shiningeyes

06/03/2009

1 in 5 Iraqis have been uprooted by violence in their homeland. Many have fled to Syria, and this video details the increasingly desperate situation there.

Americans, addressing the needs of displaced Iraqis will help to ensure a stable Iraq. Not to mention, it is our responsibility, not only for the part we’ve played as Americans in this situation, but as… well, human beings. Please sign this letter from Refugees Intl urging President Obama to help Iraqi refugees.

*Video from Refugees Intl. Music by James T. Sale. Select photos by Jiro Ose.

Video posted at 09:29

05/03/2009

» A Time of Moral Reckoning [OurPledge.Org]

I had a particularly restless sleep last night. Time is of the essence for the people of Sudan. The 10 or more agencies that were expelled from the country serve the majority of the hundreds of thousands (or MORE!) of people from Sudan. You can be sure that each day that goes by without them there is a day these huge numbers of people are going without food, medical attention, safety, etc. So many people have already died already…

The above link gives additional background and advice on what we can do. I’ll be keeping an eye on the press releases and statements from the White House today.

Link posted at 09:29

04/03/2009

al-Bashir and his government = MONSTERS

Today, the International Criminal Court finally issued an arrest warrant for the president of Sudan, Omar Hussein al-Bashir, for crimes against humanity. Specifically - murder, rape, extermination, forcible transfer and torture. Under al-Bashir’s regime, Sudan has become a humanitarian disaster. As retaliation for this news, the Sudan government revoked the licenses of many non-governmental organizations providing aid and relief to Sudanese refugees & citizens, including the licenses of CARE, IRC, Mercy Corps and Oxfam GB. Once again, hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions?) of lives are at risk.

I am outraged and disgusted… but not surprised. We are talking about people capable of murder and genocide after all. When will enough finally be enough?

Text posted at 22:05

(via garfieldminusgarfield)

Photo posted at 20:57

03/03/2009

This is an oldie, but I evidently missed it the first time around. Joshua Bell, a world-famous violin virtuoso, participated in an experiment with the Washington Post. Wearing normal everyday clothing, he played seven beautiful pieces with his Stradivarius (!!) in the morning rush at a Washington DC subway stop to see if anyone would stop and listen. What do you think happened? Leonard Slatkin, director of the National Symphony Orchestra, though a crowd of maybe 75 to 100 would gather.

To find out more, read the article: Pearls Before Breakfast

Video posted at 09:53

01/03/2009

February 21

My birthday was the Saturday before last (February 21). I am now twenty-seven. Below is some birthday-related astrology that I think eerily describes me in a lot of ways. (~~Marked out~~ items do not.)

—-

[Copied and pasted from How Stuff Works.]

A Pisces born on February 21 is acquisitive without being materialistic. Security-oriented, they seek social prestige but are generous with resources. People close to them know they can always come to them for help. They are generally fun-loving, yet they embrace responsibility wholeheartedly.

Friends and Lovers
As with most Pisceans, February 21 individuals are kind and giving. Few people have as much integrity. They are often hurt by the insensitivity of fickle or uncaring lovers. Finding someone who shares their need for commitment is the focal point of
their lives.

Children and Family
February 21 natives are impressionable, so they are likely to retain many memories from childhood — both good and bad. People born on this date may feel unable to take on the responsibility of another human, fearful of not being up to the task. But when they make a decision to have children, they turn out to be wonderful parents.

Health
~~The men and women born on this date have a tendency to get involved in New Age health practices.~~ They often adopt a restrictive diet for philosophical as well as health reasons. They love food, but they prefer to substitute vegetables, fruits, and grains for fatty, high-calorie goodies.

Career and Finances
People born on this date have an affinity for artistic endeavors. They are excellent managers or supervisors. They enjoy the good things in life but aren’t fervent about getting ahead financially. This may be because things come easily to them, ~~even~~ ~~money~~.

Dreams and Goals
February 21 men and women strive to reconcile their spiritual and worldly concerns. They have a desire to succeed ~~in the conventional sense~~ but aren’t willing to check their ethics at the door. Although motivated, they are not single-minded about success. Achievement means doing their best without sacrificing other aspects of life.

Text posted at 15:48

26/02/2009

On a happier note, the Slumdog Millionaire kids are living a real-life Cinderella story right before our eyes! The glittery Oscars, trust funds, education … and now the families of these two children will finally move from their shack and tarp roofs and into proper flats in Mumbai. (Link: NY Daily News)

Nobody should have to live the way these children did… and the way that many children still do live all over the world.

(picture via aeropuertos)

Photo posted at 09:33

» Suicide in Crystal Cathedral (discussion)

On February 18, 2009, a man committed suicide while kneeling down at the altar of the Crystal Cathedral. Oddly enough, the church’s website doesn’t seem to mention anything about it, other than this forum in their discussion posts. That event has been weighing pretty heavy on my heart ever since I heard about it.

I don’t post this link to be Thurs morning “Debbie Downer”… I realize these are hard times for everyone. Heaven knows these are some of the hardest times in my life I’ve ever had. But today, let’s take the time out to drop our own worries and consider all of those that are dealing with heartbreak and loss even greater than ours. Reach out to others, pray for them, give them a little bit of encouragement, let them know you care about them…

Link posted at 09:07

23/02/2009

» A Mother's Journey

This will break your heart.

(via asmallhope:havent-got-a-prayer:soulgarden.)

Link posted at 15:23

17/02/2009

A Pat on My Back

I actually left the house after work on a Monday night and accomplished things! (Oh, I am so tired/lazy/old/sad.)

Stopped at a local Italian marketplace/bakery and placed an order for my own work birthday celebration on Friday. I feel obligated to make my arrangements for my own birthday after I basically forced the last Workplace Birthday Fairy into retirement for always requesting weird, hard-to-find desserts. This year, we will be having this:

Returned tax software to Walmart (ughughugh)for my parents. Because I was already there, I also picked up milk, half & half, sweet potato fries and butane gas.
Got my FREE birthday burrito from Moe’s. I am not generally a fan of their food, but free always tastes better.

Text posted at 16:35

12/02/2009

These ads really creep me out. It’s obnoxious that many people are skeptical of Asian women in relationships with Caucasian men… like my mother and my father and like (ahem) me and my signifcant other.

An amusing read is this tongue-in-cheek Asian Women post from the Stuff White People Like blog.

Photo posted at 10:01

11/02/2009

Thoughts on the Rich & Famous

This morning, I watched The Duchess, starring the love-her-or-hate-her Keira Knightley. The movie is a sort of biography of Georgiana Cavenish, an 18th century Duchess of Devonshire. She was an immensely popular and beloved woman in her time, but oh, the sacrifices she made… Forced to share her husband with another woman (her best friend, no less!) for years? In spite of that fact, still forced to give up her lover and their child? Um, no thanks.

Certainly, Hollywood has a way of glamorizing and contorting reality to suit their own purposes. We naturally want to root for the underdogs and hate the people that seem to have it all. But remember the paparazzi explosion that happened the day that Paris Hilton was carted off to jail? The fuzzy photo of a hysterically sobbing Paris that was repeated over and over on the news networks and on the internet?

Text posted at 19:21

08/02/2009

I wonder if I could pull off a big hood like this without looking sinister? Or is this only do-able if you’re a blond-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned Norwegian type?

P.S. Face Hunter is more my style than Sartorialist.

Photo posted at 12:50