Good Works Take: Street Sense

I like what these guys do a lot:

Street Sense is a Washington, D.C.-based 16-page biweekly street newspaper that was founded in 2003. Its mission is to raise public awareness on the issues of homelessness and poverty in the city and to create economic opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.
The newspaper features news, features, editorials, poems and art about homelessness and poverty contributed by homeless or formerly homeless people, advocates and professional writers interested in social issues.

Street Sense was founded in August 2003 after two volunteers, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, approached the National Coalition for the Homeless on separate occasions about starting a street newspaper in Washington, D.C.

After bringing together a core of dedicated volunteers and vendors, Street Sense published its first issue in November 2003 with a print run of 5,000 copies. The paper has published consistently on a monthly and now biweekly basis and has greatly expanded its circulation and vendor network. It now sells nearly 12,000 papers every two weeks.

Street Sense vendors pay 25 cents for each paper to cover publishing costs and then sell each paper for $1. As of August 2007, Street Sense has about 60 active vendors. They can be found in downtown D.C. and some suburbs on busy corners and near Metro stations, usually during the lunch hour and the evening rush hour.

The vendors make an average of $40 a day, and some have even been able to use this money to move out of the shelter. Since 2004, at least 16 vendors have found housing and more than 30 have started part-time or full-time jobs, many of which were offered to them while selling the paper.

Music Clip of the Day: Fake Plastic Trees (acoustic)

Recipe of the Day: Homemade Ice Cream

While this is not a traditional winter food, I think that there is some potential benefit in trying to make homemade ice cream this holiday season - as an old uncle of mine said "cold beats cold"....I didn't get it either but oh well. Here is a receipe that I may use

Allrecipes Staff:

Although it can be made from just a few ingredients--cream, milk, eggs, sugar, and flavorings--there is something extra-special about homemade ice cream.

....

details here.

Sports Clip of the Day: Eddie the Eagle Edwards

Good Works Take: Soccer Charities

A link to a few good ones that I know about and a few I am going to look into (but I'm sure they also do good work).

Here are some details on the top soccer charity in the US:
US Soccer Foundation
http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org/
Formed from the surplus funds generated by the 1994 World Cup, the US Soccer Foundation officially opened its doors in 1995 with an endowment of almost $50 million dollars. Since then, with the publicity and enthusiasm for the sport generated by the 1994 World Cup and sustained by the 1999 Women's World Cup, participation levels of men, women, and children have increased significantly. Simultaneously, the Foundation's ability to fund soccer programs across the country has also increased. The Foundation is continually striving to meet our mission - to enhance, assist and grow the sport of soccer - by seeking out and supporting new partnerships and programs each year. More here.

All Blacks - Top Tries - England Face them at the weekend!

Recipe of the Day: Mac and Cheese

I must say that I LOVE Mac and Cheese - in particular the southern kind that places like B.Smith's makes.
Here is a nice take on the ole favorite:

It probably wouldn't be on the menu for your mother-in-law's first dinner visit, and it isn't exactly gourmet fare, but macaroni and cheese is one of the most popular--if not the most popular--American comfort foods. Nearly every soul food cookbook and many Southern cookbooks have recipes for the American favorite, with few differences from one to the next.
Some believe the dish was created by founding father Thomas Jefferson...(clip here for the details)

and here is a recipe for creamy mac and cheese.