Laughing Bride

This is funny...


Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Microloans: Beggar Banks And Telephone Ladies

Breakpoint had an interesting article on the value of microloans. Click the picture above to read the article.

Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit.

Our Christmas Card Pose?

I think this is the pose our family is going to use for Christmas cards this year. I think my friend Ty could do wonders in making a Custom Caricature Christmas Card out of it...

Updated NIV Bible Coming Soon...

Biblica Announces First Update in Quarter Century of the World's Most Popular Bible CBT to Update New International Version (NIV) for 2011.

The global board of Biblica today announced its intention to update the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, the first time it has been revised since 1984. The Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), the independent body of global biblical scholars solely responsible for the translation of the world's most popular Bible, is slated to finish its revision late next year, with publication in 2011. The announcement was made at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., the site of the historic first meeting of the CBT in 1965.

"We want to reach English speakers across the globe with a Bible that is accurate, accessible and that speaks to its readers in a language they can understand," said Keith Danby, Global President and CEO of Biblica. "This is why we are recommitting ourselves today to the original NIV charter, complete with its charge to monitor and reflect developments in English usage and Biblical scholarship by periodically updating the NIV Bible text.

"As time passes and English changes, the NIV we have at present is becoming increasingly dated. If we want a Bible that English speakers around the world can understand, we have to listen to, and respect, the vocabulary they are using today."

Click the image above to read the full press release.

Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

The Blind Side Movie Trailer

There is a new football movie coming out around Thanksgiving of this year. I hope the movie is good, because the story it is based on is great.

The Blind Side is an upcoming 2009 film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens NFL football team. The film follows Oher from his impoverished upbringings, through his years at Briarcrest Christian School, his adoption by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, and on to his position as one of the most highly coveted prospects in college football.

The film stars Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher and Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, Oher's adopted parents. Kathy Bates co-stars as Miss Sue, Oher's no-nonsense tutor. The movie also features appearances by several current and former NCAA coaches, including Nick Saban, Lou Holtz and Tommy Tuberville.

Watch the movie trailer below and then click the link above to read the story from the New York Times.



Thanks To Keith at BagOfNothing

Big Picture: Wildfires In Southern California

Angeles National Forest, in the hills outside of Los Angeles currently has several wildfires tearing through it, the largest of which - named the Station Fire - has so far burned over 140,000 acres, destroyed nearly 100 structures, and claimed the lives of two firefighters whose vehicle fell from a road into a steep canyon. Evacuation orders are in place for thousands in communities around the city, and residents of Los Angeles itself are contending with thick smoke and ash hanging in the air, causing air quality to drop to unhealthful levels in many parts. Currently, the Station Fire is estimated to be 22% contained, and favorable weather appears to be aiding the efforts of the firefighters. (41 photos total)

Click the image above to see the full collection.

Help Our Friend Give Her Birthday Gift Away...

Our friend Ronne (Veronica) will be celebrating her 50th birthday in September. To celebrate she wants to give her gift away. Her words say it best...

I've been looking forward to my 50th birthday for so long now - there's something regal, beautiful about the number. I've been blessed with moments bright and dark, all woven into an amazing tapestry of life and love.

So, to celebrate the arrival of my big day on September 27th, I'm asking you to do something special for me.

Give my gift away.

Nothing would make my celebration brighter than for you to give $50 (or whatever you can afford) to give others life. A billion men, women, and children in the world are living without clean water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families.

How wonderful will it be to know you helped give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it.

Thanks for celebrating life with me.

Peace and grace,

Ronne

please note: Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to direct water projects costs, and each donation is "proved" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.

Click on Ronne's picture above to go to the site and learn more.

Thanks For Sharing This With Us Ronne!

Death, Taxes & Fees...$943 Per Year On Average

An interesting article on fees.

Fees used to be an occasional expense, an additional charge in exchange for an additional service. But in recent years, they’ve become a common way for companies and governments to juice up revenue without raising the price that everybody sees.

Consumers still pay more, of course, and the extra fees make it harder to do comparison shopping, which may be one objective. Last month, my electric retailer added a $5 monthly fee but kept the same variable-rate formula for calculating the bill. Try figuring out how that affects kilowatt costs — and whether a switch is warranted.

A 2006 study by the Ponemon Institute estimated that Americans were paying an average of almost $943 a year in fees, with the biggest amounts going to banks and credit card companies.

Click the image above to read the full article.