March 6, 2004

Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid, Hai-Tri Le, Elaine Prenovost, Cherry Kinoshita and Judith Bluestone are good people. This week, they each won a Jefferson Award for their community service efforts. Read about these incredibly generous individuals and their selfless acts.

Your muse is Melpomene, the Songstress, the muse of Tragedy.
Her symbol is the tragic mask.
You are fascinated by the dark
and the plethora of emotions that accompany any good tragedy.

Which of the Nine Muses is your muse?
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March 5, 2004

Bridget Kelly is one of my heroes.

I wrote a column about her back in July 2002, sharing the story of how she was kidnapped by a stranger, robbed, raped, shot and left for dead. Not only did she survive the attack, she told the media to print the whole truth -- even the part about her sexual assault.

Kelly's story was updated last night on "Primetime Thursday." If you missed the heart-wrenching interview of this brave woman, I encourage you to read about it online.

"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece -- by thought, choice, courage and determination."
--John Luther

March 4, 2004

You may not know it, but those green meters in the U-District of Seattle aren't for granting parking permission. Every bit of spare change you slip in the slots goes directly to programs that aid homeless youths.

There are five meters along University Way. Residents in Capitol Hill are thinking about installing some as well. If you pass by one, consider sharing the wealth jangling inside your pockets. It's an excellent way to help the needy and discourage panhandling.

By the end of 2004, McDonald's plans to phase out its supersized menu options. Bowing to public pressure, the company says its 13,000 restaurants will simplify its menu in order to give customers a more balanced meal.

Apparently people are so incapable of ordering small or medium portions on their own that corporate America must do it for them.

March 3, 2004

Even as he ended his presidential campaign today, Senator John Edwards remained upbeat and positive.

I'm proud to have endorsed him, and disappointed in his loss. I only wish others could have seen his merit and imagined his vision of America coming true.

The sword in the stone exists, and it can be found in a Gothic abbey in Tuscany, Italy.

The Tuscan "Excalibur" was allegedly plunged into a rock in 1180 by Galgano Guidotti, a medieval knight who renounced war and became a hermit.

I wonder...if a young boy named Arthur pulled it out, would we still make him a king?

March 2, 2004

Six women in Washington party together every year. They bring a dessert and a check for $35. Instead of blowing that money on alcohol or shopping sprees, these gals formed Womenade, a personal charity that helps the needy in the nation's capitol.

The donations are small, but they're just enough to help buy clothes for the Goodwill or offer a supply of insulin to the local homeless shelter when it runs out. Womenade groups in Wisconsin, Texas and New Jersey are aiding their communities in small, but substantial ways.

I'm thrilled to see this idea is catching on.

"It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter."
--Marlene Deitrich

March 1, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week, I discuss ways to help modern poetry survive and flourish.

"Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry."
--Georges Brague

February 29, 2004

• Milla Charles - 3/3/55
• Tabatha Yeatts - 3/6/70

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