Traveling Guys

by Erik Olsen on

They call themselves the Traveling Guys because,
well, they are guys and they are traveling.

Their names are Lee and Patrick, and as you can see from
their video they are young, hip, handsome and, well, kind of
annoying. But they seem well-intentioned and are from Seattle,
which is cool. The Traveling Guys are embarking on an 18-month expedition to see the world and do good deeds…in their
words “to break cultural barriers by our acts of kindness.” Oh my, that’s a bit much, but maybe I’m just a cynic.

We’ll keep checking in to see how the Traveling Guys are coming along, but in the meantime check out the site.

(thanks, Carl!)

Coffee: The Disease Fighter

by Erik Olsen on

This is exactly the kind of news I need to read on a morning like this. Coffee, it seems, is good for you. I repeat:
coffee is good for you. Is that news not worth a quick prayer? Our Father, who art in Starbucks, we thank you for
the magic elixir of life that kick-starts our day, quickens our wit, enlivens the soul and loosens our morning bowels.
Amen.

OK, so the crux of the matter is this:
coffee, scientists say, is the
top source of disease-fighting antioxidants in the U.S.

Anti-wha? Yes, you were likely unaware that inside your body there are millions of “free radicals” running about,
causing all sorts of mayhem. Imagine each of your cells being like a microscopic Berkeley campus in the 60s. They
damage cell components, can cause cancer and heart disease, and generally leave the place a mess. One of them recently
spilled bong water on my Golgi Complex. Get a job, asshole!
Anyway, free radicals are bad.

Now what the antioxidants do is neutralize these free radicals. They are the National Guard of the body. And studies
over the years have shown that certain food contain these dutiful soldiers in great numbers, and lo! It turns out
coffee is one of these foods. Halleluiah! Of course, this is not a call to arms to get you to go out and order a triple
venti red-eye. Drinking coffee in excess still causes hyper-tension, high blood pressure and irritability, not to
mention bad breath and gas.

So drink your coffee in moderation, and go to sleep tonight (if you can…if you haven’t had too much coffee) confident
that all is well in the world and that when you awake, a hot steamy cup of health will be there. God willing.

Temp Job in Disaster Relief

by Erik Olsen on

Not that Boing Boing needs any link love from us, but I did fine
this post today pretty cool. They list the
various places and means by whiich folks can join disaster relief efforts around the country. Turns out it is not only
a great way to contribute your own time and energy, but you can make a buck as well. One route is to
Enroll in the Citizen
Corps, and/or to check the

USA JOBS website. And if you are interested merely in volunteering, you can check out
Freedom
Corps.



Traveling for Life

by Kelly Amabile on

The engaged traveler spotlight this week is not going to showcase one singular person. This week we salute, honor
and acknowledge the thousands of Americans traveling to and from from the gulf region. There are
countless travelers, moving on little sleep and without adequate supplies, that are engaged and active
right now — because they have to be. They have no other choice. This is serious and
somber travel, requiring urgent and necessary steps to provide and
survive.

First, all the folks heading to the region — emergency personnel and rescue operation units from
across the country are heading south to assist in a million ways. Convoys of medics and motorcades of military aid
are making their way as quickly as they can. FEMA, the Red Cross, the National Guard…and so many other relief
organizations, as well as concerned citizens volunteering to provide certain skills or services that
are in great demand.

Secondly, those that are being forced to flee. The growing number of displaced and homeless
residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is staggering, frightening and unprecedented. When I reminisced about
my love for New Orleans a few days ago, I had no idea it
might get this bad. Or this sad. People are wounded, hurt and in deep shock. The scars from this catastrophe will
last a lifetime. But, despite the overwhelming obstacles of fuel shortages, damaged infrastructure and
flooded streets, people are moving as best as they can. The spirit flowing in and out of
the region is resilient, determined and with each passing day, will hopefully become stronger and more united in
all efforts to overcome the unforgivable mess Katrina has made.

Hurricane Help

by Erik Olsen on

Willy over at Divester is onto something. He is asking folks to consider donating to the Red Cross and/or urging
them to take a look at the list of giving opps on Instapundit, where there is a
large, and growing, list of organizations that are working to help stabilize the situation and provide food, shelter,
and other emergency services to all the people in need. You, too, can help. Head to the
Red Cross and give a little something.