If I had my way with violent men
I’d simmer them in oil,
I’d fill a pot with bitumen
And bring them to the boil.
I execrate the terrorist
And those who harbour him,
And if I weren’t a moralist
I’d tear them limb from limb.
Fanatics are an evil breed
Whom decent men should shun;
I’d like to flog them till they bleed,
Yes, every mother’s son,
I’d like to tie them to a board
And let them taste the cat,
While giving praise, oh thank the Lord,
That I am not like that.
For we should love the human kind,
As Jesus taught us to,
And those who don’t should be struck blind
And beaten black and blue;
I’d like to roast them in a grill
And listen to them shriek,
Then break them on the wheel until
They turned the other cheek.
July 24, 2010 at 7:57 pm · Filed under Philanthrophy
Following my New Year’s post from a few months ago, I recently pledged to give away at least 1% of my income every year, to charity.
The intention behind putting this post up here, is to hopefully make some of the readers of this blog think about giving away more to help others. I find that it helps to make giving a regular part of your life, something you do as a matter of course.
I have to admit, I was strongly influenced by the ideas of Peter Singer. Here is a three minute video he made that explains some of the reasons I am doing this.
Here are some of the criteria I had while picking charities:
- Charity must help poor people, preferably in developing countries. Donations to art museums, for instance, don’t count.
- At least 75% of funds raised by the charity must go directly towards the cause. I’m ok with the rest being spent on administration and fund-raising.
- Must not be part of a religious institution.
- The impact of the charity must be measurable. They should have a track record of backing away from ideas or projects that don’t work.
- While picking them, I tried to pick organizations that I can form a partnership with, get vested in, and stay involved with over many years.
- It’s important to look at the numbers and efficacy of the charity. I tried not to be swayed by emotional appeals. I found that a lot of very worthy sounding causes don’t really get much done. So it’s important to do the research.
Givewell is a good resource if you want to learn how to critically evaluate charities.
So, these are some of the organizations and causes that will be getting money from me over the next 12 months. Most donations will be as regular, pre-authorised direct withdrawals from my bank account, so I don’t forget.
I welcome suggestions and comments on picking charities. Thanks.
- Going Rogue
OK, so this one isn’t that funny. But it’s a good five part synopsis from a guy that read Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue, so you don’t have to (He is not a supporter). I recommend it because I think Sarah Palin will have some influence on American politics over the next few years, so it helps to know how she thinks. To me, this book told me more about her supporters than her. I really see very little common ground between the people that buy into her story and abilities, and the rest of the country.
I took a hiatus from actively reading / watching / seeking the news, for several months. That experiment ended earlier this year. I’ll blog about it someday.
I will say that I didn’t miss much. A big deal in American media this week seems to be how much jail time a young actress should get for drink-driving. That story is par for the course, with inane stories about manufactured celebrities’ wardrobe malfunctions, consumption choices and sex lives filling news cycles.
I’d like to see more stories about kids that are making a positive difference.
Like the nine year old who was inspired by a speech in which she heard “The worst thing you can do is nothing.” She decided to do something. Four years later, she has raised more than $300,000, to be spent on educating girls in Afghanistan.
Or the 12 year old that started an organization that in seven years built 316 primary schools around the world, allowing 20,000 children to attend school.
I’m proud of these kids. And I wish more were like them. And I wish we’d hear more about kids like these instead about morons like Lindsey Lohan, whoever that is.
I had a hippopotamus; I kept him in a shed
And fed him upon vitamins and vegetable bread.
I made him my companion on many cheery walks,
And had his portrait done by a celebrity in chalks. Read the rest of this entry »
The G20 summit was in Toronto last weekend. Leaders of twenty of the world’s richest or most influential nations met to discuss world affairs. Along with a bunch of mostly peaceful protesters. And a whole bunch of not so peaceful ones.
A few hundred protesters went on a rampage, in the neighbourhood I live in. They smashed store windows, set police cars on fire and tore bricks from the sidewalk to throw at the police. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve always been happy about the fact that whatever other stupid shit I may have been guilty of, I never wrote the kind of self-indulgent “poetry” that makes me want to smack every skinny jean wearing haiku-spouting hipster I meet in the face with a potato.
Until now.
I am going into hiding, pending the arrival of a barrage of potatoes headed in my direction. Until I return (post potato-fusillade), please enjoy tolerate this verse, about Looking back on my Twenties
twenties were messy apartments, late mornings
lazy afternoons, crazy nights, hazy sunrises
rooftop beers with friends, ideas and bubbly pipes
The most important thing we’ve learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set –
Or better still, just don’t install
The idiotic thing at all. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m starting a new series on my blog. Every few months I’ll put up a collection of recommended reading (books, blog posts, comic strips, whatever). I’ll try and keep it to ten or fewer items each time.
Blog posts and articles:
- Words Fail Me by Dale McGowan
If you shop at Amazon.com using the link below, Amazon kicks back a commission to this site. At the end of each calendar year, I will donate all of that money to a charity of my choice and post the amount donated and the name of the charity here. I am happy to take suggestions for charities to donate to. I tend to donate to charities that focus on the Developing world. One of my current favored charities is COPE ( http://www.copelaos.org/ ). Thanks for your support.
Amazon.com
I took the Pledge.
You should consider it too.
I support the Foundation Beyond Belief.
I support the
International Year of
Astronomy 2009
This blog fits neatly into the Skepticism / Travel / Politics / Miscellany category.
Random Quote
“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.” by Thomas Jefferson
by Peter Singer
, Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s followup, 
, is highly recommended.
by Gaddis
by Harris
by Sachs
