In case anyone is looking for an opportunity for ongoing support in Haiti I offer this.

It's an email from a cousin of mine who belongs to a very progressive socially-active church. She participated in their mission in Nicaragua for a month and from her journal I feel confident that any group they would be affiliated with is far more interested in feeding-and-clothing than bible-banging.

(Her particular mission involved an organization that worked with street kids. There is an ongoing staff for stability, not just rotating volunteers. The program is in stages: Stage I is all field-visits, Stage II is kids drop-in, Stage III they're semi-residential. They treat each kid as an individual and meet them where they are. They are very practical about what kids need to go to school: is it tuition? clothing? access to bathing? food? tutoring? It is very good practical work. While the Hatian mission is more specifically religious, I'm confident it is likewise.)

So, here (complete with HER religiosity disclaimer) is the email I received. I'm especially encoraged that is a way to work long-term and avoid the sadly inevitable graft that will be setting in shortly. I am also impressed that their long-term good work has already benefitted the people in this community in this tragedy.

I know this is very nearly as friend-of-a-friend as something can get and if I can find any third-party confirmation of the organization's wortk I will link to it. It is, however, my (many of you have known me for years) actual cousin (whom I respect)'s actual friend sending the letter.

(I am taking out identifying information and contacts of non-public figures. If you would like these, email me. Profile addy is eternal and good.)

***

My friend, B, sent this to me and I thought I'd pass it along. I have more info if anyone is interested in helping out. There is a religious undertone in the message and I know for some that may be uncomfortable, however, any organization that can do good and directly lend a hand to this country in complete distress right now is worth our consideration. ::stepping off soap box::

Have a good weekend! Love you all!
A

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: B
Date: January 15, 2010 12:52:50 AM EST
Subject: Haiti update

As many of you know, I worked in Port-au-Prince this past summer with Sherrie Fausey. and her ministries: a school, orphanage, pediatric care. She and her 26 orphans have now been identified and found safe. To reuse her tagline, "PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!"

I spent part of my stay working with an amazing construction team from Kansas helping build a new school adjacent to Sherrie's existing property. She kept repeating how Haitian buildings--including its schools--were built too shoddy and how she had spent considerably more money to reinforce hers with additional rebar. While her neighborhood was severely damaged in the earthquake, her new building appears to have held up well and is now the children's new home. "PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!"

Unfortunately, the son of her housekeeper, P, died during the quake. He was a wonderful boy and loved to beat the pants off me at soccer! He was a great help with the staff and enjoyed teaching me as much as I enjoyed teaching him. Please keep his mother and the hundreds of thousands affected in your prayers. Their country is corrupt. Their people poor. But I saw a spirited community, a desire for God, and many joyful children that deserve a better hand than they were dealt.

If you would like to provide supplies or financial support, charity: water, a nonprofit at which I volunteer and support--along with their partners in Haiti--are well equipped to deliver immediate and necessary aid. Information can be found here.

Kindest regards,

B

My latest story is out, here. [link] In some ways, I still prefer my original concept, but I thought y'all might want to read it.

Jane Espenson was interviewed on PRI's The Sound of Young America today, talking about Caprica. [link] specifically: The Sound of Young America

There's a spoiler for the pilot plot towards the end of the interview, but they give a loud and long-ish warning. It was followed by The AV Club on overlooked dark comedies. Good listening for a weekday afternoon on the way back from taking my mother to a doctor!

DC people - bake sale for Haiti at the Takoma Park farmers market tomorrow, and also one in Falls Church in two weeks. Info here: [link]

A short post on Grist on the implications of a New NREL study on wind potential for transmission costs for new renewable electricity. Spoiler: bottom line is that with lots of renewable energy transmission costs drop compared to a little renewable energy. [link]

If you would like to nominate an East Coast city for this year's F2F, we are starting the ball on it's rolling in the F2F thread.

RIP JD Salinger: [link]

My sister in law, Tracy Turpen, is a photographer specializing in weddings and fine art portraiture is doing a fund raiser for Haiti now through the end of February.

She's set up a gallery of her fine art photography, mostly landscapes of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia and Costa Rica and 100% of the money will be donated.

You can view her gallery here - [link]

I have a lot of old (last couple years) Nat Geo, New Scientist, and Scientific American magazines that have to go. Anyone want them?

eta: And they're gone.

Hi everyone.

I joined after meeting several of you thru the wedding reception weekend here in LA. I am working on following the discussions... I think the key is to log in more often.... Forgive me if it's a lot of lurking and not so much posting for a bit here :)

And yes, I have many bunnies. They are cute and fuzzy and get into lots of trouble....