Women's Microfinance Initiative

Recently a women who founded the Women's Microfinance Initiative came to our school to talk about microlending.  Microlending is a process where people lend money to people in need.  Lending helps those people get money to buy tools or anything to jumpstart or grow their business.  When the person buys the things needed for their business they pay back what was lent.  Since you get the money back once you donate it is not lost.  That is the beauty of microlending.  When Robin the speaker came to our school she showed us a video about the nonprofit she began with friends.  Women's Microfinance Initiative does loans in Africa.  The first place that Women's Microfinance Initiative gave out loans to was Buyobo in Uganda .  One of the benefits of lending through Women's Microfinance Initiative is that they train the people they lend to how to keep record of their business so they know what things help their business and what things don't.

Click here to go to the Women's Microfinance Initiative website.

Spoons (Baltimore, Maryland)

Spoons is a Cafe located in Federal Hill, Baltimore.  It is a perfect place to have breakfast or enjoy a cup of joe while reading the newspaper.  When ever I go there is always a 10-30 minute wait.  The only reason there is a wait is because I go at the exact wrong time.  The staff is always nice and warm. The menu is very large.  The waiters will always change a meal for you if need be.  The restaurant has great decor.  The walls are covered with paintings.  My mom always wishes they were for sale.  It is a very popular place for locals.  The restaurant is surrounded by little shops that   you can go in.  Spoons has a very urban feel.  There is a play area for kids to play in while adults enjoy their meals.  The food is fantastic and my parents always marvel at how good the coffee is.  Federal Hill is close to the Inner Harbor.  You can easily take a bus to Federal Hill.  If you ever go to Baltimore you MUST go to Spoons.  If you even go to Washington D.C. going to Spoons is well worth the commute.  I would rate Spoons a 9.5 out of 10.




Photo courtesy of http://spoonscoffeecafe.com/

Horrible Hockey Fail

Here is a horrible hockey failure.


Click Here

Week 10 Football Predictions

Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons  I predict Baltimore.

My Week Nine Football Predictions

Here are my Week Nine football predictions.

New York Jets@ Detroit Lions   I pick  Detroit Lions
San Diego Chargers @ Houston Texans  I pick Houston Texans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons   I pick Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers   I pick New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears @Buffalo Bills (In Toronto)   I pick Chicago Bears
Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings   I pick Arizona Cardinals
New England Patriots @ Cleveland Browns  I pick New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens    I pick Baltimore Ravens
New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks   I pick New York Giants
Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles   I pick Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders   I pick Kansas City Chiefs
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers   I pick Dallas Cowboys


Monday
Pittsburg Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals   I pick Pittsburg Steelers


*Red=Wrong
Green=Right


My percent of right prediction this week was 62%

World Series Predictions

FYI.  Half way through the MLB season I told people that Texas was going to win the world series.  People thought that I was crazy.  Now they must think that I am a genius (just kidding.)  That is why I predict the Texas Rangers to win the World Series

Pet Peeves

I thought this would be cool to see what people's pet peeves are.   To list your pet peeve comment your pet peeve under this post.

Free Rice

Free Rice is a website that donates rice to areas that need food.  How it works is that for every question you answer correctly (on the website) 10 grains of rice will be donated.  You don't need to sign up or pay.  It is supported by the  United Nations Food Project.  As of now the rice is going to Pakistan.  They need rice because of the recent flooding there.  Click Here to go to the website.

Featured Video

This is a fully appropriate video of a dog watching TV  (There is a pop-up that says WTF)


Dog Video

Poll Results

Week 1
From Which Country Do You Like The Food Best
Mexico-0
Italy-1
India-0
China-0
Japan-0
France-2
Other-2

Week Two
Which Is Your Favorite Sport
Football-0
Soccer-0
Hockey-3
Baseball-1
Basketball-0
Ultimate Frisbee-0
Other-1

The New Look

Just a heads up, I slightly changed the appearance of my blog.  Please comments your reactions.

My Football Predictions

Super Bowl Winners:  Houston Texans
NFC Winners:  Green Bay Packers
AFC Winners:  Houston Texans
Comeback Team:  Kansas City Chiefs
Worst Team That Was Above Average Last Year:  New York Giants

The Red Iguana

The Red Iguana Sign

The Red Iguana is a Mexican restaurant located in Salt Lake City. It is a little off the beaten path but is an easy ride from downtown.  It is a Mexican restaurant.  But it is not Americanized at all.  We had a 30-35 minute wait.  The outside of the restaurant was filled with people waiting but wait was shorter than we thought.
      Once we were inside we sat down and ordered drinks, they came quickly.  My parents both got food with mole (sauce) which is what the Red Iguana is famous for.  I got a deep fried taco like thing.  My dad's food came with pumpkin mole and my mom's with chocolate mole.  They both said the mole was awesome.  Once we were almost done our meal two guitarists came over and asked if we would like music.  They played us De Colores a Mexican kids song.
      The decor was great.  The walls were covered with Mexican posters and such.  Also the door had different stickers that covered it so you could not see any part of the red door.  It was a great meal.  And my parents who thought it was going to be Americanized were proven dead wrong.  It was a real Mexican Restaurant.  Lastly the whole place was great and super family friendly.  Plus it was loud so you could not hear my brother screaming.

Improving My Blog

If there are suggestions that you have to improve this blog please write a comment under this post

Thanks a bunch

Food n Sports Plus Books

Top 5 Fantasty Football Qb's

1.  Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

 He is one of the best pure talents at his position right know.  Last year he had 30 touchdown passes.  And he is defiantly not slowing down.  With the emergences of Greg Jennings and Jermichal Finley and don’t forget Donald Driver.  I predict that this season Aaron Rodgers will be the best fantasy QB.

2.  Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

  Although most people think that Drew Brees is a number 1-2 fantasy QB I don’t.  Rodgers and Manning (Indy) are simply going to have better fantasy years.  Peyton Manning is going to be great this year.  Since he has two above average receivers in Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie plus and elite receiver in Reggie Wayne. Also the Colts running game is not the same as it used to be with Joseph Addai deteriorating and Donald Brown is unproven so they will rely more on there passing game.  Manning will once more blow your socks off.

3. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)

    After leading the Saints to the Super Bowl last year, Brees is full of confidence.  Plus he has a deep threat in Devery Henderson and Marques Colston is and elite receiver and unless Pierre Thomas proves himself as a consistent running back the Saints passing game will be there main threat.

4. Matt Shaub (Houston Texans)

I think that Matt Shaub is going to have a stupendous year.  Simply because Andre Johnson is arguably the best receiver in the league.  Plus Shaub is just a complete talent.  I think the two will make a dynamic duo and Shaub will have lots of passing yards as a result.

5. Eli Manning (New York Giants)

    Eli Manning is going to have a great year.  He has three good receivers in Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks.   I think since the running game is not great Manning will have to pass more and since he has good targets to pass to he will put up great numbers.

Going To Salt Lake City

I will be in Salt Lake City For a week and may not be able to blog.  But when I get back i will have loads more to write about.

Roger Clemens And His Stupidity

Roger  Clemens
swearing under
 oath

courtesy of  kansascity.com

Roger Clemens has been a very stupid man.  Starting in February of 2008 when he offered to tell congress (under oath) that he did not use preforming enhancing drugs.  Now the pitcher is on the verge of serving anywhere from 6-18 months of jail time.
    I just don't see why in the world someone would basically volunteer to lye to congress.  On the contrary I don't see why congress has to thrust themselves into the topic.  Baseball should handle it.

My Baseball All Star Team 1/2 thru the season

1b Miguel Cabrera

2b Robinson Cano

3b Adrian Beltre

SS Elvis Andrus

C Buster Posey

Of Josh Hamilton

Of Chris Young

0f Shin Soo choo

DH Vladimir Guerrero

SP Adam Wainwright

Set-Up Tyler Clipard

Closer Heath Bell

Crocodile Tears

Crocodile Tears

courtesy of bookpages.com

By Anthony Horowitz 

            Anthony Horowitz’s eighth book in the best- selling Alex Rider series is a winner.  The book is very fast paced and will make you never want to stop reading.

            It all started when Alex’s friend’s family invites him to a New Year’s Eve party in Scotland.  The supposed-to-be-fun party ends up making Alex bring his entire spy training to good use. 

            Alex wants nothing more than a normal teenaged life and not a top-secret spy life. When a journalist comes to Alex’s house and offers to leak that Alex is a spy and make Alex and the journalist rich, Alex goes to MI6 ( a British spy agency) for help because he does not want his story to be leaked.           

            Alex finds out that MI6 wants him to investigate a genetic engineering facility.  When he goes to the facility he is caught red handed and his only chance of escape is dodging bullets and going through a room filled with poison.

            One event leads to another in this thriller.  Anthony Horowitz keeps the reader on the edge with twists and turns that you would never expect.

      If you like this book you would like IQ by Roland Smith both Crocodile Tears and IQ share a spy atmosphere with the unexpected thrown at you to make the books even better.

Baltimore Oriole's Game 8-11

The Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in Cleveland.

Orioles Star of the Day                      

Brad Bergesen
9.0 IP, 2 H, 4 k's, 1 ER

National Sports Collectors Convention

Over this past weekend my family and I went to the National Sports Collectors Convention, at the Baltimore Convention Center.  The event was great.  It was heaven for me because there were millllllions of sports items.  Most of the vendors were nice except one who made a person get out of a seat because it was 'reserved' for his customers.  The convention was a great learning experience for me.  I begged to stay longer everyday.  It made me feel good that people have a soft spot for kid collectors.

Cafe Gia's

http://www.cafegias.com/

Café Gia’s

Quick View

Location; Baltimore, Maryland

Type: Dinner

Price: Four person meal w/ drinks $95-100

Service: 4 (out of 5)

Food: 4.5

Kid-Friendly: Yes

Menu Size: Small-Medium

The Front door view of Cafe Gia's

            Café Gia’s is located in Baltimore’s Little Italy.  On the end of a very bustling street, Café Gia’s is in a great spot.  Once at the door it looks like a bistro straight out of Italy.  Once inside the walls immediately grab your attention.  The walls are covered high and low with and ongoing mural of Little Italy (as it seems) in the 1920’s.  The tables have pictures of Italy related things.  The whole restaurant is like a mini museum.

            The hostess took us to our table, which was right by, the bathrooms, so we asked to move.  Then another server took us upstairs to another table.  That table was also right by the bathrooms.  So then we asked to change to another vacant table across the way.

            Our food came with a mild wait.  It was very delicious and was a generous serving.  My dish was pasta balls with cheese and marinara sauce; it was very tasty.  Also the garlic bread we ordered was phenomenal.  The only food that was not great was the chicken from my dads chicken parmesean, it tasted a little overcooked.

            All in all my rating for Café Gia’s is and 8. 3 out of ten.