Filters for Families: Give clean water for Christmas to a family in Zambia

Sometimes the problem isn't having access to water, but that the water they have is horribly contaminated and causes disease. This issue can be addressed in individual homes through the use of a Biosand filter, which eliminates up to 98% of disease-causing bacteria in the water. This technology allows dirty water to be filtered through a naturally forming biological layer, sand and gravel to produce safe, disease-free water. These filters last 10-20 years and cost only $85. It's amazing when you think about it, that for the price that we might spend on a single gift, an entire family can have access to one of its most basic needs: safe water.

Through Blood Water's local partner in Zambia, the Biosand program not only manufactures the filters locally, but builds local ownership through training and maintenance - which is critical to the long-term success of any program. They learn about how Biosand filters work, participate in making a filter, sift the gravel and sand that fills the filter, and are introduced to several other hygiene and sanitation technologies. Mothers and fathers tell of the dramatic effect these filters have had on their families. Virigina, a mother of 3, said that the Biosand filter has made a big impact on her health, but that more needs to be done because not every household has a filter. She says she, "would love to see a healthy nation, and if you have a healthy community, you have a healthy nation." The work will not be complete until every family has safe water. Join Blood Water Mission in responding to Virigina and the safe water needs of Zambia.

Visit www.bloodwatermission.com/christmas where you can watch a video about the filters, sponsor your own, and easily share the info through print and web resources. If you want to give a filter as a gift on behalf of someone, there are printable Christmas cards you can use to let them know. 1600 families is a lofty goal, but we know that with enough support we can make sure that these homes in Zambia don't spend another year without safe drinkable water.

Learn more about Blood Water Mission

Jijue.org Launches New Site for JIJUE 1 Million Campaign for an HIV Free Generation

I've been fortunate enough to be part of JIJUE, a project focused on encouraging 1 Million Kenyans to be tested and know their HIV status by 2010. I had the privilege of spending a day with these guys when I was in Kenya in early January.

Here's an excerpt from their website:

JIJUE 1 Million campaign is a movement of the Kenyan youth by themselves, for themselves, seeking to revolutionalize HIV prevention. Our vision is a generation free from HIV. Our mission is to create a movement of caring communities that make responsible and informed choices with regard to life and HIV/AIDS through knowing their HIV status, prevention of infection, care & support of persons living with HIV/AIDS and mitigation of socioeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS.

They are having two concerts to help kickoff the campaign into high gear.

Learn more about the project at http://jijue.org

Starbucks: Bananas wanted

Not sure what's up with the Starbucks gang but trying to snag a Vivanno has been rough of late -- 0-for-4 as a matter of fact in recent weeks. The culprit - banana shortage.

Guess I didn't realize bananas were is such short supply or hard to come by, especially for a company who can field 5 or 6 kinds of hot chocolate.

This is serious.

Liberty Letters Website Launches: American History Resources for Kids, Parents, Home-Schoolers, Teachers

Many of you may have heard or seen the Liberty Letters books series before but they been reworked and republished into four new paperbacks. They also sport new titles: Adventures in Jamestown, Escape on the Underground Railroad, Secrets of Civil War Spies, and Attack at Pearl Harbor.

On the back cover of the book is the address for a companion website for the series: http://www.libertyletters.com. The site has a lot of resources on the periods of history covered in each book - Jamestown, Underground Railroad, Civil War and Pearl Harbor (World War II). There are videos which feature images and facts about life during the period - the one on Underground Railroad is particularly interesting.

There are also stories from historical figures like Harriet Tubman (did you know she was also a Union spy?), women pilots from World War II and others.

The site even has recipes and music from each period.

Worth checking out.

A Culture of Respect Launches in NYC

New York Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Def Poetry Jam Founder Danny Simmons(and brother of Def Jam/Phat Farm founder Russell Simmons) launched "A Culture of Respect" at an event last week in Brooklyn.

The co-chairs of the movement signed an oversized pledge last Wednesday at W.E.B. DuBois High School in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Objectives of the school-based movement are to:

• Create a portfolio of values-positive hip hop media

• Get students, community leaders, and other to sign a personal pledge to “Ban the N, B and F Words”

• Compete for valuable college scholarships

• Personally turn the tide against intolerance, hate and violence in New York City.

Read more about A Culture of Respect

American Press Reacts to Murdoch's Takeover of Wall Street Journal

The Independent (UK) offers an interesting summary of reactions in the American press to the sale of Wall Street Journal to Rupert Murdoch.

In the piece, David Carr of the New York Times sums it up nicely: "...Note to other media moguls keeping track at home: Mr Murdoch just bought the scorecard..."

Diary on Darfur (World Politics Review)

A firsthand 20-day account of life in and around Darfur is available on foreign policy daily World Politics Review written by Kurt Pelda the Africa Bureau Chief for the Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

Here is an excerpt from Day 2's entry entitled "Day 2: The Harmattan and Angelina Jolie: Cinema-Ready Mass Murder?"

"...Just what a "Goodwill Ambassador" is -- and what purpose the whole media circus around them is supposed to serve -- is not entirely clear to me. Is it only possible to draw the attention of the global public to a tragedy, to mass murder such as is occurring in Darfur, when Hollywood stars are flown in for quick visits to refugee camps and then shed tears at a press conference afterwards? I have trouble believing it. But when I ask a high-ranking U.N. official, he merely replies, "That's the way the world is. You have to be realistic."..."

Pelda's detailed insights on life among rebel groups and refugees are both chilling and surreal.

Read more of "Among Darfur Rebels and Refugees: A Road Diary"

Large Volume of User-Generated Content Creates Opportunity for New Sites

The large volume of user-generated content created as the natural result of the Web 2.0 revolution provides a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Specifically, what will be the best model for aggregating large volumes of content - blogs, podcasts, videos, restaurant reviews, Facebook wall-to-walls, etc?

Boxxet is one example of such an approach. Though initially launched as a solely user-driven means for individuals to create "box sets" of content, the site appears to be inching towards a blended system of automation and user-managed content and ranking.

From celebrity chefs to sports teams, Boxxet's simple interface lets you browse through large volumes of content quickly. Other sites such as squidoo offer similar features.

As the Internet transitions to the Web 3.0 model of machine-friendly 'scrapability', sites like these and vertical search may shed some light into what the new web will look like.

Virgin America May Give Low-Fare Airlines the 'Jet Blues'

It's admittedly disappointing that I have to wait until fall before Virgin America starts flying out of DC. But if the fares can remain competitive with other coast-to-coast carriers, it may be worth the wait.

Richard Branson is king of the customer experience and the new website promises quite the experience indeed:

• In-flight 110V power/USB/ethernet
• Entertainment system offering 3,000+ MP3s, TV, movies, games
• Wine and food ordered from entertainment system
  
• Seat-to-seat chat

JetBlue and Southwest may have something to worry about.

Now you tell me!

Back Blogging again once I sorted out the Blogger- no, wait Google -- I mean Blogger powered by Google account thing all squared away.

Ask for "Savage sauce" at Elevation Burger

Much better than ketchup with fries...yet another great "secret menu" item at Elevation Burger.

Elevation Burger: Best Burgers in DC (REVIEW)

ELEVATION BURGER
Move over Five Guys, there's a better burger in the Washington DC area.

Located in Falls Church on South Washington Street, Elevation Burger offers a tasty burger, good fries cooked in olive oil and thick milkshakes with yummy mix-ins like fresh strawberries and bananas. All served in a very non-burger joint atmosphere, think warm-colored walls with crisp white wainscoting.

You can choose from an array of burger fixings like Balsamic Mustard and Elevation Sauce, which is similar to 1000 Island dressing but lighter and not as gloppy. Elevation Burger menu also offers a veggie burger option and for the more adventurous, a "Vertigo" stackable burger.

While comparisons with Five Guys are inevitable I think Elevation Burger tastes fresher and appears to be made with higher quality ingredients. And one nice side benefit about Elevation Burger -- no stomach ache within 10 minutes as I do after a Five Guys greasebomb.

Elevation Burger
Elevation Burger is located at 442 S. Washington St. in Falls Church VA.

Just when you thought things couldn't get sillier in commercial aviation

Boeing says plastic 737s not far off

"...Forget big metal birds of steel, the aircraft of the future will be constructed out of plastic...(composites). They are already used in items such as tennis rackets and bicycle spokes..."

Makes sense to me -- not much of a leap from tennis rackets to a winged vehicle crammed with hundreds of people and flammable liquids...

Great colorful art by Christel Minotti

Recently finished working with Finnish-born artist Christel Minotti to build a new website and online gallery. As a result of going through that process, I have to admit I am now a fan of her work. Her work ranges from still-life to landscape...I really like her Lemons with Orchid

Visit Christel's online gallery or learn more here

Art inspired by those four colored sphere Google thingies...

No joke. Those brightly colored four sphere gizmos are the inspiration for an art exhibition -- entitled G.Art -- which opens in Hamburg Germany on May 19.

Are you feeling lucky?

International Fast Day for Malaria Press Release

International Fast Day Against Malaria to be held on May 11, 2006.

(PRLEAP.COM) New York – Today, with a great sense of urgency and desperation, the world leaders in the fight against malaria including, but not limited to, The Malaria Foundation, Africa Fighting Malaria, Dunk Malaria, The Free Africa Foundation, Hedge Funds vs. Malaria, The World Swim Against Malaria, the UN Foundation and Be the Cause have called for an international day of fasting day to focus worldwide attention on the emergency facing billions of people living in malaria infested regions of the world. The International Fast day Against Malaria (IFAM) will be held on May 11, 2006. Adults all over the world are asked to fast from 9:00am until 6:00pm (drinks and medications are allowed). Children are asked to fast from 9:00am until 12:01pm. 100% of donations from the fast will go to buy life-saving bed nets. To participate in the fast and or sponsor your fast or the fast of others please visit www.worldswimformalaria.com/ifam .


Between one and three million people, 90% of who are children under the age of five, die from Malaria each year even though it is preventable. "We are asking so little with the hope that many will embrace our call to action." stated Mary Galinski, President of the Malaria Foundation International www.malaria.org . The first International Fast Day Against Malaria on May 11th is a gift to all, a chance to recognize the plight of millions of children suffering and dying of malaria each year and at the same time a day to be thankful that many countries have been freed from malaria. With increased awareness this will be the case in many more parts of the world."

"The World swim for Malaria is proud to be the operating partner of the International Fast Day Against Malaria and 100% of the money we raise will buy long lasting insecticidal mosquito nets" noted Rob Mather, Founder of the World Swim for Malaria. "This will hopefully be a significant step to protect children and their families where malaria is the biggest killer of children and a leading cause of death among mothers. We are proud to be leveraging our technological and distribution infrastructure to try and save as many lives as possible." Africa will be dominant recipient of nets as 90% of malaria deaths occur there but we hope as many as possible of the 80 or so countries affected by malaria will benefit also, including countries in Asia and Latin America.

Dr. George Ayittey, the distinguished economist whose organization, the Free Africa Foundation, is rolling out malaria free zones in villages throughout Africa pointed out that, “It takes a village to raise a child,” says an African proverb. So too it takes – a global village — to fight malaria.

Kevin Starace, Childrens Health Officer for the United Nations Foundation said, “Sacrificing food and nutrients for a 24 hour period doesn’t come close to living in fear of a deadly disease on a daily basis. What this does is awaken us to the concept of depravity and extreme poverty. This is my conscious decision, as a fortunate person, to do this for malaria - but billions people in this world don’t have any choice.”


Dr. Ken Shubin Stein , one of the leaders of Hedge Funds vs. Malaria and a co-founder of the International Fast Against Malaria said, "The world needs to recognize malaria for the emergency it is. Therefore we in the hedge fund community are determined to do whatever it is we can do, to stop the needless suffering of the children and adults who are afflicted by this disease."


"At the United Nations we are very excited by our partnership with the New York Knicks and the Hedge Funds vs. Malaria "Dunk Malaria" initiative, and the Fast day is another big step in mobilizing against this deadly disease," said Dr. Djibril Diallo, Director of the UN New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace. "This initiative to help overcome malaria also strengthens global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015."


Stacey Blaschke, who runs Be the Cause wrote, “I am joining this fast in solidarity with others who find the statistic of a child dying of a preventable disease every 30 seconds, unacceptable and who want to aid in eradicating this worldwide killer.”


Lance Laifer, the Founder of Hedge Funds vs. Malaria and Dunk Malaria added that the fast day was chosen to commemorate the birth date of Sir Ronald Ross, the man who in the late 19th century succeeded in demonstrating the life-cycle of the parasites of malaria in mosquitoes. This was a very important step in understanding that mosquitoes are the culprits when it comes to malaria transmission. Sir Ronald Ross’ birthday is actually May 13, a Saturday this year but since many people are not allowed to fast on Saturday for religious reasons, the day of the fast was moved to May 11. Mr. Laifer also noted the proximity of May 11 to Mother’s Day (May 14) because malaria is one of the world’s largest killers of mothers, particularly first-time mothers.


For more information please visit www.worldswimformalaria.com/ifam or contact Lance Laifer at 203-899-0657 or vs.malaria@gmail.com

Buy End Malaria Fast T-Shirts and Help Spread the Word

Show your support by wearing the End Malaria FAST Black T!

Get yours now!!!

Malaria Fast (IFAM) in Just Seven Days

Thanks to the generosity of many family, friends and colleagues, I have exceeded my personal pledge goal for the International Fast Day Against Malaria (IFAM) on May 11, 2006.

100% of the proceeds will go for protective mosquito bednets. Statistically, 20 long-lasting insecticide treated nets installed = one child’s life saved. (Source: World Swim for Malaria)

Clearly, more must be done to improve the delivery and planning of health care and other aid to these affected regions -- bed nets are a small part of the solution. They are nonetheless a positive step forward and help save lives while the efforts and energies of many committed to ending malaria focus on more long-term, systemic reform.

Read Roger Bate's op-ed "The World Bank and Disease Control: a Bad Combination" for more on this topic.

Thanks again for your help. I'll report in to let you know how the Fast goes.

What is a Circle City Boy anyway?

I spent my formative years in the "Circle City" of Dothan, Alabama and still happily consider it home though I haven't lived there for many years.

Dothan is home to the National Peanut Festival, the World's Smallest City Block (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), Movie Gallery (the 2nd largest video rental chain) and of course Ross Clark Circle, one of the major highways in the city.

I thought about coming up with something more clever than "Musings of a Circle City Boy" but the best the online automated name generator could give me was "Blinbo" so I thought to quit while ahead.

Enjoy the show...