Stuff YOU Should Know
Tis the Season to be Awesome!
Last year, btw enthusiastically brought you news of the wildly successful crowdfunding campaign called Project for Awesome. In 2007, “Vlogbrothers” Hank and John Green (the latter of whom is the popular YA writer) encouraged anyone with a camera and a charity to promote to upload a video educating the public about their cause and asking for their vote. The organizations must be registered as a nonprofit with the IRS in order to be eligible. For 48 hours every December, the videos infiltrate YouTube, where viewers leave comments and vote for their favorites. At the end of the campaign, the votes are tallied and the top ten charities divide a portion of all of the money raised.
This year, in an attempt to deter “internet trolls” from hijacking the voting, all of the proceeds raised in the first half of the campaign will go to two pre-determined charities. They chose Partners in Health (a global healthcare initiative devoted to bringing quality medical care to the poor) and Save the Children (an international organization that improves the lives of children all over the world through education, emergency aid, healthcare and economic activity.
Dig Deeper Check out the site – http://www.projectforawesome.com/ and watch the videos of at least three of the winners. What would it take for you to participate next year?
Congress Passes Spending Bill
Each year, a budget containing how America spends its money comes up for a vote. The end of last year saw a number of stories about our lawmakers’ inability to work together and agree on a federal budget. It eventually lead to a government shutdown. However, both sides took a hit in the fallout as voters blamed both sides for failing to compromise for the good of the American people. This year, both Republicans and Democrats were more interested in avoiding gridlock. Both the House and then the Senate recently approved the $1.1 trillion spending package.
The highlights of the budget are more spending on combating disease throughout the world (in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa), an increase in military (including operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria). Portions of Dodd-Frank (the financial reform bill passed in response to Wall Street negligence that caused the 2008 financial crisis) were reworked (those opposed say it will allow banks to take big risks while those in favor believe it will help stimulate the economy).
Dig Deeper Both sides are reportedly calling the package “less than perfect.” Find out elements of the package what each side considers a victory and a defeat for their side.
Pope’s Comment Creates Heavenly Debate
Earlier this month, the New York Times ran a story about how Pope Benedict XVI, or Francis as he is commonly known, allegedly told a crowd gathered at the Vatican that their pets had a place in the afterlife. It was not surprising considering the saint for which the Pope took his name, Francis of Assisi, was considered (among other things) the patron saint of animals. The story, having gained traction (as well as enthusiastic support of many animal activist groups), however, appears to have been taken out of context. It was a case of a mistranslation of Pope Francis regarding another Pope (Paul VI) who had made the claim to comfort a boy many decades ago.
The alleged remark upset some of the more conservative members of the church because the general position of the Catholic church is that animals do not go to heaven because they do not possess a soul. Despite the confusion, this is not the first time that or Pope Francis has upset conservative Catholic. His “more lenient” views on parenthood outside of marriage, homosexuality and birth control are among the issues that the Pope has been criticized for.
What Do You Think? Do you have a pet? Do you believe in heaven? If yes to either, do you believe your pets will go to heaven? Why or why not? Regardless of your opinion on the topic of heaven, what do you make of all of the controversy surrounding Pope Francis’ remarks?
Creative Housing Solution
Photo: Glow Images; would you like to live in one of these?
Affordable housing is something that will likely always be in demand all over the world. In Johannesburg, South Africa, a development company called Mill Junction is addressing this shortage by offering a unique accommodation alternative for those living in the city and attending the University of Johannesburg, University of Witwatersrand, and the film school AFDA. Mill Junction is made up of unused grain silos and oversized shipping containers stacked atop one another and adjacent to the silos. Their development offers a rooftop entertainment area, as well as gathering areas and game rooms.
Considered both practical and innovative, this is not the first instance of this kind of development to crop up in the city. Two years ago, another company called Citiq Property Developers developed a city block of shipping container apartments that soon became the benchmark for future projects. In addition to practical matter of repurposing existing materials, these new facilities also often showcase ecofriendly initiatives like centralized hot water, energy efficient lighting, and pre-paid utility meters to make tenants aware of their consumption.