RebelXsoundXclash

Spreading Positivity One Seed at a Time

rebelsoundclash — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:41:23 +0000

FreeRice.com, once a small seedling, has sprouted into something huge.

The online game that allows players to donate grains of rice for correctly answered trivia questions announced Thursday it had reached 1 million registered users since its founding in 2007.

“When one million people each do their small part, the collective effect is beyond impressive — it’s extraordinary,” Nancy Roman, World Food Programme Director of Communications, Public Policy and Private Partnerships, said in the release. “Beyond the remarkable benefits for those most in need, this is a significant milestone for WFP in our mission to engage millions of people online in the fight against hunger.”

Its appeal is simple: Answer a vocabulary question correctly, and 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Programme.

And that simplicity is likely part of its popularity and success. Since its beginning, an estimated 100 billion grains of rice have been donated from players in 179 countries by answering 2.5 million trivia questions. According to the release, that’s enough to feed nearly 5 million people for a day.

The money FreeRice.com uses to purchase the rice comes from advertisers on the site. Since June 2011, the game has also supported the World Food Programme’s efforts in Cambodia, purchasing all the rice locally to be used in school meal programs.

That’s one small grain making a global difference. Visit FreeRice.com to play the game and support the fight against hunger.

Talib Kweli X OhNo-”Distractions”

rebelsoundclash — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:32 +0000

Here is a track off of Talib Kweli’s upcoming album, “Prisoner of Consciousness”, due out in 2012. Production of the track is courtesy is respected beatsmith Oh No, visuals are courtesy of the OWS protests. The music video is directed by Darryl Phillips.

Vindahl-Down( Boom Clap Bachelors Mix)

rebelsoundclash — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:46:31 +0000

Some nice sounds from Vindahl.

via Tokyo Dawn Records

101 New Homes Given to Families Affected by Hurricane Katrina

rebelsoundclash — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:42:30 +0000

Project Home Again , a nonprofit housing development organization created by Leonard (Chairman of Barnes and Nobles) and Louise Riggio recently completed construction of their 101st home in New Orleans neighborhoods that had been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

via: Newstimes.com

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As a gospel choir clapped and sang “Oh Happy Day” in front of a newly constructed house in New Orleans Friday, 55-year-old Corliss Gaines’ eyes swelled with tears.

The sight of the new home — six years after Hurricane Katrina — hits her hard.

“It’s a beautiful thing, a beautiful day,” said Gaines, who held her 90-year-old aunt Dorothy Booker’s hand during a celebration commemorating the completion of the 101st and final home built through Project Home Again.

The project was founded by a New York couple, Leonard and Louise Riggio, who pledged to build homes for displaced, low- and middle-income families after seeing Katrina’s devastation on TV.

More than six years — and some $20 million later — one of the largest privately-funded residential rebuilding projects in the city is ending. As of Friday, all 101 furnished homes have been given to families.

Leonard Riggio, chairman of the book seller Barnes and Noble, was on hand Friday for the celebration at which pastors and residents prayed out loud and a gospel choir sang the uplifting “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Riggio’s longtime friend and supporter of the project, singer Tony Bennett, also attended.

“I’m very proud of them and the work they have done here,” said Bennett. “I’m here to honor them for what they did.”

Bennett, whose album “Duets II” came out earlier this year, is expected to perform at a Project Home Again gala Friday night.

He said he can think of few cities that need more protection than New Orleans.

“The gospel music, the music that started in churches here that created the art form of jazz, that needs to be preserved,” Bennett said. “Every musician I know was inspired by Louis Armstrong and the music that came out of New Orleans. This city’s music is not just national, it’s international. It communicates without a language barrier.”

Gaines moved into her house in May. She attended Friday’s celebration with her aunt, who lives with her. The two women bowed their heads during the ceremony as a pastor prayed for the city to continue its recovery.

Gaines said she was still in awe of the Riggios’ generosity and that of others who made donations to Project Home Again.

“When they called me to tell me I was going to get a house, I couldn’t talk, and I’m a big talker,” she said. “It was unbelievable.”

Riggio said when considering where to put the new houses, he looked for a neighborhood that reminded him of his childhood home, Brooklyn.

“We wanted a neighborhood with families, where kids could go outside and play,” he said. “What we did in New Orleans is what we would have done back at home, if this had happened there.”

Riggio said his goal was 100 homes but upped the number to 101 to recognize what New Orleans residents call “lagniappe,” a French saying that means “a little extra.”

All 101 homes are energy-efficient, single-family homes that are raised off the ground to the base flood level required by the federal government. They are all in the Gentilly section of the city, which was one of the hardest hit after the storm. Many homes had more than 8 feet of floodwater.

Monique Veal and her two children, who received the final home, gave media a tour while others who also received homes as part of the project participated in the festivities outside and reflected on the Riggios’ gifts.

Judy Griffin, one of the first Project Home Again recipients, moved into her house in October 2009. When displaced to a Nashville, Tenn., suburb following Katrina, Griffin said she wondered if and how she’d ever get back to New Orleans.

Her house’s screened-in porch has a nautical theme because “my ship came in,” she said with a laugh.

She calls her porch “Dock 1200″ — the 1200 referring to her address — and on it is a large anchor.

“I’m docked right here,” she said, “and I’m not going anywhere.”

Project Home Again is one of several rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast since Katrina. Another, called Rebuilding Together, planned to hold a weekend-long celebration commemorating its completion of more than 1,000 homes along the Gulf Coast since the devastating storm. Among the guest speakers will be retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who coordinated the federal government’s response after the storm.

Each one Teach one

rebelsoundclash — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:01:37 +0000

Entrepreneurial spirit that is driven through generosity.

Via: BBC News:

Former slum dweller Sarath Babu dreams of providing for half a million people by creating catering jobs.

The bamboo walls have been replaced with brick, and what was once a slum has improved over the years.

But Sarath Babu, 31, still lives with his mother in the hut she raised him in, in the Indian city of Chennai.

Despite his shiny shirt, Blackberry and beloved Chevrolet, he has few of the trappings of a graduate of one India’s top management schools – despite the fact he now employs 250 people in his fast-growing catering empire.

Born to a family with next to nothing, Sarath dreams of an India without hunger.

He has set himself the target of providing for half a million people, by creating 100,000 (known as one lakh) jobs.

“I give a job, and that person takes care of four to five people – so I take care of five lakh people directly,” he says.

He still regularly visits a slum similar to the one where he and his sister used to sell idlis – steamed rice cakes – made by his mother.

She became the sole breadwinner for five children after Sarath’s father died.

It was her commitment to raising the money to put him through an English-language school that opened the door to a different life.

At the school he met middle-class children, and noticed that they had several sets of clothes – while he wore one school uniform for three years.

He also discovered his ability to come top of the class.

“I realised that without involving my mother’s effort, or my teacher’s effort – only with my effort – I could get some recognition and this didn’t require money,” he said.

And from then on, he began studying hard.

Sarath eventually gained entry – and a scholarship to cover some costs – to BITS Pilani, one of India’s most prestigious and highly selective universities.

After working for a software company for three years to pay off university debts, he then went on to complete an MBA at another elite institution, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad.

‘Dark and challenging’

But when offers of well-paid jobs finally began to roll in, they brought with them a dilemma – which Sarath says he visualised as two doors.

One represented all that wealth had to offer, the other his long-standing dream to start a business that would transform the lives of those who, like him, started out poor.

To the first door, he says he said: “Me and my family suffered because of you, today I know that I can have you, but I don’t need you.”

Instead, he chose the second option. “I knew that it was going to be really dark and really challenging, but I knew at the end of this path it’s going to be really beautiful – so I thought I should stick to my dream.”

Sarath launched Foodking in 2006, supplying snacks to banks, software firms and other corporates, with just 2,000 rupees (£24; $38) to fund the first month.

But with his impressive academic pedigree, he was soon able to secure a bank loan of 100,000 rupees (£1,205; $1,890), and employed eight to 10 workers.

The expansion continued, and he now has seven outlets and an annual turnover of $1.3m.

The first year was tough, however. At one point, Sarath missed a train and found himself forced to sleep on a station platform as he could not afford a bed for the night. He considered giving up.

“But then I said to myself, so what if you are an IIM-Ahmadabad guy? Can’t you sleep on the platform – there are 300 other people sleeping on the platform – let them all sleep in homes and then you can think about yourself…

“Until then, you think about the business, you think about them.”

And Sarath’s drive remains strong.

He wants to have 100 outlets by the end of this year – and 5,000 across the state eventually.

Family loans

He already gives lectures at schools and business institutes, and spends time encouraging children in a local slum to continue studying.

And he hopes to inspire 1,000 entrepreneurs across the state, who too would go on to create employment opportunities for others.

Sarath’s approach is clearly shaped by his humble beginnings.

He is determined to provide affordable, good quality food. Foodking’s meals cost 20-45 rupees (25p-54p; $0.37-0.84) each – which would more usually buy only fast food.

To keep prices low, premises are simple. And while Sarath is happy to pitch in and help the workers out, he’s tough on waste, challenging staff over unused chopped vegetables and taps left running.

Sarath’s relatives loaned him money for his university fees, while his sister pawned her wedding jewellery to help cover the cost of his MBA.

His gratitude is evident, to them and even more deeply for his mother’s sacrifices – as is his determination to provide for his family.

But although he has been offered salaries of up to $33,000 (£21,050) a year – highly paid in Indian terms – he says he never saw turning down employment and starting the business as a risk.

“What is risk? It’s risk to lifestyle. Having come from the slum, with absolutely nothing… there is absolutely no risk for me.”

Live Simply

rebelsoundclash — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:07:43 +0000

Here is a really good documentary I came across about some folks downsizing their homes to a more sustainable model. It is definitely an eye-opener when it comes to questioning how much space we REALLY need to occupy.

Via:tinyhouseblog

Groovin When I Hear the Sound..

rebelsoundclash — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:14:10 +0000

Some fresh instrumental stuff via Starslinger

Jack Johnsons Heart to Heart

rebelsoundclash — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:15:01 +0000

It’s always good to see the philanthropic side of the music industry.

Via The Boston Herald:

Surf-folk singer Jack Johnson brought some Southern California sunshine into the lives of a 6-year-old Children’s Hospital Boston patient and his family yesterday, fulfilling the boy’s foremost Christmas wish by giving him a private webcast concert and calling him “a very brave boy” for battling a rare heart defect.

Speaking via Skype from Santa Barbara, Calif., Johnson, a father of three young children, treated Ethan Lindberg, his family and his caretakers to a casual chat, a laid-back, strummy version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and a selection of other similarly soothing songs.

“Ever since he was a baby — he’s had six heart surgeries, and the first was when he was five days old — he’s just always been drawn to it,” his mother, Jessica Lindberg, said of her son’s love for music — particularly Johnson’s beach-bum brand. “Music has been that thing for him, to draw him out of fear.”

Ethan was diagnosed before birth with aortic stenosis and evolving Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect.

His parents moved from western Illinois to Boston to seek treatment at Children’s, and the family, which recently celebrated the arrival of a third son, was featured by Herald columnist Jessica Heslam earlier this week.

The family had mentioned that Ethan wanted to meet Johnson, a multi-platinum singer-songwriter whose kid-friendly vibe and work on the “Curious George” soundtrack has made him a huge hit with children. One of the singer-surfer’s relatives spotted the story, leading to yesterday’s web jam.

Ethan — who puts Johnson alongside Bob Marley and Raffi as his favorite musicians — smiled broadly and sang along as Johnson strummed away, pleasantly surprised that his young fan had committed the lyrics to memory.

“I could hear you sing along. You know the words. That’s really cool,” Johnson told him.

Jessica Lindberg — who helped start a foundation to assist families undergoing the same fetal-intervention procedure that saved Ethan’s life — thought it was really cool, too, given that music has played an important part in Ethan’s ongoing and often difficult care.

“It’s one of my favorite things to see,” she said. “When I see him singing, I know he’s happy.”