4.30.2010
4.27.2010
RIP Eva Markvoort
"This is the end of my life, but it's not the end of my love" Markvoort
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/27/blog.terminal.illness/index.html?hpt=C1
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/27/blog.terminal.illness/index.html?hpt=C1
A great article in the NY Times about a great organization
April 21, 2010, 5:36 pm
How to Help the Young Superheroes
By HILARY HOWARD
In response to Nick’s April 10 column featuring a family of orphans in Zimbabwe, over 100 readers wrote in asking what they could do to make a difference. Many readers, for example, wanted to send a bicycle to the oldest brother to expedite his nine-mile trek to school.
A recent recipient of a new bike, courtesy of World Bicycle Relief.Emily Hoskins
A recent recipient of a new bike, courtesy of World Bicycle Relief.
But in many parts of rural Africa, it’s rarely as easy as sending a bike. For one thing, there’s usually no functioning (or trustworthy) postal system. For another, the bike could get stolen or sold for food, ultimately putting the oldest brother back at square one. And what if the bike got a flat tire or needed its brakes replaced?
Luckily, we not only heard from concerned readers last week; we also heard from on-the-ground organizations already making a difference. One of them, World Bicycle Relief, addresses the above issues…and more.
I’ll be profiling a few of these groups while Nick is in Sudan. So…readers, meet the organizations. And organizations…keep up the good work.
World Bicycle Relief
It all started with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
F.K. Day, who with his brother built SRAM, a successful global bicycle components company, felt a visceral urge to help when the tsunami killed over 200,000 people and devastated communities across Asia. But when he called relief organizations from his Chicago office to pitch his idea of distributing bicycles to the hard-hit communities, he said he got the stock answer of “No, No, just send money.”
Leah Missbach Day
So he boarded a plane and flew to Indonesia, which made all the difference. “When I went to local relief offices in person and proposed a large scale bicycle program,” he recalled, “they said (excitedly) ‘you can do this?’” Within a year, F.K., along with SRAM staff and World Vision working on the ground, had mobilized the design, production and delivery of bikes to 24,000 Sri Lankans.
After an NGO worker learned about what World Bicycle Relief had accomplished in Sri Lanka, he told F.K. that many parts of Africa were suffering from a metaphorical tsunami of extreme poverty and disease, convincing him to bring his program there. World Bicycle Relief began operations on the continent in 2006, and now has a presence in eight sub-Saharan African countries including Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. To date, it has provided 60,000 sturdy, mechanic-supported bikes to people in need through existing healthcare, education and economic development programs.
Caregivers in Zambia take their new modes of transportation for a spin.Leah Missbach Day
Caregivers in Zambia take their new modes of transportation for a spin.
The organization just completed distribution of 23,000 bikes to volunteer HIV/AIDS caregivers in Zambia (some of whom are pictured above), helping them to access remote villagers faster than their old mode of transportation: walking. “We also just started a 49,000 bike program only geared toward education,” F.K. said. The goal is to provide 49,000 bicycles to Zambian students, focusing on girls. “Without a bike, their walk can be up to 10 miles a day to and from school, which puts them at risk for harassment and rape,” explained Carol Gifford, a spokesperson for the organization.
Leah Missbach Day
But distributing bikes to communities is just part of World Bicycle Relief’s mission. The organization also trains one mechanic for every 50 bikes it provides, essentially setting this person up for a self-sustaining business that keeps the bikes up and running. “If we just did this, it would make a huge difference,” F.K. said.
F.K. Day, president of World Bicycle Relief, teaches bike assembly to workers in Zambia. Leah Missbach Day
F.K. Day, president of World Bicycle Relief, teaches bike assembly to workers in Zambia.
In Africa, World Bicycle Relief is focusing on three areas for bicycle distribution and training: education (getting children and teachers to school), healthcare (helping providers get to out-of-reach villages) and economic development (partnering with micro-finance institutions). “If we can prove the efficacy in these three areas, we can prove the importance of bikes,” F.K. said. World Bicycle Relief tracks its programs and publishes results on its Web site.
Who knows: with a little luck, perhaps a certain family of superheroes will soon be included in those published results.
How to Help the Young Superheroes
By HILARY HOWARD
In response to Nick’s April 10 column featuring a family of orphans in Zimbabwe, over 100 readers wrote in asking what they could do to make a difference. Many readers, for example, wanted to send a bicycle to the oldest brother to expedite his nine-mile trek to school.
A recent recipient of a new bike, courtesy of World Bicycle Relief.Emily Hoskins
A recent recipient of a new bike, courtesy of World Bicycle Relief.
But in many parts of rural Africa, it’s rarely as easy as sending a bike. For one thing, there’s usually no functioning (or trustworthy) postal system. For another, the bike could get stolen or sold for food, ultimately putting the oldest brother back at square one. And what if the bike got a flat tire or needed its brakes replaced?
Luckily, we not only heard from concerned readers last week; we also heard from on-the-ground organizations already making a difference. One of them, World Bicycle Relief, addresses the above issues…and more.
I’ll be profiling a few of these groups while Nick is in Sudan. So…readers, meet the organizations. And organizations…keep up the good work.
World Bicycle Relief
It all started with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
F.K. Day, who with his brother built SRAM, a successful global bicycle components company, felt a visceral urge to help when the tsunami killed over 200,000 people and devastated communities across Asia. But when he called relief organizations from his Chicago office to pitch his idea of distributing bicycles to the hard-hit communities, he said he got the stock answer of “No, No, just send money.”
Leah Missbach Day
So he boarded a plane and flew to Indonesia, which made all the difference. “When I went to local relief offices in person and proposed a large scale bicycle program,” he recalled, “they said (excitedly) ‘you can do this?’” Within a year, F.K., along with SRAM staff and World Vision working on the ground, had mobilized the design, production and delivery of bikes to 24,000 Sri Lankans.
After an NGO worker learned about what World Bicycle Relief had accomplished in Sri Lanka, he told F.K. that many parts of Africa were suffering from a metaphorical tsunami of extreme poverty and disease, convincing him to bring his program there. World Bicycle Relief began operations on the continent in 2006, and now has a presence in eight sub-Saharan African countries including Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. To date, it has provided 60,000 sturdy, mechanic-supported bikes to people in need through existing healthcare, education and economic development programs.
Caregivers in Zambia take their new modes of transportation for a spin.Leah Missbach Day
Caregivers in Zambia take their new modes of transportation for a spin.
The organization just completed distribution of 23,000 bikes to volunteer HIV/AIDS caregivers in Zambia (some of whom are pictured above), helping them to access remote villagers faster than their old mode of transportation: walking. “We also just started a 49,000 bike program only geared toward education,” F.K. said. The goal is to provide 49,000 bicycles to Zambian students, focusing on girls. “Without a bike, their walk can be up to 10 miles a day to and from school, which puts them at risk for harassment and rape,” explained Carol Gifford, a spokesperson for the organization.
Leah Missbach Day
But distributing bikes to communities is just part of World Bicycle Relief’s mission. The organization also trains one mechanic for every 50 bikes it provides, essentially setting this person up for a self-sustaining business that keeps the bikes up and running. “If we just did this, it would make a huge difference,” F.K. said.
F.K. Day, president of World Bicycle Relief, teaches bike assembly to workers in Zambia. Leah Missbach Day
F.K. Day, president of World Bicycle Relief, teaches bike assembly to workers in Zambia.
In Africa, World Bicycle Relief is focusing on three areas for bicycle distribution and training: education (getting children and teachers to school), healthcare (helping providers get to out-of-reach villages) and economic development (partnering with micro-finance institutions). “If we can prove the efficacy in these three areas, we can prove the importance of bikes,” F.K. said. World Bicycle Relief tracks its programs and publishes results on its Web site.
Who knows: with a little luck, perhaps a certain family of superheroes will soon be included in those published results.
4.25.2010
Being an uncle is great and it will be wonderful...
when the two little little ones are potty trained. Just joking! I love'em and cherish every minute I have with them.
4.24.2010
Lin Yu-Chun
I'm sure you've heard of this guy who has become an international YouTube hit. There is no doubt he's a talented singer. An inspiring story behind this guy who doesn't give up on his dreams.
4.22.2010
4.20.2010
quote of ze day
By now I'm sure you heard of Gizmodo buying and disclosing every detail about the prototype 4G iPhone. Apparently it was left behind in some bar and those who found it discovered it was more than just a regular iPhone. Apple's lawyers sent a letter to Gizmodo requesting they return the prototype. Gizmodo sent the prototype back and had this to say, "P.S. I hope you take it easy on the kid who lost it. I don't think he loves anything more than Apple except, well, beer."
4.19.2010
Ze Shoulder
This morning I was at the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence getting some x-rays taken of my shoulder. On the wall were some autographed photos of amazing athletes who have gone through the center. Most if not all were Olympic gold medalist in their respective sport and a bunch of professional athletes. As an athlete myself it feels good to know I'm in good hands, great hands. It has been almost a year since my surgery and sitting here reflecting on everything I've done since my surgery I have to be really happy and thankful. I'm inspired by the photos I saw this morning and the comeback stories behind them.. It has fueled my fire and reminded me that I can be great with hard work and a little bit of luck. Bring on the 2010 season!
Sent from my Atari 64
Sent from my Atari 64
4.15.2010
4.14.2010
Drive-thru Parking Kiosk?
Gotta love the folks who block parking lanes to pay and grab a parking ticket. Better yet the folks who park in the handicap spot next to the kiosk. Why they do this you ask? LAZY. They get their ticket, start their car back up and proceed to drive 20 ft. Or 10 parking spaces closer to work. Maybe we should have drive-thru parking kiosk?
Sent from my Atari 64
Sent from my Atari 64
4.08.2010
The joys of weight loss
My stomach is growling as I lay in bed. Apparently the spinach salad and fake-me-out chicken Boca pattie wasn't enough. How do I deal? Lots of diet Dr. Pepper and the dream of winning a pro race this season. Right now I'm way overweight coming into the season compared to the last few years. Skiing doesn't really burn that many calories but it has made my legs stronger like never before. I'm not trying to lose half my body weight like some of those on The Biggest Loser but the struggle is the same. The temptation and urge to sneak a Twinkie in is the same although that's not a great example because I don't eat Twinkies but you get the point. 158 is the magic number and my hope is that I get there by Memorial Day weekend which happens to be my first big goal of the season. Can I do it? I hope so.
Sent from my Atari 64
Sent from my Atari 64
4.07.2010
4.02.2010
Did you hate taking naps when you were little?
I did. It felt like punishment. I always just wanted to play and play and play. Now I only dream of the afternoon naps. I still want to play and play and play but now I realize my body needs the rest. Today I get a nap and it doesn't feel like punishment. The best part, I know I get to play tomorrow.
Sent from my Atari 64
Sent from my Atari 64
4.01.2010
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