Japan in my heart

What a bitter sweet return awaited for me. On one hand, I am extremely happy to be back with you and feeling ready to continue writing and sharing so many wonderful things from my heart. However, on the other hand I return from time away to find the devastating news of what has happened to our brothers and sisters in Japan. I am is very sadden by these terrible events and my heart and prayers go out to all of the dear people of Japan.

These are the times in life when we would serve best to open our hearts and let the seed of generosity bloom to its fullest. These are the moments when we must all come together indiscriminate of nationality to become one nation in love and caring for our brothers and sisters that need us now.

No matter how old or young we are, we all have the ability to help Japan in its time of need. There are really no acceptable excuses for why we can NOT help either by donating and/or by praying.

The importance of giving
If you were in a crisis, wouldn't you want others to help you? Let's not forget The Golden Rule.

Monetary donations are very much needed to assist those who are displaced from their homes - hungry and afraid, unsure of the future; some of whom are in need of medical care.

Your generosity will be a great blessing for our friends in Japan and in return God will bless you and your families.

Giving through Ameba Pico
I would strongly suggest that if you are considering purchasing Ameba Gold in the near future so that you can get your much-wanted list of Pico goodies, think first how much that money can help our friends in Japan.
» Learn more about donating to relief efforts through Pico by buying red balloons

Giving through a charitable organization
Donating is also possible (in any amount that you are willing and able to give) through one of the many charitable relief organizations that are working with the Japanese government right now. There is great amount of help that is needed and your donation will make a big difference. Helping should be the priority for us, the global community.

• Donate through Japanese Red Cross Society
• Donate through International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• Donate through International Medical Corps
• Donate through Mercy Corps
• Donate through Save The Children
• Donate through The Salvation Army
• Donate through Unicef

Giving through fundraising projects
Groups in your own city or town, like churches or schools, may be putting together projects (e.g. bake sales, donation drives, etc.) to raise funds as well. If you can, support; as long as you can be sure that the money will definitely get to the people in need.

There are also online communities that are involved in initiatives to raise money for earthquake and tsunami victims with 100% of proceeds going towards relief efforts.

• If you are a Facebook gamer the game masters at Zynga are partnering with Save The Children and raising money by creating new paid virtual items for CityVille, FarmVille, FrontierVille, and Zynga Poker. Learn more.
• If you have an iPhone user from March 15 to 22 video game giant Capcom has lowered the price of Street Fighter IV to $0.99 USD/¥115. Learn more.
• If you are a Lady Gaga fan the pop diva has designed an afforable We Pray For Japan jelly bracelet. Learn more.
• If you are a Second Life resident you can visit the Pacific Crisis Fundraiser event at World of Beauty (204, 146, 1003) and purchase one of the hundreds of items (Note: some items have 50% proceeds going to relief efforts).

The importance of prayer
Prayer is another way to reach out to those in need. Prayer is the act of talking to God from our hearts. Using this powerful tool that can be used to send blessings to our brothers and sisters in Japan.

Prayer can be done from wherever you are and you can do it as much as you want.

In these hard times, I close my eyes and raise my head to the sky, I choose not only to look helplessly at the devastation that lays before us, but I look up, with Faith, Hope, Prayer and Love knowing that even if we do not understand why these terrible events happened, God is with us and will not abandon our friends in Japan.

We must strengthen our Faith in the Lord and trust that in His immense love we will survive these hard times.

God bless you all.

Donation Park brings hope to Japan earthquake victims

Would you like to help earthquake victims in Japan?

If you have AmebaGold or are willing to purchase it, you can make a big difference in the lives of those whose lives have been devastated by Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Here's how: today, Ameba launches Donation Park, a venue where you can use your AmebaGold to purchase ruby red hand-held balloons that float away or stand-up balloons to place in rooms in sets of 10 or 50.

The park will remain open for 1 month - from March 11, 2011 to April 11.

All of the money earned from the sale of the balloons will go towards assisting victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster.

You can buy AmebaGold by clicking the 'BUY AmebaGold' link in the top right corner of your Pico game screen. You will need a credit card or a PayPal account with credit to complete your AmebaGold purchase.



Virtual balloons not your thing? There are more ways to give!

• From the USA†:
• Donate online
• Call 1-800 RED CROSS (English) or 1-800 257 7575 (Spanish)
• Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.
• Mail in a printable donor card to American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, Idaho, 50340-2018
• From Canada‡:
• Donate online
• Call 1-800-418-1111
• Text the word ASIA to 30333 to make a one-time donation of $5*
• Contact your local Red Cross office. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami” and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2.

† Information source: redcross.org
‡ Information source: redcross.ca
* A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply to donation texts. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. This service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Canadian Red Cross by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mobilegiving.ca. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 30333.

Affordable Shibuya Academy uniforms in Pigg

Those who play Ameba Pigg (the Japanese-language version of Pico) know that good items for Gummies (called "Ame"; アメ) are few and far between since most things in Pigg require Ameba Gold (called "AmeG") to purchase.

If you like school uniforms you might want to pick up the newly released Shibuya Academy uniform for 100 Gummies/Ame. There is a version for girls (with skirt) and a version for boys (with pants); both include shoes.

This navy blue and gray school clothing will only be available until March 31, 2011 in Japan (which is March 30, 2011 in North American time zones).

To get to the Shibuya Academy room, open your Travel menu by clicking the button. Look at the top of the list of destinations under the  NEW  heading. In the image below, the Shibuya Academy room with the uniform items for sale has a pink outline.

Once inside the room, look for the orange Type A vendor robot and click to make your purchase.

With your daily allowance of 40 earned Gummies/Ame, you should be able to save that up in a couple of days.

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Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
On a more serious note, please keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.

According to a statement from the Canadian Red Cross:

"On Friday March 11, 2011, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan. This has triggered 4 metre waves in Japan and tsunami warnings across the Pacific coastline .... Hundreds of people are reported dead, and many more are injured or missing. The earthquake has caused fires and severe damage to buildings, leaving 4.4 million households without electricity."

In response, Google has created a crisis response update page for the Japan earthquake+tsunami disaster that includes the Japanese Quake Person Finder (available in Chinese, Korean, Japanese and English). This is a registry that allows people to share when they have received information that a missing person is alive or to create a record for a new missing person. There are currently over 33,000 66,000 337,500 records.

As I went about ringing people in Pigg today, I couldn't help but think that some of the people on my ring list may be displaced, missing or worse as of yesterday. Luckily, my friend fov1984 is safe and sound, but in reality many aren't. There are millions of people in distress.

If you or your family would like to donate to Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Japan:

• From the USA†:
• Donate online
• Call 1-800 RED CROSS (English) or 1-800 257 7575 (Spanish)
• Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.
• Mail in a printable donor card to American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, Idaho, 50340-2018
• From Canada‡:
• Donate online
• Call 1-800-418-1111
• Text the word ASIA to 30333 to make a one-time donation of $5*
• Contact your local Red Cross office. Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Red Cross, earmarked “Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami” and mailed to the Canadian Red Cross National Office, 170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2P2.

† Information source: redcross.org
‡ Information source: redcross.ca
* A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply to donation texts. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. This service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Canadian Red Cross by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mobilegiving.ca. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 30333.