Yesterday, I wrote Baba Dioum in Senegal to thank him for his quote, and the wisdom it conveys. He wrote to me this morning and expressed his hopes of visiting the Henry Doorly Zoo where I was grateful to discover it. I hope he has the chance to do that. There is something about Africa that puts the hands in perspective. In the mind, all things are distant and removed. In the hand, all things are close to the heart. In the mind, we can rationalize conditions in a foreign continent. In the hand, we are either in service, or we are not.

There is an article in this week's Time Magazine about Malaria in Africa, and the millions of children's lives lost each year, each of whom could be saved by the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee in your hand or mine. There are organizations to help. malarianomore.org is one. nothingbutnets.net is another. You may hold the Starbucks in one hand and the mouse in the other. Between the price of the Starbucks and the power in your mouse, you hold the life of a child in your hands.Click your mouse and use your credit card please. At nothingbutnets.net through the generosity of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, your contribution will be matched. You will save two for the price of one.