Ten Inches of LOVE

Everyone for the most part has heard of Locks of Love. It is when you donate a minimum of ten inches of hair to an organization that takes it and turns it into a wig for children who have lost their own hair due to a disease. The organization has been around since 1997. It was created by a woman named Mrs. Coffman. She had developed alopecia in her 20's and her daughter than developed it when she was 4 years old. It was difficult for her daughter to lose her hair. She then created this organization to help her daughter and other children that face the same disease or other diseases that cause hair lose. (This is according to the website.)

I actually have donated for the first time this past summer. I was able to donate about 12 inches to the organization of Locks of Love. I remember the day very well as I knew that it was time to cut my hair and donate it. It has been a goal of mine to donate when one of my friends told me that her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She lost her hair due to chemotherapy that she was receiving. When I was sitting in the chair at the salon, I had a thousand different things going through my head. I remember debating if I should go through with it because I wasn't ready to cut my hair. Then I remembered that it was going to go to a child that doesn't have hair and that they would be so happy when they were able to receive a wig. While they cut my hair, it was very emotional for me as I knew that I was doing good for someone else but I was also losing a part of me. I feel that it was worth it to donate my hair to a good cause and I would do it again. I also have multiple friends that have also donated their hair and they have said that it was also emotional for them and likewise that it was all worth it.

Over all, Locks of Love has been able to help around 2,000 children. However, with the help of everyone, many more children will be able to be helped if everyone donated at least once in their life. I cannot wait to be able to donate again and hopefully bring a smile to a childs face.

If you are interested you can print out a form and donate as long as you qualify. When you donate you are also able to take photos and send them in along with the hair so they can be seen on the internet.

Writers Strike Is Almost Over

Today word got out that the writing strike that has occured for the past three months is in the process of finally being over. It has been a long process for those that have been involved in the Writers Guild of America. There has been a lost of wages that have been estimated at 1.9 billion dollars. However, many of the writers are saying that they did not get everything that they wanted, but they have received more than what they have in the past.

There will be a vote in the next forty-eight hours to figure out if the writers will be going back to work this week. If they agree with it the contract won't be complete for about two weeks. This can mean that a lot of shows will be able to complete this season with new episodes.

One of the reasons that the strike started was that people were viewing the episodes on the internet and the writers weren't get paid for this. The writers are going to get the rights and money for the episodes that are viewed on the internet and other media.

As a viewer for multiple of shows that have been affected by this strike, I am personal happy to see that it is almost over. I hope that all goes well with the vote. I can not wait to see how the new episodes will turn out.

One out of a hundred and fifty

As I was going through my e-mails like any other day, I stumbled across one that stood out from the rest of them. It had a note attached to the video about how the family will receive money to donate to research each time the video is viewed so that they could help their child that faces the hardship of autism. Like many other families around the world, autism has changed their lives drastically.

Many people are unaware of what autism really is. It is a neurobiological disorder that last throughout the individuals lifetime. Boys are more commonly diagnosed with autism compared to girls. However, one in every one hundred and fifty children is faced with autism, leaving sixty seven children diagnosed each day. The rate has grown in the last fifteen years and is still rising.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for autism. The only way that helps a child out the most is early intervention. By being able to provide a child with early intervention as soon as possible allows the child to get the most out of the therapies that will help them develop better than if they weren't given the chance. But for most families these costs are not covered by insurance, leaving them to do what they have to in order to get the best care for their child.

For me, this information is heart breaking. I am planning on being a special education teacher for the sole purpose that I would like to help children that others may see as hopeless. I believe that every child deserves the best in everything that they part take in throughout their lives despite their disabilities. I can only hope, like in the video, that "autism is something we read about in history textbooks." This can only be done with the help of you.

A Thousand Times Better

Dancing With The Stars has become one of the most watched shows on television. This past Friday I was able to attend the tour that was passing through in Uniondale. From watching the show on television and then to see it live was a whole new experience.

The tour had many professional dancers compared to the Stars that have been on the show. Some of the celebrities that were there were Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton. Joey Lawrence, and Drew Lachey. The audience was shocked to see Drew performing as he was on Rachel Ray about a week ago and said that he doesn't do the shows on Fridays or the weekends. This however was a great surprise to us. We also found out that Friday was the last show that he was doing for this year's tour.

Throughout the show, the music that was being played was phenomenal. The band helped make the tour run smoothly as they are the glue that holds the show together. Even Wayne sang a couple of his songs throughout the night as he is unable to dance due to his health. Personally, I would have liked to also see Almost Amy sing. Almost Amy is a band that two of the professional singers (Derek Hough and Mark Ballas) created together.

By being at the show and seeing them live made me appreciate all the work that they put into dancing. On television when you watch it does not even come close to how you view the show live. It is hard for me to put into words the experience that I was able to be a part of. Everything and anything you see when you are at the show is a thousand times better than what it is on television.