Got Milk???

MckMama certainly does.

In her latest blog post since returning home from her travels with GHNI, MckMama posted a picture of a freezer drawer that is more than halfway filled with bags of breast milk. She claims that she pumped all of this breast milk while she was on her 2-week trip and transported it all the way back home despite climate changes, long flights, etc.

Of course, MckMama claims that she wasn't able to do this all alone. It takes a village. In MckMama's case, she states that she is grateful for the "hotel kitchens" where she could store her milk, airport juice vendors that stored her milk for "hours", and flight attendants who assisted with keeping her milk on ice during her flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

She claims that this breast milk is approximately half of what she pumped while she was gone and the rest of that breast milk was pumped and dumped. She also states that she bonded with other breastfeeding moms while she was on her trip. According to MckMama, she held a picture of her children and she would pump while other mothers were nursing their children under trees in Garmaam.

Now that she has returned home, MckMama states that she and her youngest child have been able to seamlessly resume their breastfeeding mother and child relationship.

* She is also promoting a giveaway for a Nook or Kindle to two lucky readers if they donate to a good cause.

Gay

Ciao bellezze, 
Avevo preparato per voi un video a sfondo sociologico ma, ahinoi, il nostro presidente del consiglio ha esternato ancora.
Lo so che vi sembrerò monotematica, ma davanti a delle chicche così, come si fa a rimanere impassibili?
Questa volta Silvio the fabulous, oltre a delirare sulla scuola, cosa di cui magari parleremo più avanti, ha avuto il fantastico gusto di parlarci della famiglia.
Ora, in questo momento storico e politico, apprezzerei tanto che il mio premier mi parlasse di cose di cui è più competente, tipo la detrazione delle escort dalle tasse, le riforme informi della giustizia e la distruzione dei vecchi posti di lavoro.
La famiglia no però. Il papa posso arrivare a capirlo perché lui di mestiere fa il capo della chiesa e deve far finta di condividerne i dogmi, Berlusconi invece non lo voglio proprio sentire.
E' un po' come se Cicciolina mi dicesse che il pipino è cancerogeno.
Berlusconi dice anche che finchè ci sarà lui, le coppie gay non potranno mai essere una famiglia come lui la intende.
Questa però, pensandoci bene, per gli omosessuali italiani potrebbe essere un'ottima notizia.

Skype Hype

At the beginning of MckMama's campaign to get the GHNI village of Garmaam "adopted" by 100 of her readers, she wrote a post entitled, "Tonight is the night!", and it was posted on her blog on Monday morning, February 21. At the end of that blog post, Mckmama wrote the following:

"Additionally, on Thursday evening (at around the same times as I listed above), four of you who join Garmaam’s extended village will have the opportunity to join live with each other and the people of Garmaam in a video call (Both ways! The village will see and hear you…and vice versa!) to the village!! I’ll give you more details in my next post, but if you are planning to help adopt Garmaam, be thinking now about possibly being a part of the call. How will we decide which four will participate? I’m so glad you asked!

The four people with the most creative idea about how you will gather a crowd of people around your computer to meet Garmaam will get the spots. More to come tonight!!"

Approximately 12 + hours later (on Monday evening), she posted another post on her blog, entitled "This is Garmaam." In that post, she announced that the day for the Skype calls had been changed. Here's what she wrote:

"Also, on Friday evening (8:00 pm Pacific, 11:00 Eastern…and yes, I know I said Thursday earlier, but we changed it!), four of the 100 of you who join with Garmaam will have the chance to be part of a live video conference call that we will rise very early and have with Garmaam at sunrise. You will be able to see and hear the villagers, and the villagers will be able to see and hear the four of you on the screen at the same time! But it won’t be just you. To help spread awareness about this amazing Ethiopian village, as well as the beauty and the needs here, please email me sometime before Tuesday evening in the States if you want to be considered for the call. Let me know how you would gather a crowd around your computer for the video experience. Would you gather your neighbors at your house to meet “your” new village? Maybe you work evenings and would bring your computer (Your computer must have a web cam!) to have your coworkers participate? Would you meet with people from your church for the evening call? Have your teenager invite a slew of friends over for an African themed sleepover? Gather your buddies around the poker table? Get creative! We’ll pick the four people with the best plans, and I’ll email them back so we’ll be squared away for the call on Friday evening, when each of the four can carry out their plan and participate in the live conference call!

I will of course attend the live video call and photograph it so I can post about how it went. Technology is amazing. But our neighbors around the globe are even moreso. To learn more about how your $12 a month will help the village, click here. For a deeper explanation of how GHNI seeks to help villages transform themselves, click here."

The "winners" of the Skype calls were never announced.


But information started to surface the very next day. On Tuesday afternoon, one of the "winners" hinted that she was one of the chosen 4 by telling her blog readers that they were going to want to come to her house on Friday night (the night of the Skype call). It seemed a little odd since the village had not yet been adopted by MckMama's readers. MckMama had asked her readers to contact her via e-mail by Tuesday night, if they wanted to be considered for the Skype call, but had the "winners" already been chosen?

People might say that this doesn't matter and it wasn't even a true "giveaway", but I think this is just one more story that illustrates the way MckMama handles these situations.

Before the Skype call on Friday, February 25, a commenter posted here on MWOP. She stated that she was one of the "winners" and she stated that she would be recording the Skype call and make it available online. MWOPers had their doubts, but it turns out that she was one of the "winners". After corresponding with this individual, I was able to confirm her story and the timing of the events. MckMama contacted her on Monday, February 21 to see if she would like to be considered for the Skype call. The wording of that e-mail definitely implies that there was never a contest. It seemed the decision had already been made.

This individual commented here on Saturday, February 26 (the morning after her Skype call took place) and posted the following comment under the username "It's all coming together", but I have removed her name and the identifying information from her comment. With her permission, I am sharing the content of that comment with you below:

"Good morning everyone - you too, Mckmama. I have a full day of kids & work to attend to, but wanted to say something before I sign off for the day.

My name is (name removed) and I was a sheeple. Well, more like a part time sheeple. A few years ago I started reading blogs and came across Jens. We had a lot in common... both had fairly rocky relationships (mine not physically violent thank God), I was pregnant with my 4th child and have since had a 5th (all but 1 were preemies with 2 spending 2+ months in the hospital), we own our own small business, I am an amateur photographer, etc, etc, etc... she lived just a short drive from me.

When Stellan was having all his heart problem I felt horrible for her. I knew what long hospital stays did to families, and knew if I had to spend time away from family/work etc, I'd be financially ruined. So I helped her. I paid for hotel rooms... sent gift cards... sent money anonymously.

At one point almost a year ago I confronted her via e-mail about some issues I had with her lying. She e-mailed me back and smoothed it all over - very nicely I might add. It was a big band-aid and made everything better for a short time.

Just like many of you, I had questions pop up from time to time. I always told myself that since she was so popular, people were bound to be jealous - and that some people just had NO life outside of trashing Ms. McKinney. And really, some of her "lies" were small - really nothing that mattered (unless you took the time to put the WHOLE PICTURE together). So why bother, ya know? And with all the horrible things happening to her, she needed people who truly cared. I justified it rather nicely, wrapped it up and put a big bow on it - and went on reading her blog.

I felt she was doing such an amazing and difficult thing to leave her family when she headed back to Africa this time. I, too, have 5 kids - and can't imagine being away for 2 weeks! When she asked for people to sponsor the 2nd village, I really thought it would be a great way to be involved. (Identifying information removed)

On Monday the 21st, I got an e-mail from Jen saying she wanted me to be part of the skype chat. It also says, "You guys might need to sign up now to hold a spot for your (Identifying information removed)?" I thought it was weird since I knew the village hadn't been 100% adopted yet - and I guess I thought it was a contest for everyone who signed up to sponsor them. I was excited - as I hadn't yet spent some time researching GHNI. To be CLEAR - I have found nothing derogatory about them. To be more clear - I have found NOTHING. It's all fluff. No #'s about what money goes where - or what percentage of my $12 actually GOES to help them. I don't have the time or the desire to hunt down their non-profit info, or tax return info... but on their website - the information I would want to have as a donor, isn't there.

None of it mattered anyways. It turned out that a girl I work with knows someone who knows Jen. She shared with me some information that I really took to heart. I was told to read here, at MWOP - and read the "Links you might want to read" - and to read back through her blog as well.

Why would I bother to try to dig up dirt? What this girl told me really bothered me. AND... I've spent HOURS over the last few years reading her blog - and have spent my families money to help her. For my personal knowledge, I could easily justify spending a few more hours reading/researching in lieu of being a "sheeple" for the next several years.

The first thing I realized on my own was that the woman who BANNED Susan G Komen ads on her blog is asking her readers to donate $12 a month for a village that practices polygamy. Struck me as odd...

Then came more. LOTS more. You've all managed to cover all the major "OH MY GOD" realizations quite nicely on here.

As for ANYONE who disagrees with my posting those videos to my youtube - Jennifer asked ALL 4 of us skype people to take pictures and record if possible and share with her. I have the e-mail to prove this. She was planning on sharing them all herself.

Also, please refer to the nipple/breastfeeding shots she posted. She could care less about ANYONE'S privacy. It's 100% clear to me that she is ONLY out to make a buck. I believe that with every fiber in me, and I seriously questioned whether or not she owned THIS blog too.... she'd be the one to capitalize on "negative MckMama dirt" faster than anyone else. Then I realized there were no ads here... lol

All I did was participate IN SPITE of wanting to scream at her... Yes, I managed to get a few sarcastic comments in... and post the videos to youtube. After I saw the people from town with her and the CHILDREN, I knew I couldn't say what was on my mind. I simply shared with you before she did. (although I'm sure my video wouldn't have made the cut and she would have said they had technical issues and it didn't get recorded or something).

For any of you who truly LOVE Jennifer... go for it. Just be careful. Share your thoughts with her on her blog. She'll love to hear them. I'm still digging and trying to find facts to back up the stories I've been told this week - and IF any prove to be true I have no problem sharing with you all. I, myself, am walking away from her. She can make all her money off other people and other clicks. I've had enough."

In emails, MckMama also encouraged the Skype "winners" to contact local television stations, news media, newspapers, etc., stating the "positive exposure would be great".

Another Exciting Day in Africa

MckMama has been busy today.

She posted a picture of an Ethiopian child, holding a toy gun. In light of the recent deaths of 4 Americans killed by pirates earlier this week and ongoing turmoil in Libya, Egypt, etc., some readers felt that this picture was insensitive.

She also has hinted that she might have attracted a new ad network, but she plans to post more about that later.

And, finally, tonight is the big night for the Skype call between 4 lucky MckMama readers & the village of Garmaam (of course, at least 2 of those readers know MckMama in real life).

MckMama will be heading home from Africa this weekend and will be returning home until she leaves for her next out-of-state photo shoot.

La Sora Cesira e l'ipocrisia della tenda beduina

Oggi sono in vena di una riflessione seria.
A poche centinaia di chilometri dal nostro italico suolo si sta consumando un reality un po' sanguinolento.
Una specie di caricatura di Michael Jackson ottantenne vestito da mister Magoo, da quasi mezzo secolo padrone della Libia, sta barricato dentro un bunker e lancia contestualmente bombe e proclami da acidodipendente, mentre un popolo leggermente incazzato non vede l'ora di corcarlo con la mazzella, per poi disperderne gli eventuali resti negli inferi.
Intanto i lungimiranti ( è ironico ) e avvinazzati responsabili della propaganda dei partiti italioti, imbrattano i muri delle città con scritte tipo " Basta massacri in Libia! ".
Oooooh! Ma che bella idea! Ma come abbiam fatto a non pensare che sarebbero bastati dei manifesti per porre fine allo scempio?
In fondo solo qualche tempo fa' abbiamo omaggiato la caricatura di un dittatore, portandolo in trionfo come un grande statista e lasciandolo accampare con le sue tende beduine sul nostro sputtanatissimo suolo.
Quello che mi domando è solo il perché di questa risibile ipocrisia, tipica di questa periferia di mondo.
Sono anni che ci ciucciamo il petrolio del generale delle mie ovaie, che ci facciamo affari immobiliari, che lo ospitiamo e che lo benediciamo.
Credo che sarebbe molto più coerente da parte nostra strappare i manifesti risolutori e aiutarlo (magari con i nostri soldati che tanto non hanno niente da fare) a tirarsi fuori da quel bunker e a prendere il sopravvento su quegli incivili che alla democrazia tanto non sono abituati.
Proteggiamo il petrolio, sfruttiamo i popoli più sfigati per farne la nostra fortuna, riapriamo pure le colonie che ci farebbero un gran bene.
Gheddafi non è mica impazzito adesso. Gheddafi è scemo da quarant'anni, quindi non ci sono proprio scuse.
Ora faremo qualche bella diretta di " Porta a porta ", dove Vespa cercherà di cogliere in diretta la morte di un inviato sacrificale e dove opinionisti faranno infiammare il colon dei telespettatori compiacenti. Poi faremo tanti servizi speciali sulle fosse comuni. Poi forse un format televisivo dal titolo " Chi vuol esser dittatore?" Con le " Stragine " che si occuperanno di solleticare gli occhi di chi al sangue preferisce sempre la chiappa.
Io nel frattempo intono un mantra sempre più carico di vaffanculi, nell'attesa, chiaramente vana,di un passaggio su Marte.

Sta arrivando il nuovo video...non vi allontanate!!!!

Ciao bellezze mie adorate! Sto mettendo i sottotitoli al nuovo video e conto di pubblicarlo fra pochissimo. Nel frattempo vi omaggio dei lavori che sto facendo per la trasmissione " Gli sgommati", in onda su Sky uno alle ore 21 dal Lunedì al Venerdì.
Non vi allontanate eh...!

Another day, another $12

Just to catch everyone up, MckMama was able to get both villages (Ola Nagele and Garmaam) "adopted" by her readers. Jeff Power and GHNI also did a little push on Twitter to promote the adoption campaign for the second village, Garmaam.

Village # 1 (Ola Nagele) was adopted in @ 3 1/2 - 4 hours

Village # 2 (Garmaam) was adopted in @ 37-45 hours (* exact amount of time unknown since no adoption campaign updates were done during an @ 8 hour timeframe)

And...

MckMama has a new post up that addresses a number of questions about Africa, GHNI, etc. Despite the fact that she has been asked many questions before her trip and during her trip, I find it interesting that she did not answer some of the more difficult questions until both villages were adopted.

As always, I would like to encourage everyone to do their own research before donating to any cause or charity. I think this is even more important when the donations are ongoing. Charity Navigator evaluates over 5,500 charities and is a great resource when you are conducting research about organizations you are considering.