Haiti: My heart breaks for you.

I am so depressed about Haiti! I wish I could DO something. I mean, yeah, I've made the $10 donation to the International Red Cross, and I plan on donating to UNICEF this week. And, I know that my money will definitely go towards good things, I just wish I could do more. Or, perhaps, I wish more had been done before hand. Its very Hurricane Katrina-esque to me, let's be honest, I didn't know that New Orleans had a very poor side of town until after Katrina. But other people did! Important, influential people, that could have done something about the levees, and could have done something about urban development. Same goes for Haiti! I can't claim ignorance with that one. I knew about the "mud cakes" that women feed their children, not for nutritional value of any kind, but just so that their childrens stomachs will be full of something , so that they can feel some sort of relief from hunger pains. Now, in a country where that is common place, how can anyone expect them to be able to pull themselves out of this catastrophe? In some ways its ironic, because I'm devastated that so many people had to die.. but I'm excited that now at least people are now paying attention. I hope that we can say "Never again" as we did for New Orleans, and that we can truly assist Haiti in becoming a better place for its people. Because, my hell, its not okay for them to live like that, when they are soooo close to the United States. Call it my liberal guilt, that's okay, maybe that IS what it is, but we've got to do something.

Click here to learn about donating to UNICEF. (my favorite organization!)
and click here to learn about donating to the Red Cross - OR! just send the word "Haiti" in a text to 90999, and they automatically take $10 off of your phone bill.

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Happy Birthday Audrey!!

I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it. ~ Audrey Hepburn

In honor of Audrey Hepburn's 80th Birthday, I have decided to post some of my very favorite, sayings, pictures, and video clips of Audrey's. I have loved Audrey Hepburn for years, and it all started with this movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love Holly Golightly and her nameless cat.

This is one of my very favorite songs: Moon River

Holly Golightly: He's all right! Aren't you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's.
Paul Varjak: Tiffany's? You mean the jewelry store.
Holly Golightly: That's right. I'm just CRAZY about Tiffany's!

Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future. ~ Audrey Hepburn

Another favorite of Audrey's is Roman Holiday, I love Gregory Peck and Rome, so what's not to love?

This is the best.. when Audrey's character gets on the vespa, not knowing what to do


However, what truly makes Audrey Hepburn my most favorite actress of all time, is how she really tried to make a difference for others, throughout her lifetime. She herself was involved in an underground communication ring in Nazi-occupied Holland. It is believed that part of the reason she was such a small woman was because of the hunger and poor conditions she lived under at that time. She was a reciepient of some of hte first UNICEF food supplies to ever be delivered. This is why she was such a supporter of UNICEF. Later in her life, she became a UNICEF ambassador. She was one awesome lady!

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. ~ Audrey Hepburn

.. and my very favorite quote: I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person. ~ Audrey Hepburn, but you all know that.

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SALAM

Salam is the word for peace in Arabic, the language spoken in both Darfur and Gaza.

Finally! At least a little more movement and contribution to relieving the sorrow in Darfur. See article: U.S. begins Darfur supply fights. Click here for a History on the Conflict, and here to find out how you can help.

And then there's Gaza.. I was listening to NPR this morning on the way to class and heard an interesting thought, that somehow had escaped me. The caller said that she saw the Israeli strike on Gaza as "one last chance" because they know that they have President Bush's full support in their efforts to take down Hamas. Therefore they have used the last few weeks of his Presidency as a way to strike at Hamas, because they are unsure of what President Obama's view would be. I think that's interesting. Think its true? It very well could be.

I know that it is a very complicated situation, and I keep wanting to write a blog post fully about it, and come up with a completely 100% " I feel this way " statement, but it is hard. It is a disproportionate offensive, that's for sure. Israel has so much more power than Gaza. Which, in reality, no matter who sent the first rocket of attack, shouldn't Israel realize that by putting up such a large offensive and killing so many CHILDREN, that they are really just doing an injustice to themselves? The Arab world is going to hate them even more now. And the Osama tape that came out, somehow it really just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. He doesn't even really seem all that relevant anymore.

Some disturbing facts from this Conflict:

• UNICEF reports 320 children have died, and 1,500 have been injured. See article here: UNICEF: Children bearing brunt of Gaza war; watching this video (also embedded below) makes me sad.
  
• 1,000 total Palestinians have been killed, with nearly 5,000 wounded.
• 13 Israelis have died: 10 soldiers and 3 civilians.
• Israel won't let any media inside Gaza.. it really BOTHERS me. In this article they somewhat explain why, but I'm not really convinced.

Sigh. If only there could be peace.. Maybe everyone needs to take my Dispute Resolution class, eh?

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5 DAYS! And the winner is..

What I wish the Election map will look like in 5 days..



But I can settle for CNN's latest prediction. With Obama winning 291 Electoral votes to John McCain's 163.



Even if McCain was to win the rest of the undecided states - the yellow ones, he still wouldn't have enough electoral votes to win the presidency. That makes me giddy.

But, the control is out of my hands. I already pledged my support for Obama and voted this last Tuesday. I think it's so awesome that we can vote early. I had to, since I'm working at the Polls on Election Day (all freakin day.. 17 hours.. ), but I still think it is really cool, that if you have other things you have to do on Election Day, you can still have your vote count. And the lines were so much shorter! So, I would recommend it. :) But no matter what you do.. whoever you vote for, and whatever you think. PLEASE VOTE. And I promise on November 6th, I will stop talking about the election.. and voting.. and yaddah yaddah. November 5th will either be a super Celebratory day.. or an awful day from hell. Either way, I'm sure I will write about it.

Happy Voting! and Happy Halloween!

PS ~ if you have any extra cash.. stop by my Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF donation page. "All donations are tax deductible." Thanks!

and one last political funny.. that's so true..
REAL AMERICA

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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.

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