How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

The 'if' in the second half of that question suggests that the woodchuck might not even be qualified to chuck wood. Therefore, the word woodchuck could be replaced by the word person.

How much wood would a person chuck if a person could chuck wood?

Before this tongue-twister (and ever since) I've only ever heard the word 'chuck' used as a synonym of the word 'throw'. Never to cut wood.

How much wood would a person throw if a person could throw wood?

Why is he or she throwing the wood? Forests are being destroyed everyday ruining habitats of thousands of animals, people are protesting to save the trees and this inconsiderate person is throwing the wood around the place? Although, they could be throwing it into the fireplace, or onto a truck or something. It's wrong for me to assume they're throwing it aimlessly because, let's be honest, how many of us do manual work out of free will? I think the real question is why.

Why would a person throw wood if a person could throw wood?

The I think all possible answers to this question ultimately boil down to the person's job. They're throwing it onto something or off something because they're their job, they're throwing it out of anger because they hate their job or they've been fired, or they're throwing it into the fireplace because they can't afford coal anymore so they've had to cut the trees in their garden and burn them to keep warm.

Finally, all of the above problems boil down to the recession.

So the answer to this question, my dear friend, is "Because of the recession".

And THAT is my answer.

Are you an organ donor? If you are then I commend you and your selfless ways. If not, why not? This time last year I would have answered no, but I would have justified it by saying "I would be, but I'm just not. No reason. Just haven't gotten around to it". What a crap answer that is. If you're someone who keeps meaning to get around to registering as a donor then what's stopping you? If you simply don't know much about organ donation or would prefer not to have yourself butchered after you've died then keep reading.



This morning I got thinking about a charity mountain climb my friends and I did last year in aid of the Irish Kidney Association. That sounds rather elaborate but it's not. It's a local mountain that thousands of people climb every year.

A few weeks before this our school invited a man named Darren Cawley to come and speak to us about the importance of organ donation and to shed some light on what it is like to live as someone who needs a vital organ, as he himself had his own kidney fail when he was only in his early 20s. First of all, it never occurred to me before this that young people's organs could fail so easily. It's shocking, really. Secondly, Darren was such a kind, friendly and open person that it really brought the kind of people who this affects to life. I only ever saw sufferers as a statistic. I know that's wrong but it's the truth. Then seeing someone like Darren who is on dialysis twice a week yet does more than many people I know is really inspiring. He's more active than I can ever imagine myself to be, sadly.

The bottom line is that the talk Darren gave in my school opened the eyes of many students that day. Many of us have since registered as donors and, as I mentioned at the start, have raised money for the IKA.



Now it's your turn.

What's stopping you? You won't need your organs after you've died and honestly it's a bit selfish to want to keep them. Would you rather have your organs rotting in the ground than given to someone to save their life? You can save someones life all by signing one little card. Sorry to sound corny, but you can be a hero. This isn't even live donation - this is after you've died. It won't effect you in any way, but it will mean the difference between living a full and happy life or not for someone who needs it.

Still skeptical? One of the points Darren raised that day is that some people have said that they worry if they are put into a coma as a result of an accident and they do have a chance of waking up, the doctors will be quick to write them off so their organs can be used. This isn't the case at all. Doctors can't touch your body without your next of kin saying so. This is why it's important to let people know your plans for your body after you've kicked the bucket. Also, organs are only taken when the patient it brain dead and your body is being kept alive artificially.

At the moment it seems that many people don't put a huge amount of importance on organ donation until it effects them directly. To put it bluntly, that's a bit shit. We need to change this and it's something that can only be changed if we all (yes, that includes you) help. You can save a life. You're not going to turn that chance down, are you?

You can find out about Darren Cawley here and .

If you want to find out how to become a donor click on the country you're from:
Ireland
United Kingdom
United States

I could list hundreds of countries here, but instead if you're from somewhere else then if you type "How to become an organ donor in" followed by the country you're from I'm sure useful and relevant links will appear.

Here are some other links that may interest you if you just want ot find out more about Organ Donation:
http://dying.lovetoknow.com/Benefits_of_Organ_Donating
http://www.organdonation.ie/facts

Organ donation is everything those websites say about it. It's the gift of life!

Also, here are the truths behind some myths you may have heard about Organ Donation.

Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won't work as hard to save my life.
Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life - not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.

Myth: Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate.
Fact: Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle their toes after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they're truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.

Myth: Organ donation is against my religion.
Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.

Myth: I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.
Fact: That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.

Myth: An open-casket funeral isn't an option for people who have donated organs or tissues.
Fact: Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.

Myth: I'm too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
Fact: There's no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.

Myth: I'm not in the best of health. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Fact: Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.

Myth: I'd like to donate one of my kidneys now, but I wouldn't be allowed to do that unless one of my family members is in need.
Fact: While that used to be the case, it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers. If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and that your decision to donate isn't based on financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine if your kidneys are in good shape and whether you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.

Myth: Rich and famous people go to the top of the list when they need a donor organ.
Fact: The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.

Myth: My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
Fact: The organ donor's family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.

The above was taken from this website.

Hopefully this post won't have fallen on deaf ears... Or blind eyes? What I'm trying to say if I hope that if nothing else you've learned something about Organ Donation and will consider becoming an Organ Donor. It's easy and it could be one of the most worthwhile things you will ever do.