Illmethinks_Politiq

I'm Sure It's An 'Honest' Mistake

By now I'm sure you've heard of Mark Foley R-FL, the Congressman implicated in the scandal involving Congressional pages. You know, the former co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus (oh the irony). Not ringing a bell? Well maybe you know him as the sponsor/key player in over 40 legislative pieces whose purpose was to protect children on the internet, in public, or at home. Be that as it may, I'm sure that when Fox News put up a banner beneath some video footage of Foley that incorrectly labeled the Republican Congressman as 'Mark Foley D-FL' it was an honest mistake...

Surely Fox News, especially during The O'Reilly Factor (paragon of truthfulness that it is), would never resort to something so underhanded as intentionally misidentifying the party affiliation of someone involved in an ever-widening scandal that involves minors... and definitely not a month before national Congressional elections...

See for yourself.

Bear

Spreading The Stereotype

With the recent Rep. Mark Foley/Congerssional page scandal in full swing it's no surprise that certain ultra-conservative individuals are using this as an opportunity to spread the usual stereotypical falsehoods about gay men; namely, that they are uncontrollable nymphomaniacs who are in need of 'therapy'. Once again, our leading example comes from that font of misinformation, Pat Robertson and The 700 Club:

"They'd [congressional republicans] be better to say, "Well, this man's gay, he does what gay people do, and so don't worry about it."

From conservative commentator Paul Weyrich comes this little gem, originally aired on NPR's All Things Considered:

"Here is the real problem. It has been known for many years that Congressman Foley was a homosexual. Homosexuals tend to be preoccupied with sex."

"Well, it's not my opinion. It's the opinion of many psychologists and psychiatrists who have to deal with them."

Umm, 'deal with them'? Nice choice of words, Paul. The only reason a gay man would be in counseling is if he is being treated for an actual, real psychological condition. Newsflash: it's not the 60's, and homosexuality is no longer considered a disease.

The only comforting aspect in all of this is that these idiots are acting exactly like we'd expect them to.

From Media Matters
Bear

Aiding Terrorism One War At A Time

According to the latest National Intelligence Estimate, which is a consensus view of the 16 different spy agencies inside the US government, has found that the terrorism threat has grown since 9/11, and the Iraq war/occupation has helped to fan the flames of radicalism. The National Intelligence Estimate is based upon the raw data collected by the spy agencies, and are approved by the director of national intelligence John Negroponte.
The report states that the radical Islamist terrorism has expanded, moving beyond Al Qaeda to 'self-generating' cells who draw their inspiration from the group but are not inherently linked to them. Terrorists currently on the ground in Iraq are also gaining experience in tactics and weaponry that they can take baack to their home bases and use to instruct a new generation.

Not exactly what the White House had in mind when they said in their '9/11 Five Years Later:Success and Challenges' report: "We have done much to degrade Al Qaeda and its affiliates and to undercut the perceived legitimacy of terrorism."

Full Story

Bear

Protect Your Privacy

After the recent AOL search-history disclosure, our friends at EFF have graciously provided 6 tips to protect your anonymity. Do yourself a favor and check these out.

Bear

Body Language

For those of you who missed it, I finally found some (grudging) respect for Matt Lauer. Don't know what I'm talking about? Check this out...

Hey George, how about answering the question?

Bear

"Savage" Misogyny

According to Michael Savage, a nationally syndicated talk-show host, women are the reason for the 'viciousness' that currently reigns in the US Senate. From his September 12th show:

Weren't we told before Barbara Boxer became a U.S. senator, before Dianne Feinstein became a U.S. senator, Before Hillary Clinton became a U.S. senator, that when women became senators, we'd have a kinder, gentler Senate, a more compassionate Senate? Well, I think the results are quite clear. The Senate is not kinder and gentler or more compassionate. In fact, it's more vicious and more histrionic than ever, specifically because women have been injected into the Senate.

Actually, women have been in the Senate since 1922, but thanks for trying...

Hi, I'm a chauvinist

Bear

Are men obsolete?

Don't know about you guys, but this gives me hope. The world would be a better place...
These mice contained a specifically engineered gene that altered the activity of the other chromosomes.

Indeed. These mice developed from eggs that contained only maternal genetic material, unlike other mammals which develop through sexual reproduction and contain genetic material from both parents.

In the study the researchers combined chromosomes from cells with a missing key "male" gene -- called H19 -- with chromosomes from a fully grown egg which contains only maternal genes. In the past, embryos created this way died shortly before birth because of a poorly developed placenta. This time the researchers were able to create mice that developed normally and survived for much longer. One of the new pups was even able to reproduce after reaching adulthood. The report appears in this week's Nature.

First woman inducted into Cooperstown

Effa Manley became the first woman ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday. As owner and business manager of the Negro League team the Newark Eagles, Manley used her position to fight against social injustice.Not only that, but the Eagles were always contenders, and won the Negro League World Series in 1946. Congrats, Effa...
J.J.

Fun Time Waster...

This is the best time waster EVER!  Here you can design and download your own church signs to say whatever YOU see fit. 

AT&T's Secret NSA Room

Once again, big thanks and much love go out to EFF for fighting the good fight...

According to recently unsealed documents in a class-action lawsuit brought by the good people at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, one of AT&T's facilities has set up a secure room specifically for the NSA, in which the agency can monitor the emails and Internet correspondence of AT&T users en masse. Of course, as is more and more often seen under the current administration, this is all occurring without warrants or supervision by the court system.

EFF.org (it's the second article, dated May 25, 2006)

Bear

Victory For Web Reporters (Thanks EFF!)

In a victory for Internet reporters, a state appeals court in California ruled that said reporters are entitled to the same right to protect their confidential sources as regular, non-net reporters. The case stems from a lawsuit brought by Apple computers against those who - supposedly - leaked info about an upcoming product release.

EFF

Bear

An Unexpected Side-Effect Of The Immigration Debate?

It looks like there's an unforeseen side to the current debate over immigration in the US: hate groups have seen a 5% increase since last year, and a 33% increase over the last half-decade. One of the fastest growing is, of all things, the National Socialist group - you know, the ones who were known as Nazis back in WW II.

Want to see where they're at? Check this out.

Christ, I hoped we were done with these idiots. But, when nationalistic fervor is running rampant, should we really be surprised?

Bear

The Myth Of The Liberal Media

Just a quick link for all of you who are kind enough to stop in for a peek, especially our loyal readers who stick around even when our posting quantity slips a little -- vagas and leftist grandpa, i'm looking in your direction ;-)

Anyways, you've all heard the ranting of the lunatic right about the "liberal media" or, more specifically, the "liberal media bias".
As I've said before, radio, TV, newspapers, and the web all constitute media. Now, the right-wing owns radio; you've got Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly (who likes to claim he's fair and balanced because he was a registered independent when he started at Fox News, which is actually completely untrue. He was a registered Republican, at least according to his voter registration form) on TV, and papers like the Wall Street Journal. I feel pretty safe in saying that each side gets to put out its own share of propaganda.

One difference though: the right-wingers use disinformation. A lot of disinformation. Constantly.
In every venue. Lucky for us, there's people willing to keep track of this interminable stream of b.s. - the good folks over at mediamatters. Follow the continual logorrhea, and the inevitable backtracking when they're called out.

Bear

Maybe Two Parties IS Enough...

For a few years now I have ranted and raved about America's two party system actually being a one-and-a-half sytem party, with so much overlap that the parties are really only noticably different when you look at the fringe elements. Ergo, I have long hoped for a viable third party to make its presence felt-this is why I voted for Nader in 2000 (I lived in New York at the time, and since it was a given that Gore would win the state, I felt safe in voting this way.) My hope was that the Green Party, which didn't stand a chance in hell of winning, would at least receive 10% of the vote, thereby becoming eligible for federal funding during the next election cycle. Alas, it was not meant to be. But now I'm starting to reconsider my position on multiple parties...

Which brings me to the 'Charity, Freedom, and Diversity' Party (NVD). This is a new political party in the Netherlands that has officially registered for the election cycle. Nice name, isn't it?

Oh yeah--they're also pedophiles.

No, really.

Look at their platform:
Lowering the legal age for sexual relations from the current age of 16 to 12, with the eventual goal of removing the age restrictions entirely.
Legalizing the possession of child pornography while banning the trade thereof.
Allowing pornography to be broadcast on daytime tv, while limiting violent pornography to the evening.
Sex education for toddlers.
Lowering the age to appear in pornographic films and for prostitution to 16.
Legalizing 'consensual' bestiality. ('Consensual'? Neigh once for "yes",  twice for "no"?)
Allowing everyon to go naked in public.
Legalization of all 'hard' and 'soft' drugs.
Free train travel for all. (okay, this last one isn't too bad)

The rationale? "A ban just makes children curious", according to founding member Ad van der Berg.

Just when you think you've seen it all...

Oh, and NAMBLA? Don't even think about it.

Bear

Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Person

It would seem that Ann Coulter, the raving lunatic of the right, is in a bit of trouble concerning her voting registration, and may be kicked off the voting rolls. Ms. Coulter apparently committed voter fraud by providing an incorrect address on her voter registration and then voting at the wrong location. Thanks to bradblog.

Bear

Trouble for 'Mother Trib'

Janet Weaver, executive editor for The Tampa Tribune newspaper, was arrested early Tuesday morning for drunk driving. This follows the arrest of local CBS anchor Reginald Roundtree for drunk driving back in December.

Here's a tip for the local members of the media: report the news, don't be part of it.

Bear

Olbermann vs. O'Reilly

In the continuing cable news battles, Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) and Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) are continuing to battle. The latest skirmish? The misrepresentation by O'reilly of his shows popularity... well it isn't a misrepresentation as much as it is an outright lie. See for yourself.

Bear

This Is Change?

According to Fox News, one of their political analysts is being considered as a replacement for Scott McClellan, who recently resigned as White House Press Secretary. Tony Snow, the analyst in question, looks to be a perfect match, as he also is capable of making great leaps of illogic, and drawing connections where none exist.
Case in point: Gas prices and Rumsfeld criticism

Bear

Suing For Intolerance

Alright, this is not a joke. The fundies are trying a taking their intolerance in a whole new direction. Once again, logic is twisted into forms nigh unrecognizable as such. The basic argument is that schools and businesses that endorse tolerance and diversity training that includes non-discrimination against homosexuals are, in fact, discriminating against the beliefs of evangelical 'christians'.

The full story is here.

If we could only turn the country into 'Survivor" for a day, I know who gets my vote to be cast off...

Hey guys, remember 'love thy neighbor'?
Remember that passing judgement is reserved for God, and God alone?
Remember 'judge not, lest ye be judged'?
Any of this ringing a bell?

Or are the white hoods impairing your hearing?

Bear

An Easter Joke

What did the anthophobe say when he saw the Easter floral display?

(wait for it)

"Christ! A rose"

Get it?

Christ arose?

Easter?

The resurrection?

Ah, my humor is wasted on you people...

heathens

Bear

The Plans Are On The Table - Bush Plans To Attack Iran

Yes, that is a serious paraphrase.  Seymour Hersh says it much better.

The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. Current and former American military and intelligence officials said that Air Force planning groups are drawing up lists of targets, and teams of American combat troops have been ordered into Iran, under cover, to collect targeting data and to establish contact with anti-government ethnic-minority groups. The officials say that President Bush is determined to deny the Iranian regime the opportunity to begin a pilot program, planned for this spring, to enrich uranium.

    

American and European intelligence agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), agree that Iran is intent on developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. But there are widely differing estimates of how long that will take, and whether diplomacy, sanctions, or military action is the best way to prevent it. Iran insists that its research is for peaceful use only, in keeping with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and that it will not be delayed or deterred.

    

There is a growing conviction among members of the United States military, and in the international community, that President Bush’s ultimate goal in the nuclear confrontation with Iran is regime change. Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has challenged the reality of the Holocaust and said that Israel must be “wiped off the map.” Bush and others in the White House view him as a potential Adolf Hitler, a former senior intelligence official said. “That’s the name they’re using. They say, ‘Will Iran get a strategic weapon and threaten another world war?’ ”

    

A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was “absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb” if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,” and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.”

    

One former defense official, who still deals with sensitive issues for the Bush Administration, told me that the military planning was premised on a belief that “a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate the religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government.” He added, “I was shocked when I heard it, and asked myself, ‘What are they smoking?’ ”

Via The New Yorker

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Bush Gets A Tongue Lashing

Thank you, Harry Taylor! At an open-forum event in Charlotte thursday, audience members had an opportunity to speak, unscripted, to the president. While there was a lot of the expected love-fest inanity, Mr. Taylor took a different approach:

"You never stop talking about freedom, and I appreciate that. But while I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to try and preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating safe food."

"What I want to say to you is that I, in my lifetime, I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened by, my leadership in Washington."

" I feel like, despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration."

"I would hope, from time to time, that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself."

Washington Post

Man, I think I have a new personal hero...

Bear

Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Ass Part Deux - Bush Gave Libby The Permission To Perform An Act Of Treason

WASHINGTON, April 6 — Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff testified that he was authorized by President Bush, through Mr. Cheney, in July 2003 to disclose key parts of what until then was a classified prewar intelligence estimate on Iraq, according to a new court filing.

The testimony by the former official, I. Lewis Libby Jr., cited in a court filing by the government made late Wednesday, provides an indication that Mr. Bush, who has long criticized leaks of secret information as a threat to national security, may have played a direct role in authorizing disclosure of the intelligence report on Iraq.

The disclosure occurred at a moment when the White House was trying to defend itself against accusations that it had inflated the case against Saddam Hussein.

The president has the authority to declassify information, and Mr. Libby indicated in his testimony that he believed Mr. Bush's instructions — which prosecutors said Mr. Libby regarded as "unique in his recollection" — gave him legal cover to talk with a reporter about the intelligence.

..Now...If only the cover of Time was true...hmmmm
g

 

Hi Little Girl, I'm From Homeland Security

A deputy press secretary for the department of homeland security was arrested at his Silver Springs, MD, home on Tuesday night. Brian J. Doyle, 55, is accused of sending pornographic movies and requesting dirty pictures from a 14-year-old girl in Polk county, Florida. The girl was actually a sheriff's deputy. A warrant was issued containing 23 felony counts, seven for use of a computer to seduce a child, and 16 for transmission of material harmful to a minor. In October another homeland security official, Frank Figueroa, the newly appointed Immigration and Customs enforcement special agent in charge for Tampa, was arrested after alledgedly exposing himself to a teenage girl in an Orlando shopping mall.

TBO

Well, I certainly feel safe...

Bear

Ummm..Ok? Why Can't The Country Have Universal Healthcare?

sick., originally uploaded by jodiemim.

Massachusetts is poised to become the first state to provide nearly universal health care coverage after the state legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill today that Gov. Mitt Romney says he will sign.

The bill does what health experts say no other state has yet been able to do: provide a mechanism for all of its citizens to obtain health insurance. It accomplishes that in a way that experts say combines several different methods and proposals from across the political spectrum, apportioning the cost among businesses, individuals and the government.

"This is probably about as close as you can get to universal," said Paul Ginsburg, an economist who is president of the nonpartisan Center for Studying Health System Change in Washington. "It's definitely going to be inspiring to other states about how there was this compromise. They found a way to get to a major expansion of coverage that people could agree on. For a conservative Republican, this is individual responsibility. For a Democrat, this is government helping those that need help."

The bill, which resulted after months of wrangling between legislators and the governor, requires all Massachusetts residents to obtain health coverage by July 1, 2007.

sick.....

via nyt

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Don't let the door hit you on the ass...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Just a month after easily winning a contested primary for his House seat in suburban Houston, embattled Rep. Tom DeLay has decided to drop out of his re-election race and plans to resign from Congress by the end of May.

Hoorah! I wish I had a glass of champagne right now to celebrate. Good riddance.

My favorite quote of the article:

His successor as majority leader, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, issued a statement Monday night calling DeLay "one of the most effective and gifted leaders the Republican Party has ever known."

"He has served our nation with integrity and honor, and I'm honored to call him my colleague and friend," Boehner said.

Wow. Integrity and honor?! That reminds me of that part of The Princess Bride where Inigo turns to Viscini and says,"You keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means."

J.J.

I Love the Show, But...

Come on, citizens of the US! No wonder the rest of the world rightfully views us with a wary eye. We sit here, as a nation, trying to 'export' democracy to the rest of the globe, while at the same time our own population knows more about an animated show than the most basic foundation of our 'great society'.
Their are five fundamental freedoms that comprise the First Amendment of the Constitution, and five Simpson family members. According to a recent poll, more than half of those asked could name at least two Simpsons, while only one in four could name more than one of the five freedoms from the first amendment. Even more disturbing, 22% of respondents could name all five Simpsons (Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie), but only 0.1% could name all five freedoms (religion, speech, assembly, press, and petition for the redress of grievances).

Full disclosure notice: I can name all five Simpsons, but I forgot redress of grievances :-(

Maybe we should be exporting FOX's sunday night line-up if we want to make the world more like us...

Thanks to the BBC

Bear

The Scalia Photo

For those of you who haven't been paying attention, their has been a recent dust-up concerning a gesture Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia may (or may not) have made while in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Some said it was the middle finger, others claimed it was a gesture where the hand is held under the chin and flicked forward. Now the photographer has released the photo, and you can see it here. According to the photographer, Scalia also added "Vaffanculo", an Italian phrase that I once uttered as a small child, shocking the hell out of my parents. Let's just say it doesn't mean 'oh darn'.

Bear

Bush Mistakes

Another little bit of levity...

Bear

Comedian Impersonates Bush

Hey all, thought you might enjoy this.

Bear

UFO's In The US...

Unmanned Flying Objects, that is. According to news.com, everyone from police agencies to private firms are envisioning the use of UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, currently in use in Iraq and Afghanistan) to help keep an eye on things here in the USA. Border patrol, marijuana field detection, aerial photography, pipeline monitoring, and domestic surveillance are just a few of the envisioned uses.

Small problem, guys. UAV's are not equipped with the same anti-collision faculties as real-life pilots: night-time lights; transponders that broadcast altitude info; and flights that take place in poor weather, or higher than 18,000 feet above sea level, which require radio contact between the pilot and the controller.

But can they listen in on phone calls?

Bear

NSA Domestic Spying - Say Your Piece!

If you, like most of us here at illmethinks, think the government is currently overstepping the bounds of legality with its warrentless surveillance of Americans' private communications, call your elected officials and let them know. Don't know how to contact them? Don't worry, we're here to help. Simply go here, plug in your zip code, and start dialing. Although educating the hio polloi is noble, and the bulk of what we do here, it is only part of the solution. We elect these people, and they need to be reminded that they are beholden to us. Make your voice heard. This is a democracy, at least for a little while longer...

Bear

Something Stinks In New Jersey

Two bills before the New Jersey assembly, A1327 and A2623, would require ISP's to keep records of their users identities and reveal them during cases of online defamation. The bills are an attempt to control those who say unseemly things about others online, and allow those who have been defamed to confront their accusers. Not too bad, huh?

Well, not so fast. There's a little problem with the first amendment in all of this. You see, the first amendment protects the right to speak anonymously. One other problem: the laws require the disclosure of a persons identity, before the facts of a case have been decided. In other words, if you want to know who 'liberallarry' is, since he keeps calling Bush a moron, sue him for defamation. Even though you have no case, his identity would be revealed. People would file frivolous lawsuits simply to unmask online users. New Jersey already does a good job of appropriately deciding which cases merit the disclosure of a users identity without these laws. For more info, see this.

And you thought by the title I was talking about the chemical plants...

Bear

Indian Clinic Doctor Arrested

Dr Anil Sabhani and his assistant Kartar Singh have received two year sentences for performing abortions based upon the sex of the fetus. It is illegal in India to perform ultrasound tests in order to determine the gender of a fetus. The doctor and his assistant would perform abortions for mothers if they were found to be carrying a girl. India has a long tradition of viewing female children as less desirable than males. The Lancet journal reported earlier this year that sexual selection may cause as many as 500,000 female fetuses to aborted a year.

BBC News

This seems to be a result of India's past agrarian culture, where boys were deemed more capable of performing the heavy labor necessary for farming, coupled with the dowry tradition associated with a daughter's marriage, which can be a financially devestating blow to a poor family. However, given India's move into a more modernized economy, this reasoning, which has always been logically deficient, is shown to be completely outmoded. Until the government follows through with strict enforcement of its policies, however, this horrific practice is sure to continue.

Bear

FEMA Evacuation Plan

FEMA Evacuation Plan, originally uploaded by G. J. Charlet III.

hahahhahahahhahahahah...!!!!

g

Scripture

Scripture, originally uploaded by Ana Fierling.

Election fraud, Appalachia-style

A 300-page indictment detailing more than 1,000 allegations of election fraud was returned in February by a grand jury investigating the coal-mining town of Appalachia, Va., following reports of absentee-ballot bribery by two town officials. Prosecutors accused candidates' operatives of offering the locals such goodies as beer, moonshine and cigarettes and, in one case, a supply of pork rinds. [Roanoke Times, 3-3-06]

Jack Abramoff, eat your heart out.

J.J.

And Now!!!....The Illmethinks Slap My Head Award

We have shown various ideas for water purification in the third world, but this sure is a simple one- Fill plastic bottles, sit them on a black roof and leave it for a day. The sun heats the bottles and a combination of bacteria-killing ultraviolet light and the heat sterilize it. "The technology is very easy, but up to now people have not been told about it. We can use old pieces of roofing to put the bottles on. It is also very cheap, so is accessible to everyone." ::BBC via Treehugger

I cannot believe that this is so damn simple......sheesh

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To Prove That I Am Lightening Up :)

DSC08394, originally uploaded by eblack.

Here is a picture of a hummingbird.

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see.....?

American Errorist

American Errorist, originally uploaded by Doxieone.

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Update - Arrrrggggg :)

First off, I want to thank JJ for here continued vigilance....Way to go JJ. I also want to thank all of the readers who stick it out with us through our low productivity ;) 

But a funny thing happens on the way to blogging nirvana.......life.

I also want to lighten it up a bit.  I believe (and this is totally due to my 'heavy' personality) that this site went a little crazy with political slams......I can't help it.  I am going to ask the writers on illmethinks to write about life as well. 

Because, what is a political slam if you don't know where it's coming from. :)

peace (literally)

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Reproductive bitching...

Ok. I haven't written anything in awhile, but after reading Varqas's plea for more output from our little site, I felt obliged to comply. And being the token feminist here at Illmethinks, there was nothing for me to write about but the recent South Dakota abortion ban. I don't want to talk about the boring details, or who is a piece of shit anti-choice governor (Mike Rounds, I'm looking at you...) or how this legislation is going to lead to the Supreme Court abortion cases that the Right-to Lifers are COUNTING ON to overturn Roe v. Wade. I'm going to write about some broader generalities, which is never a good idea... however, I've had a couple of beers, and dammit, I'm going to write about whatever I want.

Louise Frechette, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, had said in many statements that the most specific marker of development in "underdeveloped" countries is the status of women in the society. The more freedom and power the women have, the more advanced and healthy the society is. (P.S. I'm trying to find a link to the speech Frechette made the other day on this very subject, and no matter what search engine I use or which site I come from, the link is dead. Hmmm.) It makes perfect sense. The most basic and powerful right women possess is the right to control their own reproductive systems. Men are notoriously bad at controlling their own sexual impulses; therefore, it falls to women to control population growth. At least, ideally, it should. When we are given the freedom to do just that, population growth is controlled, and society, as a whole, benefits, by not being burdened by unwanted children who drain the "public welfare system", whatever it may be. However, by giving women power over their own bodies, the men feel as though they are losing control over the most systematically oppressed segment of society: the women. When men lose control over one another, over political boundaries and nature, when they have no control over ANYTHING, there is always that one demographic that lies within their control, because of physical dominance: the women. Therein lies the dilemma: the male population of said society, the segment in control, must decide: do we continue the advance towards civilization and solidity, by allowing the women their nature-given role of population control (by letting them regulate their own pregnancies, whether through contraception or abortion), or do we make the conscious decision to REGRESS, removing the reproductive rights of women and absorbing their rights into an increasingly theocratic state? In this way, creating thousands of unwanted children, who will undoubtedly become a burden of the state? The answer, unfortunately, is obvious: given the choice, the demographic in control will ALWAYS seek to continue oppression over another, even though it weakens the societal structure as a whole.

I know it's pessimistic, but give the current political climate, I would have to assume that abortion will be illegal in the majority of states in 20 years. I wish that liberal men would see that this is more than just a "women's rights" issue, because I know that being labeled as such, it holds little weight. It should be seen as a critical issue in relation to our society as a whole. If our system is suddenly saddled with the burden of hundreds of thousands of unwanted children, it will cripple the public welfare system, and become a huge financial problem. I would love to think that men with a social conscience will fight for what is ultimately in the best interest of our society as a whole, but I'm not holding my breath. God, how humiliating for women to have to ask the men to pretty please let us do what we want to our own bodies... Unfortunately, the government seems bound and determined to punish women for having sex, even if it is to the ultimate detriment of the entire population. (A little side note: a male contaceptive pill has been developed and is ready to go, but will never be marketed, because "men won't take it." Would you take the Pill, boys, even if it had a rare risk of making you sterile? Food for thought. More proof that reproductive decisions should be left to women.)

OK, I'm done bitching, guys. I'd love to hear a little feedback.

J.J.

To ALL College Professors - Take This Threat Very Serious - The New, New McCarthy

David Horowitz has lived a rich, and contradictory, life. He once contributed to seminal leftist magazine Ramparts and hired for the Black Panthers, but then bitterly split with his leftist friends and reinvented himself as a conservative who may be the leading scourge of left-leaning professors nationwide. His crusade to make liberal "indoctrination" by professors a statutory offense has seized the backing of Republican lawmakers and the imaginations of campus followers. Recently, Horowitz launched a new Web site, DiscoverTheNetwork.org, to catalog and expose his enemies on the left.

Purportedly a serious counterbalance to liberal sites that track conservatives, Horowitz's online "Guide to the Political Left" lays out what he considers the extensive connections between liberals and terrorists.

The New, New McCarthy

So what's it going to be educators?  Are you just going to dismiss this as another Right Wing Wacko  trying to sell some books or bring eyeballs to a website?  You are in danger. Your way of life now has a real threat against it. If you do not stand up for yourselves, who will?  If you have been reluctant to take sides, now is the time to do so. The right is really going after you now.

It is your choice to survive.

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thanks to Salon

 

Be Very, Very, Quiet, I'm Hunting Donars

The comedy of errors continues......We have decided to give the Veep a handy, dandy guide to help him determine which  creature is the quail and which one is the donar....the donar is the more vile of the 2.

link

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Fundie homophobia reaches global stage

WASHINGTON - The governments of the United States and Iran--part of President George W. Bush's ''axis of evil'' and his current nuclear bete noire--demonstrated rare unity of cause this past week when Washington backed a Tehran initiative to deny UN access to advocates of sexual minorities' rights.

The United States voted with such bastions of human rights as Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Cameroon China and Cuba.

At issue are applications filed by the Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay Association and the Danish gay rights group Landsforeningen for Bosser og Lesbiske in May 2005.

Both groups had sought consultative status with ECOSOC. Consultative status is the official means by which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world can participate in discussions among member states at the United Nations. Nearly 3,000 groups have this status, according to HRW.

What kills me is that the Iran initiative to summarily dismiss the groups applications (almost unheard of, as organizations are almost always given a chance to state their case) PASSED, 10-5, with 3 abstentions. Great. As though the Global Gag Rule weren't bad enough. Isn't it enough for the wingnuts that they are winning here in the states? Do they have to send their hate and bigotry overseas? Disgusting. I can just hear Bushie thinking, "You know, them Iranians is a pain in the ass about the nukes, but they got the right idea about the death penalty for them fairy-boys." From one theocracy to another. People don't seem to realize that we could be headed there, if we don't find a way to combat the advancements of the radical Christian right.

J.J.

Response to an Email Advertising the Local Abstinence Education Training/Seminar

Email Advertising the Local Abstinence Education Training/Seminar

Dear College Of Public Health Students & Faculty,

While health educators and public health advocates are often divided into 'abstinence-only', 'abstinence-plus', or 'comprehensive' sexuality educators, the message of abstinence in all of these programs remains important, and is based on making healthy personal choices, (not making moral judgments.)

As a recent graduate of the COPH, on behalf of Pregnancy Plus Medical (a crisis pregnancy center sponsored by Catholic Charities in Tampa), I would like to cordially invite you as health educators and advocates to come gather with other health educators, parents, youth ministers, pastors and other community members concerned about the future of America's youth.  You will learn about the abstinence message from a certified instructor from Choosing the Best, Inc., a 501 c(3) non-profit formed to provide community-based abstinence education and training through grants and contracts.  You will also learn how to encourage parents to engage with and talk to their teens about peer pressure, refusal skills and the importance of goal setting and character development.

This training will take place on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Tampa from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.  Registration is $15.00 per person and includes lunch and a copy of "The Big Talk Book", a book published by Choosing the Best to help parents empower their teens to 'choose the best'.

This seminar has been made possible by a grant from the William L. Culbert, Jr., Trust, distributed by Wachovia Bank.  If you cannot attend, but would like more information about similar grant-funded activities and programs, I can be reached by e-mail (at jjohnston@ccdosp.org <mailto:jjohnston@ccdosp.org> ) or by calling the number listed below.

I encourage you to fill out the attached registration form and take advantage of this great opportunity!

Respectfully,
Jacqueline
(A new COPH alumni!)

Jacqueline M. Johnston, MPH
POWER Team Moderator &
Prevention Specialist
Catholic Charities, DOSP
2021 E. Busch Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 631-4370 ext. 228


Response to Email Advertising the Local Abstinence Education Training/Seminar

Dear Jaqueline,

This is in response to the email advertising the Local Abstinence Education Training/Seminar sent on 1/26/06.

  It is true that sex educators are often divided into abstinence only vs. comprehensive sex education. Catholic Charities is in support of abstinence only programs, not comprehensive sex ed.  'Choosing the Best', which is providing a copy of "The Big Talk Book" at the training seminar you mentioned, provides community-based abstinence education and training to schools through grants and contracts.  'Choosing the Best' is a producer and marketer of abstinence only curricula to school districts and communities (http://www.choosingthebest.org).

    While there is no doubt that abstinence is one way to prevent pregnancy and STD's, in abstinence only curriculums, students might potentially suffer from ignorance about sexual matters. There is little evidence that teens who learn about sex in abstinence only programs refrain from having sex longer than others. And the problem is that when they do have sex, they often do not use contraception.  On the flip side, students in a comprehensive sex-ed classroom do not become sexually active more often or earlier, and they use contraception more consistently.

    Let’s look at a real life example:  In Minnesota, a study found that sexual activity doubled among junior high school students taking part in an abstinence-only program. The independent study, commissioned by the state's health department, recommended broadening the program to include more information about contraception (Minnesota Health Department).

    Abstinence-only programs deprive teenagers of information about the effectiveness of condoms in stopping the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (Advocates for Youth). According to the experts on AIDS, many of these new infections occur because young people don't have the knowledge or skills to protect themselves. To address this important health issue, the American Psychological Association is recommending that comprehensive and empirically supported sex education and HIV prevention programs become widely available to teach youth how to abstain from risky sexual behaviors and learn how they can protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.  Based on over 15 years of research, the evidence shows that comprehensive sexuality education programs for youth that encourage abstinence, promote appropriate condom use, and teach sexual communication skills reduce HIV-risk behavior and also delay the onset of sexual intercourse (American Psychological Association).

    Even though there is sound SCIENCE which proves comprehensive sex ed works better, Florida received $6,930,070 in federal funding for abstinence only programs in FY 2003.  Catholic Charities received over $99,000 toward this inadequate and incomplete method.  Florida Sexuality Education Law mandates that schools teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage... I won't even get into how homophobic that is.

Thanks for your time,

Deidre Orriola, B.A.
Laboratory Assistant
Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health
University of South Florida


Thank you, Diedre!
I certainly was not planning on attending this seminar as I believe this organization's perception of the "best" education/method is narrow-minded.
-Teri

Cool response.
-Brett

AMEN!

(pun intended)

~Alan

Thanks for your response to that email. I wrote my undergrad honors thesis on sex ed in america, specifically why abstinence only is so ineffective. I didn't want to burst anyone's bubble, so I did not respond to the email.

Thanks for sharing,

-Myesha

And we thought American politicians were weird...

British parliamentarian George Galloway, leader of the Respect party, often in the news for everything from talking smack to the Senate to an Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, has joined the cast of Celebrity Big Brother. This means that, like all other contestants, he must remain locked in the house until he gets "evicted." This means that instead of actually doing the job he was elected to do, he is "prancing around the house in a shiny red bodysuit and a Count Dracula outfit as part of tasks being set the contestants."

Another clip, which has been played repeatedly on television, shows him pretending to be a cat, licking imaginary milk out of the hands of an actress while she coos "Here pussy, pussy .... yes, good pussy cat."

Wow. Can you imagine if American politicians did this? Scooter Libby on The Mole? Nancy Pelosi on Survivor? John Ashcroft on American Idol?

J.J.

Jack shopped photos to press

On Thinkprogress:

Over the weekend, Time magazine and the Washingtonian both reported on five photos of President Bush with Jack Abramoff, but neither publication revealed its source.

Yesterday, ThinkProgress laid out the case for why the source for the photos was likely Abramoff himself. Last night, our hunch was confirmed.

Appearing on MSNBC, Newsweek correspondent Michael Isikoff reported that it was indeed Abramoff who floated the photographs to Washingtonian.

The post has some interesting comments speculating about Jack's intentions. Blackmail? Is he gunning for a presidential pardon? Part of me wishes that Bush WOULD pardon him, so the whole country can see that this administration is in bed with the likes of Abramoff. However, the media would immediately drop the story, and it would be back to business as usual. Sigh. Here's hoping that those pictures will surface, and that they nail W to the wall.

J.J.

Palestinian elections

Palestinians voted in their first parliamentary election in 10 years today. For the first time, Hamas has candidates running in the elections (under the "Change and Reform List"), and it's looking pretty likely that they will take quite a few seats from Fatah, the party that has dominated the Palestinian Authority for decades. Fatah has been accused of rampant cronyism and corruption. (Sound familiar?) It should be noted that the manifesto of the Change and Reform List makes no mention of the destruction of Israel, a major change from the initial charter of Hamas. Now Israeli and American officials are trying to figure out if they will even talk to members of Hamas if they're elected. Be careful what you wish for, guys. You want democracy in the middle east? Well, here it is. The thing with democracy is, the people get to choose their own representatives. Foreign governments do not get to pick and choose who they will "allow" and who they won't. 

BBC has a photo essay with "people on the street" quotes about the election. This man's words struck a chord with me; politics are politics, no matter where you go.

Abdel Raouf, 60 

Tailor
Undecided 

I will probably not vote. The elections are full of corrupt people.

All the politicians are crooks in Palestine. They pocket all the money, and we never see any of the money intended for us.

Law and order is essential for us to progress, but I don't see any party providing that.

J.J.

Sexual harassment on campus

  This is not really news to anyone who has ever spent time on a college campus.

WASHINGTON - Nearly two-thirds of American college students are affected by sexual harassment — ranging from offensive jokes and gestures to touching and grabbing, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Researchers found that 62 percent of college students experienced sexual harassment, and 32 percent of college students said they were victims of physical harassment.

Less than 10 percent of all students report sexual harassment to a school employee, the study found. Most student victims say the incident was “not a big deal” even though it made victims feel “helpless” or “horrible.”

Is this an example of kids being kids, or is it symoblic of the larger rape culture in our society? Any thoughts?

J.J.