When the microphone failed during her stellar rendition of the national anthem last week, the crowd came to her aid, jumping in without missing a beat.
WATCH the video below…
Crowd Comes to Rescue When Mic Cuts Off for 8-Year-old
Hospital Visitation Rights for Unmarried and Gay Couples Take Effect Nationwide
This week, a new rule went into effect for hospitals across the nation to ease the longtime burden on unmarried or gay partners who, until now, could be prohibited from visiting loved ones who may lie sick and dying without a hand to hold.
The rule, first proposed in a memorandum by President Obama in April, 2010, ensures that hospitals choosing to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs must respect the rights of patients to designate visitors. Participating hospitals may no longer deny visitation privileges based on factors including sexual orientation or gender identity.
New visitation regulations also will benefit childless widows or widowers who may desire the companionship of an unmarried partner or friend. They will also apply to members of religious orders (who are single and have strong relationships within their order).
“There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital,” said Mr. Obama who directed HHS Secretary Sebelius to initiate a public comment period before the regulation was finalized.
“In these hours of need and moments of pain and anxiety, all of us would hope to have a loved one to be there for us, as we would be there for them.”
Patients can now designate who will receive visitation rights and also who can make medical decisions on their behalf — regardless of whether or not they are a legal spouse or blood relative.
The new Hospital Visitation Regulations went into effect January 18, 2011.
Many States had already taken steps to try to put an end to this situation. North Carolina recently amended its Patients’ Bill of Rights to give each patient “the right to designate visitors who shall receive the same visitation privileges as the patient’s immediate family members, regardless of whether the visitors are legally related to the patient” — a right that applies in every hospital in the State. Delaware, Nebraska, and Minnesota have adopted similar laws.
Janice Langbehn feels justice finally was served, after having been denied any chance to visit her gay partner of 17 years who lay dying.
(READ more about Janice at ABC News)
Hospital Visitation Rights for Unmarried and Gay Couples Take Effect Nationwide
This week, a new rule went into effect for hospitals across the nation to ease the longtime burden on unmarried or gay partners who, until now, could be prohibited from visiting loved ones who may lie sick and dying without a hand to hold.
The rule, first proposed in a memorandum by President Obama in April, 2010, ensures that hospitals choosing to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs must respect the rights of patients to designate visitors. Participating hospitals may no longer deny visitation privileges based on factors including sexual orientation or gender identity.
New visitation regulations also will benefit childless widows or widowers who may desire the companionship of an unmarried partner or friend. They will also apply to members of religious orders (who are single and have strong relationships within their order).
50 Years Ago Today: JFK’s Words ‘Ask Not…’ Inspire a New Generation
50 years ago today, as the youngest president in history took the stage and the oath of office, John F. Kennedy declared that he was “passing the torch to a new generation.”
It was a cold inauguration day in Washington, D.C. — a day that would change the lives of many young Americans.
It would become one of the most famous speeches in American history, a speech that would help shape his life — and his generation.
His famous plea echos today, and in the lives of those who decided on the spot to dedicate their lives to service: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
Within the two months, thousands of young people had signed up for his “Peace Corps“, to help struggling populations around the globe. Since 1961, over 200,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps, serving in 139 countries. Many former volunteers have risen to national prominence.
(READ or LISTEN to the inspiring story at NPR News)
Tribute to Sargent Shriver (1915-2011): A Life of Grace
It took only a walk with Sargent Shriver to learn how deeply loved and loving he was. Peace Corps volunteers from the the program that Shriver helped to start in 1961 would stop and thank him, embrace him and tell him stories about their life-changing service.
Countless others approached him: people whose lives were changed because of the anti-poverty programs that Shriver started in the Johnson administration – Legal Services, Head Start, Job Corps, Community Action,VISTA, Upward Bound. Or the parents of children in Special Olympics, the program began by Shriver and his wife, Eunice, that revolutionized the way we treat those with mental disabilities.
(READ the tribute by Shriver’s former speechwriter in the Washington Post)
An Offer You Can’t Refuse? Corleone ‘Godfather’ House is For Sale (Video)
The Godfather is one of the best loved films of all time. Now, the home where Francis Ford Coppola filmed Marlon Brando’s death and Al Pacino’s familial return is up for sale in Staten Island, NY.
The owner of the home at 110 Longfellow Avenue is asking $2.9 million and the purchase price includes Brando’s original cue cards.
(WATCH the video below from Today)
US Founding Fathers Passed Socialized Medicine With Health Insurance Mandate in 1798
A number of US states are challenging the new health care law on Constitutional grounds. But, a very interesting Forbes article points out that the founding fathers who wrote and signed the Constitution actually authorized, for the good of the new nation’s economy, the creation of a government-operated hospital service with a mandate for privately employed sailors to purchase health care insurance.
Woman Recreates ‘The Last Supper’ in Laundry Lint
Creative inspiration can come from many sources, but the lint from your clothes dryer? Colored lint collected from a dryer screen became the media with which Laura Bell of Roscommon, Michigan created a 14-foot replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
She was aiming for the quarter million dollar prize offered in a Grand Rapids art contest, but instead, her fuzzy masterpiece was bought by the people at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! for display in one of the company’s 32 “odditoriums” around the world.
Woman Recreates ‘The Last Supper’ in Laundry Lint
Creative inspiration can come from many sources, but the lint from your clothes dryer? Colored lint collected from a dryer screen became the media with which Laura Bell of Roscommon, Michigan created a 14-foot replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
She was aiming for the quarter million dollar prize offered in a Grand Rapids art contest, but instead, her fuzzy masterpiece was bought by the people at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! for display in one of the company’s 32 “odditoriums” around the world.
Government Extends Growing Season for Thousands of Organic Farmers, Providing Local Food Throughout Winter
Farmers, like Earl and Clarisse Snell of Alabama, can still grow summer squash and tomatoes as if it were summer, thanks to their new high tunnel built with financial assistance from the US government. Also called hoop houses, seasonal high tunnels look a lot like greenhouses but require no artificial energy source—all they need is natural daylight. With their natural pest controlled environment, farmers across the country are now able to sell organic, locally grown produce throughout the year in states as cold as Minnesota, Wisconsin and even Alaska.
$13 million from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has gone to more than 2,400 farmers in 43 states to help pay for the low-tech seasonal high tunnels.
Government Extends Growing Season for Thousands of Organic Farmers, Providing Local Food Throughout Winter
Farmers, like Earl and Clarisse Snell of Alabama, can still grow summer squash and tomatoes as if it were summer, thanks to their new high tunnel built with financial assistance from the US government. Also called hoop houses, seasonal high tunnels look a lot like greenhouses but require no artificial energy source—all they need is natural daylight. With their natural pest controlled environment, farmers across the country are now able to sell organic, locally grown produce throughout the year in states as cold as Minnesota, Wisconsin and even Alaska.
$13 million from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has gone to more than 2,400 farmers in 43 states to help pay for the low-tech seasonal high tunnels.
James Franco Honored for Work With Critically Ill Kids
James Franco, the star of 127 Hours, was honored Saturday for his involvement with an organization that encourages actors, artists and musicians to donate their time and talent to children battling serious medical conditions.
Obama Loosens Travel Restrictions on Cuba
U.S. President Barack Obama has loosened travel restrictions on Cuba to allow religious groups and students to travel to the communist country. The White House said Friday the measures are aimed at developing “people to people” contacts through more academic, cultural and religious exchanges.
The Answer in Tucson, is Blowing in the Wind
What started out as a memorial for a little boy has become a gift for a community in need of smiles.
Ben’s Bells has never seen so many volunteers, painting, assembling and hanging ceramic wind chimes from random branches and playgrounds around the city of Tucson. Hundreds came out to help hang these gifts for citizens to find and take home.
WATCH the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC…
Refuge Teaches Women to Make Candles in the Darkness of War
Prosperity Candle provides women living in distressed areas around the world the tools and distribution they need to start their own companies making and selling beautiful candles.
They wanted to prove their business model could benefit struggling women in any other part of the world, so the Massachusetts-based company launched their pilot project in Baghdad, in the midst of war and exploding bombs.
Refuge Teaches Women to Make Candles in the Darkness of War
Prosperity Candle provides women living in distressed areas around the world the tools and distribution they need to start their own companies making and selling beautiful candles.
They wanted to prove their business model could benefit struggling women in any other part of the world, so the Massachusetts-based company launched their pilot project in Baghdad, in the midst of war and exploding bombs.
Extra Money in US Paychecks Means ‘We’ Can be Stimulus
The $858 billion tax plan approved by Congress in December included a surprise 2% reduction in payroll taxes for 2011, in what amounts to a $120 billion bet that Americans will spend the money and help juice the economy.
If you earn $100,000 a year or more, that temporary tax reduction will mean an extra $2,000 this year — almost $40 more in your paycheck every week.
How will Americans stimulate the economy?
(READ the story in the USA Today)
Missing Dog Shows Up on Front Porch After 5 Years
A California woman says her pet shih-tzu, missing for the past five years, amazingly reappeared on her doorstep last week — even after the family had moved several times.
A reporter at KGET-TV talked to Madelyn about Prince’s return…
Missing Dog Shows Up on Front Porch After 5 Years
A California woman says her pet shih-tzu, missing for the past five years, amazingly reappeared on her doorstep last week — even after the family had moved several times.
A reporter at KGET-TV talked to Madelyn about Prince’s return…
An Example of What Martin Luther King’s Birthday Should Be All About
Today the First Family honored Dr. Martin Luther King with a visit to Stuart Hobson Middle School, where they took part in a mentoring project organized by Greater DC Cares’ Mentoring Matters Initiative. In this photo, the President paints pictures of fruit in the cafeteria.
“This is just an outstanding program, an example of what Martin Luther King’s birthday should be all about,” he said. “I want to thank all the mentees and mentors who are participating.”
“Dr. King obviously had a dream of justice and equality in our society, but he also had a dream of service, that you could be a drum major for service, that you could lead by giving back to our communities. And that’s what this program is all about and that’s what these participants are all about.”