The Setting: My friend Cindy gave me a very cool birthday gift - a gift certificate from Kiva.org. Kiva describes itself like this:
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.
Basically, Kiva allows you to make a small loan ($25-$50) to an individual who is attempting to get a business started in their community. For example, someone might be trying to start up a restaurant or open a store but she just doesn't have the money to get things going. With your loan and loans from others, she can get the business started and eventually pay you your money back. After she pays you back, you can then loan the money to someone else to help them get their business started. I think it's a great idea. A few friends had told me about Kiva before but I admit that receiving the gift certificate made me take a closer look and actually get involved.
The Setting: I really admire people who have blogs with a theme and every single day they post something that has to do with that topic. I'm not sure I have that much to say about anything. And being the arrogant bastard that I am, I usually have something to say about pretty much everything.I was looking back over my last week's worth of postings and they are all over the place. I must be whacked out of my mind. Let's review, shall we?- Nov. 18: I posted five of my pet peeves (there will be more). I think my comments about soccer moms may have offended a few people. As planned. I can cross #17 off my list of things to do this week.
- Nov. 20: I discussed the controversy surrounding CA's Prop 8; specifically, how protesters picketed at some Mormon temples because of the church's huge support of this prop. Final score: My Two Moms 1, Your Fourteen Wives 0.
- Nov. 21: I thought I was all clever for inventing a new phrase called the Shyamalan Phenomenon, about how so many movie trailers are better than the movies themselves. Since then, I discovered others have used this phrase before I did, although with different definitions. I am still clever, but to a lesser degree.
- Nov. 22: I showed my sensitive side and posted a kick-ass puppycam. It helps me relax, OK?!
- Nov. 23: I listed my ten reasons why Puff the cat (not her real name) was "just not working out." I had to laugh thinking of that cat doing the Lord of the Dance clog dance on the wood floors.
- Nov. 24: I admitted I am a geek and I listed some of my favorite gadgets from Wired magazine's Wish List 2008. Any minute now, the FBI will be kicking my door in for using the words "bullets" and "sniper" in the same blog posting. Hey, they were nerf bullets. Oh, and I'm gonna win that Wired contest, which includes $8500 worth of electronic loot (eLoot?).
- Nov. 25: To balance out my greed, I discussed Network for Good, my favorite online charity donation site. Seriously, check it out.
The Setting: OK, after my greed-driven posting yesterday, here's the real deal: Network for Good. I like to use this site for making donations online. It allows you to search for your favorite charities and easily make donations to one or several organizations, all in one spot. It also keeps track of your donation history so you can print receipts for tax purposes. These are tough economic times for all of us, but if you have a few extra bucks, why not help out someone who may have it even worse than you do. Check out Network for Good here.
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