Good Causes

  • Running Barefoot for Charity in Namibia

    Last weekend, I joined a hundred or so other runners in Windhoek’s northern township, Katutura – which means “place we do not want to live” – to run as many laps as possible for charity.  As I wrote in a previous post, the event was “Namibia Runs for Charity”; and as a barefoot runner since…

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  • Seeking Pledges for Namibia

    This November 19, I will be participating in the event, “Namibia Runs for Charity.”  From 9 am to 4 pm, I will have the opportunity to run as many laps as possible for Namibian charities.  And I could use your help! Now, it would be good to be able to post here exactly WHICH charity…

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  • Supporting Africa’s Dwindling Wild Dog Population

    Today I’ll be participating in N/a’ankuse Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary’s “Corporate Eco-Challenge” to help raise money for their efforts to advocate on behalf of Africa’s dwindling wild dog population.  African wild dogs, also known as “painted dogs“, are the second most endangered carnivore on the African continent, after the Ethiopian wolf.  Estimates of the remaining…

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  • Rolling Thunder rolls into Washington DC

    Memorial Day weekend, Washington, D. C., an overcast sky that doesn’t quite suggest the scorchingly hot day ahead. Standing on the DC side of the Memorial Bridge at noon with an expectant crowd along the barriers and covering the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and a faint rumble can be heard from the direction of…

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  • Tracks in the Dust: Songs from Afghanistan

    It’s said that combat duty consists of long periods of boredom interspersed by brief moments of terror. In Kabul, Afghanistan, it tends to be long, tedious work hours, interspersed with sleep. In this environment, maintaining one’s sanity often leads to skimping a bit on sleep in order to have some “personal time” – whether it’s…

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  • The PUPS Act

    This is my dog, Keiler.  He’s almost 9 years old – which is pretty old for a large breed like his.  He’s a hovawart – an old breed of German guard dog that comes in blond, black, or what I call “Rottweiler” (black and brown). Keiler is a remarkable dog.  He’s got an artificial hip…

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  • Kris Allen performs

    American Idol winner Kris Allen came to town.  Kinda cool – he’s supporting the USO, and he gave a performance in our small community in the Netherlands – for free – to support servicemen and women and their families.  I have 3 things to say about that. Part 1: Lesson learned – I should have…

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