+1
I just saw a post about Google's new +1 experiment. It's kind of like "liking" something on FB, except you do it while you're other places on the Internet. Watch the video to better understand it. Yes, it's the same concept as Stumble Upon or Tweeting it, but I think it's better because it can be applied to a Google Search. I would want to know if I were searching for "lawn service" and one of my friends/contacts +1'd a service. Anyway, it seems like a great idea to me, but obviously it only works if you have enough friends participating. As with all things Google, it'll be interesting to see if this catches on. I signed up for the experiment have have already +1'd a few things.
Today
Avery's in school today because I'm having the carpets cleaned in the house. That means she'll also sleep at the G's house tonight since it's not good to be in the house for several hours after the carpet has been cleaned.
D and I will probably see the new X-Men movie tonight.
Books
I read 8 books in May and the first couple days of June. If I kept up that pace, I'd read 96 books a year. That pace will not be kept up, clearly. I'm thinking of forcing myself to read literature vs my usual difficult-life memoir genre. That'll be the kiss of the death to my reading streak since I'll get stuck half way through the book and not want to continue.
After reading A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman, I signed up to support a woman via Women for Women. It takes 4-6 weeks to be matched with a woman. After reading the book, which I have mixed feelings about, I understand that the letters you write to the woman you're supporting actually matter. I think I always assumed they didn't. We support a child through Compassion (yes, it's Christian charity and yes, it's weird for me to think about it considering my lack of belief in a god) and have for something like 6-8 years now. I don't know how many. Anyway, in a complete role reversal for us, it's D who writes Caroline (hey, at least I know her name?), not me. This is always one of those things where I truly wonder if the money gets its way to the actual person, and then whether the money actually helps. But I guess, in the end, I prefer to error on the side of hoping it does.
M&Ms & Gluten
I have not eaten a Starburst (one of my favorite candies) since I tried them a couple of months ago and got terrible, terrible heartburn from them. Well, now it seems I will not be eating M&M's for a good long while either. I had two small handfuls yesterday and ended up with a terrible headache and queasy feeling. I checked and double-checked ingredients online and it seems that M&Ms made in the US are gluten-free. D bought these from the bulk bin at WinCo, so maybe they're imported from some other country. Maybe I'm also really sensitive to some other ingredient. Who knows. Either way, it'll be a while before I try M&M's again.
Speaking of gluten, I'm now so sensitive that I will feel it even if I eat only a few crumbs. Seriously. And I feel it really fast. Were it not so uncomfortable, I would totally demonstrate this amazing ability as a party trick. It's like I'm sniffer-dog sensitive. I impress myself. But I digress.
Could you maybe be allergic/sensitive to red dye? I know that some poeple are, and it would be an ingredient common to M&Ms and Starburst.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought.
That never occurred to me, but maybe. I just Googled "gluten red dye sensitivity." With a massive 30 seconds of searching (wouldn't want to be too thorough), I found a forum where someone says a kid is on a "gluten and red-dye free diet." What are the odds of something that specific? I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for other things with red dye.
ReplyDeleteThought you might like to read this post about Compassion International: http://shaungroves.com/2011/05/a-magic-trick-for-kristen/
ReplyDeleteThe record keeping is very impressive!
Wow, Lori! That really does make me feel good! They were D's client (and RHG's) when we lived in Colorado. That's how we ended up sponsoring a child. However, even though I knew it was a good organization, my skepticism on this stuff is never far away.
ReplyDeleteI often think it's - what? hypocritical? weird? - that we sponsor a child through a religious organization, but in the end, if that organization does good work, I suppose I should look at it as if a Christian supports a child through a charity run by an atheist - as long as the child/person is ultimately helped, that is what matters.
@Stacey - I just checked. M&Ms use the same red dye as Starbursts. It also uses the same yellow and the same blue. The dye connection never occurred to me, so I'll have to be more aware to see if I can find if it is a dye that causes the headaches (I know gluten does, but if it's dye, too, that's good to know).
ReplyDeleteFascinating about the dye! I hope this turns out to be helpful info for you, although if you're sensitive to red dye, that is, in fact, a bummer. I wonder if you could just eat the non-red M&Ms or if just the presence of the dye in the facility would be too much. Or maybe the red is a part of making some of the other colors? So much to consider.
ReplyDelete