it aint nothin' but a number, dog

for eleven months, i've been dreading turning 40. i'm not like them. i haven't done all the things i'm supposed to do by now. i don't feel 40. did my parents act this way when they were 40 (hell, did they act this way when they were 25)? 40 is the new...old!

but, over the last couple of weeks i've made my peace with it. angst has given way to relief; relief that i've made it this far, relief that i have my health (and my hair), relief that i haven't lost a parent, relief that i have a promising future, and relief that i'll only turn 40 once.

You, too, can be a banker to the poor!

Kiva is a phenomenal organization that provides microfinance services to match donors with needy recipients. This is grass-roots people helping people. What an incredible idea!

Three things I believe led me to getting involved in Kiva loans:

• We're all in this together.
• There are no lesser people.
• To those much is given, much is expected.

I live in the wealthiest nation on the Earth at a time of incredible opportunity and believe we owe it to those less fortunate than ourselves to try to give them a helping hand up.

watch this and you're guaranteed to go insane

of all cultures, the japanese are the most difficult for me to understand. i love their architecture, their food, and their work ethic, but their idea of entertainment baffles, yet amuses, me tremendously.

butt biting bug video

my life's philosophy

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some...people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, ah, education like such as in South Africa, and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for our children.

random greatness

a sampling of the great randomness that is the internet.

Finnish YMCA
Quite a catch
Great Trick Play
The Blue Wave is Going to Be Rolling
Cottage Industry?
Very cool clock
World's Fastest Green Cars