Peace of Mind 5K today!

by: TJNarter

Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 01:16:57 AM CDT

Peace of Mind 5K to salute
brain-injured American heroes

Fundraiser will benefit four nonprofit organizations

Walkers, runners or people who simply want to rally in support of Americans who have borne the battle and sustained combat-related brain injuries are invited to gather for this inaugural event at 8 a.m. June 14 - which is Flag Day. The Peace of Mind 5K will start at 15th Street and Congress Avenue, just north of the state Capitol. One thousand American flags will be distributed to attendees to wave in support of those who have served our country.

Click here to register!

Proceeds from the Peace of Mind 5K will benefit the following charities:

Defense/Veterans Brain Injury Centers
The Helping a Hero Organization
The Brain Injury Association of Texas
Easter Seals Central Texas

A recent RAND Corp. report states that 320,000 U.S. military veterans have sustained combat-related brain injuries. Some estimates indicate 20,000 servicemembers are thought have sustained combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the so-called "signature injury" of the war. Even mild TBI can cause problems with thinking, planning, concentration, language or irritability. These problems often are unrecognized or unappreciated as being related to TBI and, therefore, can be "invisible" to those not familiar with the disorder.

Overall, TBI affects about 1.5 million Americans every year. At least 5.3 million Americans currently need long-term help with daily activities as a result of brain injury. Direct medical costs and indirect costs, such as lost productivity, of TBI added up to an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000.

"As Americans, we should honor and serve those who have served our country and have made great sacrifices. These heroes deserve our full support in returning to society and leading full lives," says Dr. R.W. Van Boven, an Austin neurologist who chairs the Peace of Mind 5K organizing committee. "The Peace of Mind 5K is designed to bring Texans together with one unified purpose - a rally of support for American heroes who have been wounded at war."

Sponsors of the Peace of Mind 5K are Goodrich, RunTex and CBS 42 KEYE.

Leading the rally for the Peace of Mind 5K will be Texas Gov. Rick Perry; Major General Charles G. Rodriguez, adjutant general of Texas, and Colonel Michael Jaffe, national director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Centers. Taped tributes from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and music legend Willie Nelson will be shown. The Peace of Mind 5K also will feature a flyover of military helicopters.

To register for the Peace of Mind 5K or to make a donation, please visit http://www.runtex.com/web/2-20... The registration fee is only $25 per person.

Wednesday - Register new voters at high schools across the City of Austin!

by: TJNarter

Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 22:26:58 PM CDT

That's right! Tomorrow's the last day! So I'm hosting a city-wide Voter Registration Drive at almost all the Austin High Schools, but I'll need your help to make it possible! The more people participate, the more schools we can canvass!

Let's send a message to the youth out there, especially the one's about to graduate, that their voice matters, and now they have to right to use it through voting for the first time in November!  

Florida, Michigan Delegates Can't Save Clinton (AP)

by: TJNarter

Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:43:05 AM CDT

Friday May 16th, 6:51AM, Associated Press/Nedra Pickler

(WASHINGTON) - Sorry, Sen. Clinton. Michigan and Florida can't save your campaign.

Interviews with those considering how to handle the two states' banished convention delegates found little interest in the former first lady's best-case scenario. Her position, part of a formidable comeback challenge, is that all the delegates be seated in accordance with their disputed primaries.

And even if they were, Hillary Rodham Clinton still couldn't catch up with Barack Obama's growing lead in delegates.

The Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee, a 30-member panel charged with interpreting and enforcing party rules, is scheduled to meet May 31 to consider how to handle Michigan and Florida's 366 delegates.

Last year, the panel imposed the harshest punishment it could render against the two states