Four men. Zero jobs. One goal. Well, one goal with two parts.
Beginning in March 2011, our hardy band will be marching overland from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Trail. For each mile of treacherous, orc-infested wild we traverse (and there are many) we are asking YOU, dear reader, to pledge a critical donation to the Mufindi Highlands Orphans Project.
What is the Mufindi Highlands Orphans Project? In formal terms, the Project is a humanitarian effort to provide relief to thousands of children in central Tanzania whose parents have perished in the region's ongoing AIDS epidemic. In more basic terms, the Project describes a school, six dormitories and an AIDS testing clinic for the people of Mufindi -- all critical pieces of infrastructure that did not exist five years ago.
The next step in a better way of life for the good people of the Mufindi region is a full service hospital. Work has begun on this project (Mdabulo General Hospital) already, but more help is needed.
Donation information is plentifully supplied throughout the site (albeit tastefully, we hope). Moreso than in any other part of the world, every little bit in Mufindi helps. Please check back, spread the word, tell your friends. Top donors will be brought back a pet bear.
Thanks,
Mike "Hollywood" Healy - Harpooner Erik "Boots" Christensen - Navigationist Christopher "Danger" Mendrala - Sergeant at Arms James "Gower" Gower - Quartermaster Katherine "Kate" Gales - Information Officer
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Recommended Reading
Kilabuni Nights, by Harpooner Healy + Others
The sensational(ist) screed that started it all. Click here for a high-tensile, titanium-reinforced thrill ride that will take you from the twisting corridors of Zanzibar to the smoky grease huts of the Kilabuni - literally “Place of Danger” and/or “The Club (place).”
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson
The supremely talented and somewhat rotund author of A Short History of Nearly Everything takes to the path that cuts a swath through some of his native country’s most scenic vistas. This book undulates well between Bryson’s personal travel-narrative of his march along the Trail with his out-of-shape oddball college friend and more trained examinations of the tales and trends large and local that have shaped the AT’s past and look to govern its future.
Not for those with family in the employ of the U.S. Forest Service.
BOOTS on the Appalachian Trail, (Authoress unremembered)
A thoughtful and serendipitous gift from mavens of marvelous miscellany at Chicago’s estate west grand, this “book” (a glorified diary of some 115 pages) had all the hallmarks of a vanity-publish:
- An acknowledgements page heavy on the debt owed to a Wednesday night writing workshop
- Hamfistedly sensualized metaphors
- Odd, unpredictable content/focus arc
- A testimonials page that includes quotes from reviewers whose credentials include terms like “Doctor” and “Longtime reader.”
Not to spoil it for anyone, but this is the story of a woman who sets off to hike the Appalachian Trail with her hippy son and his equally hippy girlfriend. She hikes with them for about a week and then falls victim to a nasty case of the shingles. The balance of the text could have been published independently under the title SHINGLES as Experienced From a Bed.
That said, if you have a chance to acquire a copy of this manuscript, we highly advise you do so. Beats finding out about shingles the hard way.
