I always try to strategically distribute my charitable contributions, but my primary charities of choice have always been UNICEF and AIDS-related charities (AIDS Walk, SF AIDS Foundation, etc.).

It has been years since I have actively fund raised for UNICEF (remember those orange Halloween boxes?), and in the past few years, my contributions have been primarily in the form of holiday cards or sporadic donations throughout the year.

Watching Long Way Down Thursday night reminded me why I chose UNICEF in the first place, and why it is so very important to support organizations that are working directly with communities in need, in practical ways.

I have created my own UNICEF donation page, and have set a modest goal of $1,000 for this calendar year. In the months to come, I will continue to make appeals to my family and friends to help me support this extraordinary organization.

If you don't wish to donate to my page, kindly consider giving an inspired gift, or consider donating directly to the current Ethiopian food crisis, or to the Long Way Down appeal.

I know money is tight for a lot of us. But consider how this worldwide economic crisis is affecting those who already have so little. The smallest victims are the most vulnerable.
Kindly consider giving any way you can, to any of the above appeals.

http://inside.unicefusa.org/goto/akemi

Ethiopian Appeal

Inspired Gifts (USA)

http://www.unicef.org.uk/longwaydown/

Thank you!

Nicole Kidman gives birth to baby girl.

Yay!!! Congrats Nicole and Keith!!

Except that watching the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs marathon reminded me that, dirty or no, I am totally infatuated with Mike Rowe.

I mean, who wouldn't love a guy who makes fart jokes. Am I right?

Obama Clinches Nomination

Yay!

California State Supreme Court Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Ban.


YES!!!

Speed Racer is a REALLY shitty movie.

Susan Sarandon needs to get herself a new agent. POST HASTE.

January 2009 can NOT come fast enough.

P.S. HIMYM was EFFING AWESOME tonight! (Tiffany cameo! ZOMG!)

Oh, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Has it really been five years? It seems like only yesterday that we were standing in the middle of the street, trying to resist you.

We've come a long way, haven't we? Remember when everyone thought that we were a good idea? That was fun, wasn't it? I mean, who knew that what was supposed to be a fling - a quick in-and-out operation, would turn into such a commitment? We wandered in, all wide-eyed and optimistic, with loads of money and ambition. We thought we could fix you, and change you, and make you into the Iraq that we wanted to be with.

But soon, the honeymoon ended. It started with the little things. Those Weapons of Mass Destruction that we were so sure you were keeping from us; those invisible, nonexistent ties to 9/11. Yeah, we made our mistakes, but you did too. You told us you would be okay if we pulled out - you told us you could stand on your own. But you couldn't make up your mind; you kept telling us that you just needed a little more time. And we supported you. Hell, we sent in more support when it looked like everything was falling apart.

And now look at us. Our resources and money are quickly draining away. We've lost confidence in ourselves, and our ability to hold us together. But we can't just leave; we can't just walk away. We've invested so much of ourselves, and to what end? This relationship isn't any better than it was five years ago, is it? In fact, perhaps it's worse!

Our friends stopped calling us. They got tired of the way we were ignoring them for you. And yeah, we know that you've heard whispers about an affair with Iran - but don't believe everything you hear - not yet, anyway.

We can fix you; we know we can. Just give us a chance - one more chance. It might take another five years - maybe ten, but we know we can make it better...we can make YOU better.

You just have to stop resisting.

Happy Anniversary, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Here's to many more years together.