Thank You. No, Thank You. - WSJ.com

Thank You. No, Thank You. - WSJ.com:

"Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. They're also less likely to be depressed, envious, greedy or alcoholics. They earn more money, sleep more soundly, exercise more regularly and have greater resistance to viral infections.

Now, researchers are finding that gratitude brings similar benefits in children and adolescents."

I would have to imagine they also volunteer more too! :)

My Take: Gratitude at Katrina’s ground zero – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Image via WikipediaMy Take: Gratitude at Katrina’s ground zero – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs:

"They don’t complain. Few here do. They are too busy putting the Mississippi Gulf Coast back together after it was eviscerated in 2005 by sustained 125 mph winds, hop-scotching tornadoes, and a thirty-plus-foot storm surge.

Home sales were up last month and prices were steady. Unemployment was slightly higher, but still lower than the national average. Only 93 FEMA trailers remain on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The casinos and many hotels, restaurants and other businesses have re-opened.

In... Bay St. Louis, there is a new fire station. Elementary school children are out of trailers and attending class in a brick-and-mortar building for the first time in five years. The flattened Little Theatre has relocated to one of the few historic buildings left standing after the storm."

Related articles

• Tales of Katrina told through La. museum exhibit (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Katrina is 'part of your heritage' (ramblingprose.wordpress.com)
• Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard Signals a New Era in Mississippi Gulf Coast Tourism (eon.businesswire.com)
• The Awful Odyssey of FEMA's Hurricane Katrina Trailers (dailyfinance.com)

F1 tornado touches down in Walworth & Racine County's - Milwaukee Top News | Examiner.com

Good news! It does not look like we will be needed in Wisconsin or Illionis. The damage was not widespread and the local area should be able to handle it. If anyone from the affected area hear otherwise, please let us know.

From Milwaukee "paper":
F1 tornado touches down in Walworth & Racine County's - Milwaukee Top News | Examiner.com

"At a press conference held at the Zenda Public Works building, Town of Linn Police Chief Dennis Wisniewski said, “ We have four house that have been damaged, three barns, and power lines down. We have officers checking out the area a little bit more Northeast to make sure we don't have any more damage.”

Help For Haiti - MedShare

Help For Haiti - MedShare: "This August, volunteer videographer Byron Small accompanied two MedShare employees on their trip to Haiti where they visited Hopital de Pignon, Grace Children's Hospital, and St. Nicholas Hospital. While there, Byron captured footage of MedShare-donated supplies being put to use and the Haitians response to international recovery efforts. Through his lens, you can see the difference Medshare - with your help - is making in Haiti."


Some of our early shipments of Medical Supplies went here. Nice video!

Unbreakable: Building disaster-proof cities - CNN.com

Unbreakable: Building disaster-proof cities - CNN.com:

Sanjay Gupta from Kobe Japan, 15 years after their earthquake.

"The challenge now for cities like Port-au-Prince is not to just rebuild as safely and expeditiously as possible -- but to create a city that is safer than the one before the earthquake.

Notice Baord Announcement

The following was sent to the SBU notice Board.  Since many of you are off campus, I thought you might like to see it as well


BonaResponds and the local Islamic Community are teaming up to raise money for recovery efforts in Pakistan.  Yesterday (November 1) the Red Cross released its most recent estimate that over one million people are still unable to return to their homes.   Now you CAN help.  We will have drop off sites around campus where you can drop off your NYS 5 cent deposit cans and bottles.  We will convert them into life saving cash that will help fund the shipment of medical and school supplies as well as be given to relief agencies who are on the ground in Pakistan.

Late last week I spoke with some friends in Haiti.  They stressed the need for soap and hand sanitzer, and tarps.  We will include these in our next shipment to the Earthquake and now disease (and soon to be tropical storm) ravished nation.  You can drop more school supplies (calculators, pens, pencils, crayons, and small notebooks are especially prized), as well as soap, sanitizer, and tarps at my office (231 Murphy) or at the Allegany Park and Shop.

Finally- many jobs this coming weekend.  From another wheelchair ramp project, to helping a poor mother-to-be prepare her house, to teaming up with Villa Volunteers at the Buffalo Galleria Mall to raise money for next year's food packing event.  We'd love to have you out.  Saturday and Sunday!  Mark your calendar. More info to follow or on http://BonaResponds.org  We especially need people at the galleria mall on Sunday.  If you can make it, please let us know! 

Related articles

• "Haiti: Anxiously Watching Tomas" and related posts (afludiary.blogspot.com)
• Red Cross Responds to Cholera Outbreak in Haiti (prnewswire.com)
• Haiti's year of woe: quake, cholera, now Tropical Storm Tomas (chron.com)
• Ottawa urged to extend Pakistan donation deadline (ctv.ca)

YOU CAN help Pakistan

Image via Wikipedia

Following up on the bake sale that was held in Conjunction for our Haiti Food Packing event, we are happy to announce another fundraising event for Pakistan.   For the next week (Tues to Tues) we will be collecting beverage cans (pop cans, bottles (or soda if you prefer), bottle water, and beer cans/bottles) that have a 5 cents New York state deposit.

We will then turn the cans in for money that will be used to both send medical supplies and to fund  relief organizations in Pakistan. (so no we are not going to Pakistan--that sigh of relief you hear is from Hopkins ;) )



Look for containers around campus and a large container outside of the Reilly Center. What you may have thrown away can help get the poor of Pakistan back on their feet.

While out of the news, the size of this size of this disaster is staggering. For some facts on it see this video from the Relief Society of Canada. (pretty cool music too)



Here is another (older) video that shows the scope of the damage

Related articles

• After the Pakistan Floods, Why Relief Help Was Slow to Arrive (scientificamerican.com)
• ShelterBox Steps up Delivery of Emergency Shelter for Thousands in Pakistan, Mexico (prweb.com)
• Be wary of Web scams about flood in Pakistan (blogs.forbes.com)