Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Got 'em, Got 'em, Need 'em
I just got back from the food bank with a couple of members. I am always amazed at the trading that inevitably follows. It never occurs to me, as someone who gets their food from normal channels that choice is a part of self definition. (See: Freewill, gift of God)
The Food bank in an effort to be democratic and frugal assigns a set amount of food as the portion for a single individual. (What exactly it will be depends on what they get donated that week) The volunteers there gather the appropriate items and parcel them up for those that come to their door. But the process does not end there.
Typically after a few of them have received their food bank items there's a sorting hat session that follows. One who hates rice, trades it for the pasta of another; Fiona doesn't use sugar twin but Carolyn does so she gives it away.
And here is where I get amazed every time. Not only do they NOT horde everything (after all you can only go to the food bank once a month and it's not even the 15th yet) but they willingly give away things they have (and could somehow leverage as a trade item).
In spite of their needs, in spite of their considerable limits, they are generous.
See below: Deut 15: 7-11
When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost.
Don't listen to that selfish voice saying, "It's almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled," and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He'll call God's attention to you and your blatant sin.
Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.
The Food bank in an effort to be democratic and frugal assigns a set amount of food as the portion for a single individual. (What exactly it will be depends on what they get donated that week) The volunteers there gather the appropriate items and parcel them up for those that come to their door. But the process does not end there.
Typically after a few of them have received their food bank items there's a sorting hat session that follows. One who hates rice, trades it for the pasta of another; Fiona doesn't use sugar twin but Carolyn does so she gives it away.
And here is where I get amazed every time. Not only do they NOT horde everything (after all you can only go to the food bank once a month and it's not even the 15th yet) but they willingly give away things they have (and could somehow leverage as a trade item).
In spite of their needs, in spite of their considerable limits, they are generous.
See below: Deut 15: 7-11
When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost.
Don't listen to that selfish voice saying, "It's almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled," and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He'll call God's attention to you and your blatant sin.
Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.
Diversion
I came across this wonderfully peaceful little flash game. easy as pie to play and the music is lovely.
L
L
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Your swedish furniture name
Click the title for the link.
I knew they had to have a formula for that!
K
I knew they had to have a formula for that!
K
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
The poverty of Fairtrade coffee
Here's an excerpt from the article.
"Fairtrade's supporters blame the plight of coffee farmers on world prices and ruthless multinational companies. But supporters ignore the real causes of poverty among growers. Farmers I interviewed in Kenya told me that the problems they face are not caused by global influences but their own government's interference. They are forced to use milling companies granted regional monopolies, who fleece them. They want to boost productivity by using fertilizer, but they cannot afford the inflated prices demanded by the government fertilizer monopoly. Imported tools and machinery would transform their output but are subject to punitive tariffs. Police roadblocks slow their goods and involve money exchanging hands."
Big problems for the little guy.
"Fairtrade's supporters blame the plight of coffee farmers on world prices and ruthless multinational companies. But supporters ignore the real causes of poverty among growers. Farmers I interviewed in Kenya told me that the problems they face are not caused by global influences but their own government's interference. They are forced to use milling companies granted regional monopolies, who fleece them. They want to boost productivity by using fertilizer, but they cannot afford the inflated prices demanded by the government fertilizer monopoly. Imported tools and machinery would transform their output but are subject to punitive tariffs. Police roadblocks slow their goods and involve money exchanging hands."
Big problems for the little guy.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Photoshop Express
Finally, free online a lite version of the standard for photo enhancement and dabbling.
Presets to all of your online social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace etc.)
Too easy to ignore. Sign up is free sure it's not anywhere close to CS3 but you don't know what a brush preset is and probably will never need too.
Take it for a test drive here.
Presets to all of your online social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace etc.)
Too easy to ignore. Sign up is free sure it's not anywhere close to CS3 but you don't know what a brush preset is and probably will never need too.
Take it for a test drive here.
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