Monday, December 31, 2007

Play Ayiti

This is a super fun and free socially conscious online game. This is the objective:

The Guinard family of five is struggling to get by in rural Haiti ("Ayiti" in Haitian Creole). The father, Jean, and mother, Marie are doing their best to give their teenage son and daughter, Patrick and Jacquline, and their little boy, Yves, the best life possible.

The family has a simple home and a farm that earns them a little money. Jean and Marie have very little education, but they're working to help their kids get an education and improve their chances for a comfortable life.

There are a few international NGOs (non-government organizations) trying to help members of the impoverished community, but they need volunteers to get any major project off the ground.

The Guinard family faces some difficult challenges resulting from poverty, severe weather, and even potential violence. But if they're careful and lucky, they may have a chance at a better life.

You have four years to help the Guinard family as they confront the "cost of life." Good luck!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Honey proven better than cough syrup

And I tried it last night, and I think it really works! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2994822.ece

I try to be a "granola girl" but when I get sick, all of this goes out the window and I become a slave to drugs such as NyQuil. So this was an encouraging article, and I think it did help my cough last night.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Foldschool = Coolschool

This looks great - it says it is for "children" but I don't know why that can't mean me, too!

http://foldschool.com/_about/about_start/about_start.html

Friday, December 21, 2007

This is fun

http://yugop.com/

Once again, we see that math is fun!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

O Holy Night

O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song, it has wonderful lyrics. I was reading that the song was written from a French poem, Cantique de Noël (this is the english translation):

Midnight, Christians is the solemn hour
When God as Man descended unto us
To erase the original stain (sin)
And end the wrath of his Father.
The entire world trembles with expectation
In this night that gives to us a Savior.

Fall on your knees, await your deliverance.
Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer,
Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer!

The redeemer has broken every shackle
The earth is free, and heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was once only a slave
Those who had been chained together by iron, love now unites.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude
It is for every one of us that he was born, suffered and died.

Stand on your feet, sing of your deliverance.
Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer,
Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer!

And now in French, in case you can read French, or like Joanna, at least live in a country with French street-signs:

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,
Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.

Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,
Comme autrefois une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,

A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance,
C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît,
Qu'Il souffre et meurt.

Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Rommate Christmas

I love my roommates, they are wonderful. They gave me such lovely and thoughtful gifts for Christmas. My two favorites were (1) a handmade-paper journal (the paper actually has real rose pieces! And it comes with a matching pen!) and (2) my first ever action figure. I have never owned an action figure and never understood them, but now I do! It's perfect.

That's right - it is a librarian action figure! Her name is Nancy Pearl and she's a real librarian! She is holding a copy of a book she wrote called "Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason". I always thought being a librarian would be so cool! It's like a secret dream job. And now I have an action figure. Very exciting.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Upgraded!

I am so excited, I was asked to be a dear friend's personal attendant in her wedding next May (which I was very excited about), but today I have been upgraded to a bridesmaid! So I get to be a bridesmaid again. I love weddings.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Funny Quote of the Day

In an article from ChristianityToday about whether or not Christians should have cosmetic surgery:

I'm not sure why I thought this was so funny, but I am still laughing...

Monday, December 03, 2007