November first, more than All Saints

What the fuck is All Saints anyway? A really bad boy band? No, a Papist-sponsored holiday so that more pagans would convert.

Anyway. November first, the beginning of NaNoWriMo!! I'll be like the ghost in the machine, attached to my word processor, hopefully kicking out 2K words a day. I want to reach the 50K goal by the 1st of December, so I'm NOT, repeat NOT going to post my chapters here like I did last year. I lost momentum as soon as people started to respond to my writing. I have no time to think about editing until the end of the contest. After that I plan to publish the novel to the web, get advice from really smart, creative people like Michiel (lurrve ya baybee) and then do re-writes.

So wish me luck and I'm off to the races!!

Great Spam o' the Week

Sender: You.
Subject: Lies Lunacy

You think there's a connection somehow? Do they KNOW me????

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

I'm just sayin'

My country's population just hit something like 300 million. A population of 300 million is about 5 percent of the world's population today but it was the whole of the world's population 1,000 years ago.

We have too many ways to prolong life, and stop natural occurrances like a Plague or miscarriages, or infant death due to serious medical problems.

We're polluting the earth at astounding rates, and there are fewer ways than ever to stop the growth explosion. What I *can't* understand is WHY people feel that we're in danger of underpopulation, and even if it did happen (which it won't) why it wouldn't be a good idea.

"God Says," you say?

I say give me a MUCH BETTER (or, you know, real) reason to destroy ourselves.

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

Friday Cat Blogging

More with the anti-choice FUCKS.

They want to judge women who have abortions and call them murderers without caring why the women got the abortion? Fuck them, I hope they can handle the TRUTH.

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I was 21, got pregnant while I was in an abusive relationship, and the abuse got worse when "he" found out I was pregnant. I thought it would change things since at first he really wanted the baby, but he continued to beat me severely and still expected me to work two jobs (plus side bartending gigs) to support him while exhausted, bruised, and carrying his child. I started using crystal meth amphetamines in order to keep my jobs, and became further isolated because of all the stress and strain.
I told him I wanted to abort the baby because I was so physically ill and unable to cope, and he didn't seem to care as long as he was taken care of.
A co-worker took me down to get the funding from the state to pay for the abortion because I had no money, and barely could afford the bus fare to get to work, since my abuser stole all my money, including tips I made, and then would beat me for being so stupid as to not have any money.
I needed proof of pregnancy so I went to what turned out to be a CPC - and there I was verbally abused and told I was going to burn in hell if I decided to get an abortion. I don't know how those people get away with that - but compared to what I was already dealing with at home from my abuser they were small potatoes. I got the proof and got out of there.
I went down to the local clinic and it wasn't busy that day, thank goodness. The people did an ultrasound and the fetus was 11 weeks (this I knew) and male. I knew the choice I made to abort probably saved my life, because the abuse was getting so much worse every day that I was pregnant. I hear the stats about pregnant women being abused more often, and I can attest to that with my experience.

After the procedure I went into heart failure and it became known later that had I carried to term I most likely would have died from a rare heart condition I didn't even know that I had.

After I was finished aborting my baby I felt such a sense of relief that I would not be tied to my abuser for the rest of my life because of a child I never intended to conceive. I was able to eat again (I'd become anorexic and malnourished), and I put my abuser in jail and left him and didn't look back.

I know this is hard to understand but I felt alone and was unable to do anything but SURVIVE. If that makes me a murderer to the rest of you then I have nothing else to say except that you can take a flying leap. Until you've been in MY shoes, don't you DARE to judge me. I'm not ashamed of saving my own life over the life of a baby that would have killed me one way or another. I'm lucky to be alive and to have been able to escape that situation semi-intact.

That's all I have to say about that.

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

Some people need a beating.

(Posted to the Dawn Patrol today)

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Loo-nacy

It's official: If you have a penis, you are welcome in any ladies' room in the New York City transit system — as long as you feel like a woman. From NY1:

Transgender people won the right to use the restroom for whatever gender they consider themselves to be at MTA rail stations in an agreement reached by the MTA with a woman who sued the agency.

The "woman" who sued the agency is  Helena Stone — take a look — a "a pre-operative woman formerly known as Henry McGuinness ... who began hormone replacement therapy 11 years ago," according to AM New York.

Stone sued after cops, reportedly hurling abuse, busted him (sorry, I use the male pronoun when a person has a penis) for using the women's restroom at Grand Central.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed to pay $2,000 in damages ... As part of the agreement, the MTA will also sponsor a transgender sensitivity training program for employees, said Michael Silverman, an attorney for the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Silverman filed the complaint with the city Commission on Human Rights.

While it may be argued that Stone deserved recompense for the way the cops dealt with him, his suit's outcome means that any man may use the ladies room if he personally identifies as a woman — regardless of what his ID card says. (Stone's ID card said he was male.)

AM New York also reports that more suits may be in the offing:

Three transgender women, between the ages of 18 and 22, were arrested at the Port Authority Bus Terminal Oct. 3 and charged with trespassing, said Kate Barnhart, manager of Sylvia's Place, a shelter for gay, bisexual and transgender youth, where the women were clients.

According to Barnhart, police officers continually referred to the transgender woman [sic] as men.

"They were saying loudly to onlookers, 'Men in the women's bathroom,' and another one said, 'I wouldn't want my wife in there with you things,' " she said. "These are just people who were using the bathroom to fix their makeup."

Just people who were using the ladies' room to fix their makeup" — people with penises.

Media accounts of Helena Stone paint him as an upstanding citizen who simply wants to do his, uh, civic duty in the ladies' rom. His victory, however, is a victory for perverts, voyeurs, and rapists — and a tremendous loss for all the women who will now be exposed to such creeps and criminals because of the MTA's fear of lawsuits.

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You don't want to read the comment section of her blog - but I did and was horrified. This my response to those pseudo Christians.
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It's the attitudes of people like Dawn who wrote such vitriolic claptrap about transgendered people that lead to their deaths in such high number. It's not rare for people who are pre-op, post-op, whatEVER-op to get killed just for being who they are, or to kill themselves because even the gay community gives them a hard time.

When I hear someone using the wrong pronoun on purpose, I feel so sorry that their parents never taught them any manners.

It's a sad thing when Christians don't act like Christians. I'm sure Jesus wouldn't have been so cruel and deliberately full of hate. They say we hate what we don't understand. Well there must be a lot of misunderstanding on this blog and on these comments.

What it comes down to is that people decide who is "fair game" and apparently that is transgender men and women. I feel SAD for all of you who feel the need to pick on someone just because you feel you can. It's mean and wrong and I hope you wise up and start practicing what you preach which is what Jesus said - "love one another as I have loved you."

Dawn I'm sure you will remove this post but I hope you hear my message anyway - don't use your pulpit to spread hatred. It doesn't become you and you're better than that.

Crock o' Shit

Your Blogging Type is Kind and Harmonious

You're an approachable blogger who tends to have many online friends. People new to your blogging circle know they can count on you for support. You tend to mediate fighting and drama. You set a cooperative tone. You have a great eye for design - and your blog tends to be the best looking on the block!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Naral Endorses....

Endorsed Candidates

United States Senate

Arizona

James Pederson (D)

• Pro-choice challenger James Pederson is running against one of the most anti-choice senators in the country, Jon Kyl. Click here and here to learn more about Kyl's record on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: In a recent campaign ad, Pederson attacked Sen. Kyl for his extreme anti-choice views, pointing out that Kyl supported a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion even in cases of rape and incest.

California
Dianne Feinstein (D)

Connecticut
Joe Lieberman (I)

Maryland
Ben Cardin (D)

Michigan

Debbie Stabenow (D)

• In 2000, Sen. Stabenow became the first woman ever elected to represent Michigan to the United States Senate. She is being challenged by Mike Bouchard.
• In both the House and Senate, Sen. Stabenow has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Missouri
Claire McCaskill (D)

Montana

Jon Tester (D)

• Jon Tester is challenging one of the most anti-choice senators in the country, Sen. Conrad Burns, who even votes against birth-control and prevention measures.
• Pro-choice fact: Tester has a strong record of standing up for the values of freedom and privacy. As president of the state Senate, Tester asked the state attorney general to determine whether current Montana statutes required insurance companies to cover contraception. The attorney general ruled that insurance plans must cover prescription birth control in the same way they pay for other prescription medication, making Montana the 25th state to guarantee women contraceptive equity.

New Jersey

Robert Menendez (D)

• Rep. Robert Menendez was selected to serve out the remainder of Sen. Jon Corzine's term in the U.S. Senate when Corzine was elected governor of New Jersey. He is being challenged by Tom Kean Jr., who calls himself pro-choice, but who cannot be counted on to defend a woman's right to choose.
• In both the House and Senate, Sen. Menendez has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• In addition to his stalwart support for a woman's right to choose, Sen. Menendez also believes Congress can - and should - do more to reduce the need for abortion. In particular, he recently introduced a groundbreaking, commonsense piece of legislation to prevent teen pregnancy.

Ohio
Sherrod Brown (D)

Rhode Island

Lincoln Chafee (R)

• Sen. Chafee was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and is being challenged by former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse.
• As one of the few remaining pro-choice Republicans in Congress, Sen. Chafee has a strong independent streak, courageously opposing every piece of major anti-choice legislation conceived by the party's right wing.

Vermont

Bernard Sanders (I)

• Rep. Sanders is running for his first term as U.S. senator. He has served in the House since 1991.
• In his race for the open Senate seat vacated by pro-choice Sen. James Jeffords, Rep. Sanders is running against Richard Tarran.
• Rep. Sanders has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Washington
Maria Cantwell (D)

United States House of Representatives

Arizona
Ellen Simon (D-1)

• Ellen Simon is challenging anti-choice Rep. Rick Renzi. Click here and here to learn more about Rep. Renzi's terrible record on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Simon describes herself as "a strong and fearless advocate on behalf of women's issues."

Ed Pastor (D-4)

• Rep. Pastor was elected to Congress in 1991 and is running unopposed.
• Rep. Pastor has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Harry Mitchell (D-5)

• Harry Mitchell is challenging anti-choice Rep. J.D. Hayworth. Click here to learn more about Rep. Hayworth's terrible record on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Mitchell states on his website that "I… believe that every person has a fundamental right to choose when and whether to have children, and I support a woman's right to choose. Medical decisions, both reproductive and otherwise, should be made between families and their doctors - it is not the role of government to interfere with these decisions. It is important that we work together to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the United States. This can be done by supporting medically-accurate sex education for our kids, taking steps to prevent teen pregnancy, and providing access to pre-natal care for all women."

Raul Grijalva (D-7)

• Rep. Grijalva was elected to Congress in 2003 and is running unopposed.
• In 2003, 2004, and 2005, Rep. Grijalva received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• As a rising pro-choice star in the House of Representatives, in 2005, Rep. Grijalva was a guest speaker at NARAL Pro-Choice America's Roe v. Wade anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.

Gabrielle Giffords (D-8)

California
Doris Matsui (D-5)
Lynn Woolsey (D-6)
Nancy Pelosi (D-8)
Barbara Lee (D-9)
Ellen Tauscher (D-10)
Jerry McNerney (D-11)
Tom Lantos (D-12)
Sam Farr (D-17)
Lois Capps (D-23)
Brad Sherman (D-27)
Howard Berman (D-28)
Adam Schiff (D-29)
Henry A. Waxman (D-30)
Hilda Solis (D-32)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-34)
Jane Harman (D-36)
Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-37)
Linda Sanchez (D-39)
Florice Hoffman (D-40)
Francine Busby (D-50)
Bob Filner (D-51)
John Rinaldi (D-52)
Susan Davis (D-53)

Colorado
Diana DeGette (D-1)
Mark Udall (D-2)
Jay Fawcett (D-5)
Ed Perlmutter (D-7)

Connecticut
Robert Simmons (R-2)
Rosa DeLauro (D-3)
Diane Farrell (D-4)
Nancy Johnson (R-5)

Florida

Corrine Brown (D-3)

• Rep. Brown was elected to Congress in 1992 and is running unopposed.
• Rep. Brown has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

John Russell (D-5)

Kathy Castor (D-11)

• Kathy Castor is running for an open seat against Eddie Adams.
• Pro-choice fact: NARAL Pro-Choice America spotlighted Castor in its August e-newsletter as the "Hero of the Month" for her work to protect reproductive-health programs while serving on the Hillsborough County Commission.

Christine Jennings (D-13)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-20)

• Rep. Wasserman Schultz was elected to Congress in 2004 and is running unopposed.
• In 2005, Rep. Wasserman Schultz received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• Rep. Wasserman Schultz holds a seat on the House Judiciary Committee, a panel through which many choice-related bills must pass.

Ron Klein (D-22)

• Ron Klein is challenging Rep. Clay Shaw, who (among other things) voted to allow anti-choice protesters to obstruct women from entering abortion clinics. Click here to learn more about Rep. Shaw's anti-choice rating in 2005.
• Pro-choice fact: Klein, who is currently serving as State Senate Minority Leader, has supported a local proposal to create buffer zones that would protect women's health clinics from violence.

Illinois

Rahm Emanuel (D-5)

• Rep. Emanuel was elected to Congress in 2002 and is being challenged by Kevin Edward White.
• In addition to receiving a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2003, 2004, and 2005, Rep. Emanuel is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Tammy Duckworth (D-6)

• Tammy Duckworth, a solidly pro-choice candidate, is running for an open seat to replace retiring Rep. Henry Hyde, the country's most notorious oopponent of a woman's right to choose.
• Her opponent, state Sen. Peter Roskam, is anti-choice and is supported by extremist groups like the Pro-Life Action League and the Illinois Federation for Right to Life.
• Pro-choice fact: Duckworth states on her website "First and foremost, I believe that we should do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in America. This is something that everyone should agree on. Ultimately, however, that decision should be left to the woman rather than politicians."

Danny K. Davis (D-7)

• Rep. Davis was elected to Congress in 1996 and is being challenged by Charles Hutchinson.
• Rep. Davis has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Melissa Bean (D-8)

• Rep. Bean was elected to Congress in 2004 and is being challenged by anti-choice David McSweeney.
• In 2005, Rep. Bean received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Jan Schakowsky (D-9)

• Rep. Schakowsky was elected to Congress in 1998.
• Rep. Schakowsky has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

David Gill (D-15)

Phil Hare (D-17)

Indiana

Julia Carson (D-7)

• Rep. Carson was elected to Congress in 1996 and is being challenged by Eric Dickerson, who is anti-choice.
• Rep. Carson has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Iowa

Bruce Braley (D-1)

• Bruce Braley is running for an open seat against anti-choice Mike Whalen.
• Pro-choice fact: Braley states on his website that he "supports the Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade and… believes that the federal government can and should do more to expand access to family planning education, reduce poverty, and address other socioeconomic problems that could reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies. All Americans should work together to address the underlying problems that lead individuals to consider difficult health decisions… [Braley] supports choice because there he believes there are circumstances where women and their physicians should be able to make difficult decisions without government interference. Bruce also believes that the federal government should not criminalize the personal medical decisions made between a woman and her doctor."

David Loebsack (D-2)

Maryland

John Sarbanes (D-3)

Steny Hoyer (D-5)

Elijah Cummings (D-7)

• Rep. Cummings was elected to Congress in 1996 and is running unopposed.
• Rep. Cummings has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Chris Van Hollen (D-8)

Massachusetts
James McGovern (D-3)
Barney Frank (D-4)

Michigan
Nancy Skinner (D-9)

Minnesota

Betty McCollum (D-4)

• Rep. McCollum was elected to Congress in 2000 and is being challenged by anti-choice Ogbazghi "Obi" Sium.
• Rep. McCollum has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Keith Ellison (D-5)

Mississippi

Bennie G. Thompson (D-2)

• Rep. Thompson was elected to Congress in 1993 and is being challenged by anti-choice Yvonne Brown.
• Rep. Thompson has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Missouri

Russ Carnahan (D-3)

• Rep. Carnahan was elected to Congress in 2004 and is being challenged by anti-choice Dave Bertelsen.
• In 2005, Rep. Carnahan received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• In addition to his stalwart support for a woman's right to choose, Rep. Carnahan is also a cosponsor of many proposals that would help reduce the need for abortion.

Montana

Monica Lindeen (D-AL)

• State Rep. Monica Lindeen is challenging Rep. Dennis Rehberg - an anti-choice member of Congress.
• Pro-choice fact: Lindeen is pro-choice and has a strong pro-choice voting record in the Montana legislature, consistently receiving a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Montana.

Nevada

Shelley Berkley (D-1)

• Rep. Berkley was elected to Congress in 1998 and is being challenged by Kenneth Wegner.
• Rep. Berkley has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

New Jersey

Paul Aronsohn (D-5)

• Paul Aronsohn is challenging anti-choice Rep. Scott Garrett (R), who received a 0% pro-choice score from NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2005.
• Pro-choice fact: Aronsohn is actively using the choice issue to put his opponent on the defensive, highlighting Rep. Garrett's anti-choice extremism with an ad on YouTube, which was also distributed to over 14,000 NARAL Pro-Choice America members and activists in New Jersey. The ad, titled "Meet the Real Scott Garrett," can be viewed on Aronsohn's campaign website.

Linda Stender (D-7)

• Lisa Stender is challenging anti-choice Rep. Mike Ferguson. Rep. Ferguson once said, "it would be a great day for America" if Congress were to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion [Associated Press, 10/30/2000].
• Pro-choice fact: As a state assemblywoman, Stender sponsored legislation guaranteeing access to women's birth-control prescriptions. Stender also co-sponsored legislation - which was just recently signed into law - requiring insurers to pay for birth-control prescriptions the same way they cover other prescription medications.

Steve Rothman (D-9)

• Rep. Rothman was elected to Congress in 1996 and is being challenged by Vince Micco, who as of late 2004 was chairman of the Bergen County chapter of the Christian Coalition.
• Rep. Rothman has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• In addition to his stalwart support for a woman's right to choose, Rep. Rothman also believes in preventing unintended pregnancy. In particular, Rep. Rothman has written legislation to ensure that hospitals offer emergency contraception to survivors of sexual assault.

Rush Holt (D-12)

• Rep. Holt was elected to Congress in 1998 and is being challenged by Joe Sinagra.
• Rep. Holt has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• In addition to his stalwart support for a woman's right to choose, Rep. Holt also believes in preventing unintended pregnancy. In particular, Rep. Holt has led efforts to protect state "contraceptive-equity" laws from the anti-choice-dominated Congress. (These laws ensure that health plans that cover prescription drugs like Viagra also cover prescription birth control.)

New Mexico
Patricia Madrid (D-1)

New York
Tim Bishop (D-1)
Steve Israel (D-2)
Dave Mejias (D-3)
Carolyn McCarthy (D-4)
Gary Ackerman (D-5)
Joseph Crowley (D-7)
Jerrold Nadler (D-8)
Anthony Weiner (D-9)
Nydia Velazquez (D-12)
Carolyn Maloney (D-14)
Eliot Engel (D-17)
Nita Lowey (D-18)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-20)
Maurice Hinchey (D-22)
Michael Arcuri (D-24)
Dan Maffei (D-25)
Brian Higgins (D-27)
Louise Slaughter (D-28)
Eric Massa (D-29)

North Carolina

Mel Watt (D-12)

• Rep. Watt was elected to Congress in 1992, becoming only one of two African American members elected to Congress from North Carolina in the 20th century. He is being challenged by Ada Fisher.
• Rep. Watt has earned a fully pro-choice voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
• As a senior pro-choice member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Watt frequently helps lead the charge against anti-choice bills that move through that panel.

Brad Miller (D-13)

• Rep. Miller was elected to Congress in 2002 and is being challenged by anti-choice Vernon Robinson, who defaced a pro-choice candidate questionnaire with these words: "You should hit your knees right now and thank God that your mother didn't have you sucked down a sink."
• In 2003, 2004, and 2005, Rep. Miller received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Ohio
Victoria Wulsin (D-2)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-11)
Bob Shamansky (D-12)
Betty Sutton (D-13)
Mary Jo Kilroy (D-15)

Oregon
Earl Blumenauer (D-3)
Peter DeFazio (D-4)
Darlene Hooley (D-5)

Pennsylvania

Lois Murphy (D-6)

• Lois Murphy is running against a staunch anti-choice incumbent, Rep. Jim Gerlach. Click here (http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in-congress/congressional-record-on-choice/state.html?state=PA ) to learn more about Rep. Gerlach's 2005 rating on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Murphy demonstrated her commitment to women's freedom and privacy first hand as a member of NARAL Pro-Choice America's legal department from 1990 to 1993. From 1993 to 2004, she also served as president and a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Pennsylvania.

Joe Sestak (D-7)

• Admiral Joe Sestak is challenging adamantly anti-choice Rep. Curt Weldon. Click here and here for more facts about Rep. Weldon's record on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Sestak states on his campaign website that "Regardless of my religious beliefs, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade that - as a nation - the United States should offer every woman the right to have a legal and safe abortion, if that is her choice. I support that decision."

Patrick Murphy (D-8)

• Patrick Murphy is challenging anti-choice Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick. Click here and here to learn more about why Fitzpatrick has earned his 0% rating on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Murphy is a staunch supporter of a woman's right to choose and his campaign website reflects these values: "As a former professor of Constitutional Law, he understands that the right to privacy is guaranteed by the United States Constitution, and that Roe vs. Wade has been settled law for 30 years. He believes we should also work to make abortion safe, legal and rare by promoting comprehensive sex education and encouraging alternatives such as adoption."

Allyson Schwartz (D-13)

• Rep. Schwartz was elected to Congress in 2004 and is being challenged by Raj Bhakta, who was a contestant on the show "The Apprentice."
• In 2005, Rep. Schwartz received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Texas
Lloyd Doggett (D-25)
Gene Green (D-29)

Vermont

Peter Welch (D-AL)

• Peter Welch is running for Vermont's only seat in the House of Representatives against Martha Rainville, who has provided inconsistent and troubling answers regarding her views on choice.
• Pro-choice fact: Welch demonstrated his pro-choice values when he said, "Voters are tired of the divisive attacks on choice. If my opponent is elected, the same leadership will continue to politicize this issue. I offer a different direction where we take politics out of the issue of choice, reduce and prevent the need for abortions, require pharmacists to honor prescriptions for birth control issued by a woman's doctor, and assure that insurance companies that cover Viagra also cover birth control. We've been successful in Vermont and with new leadership we can be successful in Washington."

Virginia
Bobby Scott (D-3)
Al Weed (D-5)
Jim Moran (D-8)
Judy Feder (D-10)

Washington
Jay Inslee (D-1)
Rick Larsen (D-2)
Brian Baird (D-3)
Jim McDermott (D-7)
Darcy Burner (D-8)
Adam Smith (D-9)

Wisconsin
Tammy Baldwin (D-2)
Gwen Moore (D-4)
Bryan Kennedy (D-5)

Amazing

I saw this and had to spread the word. H/T Pandagon.

From their website:

Emergency Kindness is run by a team of "Janes" spread throughout the country. EC is hard to get in America due to the widespread practice of doctors and pharmacists refusing to give the pill because it conflicts with their personal beliefs. If you are having trouble procuring EC, we will do everything in our power to get it to you before your 72 hours are up.

Again with the Anti-Choice Fucks

The Question posed by an anti-choice fucktard commenter:

Is controlled recreational sex truly neutral toward life, or does it invite eventual destruction?

And my answer:

With the world as overpopulated and already headed towards it's own destruction, can we really say that because we plan to not generate more of the gene pool we're the ones inviting destruction? Hardly. Let's look at Florida's Everglades diminishing with the onrush of population and destroying the wetland areas. Population is already too high and will always continue to grow no matter how many people decide to use birth control. There's no danger in waiting to be or never being a parent. There are plenty of kids being born without our efforts joining theirs. I can still continue to make love monogamously with my sterile partner and I will never consider it cheap because we aren't procreating.

Cheap is as Cheap does, and we're not.

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

Spam of the Week

Sender: Moll Fletcher
Subject: hernia pubic

Now that's just classic.

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

taking a piss has never been so fun!

FIFTH HOLE!

Ok, that's not as perverted as it sounds. I was re-zipping and fixing my belt and realized I've gone from the first hole a month ago, to the FIFTH hole in, today! Oh who cares about weight loss as long as my belts keep score for me? WOO HOO!

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

update!

I seems like quite some time since I've done a simple update about my life. It's hard to say what's the important versus the who gives a shit contingent, but in this case I'll toss it all out there and y'all can pick and choose. Comments are optional. Snarky comments are forbidden unless you like my boot in yer arse. My fabulous, autumn leather short boot, which matches my jacket and bag. I rock. Heh.

The man and I are in process of combining households, and it seems like it's taking forever. I don't want to get impatient to have it done, but I still find myself impatient to have it done, you know? If it was any other man but this one I would think that he isn't serious about co-habitating. I was serious when I said that reading "He's Just Not That Into You," by Greg Berendt changed my life forever. If a man doesn't want to do something, he'll drag his feet and if he's not into you, then he'll ACT like it. I refuse to spend time on the ones that aren't into me. So, like I said, if this was any other man but this one I would believe he wasn't serious and kick him the fuck out. But! This one's good and he loves me, and there's the issue of space and shelving, and we're working to resolve it so he has someplace to put his stuff. Right now he's got some plastic-y tacky drawer things in the computer room and that's GOT to change. We're working on organizational things so that we can properly get domesticated. I realize all of this, but I'm still feeling snarky sometimes. I'm working on my attitude.

Besides the man moving in, there's another new face in the house, even if it is hidden by the futon, or the boxes, or the bed, because she's been hidden since she was brought in. This new cat is still in panic mode and I've got multiple scratches to prove it. We got her on Saturday from Shelter from the Storm, and she was named Sweet Pea. We promptly re-named her D'arby. She's pretty cute, with tabby/tortie coloring and huge green eyes. If you didn't look closely she'd trick you into thinking you were seeing a rabbit. Last night and the night before she woke us up at 4am with her crying. I figured she was hungry and/or thirsty because of all the hiding and none of the eating and drinking. I had the man move the food & water closer to where she was standing and crying (she'd move when we got up), but she didn't partake until Xerox went over and began to eat. I guess she was like "ohhhhh so THAT'S what that is..." and stopped crying and ate. I heard her batting the food around in the metal bowl, so hopefully food and quiet mellows her out.

Next up I've lost about 12 pounds with Weight Watchers, and I'm going to keep losing until I'm NOT in the large women sizes anymore. I remember when I was thin I was pushing the boundaries of the regular sizes as it was...because my frame is so large. A six-foot Amazon can't get away with wearing normal women clothing. I used to wear men's pants mostly, but now Old Navy has the longer ones and they even come in boot-cut, so I will have somewhere to shop. No more fucking Lane-Fat-Fucking-Women-Bryant . It's like they don't sell anything but butt-ugly tents for fat chicks. PLUS even that stuff is too short for me. Bastards. But enough negativity, I'm only interested in feeling better and getting some of the pressure off my joints. Oh, and looking good nekkid. Heh.

That brings me to my next point...I have been cooking these huge pans of healthy foods that can be separated for lunches, and I'm eating better now than if I went out to eat. I love cooking, and it's a fun challenge to make KICK ASS food that I don't have to feel crappy about eating. I made some enfrijoladas a couple of weeks ago, and they were YUMMY. They made a million or so lunches and they never got tired or old. Then I made a pan of lasagna with whole wheat noodles and three kinds of mushrooms and it was totally low fat and really GREAT. So last night I made a mexican tortilla casserole with fat free tortillas, beans, veggie cheese, and some spicy sausage. Of course I forgot the damn thing at home and I have no lunch now, but I can't wait to try it. I find it much easier to eat healthy when I plan ahead. It helps that I enjoy cooking the way I do. I can find a thousand ways to make something taste good without all the calories. I've just never been serious before. It's working and that's the important thing.

I am enjoying the change in level of activity as well. I've been going to the gym a lot more, and biking when I get the chance (and it's warm enough!) The cold weather makes my arthritis ache like hell and supposedly weight training is good for joint pain. My hands hurt in the cold, and right now my back is stiff. Some folks in my Crohn's disease support group see a rheumatologist but I haven't made that step yet. I'm taking flax seed oil and vitamin e capsules along with my other vitamins and I think it will help. It has to, because I MUST knit now that the weather is colder.

Which brings me to my next point: knitting . I've done almost two complete pair of fingerless mittens, and I have LOTS more to go before I stop (around June when it's too hot to continue). In addition to the mittens I'm working on a sweater (almost done), a shawl (partly done), and I'm planning a vest for some dutchie so he won't be cold on his bike. I have some fabulous Shetland wool that I recycled that will keep him very warm. I don't know about a zipper though. It may be a button-down , or a pullover . I'm not so sure of my mad skills yet. Plus I need his measurements, and TIME. No, not those measurements, I need his exact numbers for neck, and shoulder, and chest, arms and waist. There's no other way to do a vest unless you know how big to go.

So that's my update. I'm sure my life will be a lot busier in the weeks to come, but for now this is what I choose to deal with. :)

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

lost .8 lbs. this week! Happy Friday!

What does this picture mean? Well, it's my current progress chart for my diet plan. It's taking forever to lose even the smallest amount. I don't think I mind...because I can SEE the changes happening. My belt holes went from the second to the fourth. My breasts are perkier. (Ok, that's a lie, but I never get to say breasts in print!) I'm less scared to look in the mirror. That's the main one.

Culture Warriors. HA!

I saw this on Madison's own Sweet Jesus I Hate Bill O'Reilly, and nearly lost my lunch laughing.

what I had to say to those anti-choice fucks

It's amazing what passes for humor these days. This is like all the black jokes we're supposed to smile at when an uncle at the family reunion starts telling them.

Still and all I would have to say to him, or anyone else who confuses humor with offensive material - Not funny. I might see the point if it had any resemblance to any real person or anything that any real person might contemplate...you know, like how it would be satiric to talk about conservatives preying on children and other conservatives covering it up. Now that's hilarious.
Shelley | 10.09.06 - 12:10 pm | #

Wow, it's really amazing that so many conservatives talk about being pro-life, and then vote for people like Tom Delay who votes to protect business interests in the Marianas Islands who force their employees to have abortions or lose their jobs in the sweatshops so we can buy our "american made" clothes at a cut rate at Walmart.

Hypocritical once again.
Shelley | 10.09.06 - 12:12 pm | #

UPDATE: The second post was deleted due to overt hostility towards other viewers. The siteowner is such the proverbial pussy.

UPDATE:
Here I go again...this is in response to a Catholic Seminarian who wanted an opinion about the differences between praying across the street and standing on the sidewalk and screaming at people.

As a clinic supporter I have witnessed all types of protesters over the years, and the ones we could respect were the Catholics who stood across the street with their life-sized Mary cut out. I guess they were praying the rosary- we just saw them on their knees for hours. We'd get bagels donated to us from some locals (in one area in San Diego) and we always offered some to the Catholics across the street. They always seemed like nice people, even if they disagreed with what the women in the clinic were doing. Praying doesn't hurt anyone.

I'm just an escort for safety purposes- it's hard for a woman to go to a clinic for any type of procedure, abortion or otherwise, be barraged by crazies jumping on top of them with giant pictures of bloody fetuses. That never works on anyone- it just makes them hurry faster AWAY...And I've seen some of the crazier ones screaming after old men with canes going into the same building for physical therapy! It doesn't really build my trust in their purpose (or intelligence!)

I for one respect people who are across the street peacefully praying or protesting, since I'm the one in charge of protecting women from people who have proven to be anything but!
Shelley | 10.11.06 - 3:27 pm | #
--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

is it fucking friday already?

Best spam subject o' the week: Stepladder Pyrex

It's Friday once again - how'd it get here so fast this time? It barely feels like Monday. Well, except that it really FEELS like a Monday. I'm in no mood to work - surprise! But then when am I? I enjoy my job once in a great while, but for the last 2 weeks I've really been dragging. We'll see if today is any better. Next week will be another exercise in not killing my supervisors for making my life hell. I need a break. In a way I can't wait for the city farmer's market to be over because I really want to sleep in on Saturdays for ONCE. It's been all summer and I feel obligated so I can't back out. I like doing the market but still it would be nice to sleep in past 7am. Definitely running on empty. And coffee and bagels. So I guess it's not that grim.

--
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

What a pair.

My honey says that maybe for halloween he could go as J. Edgar Hoover and I could be Betty Page, but no one would get it. Hm. I dun geddit. :P

can I please

...stop hearing the talk about Mark Foley instant messaging porn to the white house pages....PLEASE? People are dying. More kids than those pages are having trouble keeping their heads from being blown off by Al Queda and the Taliban. The Taliban, who should get back into the Afgani government according to our administrative heads. Jesus Fucking Christ. I too, enjoyed the "oops we fucked" message from the Repugnican camp. For about a day or so. It's been almost a week now. We have more important things to worry about. How fucking shallow are we as a country if this is all we can worry about? That, or the racist Survivor season? Bleh. I'm sick of it.

Lemme tell ya about this knitting book I picked up today. 40% off with a coupon and it's GREAT. If focuses on making items using triangles and squares instead of round pieces. Should distract me from the shitty radio and news shows.

--
"Knit long and prosper."

great google gobs of goosegrease!

Fabulous google link from my spam page. I have no idea what prompted it, but apparently my email is RIFE...RIFE I tells ya...with Tortilla Talk. I may become verklempt.

Spam Imperial Tortilla Sandwiches - To serve, cut each roll in half

--
"Knit long and prosper."

frustration rising

how long....! how long until management fixes their mistake? No on-call who can work with my clients, and an emergency happening today, and I've got another client to take to her doctor. We know the board for on-call assignments is empty so IF they were competent and had hired someone who could work with my clients there would be no problem at all. So as it stands there is no solution and a big problem looming for this afternoon. what a fucking mess.

UPDATE: With the help of flexible staff people (good on them) and another RSC and PC we got it figured out. This covers today, but for the love of god! What happens tomorrow?

I hate my job.
--
"Knit long and prosper."

oh where oh where

...is a digital camera? I went along with the "girls" yestereve and we all got pierced. One got the Tragus done, and the others of us got our noses pierced. I picked the cutest little light green-jewelry and my other friend picked out clear. Very cute all~! I just wish I had a picture to post. I'm terrible at posting in a timely manner. Time out for me!

--
"Knit long and prosper."

You're On Notice!

Spam of the Week

Sender: Clement Bolton
Subject: starving tortilla

Now that's just class.

--
"Democrats are sexy. Whoever heard of a good piece of elephant?"