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.

Music Clip of the Day: Oasis - unplugged

Good Works Take: DC Scores

A wonderful charity - here is a snippet

DC SCORES bridges the academic and athletic development of youth by providing them with creative writing and soccer activities each day after-school and for five weeks during the summer. Beginning with only five schools in 1994, DC SCORES has quickly expanded to 23 participating elementary and middle schools within the District. Operating in Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, DC SCORES has worked with more than 4000 8-14 year olds and over 300 coaches and writing instructors in the D. C. Public Schools.

check out the details here.

Sports Clip of the Day: Jonah Lomu - What a Player!

Recipe of the Day: Pesto

I LOVE Pesto - and seem to have stumbled upon a pretty decent looking recipe for the good green stuff.

Ingredients here;

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

and the recipe here.

Music Clip of the Day: PM Dawn - Set a Drift on Memory Bliss

Good Works Take: Nothing But Nets

A terrificly important campaign:

Nothing But Nets is powered by your passion; it works because you do! Create a community for your church, school, team, or family and friends. Together, you can spread the word, raise funds, and share your stories.

With the money you raise, the UN Foundation and its partners work with the Measles Initiative – one of the most successful vaccination efforts ever undertaken – to purchase bed nets and distribute them in countries and communities in greatest need.

Using its proven distribution system – which in just five years has vaccinated nearly a quarter billion children – the Measles Initiative will distribute bed nets along with measles vaccinations and other medicines to at-risk countries. It’s an effective and cost-efficient way to get the nets to the people who need them.

Music Clip of the Day: Pulp - Common People live at Glastonbury

Recipe of the Day: Pecan Pie

"My Home Cooking" has a terrific looking Pecan pie recipe that I'd like to share with y'all. They certainly seem proud of it:

Here at myhomecooking.net, we are devoted to providing you with good, family recipes along with all the step-by-step instructions and pictures you need. This pecan pie recipe is one of our favorites, and best of all, it is foolproof. Don't let its looks fool you; this pie takes no time to assemble, and it will have your company raving about your gourmet cooking skills. So stop looking for that perfect pecan pie recipe, and start cooking because you've found it! Just don't forget to use our pie crust recipe, it is what makes this pie irresistible.

Check out the details here.

Sports Clip of the Day: Habana v the Cheetah

Good Works Take: Zidane and Ronaldo Against Poverty

The two former Real Madrid stars played their annual game against Poverty and a terrific affair it was. Ronald ended up playing for about 22 mins and had this to say afterwards:

"It was beautiful to return to play because football is my life. But it was just an exhibition as I only played for 22 minutes. Professional football is a different issue."

Well done lads, well done.

Music Clip of the Day: Yes We Can

Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Pie

As we get closer to thanksgiving I figured we should link to a few seasonal recipes - here is one for Pumpkin Pie - let me know whether you have any variations for this classic.

Sports Clip of the Day: New Zealand v Tonga - the Haka

The Just Give Guide

An interesting hub for online giving:

"The JustGive Guide includes 1,000 charities grouped into 19 categories to make your search easier and faster."

Linkin Park and Jay Z: Dirt off Your Shoulder

Agassi v Federer in Dubai 2005!

Hard Times Chili

I am a big fan of Hard Times. I love the their j-poppers and range of hot sauces for chili and vege chili. I was poking around their site and found a few interesting tips and recipes. Here is one that is well worth sharing:

Fred's Chili Tips

The folks at the Hard Times know that for many people, the chili that they make at home for themselves is the best chili. Because chili is such an individual experience, it would be difficult to say there is any correct way to prepare it or to eat it. When you go out to eat it, we think our chili is the best.
Basic chili is a meat sauce that can be eaten alone. Or, you can have chili with spaghetti, beans, cheese, onions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes and chopped jalapeño peppers. At the Hard Times, we once had a customer who made his own 6-way chili dish by adding a raw egg on top of a 5-way. Of course, there are many individual ways to eat chili. For years, we had a guy who would come in with his own loaf of Wonder Bread and order a bowl of chili straight to make his own chili sandwiches.

Check the rest of them out here.

Blogging About Raising Money for Good Works

This is a very interesting story.

A 25-year-old decided to blog about her charity's financial problems - despite warnings from board members that she'll send her remaining donors fleeing.....After Erickson began blogging last month on the Skoll Foundation's Social Edge Web site, an interesting thing happened. Her story went viral after it was picked up by the Tactical Philanthropy blog, and the social entrepreneur community took her on as an experiment in "radical transparency."

More on the NGO itself here.

REM and the Boss - Man on the Moon

Recipe of the day: Spinach and Leek White Bean Soup

Teaser quote from www.allrecipes.com:

"White bean soup with spinach and leeks is a delicious and filling soup that is perfect for vegetarians if you use vegetable broth, and quick to make. I've been making this soup for years..."

This looks perfect for a cold, cold day! I haven't tried it yet but if you do - let me know what it is like.

Here is the link to a terrific website with this and many other interesting recipes on show.

NBA Top 10

About Olive Oil

If you have been stumped a bit by the range of olive oil available on the market fear not, I suspect you are not alone. I was looking for some info on this important "good food" and found this interesting post from Jim Dixon titled "How to Speak Olive Oil" - it is well worth reading it all but here is a money quote to get you interested:

Extra Virgin: As defined by the International Olive Oil Council, extra-virgin olive oil must meet strict standards for production, chemical content, and flavor. Unfortunately, the international rules have not been adopted by the FDA, and so the term “extra virgin” is not regulated in the United States. As a result, unscrupulous producers can legally label a refined-oil blend as extra-virgin olive oil and sell it for a higher price.

Let me know if you agree or disagree with what Jim has to say about this.

Kevin Pietersen Reverse Sweep for a Maximum!

Bob Marley: Jamming

The Response to Prop 8 Goes Viral

I have been pleased to see the tough response to Prop 8 which is a ridiculous and updated effort to turn back the clock on social progress. Andrew Sullivan has been covering the online dimension of the campaign that has kicked off after the election. Check out the details here.