Last week, I traveled to New Hampshire with the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) to birddog the Republican candidates of the 2012 presidential election before the Republican debate at Dartmouth. We kept asking the same question (Will you commit to putting 6 million people on AIDS life saving medication by 2013?) We wanted to get AIDS in their head and the fact that there is life saving medication out there to help people with the disease and it is obainable. Believe me, I know the economy in America is struggling and that in order to help other countries we must first focusing on transforming ours. Although, foreign aid only makes up .5 of 1% of the government budget, why cut it? It is such a little amount that truely affects those that we give it to or at least we hope that is helping those in need but with so many corrupt polititians out there it is hard to really know where the money is going. The Republicans love to hate on foreign aid when it is actually a TINY portion of the budget and because these polititians come across this way, most Americans jump on the bandwagon. Most people would rather pay more taxes under Herman Cains 9-9-9 plan? I read that the same plan is used in SimCity 4, just saying... read about it.
According to CNN, less than 1% of government spending goes to foreign aid (like I mentioned before), according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. That's chump change compared to other sections of the bloated federal budget -- like spending on entitlement programs or the military.
Jon Stewart hit the nail on the head on his last episode of the Daily Show. He said, "It must be tough for Republicans to love America so much, but hate three-quarters of the people living in it." How can one be the President of the United States when they are so consumed in corporate greed and bashing Occupy Wall St. protesters but want "people to come out to the streets and fight for their country" or people to come to Washington D.C. "by the car load". Ok, Michelle Bachman. The candidates stress that the U.S. need to come together at a time when our country is divided yet they continue to bash people of their own country fighting for their rights. Rep. Steve King said the enemies are liberals and progressives because those are the people we are up against? Who's we? As Jon Stewart said, "I'm pretty sure those people are Americans." It's insane. These Republican candidates are hypocrites so consumed in gun rights and large corporations. Don't get me wrong, I believe that the Republicans do have solid points on how to improve this country but if they can't learn to understand the views of others then how are we supposed to continue on the road to improving this country and coming together as a nation?
I have enjoyed school funded trips with SGAC and the Dear Hillary Campaign because I always learn something and the people involved are great. Always a good time for sure. On the trip last week, we got to birddog Huntsman and Romney at each of their events. I learned a lot about politics while on this trip. My friends on the trip who study political science were always there to fill me in. We went with Professor David Mindich's Media and Politics classes. There were about 60 students (freshmen-seniors) from three different classes so I met a lot of new people. We were able to protest at Dartmouth before we attended the watch party in their gym. Huntsman, Bachman, and Gingrich stopped by the gym after the debate. We had birddogged Huntsman in Tilton, NH on the Monday before the debate and he told us he would look into AIDS funding and work on learning more about the issue. He even mentioned us in his short speech in the Dartmouth gym after the debate. It was a huge step for us as a campaign. Thank you Huntsman.
I'm late for class :-/
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Fall back...
Flaming lips- Do You Realize?
Can I just say I'm obsessed with fall. Everything about it is awesome... the clothes, food, weather and uh life in general? I'm feelin good. It's been quite a while since my last update, the usual. I am working on updating more often so my posts aren't too packed with information that may or may not be of any interest to anyone but myself but here if goes...
My internship at the Senate President of Massachusetts' office in the Massachusetts State House definitely made this summer a memorable one. I worked for the first woman Senate President of MA, Therese Murray. I met her a few times throughout the summer (May 16-Aug 4) and it was intimidating at first but I became more comfortable each time I came in contact with her. I worked closely with Laura Schroeder, the Deputy Director of Communications in the Senate President's office. She taught me so much about politics, journalism and life in general. She shared her experience in the communications field with me and it has helped me get on the right track as graduation creeps closer and full-time work and a salary becomes a reality... even though I'm in denial that I will live anywhere else but my adorable townhouse on St. Michael's campus... I'm working on that. Don't let me get too off track... my internship was so fulfilling. I wrote press releases and speaking points for the Senate President, updated her social media and even designed the header of her online newsletter! I was so happy that Laura decided to use it. I loved working with Photoshop and even learned how to use tools I'd never used before by watching online tutorials. Here is the banner I created-
I attended a couple of press conferences that Deval Patrick spoke at. The first one I attended mostly covered the Secure Communities Act that Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, rejected because about a quarter of those deported under the program nationwide are never convicted of a crime. Immigration advocates say it is due to racial profiling and police overstepping their duties to enforce immigration, according to the Huffington Post. Patrick believes that illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes should be deported but the act does not reflect those objectives. I was able to get behind Patrick when he was speaking of the press conference to take notes, which put me in clear view of all the cameras from different news stations. So, inevitably I ended up on the local news. Good thing I wore something nice that day :)
The other press conference I attended was on my last day, August 4th, when the Governor Patrick announced the new secretary of transportation for the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority). General Manager Richard Davey will be replacing Jeffrey Mullen who is choosing to return to the private sector. It was breaking news for the organization so press was all over it. I stood to the right of the stage and photographers swarmed the area, I could barely move but I was enjoying the media frenzy. My last day went smoothly and Laura even asked me to grab dinner at the end of the day. We went to a place on Beacon Hill and I got a Thai Chicken plate with some wine. I declined my second glass at first when the waitress asked but Laura went ahead and ordered another two glasses for us so I felt a lot more comfortable. Conversation was great and it was nice to open up and get to know her a little more outside the office.
I spent the next two weeks before school laying on the beach during the day and hostessing at Alden Park at night two to three times a week. It was nice to spend hours at the beach. I would even go by myself just to get out of the house and relax. I'd park at my cousin's house while she was at work and bring my lawn chair and bag down the road to the beach. I'd just lay back in my chair and listen to Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues album on my IPod on repeat. My cousins went with me a few times too. They are twelve and fourteen so conversation was entertaining, to say the least. My cousin, Stephanie is a freshman in high school and I can't believe it. She made the JV Cheerleading Squad and is a flyer. I wanted to be a flyer so bad when I cheered when I was 12 but my body decided to grow way too much and I settled for a base. And I haven't grown since...
Hold up... so I found out I have Celiac's Disease when I went to my doctor before returning to Vermont. Let me sum it up for you. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats. Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption—meaning nutrients are not absorbed properly—and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease is genetic, meaning it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggered—or becomes active for the first time—after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress. Thank you National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse for the info. So, basically I have to watch what I eat now pretty closely. It is pretty hard to resist the cakes, cookies, breads and beer but I'd say I'm doing pretty well except for last week but I was traveling so I had to take what I could get. I'm still learning about what I can and cannot eat but I'm finding that a lot more restaurants are offering gluten free menus, especially in and around Burlington. Last weekend I was home in Massachusetts for a few days and got breakfast at the Cornerstone Cafe on Plymouth waterfront with a couple girlfriends because they have great gluten free options. I ended up ordering gluten-free chocolate chip pancakes and it has been a while since I've had those. The only weird thing except for the fact that I have to look at the nutrition facts more is that this is something I'm going to have to be cautious for the rest of my life. I'm just starting to realize that I'm getting older as graduation creeps wayyy too close for comfort. Uh, clearly not ready. Ok, well I know it's only October but I can't go to any more family parties without being asked "So what are you looking to do after school?" I know, common question to ask a senior in college. I'd do the same, if it wasn't me... It freaks me out, especially since I have to choose my classes for my last semester of college like next week and that... totally interfers with my halloween weekend costume planning. Not cool. But seriously, it's exciting and all, it really is. I'd love to have one more year at this place living with some of the most interesting, hilarious, absurd, awkward, bitchy, adorable, cynical, compassionate, naive, loving, insane people I know. Not ready to give that up just yet.
My cousin, Michael is leaving for Army boot camp next Monday. He is going to do so well. I'm happy for him for making the commitment. It's scary to think about because he's family and he's also younger than me. But... he is one tough guy and he's been working his butt off for boot camp. I'll be calling him this week to say bye and good luck.
I am really into my Digital Film class this semester. Currently, I am working on a film that should capture one's "passion for something". I decided to film a few of my friends mountain biking because they have been going together for a couple years now and really love the sport. Around 6, I'm going to film a couple interviews so I should probably start thinking of questions to ask.
I leave you with this...
You are so young, you have not even begun, and I would like to beg you, dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything that is unsolved in your heart and to try to cherish the questions themselves, like closed rooms and like books written in a very strange tongue. Do not search now for the answers which cannot be given you because you could not live them. It is a matter of living everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, one distant day live right into the answer.”
-R. M. Rilke (Bohemian-Austrian poet)
Peace
Can I just say I'm obsessed with fall. Everything about it is awesome... the clothes, food, weather and uh life in general? I'm feelin good. It's been quite a while since my last update, the usual. I am working on updating more often so my posts aren't too packed with information that may or may not be of any interest to anyone but myself but here if goes...
My internship at the Senate President of Massachusetts' office in the Massachusetts State House definitely made this summer a memorable one. I worked for the first woman Senate President of MA, Therese Murray. I met her a few times throughout the summer (May 16-Aug 4) and it was intimidating at first but I became more comfortable each time I came in contact with her. I worked closely with Laura Schroeder, the Deputy Director of Communications in the Senate President's office. She taught me so much about politics, journalism and life in general. She shared her experience in the communications field with me and it has helped me get on the right track as graduation creeps closer and full-time work and a salary becomes a reality... even though I'm in denial that I will live anywhere else but my adorable townhouse on St. Michael's campus... I'm working on that. Don't let me get too off track... my internship was so fulfilling. I wrote press releases and speaking points for the Senate President, updated her social media and even designed the header of her online newsletter! I was so happy that Laura decided to use it. I loved working with Photoshop and even learned how to use tools I'd never used before by watching online tutorials. Here is the banner I created-
I attended a couple of press conferences that Deval Patrick spoke at. The first one I attended mostly covered the Secure Communities Act that Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, rejected because about a quarter of those deported under the program nationwide are never convicted of a crime. Immigration advocates say it is due to racial profiling and police overstepping their duties to enforce immigration, according to the Huffington Post. Patrick believes that illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes should be deported but the act does not reflect those objectives. I was able to get behind Patrick when he was speaking of the press conference to take notes, which put me in clear view of all the cameras from different news stations. So, inevitably I ended up on the local news. Good thing I wore something nice that day :)
The other press conference I attended was on my last day, August 4th, when the Governor Patrick announced the new secretary of transportation for the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority). General Manager Richard Davey will be replacing Jeffrey Mullen who is choosing to return to the private sector. It was breaking news for the organization so press was all over it. I stood to the right of the stage and photographers swarmed the area, I could barely move but I was enjoying the media frenzy. My last day went smoothly and Laura even asked me to grab dinner at the end of the day. We went to a place on Beacon Hill and I got a Thai Chicken plate with some wine. I declined my second glass at first when the waitress asked but Laura went ahead and ordered another two glasses for us so I felt a lot more comfortable. Conversation was great and it was nice to open up and get to know her a little more outside the office.
I spent the next two weeks before school laying on the beach during the day and hostessing at Alden Park at night two to three times a week. It was nice to spend hours at the beach. I would even go by myself just to get out of the house and relax. I'd park at my cousin's house while she was at work and bring my lawn chair and bag down the road to the beach. I'd just lay back in my chair and listen to Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues album on my IPod on repeat. My cousins went with me a few times too. They are twelve and fourteen so conversation was entertaining, to say the least. My cousin, Stephanie is a freshman in high school and I can't believe it. She made the JV Cheerleading Squad and is a flyer. I wanted to be a flyer so bad when I cheered when I was 12 but my body decided to grow way too much and I settled for a base. And I haven't grown since...
Hold up... so I found out I have Celiac's Disease when I went to my doctor before returning to Vermont. Let me sum it up for you. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats. Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption—meaning nutrients are not absorbed properly—and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease is genetic, meaning it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggered—or becomes active for the first time—after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress. Thank you National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse for the info. So, basically I have to watch what I eat now pretty closely. It is pretty hard to resist the cakes, cookies, breads and beer but I'd say I'm doing pretty well except for last week but I was traveling so I had to take what I could get. I'm still learning about what I can and cannot eat but I'm finding that a lot more restaurants are offering gluten free menus, especially in and around Burlington. Last weekend I was home in Massachusetts for a few days and got breakfast at the Cornerstone Cafe on Plymouth waterfront with a couple girlfriends because they have great gluten free options. I ended up ordering gluten-free chocolate chip pancakes and it has been a while since I've had those. The only weird thing except for the fact that I have to look at the nutrition facts more is that this is something I'm going to have to be cautious for the rest of my life. I'm just starting to realize that I'm getting older as graduation creeps wayyy too close for comfort. Uh, clearly not ready. Ok, well I know it's only October but I can't go to any more family parties without being asked "So what are you looking to do after school?" I know, common question to ask a senior in college. I'd do the same, if it wasn't me... It freaks me out, especially since I have to choose my classes for my last semester of college like next week and that... totally interfers with my halloween weekend costume planning. Not cool. But seriously, it's exciting and all, it really is. I'd love to have one more year at this place living with some of the most interesting, hilarious, absurd, awkward, bitchy, adorable, cynical, compassionate, naive, loving, insane people I know. Not ready to give that up just yet.
My cousin, Michael is leaving for Army boot camp next Monday. He is going to do so well. I'm happy for him for making the commitment. It's scary to think about because he's family and he's also younger than me. But... he is one tough guy and he's been working his butt off for boot camp. I'll be calling him this week to say bye and good luck.
I am really into my Digital Film class this semester. Currently, I am working on a film that should capture one's "passion for something". I decided to film a few of my friends mountain biking because they have been going together for a couple years now and really love the sport. Around 6, I'm going to film a couple interviews so I should probably start thinking of questions to ask.
I leave you with this...
You are so young, you have not even begun, and I would like to beg you, dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything that is unsolved in your heart and to try to cherish the questions themselves, like closed rooms and like books written in a very strange tongue. Do not search now for the answers which cannot be given you because you could not live them. It is a matter of living everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, one distant day live right into the answer.”
-R. M. Rilke (Bohemian-Austrian poet)
Peace
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