Listings to Free Holiday Assistance Nationwide

These have been hard times for many and more and more of us are dreading the holidays because we know it will be hard if not impossible to put a Christmas meal on the table or gifts under the tree. There are many social service programs that offer free Christmas Food Baskets, toys and more for those in need.

You can find a listing of many programs here.

University of Texas,2008 HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2008 HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The HFSA Holiday Assistance Program (HAP) provides a full-course, holiday dinner to UT employees and their families in need. To fulfill this community service initiative, recipients are selected according to financial need and income level.

The first HAP Committee was formed in 1996 and was able to serve over 20 families with the support of a single generous donor. Since then, the Holiday Assistance Program has grown to serve over 250 families, with the help of numerous donors from all of the Vice-Presidents' offices, various student groups, HFSA members, and faculty and staff from every office and department at the University. In addition, various private businesses and a number of anonymous donors have also embraced this worthwhile cause.

In 2007, the Holiday Assistance Program helped 271 families have a better holiday! HFSA is proud to call this award winning program its signature program!

The 2008 application is now available!

2008 HFSA Holiday Assistance Program English Application (PDF)
2008 HFSA Holiday Assistance Program Solicitud en Español (PDF)

2008 Gruber Women's Rights Prize and its $500,000 Award at Columbia Law School on November 11, 2008

THE PETER AND PATRICIA GRUBER FOUNDATION PRIZE MEDAL
posted Nov/10/2008 2:31 PM · PRN

Features International Women Activists Who Challenge Religious,
Political and Cultural Biases

Yanar Mohammed, Sapana Pradhan Malla and

Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian to Receive

Prestigious Gruber Women's Rights Prize and its $500,000 Award
at Columbia Law School on November 11, 2008

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Hailing from some of the world's major hotspots, four of our most dynamic women leaders will come together tomorrow in New York for a highly unusual forum on peace. The group will focus on important issues that are not generally mentioned in post-conflict talks, such as the measurements used by women in defining peace, how women can change the political debate and how they can interpose their voices in the discussion.

Moderating the panel discussion will be Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International, who is originally from Iraq. Panelists are the 2008 Gruber Foundation Women's Rights Prize recipients: Yanar Mohammed, co-founder of Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq, who succeeded in protecting numerous Iraqi women threatened by domestic abuse and what are termed honor killings; Sapana Pradhan Malla, a practicing Nepali lawyer and member of Nepal's Constituent Assembly, who has been a leader in advocating legal reforms that have extended gender equality in many areas; and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a leading feminist scholar, therapist and activist who has worked to end domestic violence against Palestinian women, particularly in what have been referred to as honor killings.

The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation will present Ms. Mohammed, Ms. Pradhan Malla and Dr. Shalhoub-Kevorkian with its 2008 Women's Right Prize - an unrestricted $500,000 (US) award to be shared equally by the recipients. The panel discussion will immediately follow the Prize ceremony on November 11, 2008, at Columbia Law School.

Yes We Did- Barack Obama Wins ,World Rejoices-see the video

The world rejoices as Barack Obama wins a transformational election which will reshape US politics and the US role on the world stage.Yes We Can!

Yes We Did!
if you can't see the video click here to view it!



AFROMAN LYRICS

"Hush"

[Hook (Afroman talking)]
Hush, hush (yeah yeah)
Somebody's callin my name (if you listen closely baby)
Hush, hush (yeah yeah)
Somebody's callin my name
Hush (listen baby) hush (somebody's callin)
Somebody's callin my name
Oh my lord, oh my lord, what shall I do

(A man sometimes girls think I'm crazy cause I wake
her up and I tell her)
Sounds like Jesus (sounds like Jesus)
Somebody's callin my name (I know I'm high but baby)
Sounds like Jesus
And somebody's callin my name
Sounds like Jesus
Somebody's callin my name
Oh my lord, Oh my lord, what shall I do

(You know man, I think about all the hard times that I
went through and I think)
I'm so glad that trouble don't last always
I'm so glad that trouble don't last always
I'm so glad I'm glad that trouble don't last always
Oh my lord, Oh my lord, what shall I do

I gotta feelin, that everything's gonna be all right
I gotta feelin everything's gonna be all right
I gotta feelin that everything's gonna be all right
Be all right
Be all right
Be all right

(A man it's funny cause I learnt this song when I was a little kid
When I went to visit my granddaddy down there in Mobile, Alabama
He stayed in this place called Trendy Garden you know what I'm sayin?
He used to grow his vegetables right there on the side of the house
And every now and then he'd get me to help him out know what I'm sayin?
And as he was like weedin out his garden and everything
He'd sing all kinda tunes and hymns know what I'm sayin?
And sometime he'd sing the same one like over and over and over again
You know what I'm sayin?
He'd get tired of singin the words
Sometimes he'd take a sip of his water outta that glass jar, set it back down
And while we was plantin them collard greens, he'd hum it
Just like this right here, help me out cuz, you know how we used to do it)

[*humming*]

It gets all in my hands
It gets all in my feet
It makes me wanna sing my song
To every little girl I meet
It gets all in my heart
It gets all in my sole
It comes straight out my mouth
And then I lose control
Cause I, I got this feelin, that everything's gonna be all right
Be all right
Be all right
Be all right

Free copy of the 2008 Washington State Visitors' Guide

Enjoy these images free of charge from Washington State Parks and Recreation.

Request a Visitor Guide

Complete the online form to order your FREE copy of the 2008 Washington State Visitors' Guide, produced by the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association.

You should receive your order in 3-5 weeks.

(If you have difficulties with this order form, please call 1-800-544-1800 to order.)

click here to get yours!

Natural Beauty

Why does Washington State have such incredibly diverse scenery? One major reason is the Cascade Range, which runs the entire length of the state—from Washington’s border with British Columbia, Canada to the Columbia River Gorge—and encompasses two of Washington’s spectacularly beautiful national parks (North Cascades National Park and Mount Rainier National Park).

The Cascade Range bisects the state into two distinct climates and environments. Western Washington is lush and green year-round and is part of the coastal North American temperate rainforest that spans northern California to southern Alaska. East of the Cascade Range, the climate is more arid. Here, the Wenatchee River gives life to eastern Washington State’s orchard country; but you’ll also find dramatic desert landscapes of sage and bunchgrass, beautiful Ponderosa pine forests and the hypnotic sight of rolling hills covered in waving wheat fields.

These distinct Washington environments have one great thing in common: an abundance of natural beauty that makes you look forward to every turn in the road. Explore Washington Natural Beauty.

Parrots--Meditate on Love to prepare for Valentines Day 2008

With Valentines on the way, what better Meditation than Parrots. Parrots were never meant to live alone. Perhaps that is the most important thing a pet owner can know. If you love your pet parrot, give him a parrot family to love. Spread the love to your human family on this Valentines day!