Give A Spit About Cancer!

Read this:  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/11/22/want-to-make-a-difference-occupy-amit-today/

Watch this:



Join this: https://www.facebook.com/#!/amitguptaneedsyou

Think about this:  The big picture!

Check out this: http://www.marrow.org/

Thank you!

Thanks Giving

Yesterday I donated a little to some charities that are important to me.  I'm not saying this for praise or recognition, but rather because it brought up some questions...

For one, let's just say I donated to a non-profit whose mission is research, and proposedly development of a cure, vaccine, or at least a medical protocol to increase standard of living or life expectancy.  My question is then, what if they find a cure or vaccine or a medical protocol?  Who pays for the treatments?  Notice that this not a drug company and as a non-profit it isn't meant to make, well, profit, but of course there are costs incurred beyond the R&D...  So, what happens if one of these companies is ultimately "successful"?  Who overseas the use of donor funds or how the treatments are administered?

And, not-for-profit doesn't mean that a company doesn't make money.  It still has employees and management and executives who need to be compensated.  So, isn't this a dilemma?  If a companies mission is to develop a cure for something and it achieves this mission doesn't it put itself out of business?  Isn't this about as clear a conflict of interest as anything has ever been? 

I write this with hesitation.  I certainly hope people donate to causes they believe in and I don't mean to shine unfavorable light on any organization which is out to do good.  Rather, I'm simply looking to ask the right questions. 

Occupy Everything

The "Occupy Wall Street" movement has spread... Several states and major cities have taken to the cause.  Problem is, most have no idea what this cause is and almost everyone has their own agenda.  I've heard reasons for the movement ranging from "the top 1% need to pay their share" to "I need my student loans forgiven" to "hey, everyone else is doing it".

I am amongst the first to criticize the government.  If you read this blog, you know that.  However, when doing so there must be some sensibilities taken into account.  Can a government simply "forgive" student loan debt?  For many reasons this is infeasible. So to ask demeans the more reasonable "requests".. And, regardless, this is such a myopic issue... as is the concept that the top 1% need to "pay their share."

Again, I have my issues with the government and I'm all in favor of getting on a soapbox (see this blog), but what is this movement saying?  What's the true message you're trying to get across?  What's the end goal?  And please, please, please don't tell me "we want to be heard" or "we want to let the government know we're not happy"... You have your forum.. what do you want the government to hear?  What are you not happy about (be specific and for the love of god prioritize!)?

Interesting Read

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7021031/the-nets-nba-economics

I found this to be quite an interesting read.  What I wonder about most, however, is what happened to the residents who were displaced under the guise of "public use".  And will they be able to afford this use this "public" property? 

I'm pretty sure I've already blogged about the sham that is tax-payers paying for stadiums that they can't afford to go to, and now we have people being forced out of their homes for stadiums that they can't afford to go to?  Wow.

May Be Inappropriate

But still funny and on point.

USPS

I imagine most of my readers have heard of the struggle of the United States Postal Service.  I imagine that most have heard reports that USPS services are going to be reduced and possibly even eliminated altogether.  I just wanted to take a minute and tell you that this is not something that should be taken lightly.  I don't have statistics (though I'm sure you can find them easy enough online), but believe me when I say that we NEED the USPS. 

I know that in these times of online billpay and paypal the envelope and stamp is nearing obsolescense, but what about birthday cards, wedding invitations, seasons greetings?  Believe me, FedEx and UPS would love to deliver your letters, but that's not cheap now and would only become more expensive without USPS competition.  And let's not forget FlatRate boxes for our Ebay and Amazon sellers.

Finally, consider the unemployment situation in this country.  Does anyone reading this think we need more people jobless?  

I could end this post with a call to action: stop paying your bills online, but I know that's unrealistic.  Instead I will just ask you all to at least follow this situation.

Yellowcard - Believe

There is so much to say today and yet I can't seem to say any of it as eloquently as I think is necessary.  For this I apologize.  Still, I write.

10 years ago I was a freshman in college.  Barely.  I hadn't been away from home for much more than a few weeks.  I hadn't even adjusted to my new class schedule or getting up in time for my 9am class.  Most days I slept through my alarm and found myself rushing out of bed, slipping on my rollerblades (class was a good 25 minute walk and I take pride in how quick I could run up 4 flights of stairs in my skates) and speeding to class still in my pajamas - never turning on the TV.  For some reason, on September 11, 2001 my alarm actually did it's job.  But instead of the Sportscenter that morning you all know what was on the television. 

And while most of the world watched for hours stunned and unable to look away I spent those hours on my dorm room phone (I didn't yet own a cell phone) trying to reach my mother.  My mother who worked just a few blocks from the Twin Towers.  To this day few things infuriate me more than the automated words "all circuits are busy, please try again".  After racking up quite an expensive phone bill (dorm room calls were like $0.10 per minute) I learned that my mother had been picked up by an amazing cab driver and had walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and though shaken, she was OK.  The day after 9/11 I got my first cell phone.  And it wasn't long after that my mother quit her job in the city.  And to this day she won't take the subway. 

Anyway, that's my story.  But today I think of those who didn't make it home.  I think of the bravery of the "Heroes of 9/11" and the kindness of strangers towards one another.  I think of those who've lost their lives in the ongoing fight to keep this country and the world a safer place.  I think of those families who've endured the loss of loved ones throughout it all. 

I can't believe it's been 10 years.  It feels like a lifetime ago.  I can't believe it's been 10 years.  It still hasn't ended.

Church and State

Please note that I have no biases against any religion.  I will openly admit that I don't agree with organized religion, but my belief in G-d really depends on the day.

I wanted to make sure that is documented before I get into this post. 

I currently live in the South... Borderline "Bible Belt" territory.  Recently there has been news about prayers in school - specifically about public schools using the PA systems for pre-game prayers at football games.  I wanted to take a minute to make something very clear.  The separation of Church and State is one of the fundamental ideals of our constitution and society.  Unless every child in said school is of the same religious background (or pays to go to a private school knowing full well that the school has prayers) this is not even a debate.  There should be NO school prayers.  No child should be forcefully alienated by principles, teachers, coaches, parents or other students for any reason - particularly religion.  On the news today I saw a lady explain how forcing the school to stop public prayers was limiting the right of religious freedom.  On the contrary the prayers are forcing religion on others.  No one is saying students and parents can't pray before games.  They are simply saying that it should not be a school function or forced upon anyone else. 

On a similar note do you know how you can tell when you've entered the "Bible Belt"?  When the ludicrous number of churches is only rivaled by the ridiculous number of "adult" stores.  Really I know this might come off as funny or condescending, but it's completely true.  And just kind of sad!

Quick Note

Obviously the Financial "Crisis" has been the major topic on the news and around the world.  I don't have the time or patience to go into this too much right now, but here's just a quick note.

-If you want to help the economy then stop buying stuff online.  Go into the stores.  Sure it might cost a little more and maybe it's slightly less convenient, but it also keeps people employed.  Keep this in mind: as we become more technologically advanced humans become less valuable.  I don't believe robots will take over the world, but they'll put us all out of business.. and when that happens I don't want to speculate what will happen to society.

Spoon fed.

I found this to be pretty powerful!



http://blog.sustainablog.org/the-plastic-spoon-and-oil-addiction-in-america/

Thanks Mike C. for sharing.