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KivanSteven
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« Reply To This #20 on: December 17, 2007, 09:12:53 PM » |
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Oh so they only glow in the light? Hmmmm  and I thought we were scientifically advanced.  |
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I find not direction in the readings of those with whom my eccentricities are similar, but rather validation.
My only solace is that I find a peaceful place where I might be resigned to my depriving loneliness.
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KivanSteven
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« Reply To This #21 on: December 18, 2007, 10:10:04 PM » |
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Here's some up to date "giving" statistics recently in the news...Im sure most would be interested in these...
These come from the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University and were printed in the "Parade" newspaper insert:
-Charitable donations within the USA totalled more than $295 billion, a $12 billion increase from last year...and an average of almost $1000 for every man woman and child within the country
-about 68% of households donate to charity in some capacity
-Americans donate 2.6% of their income on average
-People earning less than 50k, give away an average of $971 annually--50k/100k give away an average of $1918
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I find not direction in the readings of those with whom my eccentricities are similar, but rather validation.
My only solace is that I find a peaceful place where I might be resigned to my depriving loneliness.
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Jill
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« Reply To This #22 on: December 19, 2007, 04:03:12 AM » |
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From Shakespeare to "Bring Me My Machine Gun"............? I am not taking sides, not yet, that is. I don't know enough, yet, to take sides, but the little that I have read so far, though more than just this article, but not a whole lot more, and quite certainly, slanted more in one direction than another, well, it has definitely given me pause..... The following, an excerpt from an article in the Los Angeles Times, "Tarnished Populist Wins Big in South Africa," http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-soafrica19dec19,0,5566248.story?coll=la-home-world is absolutely admittedly taken out of context. I'd encourage you to read the entire article, to read other articles about the same event from other resources if you're interested, but especially to keep an eye on South African politics in the future, as undoubtedly, the successor to Mbeki and Nelson Mandela, whomever it should be, will have a profound impact on the lives of millions of people in South Africa and elsewhere, particularly in the area of AIDS education, alleviation, and eradication --- or the lack thereof.....".....Zuma, sacked by Mbeki over corruption allegations in 2005, has made an extraordinary political comeback in a leadership bid that few took seriously 12 months ago.
A populist former guerrilla who learned to read in prison during apartheid, Zuma could not be more different from the cool, cerebral Mbeki, who likes to pepper his speeches with quotes from Shakespeare or Lenin, depending on his audience.
Zuma's trademark song, "Bring Me My Machine Gun," reverberated throughout the conference. He has played to populist sentiment, hinting that he supports introducing the death penalty, which would require a change to the constitution, and calling for AIDS to be taken more seriously.
Zuma shocked the nation with comments in his rape trial that the accuser wanted sex because she was wearing a knee-length skirt. He also said he took a shower to protect himself from the AIDS virus after unprotected sex with the HIV-positive woman who had accused him of rape.
More recently, Zuma, who was acquitted on the rape charge, questioned the right of murder and rape suspects to legal representation. He also is on record as making homophobic remarks, for which he was forced to apologize...."
The picture below: "Jacob Zuma, a populist whose political career survived rape and corruption accusations, reacts after hearing he had been elected leader of the governing African National Congress on the third day of the ANC conference in Polokwane, South Africa.
Jacob Zuma, who has faced charges of rape and corruption, wins the presidency of the governing ANC."
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« Last Edit: December 19, 2007, 04:29:02 AM by Jill »
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Jill
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« Reply To This #23 on: December 20, 2007, 10:50:45 AM » |
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In another thread, actually, in the Introductions thread, I used the word, "Limey" when referring to one of our KivaFriends from "over there." A few minutes later, as I'd meant it as a term of endearment (wink wink), I started having second thoughts about it and decided to google the word, just to make sure that the word that I'd always thought just meant, Brit, or, someone from England, I wanted to make sure that it didn't have some derogatory connotation that I didn't know about. Since I'm still not yet completely wide-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning, instead of typing in the word, "limey," I inadvertently left off the L and typed in "imey." When I tapped the return button, the following website was at the top of the list of choices, and the two line description of it was interesting enough to me to get me to click on it and explore further.
http://www.rand.org/international_programs/cmepp/imey/ I only just glanced at it, but from what I saw, it looked like it might be worth a second, more focused look, later, and I thought maybe some of you would have some curiousity about it, too. (But, Disclaimer, Disclaimer, I really don't know anything about it). |
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Jill
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« Reply To This #24 on: December 20, 2007, 06:47:16 PM » |
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Battered New Orleans OKs Razing Public Housing http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_re_us/katrina_public_housing For some reason, when scanning the article, myself, the quote that follows caught my eye.... "Is this what democracy looks like?" Bill Quigley, a Loyola University law professor who opposes demolition, said as he held a strand of Taser wire he said had been shot into another of the protesters.
A cloud of pepper spray floats over protesters as New Orleans Police re-lock a gate outside the New Orleans City Council chambers as the council was holding a meeting about tearing down public housing buildings in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007. Police used chemical spray and stun guns Thursday as dozens of protesters seeking to halt the demolition of 4,500 public housing units tried to force their way through an iron gate at City Hall. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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« Last Edit: December 21, 2007, 05:55:43 AM by Jill »
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Jill
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« Reply To This #25 on: December 23, 2007, 06:31:12 PM » |
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Just came across the following headline when perusing Yahoo news. Unpaid credit cards bedevil Americanshttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071223/ap_on_bi_ge/credit_card_crunchQuestion: Do you think some Kiva Loan Addicts might be numbered among those bedeviled Americans?
Absolutely Off-Topic: Nice Favorite Lender Photo you just posted, Buchanan Family. That's what I'd call a Real Mouthful! |
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Kay
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« Reply To This #26 on: December 23, 2007, 06:48:58 PM » |
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Absolutely Off-Topic: Nice Favorite Lender Photo you just posted, Buchanan Family.
That's what I'd call a Real Mouthful!
I'll say! |
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KivanSteven
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« Reply To This #27 on: December 24, 2007, 11:50:05 PM » |
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Anyone have an idea whats on that little black dot? Pretty remarkable if I do say so myself. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22380819/?GT1=10645 |
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I find not direction in the readings of those with whom my eccentricities are similar, but rather validation.
My only solace is that I find a peaceful place where I might be resigned to my depriving loneliness.
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Henry
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« Reply To This #28 on: December 24, 2007, 11:52:43 PM » |
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Well, tomorrow I'll be celebrating what's not on it!
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ornitzi bilatzi monteisizi
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KivanSteven
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« Reply To This #29 on: December 25, 2007, 12:05:03 AM » |
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lol, Henry you always have some sort of one liner up your sleeve...but dont worry, they never get old..  |
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I find not direction in the readings of those with whom my eccentricities are similar, but rather validation.
My only solace is that I find a peaceful place where I might be resigned to my depriving loneliness.
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