Beautiful Tweeple: The Powers That Tweet

Evolution or e-volution?

Shortly after the World Trade Center 9/11 disaster in New York City, I found myself reflecting on friendships and people I have lost along the way.

I turned inside myself and began journaling on a daily basis to help myself overcome the horror and isolation that comes with such an event— Friends I had gone to school with; productive members of the community... people who had accomplished so many things I had yet to do myself. So different from the I was living at the time.

The feelings were overwhelming and went far beyond fear, solitude, and I began to question my purpose in this life. Had I been just a few miles closer, heading west that day instead of east , I would have driven right into Ground Zero.

Friends circulated e-mails about form,er classmates that were presumed dead. They had families: pregnant wives, children, and all of the things that I believed I would have by the time I reached my 30’s.

I quickly realized how many of my peers had achieved at least some of the goals they set out to accomplish years earlier— and I felt pangs of guilt and sadness seeing how much they were loved, how fondly they were remembered, and how many of them were on their way to achieving great things.


By that time, I was nearing my thirtieth birthday and the list of goals I set for myself seemed hopelessly beyond my reach. Not just beyond my grasp— the future seemed ominous, scary, and it took everything I had to keep myself alive. In the months after the attack, I became increasingly aware of just how disconnected I was from my past.

Before FaceBook, there was classmates.com…. One day I got one of those e-mails that makes you feel as though someone from my past was trying to contact me. I thought long and hard before I responded.

I had a mix of emotions.

I had done everything I possibly could to quietly erase any ties or connections I had to the past. Filling out the online registration for FaceBook; responding to my 20th reunion invitations; afraid to be exposed for being poor.... but then it came tome.... I am not poor, I am merely a rich person without any money.

Because I had never lived with one parent, one house, or one school any longer than a year or two at best, it was not that hard to fade away into a distant memory. I wanted to be forgotten.

The last few weeks of my life have been anything short of living moment to moment... confronted with all the crises I wanted so badly to leave behind.... yet those experiences; my fight or flight instinct carried me through.

Thank you to all who tweeted and chatted... I made it through the storm, and I am glad to know you were there with me.

I am glad to be alive today, and I look forward to attending at least one of the three possible reunions. I hope you are glad to have me.

Cheers to you all, can't wait to see y'all at the Freak Parade!

-edd

Two Tennessee cities, Nashville and Memphis were identified to be among the most dangerous in the US.

When you think of Nashville, remember that it is not all as pleasant as Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, or the gentrified East Nashville we know and love.

Check the crime reports in Madison, especially all the shootings that have occured in and around Gallatin Pike. MNPD North Precinct.

Would you feel safe living there? How about your children?

On the Swine Flu "Crisis"

(In reply to BBC)

I feel the panic and fear being is spreading much quicker thatn the actual virus. I must wonder, what else is going on that this has remained the top storyfor most of the day.
How well prepared are we? I have my doubts. This reminds me of the Anthrax scare when people started horading Cypro "just in case."

I think the media are a terrible diservice by creating panic and giving an unrealistic course of action.

In my humble opinion, there are many more health crises that must be dealth with immediately-- such as the number of uninsured persons in the United States. How easily will they able to obtain treatment, especially since so many put off going to the doctor because they fear the expense for basic, preventative health care.

I want better, more accurate, timely information. And I want it NOW!

Elyssa Durant, Ed.M.
Nashville, Tennesseee USA

Social Media Test

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1. New York Times: Health Care Critic Brings a Past and a Wallet - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/us/politics/02scott.html

TennCare Cuts 150,000

150,000 Tennesseans may lose their TennCare May 1!

The records of 150,000 people on TennCare are currently being reviewed internally by TennCare to determine if they may be eligible for another TennCare eligibility category. About 17,00 people are also in another open Medicaid category. On May 1, the first of 40,000 letters will be mailed out monthly requesting additional information until all 150,000 people get their letters. They will have limited number of days to reply or appeal when they get their letter.

What do I need to do before May 1? (See below)

Who will this impact: SSI/Daniels TennCare enrollees

These enrollees are former SSI recipients who are not currently receiving an SSI check. If you are still receiving a monthly SSI check, you should not get a letter.

Yes! But who are these enrollees? They are thousands of Tennesseans who have children with very serious medical conditions or adults who have a very serious medical condition. Even though these folks may not be eligible for another TennCare category, thousands of these
folks have serious medical conditions and will have no other place to go to get the medical care they need.

What is this all about?

This group of TennCare enrollees have been protected since 1988 by the federal court that determined that these enrollees should stay on Medicaid until Tennessee is able to determine that they are not eligible for another TennCare eligibility category. Since 2007, the governor actively pushed this in federal court and the federal court has now given TennCare permission to make these cuts.

Why is this happening now?

Because the state says that "it is not fair for these folks to keep their coverage while others cannot get it." However, we say: "It is not fair to cut thousands of very sick, vulnerable people off TennCare when there is no place for them to go to get the medical care they need."

Who are these enrollees?
• 14,905 are children under the age of 19
• 90,000 are dual eligible
• 872 are children who are seriously emotionally disturbed
• 15,754 are adults who are seriously persistently mentally ill

What services do the 90,000 dual eligibles receive now that they will not receive when they lose their TennCare?

1. Mental health case management
2. Non-emergency transportation
3. Inpatient hospital services beyond the Medicare limit (150 days)
4. Psychiatric hospital services beyond the Medicare limit (190 days)
5. Home health services for individuals who are not homebound
6. Home health services that serve a "custodial" purpose (Medicare exempts coverage of custodial care.
7. TennCare says that medically necessary home health care cannot be denied because it is "custodial" in nature).
8. Private duty nursing
9. EPSDT services (Early Periodic Services Diagnosis and Treatment - This is for children)
10. 24 hour residential treatment
11. Mental health crisis services
12. Psychiatric rehabilitation services
13. SNF services beyond the Medicare limit (100 days)

Action Step #1: Attend meeting in Nashville, April 23 11am-1pm

United Way in Nashville, 250 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228 (Email tgarr@thcc2.org) me if you can attend the Nashville meeting at tgarr@thcc2.org)

~OR~

organize a meeting of your area and call the Tennessee Health Care Campaign at (877)431-7083. We will make every effort to make a presentation in your area.

Action Step #2: Call your two state legislators toll-free 1-800-449-8366 or go to:
http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=269252315&u=2901682

and ask them to do two things:

1. Immediately open the Medically Needy Program - Not everyone but thousands of Tennesseans who are cut from SSI/Daniels could qualify for the Medically Needy Program.

2. Eliminate the cap on Access Tennessee and provide additional funding for premium assistance. This program has a cap of 6,000 enrollees and has a waiting list of 4,300 people. It has also run out of money for premium assistance.

TennCare has over $500 million in TennCare reserves, over $750 million in its Rainy Day Fund, and receiving over $1.1 Billion in additional federal stimulus money just for TennCare. It is time to take care of Tennesseans and make them the state's priority.

Action Step #3: Call two legislative leaders who can make this happen.
Call Senator Randy McNally, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee - 1--800-449-8366, extension 16806
Call Representative Craig Fitzhugh, Chair of the House Finance Committee - 1-800-449-8366, extension 12134

COURTESY: TENNSESSE HEALTH CARE CAMPAIGN

1103 Chapel Ave.
Nashville, Tennessee 37206
United States

Please Save Spotty

I just learned on the 1st of this month that I have to move out of my apartment by next Wednesday. I hate moving. What I hate more is that I am allowed my kitty cat named, "Spot" cannot come with me.

Please help me find a good home for Spotty. Spotty has been primarily an indoor cat for the last 5 1/2 years that she has been with me. I am quite sure she would adjust well in any probably enjoy playing in the outdoors. She likes to sit on the porch in the sun and take in the fresh air.

She is almost 6 years old, spayed, and really needs a good home where she can play and have fun!

She is very active, but also very affectionate. She had all her shots but may need a booster sometime soon, but she has no pet insurance :-( Spotty is a very kool kat. She is also very pc... neither black nor white, she is simply Spot.

When you are working too long or too late, she will let you know you need a break by curling up on the power cord right next to your pc. She loves chasing mice when she really wants attention or wants to play.

Please help me find a good home for Spotty. She deserves at least that much, and I simply do not have what she needs.

Please Save Spotty! Spotty saved me.

POSTED: APRIL 11, 2009

GOOD NEWS: WE SAVED SPOTTY!

Charity Tuesday June 8, 2010

Thank you @almostvisible @donnette @JayLink_ @ykv @owl311PLEASE FOLLOW @petsofhomeless

http://twitter.com/petsofhomeless

http://www.petsofthehomeless.org

Shut Up and Write?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwc5YSAc-7g

Shut Up and Sing?

How very Christian...
How very American...

Music City needs to formally apologize for "banning" the Dixie Chicks.

The CMAs just donated $1 million to MNPS to keep music and
the arts in OUR public schools. We need to teach our children freedom, not
fear.

We need a chorus of voices in order to be free.

"To tolerate that which we love, we also must tolerate that which we hate." (quote & author TBN... it's been a long year!)

Girls, will you please come visit our city? Both democracy and the American Education system were designed to allow for diverse opinions to inform and prepare all Americans to be good the citizens.

All the newspapers are gone or going... the least we can do is entertain other methods of new media. Let's build our programs in cultural and media literacy. People told me it was a dumb major when I chose it in the early '90's. I respectfully disagree regarding the value of the research. I might agree when I look at the negative balance in my bank account.

I'm mad as hell, and not ready to make nice!

"Shut Up & Write"
(Media non-professional for hire: Cheap OBO!)

Elyssa Durant for Higher

Resume available upon request.
E-mail: ed70@columbia.edu