Embrace: saving the lives of babies

July 23, 2009 | Filed Under Give time/money, Great ideas, Inspiring, Plain cool, Rewritable words | Leave a Comment 

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.

“Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.”

– William Arthur Ward

I’m co-hosting We Think Radio!

March 4, 2009 | Filed Under Listen, Pay attention, Plain cool | 2 Comments 

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:

What’s good? Alternative currency

February 26, 2009 | Filed Under Give time/money, Great ideas, Plain cool | 1 Comment 

Click to see full image

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

Don’t be rude

February 19, 2009 | Filed Under Plain cool, Random | Leave a Comment 

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.

Stand by me

December 8, 2008 | Filed Under Plain cool, Watch this, What My World Sounds Like | Leave a Comment 

Good in the world

October 6, 2008 | Filed Under Learn something, Plain cool, Watch this, What My World Sounds Like | 2 Comments 

Good in the world, good in the world, good in the world…

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…

Radiant Amar – The World

Common – Resurrection

Flickerstick – Chloroform the One You Love
(it’s funny…only if it remains a song, people)

Lauryn Hill – Tell Him

M.I.A. – Paper Planes

Robin Thicke – Flowers In Bloom

Emancipator – Anthem

We’re often criticized for our weaknesses and not praised for our strengths. Find out your strengths and move in that direction. Read Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0.

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.

Tina Fey’s third bullseye

October 5, 2008 | Filed Under Consider this, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Plain cool, Watch this | Leave a Comment 

What My World Sounds Like: Janelle Monae

September 28, 2008 | Filed Under Plain cool, Watch this, What My World Sounds Like | Leave a Comment 

In December, I wrote about Janelle Monae.  Since then, she’s sold an impressive number of albums independently and signed with Bad Boy.  In a rather bogus move, she rereleased her Metropolis album, adding two songs that have nothing to do with the theme of this concept album.  Hmm…

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

Got an idea that can help millions?

September 24, 2008 | Filed Under Challenge, Great ideas, Plain cool, Watch this | Leave a Comment 

Google’s hosting a competition for great ideas that can benefit the lives of millions. The more you help, the better your chances of winning. Find out more here. The deadline is October 20, 2008.

Laughter: Finding the good

September 19, 2008 | Filed Under Great ideas, Inspiring, Plain cool, Random, Watch this | Leave a Comment 

There’s a connection between being able to find the good and being optimistic.  Optimists are usually in high spirits.  Laughter is one of the ingredients of that condition.  This made me laugh, so I thought I’d share.

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.

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