Michelle Obama's Speech
>> August 26, 2008
She's AWESOME!
Awesome UNICEF Kid!
Marcus' 9th Birthday
For three years now, this little boy: Marcus, has not been asking for presents for his birthdays but for people to donate to his favorite charities instead. This year, him and his mom went to his school and let the second and third grade classes there vote on which of his three favorite charities to give the money to. The kids chose UNICEF. So, Marcus donated $540 dollars to UNICEF for his 9th Birthday!
HOW COOL IS THAT?!?
Click here to see story on Unicef's website.
Darfur, and the Olympics
>> August 16, 2008
"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games. The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur."
,says Joey Cheek, after at the last minute, he was denied his visa to goto Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.
Joey Cheek, who was a 2006 Olympic speed skating gold medalist has not been shy about his opinions of China's contribution to the violence in Darfur. So what? They put a muzzle on him? Joey Cheek is the president, and co-founder of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes dedicated to raising awareness about, and bringing the end to the violence in Darfur.
But why should anyone be surprised? China has been supporting the Sudanese acts of genocide in Darfur for years now. According to one report, from save darfur.org, "Sudan buys 90 percent of its small arms from China, as well as big ticket items such as A5 Fantan ground-attack fighter jets. Despite an existing UN Security Council arms embargo for Darfur, China and Sudan are working together to exploit a loophole to keep the arms flowing. Specifically, China argues that it sells weapons to the Sudanese regime in Khartoum, and that it cannot be held responsible if Sudan then sends those weapons on to Darfur in violation of the embargo" Cannot be held responsible? C'mon, SERIOUSLY?!?
This is what Joey says, on his blog.
"This account was actually set up so that I could blog from Beijing, but as many of you have probably seen my visa was revoked by the Chinese government less than 24 hours before my flight was to depart. It is of course disappointing to me, but I am not alone. Brad Greiner, Kendra Zanotto, and Chris Boyles all had visas revoked or denied. I find this very concerning because I believe that it is an effort to silence anyone who is even suspected of disagreeing with the Chinese government.Read more...
I remain a huge believer in the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together and to be a force for conflict resolution around the world. The athletes that have joined Team Darfur did so out of a sense that the more than 2 million men, women, and children, who have been driven from their homes in Darfur deserve protection. Brad and I founded Team Darfur because we feel trying to stop conflicts such as the one in Darfur are exactly what the Olympics are about.
The recent media attention that has been paid to my situation has given us a spotlight to focus on the plight of the people in Darfur, but we must continue to fight to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The story of this Olympic Games is certainly not finished, but I want to personally thank the more than 25,000 people who wrote to support the athletes competing in Beijing that are members of Team Darfur. I am moved by your words and I know that the athletes are too.
Best of luck to all the athletes - even though I am not there in body, I am rooting for you with all of my heart here in the States!"
Click here to donate to SaveDarfur.org, and wear the wristband.
August: much better than July!
>> August 13, 2008
I am employed! Yay. It took me awhile.. yes. But I think I have now found a job that I will really like. I am going to be an America Reads Tutor through UVU, where I will go to an Elementary school and help kids between Kindergarten and first grade with their reading skills. I am excited! It will only be part time - Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but this gives me time to goto school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am going to be looking for a way to make some extra money. My friend, Amanda and I might go down and work for the Desert Star playhouse. Or I might be working as a part time evening and weekend Nanny. Either way, I am excited because it means August has been much better than July. There is also an Internship with the IRC - International Rescue Committee, that I really REALLY want to be a part of, and now that I most likely won't be working on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, I really could do it! I just need to try not to bite off more than I can chew..
OH and I also get to take my Grant Writing class that I've wanted to take for a few semesters! Somehow it opened up the other day after I found out I got my job.
The other great thing about August: The Olympics! I love watching the Olympics. I truly do. I'm a little miffed that the little "I say I'm sixteen, but I really just lost a tooth" girls from the Chinese Gymnastics Team won the Gold ahead of the Americans. Since, apparently, the Americans are playing by the age rules, and the Chinese.. Aren't. It's International Gymnastic Competition Law, to compete in a "senior level competition" (i.e.: Olympics, World's), that the Gymnast must be 16 at the time of competition, or turning 16 within the same calendar year. The Chinese got caught falsifying a girl's age in Sydney! The other stupid part is even after they got caught the girl still got to keep her Bronze medal. Sigh...
They are not 16!
Yay Go Team USA!And the best part about August = it's almost Fall, and that my friends is the best season.
Lin Hao, a Real Hero
>> August 11, 2008
Olympics, Beijing 2008
“The corridor collapsed as I was walking. Two of my classmates were trapped beside me. I tried as hard as I could to climb out, and after I had climbed out I pulled a classmate out.” - Lin Hao
The opening ceremonies are always fun to watch. But this year in China, it was a little better. The Chinese really know how to put on an artistic show. However, my favorite part was Lin Hao. The little boy that walked with the flag-bearing Yao Ming. This little boy was in the Sichuan Province earthquake back in May, he was buried under the rumble but he fought his way out. This in itself, is a pretty cool accomplishment. But Lin Hao didn't stop there. He then went back into the rubble to help not one of his classmates, but two, pulling them each out separately. When asked why he went back in twice, little 2nd Grader Lin Hao said that he was the Hall Monitor.. and that he was just doing his job.
I think that is a very Special Kind of Awesome.
Lauren, Lo, Brody, Heidi, Spencer.. Yay!
>> August 7, 2008
August 18, 2008! Yay!
I know this proves my dorky~ness.. but oh well. I am excited.
A disappointing book.. and an American Monster?
>> August 3, 2008
First off, I have to say Breaking Dawn sucked.. pretty bad. It was very much unrealistic, and in parts felt like a cable sci-fi movie gone very wrong. But I won't say more for those that haven't finished..
On to another monster, the Montauk Monster. This "animal" if that is what it is, is from Montauk, just out
side of Long Island. People are really unsure of what it is.. I have no idea. I think it looks crazy! Jeff Corwin from Animal Planet has said that he thinks it is a raccoon. Although I'm not so sure that's what it looks like either.. A Raccoon?
Here is the link from the CNN News Story..
Thoughts
>> August 1, 2008
So, I am addicted to blogging. And, my sister has been blogging as well.. but now we have my 10 - year old brother involved. You should check out his blog, he's pretty funny. www.timmy-eagles.blogspot.com.
ALSO, today is Breaking Dawn Day. It is a National Holiday. Or at least.. in my world it is. There is less than 5 hours left until it comes out! YAY! I'm kind of tired though, so hopefully I can stay up and read, read, read. My sister, Ashley and my friends Amanda & Amanda, are all going to the release party tonight at Barnes and Noble. After we already went and waited in line this morning for our wrist bands. Amanda Y couldn't come so I was Nicole, AND Amanda Y today. I think the lady kind of caught on, cause she had seen me in the other line just before.. but she didn't say anything. OH well. This means that we're all in the same group to go get our books tonight! I hope it doesn't take too long.. EEeee. And, they're having a "Wedding" for Edward & Bella tonight too, so I'm hoping there won't be too many crazy people there.. I'm running if I see Wedding Dresses!! (I'm definitely taking my camera, and will post any pictures of crazy people later.. )
And.. Team Edward better win. That's all I can say. Jacob is going down.
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