more snowboarding and salsa dancing!

I'm so excited to go snowboarding in Colorado next week! This is an epic month of snowboarding - we've already taken two trips to Baker. Next month, we're also taking a trip up to Whistler. We're definitely very lucky. Jason and I have also been doing a lot of salsa dancing... I think we're getting pretty good :)

In addition, we've started volunteering at the Orion center. It's a facility that provides services for homeless youth. I really like volunteering there so far. This week, we went during drop-in hours and dinner. Next week, we'll be helping out with the outreach program. I think its wonderful the center also provides a program for getting your HS diploma and employment training. Meeting these kids reminded me how lucky I was to have grown up in a stable home with lots of opportunities.

Some facts I learned at the training course about homeless youth:

• about 60% come from foster homes
• 25 - 40% identify as LGBT
• it's tough to apply for a job without an ID, address, phone #, and prior work experience
  

seattle winter :)

It's been beautiful here! I should probably be concerned about global warming, but its been awesome having gorgeous weather at 50 degrees in February :)

View of Seattle from work

Is Obama's fundraising really different from the rest?

Obama has done an amazing job campaigning. But I'm tired of hearing how he's different from the rest because he doesn't take money from lobbyists. I didn't really start researching until I heard John Edwards state that "Senator Obama has taken more money from the drug companies than anybody" in the South Carolina debates.

Here is an article explaining the real difference of Obama's fundraising.

Jason also wrote an interesting article on this topic - The Obama fundraising myths.

Slate's provocative article - "Chelsea Clinton's Provocative E-Mail"

Slate published an article a couple days ago titled "Chelsea Clinton's Provocative E-Mail." Her e-mail was a forward of Robin Morgan's essay, Goodbye To All That, on sexism in the democratic primaries.

Like how Chelsea noted in her email, I don't agree with all of the points and phrasing. However, I believe Robin brings up important points. So I encourage you to read the essay, keeping in mind the author and her background. I hope you excuse the language that doesn't agree with you. And I hope you read it reflectively and see if you hear any truth.