Nothing But Nets

What can you do with ten bucks these days? You could go see a movie... get a pizza....

Or save some child from dying of malaria.

Nothing But Nets is an online charity begun by Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly. Kick in a tenner, they buy mosquito netting. The NY Times tells us:

Crucial to the drive against malaria, which kills an estimated one million people a year, mostly in Africa, has been the development of an inexpensive, long-lasting insecticidal net. Unlike old nets, which either had no insecticide or had to be dipped twice a year, the new ones keep killing or repelling mosquitoes for three to five years. When more than 60 percent of the inhabitants of a village use them over their beds while they are sleeping, malaria rates usually drop sharply.

Any particularly worth charities you've found lately? Definitely include any reputable aid agencies that have actually made it into Myanmar, 'cause it's been hell trying to find any. And of course don't forget the mouse-click simple ones, like The Hunger Site and its partners or Free Rice.

The Right To Love And The Courage To Defend That Right

Allison Hantschel, known at her blog First Draft as Athenae or just A., is one of the finest writers of the lefty blogosphere. She recently had a column in the Sun-Times I think you might not want to miss.

Holy Crap, I Think It's Got A Chance

Yahoo has a sneak preview scene from the Dreamworks animated film Kung Fu Panda, which opens this weekend.

I've been going back and forth as to whether this will actually be good or not. I think I've just tipped back into the "good" camp. You?

He Was A Man

A legend passes. Singer/songwriter and unbelievable guitarist Bo Diddley has died at the age of 79. If you somehow never heard the man, try this, this, and this, and then just start following the other links there. (Warning: A couple of the videos are rather loud.) Noooo, he didn't have any influence on my style, goodness me no well maybe just a touch.