Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.

The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on Kiva, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else.

Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to entrepreneurs from communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.

Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Kiva creates an interpersonal connection at low costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery.

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So, I signed up and helped one person out with a loan right away, it felt great. I’ve decided each week on payday I am going to choose one person to help. 25 dollars a week, that’s relatively nothing to me and so much of an everything for someone else.

If you can afford it, please check this site out and get involved – you can make more of a difference than  you think!

First Loan - Avelina - Kiva.org

Kyouki spent a good deal of the weekend curled up with her long lost friend, the tauntaun which we I have affectionately named Tonk.

she hearts our tauntaun.

Another non-stop weekend was had – and a freezing one to boot – yesterday was tough leaving the house. Single digits for most the day without the wind chill, which dropped it into the negatives. BRR!

This week I am booked up non stop… mostly because I have to pretty much box and move half my apartment to the other half of my apartment so insulators can come and insulate my apartment. Don’t ask why it hadn’t been done before, don’t ask why it’s being done during the coldest month of the year, don’t ask why I will have to find alternative living for the weekend – and please don’t ask if I’m getting money off the rent for this nonsense. It’s a new year – I say instead of getting frustrated over the mass amount of botarded WHY questions that are flooding my life lately – I’m going to try and just go with it. Just breath and go with it.

Is a trip out to Buffalo this weekend to see the Guzzinator in the works?!? I think so. =)

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/bb2e/

Tauntaun Sleepingbag - StarWars - WOAH!

I was really surprised… I had only told a handful of family members and friends (& SU) that I wanted this. Badly. I was going to wait until after Christmas/My Birthday and if no one bought if for me, I was going to buy it myself. Got home last night- my landlord (who lives downstairs from me) knocked on my door and said that I had a package delivered today… huzzah? My brother ended up coming over last night and witnessed the madness that followed. On the brown cardboard box was clearly stamped – TAUNTAUN. I knew what this was… I tore it open, I was SO excited. It is the most awesomest sleeping bag ever. I knew thought it was from a friend in VA as I had been expecting a gift from him for my birthday. I looked at the box and it wasn’t.

Now comes the perplexing part. WHO is this from?

Thank you Roach. It rocks. =)

In the span of about one week I celebrate Christmas, New Years and my birthday. Awesome right?!? This year, hands down – most memorable New Years/Birthday weekend ever. In only a fashion that I seem to be able to draw – NYE 2010 – a dog (chihuahua) bit my nose. Seriously.

Grrrrrrrrrr-eat!

Having never been attacked/bitten/bothered by an animal before, honestly I’m a regular Dr. Doolittle- I was quite… hysterical. I didn’t have to go to the hospital or anything but my ‘BIG celebration weekend’ plans were squashed in one blink of an eye- or rather – one bite of a dog. My boss pointed out, that my life is very Something About Mary and it’s so true. Ridiculous stuff happens to me All-The-Time. Between my never ending, never failing clumsiness and life insistently throwing me curve balls, I should have a camera crew following me around at all times to document the madness.

Today on As the World Turns…

This weekend I have to finish up a book of photos for a retirement party I attended last month, finish a painting for a friend and take down my Christmas decorations. I may also be hired to start designing a CD for another local artist. booyah. Oh – and I REALLY want to see Avatar in 3d. It’s been sold out the last two weekends at the IMAX. All shows. Boo.

Tonight is going to be a quiet night at the house. I need one desperately. Do some laundry, make a yummy supper, hang out with my girl kyo and play some video games. Jealous much? =)

kyouki: 1/6/2010. <3

Ok – so, two more paintings that I made for people as presents for Christmas -

Two Friends - Acrylic & India Ink on Canvas- For AK

The Glare - Acrylic, Pencil and Ink on Wood - for AD

The Glare - Acrylic, Pencil and Ink on Wood - for AD - Close Up

Stay tuned for more. =)

Pretty much the blog is going to take over what I had on the front page of my website, with now the ability to do all sorts of stuff I should have done before… Commenting, Tracking, Archiving, etc.

I’m still tweaking a bit here and there but I’d be very happy to hear your thoughts/opinions. =)

Oh… and the portfolio is next to get a facelift! I can’t wait!!!

So, here it is -

The TShirt design for Filthy Funk’s new CD, Eklectric.
Printed on American Apparel tees– in green, blue and purple.
Printed by HTB Press – Rochester NY

Filthy Funk TShirt Design | Eklectric

Filthy Funk TShirt Design | Eklectric

Filthy Funk TShirt Design | Eklectric

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I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas – New years is just a day away! 2010 – wow!