This is the funniest thing I've ever seen.....literally

Happy Easter time! I saw a pet rabbit in the middle of the road at 10pm last week. I chased it down for 20 minutes in heels. I wanted to catch it.

You have to watch this video, it brought me to tears.
opera rabbit comercial

Wait.... these pictures are pretty funny too.

Autism legislation

My friend David Morrisey was there when they announced the bill. He said the room was filled with families and individuals who were affected by autism. The room "erupted" when she came in. He also said most of the individuals were brought to tears about what this bill means to them.

Facts about autism:

Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2007). Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this number is on the rise.

Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. At this rate, the ASA estimates that the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade.

Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child.

And although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

Senators Clinton and Allard Introduce Historic Autism Services Bill
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Autism Society of America Welcomes Senate Legislation to Support Autism Community

The Autism Society of America (ASA) hailed today’s introduction of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act of 2007 as landmark progress for Americans living with autism and their families. This legislation, if passed, would provide approximately $350 million to improve access to comprehensive treatments, interventions, and services for individuals with autism and their families.

ASA strongly supports the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act of 2007 and urges all Senators to cosponsor this important legislation. “This bill specifically addresses the most critically important issue to the autism community today obtaining appropriate services across the lifespan,” said Lee Grossman, President and CEO of ASA. “Our families and individuals with autism are pleased that their voices have been heard by Senators Clinton and Allard, and encourage their Senate colleagues to support this legislation.”

The proposed legislation aims to:

• for the first time, convene a task force to evaluate and report on evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services
• establish State-based demonstration grant programs to provide evidence-based autism treatments, interventions, and services for children and adults
• support protection and advocacy systems to address the needs of individuals with autism and other emerging populations of individuals with disabilities.
• fund expanded access to coordinated multi-agency treatments, interventions, and services to children
• provide supplemental grants for training and technical assistance to service providers and educators and to establish a national center on autism information.

ASA, its national network of chapters and other autism organizations joined with Easter Seals, National Disability Rights Council, Association of University Centers on Disabilities and other organizations delivering needed services in calling on the Congressional leadership to support this welcome—and critical—federal legislation for families.

This is from the onion......HORRAY. When are they going to write about our school of public "affairs"?

Work Begins On Clinton Presidential DVD Library

Update

Elizabeth says we don't update enough, so I'm updating, but you'll be sorry.

I've been working in the delta A LOT. I am really proud of my team though, because we now have 30 surveys completed and inputed! This is a critical mass (and I don't mean a dual-bladed weapon to stab intruders with). That's about a 50 % response rate so far, and we're not done yet.

They were talking about Madam Bovary on NPR today. I've never read it, but have resolved to. I think I might be her, this person looking for something and not finding it, so in turn sensationalizing the normalacy she experiences in hopes that it will materialize. I think that's me.

David and I have been playing a lot of scrabble when he's home (observe the sensationalization). Here is a picture of a word he tried to play. I let him have the points for creativity.

St. Patricks day was SO MUCH FUN. Why don't we do that more often, but maybe without the piney-eye -burny firewood.

I'm having lunch with the former President of Brazil on Friday, President Cardoso. This will be crazy. Brazil has done a lot to improve their child labor situation, so it should be interesting. They pay parents to send thier kids to school, so they aren't missing thier child's income.

My sister keeps going in and out of labor. She should have little Isabel Joe by the end of the week. I can't wait to meet her. I'll be in Siloam for the most part next week. I'll try to update before I get back.

Last but not least, what is up with this?

Do they make rogaine for dogs?

Anyone, Anyone? This is the 2nd time I've swept this week. It looks like an old man got a haircut while roaming all over my house and left. Are dogs supposed to shed this much?

Come and get it

So I just saw 300, and I LOVED it. I know it doesn't sound like a movie I should like, or admittedly like, so I'm going to explain.
I am a hippie. I want to change the world. Peace, not war! You know the drill. I'm going to graduate school for it; I believe in it; it's all I hope and dream for. Enough of that, sometimes, just sometimes, I'm bombarded with so much peacemaking and justice and fairness and love that I need some fictional, pure, unadulterated violence. There is something innately satisfying about watching a certified bad ass kill everyone who threatens his or her purpose or even reputation. Despite my sensitive, emo attitude 90% of the time, I occasionally wish I had a super power that allowed me not to cure the world of all disease or poverty, but to instead cut disease and poverty's head off. What is it about Spartans, Buffys, Gladiators, Beatrix Kiddos, John Hartigans, and Dirty Harrys that make us like them? It's there constant ability to defeat every enemy that crosses their paths, and still manage to look cool while doing it. Compromise is hard, tiresome, and according to the aforementioned, a complete waste of time. Maybe sometimes their right. Certain issues call for ultimatums, no take backs, war.........and superpowers

Into the woods

This weekend was full of wonderful outdoor adventure. I woke up Saturday and realized I needed to buy raingear for Nepal (because it will be the rainy season) and because it was currently raining. I got some good waterproof boots and a good raincoat and headed up to Pinnacle mountain to go for a hike. To sum it all up, Rocky ran off, and then David ran off looking for him, and then I ended up alone in the woods during the rapidly approaching night. Rocky came back, but David was still gone. After it was completely dark and I decided to turn back, I heard David clapping for Rocky in the woods. We were out there so late that we were late for Trevor's birthday party. By the time we got there, there was still fun to be had. Overall, the weekend was great. I'm spending a lot of my week in Forrest City, but if YOU are in town, the president of the motion picture association is speaking at the Clinton School on Tuesday night at 6pm. On Thursday, a man from Murphy Oil is talking about the scholarships they are giving to all highschool graduates in El Dorado. For more information on our speakers, you can go here: http://www.clintonschoolresearch.com

P.S. bravo Jennifer Hudson. She was amazing in Dreamgirls and last night.

And in other news......

I know there are more pressing things in the universe, but Christina Corrdimas' parents saw this on the news in New York, and it's pretty funny. click here to see the piano cat
I know it's not a monkey riding a dog, but for some reason animals doing human things is HILARIOUS. Now if only I could get Rocky to go get me a diet coke out of the fridge when I'm swamped with data coding. I must return to my Clinton School slavery. Karl Rove is coming on March 8th at 11am. If anyone wants to go, email publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu.

I got some more info on Nepal this week. Here is the description of the I'm working with and what I'll be doing. I'm also staying with a Nepalese family! Here is the website for my placement www.cwish.org.np

1. Hidden Child Domestic Workers (HCDWs) Advocacy program

CWISH has been involved with advocacy and rescue of hidden child domestic laborers since its inception. The dilemma is at once economic, political and cultural. There is a long standing tradition of having child domestic help within the households of the upper class/caste/nobility of Nepal. This is a common practice in the major towns, particularly in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Economic hardship has often pushed rural dwelling parents to send their children to town in search of work, food, and shelter. This has been particularly acute during the last decade of Maoist conflict as children were often sent to town, alone with an ‘uncle’ or trafficker, in order to escape Maoist induction into the armed conflict, which could occur as early as age 7.

The practice of child domestic labor, though officially declared illegal, was still widely condoned and practiced among the upper classes and among the King’s loyalists in particular. This is a complex issue as it has been considered by many as an act of charity/ care for children who would otherwise go without adequate food, shelter or security. The rights of these children are the central issue, with many cases of abuse within the employer family, inadequate or demoralizing living conditions, unregulated and unethical working hours and workload, no access to education, nor other basic human rights. Many of these children are lost to their families and do not know their home villages or last names. Others feel forced to continue their work in town in order to send money home to help their families. With the new democratically emergent government, the practice of child domestic labor may decrease, though economic hardship and firmly entrenched tradition assure that identification of these children and protection of their rights, including access to education and health care, is an ongoing critical need. The tasks of this placement may include the following.

A. Assess CWISH’s current informal education, employer intervention, and advocacy activities for child domestic laborers.

B. Assist in developing a strategy and implementation of programs in government schools, civic education, intervention, and advocacy on issues of child sexual abuse and child rights.

C. Expand the support program for child domestic workers who have been transitioned into government schools, including employer-intervention, counseling, and access to legal aide and health care.

D. Work to connect CWISHs research and advocacy programs with international organizations working in the fields of women’s and children’s rights, with particular focus on networking with other organizations involved in rescue and advocacy.

Ash Wednesday, the unfortunate day after Fat Tuesday

Yesterday I spent all day in Forrest City making strides toward our Practicum goal. I had to give a speech in which I called the hogs. It went really well. I must say, Regina and I have created one pristine freaking survey. I've finished all questions, a cover letter and the codebook and template for the dataset. I am freakin fabulous!
When I got back from the delta, there were hoards of people dressed up in crazy clothing all over downtown. Against my better judgement and the presence of my conservative business clothing David, Christina and I went to party downtown. It really made me miss New Orleans. It wasn't even close to the same thing, but there were people EVERYWHERE, which hardly ever happens, especially on a Tuesday. I ran into Jamie, and she and Ryan are getting married! We danced and sang and then David took us home.
I saw Blanche Lincoln talk about the Farm bill this morning. I think it would have been a lot better if I really liked farming. I really didn't understand a lot about what the farmers were talking about, bushels and limits and AGIs. I came home and turned on the TV. To my dismay, the only thing to watch during lunch was Jerry Springer "I married him so I could drink". After that I decided to post on my blog instead, so here it is.

Happy Valentines Day

Because my love-life is sub-par. I decided to celebrate true-fictional love with a happy valentines day post

Favorite Romance: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I love this movie because it's about a believable couple, with real issues, in a completely unbelievable movie.

Favorite couple: I'm going to have to go with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

Favorite Tragic Romance: I'm going to have to go with All the Real Girls. This movie is beautifully heartbreaking. I loooooooove it. I have a taste for romantic tragedy.

Please post your own favorites and I'll be in Non-profit financial management class during this valentines day, boooooooooo. Down with love, up with knowledge (that was not very convincing).