<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014243736787363515</id><updated>2012-02-16T02:43:55.339-06:00</updated><title type='text'>FlorAppeal</title><subtitle type='html'>This is an appeal for funding the creation of the most unique botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://florappeal.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1014243736787363515/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://florappeal.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Horizon</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://bp3.blogger.com/_tFBrPs8X9Rg/R6xsEr73wmI/AAAAAAAAAAM/pLqAfO9cdn8/S220/raff_alata.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014243736787363515.post-3012883641956881171</id><published>2008-07-24T06:06:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2008-07-24T06:27:45.101-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Addressing the skeptic...</title><content type='html'>Hi everyone. It has come to my attention that there is an understandable skepticism about this fundraiser. Some has been quite harsh, indeed. I do see the skeptic's point of view, and it would be difficult to convince otherwise, without providing specifics of our efforts. While I will not do that for the aforementioned reasons, general though they are, I will offer this thought in spending comparisons: Many of us are giving large sums to keep sports teams and entertainers going. Though we realize in those very moments what our dollars are doing, they are making those organizations and people richer than they already are. Many of us have very large homes and vehicles, spending large amounts of money freely, many times without much thought. Eating out, $100-$200 shoes, fancy clothes, etc. I question how much core value we are getting in return--dollars that are instantly gone, versus invested into lasting value.&lt;p&gt;This is a one-time appeal. I hope you will consider helping. Thank you for reading.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1014243736787363515-3012883641956881171?l=florappeal.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1014243736787363515/posts/default/3012883641956881171'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1014243736787363515/posts/default/3012883641956881171'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://florappeal.blogspot.com/2008/07/addressing-skeptic.html' title='Addressing the skeptic...'/><author><name>Horizon</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='21' height='32' src='http://bp3.blogger.com/_tFBrPs8X9Rg/R6xsEr73wmI/AAAAAAAAAAM/pLqAfO9cdn8/S220/raff_alata.jpg'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014243736787363515.post-2501567460878245802</id><published>2008-07-17T21:27:00.012-05:00</published><updated>2008-07-21T08:20:00.929-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Do You Love Plants?</title><content type='html'>Hello everyone. This is the FlorAppeal fundraising effort. Its purpose is to raise capital for what will be the most unique botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, full of diverse and endangered species. The goal is from 30 to 50 thousand dollars (USD). Our plan does not utilize expensive building materials like steel, glass/polycarbonate, artificial lighting, etc.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The location, staff and genera shall not be revealed for security purposes, until completion which is targeted for 2010 to 2011. The security stems from continued theft of plants from both the wild and businesses. Until we feel conditions are adequate, security is, unfortunately, a priority. Experts from diverse backgrounds will be taking staff positions at the facilities. At that time, an extensive advertising campaign will begin in various media, particularly special-interest magazines and ecotourism companies. An existing consumer base has already been established, and after completion, the botanical garden will be self-sustaining via ecotourism and sales from our laboratory, with strong world-wide demand from our exhibitions. In summary, this project will be recognized as global in magnitude and unlike anything created in the past in terms of its chosen genera and access by both tourists and consumers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please, would you consider a donation to help us meet our goal? PayPal is the simplest, most secure way to send money worldwide. By clicking the button below, you may take part in helping us create the most incredible botanical experience in the world. 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