I wanted to mention that I'm struggling with the freelance writing. I've not been able to snag another assignment. I just received a contract for a piece I wrote over a month and a half ago and I've a manuscript out with an editor, but I haven't been able to snag a new assignment. It's frustrating, but at the same time the reality of the situation is rather clear: I only have so much time in the day and my full-time job keeps me plenty busy. Writing, on the side, is simply a drop in the bucket.
In other news, I wanted to talk about something positive (rather than my frustration over North Korea and how the U.S. media [Fox news] has misrepresented the facts on TV. Real quick: After the supposed nuclear test, Fox reported that North Korea had successfully completed a nuclear missile test. Not only that, but they showed video footage of missiles shooting up into the air. You just have to love how slanted Fox news is. Not only did they "mistakenly" report Congressman Foley as being a Democrat, but they totally gave out false information about the nuclear test. There's a big difference between a small, possibly unsuccessful nuclear test that was UNDERGROUND, and North Korea shooting missiles up into the air with nukes on them. The news media just loves frightening the pants off of Americas. Pisses me off to be sure).
But on that more positive note: Although it's Capitalism with a twist of goodness, I am happy to hear that the Product Red campaign has been launched. One of the cooler products is a red iPod Nano that Apple is selling. For $199, you get a normal iPod in the color red and $10 will go to the Global Fund to help Africans fight against HIV/AIDS.
Why do I like this idea of Product Red? People will be buying gifts for the upcoming holidays and if some of that money can go to help others, then I think it makes sense (provided that the Global Fund's funds actually reach those people who are supposed to relief it). So take a moment to think about helping others. I know that I get off on this kick from time to time, but I've made it a personal goal to give a portion of all money I earn through writing to various charities. Granted, I'm not earning a lot of money through writing, but 10% of every sale I've made has gone to charities. Why?
I've been called a bleeding heart liberal on my blog and I simply like to help others: No matter if I'm giving to a charity locally or somewhere in another country. When I was in graduate school and had a heck of a lot more time than I have now, I used to tutor someone on how to read. Adult literacy is an issue close to me. Heck, literacy in general is a major cause for me.
I believe that education (reading, writing, thinking, etc.) is the key to freedom. If you are educated and can learn how to work better, then you have an opportunity to pull yourself up from poverty. Yes, I know that life isn't so simplistic and that those dying from malaria in Africa would rather receive medicine than a book (that's why I am happy that Bill Gates has made it his foundation's goal to wipe malaria from Africa).
If I had a magic wand, which I don't, I'd swirl it and take away people's suffering. There isn't anything more frustrating to know that some people just don't care about others. This might be a generalization but it appears that many Americans don't care about other people. I hear a lot of "we should take care of our own first" and the like, but our problems in America are vast. Ever walk the streets of San Francisco and see how many homeless people there are? What about in Philadelphia, New York? What about the working poor? What about children who aren't getting a good education because they were born in an area where there aren't opportunities for growth and education? I could go on an on. America might be a rich country but it also has problems that many might ignore.
If you're morally opposed to helping "those people over there," then why not help out in your local area? Give to a local charity, volunteer your time in your neighborhood. We can't wait for our politicians to put things right. That will never happen. But people can make a different. If a little girl, before she died, could make a different starting Alex's Lemonade Stand, then why can't you help out?
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