Kenya Allmond (me) » General

And Just Like That, Perspective

kenya — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:33:38 +0000

I started out my day doing an early morning volunteer shift for a public radio station pledge drive. During the quiet times, I was doing my best to keep it together. I was trying to hold back that one tear because if I let that one go, the floodgate would open for the rest of them. Luckily the phone started ringing and at the end of the shift I had managed to keep my composure.

On the drive to work, it wasn’t as great. I remember having “woe is me”-type thoughts when I noticed some extra sad song coming from my iPod. To be clear any song about being in love or losing love are now classified as sad. I thought “Why am I listening to this sad a$$ song?” and hit the forward button. The next thing I see are brake lights – the kind that are right in your face because traffic has literally stopped. I don’t remember how fast I was going but I will say that average speed on the beltway is 75 mph. I slammed on brakes too watching the cars in front of me veer left into the shoulder. I needed to see what was going on before I veered left too because I didn’t want to hit those cars in front of me. Then I saw it. There was a guy in an old Oldsmobile going diagonally across the lanes in the WRONG direction parting traffic. We were close enough to each other that I could see that the guy was screaming. I don’t know what had happened that caused him to be going in the wrong direction on the beltway but I do know that had any of us hit him there would have been a terrible multiple car accident. At the speeds we were going, I’m not sure how many of us would have survived it.

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to hold back that first tear (in public anyway) while I watched a “relationship” I wanted deteriorate. I wondered how I was going to get through this, how I was going to “survive”. At this moment though, all of that was put into perspective. Obviously, my life was not over. God isn’t done with me yet. There are so many things left to see and do.

My outlook was almost instantly changed. I am still hurt and disappointed. I still miss him. But it’s not that serious. This is but a minor setback in the grand scheme that is my life. The pity party is over. Thanks to all who came though.

Love on the Open Road … or The Opposite of Road Rage

kenya — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:39:21 +0000

I’ve found my soulmate … well, my driving soulmate anyway. He drove a cobalt blue Mustang convertible with a tan top. We were with each other lockstep down I-95. We saw an opening. He broke first for it. I was right behind him. We saw a another opening and I broke first. He followed. It was a bad move; he saw that and went back to the left lane. He saved a spot for me. Another opening and I took it. My new driving beaux didn’t and got stuck in a pack of slow moving cars. I wondered if he would be able to catch up again. Finally he emerged again to rejoin me. I was sad when we parted ways at the I-295 split. Until we meet again…

Road Rage

kenya — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:00:19 +0000

I am so friggin tired of the beltway. These people seem to have no depth perception what so ever. 10/28/2010 20:20
Did you not see me coming up fast in the left lane when you decided to lackadaisically get in front of me? 10/28/2010 20:21
What are you going – 50? The speed limit is 55 and depends on who you ask the average speed on the beltway is 75. 10/28/2010 20:22
Your response to my headlights on your bumper is to speed up to 65 or 70 then slow back down to 50 when I catch back up to you. 10/28/2010 20:23
When I get an opening and attempt to pass, you speed up again. What exactly is your malfunction? 10/28/2010 20:24
Then it turns out you shouldn’t have been in the left lane after all because you’re now trying to get over to the right to take an exit. 10/28/2010 20:25
I hope you miss it. Screw you and the horse …err car.. you rode in on. 10/28/2010 20:28
No drivers were harmed in the typing of this rant. And I’m typing this from home. 10/28/2010 20:29
I am so over driving… 10/28/2010 20:34

An A to Z Guide for Mindful Living

kenya — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:00:23 +0000

I normally don’t post things like this but I’m in that kind of mood. I’m not sure of the source.

Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause

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Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change

kenya — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:03 +0000

Walden University held it’s fifth annual Social Change Conference, Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The conference focused on the success stories of social innovators and the new partnerships springing up to lead change in our country and around the world. Noted speakers included Cheryl Dorsey, President, Echoing Green, and Michele Jolin, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the Domestic Policy Council, The White House. A replay is available online.

Below are my live tweets. There are some gems here.

koa: En route to Walden Univ’s social change conference.
2009-09-30 12:30:57
koa: I will be live tweeting from the Walden University “Social Entreprenuership: Taking Action, Leading Change” this morning. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:30:55
koa: Photo: http://bkite.com/0coJS from National Press Club: Getting started #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:33:49
koa: Walden President Jonathan Kaplan: goal of the conference is to prepare each one of you to take action and lead change. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:35:59
koa: Social entrepreneurship is about more than individual actions. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:37:45
koa: RT @rosettathurman: You can watch the live webcast of #waldenscc NOW http://ow.ly/rPMQ
2009-09-30 13:38:17
koa: Cheryl Dorsey of Echoing Green up first. Provides seed money and advice to social entrepreneurs. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:39:22
koa: Echoing Green was started 20 years ago by a private equity firm. They adapt business principles to the social sector. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:45:19
koa: Echoing Green invests in 40 countries around the world – they are program agnostic and geographic agnostic. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:48:14
koa: Echoing Green has a 67% rate of success for social “businesses” in which they’ve invested. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:50:24
koa: If you are watching live at http://bit.ly/43WLDl, we can take your questions via Twitter. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:51:59
koa: RT @rosettathurman: Cheryl: Momentum of idea that “citizens can do it better than gov’t” spurred on fld of social entrepreneurshp #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:57:23
koa: Millennials are shaking up the way we think about social entrepreneurship. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 13:58:51
koa: Dorsey does not advocate creating new organizations instead she champions new ideas, more hands on deck. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:00:52
koa: It’s important to have an asset based world view. We must see problems as opportunities. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:03:31
koa: Are the walls between for profit and non profit crumbling? New approaches are less siloed and use every tool at their disposal. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:07:01
koa: Are you a social entrpreneur? Check out @echoinggreen #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:08:56
koa: A new trend is double and triple bottoms lines focusing on profit, social, and environmental. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:11:55
koa: RT @rosettathurman: Cheryl: Book recommendations! Megacommunities http://bit.ly/JBcjZ, Age of the Unthinkable http://bit.ly/LYyjR #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:16:37
koa: Michelle Obama came to Echoing Green 20 years ago to get money to start Public Allies. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:19:49
koa: Did you know that you can micro-volunteer via the web or an iPhone app? http://bit.ly/2t4fPz #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:28:21
koa: Dorsey They take a social justice stance on social entrepreneurship. Asked if they focus more on social or entrepreneurship. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:35:05
koa: RT @jaywalk1: Dorsey – If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes several to raise a soc. entrepreneur #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:35:23
koa: Second speaker is Michelle Jolin (senior advisor for Social Innovation for the White House’s Domestic Policy Council). #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:39:05
koa: Jolin also served in the Clinton White House. She was also with the Center for American Progress. @AmProg #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:41:46
koa: Watch live at http://twurl.nl/a64z52 #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:44:56
koa: Looking for my buddy @thestemadvocate . Are you in the building? #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:46:16
koa: The Domestic Policy Council is looking for new ways to get people engaged in social change including use of technology. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:48:09
koa: Jolin: Government action alone is not going to make the difference. Needs partnerships btw profit, nonprofit, gov’t. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:50:04
koa: Jolin: Looking at things the government can do as well as things they can stop doing. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:52:16
koa: Jolin is now taking questions. Have any? Tweet them now. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 14:56:04
koa: RT @rosettathurman: Jolin: … With technology there are new ways to involve communities. We’re using more online chats, etc #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:07:33
koa: Aside: Obviously many are left out because they don’t have access to these technologies. #waldenscc #digitaldivide
2009-09-30 15:09:05
koa: @ajlovesya You can watch at http://twurl.nl/a64z52 #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:32:29
koa: Next up Peter Kannam executive directory of New Leaders for New Schools. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:34:35
koa: Kannam introducing panelists; Dr. Kathia Lazlo, David Bostein, Anthony Jewett, and Dr. John Nirenburg. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:37:03
koa: Bornstein is author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:39:00
koa: Jewett founded Bardoli Global to provide opportunities for outstanding minority youth through study abroad and service-learning. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:41:17
koa: RT @rosettathurman: Panelist bios here: http://ow.ly/rVKO #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:41:43
koa: Lazlo is a mentor for MBA students studying green sustainable enterprise at the Dominican University of California. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:43:45
koa: Niremberg has done a lot of work in organizational development and is a faculty member at Walden. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:45:13
koa: Bornstein: The biggest challenge is getting people to overcome their internal resistance to change. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:49:52
koa: Lazlo: It’s all about human capital. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 15:58:02
koa: Nirenberg: Social entrepreneurs solve problems that industry alone and government alone are not able to fix. #waldenscc
2009-09-30 16:02:01
koa: Nirenberg: What looks like social entrepreneurship today will be a necessity tomorrow (if we don’t change on a national scale). #waldenscc
2009-09-30 16:03:19
koa: RT @rosettathurman: Jewett: president of Bardoli Global, http://www.bardoliglobalfoundation.org, Teach for America alum #waldenscc
2009-09-30 16:06:02

GrowSmartBiz Conference Notes

Turn a Glass of Water into Something Beautiful

kenya — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:00:49 +0000

March 22-28 is World Water Week. Locally the TapDC project is looking to raise money to support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world. The concept is simple: restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free and the funds directly support UNICEF’s clean water project. For every dollar raised, a child will have clean drinking water for 40 days.

There are several activities around this year’s project including the “Turn a Glass of Water into Something Beautiful” art submission. The image to the left is Roque‘s (BF) submission; it has been selected to appear in the PEPCO’s Edison Place Gallery during World Water Week.

Make a reservation online through OpenTable or view the list of participating restaurants at TapProject.org. Several other ways to donate are also listed on the site.

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Trojan Outbreak on Facebook

kenya — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:10:54 +0000

I’m seeing a lot of articles about Koobface, trojan horse malicious software that was designed to travel from user to user via Facebook. You’d get a message from one of your Facebook friends mentioning a video allegedly starring you. When you click on the link, you are taken to a site that gives a message saying that you need an updated Flash player and asks you to upgrade. That upgrade is the trojan. I’m guessing that this targeted Windows users but I haven’t seen any confirmation of that because coverage of these kinds of issues tends to be lacking.

Back in August, I reported several messages to Facebook regarding this but their response was just to tell me that my friends had a virus and to contact the friends about it. It would have been more effective if Facebook had dealt with this given how widespread it was. (I saw mention of it on Twitter too). They would have known which users were infected by pattern of the messages. They also could have let those users know that they were infected and deleted some of the offending messages before others were infected. It could have been an automated type of process that most likely would have saved tech support hours on this issue. Given that these kinds of incidents have been happening on MySpace forever, Facebook should have been more prepared to handle this situation.

While I think Facebook could have been more helpful in curbing, the “outbreak” it is ultimately up to computer users to be more aware of the sites they go to and what they are installing on their PCs. While some trojans are relatively harmless, there are others out to steal information about your identity and financial accounts. Installing some seemingly harmless application could leave you with an empty bank account.

Photo by Frank K.

Dear Credit Card Companies

kenya — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:59:13 +0000

Dear Credit Card Companies,

Why are you raising the annual percentage rates on the accounts of your paying customers? I find it strange that in the midst of this failing economy where customers are suffering probably more so than you are, that you would do such a thing. Has not the Federal Reserve Bank lowered the prime rate? Why is that not passed on to your customers? Oh I get it: you want the customers who are already paying you to also pay for your mistakes in lending to folks with shaky credit histories. Are you not already standing in the corporate bread line looking for taxpayer handouts? Oh yeah, you want us to pay twice for your mistakes.

That’s right. Credit is not overly abundant these days so we will accept anything from you at this point. We have no other options. Well, I have a surprise for you: I don’t have to pay your higher APRs and won’t. Don’t be surprised if you get a Dear John letter from me soon.

KTHXBAI.

XOXOXO

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Early Voting in Fairfax County, Virginia

kenya — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:27:41 +0000

According to this robocall, early voting (via voting machines) is available in Fairfax County if the voter meets Virginia’s absentee ballot requirements.

Download MP3

How Not to Convince Me

Feed the Body AND the Mind

kenya — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:21:54 +0000

Today is Blog Action Day and this year’s topic is poverty. An estimated 1.4 billion people in the developing world are in poverty while 36.5 million people are in poverty in the United States. I am no means an expert on poverty but I have certainly lived there.

Many people equate poverty to hunger but poverty to me is not only the lack of access to food. I would say it’s the lack of access to healthy food, clean water, adequate housing, health care and a safe environment among other things. Simply providing these things is not the answer. Providing aid is noble but making people dependent on that aid does more harm than good. It’s only part of the solution; education and training is also needed. One way that education can improve one’s life is the obvious – college or vocational school will improve one’s ability to have better employment choices. Another aspect of education and training is in the area of skills needed to live. This would include such topics as how to replenish the soil when growing crops, how to properly clean water for drinking and medical training. Self-sufficiency is key.

Some organizations that focus on education are:

In the DC area, the following organizations are always looking for volunteers and/or donations:

VolunteerMatch should be able to direct you to organizations in your locality.

Kenya Allmond (me) » General

And Just Like That, Perspective

Related Posts:

Love on the Open Road … or The Opposite of Road Rage

Related Posts:

Road Rage

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An A to Z Guide for Mindful Living

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Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change

Related Posts:

Turn a Glass of Water into Something Beautiful

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Trojan Outbreak on Facebook

Related Posts:

Dear Credit Card Companies

Related Posts:

Early Voting in Fairfax County, Virginia

Related Posts:

Feed the Body AND the Mind

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