It's been officially 2 months today that I've been married to the man of my dreams! :)
Yeah!
also....im not sure why the format on my blog went all crazy with my profile so far down on the right side....I will try to fix that when I have more time to mess around on my computer......
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Mobile Monks
This past week Justin and I visited a small church plant here in Oklahoma City. The pastor of this church spoke of this concept of "mobile monks" and i thought it was a great description of how we as Christians should be living our lives. Daily spending hours in prayer and study of the scriptures, becoming "mini-theologians" by knowing what we believe, and then using that knowledge and living the biblical message out in our every day lives.
Here is the quote the pastor used to illustrate this concept;
So, bottom line, this is what I want to see out of us over time: Depth with direction. Picture a monk in one those heavy, itchy brown robes...but with the best, lightest New Balance running shoes you can buy...Monks on the move. Deep thinking, deep feeling, deeply CHANGED men ( & women) . But they dont sit in a dark,damp monastery and chant and plant flowers all day. They MOVE OUT every day, all day with courage, character, and compassion into all the places God gives them to move--toward thier wives, thier children, thier co-workers, their neighbors, the least, the lonely, the widows, the orphans, to the ends of the earth...anything less and we will fall short of all that Christ Jesus saved us for and wants us to be.
Here is the quote the pastor used to illustrate this concept;
So, bottom line, this is what I want to see out of us over time: Depth with direction. Picture a monk in one those heavy, itchy brown robes...but with the best, lightest New Balance running shoes you can buy...Monks on the move. Deep thinking, deep feeling, deeply CHANGED men ( & women) . But they dont sit in a dark,damp monastery and chant and plant flowers all day. They MOVE OUT every day, all day with courage, character, and compassion into all the places God gives them to move--toward thier wives, thier children, thier co-workers, their neighbors, the least, the lonely, the widows, the orphans, to the ends of the earth...anything less and we will fall short of all that Christ Jesus saved us for and wants us to be.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Sex offender gets 60 days in prison
I heard about this story as I was watching CNN tonight and I was completely appalled. In Vermont a judge handed down a 60 day sentence to an admitted sex offender. The defendant admitted to molesting and sodomizing a young girl for a period of 4 years. What is this judge thinking? I am still in shock that someone who is supposed to impose justice on criminals would make such a horrific decison and stand by it! I am posting the link to this story so that you can read more details, but the maximum penalty this man could have recieved was up to life in prison and yet the judge decided that it would be better for our society to have this man undergo treatment for his sexual perversions and then re-enter our communities!!
This really outrages me because every day i see the effects of sexual abuse on children. It is the single most devastating, traumatizing act that can be committed against a child and it is not punished severely enough in our nation. Im not sure why is it so hard for people to realize that these individuals can never be cured (look at all the statistics, nothing support the assumption that sexual predators are ever "cured" from their tendencies) and are huge risks to our children and families. Another thing to remember is that almost all of them are repeat offenders before they are ever caught. Why are we willing to risk our children's lives to give these people a second chance? They are criminals just like any other rapist or murderer, yet do we see judges saying that it is better for murderers to go through some sort of treatment just to re-enter our society within 60 days? In this case, it seems that the judge feels worse for the child molester than the innocent, helpless, victimized child. Why are we not more outraged about sexual abuse towards children?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/01/10/ judge_cashman_defends_his_decision_to_impose_60_day_sentence/?page=1
This really outrages me because every day i see the effects of sexual abuse on children. It is the single most devastating, traumatizing act that can be committed against a child and it is not punished severely enough in our nation. Im not sure why is it so hard for people to realize that these individuals can never be cured (look at all the statistics, nothing support the assumption that sexual predators are ever "cured" from their tendencies) and are huge risks to our children and families. Another thing to remember is that almost all of them are repeat offenders before they are ever caught. Why are we willing to risk our children's lives to give these people a second chance? They are criminals just like any other rapist or murderer, yet do we see judges saying that it is better for murderers to go through some sort of treatment just to re-enter our society within 60 days? In this case, it seems that the judge feels worse for the child molester than the innocent, helpless, victimized child. Why are we not more outraged about sexual abuse towards children?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/01/10/ judge_cashman_defends_his_decision_to_impose_60_day_sentence/?page=1
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Its so hard to believe that it has already been 4 weeks since I became Mrs. Grace. I thought that it would have sinked in by now, but it just hasnt. I still sign my name Jessica Ballard as much as I try to remember not too. I still forget that every decision I make now effects him as well. I have a hard time saying husband and not fiance...
Its just a weird transistion from being the "single" girl to being a WIFE!
I hope this isnt taken wrong, because i LOVE my husband and I love being married..
I love the fact that when I come home from work at night, Justin is waiting for me with dinner ready. He greets me with a kiss and listens to how my day went. (and let me tell you there have been some rough days the past week) He does so many little things that make me feel so special. From tucking me at night to setting the coffee pot to grind and brew when I get up for work. Maybe Im a simple girl, but these little things make me feel so loved.. Frequently I feel that I get the better end of the deal, but regardless God has definitely blessed me.
And although we are slowly adjusting to each other's quirks and ways of doing things and im sure in years to come these things will drive us both crazy, I still love knowing that I get to spend every day for the rest of my life with him. My best friend :)
Its just a weird transistion from being the "single" girl to being a WIFE!
I hope this isnt taken wrong, because i LOVE my husband and I love being married..
I love the fact that when I come home from work at night, Justin is waiting for me with dinner ready. He greets me with a kiss and listens to how my day went. (and let me tell you there have been some rough days the past week) He does so many little things that make me feel so special. From tucking me at night to setting the coffee pot to grind and brew when I get up for work. Maybe Im a simple girl, but these little things make me feel so loved.. Frequently I feel that I get the better end of the deal, but regardless God has definitely blessed me.
And although we are slowly adjusting to each other's quirks and ways of doing things and im sure in years to come these things will drive us both crazy, I still love knowing that I get to spend every day for the rest of my life with him. My best friend :)
Monday, December 19, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Our first home!!
Today Justin and I signed the lease and picked up the keys for our new home together!!! It's really quite exciting to know that every night I will be coming home to my best friend! I cant wait to start decorating, get settled in, and begin our new life together! Oh and by the way, it is a 2 bedroom townhouse so we have plenty of room for visitors... ;)
Monday, November 28, 2005
Which theologian are you?
You scored as Anselm. Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?'
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
Bono on the evangelical church today
I came across this interview with Bono in Rolling Stone and thought that it was interesting how he described the evangelical church in America today....
What do you think of the evangelical movement that we see in the United States now?
I'm wary of faith outside of actions. I'm wary of religiosity that ignores the wider world. In 2001, only seven percent of evangelicals polled felt it incumbent upon themselves to respond to the AIDS emergency. This appalled me. I asked for meetings with as many church leaders as would have them with me. I used my background in the Scriptures to speak to them about the so-called leprosy of our age and how I felt Christ would respond to it. And they had better get to it quickly, or they would be very much on the other side of what God was doing in the world.
Amazingly, they did respond. I couldn't believe it. It almost ruined it for me -- 'cause I love giving out about the church and Christianity. But they actually came through: Jesse Helms, you know, publicly repents for the way he thinks about AIDS.
I've started to see this community as a real resource in America. I have described them as "narrow-minded idealists." If you can widen the aperture of that idealism, these people want to change the world. They want their lives to have meaning. And it's one of the things that the Democratic Party has missed out on. You know, so much of the moral high ground in the past was Democratic: FDR, RFK, Cesar Chavez. Now I suppose it's Hillary's passion for cheaper medical care. And Teddy Kennedy, of course
What do you think of the evangelical movement that we see in the United States now?
I'm wary of faith outside of actions. I'm wary of religiosity that ignores the wider world. In 2001, only seven percent of evangelicals polled felt it incumbent upon themselves to respond to the AIDS emergency. This appalled me. I asked for meetings with as many church leaders as would have them with me. I used my background in the Scriptures to speak to them about the so-called leprosy of our age and how I felt Christ would respond to it. And they had better get to it quickly, or they would be very much on the other side of what God was doing in the world.
Amazingly, they did respond. I couldn't believe it. It almost ruined it for me -- 'cause I love giving out about the church and Christianity. But they actually came through: Jesse Helms, you know, publicly repents for the way he thinks about AIDS.
I've started to see this community as a real resource in America. I have described them as "narrow-minded idealists." If you can widen the aperture of that idealism, these people want to change the world. They want their lives to have meaning. And it's one of the things that the Democratic Party has missed out on. You know, so much of the moral high ground in the past was Democratic: FDR, RFK, Cesar Chavez. Now I suppose it's Hillary's passion for cheaper medical care. And Teddy Kennedy, of course
Friday, October 14, 2005
57 days!
I cant believe that in 57 days I will be a married woman!!! What a crazy thought that this! It's an exciting, but weird realization...it still just seems so unreal.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Im very frustrated right now, because I had spent at least a good 20 minutes on Monday, typing up long post on whether its correct to say that God always provides for his children. I was excited because I finally had the time to post a new entry on my blog, and also because I really wanted some feedback on what I was thinking...However, somehow when I attempted to post it, my computer locked up and it all disappeared!
I've been annoyed about it all since then, and couldnt bear to attempt to type it again since I couldnt remember all that I had wanted to say so...anyways..sorry for no thought-provoking new posts.
But on another note, after speaking in front of the Oklahoma City County Bar Association last week, they called me for a quote for their monthly newsletter. They are going to help out with a toiletry drive for our residents, as well as each individual lawyer sponsoring a monthly activity for the kids. I know this isnt a huge deal but I'm really starting to feel like a professional, going around speaking at different engagements while also advocating for our youth.
Here is the small article:
OKLAHOMA COUNTY BAR ACCEPTING TOILETRY DONATIONS FOR FAMILY JUNCTION EMERGENCY YOUTH SHELTER
The Oklahoma County Bar will is accepting donations of toiletry products for the Family Junction Emergency Youth Shelter through the month of October. The Family Junction Shelter provides a safe environment for runaways, abuse victims and youth needing an alternative to detention for nonviolent delinquent behavior. The Shelter provides temporary accommodations for youth between the ages of 12 and 17.
“Family Junction is incredibly important to our community because it gives kids with no where else to go a safe place to turn,” says Jessica Ballard, program coordinator of Family Junction. “In essence, it provides them with a family during their stay here in our facility” Ballard says. During the 2004 year, more than 300 youth were admitted to Family Junction, with the average stay being14 days.
Because of the temporary nature of the shelter, Family Junction is constantly in need of toiletry items to provide to the youth who utilize the facility. Those items needed by Family Junction include travel size deodorants, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners. In addition, Family Junction also needs combs, brushes and toothbrushes.
Your donations would be greatly appreciated by Family Junction. Please drop off your donation items to the Oklahoma County Bar at 119 N. Robinson, Suite 240.
I've been annoyed about it all since then, and couldnt bear to attempt to type it again since I couldnt remember all that I had wanted to say so...anyways..sorry for no thought-provoking new posts.
But on another note, after speaking in front of the Oklahoma City County Bar Association last week, they called me for a quote for their monthly newsletter. They are going to help out with a toiletry drive for our residents, as well as each individual lawyer sponsoring a monthly activity for the kids. I know this isnt a huge deal but I'm really starting to feel like a professional, going around speaking at different engagements while also advocating for our youth.
Here is the small article:
OKLAHOMA COUNTY BAR ACCEPTING TOILETRY DONATIONS FOR FAMILY JUNCTION EMERGENCY YOUTH SHELTER
The Oklahoma County Bar will is accepting donations of toiletry products for the Family Junction Emergency Youth Shelter through the month of October. The Family Junction Shelter provides a safe environment for runaways, abuse victims and youth needing an alternative to detention for nonviolent delinquent behavior. The Shelter provides temporary accommodations for youth between the ages of 12 and 17.
“Family Junction is incredibly important to our community because it gives kids with no where else to go a safe place to turn,” says Jessica Ballard, program coordinator of Family Junction. “In essence, it provides them with a family during their stay here in our facility” Ballard says. During the 2004 year, more than 300 youth were admitted to Family Junction, with the average stay being14 days.
Because of the temporary nature of the shelter, Family Junction is constantly in need of toiletry items to provide to the youth who utilize the facility. Those items needed by Family Junction include travel size deodorants, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners. In addition, Family Junction also needs combs, brushes and toothbrushes.
Your donations would be greatly appreciated by Family Junction. Please drop off your donation items to the Oklahoma County Bar at 119 N. Robinson, Suite 240.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Well here I am on a Saturday morning working at the shelter since we are short staffed for the weekend. The kids are still in bed so another staff member and I get to spend the morning playing around on the internet and watching TV. Yeah, my job is pretty difficult :)
Anyways, my friends Jennifer and Annie came in to visit me last night, which is incredibly exciting! They braved the 12 hour drive through such scenic states as Missouri and Oklahoma just to see me...yes they are amazing friends. But anyways, I got to take them downtown OKC which for those of you who may doubt the thrill factor of Oklahoma, is actually a pretty fun and happening place. There were even fireworks going off last night!!!!And everyone who knows me understands how obsessed I am with fireworks! Im enthralled by them. Yes, I know Im a nerd, but thats one of the reasons Justin wanted to take me to Disney World for our honeymoon; so we can see fireworks every night while we are there. We even made special arrangements at our resort so that we can see the fireworks from our hotel room balcony! Yes, it should be pretty sweet...
Anyways, my friends Jennifer and Annie came in to visit me last night, which is incredibly exciting! They braved the 12 hour drive through such scenic states as Missouri and Oklahoma just to see me...yes they are amazing friends. But anyways, I got to take them downtown OKC which for those of you who may doubt the thrill factor of Oklahoma, is actually a pretty fun and happening place. There were even fireworks going off last night!!!!And everyone who knows me understands how obsessed I am with fireworks! Im enthralled by them. Yes, I know Im a nerd, but thats one of the reasons Justin wanted to take me to Disney World for our honeymoon; so we can see fireworks every night while we are there. We even made special arrangements at our resort so that we can see the fireworks from our hotel room balcony! Yes, it should be pretty sweet...
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Alrighty...I know that its been almost a month since my last post and for that my faithful readers I am sorry. But you wouldnt understand how difficult it is to keep up your posts when you have limited access to the internet. So here I am at work at 7 in the morning ( the kids arent up yet) posting.
So yeah. My job. Well I am now the shelter coordinator for a youth shelter here in Oklahoma City! However, this week the director of the shelter had a medical emergency and has been bedrest for the past week, so because of this; I am also the acting director of the shelter for now! Talk about crazy! I mean technically all the staff has to report to me! What a whopping load of responsbility just coming out from college! Anyways, I love it so far. The kids are great. Their stories make me want to cry. Most days I come home stressed. But all in all, this has been an amazing learning experience. Oh, and did I mention that I now also have to prepare the meals for the shelter? Yeah, the cook quit this week too.
Well anyways guys...I gotta run. Kids are getting up.
I will write soon!
So yeah. My job. Well I am now the shelter coordinator for a youth shelter here in Oklahoma City! However, this week the director of the shelter had a medical emergency and has been bedrest for the past week, so because of this; I am also the acting director of the shelter for now! Talk about crazy! I mean technically all the staff has to report to me! What a whopping load of responsbility just coming out from college! Anyways, I love it so far. The kids are great. Their stories make me want to cry. Most days I come home stressed. But all in all, this has been an amazing learning experience. Oh, and did I mention that I now also have to prepare the meals for the shelter? Yeah, the cook quit this week too.
Well anyways guys...I gotta run. Kids are getting up.
I will write soon!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Im now an Okie!
Well, I made it. I moved to Oklahoma City a week ago. Im settled into my apartment , got a job that I think Im going to love and it seems that God is working everything out wonderfully. I wont lie it is still an adjustment for me having no friends around except for Justin. But he has been amazing...cooking me dinner and checking my closets before I go to bed each night just to make the transistion smoother. We also have discovered some awesome asian restaurants here that I cant wait to check out. On Monday we had Thai, tonight sushi, and tomorrow vietnamese! Who knew that Oklahoma could be diverse?
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Moving...
Hey the next week and a half will be crazy since i am moving to OKC in just 8 days! So please excuse the lack of posts during this time. I will let you know how everything is once I have settled into my new place. Those of you that are here in Illinois, I will miss you all terribly, but look forward to your visits :) Please keep praying that I find a job and that God gives me patience in the meantime. Talk to you all soon!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Stranded in Oklahoma!
Okay, so im supposed to be coming home to Illinois today, but unfortunately my car broke down in Miami, Ok on my drive down to OKC Sunday night and is still not fixed. It looks like there is some significant damage to the trasmission, which means I could be stuck here forever! Okay so maybe that is a slight exaggeration...but anyways my sister and I hitched a ride with a man who had a trailer on the back of his suburban and towed us to OKC. Yes, thats right we drove 3 hours in a car with a complete stranger! I know how bad that sounds, but under the circumstances we felt we didnt have alot of other choices and "Bob" wasnt too scary. ( However I must say my parents werent too happy when they heard about this ) Luckily God blessed us with some very helpful and kind people along our journey and we safely made it to Justins' apartment here. Now we are just waiting to hear when the car will be fixed.
On a more positive note, I have had 2 job interviews and 1 more today since Ive been here. Those both went really well, and I also put down the deposit on an apartment and now have an address in Oklahoma City! YAY! So although things arent going as I imagined, things are working out in the end. I think God may be trying to teach me a lesson on patience and waiting on HIS time. The past couple days have been difficult for me because I have felt as though I have had no control over what was going on in my life. Im stucked in another state and have to rely completely on the kindness of others and that is something i am not accustomed to. I like to do things for myself. So maybe my trust in God isnt as strong as I think and I have been trusting too much in myself to plan out my life. Maybe this is Gods way of saying "hold on, Jess....just remember who's in control here".
On a more positive note, I have had 2 job interviews and 1 more today since Ive been here. Those both went really well, and I also put down the deposit on an apartment and now have an address in Oklahoma City! YAY! So although things arent going as I imagined, things are working out in the end. I think God may be trying to teach me a lesson on patience and waiting on HIS time. The past couple days have been difficult for me because I have felt as though I have had no control over what was going on in my life. Im stucked in another state and have to rely completely on the kindness of others and that is something i am not accustomed to. I like to do things for myself. So maybe my trust in God isnt as strong as I think and I have been trusting too much in myself to plan out my life. Maybe this is Gods way of saying "hold on, Jess....just remember who's in control here".
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Patriotism in church
I just wanted to post a question that i know has been discussed on others blogs but I wanted to hear some input from you guys about it. What role do you all believe the church should have in patriotic celebrations? With tomorrow being Memorial Day, I know that many churches spent today having patriotic services. Although I definitely believe that we should take time to honor our veterans and those who sacrificed thier lives while serving in military, Im concerned that some churches may be chalking up patriotism as a required godly trait. In some Christian circles, I think that criticizing the U.S. government is considered equally as serious as blasphemy. This is something that I was thinking about in church today and I would love to hear your comments.
A Flawed System
Okay so last night a couple of my friends and I went to the drive-in and saw the movie "The Longest Yard". Now i know there have been several bad reviews out there about this flick but we thought it was hilarious and unexpectedly inspirational. I then watched the movie "The Hurricane" today which for those who arent familar with it, is a true story about a man who was wrongly convicted for murder and sat in prison for over 30 years. If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend you watch it. It shines a light on all the corruption and discrimination that exists within our criminal justice system . I had watched it before but yet it stills gives me an uneasy, sickening feeling throughout the entire movie. It makes me so infuriated that such injustices still occur and that there are probably many more innocent individuals in our prisons. Yet because they are labeled "criminals" they are ignored. No one wants to spend the time to plead thier case, especially if they have already been through court proceedings. It doesnt matter if that individual didnt have a credible court defender or that he had a racist panel of jurors. We need to remember that criminals are people too and do everything we can to ensure that every individual is given the right to fair trial and that justice is served to everyone. Of course this is impossible because humans run the systems that govern our courts and humans are flawed themselves. However, that doesnt mean we quit striving for it.
Friday, May 27, 2005
going to Ok next week!
So I've had advancements in my job search and Im headed to Oklahoma city next week for a couple of interviews and to check out some apartments! Isnt that exciting? I cant wait to see how God brings everything together in His timing. I need to remember that because I do tend to stress very easily. But anyways I'll keep everyone updated as to what happens. Please pray for me and that God will give me the discernment and wisdom needed to make good decisions in the upcoming weeks.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Blood diamonds
Since my engagement ring is not the typical diamond but a ruby instead, I have had to explain to several individuals recently what blood diamonds were. To state in simpler terms I found an article that states at least 10 reasons why you shouldnt purchase diamonds. Although this doesnt go into great detail about the history of blood diamonds in Africa it does illustrate how the diamond industry (DeBeers) brainwashed western culture. Without further ado, here is the article.
Econ-Atrocity Bulletin:
Ten Reasons Why You Should Never Accept a Diamond Ring from Anyone, Under Any Circumstances, Even If They Really Want to Give You One (2/14/02) y Liz Stanton, CPE Staff Economist
1. You've Been Psychologically Conditioned To Want a Diamond
The diamond engagement ring is a 63-year-old invention of N.W.Ayer advertising agency. The De Beers diamond cartel contracted N.W.Ayer to create a demand for what are, essentially, useless hunks of rock.
2. Diamonds are Priced Well Above Their Value
The De Beers cartel has systematically held diamond prices at levels far greater than their abundance would generate under anything even remotely resembling perfect competition. All diamonds not already under its control are bought by the cartel, and then the De Beers cartel carefully managed world diamond supply in order to keep prices steadily high.
3. Diamonds Have No Resale or Investment Value
Any diamond that you buy or receive will indeed be yours forever: De Beers’ advertising deliberately brain-washed women not to sell; the steady price is a tool to prevent speculation in diamonds; and no dealer will buy a diamond from you. You can only sell it at a diamond purchasing center or a pawn shop where you will receive a tiny fraction of its original "value."
4. Diamond Miners are Disproportionately Exposed to HIV/AIDS
Many diamond mining camps enforce all-male, no-family rules. Men contract HIV/AIDS from camp sex-workers, while women married to miners have no access to employment, no income outside of their husbands and no bargaining power for negotiating safe sex, and thus are at extremely high risk of contracting HIV.
5. Open-Pit Diamond Mines Pose Environmental Threats
Diamond mines are open pits where salts, heavy minerals, organisms, oil, and chemicals from mining equipment freely leach into ground-water, endangering people in nearby mining camps and villages, as well as downstream plants and animals.
6. Diamond Mine-Owners Violate Indigenous People's Rights
Diamond mines in Australia, Canada, India and many countries in Africa are situated on lands traditionally associated with indigenous peoples. Many of these communities have been displaced, while others remain, often at great cost to their health, livelihoods and traditional cultures.
7. Slave Laborers Cut and Polish Diamonds
More than one-half of the world's diamonds are processed in India where many of the cutters and polishers are bonded child laborers. Bonded children work to pay off the debts of their relatives, often unsuccessfully. When they reach adulthood their debt is passed on to their younger siblings or to their own children.
8. Conflict Diamonds Fund Civil Wars in Africa
There is no reliable way to insure that your diamond was not mined or stolen by government or rebel military forces in order to finance civil conflict. Conflict diamonds are traded either for guns or for cash to pay and feed soldiers.
9. Diamond Wars are Fought Using Child Warriors
Many diamond producing governments and rebel forces use children as soldiers, laborers in military camps, and sex slaves. Child soldiers are given drugs to overcome their fear and reluctance to participate in atrocities.
10. Small Arms Trade is Intimately Related to Diamond Smuggling
Illicit diamonds inflame the clandestine trade of small arms. There are 500 billion small arms in the world today which are used to kill 500,000 people annually, the vast majority of whom are non-combatants.
Econ-Atrocity Bulletin:
Ten Reasons Why You Should Never Accept a Diamond Ring from Anyone, Under Any Circumstances, Even If They Really Want to Give You One (2/14/02) y Liz Stanton, CPE Staff Economist
1. You've Been Psychologically Conditioned To Want a Diamond
The diamond engagement ring is a 63-year-old invention of N.W.Ayer advertising agency. The De Beers diamond cartel contracted N.W.Ayer to create a demand for what are, essentially, useless hunks of rock.
2. Diamonds are Priced Well Above Their Value
The De Beers cartel has systematically held diamond prices at levels far greater than their abundance would generate under anything even remotely resembling perfect competition. All diamonds not already under its control are bought by the cartel, and then the De Beers cartel carefully managed world diamond supply in order to keep prices steadily high.
3. Diamonds Have No Resale or Investment Value
Any diamond that you buy or receive will indeed be yours forever: De Beers’ advertising deliberately brain-washed women not to sell; the steady price is a tool to prevent speculation in diamonds; and no dealer will buy a diamond from you. You can only sell it at a diamond purchasing center or a pawn shop where you will receive a tiny fraction of its original "value."
4. Diamond Miners are Disproportionately Exposed to HIV/AIDS
Many diamond mining camps enforce all-male, no-family rules. Men contract HIV/AIDS from camp sex-workers, while women married to miners have no access to employment, no income outside of their husbands and no bargaining power for negotiating safe sex, and thus are at extremely high risk of contracting HIV.
5. Open-Pit Diamond Mines Pose Environmental Threats
Diamond mines are open pits where salts, heavy minerals, organisms, oil, and chemicals from mining equipment freely leach into ground-water, endangering people in nearby mining camps and villages, as well as downstream plants and animals.
6. Diamond Mine-Owners Violate Indigenous People's Rights
Diamond mines in Australia, Canada, India and many countries in Africa are situated on lands traditionally associated with indigenous peoples. Many of these communities have been displaced, while others remain, often at great cost to their health, livelihoods and traditional cultures.
7. Slave Laborers Cut and Polish Diamonds
More than one-half of the world's diamonds are processed in India where many of the cutters and polishers are bonded child laborers. Bonded children work to pay off the debts of their relatives, often unsuccessfully. When they reach adulthood their debt is passed on to their younger siblings or to their own children.
8. Conflict Diamonds Fund Civil Wars in Africa
There is no reliable way to insure that your diamond was not mined or stolen by government or rebel military forces in order to finance civil conflict. Conflict diamonds are traded either for guns or for cash to pay and feed soldiers.
9. Diamond Wars are Fought Using Child Warriors
Many diamond producing governments and rebel forces use children as soldiers, laborers in military camps, and sex slaves. Child soldiers are given drugs to overcome their fear and reluctance to participate in atrocities.
10. Small Arms Trade is Intimately Related to Diamond Smuggling
Illicit diamonds inflame the clandestine trade of small arms. There are 500 billion small arms in the world today which are used to kill 500,000 people annually, the vast majority of whom are non-combatants.
My engagement story..
I promised to write more details of how Justin proposed, and now that things have settled down, I have a little more time to do so.
As most of you all know, our relationship has been a long distance relationship from the very beginning. So anyways, last Wednesday ( May 11th) Justin flew into Bloomington to be here for my graduation from ISU on Friday. However on Thursday we drove to downtown Chicago to eat at this gourmet Mexican restaurant we had been wanting to go to. Its called Frontera Grill and if you are ever in the Chicago area, you should definitely check it out! http://fronterakitchens.com/ It was amazing! (I also wanted to point out that I successfully parallel parked in downtown Chicago, which for anyone who knows me, this is a huge feat!)
Okay, so after a great lunch in Chicago, we drove to the Indiana Dunes, which is the beach area of Lake Michigan. Its actually very beautiful, and for anyone who lives in the land-locked portion of the United States its our version of the beach since Lake Michigan is so large and spans into the horizon. It also one of the places we went on Justin's first visit to Illinois this time last year.
So anyways it was kind of chilly on the beach, so we took a couple of blankets, found an area overlooking the lake watching the waves roll in with the chicago skyline faintly in the distance, and cuddled while having the beach completely to ourselves. We had been talking for awhile and all of a sudden the sun started coming out from under a cloud, making the moment picture perfect. I truly was thinking at this time, this is just beautiful. "Im with the man I love in such a perfect place" when Justin leaned over and said "I want to spend the rest of our lives together, will you marry me? My heart stopped, b/c I was so taken off guard that I immediately said "Are you serious?" He kind of smiled then got up on his knee, and took the ring out of his wallet. At this point, I realized he was serious and i think I said yes as he put the ring on my finger! Some of what happened is a blur since I was still in shock at the time.
That night we drove home, called some friends and told my parents. I also talked to his mom on the phone who welcomed me into the family, which i thought was incredibly sweet. The next day I graduated from college and on Saturday was my open house which became an engagement/graduation party, so all the family got to meet Justin and see my ring. Needless to say, its been a whirlwind of emotions the past week and a half and it has finally sunk in that Im getting married! Yeah for me! I couldnt be happier!
As most of you all know, our relationship has been a long distance relationship from the very beginning. So anyways, last Wednesday ( May 11th) Justin flew into Bloomington to be here for my graduation from ISU on Friday. However on Thursday we drove to downtown Chicago to eat at this gourmet Mexican restaurant we had been wanting to go to. Its called Frontera Grill and if you are ever in the Chicago area, you should definitely check it out! http://fronterakitchens.com/ It was amazing! (I also wanted to point out that I successfully parallel parked in downtown Chicago, which for anyone who knows me, this is a huge feat!)
Okay, so after a great lunch in Chicago, we drove to the Indiana Dunes, which is the beach area of Lake Michigan. Its actually very beautiful, and for anyone who lives in the land-locked portion of the United States its our version of the beach since Lake Michigan is so large and spans into the horizon. It also one of the places we went on Justin's first visit to Illinois this time last year.
So anyways it was kind of chilly on the beach, so we took a couple of blankets, found an area overlooking the lake watching the waves roll in with the chicago skyline faintly in the distance, and cuddled while having the beach completely to ourselves. We had been talking for awhile and all of a sudden the sun started coming out from under a cloud, making the moment picture perfect. I truly was thinking at this time, this is just beautiful. "Im with the man I love in such a perfect place" when Justin leaned over and said "I want to spend the rest of our lives together, will you marry me? My heart stopped, b/c I was so taken off guard that I immediately said "Are you serious?" He kind of smiled then got up on his knee, and took the ring out of his wallet. At this point, I realized he was serious and i think I said yes as he put the ring on my finger! Some of what happened is a blur since I was still in shock at the time.
That night we drove home, called some friends and told my parents. I also talked to his mom on the phone who welcomed me into the family, which i thought was incredibly sweet. The next day I graduated from college and on Saturday was my open house which became an engagement/graduation party, so all the family got to meet Justin and see my ring. Needless to say, its been a whirlwind of emotions the past week and a half and it has finally sunk in that Im getting married! Yeah for me! I couldnt be happier!
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