Category Archives: Links
My lolcat, let me show you it
I enjoy the LOLcat macros a lot – they never fail to make me grin. Basically they’re funny pictures of cats (and other animals) captioned using really bad grammar and spelling. Several internet speak phrases have been coined on that site (like the ‘let me show you it’ used in the subject line).
Anyway, I found a cute picture of a porcupine I took at Basel zoo a while back and decided to try my hand at creating my own macro. A friend provided the caption, because I’m just not that funny. 🙂
moar funny pictures
It’s a good day
The California Supreme Court (with a Republican majority) ruled that same-sex marriages are legal. That is such great news. I simply don’t understand how you can discriminate against people because of their sexuality – that’s as wrong as discrimination because of race or gender.
“The California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples,” Chief Justice Ronald George wrote in the majority opinion.
Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry “will not deprive opposite-sex couples of any rights and will not alter the legal framework of the institution of marriage,” George said. – San Francisco Chronicle
Now let’s just hope that fear and prejudice will not overcome reason. Seriously, how anyone can see same-sex marriage as the biggest threat to “family values” when we live in a society where marriage and divorce seem to mean so little to so many is a complete mystery to me. I mean, when a same-sex couple in a soap opera kisses, there’s an outcry – but when people on that soap opera cheat and lie and kill, when women are portrayed in stereotypical and negative ways, that’s completely harmless? That just doesn’t make sense at all.
But yes, for a moment, I want to focus on the good stuff. This video brought happy tears to my eyes.
How to help the people in Burma
With the Myanmar military regime refusing the open its borders to humanitarian aid, it’s difficult to know how to help. This might be one way:
Avaaz is raising funds for the International Burmese Monks Organization, which will transmit funds directly to monasteries in affected areas.
In many of the worst-hit areas, the monasteries are the only source of shelter and food for Burma’s poorest people. They have been on the front lines of the aid effort since the storm struck. Other forms of aid could be delayed, diverted or manipulated by the Burmese government–but the monks are the most trusted and reliable institution in the country.
This sounds as if it might work, so if you want to help the people suffering the cyclone’s aftereffects, check out Avaaz.
Follow me…
In order to keep track of my online activities, I’ve set up a Tumblr account where I’ll link to my travel log updates as well as anything else of interest. I’ll probably also use it as a blog-type thing once I’m back home.
Leaving for New Zealand
In four days I’m leaving Switzerland for about a year (return date hasn’t been set yet). First I’ll spend two weeks in California, visiting my friend Bronwyn near San Francisco, then it’s back to school in Wellington, New Zealand. You can follow my adventures abroad on my brandnew travel domain (which includes a blog, of course), InForeignParts.net.
Bye bye for now! 🙂
Free Burma
From here, International Bloggers’ Day for Burma on the 4th of October.
About “Free Burma!”
International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words “Free Burma!”.
Take part in this action for a Free Burma!
Taking part in the Free Burma! campaign is as simple as possible:
If you are a website owner or blogger you just have to post one entry on the 4th of October 2007 on your website/blog with the title/text Free Burma! and include one of the graphics from this page or from our Flickr group to sync our global voices. Please use the tag “free burma” if possible. For bloggers, our slogan is: “One blogpost for Burmaâ€, for website owners: “One text for Burmaâ€.
If you have no website or blog we need you even more: Please help us to spread the word while commenting on other blogs with our message/link, posting on forums, guestbooks and message boards, tell your neighbours, friends or kids and first of all: Sign our list of participants! Furthermore you can visit our Wiki for more information and organisation.
Further links:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/t.php
http://www.bpf.org/html/whats_now/2007/burma_peace.html
Now that’s a creative solution to a problem!
Apparently, since the information services in Switzerland changed their number earlier this year, a lot of stupid people have been calling the fire emergency number instead – so much so that the firemen of Geneva decided to do something about it: A rap song, complete with video!
It’s in French, but it’s simply hilarious! *g*
Free music (completely legal!)
I’ve been following the blog Yellow Stereo, which links to some pretty awesome music – and most recently I saw a couple of links for downloads offered by interesting bands:
– Bedroom Eyes, a Swedish one-man-combo, offers both of his EPs
– The Format, an Arizona pop rock band, is celebrating the first anniversary of their album ‘Dog Problems’ by giving it away for free (until July 16)
Also, Fingertips is a blog specialising on legal mp3s.
Did I mention
that in my recent move towards a healthier, more ethical lifestyle I also ditched tampons and disposable pads? Oh yes, and I’ve never been happier – actually, I’m working on creating a page devoted to my experiences with the DivaCup and cloth pads, because they’re not just good for the environment, they also feel very good. But for now, a link to one of the big sellers, both for the Cup and other re-usable menstrual products:
Swiss women, you can buy the DivaCup here.
/end of PSA (Public Service Announcment) 🙂