Kind-A-Lee Different

About a month ago, my 3 year old Granddaughter asked me, "What's your blog?" How do you answer that (?) I thought. So I gave her a big smile and said, 'I share my photographs and write for people all around the world.' She put her chin in her hand and gave a big toddler sigh...paused for a moment, squished up her face and said to me, "That's kind-a-lee different."

And so, today I got a big surprise. I found out that she has (with some help) started her own blog with her own photographs. Right now she is using a Nikon Coolpix.

So world, I give you Kind-A-Lee Different; Life through the eyes of a 3 year old girl.

Enjoy!

Make it Right with Brad Pitt

In December 2006, Brad Pitt convened a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing on a large scale to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Having spent time with community leaders and displaced residents determined to return home, Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment.

To demonstrate replicability, Pitt determined to locate the project in the Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas of New Orleans, to prove that safe homes could and should be rebuilt. Pitt hopes that this project will be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the city of New Orleans. Having listened to one former resident's plea to help "make this right," Pitt was inspired to name the project "Make It Right" (MIR).

The architects were given a typology study that included traditional New Orleans housing types such as the Shotgun, the Camelback and the Creole Cottage along with current ideas and recommendations for the target area in the Lower 9th Ward. The MIR team produced a set of guidelines for the houses that set metrics for the final design to insure that the specific goals of the MIR organizations were met. The team is also using Cradle to Cradle thinking to guide and inspire design and materials selection for new homes in the Lower 9th Ward. The four main guiding principles for the designs are: Safety, Affordability, Sustainability & High design quality.

Watch and learn more about MIR on Larry King Live, this Wed., Dec. 2nd at 9pm EST

I Have A Crush On Cesar Millan

And I'm not ashamed to admit it. I think he is one hot dog expert. Yeah Yeah, I know I shouldn't be telling tales like this on my very public blog, but ya know...it's true. I adore him. I didn't even know who he was until I was at a hockey game last month. I sat beside a very friendly Grandpa who raved about the National Geographic Show 'The Dog Whisperer' - I came home turned on the TV and well, shame on me (twice)...I'm addicted. Now if you don't have a dog, you will want one after you see Cesar in action. Take a look at these amazing photographs by Alex Weissman of Mr. Millan and try, just try to resist speaking to your computer screen, "Whisper to me".

Congratulations Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

You truly are a woman in charge. I so wanted you to win the Presidential nomination. And then, when you didn't, my heart and soul was handed over to Barack. And then he won and I was beyond over-the-moon happy, but I did not forget you. I thought about you often and wondered how you were feeling; how were you handling the events - the historical events. Were you ranting, complaining, crying, disappointed...did you talk about this; sharing your sorrow - or did you internalize it? Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps you were planning your next opportunity to serve the people. You weren't down. You were still moving 'up'. And now, I am so pleased for you and for the world. You deserve this and I do believe that, for you, the best is yet to come. Thank You Hillary. We are so very proud of you.

"The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence. The current United States Secretary of State is Condoleeza Rice. The next Secretary of State, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, will be Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Tina Fey

Vanity Fair's sexy cover girl is explaining the scar on her face, which she got in a random slashing incident when she was 5 years old.