Muluzi arrested

For any of you not on the Malawi Yahoo Group, Muluzi was arrested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5220068.stm

Miss you all!

Stephanie

More activist stuff- Federal Funding Accountability

Hope all are enjoying the summer, and getting through the storms. Still working with kids as a mentor. Lots of mountain biking. Fixing up an old motorcycle. On a random note found a wild pumpkin plant and could not bring myself to pick the leaves and cook it.

For those of you interested, there is a pretty sweet bill going through congress now, see the attached data below.

Take action
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2786. on the right select your state, the newspapers you want to write to, and send it. Easy as cake.

Stay well, Matt

Federal Funding Accountability And Transparency Act Must Pass!

July 13, 2006 – Republican Senator Tom Coburn (OK) and Democrat Senator Barak Obama (IL) are co-sponsoring S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability And Transparency Act.

This legislation is designed to create a single, searchable public database listing the names and amounts of nearly all public and private institutions receiving federal money.

According to the General Services Administration, the federal government provides grants of $300 billion annually to 30,000 organizations. Americans need to know where these dollars are being spent.

If this bill is passed, it would require that the White House Office of Management and Budget create a single database to track all grantees receiving federal funds. It would require a breakdown of each funding agency, program source and a description of the purpose of each grant. According to Coburn, “Sunshine’s the best thing we’ve got to control waste, fraud and abuse. It’s also the best thing … to control stupidity.”

The Traditional Values Coalition supports passage of S. 2590. “Taxpayers should have open access to how their tax monies are being spent by Congress,” said TVC Executive Director Andrea Lafferty. “If they see how many millions are being wasted on worthless or questionable projects, they will demand more accountability and fiscal responsibility from their legislators!”

Affordable health care

Just incase some of you are suffering from some weird ailment, or just want some night time reading, Where There is No Doctor is now available on-line.

http://www.hesperian.info/publications_download_info.html

A bad day to be a St. Louisan

Hi all. I'm sitting at a cafe that remarkably has power and using their free wifi. I came here to enjoy the comfort of the air conditioning. I have no idea what the news is saying, as I haven't been able to use a t.v. in awhile, but we had one hell of a storm yesterday. I'm not sure what it was, actually, mostly it was just wind. A little rain at the tail end, but not much. But for an hour or so yesterday, wind blew and took everything with it. It was one of the scariest storms I've ever been in. Trees uprooted or broken. Houses and cars smashed all over the place. A few old historic buildings have collapsed near my house. None of the street lights work (most of them actually came off the poles) so I now live in a city full of 4-way stops. It's crazy. The majority of the city and the surrounding counties have no power. There are a few blocks here and there that do. They're saying my zip code won't have power for 3-5 days, which is inconvenient because this week is also supposed to be one of the hottest in history. We are, however, some of the lucky ones. My sister's house has no damage. Pieces of debris everywhere in the yard, but none of it came off of our house. The people behind us had their roof smashed in by a large tree. Ugh. Well, I'm going to go read the paper online. If you'd like to read about the storm, try www.stltoday.com. That's our newspaper. I hope everyone else is safe and sound.

love - jess

Scott goes to space!

I hope this finds everyone doing well and finding some time to enjoy the summer. By night I am waitressing at two restaraunts and by day I am teaching at a summer school for hispanic migrant children. My class is the 9-11 year olds, who range from 2nd grade up to 6th grade. Although the kids' skill levels drastically differ (I have one boy from Mexico who really only communicates in Spanish, some 10 year olds who can't read, and a few at grade level) I am enjoying having only 12 students, a classroom assistant, enough contstruction paper to make color coordinated folders for each subject, and my own classroom. I teach all subjects and in science we have been working on a flight, space, and solar system unit. Last week I decided to do a rocket demonstration by mixing together baking powder and vinegar in a bottle. I had told my students that I had a friend who worked for NASA (Mr. Mermelstein) and thus they decided it was only appropriate to name our astronaut, who adorned the cork bottle stopper, "Scott." So here is the scene: it's a beautiful sunny afternoon with a slight breeze and I am out on the grassy area of the playground with my class. As I add the strip of baking powder to the bottle of vinegar I ask the students to back up. The baking powder is now in and I start to shake the bottle. Meanwhile, my face is pointed towards the students telling them to back up even further. And then the rocket explodes....in my face. We had a good laugh and it was a great visual exemplification of the importance of pointing the rocket away from one's face. Scott did go into the air in two other trials.

My job search continues. I have been looking for teaching jobs in Chicago and New York, where I have had some good interviews but I haven't landed anything. People are much more critical of Peace Corps than I had anticipated and while they like the pictures in my portfolio, fail to grasp the parallel I make between the needs of students in the urban U.S. and rural Malawi.

That's about it. My Dad and I did plant a vegetable garden, which continues to be a source of relaxation for me. And, I am proud to say that my zucchini plants are the envy of the neighborhood.

Oh, in PC/Malawi news...Summer School will continue this year. I am not sure of the leadership, but they are calling it C.A.M.P S.K.Y (Career And MSCE Preparation for Skilled and Knowdledgeable Youth).

I think of you guys all of the time and miss you lots. Khalani makola, Merilee

It's 100 degrees outside...

Hello, my friends!

I'm glad things seem to be going well for everyone. I hope you all are having a great summer. Lots of things have happened since the last time I wrote, but none of them have been too exciting. My teaching job ended in May. I was going to have to get another job to get me by while I waited for law school to start, but when the school district went to fill my old job position for next year, they discovered that they were paying me less than the minimum amount they're required to. So I'm living off my backpay for the time being. It's been a blessing.

As it turns out, our landlord had put the house we were renting up for sale in May, so we had to move out at the end of June. My sister had just finished re-habbing a beautiful old brick home in downtown St. Louis. It's a huge house and she could hardly afford it on her own, so we moved in with her. It's been good so far, but it's definitely an adjustment having a roommate.

My sister is attempting to plan her wedding just 4 months in advance, which seems like it should be plenty of time, but apparently isn't. Since I will be her maid of honor, I am attempting to lose the 15 pounds I gained post-PC and I am attempting to learn calligraphy so I can help her address all her envelopes. I'm not doing all that well at either.

Well, I know there should be more to talk about, but my life if relatively boring. I'm not sure why any of you would need my address, but my new one is
2808 Indiana Ave
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-602-1715
I'd love to hear from each and every one of you.

hugs and kisses - jess

Special Day for One of Our Doctors-To-Be!!

Happy Birthday, Dakotah!!! Here's hoping you have a fabulous day! I am wishing you all the best!!
xo, Your Next Door Neighbor During PST

The Cosmo!

Ok my darlings,

I know by now you probably think I’m completely irresponsible, but you’d be wrong. I’ve just been responsible in ways to myself and my family (i.e. Joaquin) and now that we’ve finished traveling, moving, building a storage shed, filling said shed, moving again, job hunting, and traveling again, I’m finally ready to continue work on the Cosmo. I have an hour commute each way each day, plus I’m trying to exercise again (yay for night classes) and I’m starting to help an ESL class in Queens (1.5 hours commute each way) once a week (with my dear loving hubby) so I’m not exactly swimming in free time, but I do plan to dedicate a couple of hours each Saturday night (that’s laundry and grocery night! We Ramseys just don’t know how to stop partying) while I wait for the washer and dryer to finishing to the Cosmo.

I’m going to figure out what all I have from you (such as addresses and stories from your questionnaire at COS conference, and pictures) and then start from there. I promise it won’t be ready for a while, but at least there will be progress made little by little each week.

I’ve also decided that it will be a bit tamer than expected so that I can be comfortable sending only electronic copies and not hard copies. So for all of you who already gave me money (Matt) I’ll get you your MK600 back to you somehow. When I originally took on the Cosmo I had envisioned myself with oodles of time and access to printers and binding machines and all that beautiful stuff. The final form will be a pdf.

So, what I need from you is this: pictures and stories. Anything humorous, in the Onion-style we all know and love is welcome. If it passes the editorial board (me and Joaquin) then it will get published! I also would love to know what you did after COS. How did you travel home. Any good stories? How was readjusting? Anything is welcome, long stories, short stories, one-liners, whatever you want!

In summary, send me:

Updated contact information

Pictures from your service (I never got a copy of the group pic at COS conference. Anyone have it? Any other group pictures are especially needed)

Pictures from your travels home

A summary of your travels home

Your thoughts on returning and readjusting

A list of who you’ve seen so far and any funny stories associated with visits

Love,

Stephanie

slhramsey@yahoo.com

Help Sudan a little

Hope all are well, here is a little more activism for those so inclined.

Here is a website that is trying to stop investment in companies operating in places with questionable regimes. They say it is similar to actions taken to end apartheid in SA.

check out the dirty dozen, and click on "TAKE ACTION NOW!" to get the letter to send to your favorite politician.

http://www.divestsudan.org/

Stay well, Matt

and for random robot battles see here http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=ae571cab45fb1fe03cebe7c133f84608.564353&vdone=http%3A//video.yahoo.com/%3Ft%3Dp%26rnd%3D0.84016661804002%26p%3D%26b%3D0%26bc%3D0%26s%3Dv&vback=

Do you miss these little buggers?

http://www.camelspiders.net/

Take a look if you were used to these guys in Malawi and if you miss them at all. Hey Jess, I'd love to get a copy of your picture of a camel spider eating a lizard if you get a chance.

Stephanie

Beautiful World Cup

Hello from Hawaii!! I've only been in touch with Stephanie, Kelly and Matt. First of all, way to go Dakotah on cool travels to Brazil and Argentina. Your pictures rocked. You should continue dancing tango or salsa or both. I love salsa. I'm not sure where everyone travelled after COS or in the months after, and it's been a while; but I'm glad those who wanted to did. Congratulations to Jess, Kelly, Tommy (I don't know where you're going, but I have a friend at Albert Einstein), Dakotah, Dan (I have a friend in Fresno), Joaquin and all others who were accepted to school. Congratulations to Stephanie, Harlan, Scott (a beautiful liftoff July 4th!), Patrick, Dakotah and all others who got a cool job. Sorry to Martha for the loss of your mother. You and her will be in my thoughts and prayers. Sorry to Scott that you were not selected for rabbinical studies. Both of you seem to have handled these challenges nobly. Reading all of your blogs today to catch up has been awesome! Sorry for my absence. I enjoy all of your humor about video games and Lost as well as your stories about Greyhound. One leg of Greyhound I took from DC to Columbus, OH was one of the strangest yet most colourful experiences I've ever had. Stephanie, thanks for the Thanksgiving invite, but my family is meeting in Vegas.

This is my first blog. Here's what I've been up to. First of all, Dakotah and Dan well done for tuning into World Cup! Wow! Zidane's free kick to Henry for the goal that eliminated Brazil and his delicate touch and ball control augmented by his creative vision make up my memory of Zinedine Zidane as the great legend retires -- not his red card and ejection with 5-8 min. remaining for headbutting the Italian player in the chest, which probably lost France the cup after they had dominated 2nd half and overtime play. It's over, and I won't watch much TV until the next one. All of the soccer over this great month brought back playing in Malawi and while I travelled. I played pickup on a beach in Mpande, Transkei, South Africa, and I played with a club team on Mocambique Island.

OK. After COS I travelled throughout South Africa, Lesotho, Mocambique and Zimbabwe until my return to Hawaii on March 28th. It was awesome! Tons of stories. I visited with family for the first 2 weeks, especially my niece, beautiful Talia Rose -- now 6 months old. If anyone wants to see pics of my lovely niece email me at jjordan@email.com. I have cute ones of her discovering her feet and crossing her hands with bashfulness. After that I went to Annapolis, MD for four days to see my little sister and cheer her on at a track meet. Then, I came back and worked at an Italian restaurant for about a month but got fired. I don't know why, but it may have been because I let on that it was only temporary. Then, I looked for office temp work for a while. Now, I'm working in Honolulu in the mail room of Hawaiian Telcom. Soon I plan to move to a dorm or studio in Honolulu and get an additional job at night. My application to USMC officer program is still going. The one I sent in Dec. from Malawi wasn't taken seriously because it was done sloppily and I was travelling thus not in close phone contact with the assistant selection officer. I've re-applied again from Hawaii, but either they're not recruiting me or it's a really slow process. Meanwhile I've been running, doing crunches and doing pullups everyday. We'll see what happens. If I get in, then Officer Candidacy School would most likely be in Jan. If I don't get in, I don't know what I'll do. One thing I have considered is grad school in teaching at Humboldt State in northern California where you can surf albeit in a wetsuit. Have any of you considered applying to Humboldt? Harlan, have you been up there? Well, I'll figure it out step by step. Meanwhile I'll enjoy my short-term work; I love my supervisor because she's so nice. Though living in Honolulu won't be ideal, it's all I can afford right now. I'll make the most of it. It's a pretty cool city, and I'll be working two jobs. Do any of you live in Washington, DC? If so, could I sleep on your couch for a weekend? I have a wedding to go to in early Sept. and hope to save some money by staying at a friend's for that weekend. I wish you all the best. If you want to talk or write, here's my info. Still no cell phone. From the land of surfers and hula dancers--Aloha, John
46-031 Kumoo Pl.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
808-236-1480

Party at Wellingtons; BYOC

Happy Birthday Ryan! How are you going to celebrate your 21st birthday?


P.S. The "c" stands for Chibuku

Special Day Today

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Suggested reading- Material World, A global family portrait

Hey all, Just to let everyone know, if Dakotah is not going to turkey day I am not going. Or maybe I need to visit with family, probably more of the latter, but I would rather not be voted off the island. Well you guys have a great time anyway.

I found a great book that might help people visualize the difference between America and other countries. It is called "Material World, A global family portrait"

The jist is they go to a bunch of different countries and find middle class families in each country. The take all of their material belongings and put them in front of the house and take a picture. It is amazing how much difference there is.

This corresponds well to a news release that Americans make the most and spend more than they make. This book might give a clue.

My library had three copies so no reason to buy it. Hope you enjoy,

Matt

No Commitment Intended

One, I miss Harlan. Harlan, I miss you, you sexy thing. Two, I would like to think that I will come to NY for Thanksgiving, but I can't commit. Like Dakotah, there's the whole family thing to consider. Still, I will dance around a bit with day dreams of Thanksgiving with you turkeys. (I don't really think of you as fowl, that was just an irresistable little ha ha.) That is all that I had.

Oh yeah - this is Martha.