GOOD ENOUGH...TO PLAY

This morning on the Today Show I watched a segment about a very inspiring 13 year old American who has started the biggest basketball shoot-a-thon in the world! What motivated this kid to do this? While watching a video on AIDS in Africa, he realized the kids werent any different from him other than their suffering. He decided to shoot free throws on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, to raise money which helped orphan 8 children. Since 2004, he has started shoot-a-thons to raise enough money to build a school in Zambia, AFRICA, which was the regions first high school, which will someday hold 1,000 students and house orphaned students. His next goal for this years shoot-a-thon? To build a medical lab in Zambia.
Learn more on his website www.hoopsofhope.org

GOOD ENOUGH...TO GIVE (TO)

The Marine Toys for Tots is a program whose mission is deliver Christmas presents to needy children in the community. During the months of October, November and December, Toys for Tots collects unwrapped gifts for children to help motivate them to grow into responsible leaders. Gifts are collected until December 22 and then brought to a warehouse where coordinators then compile the gifts into age groups and genders.
So, while shopping for the holidays think about how you can make a child's Christmas by giving a gift to Toys for Tots.
To find out where the nearest drop off location near you is, check out their website:
www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys

GOOD ENOUGH...TO EAT AT

If you are in Houston and wanting to branch away from the routine of going out to eat Mexican food, BBQ or Houston's great Italian restaurants and are adventurous to try tofu fries, a vegan B.B.Q. sandwich or a tempeh Caesar salad, Field of Greens is a must! Located on West Alabama, near Whole Foods, this cafe style restaurant has everything to offer, in its most healthy forms. To look at the menu or see exactly where they are located check out their website: www.fieldofgreenshouston.com

GOOD ENOUGH...TO SUPPORT

(PRODUCT) RED is an "economic initiative designed to create awareness and a sustainable flow of money from the private sector into the Global Fund, to fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa" set up by Bono and Bobby Shriver. A portion of profits from (PRODUCT)RED that are sold go directly to the Global Fund. Brands that are involved so far are: American Express, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Motorola, Apple and Hallmark (the latest to join the roster).
Other than raising money, it raises awareness of the issue. So far, people in Swaziland, Rwanda and Ghana have benefited from (PRODUCT)RED.
Designed not for consumers to buy things just because it is behind a good cause, (PRODUCT)RED but because of the idea that someone was going to buy it anyway. (ie. iPods, Gap clothes, cell phones, holiday cards)
So when the holidays are just around the corner and you are purchasing your Hallmark cards for the corporate holiday parties, your significant other wanting that iPod or a new shirt for a relative, keep in mind the (PRODUCT)RED label and where that percentage of your money will go.

GOOD ENOUGH...TO SHOP AT

If you live in Houston and are wanting to break away from the corporate chain stores and need a local bookstore, make Brazos Bookstore your new location. Located on Bissonnet between Kirby and Greenbriar, Brazos Bookstore is a small bookstore that has plenty to offer! Look online to find out about upcoming events and author appearances and if you are stripped for time, order your books online. http://brazos.booksense.com

GOOD ENOUGH...TO WEAR

SIMPLE SHOES has made a line of shoes that are GOOD ENOUGH...TO WEAR, bringing in sustainable sneakers. Made from organic cotton, melted down plastic bottles (to create the laces and pedbeds), used car tires, bamboo, cork and water based glue (to name a few), these ecoSNEAKS are 100% sustainable.
SIMPLE is doing a lot to keep their products and their company planet-friendly. Check out their products and what they are doing to move in the right direction at www.simpleshoes.com

"If hybrid cars get to use the carpool lane, don't you think people wearing sustainable shoes get cuts in the beer line? Its worth a shot." - Simple

GOOD ENOUGH...TO WATCH

"What Happens When Demand for Oil Outstrips Supply?...And There's NO Plan B?"

GOOD ENOUGH...TO WATCH, Filmmaker Martin Kent's new documentary on the Oil Apocalypse will be aired on the HISTORY CHANNEL on Tuesday night, November 13th, 2007 (9pm EST/PST, 8pm Central).
"Oil Apocalypse presents a terrifying set of scenarios. The worst case scenario, says experts in the film, is a world wide depression, which could lead to a world war. Its not too late, but we need to ACT FAST!"

GOOD ENOUGH...TO TRY OUT

"Passed on by the blogger herself, www.imagini.net is a great site that presents a truthful representation of yourself and your personality through a visual DNA. It's worth your few minutes, and fun to see how accurate a website may be. Open your eyes (pun slightly intended) to the known...or maybe unknown."
-submitted by Lydia Simmons

GOOD ENOUGH...TO READ

Add another book to the list that is GOOD ENOUGH...TO READ! Problem from Hell by Samantha Power
Become informed about multiple genocides and America's standstill reactions. Learn possible ways to react and help. Particularly pertinent today, as Darfur, Somalia and other countries are in dire need of help.
-submitted by Lydia Simmons

GOOD ENOUGH...TO GIVE (TO)

GOOD ENOUGH...TO GIVE (TO) and even better to make sure that EVERY pediatric practice in your city has this FREE Program....

REACH OUT AND READ : A National Pediatric Literacy Program.

Doctors prescribing that parents read to their young children, and give each child a book at each of the ten prescribed well child visits from birth to age 5 years.

In Texas, call 713 500-3836 or check out the website www.reachoutandread.org

-submitted by Susan C. King

GOOD ENOUGH...TO VOLUNTEER (AT)

-25 % of Houston families with children live in poverty.

-61% of low-income 8th graders can not perform basic math problems

-Children living in poverty typically score BELOW the 35th percentile on National Achievement Tests

In August 2002, Yellowstone Academy opened in the Third Ward in Houston, Texas as a high quality private Christian school to serve exclusively the very low-income children growing up in difficult family circumstances. The school starts with Pre-K and goes up to the 4th grade. Each year the school hopes to add a grade, going all the way up to 8th grade.

Each classroom door has a sign that announces their graduating class year, which gives the children a vision and a goal. Each classroom has one teacher and one teacher's assistant and many volunteers come through out the week to help students one-on-one.

Yellowstone Academy is a great place to volunteer! You quickly fall in love with the children as they truly appreciate your time for them. Last spring I volunteered in the classrooms twice a week, being in each classroom for an hour with Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade and absolutely fell in love with the children. I also went on their field trip to the Rodeo, which was so enjoyable. There are many different volunteering opportunities: as a classroom volunteer, helping out with field trips, after school programs or in the library. These kids made my day, and I am positive they will make yours too.

If you are interested learning more about Yellowstone Academy go to their website www.yellowstoneacademy.org

GOOD ENOUGH...TO PRACTICE

Lets be honest. Studying vocabulary was never fun in school and many of the words you saw on the SAT, you saw for the first time. But, it is never too late to broaden your vocabulary and there is a way that I think is GOOD ENOUGH...TO PRACTICE.
At www.freerice.com you can see how well you know your vocabulary for free and for every word you get correct, the UN donates 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger. The website is just shy of a month old, and the UN has already donated 680,991,930 grains of rice!

* (Nov. 15, 2007) FREE RICE was aired on the CBS evening news with Katie Couric.

GOOD ENOUGH...TO SUBSCRIBE TO

Tired of the junk magazines you see at the front of the line at the grocery store? Need a quick read while commuting? There is one answer to your problem that I think is GOOD ENOUGH...TO SUBSCRIBE TO! GOOD is a magazine "for people who give a damn". GOOD's intentions are to bring GOOD news to all of us, instead of what we are hearing daily through the media. Articles are interesting, educational and aren't dragged out through a few spreadsheets. Learn about companies and people doing good things and how you can participate as well. Interested in knowing where your money goes after subscribing to GOOD? Subscribe for a year subscription and 100% of your money goes to the organization of your choice out of the 12 organizations they have offered! Check out an issue at your local bookstore. If they don't have it, ask them to start selling it. Subscribe online at http://www.goodmagazine.com/

GOOD ENOUGH...TO WATCH

LUMO is a feature length documentary film about a Congolese woman recovering as a rape victim in a war torn country. In Eastern Congo rape is a weapon of terror. Many young women are attacked and left with nothing. There is one health center in the region to operate and repair this condition. Filmmakers, Brent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Nelson Walker III, Louis Abelman and Lynn True take you on LUMO's journey of recovering.
LUMO will be featured on CNN International's "Inside Africa" THIS WEEKEND, Saturday Nov. 3 at 12.30 Eastern Standard Time and Sunday Nov. 4 at 19.30 Eastern Standard Time.
Check out their website to purchase the DVD, view upcoming festival screenings and see other projects these great filmmakers are working on and have produced. http://www.gomafilmproject.org/

GOOD ENOUGH...TO COOK FROM

For someone who absolutely loves food, reading recipes, and the art of cooking, I believe this is the "bible" of cookbooks. Recipes call for organic food, if accessible, and the title of the book speaks for itself, you ARE eating Food to Live By. Many recipes are ones you have seen before but with a different twist, such as using whole wheat penne and edamame pesto rather than penne with a pesto sauce. Recipes are easy and definitely fun. If you live by the idea of "judging a book by its cover" each page should reel you in through their photographs of each dish and short cuts if you are pressed for time. Check your local bookstore for a copy of what I believe to be a great cookbook to have in the kitchen at all times!