the 'stache before the end of the month. Otherwise it's going to look like a wedding from the 70's.

Keep my wedding pictures out of the 70's! Please donate.

Comments

Movie Critics Are Not News

Dear NPR,

In the past week, I've heard two stories from you about the recent layoffs of movie critics from a number of papers (here and here). I realize that you think this is news and requires multiple segments of coverage, but it's not. It's navel gazing. You and the entire news industry needs to get over yourself. The tide is turning and while it freaks you out a lot, it doesn't bother me. Because I've found something better. It's called the Internet.

I've never (ever! ever!) cared what a movie critic in the paper has said. And as harsh as this sounds, I don't care that 28 of them have been laid off recently. I care about them as people and I feel horrible that they suddenly can't pay their bills. But I don't care about their jobs. It's basic business. It's the law of supply and demand. If there's no demand for your services, then you're out of business.

So as scary as this is to you and the entire news industry, remember this is how the world works. You have to keep providing valuable services that people demand. When you stop doing it, you're toast. While that's truth and interesting to those of us in business, it's not news. So please find something better to report on.

I promise that if you give me one more segment about movie critics losing their jobs, I swear I will never (ever!) give you another dollar. Which is a shame becuase normally I think you use my money well and provide a very, very valuable service.

Yours truly.
Erica

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Daniel Davis Books for Auction

Daniel Davis is an illustrator and author at Steam Crow in Phoenix. He recently donated a set of his books to the Kids Need to Read foundation, and they're being auctioning off on eBay ($$ for kid's books).

Kids Need to Read
Ebay Auction