Hey everyone,

I'm doing the 30 hour famine again this year.  For those who don't know, the 30 hour famine is an event sponsored by World Vision.  Participants solicit donations that are used to help children and communities in developing nations (that's the PC term now, right?) and, for 30 hours, participants go without food.  30 hours is nothing compared to what so many of these people face, so I have no qualms about it.

Unlike previous years, this year I have pulled my act together - I've set up an online donation form.  No worries - it's an official one.  Check that URL. :)

Anything you can spare will help.  Please note that your donation will be in CAD (Canadian dollars - so feel free to pick a bigger number than usual if you do donate!) and, unfortunately, an American friend of mine told me that apparently receipts (for tax purposes) are only available for Candians - sorry about that.

Other tidbits, if people are curious:

1. World Vision offers prizes to people who gather enough money to meet certain tiers.  I think something like $360 earns a hoodie.  However, our church chooses not to accept those prizes.  We don't want to take a dent out of what we raise.

2. According to the official rules of the famine, participants can have a bowl of plain white rice if they absolutely need it.  I've never needed it before.  I will not need it this time.  No worries - I won't cheat, even if it is allowed!

3. Similarly, the official rules state that we can drink juice so that our bodies can still obtain essential nutrients, electrolytes and sugar and all that wonderful stuff.  I abstain from that also.  As a byproduct of engineering courses, my body has learned to run on low reserves of what sane people consider essential resources (sleep is a prominent example - 3-4 hours a night for a few months now).  I can handle 30 hours without sugar.  I will, however, allow myself a bottle or two of water.  I'm dehydrated enough of the time as it is.

4. This year will prove to be the most difficult year yet for me.  The people organizing the famine for our group decided to move the date of the famine up to March 27/28, to coincide with the beginning of Spring Break (which, as a post-secondary student, doesn't even apply to me).  March 27 is a terrible day for me to not be allowed to eat.  The student's association of computing science students on our campus hold a BBQ every semester.  It's called "Buck-A-Burger" because every patty is just $1.  Before the famine date was changed, I was planning on getting six patties (four beef and two vegetarian, split between two burgers).  It was going to epically delicious.  And now... now the dream is shattered.  Please don't let me starve in vain.

Feel free to spread the word.  It's a good cause! :)

Edit: Oh man, that image is too wide for this theme... blah.

This is probably my favourite of all the designs I've ever created.  Please vote for it and make me happy.  School is depressing.  Assignments are taking way too long - I actually didn't go home on Friday (didn't get back until after midnight) because I was working on an assignment.  Which I am still not done.  Blah.

Again, feel free to add me on Facebook.  You can see how dorky I actually look. ;)