My Top Five!

Enough seriousness with this blog - time for a little fun (as finals, essays, presentations approach, I'm getting a lllitttllee looopeey).

In the spirit of the recent People's Sexiest Man Alive Issue - here is Virginia Gal's choices for the top five hottest guys in the world today (and whom Virginia Gal has teeny bit of crushes on).

1. Nathan Fillion - as pictured above, this man's man from Canada is currently on Wisteria Lane, guest starring in Desperate Housewives. I've liked him since his time on the soap opera One Life to Live. Not only he is sweet on the eyes but from what I've read, a really decent guy (whenever he meets a fan he says "Hi I'm Nathan," what humbleness). Still single, if anyone knows his number, I would forever be in your debt to arrange a meet-up.



2. Prince William - I've been crushing on him for a long time. He's cute, intelligent, English...oh and royalty.

3. Daniel Radcliffe - fine, fine he's barely legal, but he is cute and so polite! And as everyone knows, I have a thing for the posh English accent (see Prince William above). So sue me!

4. Aasif Mandvi - the hilarious "Arab, Indian, Muslim newsreporter" on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. He's not a cutie in the traditional sense, but I could totally see myself with him, because he would always make me laugh - and that's super hot in a guy!


5. Finishing off my list is the super handsome co-star of the CW's television show, Supernatural - Jason Ackles. He's not only easy on the eyes, but great comic timing, watch the show and see!

Who would be on your list??

Thanksgiving Prayer

Though I haven't been feeling particularly connected to God of late (not sure if I'm losing hope or feel like I'm being shut out - like He is angry with me or something, i.e. I got a low "A" on my operations management essay, all my friends made high "A's", I feel so dumb). But I continue to give Duas (as we say in Islam) for God to help me be more faithful, give me spiritual strength in the face of such adversities.

In the essence of the American holiday, Thanksgiving here is a prayer of thanks for the holiday (I modified the ending to include God, because its a Buddist prayer):

Today may we appreciate this food and remember those who are hungry.May we appreciate our family and friends and remember those who are alone.May we appreciate our health and remember those who are sick.May we appreciate the freedoms we have and remember those who suffer injustice and tyranny.Peace on earth. To God we give thanks for our blessings.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU MY FRIENDS.

A Day of Fast

Today, on November 15th, "thousands of people around the nation will join together in one simple act to help end hunger. On this day people of all ages, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds will" (Oxfam America, 2007) either fast for the entire day or skip a meal. How simple an act no?

This day, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, a holiday in which the act of eating is taken to a level of excess in America, we should reflect, think about global hunger and poverty. Did you know...

• Hunger is considered to be the most extreme form of poverty? You can't even meet the basic human need of food.
• 854 million people across the world are hungry
• One child in every five seconds dies of hunger
• 35.5 million people in the United States live with hunger on a daily basis
• Research shows that preschool and school-aged children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of chronic illness, anxiety and depression, and behavior problems than children with no hunger.
• Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger daily are usually poor and often lack the social safety nets we enjoy, such as soup kitchens, food stamps, and job training programs. When a family that lives in a poor country cannot grow enough food or earn enough money to buy food, there is nowhere to turn for help. ( facts from - www.bread.org)

Hunger is a very personal thing to me...having visited India on a regular basis, I have seen first hand the tragedy that is a person not having food to eat, its like the person is just a shadow, half of themselves. Food is such a basic need that I as a member of the human race cry at the idea that there are people out there who do not even have this, who have nothing to sustain themselves, that they starve to death.

Just think, in this country, in the middle-class, when we are hungry, we go to the kitchen, we visit the store, imagine not having that option, living with the pangs in your stomach, seeing food but not being able to touch it, the need for food grows but you can't assuage it - how terrible is that, so painful, like torture. Next time you're hungry, instead of going to the pantry, simply wait for a mere two hours as your hunger grows and just suppose that was your day to day living - how awful a feeling it is!

Please consider skipping a meal, fasting for a day, or even just not wasting food but eating everything that is on your plate the next time you eat, in honor of those who are hungry. Perhaps the money you save from missing a meal can go to a food charity and fight against this horrible epidemic and we can foster a more hopeful future.

Charities Combatting Hunger (just a small sampling of the numerous good people out there trying to help)
www.oxfamamerica.org
www.secondharvest.org
www.capitalareafoodbank.org
www.feedthechildren.org

Veteran's Day

"I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VIII, "Letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby" (November 21, 1864), pp. 116-117. President Abraham Lincoln, in a letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby mother of five who died in the civil war.

This note always brings me to tears. The sacrifice upon the alter of freedeom is an image so moving, I thought it appropriate for Veterans Day, because it is this offering to democracy that all US service people volunteer their lives.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Winston Churchill

Missing Monday

Age: 39
DOB: 06/10/1968
Hair: Sandy
Eyes: Blue
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 140
Missing From: Alexandria, Virginia
Missing Since: 10/07/2007
Details: Patricia, AKA "Patty", was last seen onOctober 7, 2007 wearing white shorts and orangesneakers. She also has a scar on her right leg belowher knee. She may travel to Miami, Flordia.
CONTACT: Alexandria Police Department, Officer Troy Boyle, 703-838-4444

*Also don't forget tomorrow is Election day - mostly local elections in Virginia and I think these are highly important, moreso than presidential. Local politicans make the decisions that affect our day to day lives. Here in Virginia the Republicans have replaced the gays with illegal aliens as the fear factor label. Gotta love the strategy, every year be afraid of something and go to the polls and vote to keep the (insert some minority group) from eating your babies. Please take five minutes out of your busy schedule and vote!