Light To Unite

As part of an AIDS awareness campaign, Bristol-Myers Squibb set up the
Light To Unite
website. They pledged to donate a dollar for every "candle" that was "lit." In another example of people underestimating the power of the internet, they apparently capped the total donation amount at $100,000. The response was overwhelming. So far, more than 1.5 million "candles" have been lit. The good news is, this means the site was visited from at least that many computers, since each machine can only light one "candle." I just wish the big drug company had budgeted more money for the campaign. $100,000 is just a drop in the bucket in the fight against this global epidemic.

Joyeux No�el

I watched this 2005 French movie with a few others at the Brunswick Library Tuesday night. Joyeux No�el is based on the true story of the 1914 Christmas Truce. It is in English, French and German, with English subtitles. It is heart-wrenching, often funny, and ultimately a story of hope and humanity amidst the ludicrous horors of war. It's not your usual holiday fare, but it can certainly make for a thoughtful evening. The theme of the holidays during wartime is certainly timely. Merry Christmas.