randomness while nextblogging

On Blogger (in the upper right hand corner) there is a "NEXT BLOG" tab that takes you through random blogs - here are some random nuggets while I am traversing the blogosphere in my quest to visit 100 blogs in 100 days ...

watermelon singing: "Rita Cosby from MSNBC sounds like she's been smoking three packs a day since the day she was born."

Incognito Queer: "About a month after I turned 17 I went a couple of hours north of Phoenix to start college. I was determined to be on my own. I loved it... at least that is what I told people. I was miserable. I didn't know anyone and I was so incredibly shy I found it hard to make friends. I literally sat up in my dorm room and cross-stiched a Monopoly board. It's true... I have proof."

It Was The Yams In case you don't know what a vegan is let me give you the gastronomic hierarchy and where vegans fit into it.
Omnivores are looked down on by
Those who don't eat pork, who are looked down on by
Those who eat only chicken and fish, who are looked down on by
Those who eat only fish, who are looked down on by
Vegetarians, who are looked down by
Vegans (we don't eat eggs, dairy, honey, or any other animal related product) who are looked down on by
Raw food vegans (they are the creme of the disciplined)

Day 3 of 100 blogs in 100 days

[Photo copyright John 2005.]

Today is day three of my endeavor to visit 100 blogs in 100 days.

Pencil Revolution

This fun blog contains "...news of the Pencil Revolution. The PRevo.
Including pencil reviews, pencil stories, history, benefits, advantages, etc.
On why you should be using a pencil.
Or pencils.
And not the mechanical kind.
Sharpen your pencils, and get ready."

I've always been a fountain ink cartridge pen user myself, but I have to give strong consideration to using both mediums - sort of Palm PDAs versus Pocket PC, although I don't think people will spend the time debating the merits of the pencil versus the pen. It's just more productive to use either tool to write or sketch. Eh?

Got a blog I should visit? Drop a comment or email to wonderdawg@gmail.com.

A Labor Of Love This Labor Day

Charles Wysocki's Labor Day in Bungalow Vil

Fellow blogger DiamondKT has a great perpective for Labor Day:

A Labor Of Love This Labor Day

Labor Day usually marks the end of summer. Well it's not officially the last day of summer according to the calendars, but close enough. It also means that the kiddies are back in school and it's our last chance to have that final hoary throwing a backyard BBQ/pool party. Unfortunately for many, this Labor Day weekend doesn't bring weenie roasting and beer toasting, but yet it brings a dramatic life adjustment and an endless amount of tears. I'm talking about those that are trying to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Their overwhelming amount of pain and despair is almost too much for most of us to comprehend. Those of us that are lucky enough not to live in any of those affected states, count your blessings!

Just try and imagine what it must be like to lose everything you own. Think what it must feel like to not have anywhere to go, nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, having only the clothes on your back and then on top of all of that...throw on the emotional strain of having missing loved ones or not being able to even morn or give a proper burial to friends and family members who have lost their lives in the disaster. Sorry to depress you, but that is reality for millions of people this Labor Day weekend. Now what can you do?

This Labor Day set aside a little time to do an act of what I call "a labor of love". Whether it be helping some of the Hurricane victims with a donation or volunteering at an organization, give back to the world. I think we can all agree that there is alot of terrible things going on with the war on terrorism and the devastation of this latest natural disaster, but perhaps you can make a difference. Even if you think it doesn't count, it does. If nothing else comes out of your "labor of love" act, then at least I can guarantee you that you will go to bed tonight feeling better about the person you are and the display of kindness you have shown.

Well said my friend.

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Proverbs 25:11

Network for Good :: Hurricane Victims Need Your Help Today

The most comprehensive resource for helping and volunteering - there are localized and specific charities to donate depending on your preference...

Network for Good :: Hurricane Victims Need Your Help Today

Millions of people along the Gulf Coast are suffering from the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. They desperately need water, food, shelter and medical care today. You can join the effort to provide life-saving aid by making a donation now.

and tips on volunteering wisely

Operation Blessing

From Operation Blessing - an easy way to get involved from home -

Natural and manmade disasters turn millions of lives upside down every year. With your help, Operation Blessing is able to quickly bring emergency relief to survivors like those who are suffering the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

You, your friends and family as well as community or church group can join our relief efforts by putting together Disaster Relief Kits. These kits provide basic toiletries to individuals and families that have lost everything.

Instructions -

Fill one or more 1-gallon size Ziploc bag(s) with...

1 new wash cloth

1 new hand towel

1 new bar of soap

1 new comb

1 new fingernail clipper

1 new pack of dental floss

1 new toothbrush

1 small travel size tube of toothpaste

1 small travel size shampoo

1 small packet of tissue

1 small package of adhesive bandages

NOTE: All included items need to be new and unused.

Shipping Information:

Label the outside of each box – Disaster Relief Kits

Have an inventory sheet in each box listing the number of kits enclosed.

Send To:
Operation Blessing International
Disaster Relief Kits
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463

Thank you for being a crucial part of Operation Blessing's disaster relief efforts!

Link available here

News Flash - positive news from Louisiana

New Flash - We interrupt the blame affixing and second guessing to bring positive news from Louisiana...

From Fred McLemore: A Promise Keepers event manager who lives in Sulphur, Louisiana (8 miles West of Lake Charles) on the evacuation path along Interstate 10

Our local ministerial alliance of more than a dozen churches has organized the feeding program. We're set up until further notice, and the churches have already signed up for the next 30 days. My local church is feeding 700 evacuees from New Orleans each day. Joeann and I are helping with the cooking. Everything we do for them is deeply appreciated. By the way, the folks from New Orleans prefer to be called "evacuees," not refugees.

Don't get the wrong idea that the bad element in New Orleans is the majority. The bad guys are just a few. We are hurt by the bad media coverage, but the humanitarian efforts are amazing. Nursing students volunteering inside the Dome with no guarantee of safety. Staff at one inner city hospital volunteered to stay through the storm, and the security staff protected them. Heroes are everywhere, and we need to tell those stories too. Most Louisianans are decent and law-abiding.

A special prayer request for the Louisiana National Guard - 256 Tiger Brigade. They are deployed overseas, watching all this from afar. The authorities have a good hotline system so that soldiers and families can check in on each other. But whenever they return, they will face many unknown circumstances. Pray for Louisiana's 256th.

Pray for all of those affected...it is hard to fully comprehend what has happened.

Read more positive stories here!

Day 2 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Today is day two of my endeavor to visit 100 blogs in 100 days.

ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans – ONE by ONE – to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show the steps people can take, ONE by ONE, to fight global AIDS and poverty.

And now ONE turns its attention to America -

In the wake of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of thousands of Americans are facing an uncertain and challenging future.

We've all watched together as increasingly dire reports have come out of the hardest hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and right now our nation is trying to find its footing as it responds to one of the worst disasters that we've ever faced.

We all see the pictures on TV. Right now, they need water, food, clothing, shelter and medical attention, and soon they'll begin the long process of putting their lives back together... hospitals, sewers, schools...all the things that we take for granted every day.

As members of ONE, we must believe that Americans can't help people around the world unless we also take care of urgent needs at home.

You can visit the ONE.ORG blog to find a list of ONE partners and other groups working right now to help those in most need.

In the same way that our fight against poverty is both urgent and diligent, we now have a new challenge with the same rules, to help stop people from dying today and help rebuild their infrastructure for tomorrow.

Visit the ONE blog to get involved. Lend your voice and sign the ONE declaration. You can take action here

Craigslist Versus Katrina

"Local community websites have sprung into action to assist hurricane Katrina survivors with everything from blankets to offers of shelter in their homes. With cell and land-line phones mostly down, the web has emerged as a champion amid the wreckage. E-mail, instant messenger and blogs have proven lifelines for communication.

In relief efforts, too, the internet is proving invaluable, as websites have become hubs for putting badly needed goods and services directly into the hands of people who need them most. Where organizations like the Red Cross discourage anything other than financial donations, sites like craigslist allow people to meet up with victims for face-to-face aid. Craigslist users have flooded the New Orleans site with offers of shelter and comfort."

"The wonderful people of the art forum have banded together to send me care packages, donations and gift certificates since losing my house in New Orleans," wrote one aid recipient in thanks to craigslist, signing her post simply as Shanna, formerly of New Orleans. "I have nothing left except for what fit into a Dodge Neon, and these strangers have opened their hearts to me."

more here...

OpenChurches.com - Carrying out Matthew 25:35

OpenChurches.com - Carrying out Matthew 25:35: "was born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to serve as a clearing house for matching affected people in need of long-term housing with Christian churches and members able to meet their needs.

OpenChurches.com will maintain a database of all participating congregations and their ability to help. We will then connect people in need of housing with congregations equipped to help."

Just think if every church in America could and would take in ten families, the hope and comfort this long term gesture would bring to relieve the suffering...

Here's how your church can help here...

OpenChurches.com
5120 Franklin Road
Nashville, TN 37220
phone: 615-566-6023
info@openchurches.com

Day one of 100 blogs

Today is day one of my endeavor to visit 100 blogs in 100 days. I just received a comment from Michael about his new counterpart to his regular blog -

I have to let you know that you inspired me. I just started a new blog that I think fits your criteria so while there isn't much there, at least you know you inspired another to start an uplifting site. Michael writes as part of his goal:

[I] promise not to rant about anything but what is happening personally to me; (as he writes another blog that is) kind of the dumping ground for all the frustration that I feel toward the world.

Thanks Michael - As a community and those that we have a relationship with need to influence each other towards greatness - So I would say to you that you have purpose and something to offer - so my prayer is that you will be a source of encouragement to others, your wife and that your goals will be met! You can speak life or speak death by the words you say - Choose life.

Michael, I appreciate the visit to your blog - keep on blogging and speak life.

Visit Michael here