Random Act of Good

OLPC For You and Me

- Adam Clare

olpcThe One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project aims to bridge the digital divide by providing relatively inexpensive computers to kids in the developing world. The cost of the machine has unfortunately increased from their proposed $100 USD to almost double that, in oprder to ensure that they can still get these laptops out to the kids they are selling them as pairs.

You buy an OLPC laptop for yourself, but in doing so you also buy one to be donated to a child somewhere in the majority world.

The mission of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege. Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.

Previously on Things Are Good: Cheap Laptop

Get Buried Green

- Adam Clare 2 Comments

I’ve deicded that I’ll never die, but for those of you that have chosen mortality you ought to bury your used body in an environmentally friendly way. Say no to toxic chemicals and rusted metal in your casket and say hello to what at least one article is calling an eco-burial.

Advocates argue that a green approach to burial is environmentally friendly, spiritually uplifting and often less costly than the conventional American way of laying people to rest.

Some conservation groups see green burials as a way to preserve public land that otherwise might be devoured by development.

“Before the ‘better dying through chemistry’ era was born, this was the way most of humanity cared for its dead,” said Joe Sehee, founder and executive director of the Green Burial Council, a nonprofit group leading the charge for biodegradable burials. “It’s a way to honor the dead and heal the living in an environmentally responsible manner.”

The Red Scarf Project

- 2 Comments

I don’t know how many knitters are out there reading this site, but there was recent project that just wrapped up called “The Red Scarf Project.”  It was a project set up by the Orphan Foundation of America that asked volunteers to make various unisex scarves for parentless “college-bound youth.”  They received a lot of scarves and many different people participated including Lion’s Brand Wool, which sponsored a 5th grade class’s knitting needles and wool.

You can read about it at  http://www.orphan.org/red_scarf_project.xhtml or http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/now_norma_knits_2/2007/04/i_was_in_error.html

 In the end 15, 097 scarves were made.  So many that some are being kept for next year’s event.  They are planning to make the deadline earlier though.  It will likely be in September or October of 2007.

Recycled Parking Meters Help the Homeless

- Cam Proctor

Called the “Donation Meter” these recycled parking meters accept coins on behalf of the homeless supportig efforts to provide meals, job training, substance abuse counseling, housing and other programs for those in need. A total of 36 recycled meters have been placed at various locations throughout Denver.

Hockey Overload

- Adam Clare

I know that this is the second hockey post in as many weeks, but this is a Canadian-based site remember. Also on Friday’s we tend to post news that is more entertaining in its goodness than effect.

Hockey good thing number 1:

“A recent winner of a hockey contest on Information Morning in Fredericton gave back his grand prize, asking the show hold an auction with proceeds going to a child who couldn’t afford to play hockey this year.” From Inside the CBC. A news story about hockey from a CBC blog about a contest run by the CBC that also involves beer (can’t much more stereotypically Canadian than that).

Hockey good thing number 2:

Canadian researchers have found out what spot of the ice a hockey goalie needs to watch.

Previously we spoke of hockey on Google Video.

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