Tidbits 4/14

• Raleigh Chronicle has a very nice write up about Clay's UNICEF visit to Afghanistan:

  United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and singer Clay Aiken just returned to his hometown of Raleigh from his first visit to Afghanistan, where he aimed to raise awareness about the hope and promise he has seen in the young people of the war-torn country.
  
  "The people here are very strong and they are very proud of their country," Mr. Aiken told reporters in Kabul on Wednesday, praising the "strength and conviction of the Afghan people and their ability to make sure that this country returns to its glory after such a long darkness."

• Hollywood Scoop - another mention of the Afghan visit. Not too bad an article, but I can't believe how stupid some of the comments are... like this one: "A Real Teacher didn't do his homework. Clay Aiken is licensed to teach in North Carolina, and was a substitute teacher between high school and college."... huh?!??!!! One commenter retorts back: "The comments here only point out the insanity of this world. A young man is doing good work, bringing awareness to many, raising money and there are those who are obsessed with whether he has a right to call himself a teacher? As a father and a teacher I am amazed that there are those who consider the Clay fans obsessed. What I'm seeing is some very unhappy and unfortunate people who need to find something in their lives to enjoy and some good work to do."
  

  Singer/ American Idol star Clay Aiken is on the quest to save the world. Unfortunately he left his bat suit at home and opted for a loose fit look in order to fit in with the natives. All jokes aside, Aiken is out in Afghanistan as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness about the hope and promise he has seen in the young people of the war-torn country.

• Taunton Gazette - AI article ...

  And don't forget about the hitmakers who didn't win on the show, but have successful careers nonetheless.
  
  You know these names too: Clay Aiken, "Dreamgirl" Jennifer Hudson, Bo Bice, Justin Guarini, Katharine McPhee and the current leader of this pack, No. 1 album topper Chris Daughtry.
  

• Some new blogs updating us on the $100,000 in 10 days challenge Clay issued to us earlier this week.
• Hobbies
• Southern Girl -

  Wow, wasn't it just yesterday that word came UNICEF ambassador Clay Aiken had launched a campaign to raise money for education in Afghanistan called Appeal for Afghanistan? Yes. Yes, it was! Clay and UNICEF's goal was to raise $100,000 in 10 days. Well, just 24 hours later, look at where the campaign stands now! Already 75% of that goal has come in!

• ClaySpots
• ConCLAYve - Clay Aiken on being a UNICEF ambassador -

  They work in education, and one of their biggest areas of concentration is making education accessible for all kids throughout the world, and as a teacher there was a natural synergy for me to possibly do that. So they called me up and asked me to participate and be their ambassador for education, which I thought "Sure, why not, I'm happy to help UNICEF.” I’d heard about UNICEF and knew about it, and never really anticipated exactly what that would entail.

• Something That Really Happened