I have been in a funk for the past few days because I have been reading the book I purchased by David Batstone called Not For Sale. It is a tough read. The subject matter just really sticks with you and I tend to dwell on things for too long. The tagline is "The return of the global slave trade - and how we can fight it." The book is tells a lot of stories of slaves across the globe and how insidious human trafficking has become.
It's tough for me to contemplate this level of evil. To look at a child or a young woman and not be able to feel any level of empathy or compassion means you are at best a sociopath and at worst just pure fucking evil. This book is sort of a scratching of the surface on this issue. It offers some different ways to fight the problem that I would like to investigate further, however I definitely need to know more about what type of organizations I may get involved with in my own community.
I did join the Not For Sale Campaign which means I get constant updates from their headquarters on upcoming events, fundraisers, petitions to push for legal actions, and other cool stuff. This issue just kills me. With the 150 year anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation this seems like a perfect time to renew a passion for eliminating slavery once and for all.
Money spent so far: $247.54
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
02/25/13 - Day 62 - Badrap.org
It was wet and nasty today. Tomorrow promises to be more of the same. Today I had to be out in it walking dogs.
As I have mentioned, I work with dogs at my new job at the Animal Protective League. At any given times we have a pretty large number of pitbulls or dogs that look like pitbulls. There is a huge number of breeds that get mislabeled as pitbulls because many of the breeds look similar. The pitbulls and pit mixed breed dogs that we have are almost always nice and sweet but they get passed over because of their breed. We actually had a woman adopt a dog and then bring it back two months later not because of anything that the dog had done but because one of her friends suggested that her dog looked like a pitbull. It's frustrating getting to know these dogs and then having someone dismiss them just because of a misconception. I wouldn't want someone adopting a dog that they were afraid of, it just makes me sad that people have that idea of pitbulls.
I sought out a website that deals with this pitbull bias and came across badrap.org. Their tagline is "Securing the future of the American Pitbull Terrier as a cherished family companion." My anonymous kindness attack was to buy a book off their website called The Lost Dogs. It's the story of the pitbulls from Michael Vick's compound and their rehabilitation.
This anonymous kindness attack is more for the animal shelter that I work at and the pitbulls that I work with so I can better understand how to care for and talk about them. There are tons of training tips and helpful pamphlets for the animal shelter worker on this website as well. I hope that through my continued research I can help find these lovable and misunderstood dogs good homes.
Money spent so far: $247.54
As I have mentioned, I work with dogs at my new job at the Animal Protective League. At any given times we have a pretty large number of pitbulls or dogs that look like pitbulls. There is a huge number of breeds that get mislabeled as pitbulls because many of the breeds look similar. The pitbulls and pit mixed breed dogs that we have are almost always nice and sweet but they get passed over because of their breed. We actually had a woman adopt a dog and then bring it back two months later not because of anything that the dog had done but because one of her friends suggested that her dog looked like a pitbull. It's frustrating getting to know these dogs and then having someone dismiss them just because of a misconception. I wouldn't want someone adopting a dog that they were afraid of, it just makes me sad that people have that idea of pitbulls.
I sought out a website that deals with this pitbull bias and came across badrap.org. Their tagline is "Securing the future of the American Pitbull Terrier as a cherished family companion." My anonymous kindness attack was to buy a book off their website called The Lost Dogs. It's the story of the pitbulls from Michael Vick's compound and their rehabilitation.
This anonymous kindness attack is more for the animal shelter that I work at and the pitbulls that I work with so I can better understand how to care for and talk about them. There are tons of training tips and helpful pamphlets for the animal shelter worker on this website as well. I hope that through my continued research I can help find these lovable and misunderstood dogs good homes.
Money spent so far: $247.54
02/24/13 - Day 61 - Donated to Food Bank
I always am intrigued by how the clerks at the gas station that I go to will try to get me to buy more stuff. They often run contests for the clerks to up the average order size. They are pushing a different item every month. This month it has been cookies.
I was pretty impressed this time because the clerk asked me if I would like to donate two cookies for two dollars to the local food bank. They even had a tub behind the counter labeled "Food Bank Donations." I said yes.
Good job.
Money spent so far: $243.55
I was pretty impressed this time because the clerk asked me if I would like to donate two cookies for two dollars to the local food bank. They even had a tub behind the counter labeled "Food Bank Donations." I said yes.
Good job.
Money spent so far: $243.55
Saturday, February 23, 2013
02/23/13 - Day 60 - Customer Survey (free)
I had the day off work today and really had nothing to do. It's been a while since I had a day like that and I didn't know what to do with myself. My wife was gone most of the day also so that made it extra weird. I decided I would try to catch up on some reading.
I bought a book about a week ago called "Not For Sale." It is about modern day slavery and tells some pretty gruesome and sad stories about the victims of slavery. It also tells some tales of the heroes of the modern day abolitionist movement but the stories that really stick with me are the tales of the slaves. I have read through the chapters about Thailand, India, and Uganda and I had to take a break. This stuff is really dark. The author explains how these countries have the type of environment (poverty, over population, weak government, etc.) where slavery is more likely to happen. I still have trouble contemplating evil on this level.
"The world is a dangerous place not because of those that do harm,
but because of those who look at it and do nothing."
-Albert Einstein
I guess the real problem has been people like me. It's nearly impossible to go through your adult life and not hear about horrible shit like human trafficking. But what change will happen if good people do nothing? I obviously am still learning about this issue but I want to do something.
So in what now seems like a completely meaningless act of kindness for the day...
...I filled out on of those surveys that they give you on the bottom of receipts. I went to Papa Murphy's Pizza and just wanted to give the people that work there some positive feedback. I remember hearing in a meeting at my former workplace about how most people are far more likely to tell a friend or fill out a customer survey about a negative experience as opposed to a positive one. I wanted to be that small percentage of people that actually tells someone when they've done a good job. If you haven't tried Papa Murphy's Gourmet Veggie pizza you are missing out. Awesome stuff.
Money spent so far: $241.55
I bought a book about a week ago called "Not For Sale." It is about modern day slavery and tells some pretty gruesome and sad stories about the victims of slavery. It also tells some tales of the heroes of the modern day abolitionist movement but the stories that really stick with me are the tales of the slaves. I have read through the chapters about Thailand, India, and Uganda and I had to take a break. This stuff is really dark. The author explains how these countries have the type of environment (poverty, over population, weak government, etc.) where slavery is more likely to happen. I still have trouble contemplating evil on this level.
"The world is a dangerous place not because of those that do harm,
but because of those who look at it and do nothing."
-Albert Einstein
I guess the real problem has been people like me. It's nearly impossible to go through your adult life and not hear about horrible shit like human trafficking. But what change will happen if good people do nothing? I obviously am still learning about this issue but I want to do something.
So in what now seems like a completely meaningless act of kindness for the day...
...I filled out on of those surveys that they give you on the bottom of receipts. I went to Papa Murphy's Pizza and just wanted to give the people that work there some positive feedback. I remember hearing in a meeting at my former workplace about how most people are far more likely to tell a friend or fill out a customer survey about a negative experience as opposed to a positive one. I wanted to be that small percentage of people that actually tells someone when they've done a good job. If you haven't tried Papa Murphy's Gourmet Veggie pizza you are missing out. Awesome stuff.
Money spent so far: $241.55
Friday, February 22, 2013
02/22/13 - Day 59 - Special Olympics Volunteer (free)
It has been a cold and long day today. I woke up late and didn't eat breakfast and this made me feel pretty crummy the rest of the day. My back hurt and then my head hurt and I just wanted to complain all day. Ugh. I hate it when I'm like this. I definitely need to eat breakfast tomorrow. It was the end of a long week of work.
Also made a big mistake while recording my radio show tonight. I forgot to hit a very specific button on the console therefore everything I was saying into the microphone was being broadcast live on the radio. Fortunately, a friend called me and let me know so it was only for a minute or two. Still I felt pretty mortified.
I decided to volunteer for the Special Olympics. There is an event in September in a nearby town and I am hoping that I will be available for it. I know almost nothing about the Special Olympics but everyone that I've talked to about it says it's a pretty uplifting and inspiring program. I'm excited about it. I wish I commit to more volunteer time. Volunteering always makes me feel less stressed.
Money spent so far: $241.55
Also made a big mistake while recording my radio show tonight. I forgot to hit a very specific button on the console therefore everything I was saying into the microphone was being broadcast live on the radio. Fortunately, a friend called me and let me know so it was only for a minute or two. Still I felt pretty mortified.
I decided to volunteer for the Special Olympics. There is an event in September in a nearby town and I am hoping that I will be available for it. I know almost nothing about the Special Olympics but everyone that I've talked to about it says it's a pretty uplifting and inspiring program. I'm excited about it. I wish I commit to more volunteer time. Volunteering always makes me feel less stressed.
Money spent so far: $241.55
Thursday, February 21, 2013
02/21/13 - Day 58 - Scraping off cars (free)
Snowpocalypse 2013! Snowstorm hit my hometown today. Helped my coworkers scrape off their cars before we got to go home early from work. They spared us the awful driving conditions.
Money spent so far: $241.55
Money spent so far: $241.55
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
02/20/13 - Day 57 - Promoting friends (free)
Happy birthday long lost friend!
One of my inspirations for anonymous kindness attacks was a friend that passed away. He was always doing nice things for those closest to him and complete strangers. I wanted to honor him and his family by trying to really do something kind for people too. Today is his birthday. He would be 30 today.
I host an hour long radio show on a station here in my hometown. We generally play music that is never played on the radio. That's sort of our tagline. It's "smart music that flies under the radar." We play artists that are independent, unsigned, or even well known artists with tracks that are never heard. I thought it would be awesome to open it up to some of my local musician friends for an all local edition. Hopefully this will give them a chance to get some new fans and hear their own music on the radio.
I think it should be a good thing. I love promoting my friends and local musicians. I'm pumped about it.
Money spent so far: $241.55
One of my inspirations for anonymous kindness attacks was a friend that passed away. He was always doing nice things for those closest to him and complete strangers. I wanted to honor him and his family by trying to really do something kind for people too. Today is his birthday. He would be 30 today.
I host an hour long radio show on a station here in my hometown. We generally play music that is never played on the radio. That's sort of our tagline. It's "smart music that flies under the radar." We play artists that are independent, unsigned, or even well known artists with tracks that are never heard. I thought it would be awesome to open it up to some of my local musician friends for an all local edition. Hopefully this will give them a chance to get some new fans and hear their own music on the radio.
I think it should be a good thing. I love promoting my friends and local musicians. I'm pumped about it.
Money spent so far: $241.55
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