Archive - August 2006

Does that old guy who sits at the local cafe sipping cappucinos look strangely familiar?

Are you sure you’ve seen that guy that catches the number 27 bus with you somewhere before?

Do you think that the lovely old gent in the church choir has a remarkable voice and you’re sure you’ve heard it somewhere before?

Maybe it’s the King of Rock and Roll himself. Maybe he’s carved out a new life for himself in your neighbourhood.

If you know where to find Elvis Presley alive, a filmaker will trade your information for $3 000 000. If you want to know how to claim your prize just go to the Elvis Wanted website.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, millions of conspiracy theorists around the world still believe that Elvis Aron Presley is still alive and that he faked his own death to escape the spotlight. Now the makers of the upcoming film, The Truth About Elvis, are offering large amounts of cash for whoever finds Elvis alive.

It’s a great marketing idea. Let’s face it, no one is going to find Elvis so their money is safe. In the mean time, they’re getting a huge amount of free publicity even before the film is released.

On the other hand, if you do know where Elvis is living, I’ll expect a cut of the reward for letting you know about it.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Elvis Presley – Truth About Elvis – Elvis Wanted – Conspiracy Theory

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I’m looking forward to dinner tonight for two reasons.

The first reason is that I’m taking Emily, my beautiful 10 year old daughter, on a date. We’re off out for dinner before going to see Swan Lake on Ice at Burswood Theatre.

I want my daughter to know how she should be treated on a date so that when her time comes to be out with a guy (in about 25 years) she will expect to be treated as she deserves.

The other reason I’m looking forward to dinner is that it’ll be my last meal before 40 hours of no food. A frightening prospect.

As I mentioned earlier this week I’m doing the World Vision 40 Hour Famine for the first time in many years. It might be a struggle but the end result will be worth it. It’s remarkable how just a few dollars can turn so many lives around.

I’m still looking for people to sponsor me by the way. If you’d like to contribute to helping people break free from poverty just click here and you can donate online directly to World Vision to support me. Your donation will be registered as part of my tally for the weekend.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Parenting – Swan Lake – Dating – 40 Hour Famine – World Vision – Poverty

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I mentioned a couple of posts back that I’m doing the 40 Hour Famine this weekend. From 8 o’clock tomorrow night until midday on Sunday I’ll go without food to raise money for people trapped in poverty in developing nations. Please check out the original post if you’d like to know where the money will be used.

I asked you to sponsor me. I’ve just found out that you can donate online by clicking here. You’ll be directed to a secure website where you can enter your details and the amount you want to donate. You’ll notice that the number of my 40 Hour Famine receipt book is already filled in so they’ll know that you’re sponsoring me. I’ll be notified that you’ve supported my efforts and you’ll know that the money has made it straight to World Vision.

Thanks for helping to make a difference.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: 40 Hour Famine – World Vision – Poverty

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Not many of us enjoy confrontation but sometimes it’s simply necessary if we want to move forward. If we follow the path of least resistance we’re not going to taking on anything challenging and if we don’t take on anything challenging we’re not likely to achieve anything of lasting significance.

What are you like at doing what’s uncomfortable? Are you able to recognise those situations that you’d rather not have to deal with and still move ahead and do what needs to be done?

I must admit that I’m not always brilliant at that kind of thing.

I like this post by Seth Godin. It’s about things in life that are awkward.

Sometimes we need to recognise that things are ‘awkward’ but they’re still essential if we want to control life rather than letting life control us.

In his post Seth says, “…. awkward is the barrier between us and excellence, between where we are and the remarkable.”

What are the awkward things you need to do this week?

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Awkward – Seth Godin – Challenge

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What have I done? Looks like I’ll be a little hungry this weekend.

During my radio programme this morning I interviewed Liz Latham who is a World Vision Youth Ambassador. Liz is a young lady who travelled to East Timor earlier this year to see some of the work being carried out by World Vision. The poverty she experienced there has given her an even greater resolve to do even more to break the poverty cycle in whatever ways possible.

We chatted about the projects they are undertaking and the huge changes that are happening in East Timorese villages thanks to the generous support of World Vision donors.

The main focus of our interview was to raise awareness of this weekend’s 40 Hour Famine. People all over Australia will give up food this weekend to raise funds for World Vision’s aid worl in various places around the world. Instead of fasting, some will give up things like computers, furniture or mobile phones for 40 hours. Many kids will give up one meal or playing computer games for a day.

During the interview I challenged my listeners. I said that if anyone would sponsor me for $100 I would go without food from Friday evening until midday Sunday. I had two people call so this weekend I’ll be doing the 40 Hour Famine for the first time in years.

Did you know that somewhere in the world a child dies every three seconds as a result of poverty? Doing the 40 Hour Famine we can make a difference to those horrifying statistics. World Vision says that every $40 that is raised this weekend will help to feed and care for 8 children for an entire month. That means that with the two people who have already agreed to sponsor me for $100 each, 40 children will be fed for a month.

Do you want to help make an even bigger difference? Leave a comment below this post and let me know you’ll sponsor me. It doesn’t have to be $100 and you don’t even have to leave the amount in the comments. If you tell me you want to be involved I’ll email you to fnd out how much you can afford to sponsor.

Funds raised from this year’s 40 Hour Famine will support:

– World Vision projects in East Timor (educating communities about effective farming methods, nutrition and disease prevention, providing farmers with seeds, tools and livestock and building effective water catchments systems)

– World Vision projects in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia (teaching families new farming skills, drilling boreholes for clean water, building sanitary toilets and educating mothers about nutrition and healthcare for children)

– Poor families living in emergency situations brought about when a natural disaster occurs or war erupts (providing life-saving food, clean water, blankets, clothing, tents and other necessities)

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: 40 Hour Famine – World Vision – Poverty

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