Amazing Flu Info

Found this info courtesy of Sasha Dichter, one of my favorite nonprofit bloggers. Turns out Google has been partnering with the CDC on predicting flu activity. By analyzing search term data, Google is able to predict flu trends two weeks ahead of the CDC!

What amazes me is that Google goes way beyond expectations while still working within their mission of "organizing the world's information". Who knows what great things are yet to come?!

You can go to Google and see the predictions by state and read how Google does it. That huge December spike has me thinking I'd better go get that flu shot soon.

Vote for Student Artists!

I just love that we get to vote for the design of our Chicago vehicle city sticker. Every year when I see the creativity of the high school students' designs, I am so impressed.

This year's theme is "Dog Friendly Chicago" and I voted for Denise Ferguson's patriotic design. It evokes not just Chicago, but the incredible victory of President-Elect Obama, the search for a new "First Dog", and our city's love of canines.

Show your support for our talented students--VOTE! And then forward this post. But hurry, voting ends at 5pm on Wednesday.

Do you know how dogs drink?

I must admit I've never given it much thought but it's amazing to see how dogs actually use their tongues when they drink. Check it out for yourself.

Sneak Peek at Party Photos

We'll be sending an email announcement tomorrow with the photos from the Sit Stay Read 5th anniversary party but you can get a sneak peek now!

Many thanks to our intrepid photographer, Bill Shomaker, for chronicling the event. Great work, Bill!

Kids Write About President-Elect Obama

We're already seeing the impact of our new President- Elect on the young authors in our Sit Stay Read programs.

Classie wrote her story about Tibbie and Obama in our Cabrini-Green area after-school program on the day of the election (click on the story to enlarge.)

Poem of the Month--History is Made

Found the poem below on a great blog by Shasha Dichter about nonprofit fund raising. Goes to show that poetry is all around, we just have to look for it. Sasha goes on to include a wonderful poem by Maya Angelou. Be sure to check it out.

"A friend with a sharp eye saw this handwritten sign in a window in the midst of last night’s election coverage:

rosa sat so
martin could walk so
barack could run so
our children could fly"

BTW, to see President-Elect Obama's photo stream on Flickr, just click on the photo above.

Howl-o-Ween Photos

Howl O Ween 2008

Check-out the doggy Howl-o-ween fun (just click on the photo)! A copy of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, "Loving our Dogs", is going out to Lauren Johnson, Susan Kennedy, and Jenifer Flynn for sharing their festive pix. It's not too late to share your best shot. Email us your faves and we'll add them to the album!