If you read and you agree, I’d appreciate your vote for me here.

Either way, I’m excited and grateful and, as always, thank you for reading.

Video source: jeanjeansl

Sonnymoon – “Gills or Wings”

Sonnymoon – “Soft Shoulders”

Sonnymoon – “Run Away”

Video animation by Lauren Santorio

Source: Typcut

YES! Magazine is an ad-free, nonprofit publication that publishes all of its articles under the Creative Commons license to encourage reprinting and reposting .  YES! focuses on supporting the active engagement in building a just and sustainable world.  It’s pretty awesome.

“We’re just trying to celebrate the sensibility of moving things forwards,” Ben Goldhirsh says of his brand, GOOD. According to the site, “GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.” Influenced by Radiohead’s innovative sales move for their In Rainbows album, GOOD allows readers to name their price and donates all subscription fees to charities, specifically chosen by subscribers.

With the tagline, “for intelligent optimists,” it’s no wonder that Ode Magazine is about positive news and the people and ideas that are improving the world. Ode started as a Dutch publication and after nine years, the founders moved to San Francisco to launch the English version of the magazine. It features articles from all over the world and is quite a delightful read. Even if you’re a recovering cynic, Ode will move you closer to optimism.

Embrace is an infant incubator designed to save premature and low birth weight babies. Every year, 20 million infants around the world die because their families cannot geographically or financially access traditional incubators that cost up to $20,000.  To find out more about Embrace and how you can help, visit EmbraceGlobal.org.

Tonight is a special night for me as We Think Radio premiered at 11/10 pm EST/CST. I co-hosted with best selling author j. saKiya Sandifer.  Naturally, it was thought-provoking, engaging, and entertaining.  The purpose was simple: to spark those seeking to create a positive change in their lives.

We discussed special needs children, valid reasons for having children, the selfishness/selflessness of creativity, and justifiable “domestic violence.”

In case you missed it, hear it now:

Pay it forward with Time Banking, an egalitarian concept where communities offer services to each other in exchange for time dollars, not real dollars. For instance, I build you a basic website, which takes me 6 hours. In exchange, I’m able to use that 6 hour credit in exchange for services some else offers. Perhaps, I need someone to babysit my brother for 3 hours, take me to grocery store for 1 hour, and landscape the front yard for 2 hours.

Time banks draw on a community’s resources by  listing the services every member can offer.  When in need of something, members log-in to the Time Bank’s website to find someone offering those services.  It’s an incredibly easy system that can reduce financial limitations and is inclusive to all members of society that have something to offer.

Given the economic climate, I’m curious to see if we’ll see an increase in Time Banks and other forms of alternative currencies.

To learn more about Time Banking, go to TimeBanks.org.  Below are a few articles recently written about them.

Detroit Free Press – Time banks pay off for community
San Francisco Chronicle – Sweat Equity:In this East Oakland community, time really is money
The Jerusalem Press – There’s no time to lose

Last night, I was speed walking on an incline on the treadmill when this girl on the machine next to me starts talking on the phone…for about 20 minutes. Okay people, the gym is for those who want to work out. If you’re on the phone, you’re not working out and maybe you shouldn’t be there. If it’s important enough to take the call, it should be important enough for you to find a private place to talk. If it’s not important enough to find a private place to talk, it’s not important that you take the call.

Don’t subject strangers to hearing about your life unless they ask; we really don’t care and you’re being rude.

In response to what he calls a “worldwide epidemic of bad manners,” Randy Hill created Use Your Inside Voice solely to address the ill-mannered. Look through it and spread the word.

That is supposed to be my focus, yeah?

Yes…so I need to get focused.

I lose faith in people right around this time.  I’d say from January to December every four years especially, this being one of those years.  It’s then that the worst qualities of humans are most evident, that’s not to say that they aren’t any other time.  I think it can be such a deeply personal time for everyone that those qualities just become apparent.

“I want this so…”

“I believe people should…” so you’ll vote for an war-monger despite all the other jacked up policies that come with the four consensual, nonpartisan plans the candidate has.

Geez…it’s not a good time to put your trust in people.  Or in a process that has long ago been decidedly ineffective for achieving its supposed goal.

That said…I need an upper and I’m sure you do too.  Let’s see here…

Favorite line so far: “You cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of what you already are.” I dig it.

And finally…ninjitsu! Or something related to it. I never think about stretching my hands. Hmm…happy finger weaving.

At any rate, the original material is still genius and exciting.  Enjoy the video to “Many Moons.”

The book she’s reading from is Thank you and You’re Welcome by Kanye West and j. SaKiya Sandifer.  SaKiya’s mission is to be a spark to those who want to create a positive change in their lives.  Being a friend of his, I can personally attest to the fact that he is definitely a spark and will make you think during every single interaction with him.  His first book is actually entitled Think Think Think and Think Again.  Both are worthwhile reads that are certain to be of inspiration to you on some level or another.