tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86622853766028747232024-03-08T13:26:56.841+01:00In So Many Wordsidiom. 1: in exactly those terms | 2: in plain forthright languageMichael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-41679057434253091222010-04-08T13:08:00.000+02:002010-04-08T13:08:00.305+02:00Moving On...<p>After nine months in Grand Rapids, we're moving on. Nothing against GR, mind you—we enjoyed our time there. God simply called us on to something else.</p><p>So, once again all our worldly possessions (save five suitcases) are packed away in a 5 x 10 storage unit. We left our Grand Rapids home behind a week ago today to spend the next three months on the road in our Honda Civic, visiting friends, family, and strangers to raise awareness and funds for <a href="http://thesoldproject.com/">The SOLD Project</a>. Our journey will take us from Michigan to Nebraska to California all the way back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…and then on to Thailand at the beginning of July.</p><p>There, we’ll be living and working in a village in Chiang Rai province, home to The SOLD Project's prevention program<a title="The SOLD Project" target="_blank" href="http://thesoldproject.com/"></a> and the children they work to protect from a life of sexual exploitation. After visiting SOLD’s operations in Thailand this past January, we’re eager to return and commit the next year (or more?) of our lives to serving these kids, learning their language, discovering their culture, and helping give them hope for a better future.</p><p>Learn more about our work at <a href="http://drivenbyfreedom.com/">drivenbyfreedom.com</a>.</p><p>Also, while we're speaking of moving on, I'm moving my blog to Tumblr (<a href="http://michaelcolletto.tumblr.com/">click here</a>). I hope to see you all there!<br /></p>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-39299162091050274862010-02-13T17:20:00.007+01:002010-02-14T00:05:20.447+01:00Love Without Constraints<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><i>On the envelope of a note to my wife dated February 13, I wrote "For you on this happy day..."</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today is a happy day, my dearest Heather.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">For today--like every other day of our lives together--is the day I love you. Yes, more than yesterday; less than tomorrow.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">When I knelt down at your feet between the seats on the New Jersey Transit and asked you to be my wife, and six months later when I took your hand before our great God and a whole host of human witnesses and claimed you as my bride, I was starting something richer and sweeter and far more meaningful than pastel colors and tasteless candy hearts. The commercial sea of gaudy pink and red baubles for sale at the local Walgreens can add nothing to our love.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Ours is not a love to be commemorated once or twice a year by an obligatory box of chocolates or the mushy sentimentality of some uninspired copywriter at Hallmark.</b> (What does he know of our life together? Of the roads we've traveled?)</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Happy Valentine's Day!" people everywhere say out of habit, because culture says to do so. Routine words, signifying nothing. Devoid of imagination and sincerity. That's not the life--not the love--I invited you to share with me, until death do us part. No, our love is better than that.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">When I said "Let's Kiss," I meant "let's share everything...just you and me." When I said "Hug Me," I meant "I need you so much closer; I'm at home in your arms." When I said, "Be Mine," I meant forever. Now, tomorrow, and the day after that. On and on and on we'll be together, yeah. And I want to celebrate that every day we live. Not with occasional greeting cards, but, as I vowed, "every day and in all things" by seeking to "meet your needs, know you better, trust you more completely, and love you more perfectly...in complete and humble dependance on the grace and power of our faithful God. Amen."</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I'm not saying we can't light candles and pour ourselves a glass of wine now and again; I'm saying that's just a part--a natural part--of something so much bigger, something unconstrained by particular times and dates. Something found in the laughs, the prayers, the fears. The hard conversations and uncertainties. In the warmth and closeness, the knowing glances, the unspoken understanding, the comfortable silence, and everything else that sparks and pulses between us.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Ours is the love of life.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Always yours, on this day and every other,</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Michael</p>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-87637073640395076692009-08-05T17:11:00.003+02:002010-01-26T23:43:32.791+01:00Away We Go AgainAfter more than a month of vagabonding, Heather and I landed in Grand Rapids, MI. And, for whatever reason, that's where we felt we should stay. For now, at least. So, we signed a 12-month lease on a small apartment in <a href="http://www.heritagehillweb.org/">Heritage Hill</a> within walking distance of <a href="http://downtowngr.org/">downtown</a>; we'll move in at the end of August.<br /><br />Heather left this morning for Philly, so I'm "home" alone. I'll join her in a week once I wrap up some work I've been doing for <a href="http://www.andcross.com">Dot&Cross</a>. Then, we'll spend time with friends and family we haven't seen since January, sell a bunch of stuff, pack up the rest, and drive out to GR to--finally--unpack our bags. After that...we'll see.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-89156132577674506962009-06-30T23:34:00.002+02:002009-07-01T16:40:10.015+02:00Home is Where We AreWe're "home," loosely speaking. We've already been back in the States for more than two weeks; still, it's a bit strange to be back on this side of the Atlantic in the land of cars and obesity and giant grocery stores.<br /><br />Heather and I packed up <a href="http://hmcolletto.blogspot.com/">our lives in Bratislava</a> a few weeks early when we heard about <a href="http://jumpdavidjump.typepad.com/">David's</a> brain tumor and caught an earlier flight back. We arrived in Omaha, met Heather's sister Angie and her two beautiful girls at the airport the next day, and road tripped out to Rochester, MN together to spend the week with David and Amy and (most of) the rest of the family. When David and Amy returned to their home to regroup before further treatment, the rest of us parted ways.<br /><br />So, for the past week, we've been living with our friends Brittany and Andrew up in Chaska, MN. It's been a wonderfully relaxing (and even somewhat productive) time--talking, reading, watching movies, cooking, wrapping up work for TWR, riding bikes for the first time <a href="http://michaelcolletto.blogspot.com/2009/05/id-ride-that.html">in forever</a>, and learning to play <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Speed-Scrabble">Speed Scrabble</a>.<br /><br />What's next? We're not sure. And, let me tell you, that's a very unsettling thing to hear yourself say.<br /><br />There are two questions Heather and I have been getting more than any other: 1) "So, where are you from?" and 2) "What are your plans?" The first question turns out to be much harder to answer than it should be: "Uh, Philadelphia. But we've been living in Slovakia for the last six months. Actually, Heather's from Omaha and I grew up outside Philadelphia. But we met in Ohio and both ended up back in the Philadelphia area which is where we started dating and everything. So we spent the first year of our marriage in West Chester, just outside Philly. But we don't live anywhere now." Concern and surprise usually lead to the second question, to which we respond with a reassuring "We don't know. We don't really have anything lined up." Jobs? Not really. Place to live? No. Are you busy this Thursday? No idea.<br /><br />So, "home" is where we are. We're vagrants. Nomads. At present, the only place we have to call our own is a Honda Civic and a storage unit on the East Coast. Which pretty much makes us homeless...save for the hospitality of others. As Ingrid Michaelson sings, "we might not have any money, but we've got our love to pay the bills."<br /><br />Believe it or not, we're fairly content. Don't get me wrong, we hope to find an apartment somewhere and unpack our bags at some point. And we hope to receive some clue or direction about what cause or causes we should dedicate the next phase of our life to. But we're confident that God will provide for us. In the meantime, there's no need to worry. There really isn't.<br /><br />I have all I need.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-83657437640751507162009-06-21T08:37:00.001+02:002009-06-21T17:24:31.456+02:00Operation 55 Zebra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sj5Qgt92rDI/AAAAAAAAEPg/m8Eyte9MusA/s1600-h/operation+55+zebra+2+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 146px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sj5Qgt92rDI/AAAAAAAAEPg/m8Eyte9MusA/s320/operation+55+zebra+2+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349801930387794994" border="0" /></a>Two weeks ago, on June 7, we were shocked to learn that my brother-in-law, David Wenzel, has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodendroglioma">brain tumor</a>. Turns out, he's probably had it since childhood. Thanks to a freak collision with a concrete pillar, the resulting seizure, and the subsequent MRI at Stanford Hospital in CA, the 7 cm tumor was detected. Since then...well, it's a long story, and <a href="http://www.jumpdavidjump.typepad.com/jump_david_jump/">he tells it best</a>. Quick summary: David transfered to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where a series of tests revealed that the tumor is inoperable; it's nestled in real good with the part of David's brain that allows him to communicate. He went in for a biopsy and will have the full results early next week, but initial meetings with the oncologist and radiologist were encouraging--they believe the tumor will respond to radiation and chemotherapy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you want the details</span>, check out David's blog, <a href="http://www.jumpdavidjump.typepad.com/jump_david_jump/">Jump David Jump</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/davidvwenzel">follow him on Twitter</a> (#55Zebra). His wife, Amy, has been posting updates on <a href="http://blog.amywenzel.com/">her blog</a> as well. There's also a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mccolletto?ref=name#/group.php?gid=91667446511">Facebook group</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you want to help</span>...first, pray. Pray like crazy. We're praying for complete healing, but even beyond that, that God will tell a powerful story through David and Amy's lives in these circumstances. I love and respect the two of them so much; already their faith and their attitude has been truly inspirational. And they'd be the first to tell you their strength and their peace comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. It's already so evident that our great God is at work.<br /><br />Second, if you'd like to do something a little more tangible, I know they'd probably appreciate a hand with some of the medical expenses they have been and will be accumulating. One really easy, secure way to give is through <a href="https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_render-content&content_ID=marketing_us/send_money">PayPal's Send Money service</a>--all you need to send money is the recipient's email address. If you don't have either of their addresses just ask.<br /><br />OK, so what's with the zebra thing? David's case at Stanford was also known as "<a href="http://www.jumpdavidjump.typepad.com/jump_david_jump/2009/06/also-known-as.html">Fifty-Five Zebra</a>". So, naturally, he adopted it as his call sign.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-8239631617345933982009-06-10T14:56:00.004+02:002009-06-10T17:01:24.822+02:00A TWR Epic Story: Reaching the Roma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Si_HSp0onFI/AAAAAAAAEKg/wrY-cQY1tL0/s1600-h/reaching_roma-lg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Si_HSp0onFI/AAAAAAAAEKg/wrY-cQY1tL0/s200/reaching_roma-lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345710405990259794" /></a>As a PR Strategist for TWR, one of my major responsibilities for <a href="http://hmcolletto.blogspot.com/search/label/Reaching%20the%20Roma">the past few months</a> has been overseeing production of new short films for TWR Europe's series of Epic Stories. This particular story, titled <i><a href="http://www.twr.org/epicstories/roma.php">Reaching the Roma</a></i>, highlights TWR's ministry among the Roma people.<div><br /></div><div>When I arrived in Europe six months ago, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know who the Roma were; today, I would count many of them as friends--as brothers and sisters in Christ. So it is with great pleasure that I present <a href="http://www.twr.org/epicstories/flv/flvplayer.swf?file=epicstories-roma.flv&autostart=true&fs=true">this short film</a> to you. I hope that as you hear their story and see their faces you'll be inspired to help reach them with God's unconditional love.</div>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-56694797933621218012009-05-11T09:31:00.000+02:002009-05-11T09:31:00.832+02:00Photos: Adventures in EuropeHeather and I love living here in Europe. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mccolletto/Bratislava2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCJPmw6DF_r7EDw&feat=directlink">Bratislava</a> is a great little city that feels like home--we can't wait to show it off to Heather's parents when they visit us at the end of this month. Plus, living here and working with TWR has given us many opportunities to see some of the surrounding countries as well: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mccolletto/Vienna2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCLOs0s7XgqS6SA&feat=directlink">Austria</a>, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mccolletto/BulgariaMarch2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCITcq7fMl7PvBQ&feat=directlink">Bulgaria</a>, and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mccolletto/GermanyApril2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCPunj_rZ8_7xogE&feat=directlink">Germany</a> for starters (click the links to see some of my photos).<br /><br />In fact, Heather just returned from Romania a few days ago and, today, we're leaving for a short trip to Paris...followed by a weekend visit to Rome! There will be more pictures to come, I'm sure. Until then, au revoir!Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-50456962638082591732009-05-07T13:08:00.000+02:002009-05-07T13:08:00.219+02:00Find Your Next Favorite ArtistI think I have pretty good taste when it comes to music. After all, I've never recommended a band I didn't like.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sf16PS3t6QI/AAAAAAAADhc/KMsMYWCQqGo/s1600-h/hunted_logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 65px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sf16PS3t6QI/AAAAAAAADhc/KMsMYWCQqGo/s200/hunted_logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331551937058695426" border="0" /></a>But like most people, I love to discover new music. I also love new ways to discover music, like the visually compelling, intuitively simple website <a href="http://wearehunted.com/">We Are Hunted</a>. It's an online music chart that scours blogs, social networks, forums, Twitter, and other online sources to map out the top 99 songs online...and stream them on demand. Check it out. Often.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-70510161857481337122009-05-04T15:44:00.001+02:002009-05-04T15:44:00.177+02:00Grad School on the Cheap?Over the last few months, Heather's expressed a desire to return to school for her Master's in Social Work. Actually, she even applied. We'll see what happens and where the Lord leads (which, turns out, could be virtually anywhere. See <a href="http://hmcolletto.blogspot.com/">hmcolletto.blogspot.com</a> for any developments in that unfolding saga).<br /><br />Anyway, all this talk about further education naturally got me thinking about grad school myself. I mean, I've kicked the idea around for years now but, to be honest, nothing specific has ever jumped out at me. Well, except for <a href="http://american.edu/soc/degrees/MA-INTM-SOC.cfm">this program</a> from American University. Totally up my alley. Sadly, the <a href="http://www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Tuition-and-Fees-Information.cfm#tftable">price</a> jumps out a little, too, and not in a good way. Yikes.<br /><br />So, in lieu of a <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patron">patron</a> (I'm taking applications if any of you are interested), now I'm looking at cheaper ways to continue lifelong learning. Take, for example, <a href="http://www.academicearth.org/">Academic Earth</a>—a website offering free video instruction from top profs at institutes like Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale on topics ranging from economics to mathematics. Lectures aren't available for credit, of course, and are of little value to one's resume, but provide an interesting educational exercise nonetheless.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-46253757652191620132009-05-02T09:26:00.000+02:002009-05-02T09:26:00.089+02:00I'd Ride ThatI'm no cyclist. Haven't really ridden a bike since sophomore year of college when someone stole mine, ditched it, and left it for campus security to pick up. Of course, I'd alerted campus security of the theft and gave them a description of the bike, so when it turned up...they, honest, competent people that there were, sold it to the RD of one of the dorms, who, two years later, put it up for sale one day as I was passing by. Yes, I bought it back. Never rode it again, though. Very sad story.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm not a cyclist. Nor am I an urban commuter. But Gocycle's forthcoming lightweight electric bike sounds sweet enough to convert me to becoming one (an urban-cyclist-commuter-man, that is). Their <a href="http://www.gocycle.com/">website</a>'s a little spartan right now, consisting only of a logo (seriously), but you can read more about the bike <a href="http://springwise.com/transportation/gocycle/">here</a>. I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> a little concerned it'll be out of my price range but, meh, who am I kidding about becoming an urban-cyclist-commuter-man anyway?<br /><br />Don't know why it sounds so appealing. Maybe it's the spring air...Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-50913956018127268132009-04-10T11:17:00.000+02:002009-04-10T11:17:00.657+02:00Play It Forward<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb96Tlj1faI/AAAAAAAADgE/omvuWbwSLvQ/s1600-h/akoha.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 92px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb96Tlj1faI/AAAAAAAADgE/omvuWbwSLvQ/s200/akoha.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314100562238995874" border="0" /></a>I recently learned of <a href="http://akoha.com/">Akoha</a>, a "social reality game" inspired by the concept of pay it forward. In essence, it's a hybrid online/offline card game designed to tap into the power of online communities to accomplish real-world good. So you can earn karma points and track the spread of random acts of kindness across the world. It's really quite a neat idea. Not quite as inspiring, perhaps, as IfWeRanTheWorld, but it's still a creative idea with potential positive impact.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb-AwpzcySI/AAAAAAAADgM/9k1uBo4Z9ms/s1600-h/akoha2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb-AwpzcySI/AAAAAAAADgM/9k1uBo4Z9ms/s400/akoha2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314107658664200482" border="0" /></a><a href="http://community.akoha.com/help/learn/">Learn more...</a><br /></div>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-73064440576329907712009-04-04T16:18:00.000+02:002009-04-04T16:18:00.128+02:00If We Ran the World...I was super excited when I read a <a href="http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/03/yes-we-plan-how.html">Wired article</a> about plans to launch a website called <a href="http://ifwerantheworld.com/">IfWeRanTheWorld.com</a>. Today, the site is nothing more than a platform to recruit help to make the site happen...a fitting start for the start-up crowdsourcing project.<br /><br />Its aim, when launched, is to convert intent into action. Conceived by marketing veteran Cindy Gallop and software developer Wendell Davis, IfWeRantheWorld.com is designed to motivate people to make small contributions toward achieving big things. How? By breaking even the most overwhelming initiatives (e.g., "end world hunger") into irreducible, bite-sized and achievable individual tasks, so that when people find themselves wishing they could do something about some injustice or need in the world, they actually can.<br /><blockquote><br />Here's how it works. A simple, Google-like search box on the site will greet first-time visitors with the partially-completed sentence, "If I ran the world I would...." Their entries join a database of action platforms, which platform originators and community members break down into discrete tasks -- irreducible atoms of action. Members complete these tasks, assign them to friends, offer kudos for jobs well done and offer advice to various action platforms. Completed tasks and kudos appear on your profile page, which lists everything you've done.</blockquote><br /><br />It's a brilliant concept (read the full article <a href="http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/03/yes-we-plan-how.html">here</a>). So, start thinking of what you'd do if you ran the world...and stay posted.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-55784980262013011652009-04-01T15:21:00.003+02:002009-04-01T15:21:00.290+02:00Make a Buck Spring CleaningWhen Heather and I were packing up our life to move to Slovakia, we made it a priority to downsize, donate, and discard whenever appropriate. I think we made a run to Goodwill every week. We also tried to make a few bucks by selling clothes to <a href="http://www.platoscloset.com/how_it_works_cash.html">Plato's Closet</a> and selling just about anything else of value on <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites">craigslist</a>. Just before we left—too late for us—I learned about two websites dedicated to buying used electronics. You're not going to turn a profit, but you'll get a fair price. Besides, it beats the hassle of setting up a yard sale... and the eco-guilt of dumping your gadgets in the garbage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb9zjYaf_ZI/AAAAAAAADf0/jpxmx6pkVpM/s1600-h/gazella.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 81px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb9zjYaf_ZI/AAAAAAAADf0/jpxmx6pkVpM/s200/gazella.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314093137006689682" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.gazelle.com/main/index/how_it_works">Gazelle</a>: This slick service lets you pawn your old cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, PDAs, laptops, game consoles, GPS devices, monitors, movies, external drives, and satellite radios for current market value. If your device turns out to be worthless, they'll still offer to recycle the item for you. Shipping is always free.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.buymytronics.com/index.html">Buy My Tronics</a>: These guys don't accept quite as many different items as Gazelle, but they'll accept them in any condition. Plus, their service is worldwide. Free shipping is also available.<br /><br />And hey, don't forget about <a href="http://michaelcolletto.blogspot.com/2009/01/get-rewarded-for-recycling.html">RecycleBank</a>. What could possibly beat making money by taking out the trash? It's like getting an allowance for chores again.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-52964234042818423172009-03-29T07:40:00.000+02:002009-03-29T07:40:01.029+02:00Have Guides, Will Travel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sc0IA578ScI/AAAAAAAADgs/xHNfOHTuZDw/s1600-h/tripwolf-logo.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 124px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sc0IA578ScI/AAAAAAAADgs/xHNfOHTuZDw/s200/tripwolf-logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317915546639681986" border="0" /></a>You know you want to come visit Heather and me in Slovakia, so I figured I'd make it easy by putting together a few travel guides for you. OK, that's not completely honest--I just typed "Bratislava, Slovakia" into <a href="http://www.tripwolf.com/">TripWolf.com</a> and it made one for me. For free. You can check it out <a href="http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/10602/Slovakia/Bratislava">here</a> and download the PDF.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sc0IIBQS3TI/AAAAAAAADg0/DX3f9QHEXZo/s1600-h/logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 80px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sc0IIBQS3TI/AAAAAAAADg0/DX3f9QHEXZo/s200/logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317915668863180082" border="0" /></a>Whatever your destination, if you haven't checked out TripWolf and/or <a href="http://www.offbeatguides.com/">Offbeat Guides</a> yet, you're missing out on a lot of awesome. Also visit <a href="http://traveldk.com/">traveldk</a>--they don't offer guides for the breadth of destinations as the other sites, but offer very solid info nonetheless.<br /><br />Of course, if you are, in fact, planning a visit to Slovakia, feel free to skip out on the travel guides altogether--Heather and I would be more than thrilled to put you up in our quirky little flat and put together an exhilerating itinerary for you. I'm just saying...Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-15209046170018126232009-03-23T20:41:00.000+01:002009-03-23T20:41:00.755+01:00Harry Potter versus HeatherMy dearest Heather, after protesting for years that <span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter </span>was beneath her and her English degree, is now officially consumed by the series. She hardly spoke to me yesterday except to say, with fierce intensity, "Go away! Leave me alone!" as she tore through the last couple hundred pages of <span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince</span>. When she finished, she immediately curled up in a ball and refused to leave the refuge of her covers. I think someone might be emotionally invested in the story...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/ScdbSx4n6CI/AAAAAAAADgc/uxchQLnXpOo/s1600-h/IMG_2811.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/ScdbSx4n6CI/AAAAAAAADgc/uxchQLnXpOo/s400/IMG_2811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316318263320766498" border="0" /></a>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-35294561198935984652009-03-23T10:26:00.001+01:002009-03-23T10:56:43.135+01:00fonolo: Saving Your Sanity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb917lowtCI/AAAAAAAADf8/iBeL44UV3h0/s1600-h/fonolo.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 81px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/Sb917lowtCI/AAAAAAAADf8/iBeL44UV3h0/s200/fonolo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314095751896282146" border="0" /></a>Raise your hand if you love dialing 1-800 numbers and fighting through a maze of pre-recorded touch-tone phone tree menu options before finally being put on hold for half an hour so you can ask a surly customer service representative your simple question.<br /><br />What? No hands? Didn't think so. Neither did <a href="http://fonolo.com/">fonolo</a>, the genius company that decided to transcribe the phone menus of large companies so you can navigate them visually and skip the hassle.<br /><blockquote>'Pick the company you need, scan through their phone menu visually, then just click the spot you need to call. fonolo will automatically dial, navigate their menu and then dial your phone. When you answer, you will be connected to the right spot in the menu. We call that “Deep Dialing”. You’ll call it smart.'<br /><br /></blockquote>No. I call it brilliant.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-13885793182660316172009-03-20T15:32:00.000+01:002009-03-20T15:32:00.462+01:00You Should Have Seen ThisI recently stumbled upon <a href="http://www.youshouldhaveseenthis.com/">youshouldhaveseenthis.com</a>. This rather pretentiously named URL hosts a "<span style="font-weight: bold;">definitive list of the 99 things you should have already experienced on the internet unless you're a loser or old or something</span>," graciously compiled by someone named Greg Rutter. He's a copywriter, so I respect that, but I'm not sure what gives him the right to suggest I'm an old loser for the simple reason that I hadn't, until I found his stupid list, wasted 4 minutes of my life watching Charlie the badly animated Unicorn getting his kidney stolen. But, hey, if you've got a lot of time on your hands and nothing good to do with it (be warned: in both professional and social circles we call such people "losers")... check it out.<br /><br />Sorry, that was harsh. And hypocritical. I've laughed at many of these clips myself. As for the clips I haven't seen, I must confess I've bookmarked the site for future time-wasting reference.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-89894313319490702552009-02-28T17:15:00.000+01:002009-03-03T21:41:19.468+01:00A Strong Argument for the Smart CarRemember what <a href="http://michaelcolletto.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-i-learned-in-greece.html">I mentioned</a> briefly about the chaotic traffic and parking situation in Greece? Let's call that "the problem". Now, let me introduce "the solution":<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SabBfVQCgvI/AAAAAAAADEs/X-z7NcvUH-Y/s1600-h/IMG_2768.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SabBfVQCgvI/AAAAAAAADEs/X-z7NcvUH-Y/s400/IMG_2768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307141954927231730" border="0" /></a>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-16232220117330310072009-02-27T16:20:00.000+01:002009-02-27T16:29:03.984+01:00What I Learned in GreeceI recently spent five days in Thessaloniki, Greece working on a project for my employer. Yeah, rough job, but hey -- someone had to do it. Anyway, the trip was a success (you can read more about it <a href="http://hmcolletto.blogspot.com/2009/02/greetings-from-thessaloniki.html">here</a> and <a href="http://hmcolletto.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-snow-and-more-snow.html">here</a>), and, in the process, I learned a few things about Greek culture:<ol><li>Everything is philosophical.<br /></li><li>Breakfast is a cup of coffee on the way to work, lunch is at 2 p.m., and dinner is no earlier than eight o'clock. One restaurant literally had to unlock the doors for us when we arrived at 8:30 p.m.<br /></li><li>Greek food is indescribably good and served in massive quantities. There's a reason they typically pass on breakfast.<br /></li><li>All laws are "elastic". This is especially true of their traffic laws. Suffice it to say one of our coworkers was mowed down by a motorcycle while crossing the street (don't worry, she's okay!).<br /></li></ol>Here are some photos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagDaNhnYvI/AAAAAAAADfM/5glK8RwUtfQ/s1600-h/IMG_2644.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagDaNhnYvI/AAAAAAAADfM/5glK8RwUtfQ/s400/IMG_2644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307495909698265842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagC9WSNF8I/AAAAAAAADfE/xlhStokTzQA/s1600-h/IMG_2551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagC9WSNF8I/AAAAAAAADfE/xlhStokTzQA/s400/IMG_2551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307495413833340866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagDqjWzv_I/AAAAAAAADfU/xL1WR604_k8/s1600-h/IMG_2665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SagDqjWzv_I/AAAAAAAADfU/xL1WR604_k8/s400/IMG_2665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307496190436425714" border="0" /></a>For more pictures from the trip, check out <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mccolletto/ThessalonikiGreece?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLgiO787e7I8QE&feat=directlink">my photo album</a> on Picasa.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-71772890894168097592009-02-22T12:26:00.001+01:002009-02-22T12:26:01.111+01:00Global Warming Kills Snowman!In the interest of full disclosure, this post has nothing to do with global warming. And it's well below freezing here, for the record. I was just looking for an excuse to share pictures of my little Austrian snowman. He lived a short but happy life.<br /><br />(WARNING: some of the following images may be disturbing to small children. Parental supervision advised.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1C0yCsVoI/AAAAAAAADEQ/__T1gNlnQfs/s1600-h/IMG_2461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1C0yCsVoI/AAAAAAAADEQ/__T1gNlnQfs/s400/IMG_2461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304469410666010242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1DUXoKq_I/AAAAAAAADEY/Ptj7hRGF0mo/s1600-h/IMG_2481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1DUXoKq_I/AAAAAAAADEY/Ptj7hRGF0mo/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304469953331244018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1DlXfbB5I/AAAAAAAADEg/uveHoFzTzpY/s1600-h/IMG_2482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SZ1DlXfbB5I/AAAAAAAADEg/uveHoFzTzpY/s400/IMG_2482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304470245352343442" border="0" /></a>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-88146277712704219552009-02-20T16:49:00.002+01:002009-02-20T22:13:19.487+01:00Swap CDs for an iPod TouchI just got my first MP3 player two months ago. Yeah, I know, I'm about 10 years behind the times. Still, before you mock me, check this: it's a 16GB 2nd generation iPod Touch...and I got it for free. (Sort of.) How did this come to pass? Glad you asked.<br /><br />Allow me to introduce you to <a href="http://www.ipodmeister.com/">iPodmeister</a>, a NY company that accepts a certain number of your used CDs in exchange for an iPod of your choice — finally, vindication for keeping my CDs, their original jewel cases, and album artwork in such good condition. Plus, they give you all your music back as iPod-ready MP3 files. Jealous? Dig up your old CDs, my friend, and trade 'em in.<br /><br />PS — If, unlike me, you've been rocking an iPod for the last 7 years and don't want or need a new one, there's still a special little treat out there for you: the <a href="http://www.heyjosh.com/2009/01/13/track-07-has-a-name-too-you-know/">TuneUp Companion</a> for iTunes. Go.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-24615835763586328982009-02-18T22:50:00.003+01:002009-02-18T22:57:39.854+01:00So, Funny Story...See the lady being led away by law enforcement officials? The one accused of embezzling nearly half a million dollars? That's our former landlord.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="video" data="http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video/videoplayer.swf" width="400" height="340"><param value="http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video/videoplayer.swf" name="movie"><param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fadx%2Ftsg%2Ewtxf%2Fnews%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bpos%3D%3Btile%3D2%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D317727162140465900%3Frand%3D0%2E15096269612615698&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxphilly%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D121696293&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Emyfoxphilly%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2009%2F02%2F16%2F021609aptmgr%5F20090216162112772%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxphilly%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2F021609%5FApartment%5FManager%5FEmbezzlement%5FCharges" name="FlashVars"><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"></object></div>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-16760308965720456902009-01-26T18:15:00.000+01:002009-01-26T18:15:01.422+01:00Get Rewarded for RecyclingI love it when people translate awesome ideas into positive action. Naturally, I was stoked to learn about <a href="http://www.recyclebank.com/">RecycleBank</a> — a Philadelphia-based company dedicated to creating incentives for recycling. Here's how it works:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 1: Recycle</span>. You're probably doing this part already (right...?). The only difference with RecycleBank is that it's easier than ever thanks to their uber-smart single stream recycling process. In plain English: you can dump your paper, plastic, and aluminum recyclables all in the same bin. Brilliant.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 2: Record</span>. OK, so this isn't just any ordinary bin. It's a big blue bin with an RFID chip embedded in it that links to your family's (or community's) RecycleBank account. They call them "smart carts". So, every week when your recycling is collected, your cart gets weighed and scanned right at the curb. The system records the weight, converts it to points, and immediately credits your account.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 3: Reward</span>. You'll earn 2.5 RecycleBank points for every pound of recyclable materials in your bin, and you can redeem these points at hundreds of local and national retailers, from Target and IKEA to the pottery shop down the street. Plus, you get tons of warm green fuzzies for diverting trash from landfills to <a href="http://www.recyclebank.com/recycling/ecofootprint">save trees and gallons of oil</a>.<br /><br />Interested in learning more? Click here to <a href="http://www.recyclebank.com/recycling#/intro/">watch <span style="font-style: italic;">The Cycle</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> — </span>a animated, interactive look at the process of single stream recycling. Already sold? Just <a href="http://www.recyclebank.com/contact/request_service">request service</a>. If RecycleBank is already operating in your community, they'll hook you up right away; if not, they'll let you know when the program becomes available in your area. So far, they have no plans to expand to Slovakia, but for all you back in the states, hop to it! Enjoy the rewards.Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-67056945602852148122009-01-23T16:55:00.000+01:002009-01-23T16:55:00.773+01:00A Cool New Way to Learn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiE2KxQapI/AAAAAAAACnY/98YBU_gam9g/s1600-h/popling_header_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 43px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiE2KxQapI/AAAAAAAACnY/98YBU_gam9g/s200/popling_header_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294127428112771730" border="0" /></a>Picture this: I'm working in various applications on my computer — writing an email, browsing my iTunes library, reading <a href="http://michaelcolletto.blogspot.com/2008/09/really-simple-syndication.html">RSS</a> feeds, stalking people on Facebook — and, every few minutes, a little notification appears to teach me Spanish...or the periodic table of elements. It's learning without studying, and they call it <a href="http://www.popling.net/index.php">Popling</a> — "a website + desktop app for people who want to learn, but lack motivation." I call it awesome. I'm totally going to learn Japanese. (Slovak isn't available...yet.)<br /><br />Watch the screencast below to see Popling in action:<br /><object width="400" height="267"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2447257&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2447257&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="300"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/"></a>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662285376602874723.post-18117192894620152232009-01-22T11:56:00.005+01:002009-01-22T20:14:22.642+01:00The Hamster's New Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiITdUwb5I/AAAAAAAACnw/9c2Ljw-tZlg/s1600-h/DSC00238.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 148px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiITdUwb5I/AAAAAAAACnw/9c2Ljw-tZlg/s200/DSC00238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294131229844598674" border="0" /></a>And so the saga has a happy ending. You may recall from <a href="http://michaelcolletto.blogspot.com/2008/12/yahoo-answers-says-hamsters-can-fly.html">my earlier post</a> back in December that, for awhile, Heather and I didn't know what to do with our dear hamster, Pisco. Not long after I considered the ill-conceived plan of taking him on an international flight and smuggling him through customs, our friend Lauren agreed to adopt him. She sent us a few pictures the other day and the little fellow seems to be doing quite well in his new home. Apparently, he's getting lots of attention from his new family. He's even befriended their dog, Bandit (at least from within the relative safety of his ball).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiHr3u-MlI/AAAAAAAACno/9RW3-gNKrT8/s1600-h/DSC00236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QiaKDA1T_Rw/SXiHr3u-MlI/AAAAAAAACno/9RW3-gNKrT8/s400/DSC00236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294130549739106898" border="0" /></a>Michael Collettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750621570443938506noreply@blogger.com0