How I changed the world today.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Days without posts

Sorry about not posting, my life has been consumed with too many things that need higher attention - my research career, and getting the hobby businesses big enough to provide health care and money to people who need it - including my financial partner who just lost their job again. I lost 1/2 of my salary funding and have bureaucracy holding the rest of it back for a few months (or less we could hope). But I"m not complaining, I'm still affording my house and lifestyle and donating what I can. I'm just not having time to blog about it.
But some noteworthy things -
Twice now in the last month I've been asked by someone to put some gas into their car- at the gas station. They were obviously living in it an on hard times, and both seemed really shameful in even having to ask. And they might have only asked because I happened to be talking to them, I make a point of acknowledging people in public like that. Its good to feel part of community, and it can totally change someone's day or point of view. just to do small talk amongst all of us. But yah, now there seems to be people who are pretty desperate. Hard times in the USA. I keep doing what I can. Even if I'm not so good at blogging about it.

Monday, November 15, 2010

kiva loans to Julias

Made a few kiva loans today.

Receipt

Loan

Julia Justina Mayorga Ortega

$25.00

Loan

Ana Julia Rodríguez De López

$25.00

Loan

Julia Tagbo

$25.00

Loan

Ana Julia

$25.00

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Picking Olives

I went and picked olives at Cal Tech on Friday. I figured I would give them the hour I usually spend on exercise and another I could spare. And I found out why olive oil is so expensive. Its really hard work picking olives!
The school started the program a few years ago to pick the olives from all the trees and turn it into olive oil and sell it to raise money for student activities.

Picking olives is also a dirty job.

Monday, October 25, 2010

kiva loans

Made 3 new Kiva loans today

Loan

Hishigmaa Dulamsuren

$25.00

Loan

San Pedro Sur Group

$25.00

Loan

Julia Del Carmen Medina Caceres

Friday, October 22, 2010

Kiva loan

Just made a kiva loan to Armenia.

Artur Sargsyan is single and currently lives with his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. After having served in the Army, Artur needed to find his way in life, to make a stable living, to have his own place, and plan for a family. He decided to import elegant ladies clothing from the US. He is renting a shop in “Hayastan” trade center and has long-standing customers, offering them both good service and quality clothing. Artur has applied for a loan to purchase new inventory and expand his business.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Long Way Home

A friend of mine posted about his friend who is helping out in Guatemala, so I donated to the project and am promoting the idea.

Here's a video

Mateo Paneitz went to Comalapa, Guatemala, in 2003 as a Peace Corps volunteer. Peneitz's desire to help this impoverished, predominantly Mayan community didn't end with his tour though. He sold his car in the USA to raise funds to found the non-profit Long Way Home to create better employment and education opportunities in Comalapa. A popular park has already been created, but the goal now is to create a mixed academic and vocational school.

The construction of the school is part of the solution - it.s built from recycled waste such as car tyres and bottles. With mountains of waste available for re-use, the project is already providing training and employment.

Please vote for the project here (for free) to help him win $20,000 for the project.
And you can donate directly to them here.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Kiva lending

Was out of town attending a few science conferences, trying to make the world better by figuring out how to best find genes to cure diseases.

Today I made a Kiva loan to Rafaela de los Ángeles Salgado Hurtado, a teacher in Nicaragua looking to make her home better.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Walk For a Breast Cancer cure

I helped out another friend today, she is walking to raise money for breast cancer.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Helping friends

I sponsored a friend for AIDS walk. I was her first sponsor, so if you want to help out and surprise her, please do. She's a nice kid who can't always afford to feed herself, and likes to help others.