heatherwhaling’s posterous

One could argue that George W. Bush should have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize, since he literally may have done more for world peace by leaving office than Obama did by entering it.

This country should be proud of the fact that our president has been received such a high honor. Instead of diminishing the Nobel's importance -- can't we ever get past the partisan bickering?!? -- we should celebrate the fact that we have a President so focused on peace. It's a nice, welcome change.

affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth

Wow -- what a letter! This happens to be my favorite line, but I'd recommend taking a few minutes to read the whole thing. It's pretty powerful.

I noticed a letter had fallen on the floor. In it, Sen. Kennedy told me that he would keep my family in his thoughts and prayers since we had just learned that Andrew had Type 1 Diabetes. He said that if Andrew ever needed any medical help, to pick up the phone and call him. He would do whatever it took to help.

Alone in my home, away from the buzz of Washington, I sat staring at the letter.

It made no sense. I was irrelevant.

So why did Teddy Kennedy reach out to a guy that could do him no favors? Why did he show that same kindness thousands of times throughout his life?

Because he endured pain on an epic level and buried three martyred brothers and more family members than most of us ever will. But each time, Kennedy made the decision not to be devoured by bitterness. He chose instead to help those who needed a kind word or a gentle touch.

Even if that person in need was a former rival, no longer relevant to the political game.

I know most people are tired of all the Kennedy coverage, but I couldn't help sharing this column, written by Joe Scarborough. This Republican had used Kennedy as a punch line ... as a fundraising tactic; yet, Sen. Kennedy took the time to reach out when Joe probably needed to hear a kind word or two. Selfless acts like this explain why there's been such an outpouring of support and emotion since Sen. Kennedy's passing.

This makes me want to write more thank-you notes ... send more cards just to say "hi." Because it's the little gestures that really matter most.

"our diplomats are going to need to have skills that are closer to community organizing than traditional reporting and analysis. New connecting technologies will be vital tools in this kind of diplomacy."

A new team has been brought in to make these changes real. Clinton recruited Alec Ross, one of the leaders of Obama's technology policy team, to the seventh floor of the State Department as her senior adviser for innovation. His mission is to harness new information tools to advance U.S. interests -- a task made easier as the Internet and mobile networks have played starring roles in recent incidents, from Iran to the Uighur uprising in western China to Moldova. Whether through a telecommunications program in Congo to protect women from violence or text messaging to raise money for Pakistani refugees in the Swat Valley, technology has been deployed to reach new audiences.

Fascinating article about Hillary Clinton -- and what she's accomplished thus far as Secretary of State. Despite all the build-up around her celebrity status and relationship with President Obama, she's managed to change the nation's approach to foreign diplomacy under the radar.

In addition to her new way conducting business, it's interesting to see how the State Department is embracing technology to reach new audiences around the world -- a smart way to reestablish America as a moral leader, if you ask me.

Raleigh, N.C. — Sources have told WRAL News that they expect former U.S. Sen. John Edwards to admit that he is the father of his former mistress' 18-month-old daughter.

Edwards, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, confessed last August to having an affair with Rielle Hunter, who served as a videographer on Edwards' 2008 campaign. He has denied fathering her daughter, saying his relationship with Hunter ended before the child was conceived.

I guess this news isn't a huge surprise at this point, but it's still deserving of at least a "wow," right? John Edwards seemed to have so much potential back in 2004. It's sad to watch this continue to unfold ...

It was a daughter who started all this. Born into wealth and power, the middle child of nine in this country's version of a royal family, Eunice Kennedy Shriver chose to lobby for the powerless. Yes, she used her connections from time to time. When Iowa's Tom Harkin was a freshman Senator in 1984, he got a political favor from Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy and, sure enough, was visited shortly thereafter by Eunice, who asked for his support for Special Olympics funding. But she never twisted arms or peddled her influence to build her own power base. She used it to help those who were invisible or perceived to be an embarrassment by the population at large.

The results of her efforts speak for themselves, but her son Tim, now the organization's chairman, puts it all in some perspective. "If you look at her brothers and sisters and all that they accomplished," he says, "no one will stand any higher than my mother."

Last year, Sports Illustrated honored Eunice Kennedy Shriver as the first Legacy Sportsman of the Year recipient. This remarkably touching article looks at the person behind the Special Olympics and how her vision drastically changed how people perceive and treat those with disabilities. Well worth the read ... http://www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/bios/si/

TWITTER'S TEN RULES: Be human. Be humane. Be yourself. Be interesting. Be brief. Share. Laugh. Listen. Learn. Repeat.

Pretty smart advice for Twitter users brought to you by Ike Pigott (http://twitter.com/ikepigott/status/3177796679#)

As the Web is flooded with more and more charity initiatives, both large, well-established ones and new nonprofits created specifically with harnessing social media in mind, problems can arise. At best, donations could be spread too thin, rendering many organizations less effective.

Of more concern is the fact that the influx of charities and nonprofits to platforms like Facebook and Twitter could result in noise, congestion, and outright apathy. Spreading awareness of a good cause grows difficult when that good cause starts to seem like spam. If one tweet after another is seeking donations, people might just get fed up.

Nonprofit organizations can't just set up a Facebook page or a Twitter account and think the money is going to start rolling in. It just doesn't work that way. That doesn't mean it can't work. Organizations just need to be more strategic: outline specific goals, focus on creating meaningful conversations (not just asking for money!) and get the right message to the right group of people. Don't go for the "ask" right away -- build a strong network first and then figure out what they'll respond well to. It may not be monetary donations, but maybe it's a clothing drive or a call for volunteers for a neighborhood clean-up. Let the community drive the conversation ... and the conversion.

in recent decades, with the growth of corporations, Americans have tended to want to join the ranks of established companies. Now, a microtrend of folks is choosing the opposite. Some of them are doing it because they want to; others, like laid-off lawyers, are doing it because this economy has left them no choice.

My favorite line from this story: "So amid all this economic darkness, one shining light, I believe, will be the resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, bringing out the inner boss in all of us."