Category: Other

Haiti out of Reach

Haiti keeps being dangled in front of me, and pulled away, like teasing a cat with string. If they need volunteers so badly, why do they make it so expensive to go? In October 2009 I almost had an opportunity, but going would have meant missing 2 midterms. Now I have the opportunity of going for a week but it is extremely expensive, $2000. I wouldn’t want the Mr. to miss the opportunity (he wants to go too) so that makes the trip in actuality $4000. (Half of our remaining car loan, to put in perspective).

I’m stuck in a catch-22. I want to be involved in international development, but my international experience is fairly limited (the result of studying abroad for 6 weeks as opposed to a whole semester). Without considerable international experience, my job prospects are limited–many applicants will surpass me in this. However, our current financial situation won’t allow us to just drop everything and fly away.

I guess this is an exercise in faith and patience. I hate exercise.

Follow This…

Another travel blog by a friend of mine living in Spain (with planned travel around the Mediterranean region).

http://www.fromarahal.blogspot.com/

What about the Radio?

Have you ever thought that maybe listening to the advertisements on the radio is a good thing…

I know we all like to be swooned by the power of songs that we love; one of the best parts about this being that you are not in control of what song plays next. Sure you have a choice of which station to listen to (however limited this selection may be), but hearing a song you love without having chosen to play it, cranking up that stereo and singing at the top of your lungs is an excitement unequaled by choosing a song from an mp3 playlist or cycling through tracks on a CD.

Where would radio be if we never listened to the advertisements? Would the businesses stop advertising with the stations realizing that it was ineffective, leaving them with no funds and therefore no radio station? Marconi would roll over in his grave if radio were to die, giving way to newer music listening technology. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and love using new technology, but I think it would be sad if radio were no more. So next time you want to change the station to avoid some pesky ad, think about the possibility of hearing a good commercial promoting some local small business, and give it a little bit of your attention. Who knows, maybe you’ll want to do business with the advertiser, and in the process you just might be keeping radio alive.