Even I Can Do this Math.

My dear friend, Shar, told me about this organization after I mentioned 88Bikes to her. The best part is that they have these nifty little diagrams that show you just how efficient and generally fabulous bicycles really are! The organization is World Bicycle Relief and they empower individuals all over the world to meet their everyday needs by supplying them with bicycles.

You can find more information at: http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/

The Athlete's Palate...cupcake love.

I can't help myself. These cupcakes were little iced pillows of deliciousness. My friend, Juhee, is a baking genius (whether or not she's willing to admit it)...and it is the little things that amaze me. For instance, these cupcakes have no oil in them! Just replace the oil in your recipe with applesauce and your fingers don't get greasy while biting into your non-guilty tiny piece of heaven.

Another yummy tip: mix together dark brown sugar and some crushed nuts and sugar and use it as an icing substitute by sprinkling a generous layer on top of your cupcakes before they bake...voila! A nice little crunchie added to your cake :)

Ain't She a Beaut?

Well, here she is- my future baby, in the flesh, so to speak. On May 31st, there will be 29 of these bad boys lined up at the Baltimore Inner Harbor in preparation to make our 4,000 mile trek to San Francisco, CA. Don't you feel fast just looking at it? If you even feel so inclined, go ahead and make a donation to the 4K for Cancer under my name at our website! http://www.4kforcancer.org (I would've superimposed my picture on the bike to add the extra allure, but I'm at the library shamelessly procrastinating before an exam and have no access to an "action shot" of myself.)

Coffee Break?

I stumbled upon this the other day on one of my new favorite sites: http://www.theroadtothehorizon.org/2009/03/living-in-italy-part-7-important-things.html
They're a blend of traveling addict, international human rights advocate and apparently, coffee snob- what's not to love?

international Women's day

TODAY is International Women's Day. (http://www.internationalwomensday.com/) Make sure you tell any women in your life how beautiful they are today.

We must also remember that there are women throughout the world who may not have the opportunity to hear this- more specifically, those women who have yet to experience freedom and equality. In places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, women are raped and tortured due to ravaging warfare. This is a day to remember your mothers, sisters and girlfriends, but also to remember the women who have yet to know the equality and emancipation they deserve.

The Universal Joy Principle

When I was in NY City a few weeks back, a friend of a friend (Thanks, Andrew!) mentioned this charity organization that stemmed from a few guys who had biked across the country. After three weeks of trying to remember what the number was, I finally found the magic digits via an extensive google search and a little inspiration from the beautiful warm weather today...

The broad effect of such a simple act is noteworthy. Give $88 and you are giving a bike. The uniqueness of 88Bikes is not just the direct action and product of a bike that you see from donations, but also the continuous investment in someone else's future that is sustained through that single donation. Think about it: If you provide a teenager with one bike ($88), that is going to provide them with daily transportation to and from work or school. Rather than having to walk miles, kids can make the long trek with greater ease. The bikes provide an quicker means of transporting goods between villages, which can increase trade and aid in local development. Goods transported could include vaccinations and medical supplies, which are a lot of the time difficult to quickly transport by foot from a central location (i.e. the city) to a far away rural village. (both photos courtesy of http://www.88bikes.org)

Dan Austin, the "team leader" of 88bikes, is also a filmmaker in Brooklyn, NY and has published two books since his journey across the US. I came along this excerpt from his most recently published book:
(taken from an excerpt of Dan Austin's book, The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide, p 53) The Universal Joy Principle "states that it is wise to make decisions that pump the most amount of joy back into the universe. The Universal Joy Principle comes in very useful on a pilgrimage; when you find yourself faced with a choice, simply apply the principle by asking what decision will bring about the most amount of overall joy. The answer (and your actions) will then naturally lead to happiness and fulfillment."

...What can I say? I'm hooked.

Friday Morning Freebie

If you haven't already experienced a NY Times slide show, you're missing out on a rare glimpse of the human spirit...okay, it's not that rare considering they post them online for free. However, they're well worth the couple clicks in the morning before you head off to classes or work. Besides my cup of coffee, these babies are one of the few things that give me a guaranteed smile on my face in the morning.

"1 in 8 million"
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html#/christian_hubert
(Two of my favorites are The Bridge Bicyclist and The Subway Busker)

Enjoy!