Just watched a documentary that's worth checking out: Angels in the Dust. The film lets you see firsthand the ravages of HIV/AIDS on a generation of children in South Africa, and what one couple is doing to help those children.
You can also check out TakePart.com to find out more about the film and some opportunities to become involved in social action.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Britz
No, not Britney Spears...
I was flipping through the channels the other night, which, I suppose, means that I had nothing really in mind to watch and probably could have been spening my time in a better way, like grading papers or finishing my final project...Anyway, while flipping I noticed that BBC America had a show called Britz playing. Now, if you've ever watched BBCA you know that they show some crazy shows. So I figured I'd give it a looksee. It turned out to be this really great mini-series that played for two nights. Basically, it tells the stories of two Muslim siblings, a brother and sister, who were raised in Britain, and take two very different paths. It's a great story. Not uplifting, but great. I was pulled in from the minute I turned it on. The acting was great (and after having recently seen Twilight, a movie in which the director seemed to encourage the most campy acting possible, I now have a deeper appreciation for good actors). The story was believable and because of the believability it was very saddening. It definitely leaves you with questions. Not unanswered questions because of the show, but questions about events that are going on in the world, and what our responsibilities are...
They're going to keep playing the episodes over the next week, but you can catch both parts back-to-back on the afternoon of December 7. Episode 1 plays at 1pm and episode 2 plays at 3:30pm (EST). Or you can check out their site for more info.
Here's kind of a trailer for the show, although it doesn't really do it any justice. You'll just have to take my word for it and give it your own looksee on Sunday.
I was flipping through the channels the other night, which, I suppose, means that I had nothing really in mind to watch and probably could have been spening my time in a better way, like grading papers or finishing my final project...Anyway, while flipping I noticed that BBC America had a show called Britz playing. Now, if you've ever watched BBCA you know that they show some crazy shows. So I figured I'd give it a looksee. It turned out to be this really great mini-series that played for two nights. Basically, it tells the stories of two Muslim siblings, a brother and sister, who were raised in Britain, and take two very different paths. It's a great story. Not uplifting, but great. I was pulled in from the minute I turned it on. The acting was great (and after having recently seen Twilight, a movie in which the director seemed to encourage the most campy acting possible, I now have a deeper appreciation for good actors). The story was believable and because of the believability it was very saddening. It definitely leaves you with questions. Not unanswered questions because of the show, but questions about events that are going on in the world, and what our responsibilities are...
They're going to keep playing the episodes over the next week, but you can catch both parts back-to-back on the afternoon of December 7. Episode 1 plays at 1pm and episode 2 plays at 3:30pm (EST). Or you can check out their site for more info.
Here's kind of a trailer for the show, although it doesn't really do it any justice. You'll just have to take my word for it and give it your own looksee on Sunday.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Confessions of a Tooth Fairy
As the election draws nigh many of us have found that SNL has used our candidates to its advantage by coming up with some hysterical skits. But what about all those SNLers that aren't regulars in the political acts? One of those folks is Kristen Wiig (pronounced Wig). After reading a little about her the other day and how she got her start at the Groundlings Theatre in CA in looked her up on YouTube. After some searching I found a little gem that I wanted to pass along because I almost died laughing and I thought you might enjoy it as well. So here you go:
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Reaching Other Folks
We know that people are in need (at least I think we know). We know there are millions around the globe who go without and who are desperate for a helping hand. But what can we do, right? Can we make a meaningful difference in someone’s life who is truly hurting and who seems to have such a long way to go?
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A couple weeks ago I was reading Relevant Magazine (great magazine, btw. you should pick up a copy if you get the chance) and I came across a really short article about two girls who sell homemade cards to raise money. The girls send the bulk of this money to an organization called Kiva (Kiva.org), which is involved in microfinance in the developing world. I checked out Kiva’s website and it looks like they’re doing some good stuff.
Basically, this is how it works. You visit the Kiva site and browse profiles for individuals who are looking for micro-financing. When you decide who you would like to support you make a payment via Pay Pal or your CC and your money is then sent to a partnering microfinance institution in the country where the individual who will receive your loan is located. That person receives the loan, puts it to use to start a business and then repays the loan to the partner institution which sends your funds back to you.
With this project Kiva is looking to “connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.”
Seems pretty cool to me! And it looks like a way to reach those folks who can be so far away. We can’t always be there to lend our actual hand to pull someone up, but there are opportunities to do it roundabout-ly, and this looks like one of those opportunities. So, you might want to check it out. And if you ever give a loan to anyone I’d love to hear about your experience.
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A couple weeks ago I was reading Relevant Magazine (great magazine, btw. you should pick up a copy if you get the chance) and I came across a really short article about two girls who sell homemade cards to raise money. The girls send the bulk of this money to an organization called Kiva (Kiva.org), which is involved in microfinance in the developing world. I checked out Kiva’s website and it looks like they’re doing some good stuff.
Basically, this is how it works. You visit the Kiva site and browse profiles for individuals who are looking for micro-financing. When you decide who you would like to support you make a payment via Pay Pal or your CC and your money is then sent to a partnering microfinance institution in the country where the individual who will receive your loan is located. That person receives the loan, puts it to use to start a business and then repays the loan to the partner institution which sends your funds back to you.
With this project Kiva is looking to “connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.”
Seems pretty cool to me! And it looks like a way to reach those folks who can be so far away. We can’t always be there to lend our actual hand to pull someone up, but there are opportunities to do it roundabout-ly, and this looks like one of those opportunities. So, you might want to check it out. And if you ever give a loan to anyone I’d love to hear about your experience.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Finding our Faces
“I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, do not let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?”
C.S. Lewis: Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold
C.S. Lewis: Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold
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