Celebrities read too, just like us, only bigger.

The rich and famous also enjoy a good book.  Check out this:
From Flavorwire.com

Celebrities may live glamorous lives, but at the end of the day, we’d like to think that a good number of them curl up at home with a good book. And that’s why it’s so gratifying to learn that a completely unexpected famous person possesses a ton of books. We gained newfound respect for Karl Lagerfeld, for instance, when the Observer published a photo of his enormous (and, of course, gorgeous) home library. Curious to find out which other celebrities are bookworms behind closed doors, we rounded up ten photos of famous bookshelves, from Woody Allen and Oprah to Greta Garbo and Michael Jackson.

Help for Haiti that works

It is good to see some progress in a place like Haiti, even when they need so much more.  As Nicholas Kristof says in this piece, real change will only happen when people have a way to change their future.  A helping hand is vital when disaster happens but it is just the start.  We all to often forget the real work that needs to follow.

Got to full article
Kristoff is a New York Times columnist. He blogs at http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com.

By Nicholas D. Kristof
New York Times Published on Friday, Jan 07, 2011
NEW YORK: Nearly a year after the earthquake in Haiti, more than 1 million people are still living in tents and reconstruction has barely begun — and that's a useful reminder of the limitations of charity and foreign aid.
Private and public donations saved lives in Haiti, no question. But it's also true that well-meaning bleeding-hearts tend to exaggerate the impact aid typically has on a country. Those nations that have managed to lift themselves out of poverty have done so mostly with trade, not aid — with giving people jobs and a ladder, not handouts and an elevator.
On the other hand, stony-hearts mistakenly surrender hope. They see Haiti — or Africa — as a bottomless pit, a perennial hell impervious to progress. That doesn't match reality either.
So let me guide you to a village in the Haitian interior where I recently saw an aid program making a difference — by helping people help themselves. There are many variants of such programs around the world, but this one is run by Fonkoze, a peasant bank that is one of the most admired aid organizations in Haiti. It was founded by a local Catholic priest, the Rev. Joseph Philippe, who then recruited an American management consultant, Anne Hastings, to run it. Hastings went to Haiti for a temporary visit in 1995. She is still there.
....
On a hillside in central Haiti, I met Odecile Jean, a 35-year-old woman with five children, ages 5 to 15. When she entered the Fonkoze program, none of her children was in school, and she had no farm animals. The family lived day to day, surviving on odd jobs.
Yet after 13 months in the 18-month-long program, Jean beamed as she showed off her brand new cow, discussed her thriving lumber business and boasted that her children were all in school. Her husband, Lionel, hinted of ambitions for them to go to college.
...
What Haiti needs above all these days is these kinds of livelihoods for its people, not just shipments of food and clothing. It's hard to think of a charitable project that will be as beneficial as the Coca-Cola Co.'s decision to build up the mango juice industry in Haiti, supporting 25,000 farmers. The same is true of the move by South Korean garment companies to open factories in Haiti.
I strongly believe that we have a moral obligation to address extreme poverty around the world. But sometimes the best way to discharge that obligation isn't charity in the old-fashioned sense of handouts, but rather helping people like Jean find their own ways to support their families.

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Ten Investing Tips

It's a new year!  Time to put our bad habits behind us and plan for the future.

Link to full artical

Tip 1: Define or refine your life goals
Tip 2: Get the big picture of your financial plan
Tip 3: Create an investment policy statement
Tip 4: Know your risk tolerance
Tip 5: Review and rebalance your portfolio
Tip 6: Establish an emergency fund
Tip 7: Review your approved listTip 8: Roth IRA conversions and moreTip 9: Estimate your retirement nest egg needsTip 10: Capture the match in your retirement plan

Homeless Man with 'Golden Voice' and a New Future

It pays to advertise, even if you're homeless:

From Sandra Rose

A homeless man with a “golden voice” was offered a job with a local radio station in Columbus, Ohio after a viral video garnered over 4 million hits on YouTube in 2 days.

Ted Williams was soliciting money by the side of Interstate 71 in Columbus, Ohio, when a reporter from the Columbus Dispatch spotted his sign advertising his “god given gift” of a golden voice.

The reporter uploaded a video he made on his cell phone of Wiliams speaking, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mr. Williams has also reportedly been offered a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  We wish him luck.  Just goes to show, never give up.

They took my Kodachrome away!!

The last place to have Kodachrome developed is no longer accepting any more film.  Dwayne's Photo Shop in Parsons Kansas developed the last roll on Dec. 30, 2010.  Kodak no longer produces the chemicals so this is the end.  See this article from the KOAM TV in Kansas:
http://www.koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11316616

Updated December 30, 2010 at 4:55 PM CST by ANGELA GREENWOOD:  The end of the year brings the end of what many say is the best slide and movie film in history.

The world's last standing Kodachrome film developer is located in Parsons, Kansas, and on Thursday, they stopped taking the film.

According to Dwayne's Photo Shop in Parsons, most people have never heard of Kodachrome film.  But the unique film is bringing attention to Parsons.

Large crowds of people from across the region and the world came to Dwayne's Photo Shop on Thursday to take advantage of the absolute last chance to have their now obsolete Kodachrome film developed.

I hope no one has any left over rolls you meant have developed because it's too late now.  I hope I don't have any.  I still have some print film to develop.  I guess I better get it done.  Everything I do now is digital but I still have my film cameras and one day I plan to shot some more film.  I really do.

New Years Eve Party Ideas

In past years we have gone to a few New Years Eve Rabbit Shows.  Yep, rabbit shows. 
This year we will be staying home so we will need to plan our own party, even if it is just our family.
Here are some ideas from around the web:
From http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7736182-latest-new-years-eve-party-ideas

Making a year’s last party a special one, either by opting for a radically distinctive décor or cuisine, is a great way to celebrate the coming of a new year.
For the New Year Eve party decoration, choosing white, black and silver will create an ambiance of merriment and playfulness. Adding stars carved out from printable materials, cutting movie reels and board claps with black and white paper will add glister without much expense. 

From: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/12/28/new-years-eve-party-ideas-finger-foods-appetizers-holiday-bites/

Whether you’re hosting a party, joining someone else’s or having a quiet night at home with the family, these New Year’s Eve ideas for fun party food are a great way to celebrate.
With delicious, easy ideas like Sweet and Spicy Walnuts, Homemade Caramelized Onion Dip and Hazelnut-Crusted Fried Brie, how can you resist?
Get all of the recipes and inspirations for your New Year’s Celebration:

Check the link above for recipes.

Have fun and stay safe!

What will you find here?

Like a curious rabbit, this site will search out interesting news items on what ever topic catches our fancy.  Please check back and enjoy the trip with us.