fasting for charity

today i'm fasting for my dear charity ... our number 2 who is #1 in so many ways.  i hate her being sick and this dance with mortality and it causes deep existential questions for me and i just kinda wish she could just get better and not make me think so much :)  so i'm fasting, in part because i know the world needs to hear her voice and her whole story.  and part, just because i need to understand what the ...????

so, i'm going to do what i do on days like this ... pray, fast, go to the farmers market, read, clean, and make a mix (i'm sure ... its the 14 yr old boy in me that communicates through other people's songs ...)

here's my song for charity today:

born rich: the movie

after knocking foors for john salatti yesterday i was completely frozen through so decided to cuddle up and watch a movie.  i didn't really have anything in mind and stumbled upon the sundance channel on hulu.  one thing lead to another, and before i knew it, BOOM, i'm watching Born Rich

having spent time with the children of the 1%, i found that i could understand what each of these real life characters are saying.  they say some rehensible things, but you have to remember they are simply trying to explain their worldview.  part of me feels like its these people, the children of the 1% who might be able to end the income disparity once they realize how immoral their worldview is.  don't get me wrong, those children of the 1% that i've known are all do-gooder-progressives who are in support of the the occupy movement and the creation of a more equitable america.  most of them have this depth of empathy because they are mormon and have served missions in places where poverty destroys.  obviously, there are do-gooder kids of the 1% from all faiths and professions.  i would just ask us all to consider king benjamin's advice (i posted the part i'm talking about below the video) and then watch this movie!  its an eye opening look at the wealthiest of us all.

ye will not suffer your ^achildren that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye ^bsuffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and ^cquarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the ^devil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

 15 But ye will ^ateach them to ^bwalk in the ways of truth and^csoberness; ye will teach them to ^dlove one another, and to serve one another.

 16 And also, ye yourselves will ^asuccor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the ^bbeggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt ^asay: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all ^abeggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a ^aremission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his^bSpirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with ^cjoy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

 21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to ^aimpart of the substance that ye have one to another.

 22 And if ye ^ajudge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your ^bcondemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life ^cbelongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

 23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are^arich as pertaining to the things of this world.

 24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I ^agive not because I ^bhave not, but if I had I would^cgive.

 25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are ^acondemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

What would you ask President Obama?

Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address at 9:00 p.m. ET. During that speech, he’ll lay out his vision for an America where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do.

POTUS in with citizen journalists 

There is a range of ways to get involved with this year’s State of the Union address.

Immediately following the President’s speech on Tuesday, be sure to stay tuned to WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU for a live panel featuring senior White House advisors answering your questions about the speech. Then, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, a group of policy experts and advisors to the President will sit down for Office Hours on Twitter -- discussing the issues that matter to you and your community.

Finally, on Monday, January 30, President Obama will join the conversation in a special Google+ Hangout, a live multi-person video chat, from the White House.

Participating in the Hangout is easy -- just visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote for your favorites between now and January 28. A few participants will be chosen to join the President in the Google+ Hangout to ask their questions of the President live!

Check out WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU to learn more about watching the enhanced State of the Union online and all the ways you can ask questions this week:

WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU
Here’s the full lineup -- all times are ET.

Tuesday

• 9:00 p.m.: Watch the enhanced version of the speech that features graphics, data and stats that highlight the issues the President is discussing onWhiteHouse.gov/SOTU. Use the Twitter hashtag #SOTU to discuss the speech live.
• 10:00 p.m.: Immediately following the speech, pose your questions to a live panel at the White House. Senior advisors will answer your questions about the President’s address submitted via Twitter (use #WHChat and #SOTU), Facebook, Google+, and an in-person audience of Tweetup participants.

Wednesday Office Hours Schedule

• All Day: Josh Earnest, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, answers your questions on Twitter (@jearnest44)
• 1:00 p.m.: Office Hours with Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
• 3:00 p.m.: Office Hours with Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44), White House Communications Director

Thursday Office Hours Schedule

• 10:00 a.m. Veterans: Matt Flavin, White House Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy
• 11:00 a.m. LGBT: Miriam Vogel, White House Senior Policy Advisor and Gautam Raghavan, White House Associate Director for Public Engagement
• 12:00 p.m. Women: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity and Avra Siegel, White House Deputy Executive Director for the Council on Women and Girls
• 1:00 p.m. Seniors: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary
• 2:00 p.m. Latinos: Felicia Escobar, White House Senior Policy Advisor, Julie Rodriguez, White House Associate Director of Public Engagement and Luis Miranda, White House Director of Hispanic Media
• 4:00 p.m. Small Business Owners: Christine Koronides, Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, National Economic Council
• 5:00 p.m. African Americans: Danielle Gray, Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
• 6:00 p.m. Asian American Pacific Islanders: Chris Lu, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary
• TBD Youth: Administration official to be announced

Friday Office Hours Schedule

• 11:00 a.m. Foreign Policy: Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting
• 12:00 p.m. Education: Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy
• 1:00 p.m. Health: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary
• 2:00 p.m. Energy: Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change and Dan Utech, Deputy Director for Energy Policy
• 3:00 p.m. Consumer Protections: Brian Deese, Deputy Director National Economic Council
• 4:00 pm The Economy: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director National Economic Council
• 5:00 p.m. Job Opportunities: Portia Wu, Senior Policy Advisor for Mobility and Opportunity Policy
• 6:00 p.m. Urban Issues: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity

Monday January 30

• President Obama participates in a Google+ Hangout from the White House

SOPA/PIPA down by the river?

can the LOLCATs save the internet?

WH tackles PTSD and TBIs

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release

January 11, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Major Coordinated Effort by America's Academic Institutions to Combat PTSD & TBI

130 Medical Schools & Research Facilities to Join Forces to Serve Veterans & Families

(Richmond, Virginia) Today, as part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) committed to creating a new generation of doctors, medical schools, and research facilities that will make sure our heroes and their families receive the care worthy of their sacrifice.  Recognizing veterans, service members and their families’ dedication and commitment, 130 schools associated with the AAMC and AACOM pledged to leverage their missions in education, research, and clinical care to train the nation’s physicians to meet the unique health care needs of the military and veterans communities.  

“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families.  By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned,” says First Lady Michelle Obama.

Together, the AAMC and AACOM are committing to improve the education in their medical schools, the research in their laboratories, and the clinical care in their hospitals to better address the health issues that military families face.  Specifically, these organizations are committing to:

• Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty, and staff to better diagnose and treat our veterans and military families;
• Develop new research and clinical trials on PTSD and TBI so that we can better understand and treat those conditions;
• Share their information and best practices with one another through a collaborative web forum created by the AAMC; and
• Continue to work with the VA and the Department of Defense to make sure that everyone is providing the best care available. 

“Because of our integrated missions in education, clinical care, and research, America’s medical schools are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in this important effort,” said Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges.  “Medical schools have long recognized the sacrifice and commitment of our military, veterans, and their families.  The relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and academic medicine dates back to the end of World War II and serves as a model for successful partnerships between public and private institutions.   Our work with the White House on Joining Forces is a natural extension of our efforts in this area and renews our commitment to the wellness of our nation’s military.”

“A central component of the White House Joining Forces Initiative is wellness, and I am pleased to announce AACOM’s participation in a new Joining Forces effort that could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans.” Dr. Stephen C. Shannon, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Examples of universities stepping up to provide for veterans and their families include:

• Virginia Commonwealth University where they’re leading a groundbreaking project to provide resources and training to health care providers, volunteers, and community members throughout Virginia who can help ease the transition home for veterans with TBI and PTSD.
• The University of Pittsburgh where researchers are developing a new imaging tool that allows the visualization of the wiring of the brain in vivid high definition, which could lead to new breakthroughs in the diagnosis of TBI. 
• The University of South Florida where they are working with the Department of Defense and the VA to create a first-of-its-kind Center for Veterans Reintegration, which will mean a single, cohesive research, treatment, and education facility for veterans and families. 

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families have the support they have earned. The initiative focuses on key priority areas – employment, education, and wellness while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of America’s veterans and military families. More information is available at: www.JoiningForces.gov.

The following is a list of the 130 universities and colleges participating in this program:
• University of Alabama School of Medicine
• University of South Alabama College of Medicine
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
• Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
• AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine of Arizona
• University of Arizona College of Medicine
• Loma Linda University
• Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
• Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Stanford University School of Medicine
• UC Davis Health System
• University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
• Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Yale School of Medicine
• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Howard University College of Medicine
• Florida State University College of Medicine
• Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University
• Nova Southeastern University College os Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Florida College of Medicine
• USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
• Emory University School of Medicine
• Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University
• Mercer University School of Medicine
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
• Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
• Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
• Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
• Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• The Chicago Medical School in conjunction with the Lovell Federal Health Care Center
• University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
• University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Indiana University
• University of Kansas Medical Center
• University of Kentucky College of Medicine
• University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
• Tulane University School of Medicine
• Boston University School of Medicine
• Harvard Medical School
• Tufts University School of Medicine
• University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Science's F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
• University of Maryland School of Medicine
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
• Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Michigan Medical School
• Wayne State University School of Medicine
• University of Minnesota Medical School
• Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine AT Still University
• Saint Louis University
• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
• University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
• University of Mississippi School of Medicine
• Creighton University School of Medicine
• University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
• The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
• Wake Forest School of Medicine
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
• University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Dartmouth Medical School
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of New Mexico School of Medicine
• University of Nevada School of Medicine
• Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine
• New York Institute of Technology New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
• State University of New York Upstate Medical University
• Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University at Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• The Ohio State University
• Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
• University of Toledo College of Medicine
• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
• Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
• Pacific Northwest University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Commonwealth Medical College
• Drexel University College of Medicine
• Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
• Penn State University College of Medicine
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Temple University School of Medicine
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
• Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
• University of South Carolina School of Medicine
• University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
• University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
• Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Meharry Medical College
• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
• Baylor College of Medicine
• The Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
• University of Texas Medical School at Houston
• University of Utah School of Medicine
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• University of Virginia School of Medicine
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Washington School of Medicine
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
• The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
• West Virginia University School of Medicine