So you’ve seen the little orange link on all of these sites around the internet. What does it mean? What does it do? It’s a link for an RSS feed.

What’s that you might ask. Well the long and the short of it is that it’s a technology that you can use to subscribe to regularly published content. You can read news stories, blog posts, movie reviews, etc. from all of your favorite websites in one central location.

That central location is called your RSS Reader. There’s a wide variety of RSS Readers to choose from: NewsGator, Bloglines, and even the free, open-source email client Mozilla Thunderbird has RSS support. Each one of these readers have their own specific set up directions which you can find on their respective sites. Many of these will be easier than setting up a new email account.

Using RSS feeds will probably change the way you use the internet. I know that it’s changed the way that I use it. It makes getting content from a lot of different sources really easy and centrally located. And that is really helpful for me.

So without further ado, click here or copy this link and paste it into the RSS reader that you’ve selected. Also, if you’d like to read more about RSS, here’s a good primer. If you have any questions let us know and we’ll try and help.

For those of you who read my earlier post on this and took action, I just wanted to let you know that the Senate blocked drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! Very exciting!

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There is a lot of talk about the devistation being caused by AIDS in Africa. For some reason though, it seems to be something that every one of us knows about, but not very many of us actually care about. Does anyone know why this is?

As a think about it a few, fairly obvious, reasons come into my head. I think that maybe it is because we don’t see value in the continent and people of Africa. Maybe, it is because it seems so far away and we don’t see how we could possibly help in the fight against AIDS. Or, maybe, we keep that which is totally heartbreaking at arms length, like we keep so many other things, so that we never have to really feel anything.

The problem of AIDS isn’t an easy fix and it isn’t something we can do half-heartedly, if we are going to make a difference. To be involved in the fight against AIDS in Africa is to be affected. The link below is a photo essay on AIDS in Africa, composed of photos that have been donated by Kristen Ashburn. I recommend watching it.

Keep A Child Alive

December 26th.

‘Tis the day after Christmas, when all through the house
Wrapping paper covered everything, even a mouse.

I wrapped all my presents in recycle-able fare,
In hopes of disposing this paper with care.

So much paper is used in this season of sleds,
we can save the environment if we just use our heads.

Recycle that paper and reuse what’s not crap,
then you can lay down in peace for a much deserved nap.

Last Stand for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Please. Please. Please click on the link above and read the very very short article and then take action. It is very easy and extremely important. The Arctic and its inhabitants are in danger. Global warming is already doing a number on Arctic life and threatening polar bears with extinction. In addition to this, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is about to be destroyed so that the oil industry can come in and drill. The already fragile artic ecosystem is not likely to survive. To help, all you have to do is fill out a couple of lines with your information and then submit it. If you are feeling bold and brave send it on to others whom you think would be willing to follow your lead.

Java Products Corporation

On a lighter note. I love cozying up to a fire and reading a book on a cold and snowy night. Doesn’t it sound delicious? Well, here is a very cool product that let’s you enjoy a fire without having to cut down trees! It is a log made out of coffee grounds. It sounds very cool, but I don’t have a fireplace of my own so I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out. If anyone has used a Java Log let me know. I would love to hear some feedback about it.

Every time I feel like I am starting to be a well-informed person on human rights and environmental issues, I am very quickly reminded that I am not. I suppose that that is the case for everyone, in every area of life, but, nevertheless, everytime I am reminded it comes as a shock as I return to my rightful place among human beings, as one, whose existence, is not in reality, any greater or less than anyone elses. I am just me. I know what I know and there is no need to compare who I am to who anyone else is. I think that in some ways we are all used to trying to survive this world that we create struggle where there is not any. I want to spend more time fighting on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves. What is it that I am doing now to help? Working hard to become a healthy and whole person so that I am better equiped to help others in the future become healthy and whole people. Creating a website (www.One-Change.com) so that I can help inform others about the simple and not so simple changes they can make to their life style that will benefit the world and those living in it. Doing my best to share all that God has given me with my family and friends. You know, as hard as life is, it never ceases to be boring if we choose to participate.

Caring for the environment is not my primary concern or my only concern, but it is an issue that is very important to me. I want to do my part to care for the environment and that means that I need to be informed and make changes to my lifestyle. I wanted to find a resource that provided me with the basics I needed, as a regular person that knows enough about what is going on in the world to know that there are changes that I should make and can make to live in a more environmentally and socially friendly way. However, much of what I found provided me with too much information and I left each site feeling overwhelmed and depressed at what was happening to the world and I still didn’t know what I could do with the time and energy I had. I decided since I couldn’t find it, that I would create it, with the help of my talented husband, and share it with all of you. It will provide you with the basics you need to begin to make changes that will benefit the world. Thank you for doing your part. Welcome.