Today there was a festival in my town, and the brass band from Onishika Junior High played. One member, the trumpet player, is particularly good. Everyone is always amazed. But today he completely choked. Afterward, I saw he was almost ready to cry.
ONE GOOD DEED: Give my student a pep talk -- everyone makes mistakes.
On my way home from Rumoi I noticed an elderly lady from my town waiting at a bus stop. She's a rather eccentric one, wearing kimonos everyday rather than for special occasions, so she's hard to miss. She's also a devoted member of the community, always helping out in school and town events.
ONE GOOD DEED: Give an elderly lady a ride home.
Walking home from work, I happened upon a lone photograph lying in the side walk. It had writing on the back like it was meant for somebody. "Oh great, I'll deliver this and that'll be my good deed!" I thought. I picked up and what do you suppose it was? A picture of a fat, hairy condom-covered cock! The writing on the back was to some girl, commenting on how to use spermicidal jelly. "Yikes!" I thought. "Somebody really does not want this floating around." I tore it up, and that was my good deed.
ONE GOOD DEED: Get rid of someone's very embarrassing lost photo.
I'm sure it looks rather funny when I show up to work with an armful of empty beer cans. "No, really, they're not mine!" Right...
ONE GOOD DEED: Pick up beer cans from the side of the road on the way to work.
I got this survey request and was happy to oblige.
ONE GOOD DEED: Fill out a survey on Nature-based Religions for the University of Sydney.
Maybe they're covers for some kind of garden plant? Who knows. Whatever they were, they weren't supposed to be in the ditch.
ONE GOOD DEED: Pick up trash in the neighborhood ditch.
Keep spreading the love.
ONE GOOD DEED: Give to a neighbor some nice bath salts I got from my friend's wedding.
...which is better than saying "regift it." Why do people look down on regifting? It's a great way to spread the love. If you get something you can't use, why not give it to someone who can? It's economical and redoubles the joy of giving.
ONE GOOD DEED: Give coffee cake and foot massager I got from my friend's wedding to a neighbor who wasn't able to go.
A former student of mine got married today. The wedding was in Sapporo at the elegant Keio Plaza Hotel. Like most Japanese weddings today, it was almost entirely Western in style. Yet to the trained eye, a few vestiges of tradition stand out. For example, the bride changes dresses--white for the wedding, and then half-way through the reception she appears in a red dress. This preserves an old tradition where brides wore a white kimono on the first day of wedding celebrations, then red the next day, and another color on the third (now condensed into a single day). I was told this represents how the bride is initially pure (white), and then is colored by the groom with the colors that make her happy. I can't help but suspect this is a vestige of a still earlier custom, where white would have represented physical virginity and red the blood spilled on the bed sheets through consummation.
The following is from the Save Darfur Coalition:It's become clear that the Bashir regime is not committed to peace—and that peace is dependent on President Obama's leadership.
That's why 41,938 people have already signed our citizen open letter and sent it to President Obama, and why Darfuris from across the country will march in front of the White House Friday and call on the Obama administration to act.
If we can get to 50,000 signatures by midnight tonight, we'll bring copies of the letters with us to the White House. Don't delay!
Just hours left—sign on to the letter now.
In the last two weeks, the Sudanese government prevented Darfuri delegates from traveling to a peace conference in Ethiopia, and appointed a man wanted for war crimes in Darfur as the governor of South Kordofan, a critical border region between North and South Sudan.
And Bashir's regime has yet to make good on promises of unfettered access for humanitarian groups to provide clean water, sanitation and essential health care services.
But our movement is refusing to be silent. Actress and activist Mia Farrow stoically undertook a 12-day fast in support of the people of Darfur. Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel, Representatives Donald Payne and Ilena Ros-Lehtinen, and hundreds of people worldwide carried on when her health forced her to stop the fast.
On Tuesday, members of the Congressional Black Caucus announced they are joining the fast in support of the people of Darfur. And on Friday, Darfuris and Sudanese from across the United States will march in front of the White House and call for action.
These courageous actions are bringing awareness of the crisis to millions. Now, it's up to us to transform that awareness into a powerful message for the White House: we need bold action now.
Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Suzie Armstrong
Save Darfur Coalition
P.S. For more about Mia Farrow and the committed Darfur activists and members of Congress joining her fast, click here.
Donate to Help Save Darfur
Help build the political pressure needed to end the crisis in Darfur by supporting the Save Darfur Coalition's crucial awareness and advocacy programs. Click here now to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.
This nonprofit works toward accelerated the process of adapting our society to renewable-energy, low-carbon technologies. They bring together key public and private leaders to facilitate exchange, develop consensus, and catalyze change.
Explore and exploit!
What happens when the world's oil runs out? Oh... uh... well, heh heh, cross your fingers, I guess.
I am moved whenever I contemplate these lumbering cousins, so like us. I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Rehabilitation Center when I was in Sabah (Borneo), while visiting a friend. I feel so calm watching these giant, peaceful orange Buddhas.
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