Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Soldier's Diary - Billy Spencer - Marine Killed In Iraq Leaves Videos Behind

Story from MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33873810

The parents of a Tri-State Marine killed in Iraq are sharing memories of their son, through a series of home movies that they didn't know existed until after he died.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Friday, November 20, 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The American Red Cross Club at the University of Maryland College Park

 

I wanted to pass on this message from the American Red Cross Club :

 

The American Red Cross Club at the University of Maryland College Park
0208F Stamp Student Union,
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=258017170315

I hope you all having an Awesome week! We have Three blood drives this week on campus: The first will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at Stamp in the Atrium. The second is Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Hillel on North Campus. The third is Friday, November 20, 2009 at Stamp in the Atrium. We need donors AND volunteers for both dates!
1) If you would like to donate, please sign up for an appointment online at: https://www.membersforlife.org/rccm/mobilesch/login.php
[Walk-ins are always encouraged to stop by!]
Listed below are the sponsor/donor codes to use depending on when and where you want to donate:
13160 [Stamp Atrium]
10564 [Stamp Colony Ballroom]
12645 [Stamp PG Room]
11341 [La Plata]
10827 [Hillel]
2) If you would like to volunteer, please email arc.umd@gmail.com
[We need volunteers for both drives AND for tabling.]
Drive Volunteers are needed:
11/18 Wed - at Stamp Atrium, 11am-5pm
11/19 Thur - at the Hillel, 11am-4pm
11/20 Fri - at Stamp Atrium, 9am-2pm
During drives, we need several volunteers throughout the day to help set up posters/signs on campus, recruit students to the drive, help with donor registration, and help with the canteen (drinks/snacks). Snacks and refreshments will be provided!
Tabling Volunteers are needed
** Wed, 11/18 (Stamp)
** Wed, 11/18 (Hillel)
If you can volunteer some time on any of these dates, even an hour would be amazing!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Andean community near Chinchero, Peru

2008 trip to Macchu Pichu - This is a good pic that i took when we visited this village and learned how they use natural ingredients to dye their fabric. Tour was arranged by Kuoda Tours who I highly recommend http://www.inturkuoda.com/Projects_to%20Support/Projects_to_support.html

Thursday, November 12, 2009

What difference can a few degrees make?

“some birds flying north are having a hard time on arrival because the bugs they eat emerged earlier than in the past, leaving less food available for the hungry birds and their offspring.” Says the website of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) which includes its programs, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and its labs.

See Hot Questions about Climate Change

Sunday, November 1, 2009

America : Looking at the Land of Opportunity again

I am reading the article "Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins -- Five myths about our land of opportunity in the washingtonpost.com". The article mentions both positive things and also concerning things like
- "rags to riches in a generation is rare"
- Almost 30 percent of children now live in single-parent families
- Among women under age 30, more than half of all births now occur outside marriage
It is a must read article

in reference to:

"Among women under age 30, more than half of all births now occur outside marriage"
- Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins -- Five myths about our land of opportunity - washingtonpost.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

When the wall came down

In today's Washington Post there was a article that I recommend everyone read http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103001849.html?sub=AR " Josef Joffe -- Until 1989, Berlin was Walltown - washingtonpost.com".

Josef was there when the wall dividing Berlin between the East and the West was built and when it came down. I defintely was not there for either occasion but I feel like being part of that history. On Nov. 9, 1989 I was in Moscow ( at that time the Capital of the USSR) and as news of the Berlin wall tickled to me , I am not sure if it was a Russian colleague or on TV where I could only understand very little of what was said. It was only months later that CNN would start broadcasting locally in Moscow.

If you have a chance you should see a piece of the BErlin wall that is in the newseum and also read today's Outlook Section in the Washington Post.

in reference to:

"Nov. 9, 1989."
- Josef Joffe -- Until 1989, Berlin was Walltown - washingtonpost.com (view on Google Sidewiki)