Almost there!

Next Tuesday is the big day. It's amazing that it's almost here. It has felt so far into the future for so long now, that it's hard to believe there are only a few more days until we decide who the president will be. As a final hurrah (hopefully to the idea of Sarah Palin as Vice President) I will be dressed as Sarah Palin for a Halloween party tonight. I just couldn't resist, I already look a bit like and have some traces of a midwestern accent, so close to the accent she sports.

In preparation for my Halloween costume I have been viewing videos of Palin on the web. I probably will not be as spot on as Tina Fey, but I'm looking forward to imitating such an extreme character. In my internet searching I came across this video on You Tube of Sarah Palin's Greatest Hits.

For some reason I cannot copy the whole code to embed the video in this post, so I will just add the link to the video.

Holistic Medicine

Beth Israel Hospital in New York City is testing a program funded by Donna Karan to incorporate yoga, meditation and aromatherapy into cancer treatment for patients who choose it. It looks like Karan's foundation is providing the salaries for the yoga instructors. If that means that any patient can receive the service for free, then that's wonderful! Otherwise, it would only be an option for those patients with means to pay for it.

You should see this movie!

I saw an amazing movie last weekend, Johnny Got His Gun. It's based on a play and a book of the same name, about a soldier who was wounded horribly in World War I. The way it was done was spectacular! It's only star was the heartthrob from the OC, and man could he act!

The set was a small room, with only a chair, a bench and the main character. You never see his mutilated body or the events surrounding him. Instead you look inside of his mind as he is being saved, treated and forgotten. His narrative paints a vivid picture of his life before and after the war, especially as he trys to cope with not being able to communicate and experience the world as he once used to.

Sadly, it's not playing in many theaters, so if you want to see the movie you have to seek it out.

A step back for women's reproductive health globally

I got an email from Madre today about a very important issue. Here's information on the decision by USAID. To sign the petition, go here. Under McCain/Palin we will only get more of this. It's amazing how the leader of one country has such an effect worldwide.

Sign a petition: USAID recently pressured six countries in Africa to halt the supply of US-funded contraceptives to the well-respected international aid and reproductive health organization Marie Stopes International (MSI). This decision will endanger the lives of women in rural Africa who depend on the contraceptives that MSI provides in order to safely control their own reproductive health.

Support a good cause when you buy your holiday gifts this year

Sure, a lot of us don't have much money these days to be spending on gifts for the holidays. There is an extra struggle this time of year for people who also like to donate money to their favorite causes. Well, here is an idea for killing two birds with one stone. Buying your gifts from nonprofit organizations helps the organizations to keep afloat in financially hard times and makes for more personal, less mass-produced gifts.

If I may, here are a few suggestions:

• The Medicare Rights Center is holding their Annual Celebration Dinner in November. The dinner, along with a silent auction on their website, raises money for the organization to continue to assist people with Medicare. Check out the dinner and the auction.

• National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate stations carry out fundraisers several times throughout the year. WNYC, the affiliate station here in New York City, gives gifts corresponding to various levels of donations. For instance, I donate just over $8 a month and got the totally spectacular Alison Krauss and Robert Plant CD when I pledged the donation. Look into your local station. They're always doing these things.

• Madre, an international women's rights organization, has really cool items from all around the world available on their website. The merchandise is affordable and so much better than the crap you get at Walmart. You can also donate money or supplies directly to Madre. They send a lot of shipments to their sister organizations around the world after disasters and during conflicts. They offer lots of ways to help out.

• Unicef sells items on their website too, including Christmas cards and other holiday items. You can send a tribute card to honor someone, with a donation of $25 or more. You can also just make a donation on their website.

• Doctors without Borders will allow a donation in honor of a person or event.

• You can donate money in honor of someone to Heifer International, and they will provide livestock and other resources to help families and communities become sustainable. For those who cannot stand to donate a goat or pig for meat, you can donate money to provide trees to help sustain the environment.

These are just a handful of organizations that could use your money this year. I am familiar with these particular groups and give them my thumbs up! I'm sure there are lots more out there that I am less familiar with, but who could use the money too. So here is an idea for a socially and fiscally responsible holiday season. We've got to help each other out!

Bon Jovi is not having it, Sarah Palin

Palin and McCain don't seem to understand how to ask for permission to use artist's songs for their rallies. Also, they seem to keep using songs by artists that do not support them. Add Bon Jovi to the list of musicians who have spoken up about the use of their songs by McCain and Palin. Do Palin and McCain not realize that Jon Bon Jovi recently held a fundraiser for Obama?

Obama's mad debate skills!

In case you missed it...

Can we just vote already?

I wasn't going to watch the debate last night, but I ended up seeing it with a group of friends. I cannot watch these things alone, I get too infuriated. And last night was no exception. Overall, I thought that Obama kept his composure and, even when McCain really could have put him on the defensive, he brought it back to the issues. McCain was grasping for whatever last breaths of air he could get.

Now, I may be biased, but here is an overview of the debate from my perspective:

Issue: Campaign Attacks
McCain: You hurt my feelings, why didn't you call me so we could do a town hall?
Obama: Look at the polls, people seem to think my campaign is less negative and focuses on the issues.
McCain: You didn't defend Palin/me when whats-his-face said [true] things about the people that attend my rallies. (ie. chanting 'kill him')
Obama: Yes I did...I don't agree with your views on healthcare...economy...yada...yada
McCain: My supporters are great...vets...patriots...Joe the Plumber...
Obama: They call me a terrorist and and want to kill me.
McCain: Aren't you a terrorist? You're buddies with Ayers and involved with ACORN. Ha! Gotcha!
Obama: Here's the truth about those things and you have no point. *Smile*

Issue: Health Care
Obama: Here's my plan to make sure everyone gets coverage.
McCain: That costs too much money, let's just give everyone $5,000 for health care!
Obama: But that's not dealing with the underlying issue with our system.
McCain: Socialist! Don't vote for this commie!

Issue: Which programs would you cut during financial hardtimes?
McCain: An across the board spending freeze - that's the hatchet and I would get out a scalpel...look I know how to cut programs.
Moderator: Could you be more specific?
McCain: Pork-barrel earmark projects. We'll cut the pork, that's why I have a hatchet...Joe the Plumber!

Issue: V.P. as Pres should something happen to you
Obama: Joe Biden's great! Look at his record.
McCain: (Oh Shit!) Uh...energy independence...Joe sixpack...isn't she adorable!

Issue: Bias in picking a Supreme Court judge (excellent question!)
McCain: I am unbiased in picking judges, but abortion is wrong! Obama is pro-abortion!
Obama: I will pick a judge that is intelligent, experienced, and who recognizes a woman's constitutional right to privacy. I support Roe v. Wade and feel that the decision is between the woman and her doctor (DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!!)
McCain: Obama voted to kill infants!
Obama: No, I just didn't support a bill in Illinois that would have compromised Roe v. Wade, there is already a law in Illinois that doctors must resuscitate an infant, not to mention the Hippocratic oath.
McCain: You're a Pro-abortion extremist! You want to kill all babies!
Obama: First of all, no one is pro-abortion. I am pro-choice.
McCain: Don't fall for his fancy words, America!
Obama: Look, there are good, intelligent people on both sides of this debate. We have common ground here...prevention of unwanted pregnancies, support for single moms, options for adoption. (Can I get an amen!)
McCain: (Air quotes) "Health of the mother"? You want to kill all babies...

McCain was certainly trying to paint Obama as an extremist, left-wing, baby-killing, commie terrorist. And he was unapologetic for it too. This debate made me lose any respect that I had left for McCain, as he tried to play into the unsubstantiated fears of many people in this country. I just hope that a lot of other people recognized this in him too and don't vote for him.

I'm gonna be (quasi) famous!

I'm going to be published! Woo! It's probably not anything that most of you will (want to) read, but I will still have a piece of my work published in a book...that will be sold at a bookstore. Don't think you're not getting one for the holiday (if indeed it is printed by then).

The book is about evaluation and assessment of advocacy, my piece is going to be used as an example of a process evaluation. My prof at Sarah Lawrence is the writer/editor and he is using a project I completed for his class. Of course, it has to do with Medicare and my work with the Medicare Rights Center. I'll let you know when it's printed so that you can go and buy one!

Quote

"One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick."
Rabbi Harold Kushner

Guest Blogger on The Only Baggage You Can Bring

I got the opportunity to be a guest blogger on Samantha Grace's The Only Baggage You Can Bring blog. Check out my post on Medicare and the Election.

Thanks Sam Grace!

Worth mentioning

I received honorable mention in Dr. Rob's Caption Contest. So close to getting a Golden Llama...