Hannah's Blog

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. -Psalm 37:4,5

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD,” plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me, and find me, when you search for Me with all your heart. -Jer. 29:11-13

For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. -Gal. 5:22-23

These are the verses I try to think about when I find myself feeling wistful or anxious about the future, or dwelling on something I know I shouldn’t give too much attention to.

I happened to walk downstairs to find the television left on this evening, playing the local news. As I walked past I heard something that caused me to pause and listen. After the entire story had aired I was nothing short of incensed. Stroudwater St., that long road between the church and my neighborhood that boasts the last farm in citified Westbrook, is to be developed into an abominable high-end shopping center that’s been christened “Stroudwater Place.”
I actually yelled “no!” at the television. Mom and I were just saying THIS MORNING that we hoped they wouldn’t develope the farm…it’s been only a matter of time…I said I would lie in front of the bulldozers to stop them, and I meant it..and I still mean it! As soon as the broadcast ended I called WCSH6 and asked where I could find more information about how to protest, and made my opposition very clear. I think I nearly bellowed at the man on the phone that there were those of us who did indeed wish to ‘weigh in’ and felt very strongly on the matter!
After that I called the mayor, but he wasn’t in and I left a message.

I am furious. I will do everything in my power to get in the way of this development. The first thing I need is a T-shirt. Sonja, and I’m perfectly serious, if I mail you a t-shirt would you be willing to illustrate it for me? I’d tell you what to say.
I haven’t got any resources or connections or anything, but this won’t happen without a fight. I am going to call until I speak with the mayor himself, and I’m going to make sure as many people know about this as possible. One of our city  government officials lives three houses away from us. I think I’ll be talking to her soon.

I am beyond furious. THIS MEANS WAR.

First, read this:
“(4)Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, (5)to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” -Titus 2:4+5

Now, read this:
Objection #1: “A woman really only needs to stay home if she has children. Before that, she can have a career, and that means she’d need to go to college first for career training.”
Answer: When a woman marries, she becomes one with her husband. His interests become immediately and intimately her own. Her desire in life should be to further her own husband’s interests and make him successful by being the best wife she can possibly be. Her job is to free him from home concerns so that he can “contend in the gates” with the other men. She needs to do such a good job at home that her husband can put full confidence in her and literally never worry that she is incapable of running the home, tending to guests, managing the servants or teaching the children. She is not called to submit to anyone else’s husband but her own. To take a job out in the world and submit to male bosses and managers requires her to come under the guidance and direction of other men (in many cases someone else’s husband). This directly violates Titus 2:5, which exhorts married women to “be obedient to their own husbands” (emphasis mine).

Please, what do you think of that? Both females and males. I agree with some of it, but from reading Titus 2:5, I don’t get the same impression this lady does. She seems to say that a woman should only take orders from her husband, and I think that when the orders relate to personal life that’s true. But I don’t think the verse says it’s wrong to have a job and take orders from a boss; does that dishonor your husband/future husband?

This afternoon, I went out to lunch with Mrs. Noonan, my old piano teacher. It was a really enjoyable time, we had soup and sandwiches at Panera and talked for quite a while. I miss seeing her for lessons.
I also got the next major step on my AU-related project completed, thanks to Dad, who built a new computer for me to use. Very convenient having a geek for a father. You should see our basement…*trips over random computer parts*
I had an epifany today and discovered that I can record myself on to the computer singing either the alto or soprano part to the Christmas pieces we’re doing at school, and then practice against myself. It’s very convenient. Voice practice today was very encouraging.
I have my first Reenactment meeting on Friday. This will be an extremely hectic day..I leave at 11:30 or so for labs with Krissy and Keturah, go straight to Reenactment, then to the Tate House with them, and then I have a half hour to get to my All State audition.
Oh, and Son!! My teacher says she ‘thinks’ I made District. Apparently the list arrived via email, but it wasn’t well drawn out. I find this a little disconcerting…but oh well. At least I have a chance.

I watched the original Oliver musical a few weekends ago…a year or two ago I saw a friend in it…it’s such a great show, I love it. Random, sorry.
I’m working on a project for AU that’s not coming along very fast…maybe this is a lesson in patience. *rolls eyes*
Went to Borders yesterday, there was a good teachers’ discount. We got a few books for the younger cousins and a nice one volume copy of LotR for four bucks…our books are so beat up you can’t recognize them anymore.
Other than that, the past few days have been pretty uneventful. Mom and I went to Old Orchard and walked with hot chocolate on the beach for a few minutes…she kept picking up more seashells than she was supposed to, and doing impressions of Dobby punishing himself. It was really funny.

This is something I posted on my xanga…I’m transfering bits and pieces here, but I won’t make you read the whole thing.
Okay, rant post here. I want to make sure everyone knows that LOCKS OF LOVE is an UNRELIABLE organization!!! Countless little girls and young women chop their tresses to give to this ‘nonprofit organization.’ This is a waste of perfectly good, pretty hair. Your hair needs to stay where it belongs- on your head!

Locks of Love is advertized as a non-profit organization that makes hairpieces for children who have lost their hair due to cancer or other illnesses. Sadly, LoL’s actions aren’t in keeping with its message.
Let me elaborate:
Taken from LocksofLove.com:
“Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. We meed a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cute. The prostheses we provide help to restore self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.”

Now, what they say is that they ask for donations of hair, which they then process and give away to kids who need it. Correct? Ah. Now let’s look at the actual statistics: (taken from a long hair site):
A little math using information from LoL’s own website and the BBB:
LoL receives about 2000 donations per week, by mail.
That’s 104,000 per year.
Let’s say that only half of that is usable for wigs.(Or use another fraction, if you desire.)
That’s 52,000 per year.
It takes 6-10 ponytails to make a wig.
Ok, let’s say each one takes 10.
That’s potentially 5200 wigs per year.
Now, in fiscal year 2002, how many wigs did LoL provide?

113.

Let’s take this a little farther….

Let’s say it takes 10 donated ponytails to make one wig. They made 113 wigs in 2002.

113 wigs x 10 ponytails each = 1130 total ponytails used to make wigs in 2002.

They received 2000 ponytail donations per week, which is 104,000 per year.

That means that Locks of Love only uses 1% of the ponytails donated by good meaning people. You only have one chance out of 100 that your donated hair will go directly into a wig for a child.

Now. Go to www.locksoflove.com and take a look at their wigs. Not very good quality, are they? No. And the kids don’t get them free, either.
Want to know what Locks of Love does with all the rest of their hair? They sell it. This ‘non-profit’ organization sells the hair they recieve as human hair extensions, mostly to celebrities who like to change their length on a whim. Not very honest, are they?

And look at this (from the Better Business Bureaus group):

11: Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

In response to the Alliance’s request for a copy of LoL’s financial statements, LoL submitted a copy of its Independent Accountant’s Compilation Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002. To meet this Standard, an organization with total annual income of over $250,000 should have, available on request, financial statements that have been audited.

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested, but did not receive, complete information on LoL’s finances, and therefore, is unable to verify LoL’s compliance with the following Standard for Charitable Accountability: 14.

Also from the BBB:

Source of Funds
Contributions 194,398
Hair sales 150,719
Grants 18,991
Interest income 7,858
Program income 2,474
Gain on investment sales 103

Total Income $374,543

http://www.give.org/reports/care2_dyn.asp?733

As if that’s not enough, people are constantly pressured into donating their hair, convinced they’re doing the right thing. And not only by Locks of Love reps, but by regular people who are misled. I can testify. I haven’t cut my hair in six years, and now I’ve got tailbone length, thick brown hair. I’ve been working hard at keeping it in good condition, because long hair looks awful when it’s ratty. But some people, sadly, take healthy long hair to mean an automatic donation. I’ve had…I think five or six people tell me over the past few years that I ought to cut my hair. “You know, Hannah, you really should cut your hair for Locks of Love.” Yeah, well, you know what? When you donate a kidney, I’ll donate my hair. You’ve got two of them, it’s really selfish for you to keep them both.
People get this insane idea that it’s selfish to keep long hair. They’re so misinformed! That’s why I’m making this post…at least my friends can be informed. Please guys, never tell someone they should donate to Locks of Love. It’s much, much better to donate money to the cancer research funds. Even cut off your hair and sell it to donate the money. Anything.

Please don’t get me wrong. I can’t critisize anyone who HAS donated. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s a very kind and considerate thing to do, especially since most people don’t know where it’s going. Just wanted to clarify.

Credit for information goes to members of The Long Hair Community.

“Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, in as much as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid.”
-Arandil (Tulcakelume)

Es gibt viele verschiedene Blicke auf dies, sowohl guten als schlechten Punkte. Ich denke persönlich nicht, dass Sie können, hat gewählt. Wenn sie in der genauen gleichen Lage waren, könnten Sie eine gerechte Entscheidung, aber nicht mit den verschiedenen Umständen machen. Denken Sie an wenn eine Minute.. Die ganze Lage von Arwen ist verschieden als Éowyn. Für ein Ding hat Arwen Eltern. Ihre Mutter kann in Mittlerer Erde nicht sein, aber sie lebt. Und ihr Vater ist dort mit ihr, und sie lieben einander. Éowyn, andererseits keine Eltern. Beide sind gestorben. Ihr Onkel, den sie hat geliebt, ist unter einer Rechtschreibung, und ist teilnahmslos zu ihrer Sorge. Arwen Leben weg von der Krieg sich. Ich werde nicht sagen, dass es nicht direkt sie verwickelt, aber sie ist nicht im dicken davon. Éowyn Leben in der schnell nachlassenden Zivilisation bekanntem als Rohan. Mit ihrem König in so einem Staat fällt das ganze Land in Baufälligkeit. Und dann Erzählungen des Kriegs, und ein Schatten im Osten. Arwen steht dem Problem des Liebens jemand, der ein anderes Rennen. ..a sterbliches Rennen ist, das mit ihr widerspricht, ist unsterblich gegenüber. Éowyn hat kein solch Problem. Aber sie hat das Problem des Liebens jemand, der unerreichbar ist. ..as macht Arwen. Es überrascht, dass eine Person auf Unsterblichkeit geben würde, eine kurze Lebenszeit mit einem Sterblichen zu teilen. ..but ich nicht genau würde benutzen das Wort tapfer. Selbstlos, und selbstsüchtig gleichzeitig. ..though nicht stellend sich selbst bevor andere. Liebe ist ein fremdes Ding. Éowyn steht Angst. ..but Teil von ihrem Grund zum Machen gegenüber, damit ist, fühlt sie jenes Leben ist hoffnungslos. Ein Ding Arwen hat ist Hoffnung. Ein kleiner Betrag, und schwinden, aber sie besitzt noch es. Sie tehend beide Gesichtertode. ..imminent, Verderben bevors.. Und steht ihm in ihrer eigenen Weise gegenüber. Ich würde sowohl besser als das andere, noch wichtigere, noch tapferere nicht rufen. Éowyn sollte whiney nicht gerufen werden, wenn Arwen weint, genauso wie viel. Wenn in Anbetracht solche Dinge, soll Ein denken, ” würde ich das gleiche in ihrer Lage machen?” Ich denke, wenn ich war in Arwen Lage, ich würde weinen, und würde sorgen sich, und vielleicht würde nicht sein beinahe ebenso tapfer als sie. der . Das gleiche mit Éowyn. Denken Sie über diese Dinge nach, bevor Sie entweder kritisieren.

“You should write a book.”
I think maybe I shall.

Man, I don’t even know what to say about this…just pray for uh…lets give her the alias Rose. pray for Rose.