YaYa's Funhouse

Normally I don't follow domestic type blogs. Everybody is just to damn happy, ya know? Anyway, I happened upon YaYa's Funhouse today and had myself a good laugh. Not only does she love Lucy as do I but we are the same age living in the same town...how strange is that? Anyway this is what I found over there:

"WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE SOUTH

-A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road
-There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in South
-There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in South
-If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha
-It is not a shopping cart, it's a buggy
-People actually grow and eat okra
-There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then there is supper
-Iced tea is appropriate for all meals, and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar
-Backwards and forwards means, 'I know everything about you'
-You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see
-You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH EM
-You measure distance in minutes
-You switch from heat to A/C in the same day
-The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and high school football
-You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday
-You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit 'a bit warm'
-You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas
-You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chili weather"

Don't I post my chili recipe right after the first cool snap? The possum cracked me up. She got the seasons right, that's for sure, but the one that got me was switching from heat to A/C in the same day...we're in that pattern right now :) go on over and have a gander...

Worried about your stats?

Go on over to Men with Pens today and get some love...or get your butt kicked if you need it :)

John Hope Franklin--Rest Now, You're Work Here on Earth in Done

John Hope Franklin Memorial Website

Biography

The John Hope Franklin Center

Author John Hope Franklin

johnhopefranklin.com

The John Hope Franklin Collection at Duke University


Wiki page

This is what you get when you insist on "abstinance only" programs

There are three things I know to be true in this area:

1) Sex is going to always and forever be participated in.

2) There are always going to be unwanted pregnancies.

3) There are always going to be male partners who refuse to accept the responsibility for what they helped create.

Click the title link for the solution to an unwanted pregnancy some have chosen.

As Reas would say *head -> desk*

Youth Violence Prevention Week: March 23-27

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service has a special feature up in recognition of this week.

"NCJRS has created this Special Feature to focus on violence among youths and the prevention of such violence.

The pages of this Special Feature contain compilations of topical publications and related resources on juvenile violence, youth violence research, juvenile gun and gang activity, statistics, and youth violence prevention."

Preachin' to the Choir...

Found this on medpagetoday

"WASHINGTON, March 20 -- One patient in four with a chronic condition has postponed healthcare or filling a prescription in the past year because he can't afford it, researchers here said.
Action Points

* Explain that 25% of patients with a chronic condition -- especially Latinos, middle-age women, and the poor -- can't afford their care.


* Note that many are dissatisfied with the care they do receive, with about 45% wishing their physician could spend more time addressing their needs.

Latinos (43%) and middle-age women (39%) are among those more likely to report delaying care, according to a survey by the National Council on Aging.

Although the poor are more likely to report delaying care, 22% of patients with household incomes above $50,000 have done so, according to the survey.

Those who have put postponed treatment are also more likely to be in frequent physical pain (45% versus 28% of those who have not delayed care), to be fatigued (49% versus 28%), and to be stressed (40% versus 17%).

The survey -- conducted between Jan. 5 and Jan. 30, 2009 among 1,109 adults ages 44 and up with at least one chronic condition -- is a snapshot of patients living with chronic conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes.

The survey included an oversample of those 65 and older (n=594 total), as well as an oversample of Latinos (n=142 total). The margin of sampling error for the total results is +2.9 percentage points.

Many report dissatisfaction with the care they receive. Some 44% wish their physician had more time to spend talking to them about their condition, and 45% said they never get referrals to important chronic care resources such as counselors and health educators.

Nearly a third report leaving their physician's office confused about what they should do regarding their care, and many say their providers aren't doing anything to improve their care.

About 57% said their physicians haven't asked whether they have help at home to manage their problems, and 45% said they rarely or never receive referrals to support services such as classes, counselors, or health educators.

Many patients are living with several chronic diseases: 68% report having two or more conditions and 20% have four or more.

Those with one chronic condition are healthier, have higher incomes, and have more support at home; while those with multiple conditions tend to have low incomes and less support.

Half of those with chronic conditions are unhappy or depressed at least occasionally because of their health problems, and 32% report having to cut back on social activities. A little more than a quarter report having to miss work.

Almost 40% of patients said they don't have the money to begin improving their health, a percentage that's particularly high among Latinos (63%), African Americans (58%), the poor (65%) and those with four or more chronic conditions (59%).

However, 70% said learning how to exercise or eat better in ways that work with their limitations would help them cope, and 68% say getting advice from others with similar conditions would help as well.

Fifty-six percent of Americans 44 and older with chronic conditions are Internet users -- and of these, 63% say they would be interested in going to Web sites sponsored by health organizations to get information and support.

Even 27% of those who rarely or never use the Internet say they would be interested in going to Web sites for information and support.

Nancy Whitelaw, senior vice president of the Center for Health Aging at the National Council on Aging, said the report highlights the need to reform the healthcare system in order to support patients with chronic conditions.

"We encourage physicians not to take on the responsibility themselves, but to build a mechanism to refer patients to community-based health education programs that are effective," Whitelaw said.

She added that physicians can help connect patients to such programs via a community agency that deals with the aging.

The survey was funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the California HealthCare Foundation.

Primary source: National Council on Aging
Source reference:
"Reforming healthcare: American speak out about chronic conditions and the pursuit of healthier lives" NCOA 2009."

Here's another one from the New York Times...if you have the stomach for it this morning...

The Best Post I've Read on AIG Al Week

Normally I read Crooks and Liars, The Daily Bail and AMERICABlog to keep me up to speed on all things "bailout" and the news world in general. Today I was bored and a bit lonely because the boy is on his first "road trip" with eight other boys (way more undisciplined than him) so I was wandering about the blogosphere.

I found this commentary by Richard Blair over at All Spin Zone "Lennon/McCartney Address the AIG Concern Trolls" Although I'm not quite sure why they have pictures of Ann Coulter all over their home page and it is funny that when you click on the Ann Coulter pictures there is a "page not found" error that comes up, go have a read :)

Oh, shoot I haven't thrown my tomatoes at AIG yet today...must go do that :)

Medical Schools Must Reform How They Train Physicians

Woo Hoo! It sounds like they might finally be getting it...that you must learn to look at the whole person and consider all factors that might be influencing the health of that person. I would be a bit choked up except for the fact it almost seems like to little to late, but at least they are finally acknowledging there is a problem.

Click the title link for the press release. Click Revisiting the Medical School Educational Mission at a Time of Expansion

Go Throw Some Tomatoes at AIG...It'll Make You Feel Better :)

Here's something you can do this weekend :)

"Subject: Help me throw 5 million tomatoes at AIG!

Hi,

The people at AIG who are most responsible for the severity of the financial crisis should be in jail. But instead, they're slated to get $450 million in bonuses. Infuriating, right?

So a MoveOn member created a game to show just how mad Americans are at AIG. It's called The Great AIG Tomato Toss and it's based on the idea that we should stop throwing money at the people who ruined our economy—and start throwing tomatoes.

I just played, and it's a blast. Can you play too—and help reach the goal of 5 million tomatoes thrown? http://www.moveon.org/tomato/

Thanks!"

Click here for some great AIG cartoons

A Birth Mother's Story

Go get a cup of coffee or whatever you need, some tissues and be prepared to sit for awhile, cry and remember when you read this post over at Shakesville. Read the comments too.

Sign the Petition Today!

"The people in AIG's financial products division are perhaps more responsible for the severity of our economic meltdown than anyone else.

And yet, they're getting $450 million in bonuses.

That's just plain unacceptable. On Wednesday, we have a chance to let AIG's leaders know what we think of their bonuses.

When AIG's executives appear before the House subcommittee, we'll make sure they hear your voices. We'll deliver all the signatures and comments we receive before 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday in time for Wednesday's hearing."

Click the title link to be taken to the page to sign the petition.

Hey AIG, Listen to Iowa Senater Grassley...

It's a shame he had to go back and cover his political ass but what he said in the first place is pretty much how we all feel...isn't it?

"The Republican lawmaker's harsh comments came Monday during an interview with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station WMT. They echoed remarks he has made in the past about corporate executives and public apologies, but went further in suggesting suicide.

"I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide," said Grassley.

Soon afterward, Grassley spokesman Casey Mills said the senator was speaking in hyperbole and "doesn't want U.S. executives to do that." He said his words were meant to say those who accept tax dollars and spend them on travel and bonuses do so irresponsibly.

Other Capitol Hill lawmakers also voiced their outrage over AIGs big bonuses, though in somewhat less violent terms.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he's disgusted by the news and is calling for a shake-up at AIG.

"These people may have a right to their bonuses. They don't have a right to their jobs forever," Frank said on NBC's "Today" show Monday. "It does appear to be that we're rewarding incompetence."

On Tuesday, a pair of congressional hearings will focus on the insurance industry.

A Senate panel will look into whether insurance companies should be regulated by states or the federal government. A House committee will examine systemic risk in the financial services industry, with an eye toward avoiding a repeat of the AIG situation, in which one company's fall could bring down an entire industry.

Both hearings are expected to provide lawmakers with opportunities to take a few more shots at AIG executives." Click the title link for the entire article.

AIG is at it again...oh, wait...they never stopped...

This just makes me want to vomit. Chris over at Americablog says it best. Here is Brilliant at Breakfast's take on it. Here's a New York Times article. It seems as though now they are saying they "have" to make 165 million in bonus payments because they are contractually obligated to do so for fear of being sued. The Wall Street Journal says the amount is more like 450 million.

As I sit here trying to figure out if I can afford my $9 inhaler from Wal-Mart or if I should go for the $4 nebulizer meds instead this makes me sick. Oh, hell yeah, please give them whatever they want and friggin' forget about the rest of us because it is much more important that precious AIG not get sued than whether or not I can breathe.

Here's a speech maybe everyone on Capitol Hill should read...TO BIG HAS FAILED

*edit*

Yesterday AIG finally posted a full list of their counterparties (the companies/banks that got your money) Click here for the full list.

Big Mama Thornton is up on the blues page

Click the title link to go have a listen :)

I Am Too Old For Zits!

I thought the one good thing about getting older was the teenage zit phase was long gone. Apparently, I was mistaken. I could swear that my aunt (the only one in the family with oily skin, like me) told me, not only that I would be glad I had that oily skin when I got older (when?) but, that as I got older the zits would clear up and go away never to be seen again. She lied to me and I'm pissed about it. The only time in my life I can remember not having a zit somewhere was when I was on birth control pills. That was an awesome time in my life, except for the fact that birth control pills also acted as fertility pills for me and every time I got off them I got pregnant.

Anyway I have five zits on my face and have had the same five zits on my face for at least a month now. I have washed. I have cleansed. I have creamed. I have used steaming hot water face cloths on them. I have walked around here with big, cracked white masks on my face. I have consumed gallons of water. Yesterday I even took the pumice heel scrubber to the dead skin around them, thinking that if I got rid of the dead skin then they would heal. Silly me. Granted, my face is as smooth as a baby's, but the-zits-are-still-there.

Thinking about birth control pills reminds me of the triage nurse in the emergency room during my last visit. For the first time someone actually used that dreaded word in reference to my general state of being "menopause" Aaaccckkk! It wasn't that she used the dreaded word, she just wrote it down on my chart without giving a second thought to the devastating effect it would have on me :) I'm sure she assumed I already knew I was in menopause. I know how old I am and I know a couple of years ago I had to swallow my pride to go get the bifocals and I know my hair gets more gray in it everyday, but menopause??? My bones are still strong, I don't have hot flashes and the puss hasn't dried up yet, so in my mind I am not in menopause. I refuse to believe I have to go on hormone therapy to get rid of some zits. I-just-refuse.

Ok, that's my rant for the day....I'm going to wash my face...again...

Petition for Accountability

Found the link to this petition over on Feministe today, thought you might be interested...

"Subject: Stop the banks from spending our tax dollars to lobby for Wal-Mart

Dear Friend,

Last fall, Congress authorized a massive bailout for the financial industry - $750 billion to be distributed without restrictions on how it could be spent. At the time, CREDO activists like you asked Congress to impose guidelines on banks for spending our tax dollars. But Congress didn't listen. And now we're paying the price.

This week, Citigroup spent some of its $50 billion in bailout money to organize big corporations to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act - a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits. According to the Huffington Post, Citigroup's retail analyst Deborah Weinswig participated in a conference call for corporate interests working to kill the bill.

Just a few weeks ago, Weinswig gave the Wal-Mart a favorable 9.5 rating out of 10. But now, in a cynical bid to stoke public fears that stronger unions will have an adverse affect on stock values, Citigroup downgraded Wal-Mart's rating from "Buy" to "Hold."

It is unacceptable that banks like Citigroup and Bank of America have been spending our tax dollars to fight for legislation that boosts corporate profits at the expense of the middle class.

I just took action to tell the people charged with overseeing the bailout to investigate Citigroup and Bank of America. If these banks don't stop misspending their TARP money immediately, they should not receive another dime. I hope you'll sign the petition, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/banks_efca/?r_by=-1964283-Gup.HXx&rc=paste

Thanks!"

So Maybe I Must Re-Think My Catholicism

I've had a funny feeling deep in my gut ever since John Paul II died and this new pope was installed. See, right now I can't even recall his name. Being half Jewish by birth probably has something to do with it. The new pope's German heritage and the fact that he served with Hitler's Youth in his younger days probably has more to do with it. But I just read this article on what is going on in Cameroon to ready the country for his visit and now I know I must do some deep, deep soul searching. It's just the final straw, so to speak. I'll be watching and reading about how his holiness reacts to such deplorable treatment. Maybe I should do a complete post on why I disagree with our new pope? Much research must be done first.

My Middle School Vocabulary

**edit**

Ok, this is turning out to be one of my most linked to posts...and it was just a rant. It's right up there with "fried cornbread" So even though I don't understand how people are landing here because I'm not on google's first page of listings for "middle school vocabulary" I feel obligated to provide you links to what you are really looking for...

Middle School Vocabulary Practice Tests


vocabulary.com There are great tools here!

101 Middle School Vocabulary Words from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


Your Vocabulary Building & Communication Training Center
Vocabulary Improvement Resources for Parents, Students & Professionals


Quizlet.com--flashcard sets

word search maker



Recently I was accused of having only a middle school vocabulary and it was suggested that I increase said vocabulary starting with children's books. Growing up I don't think I ever read a single "children's" book. We read Tolstoy, Sarte, Hemingway, Faulkner and the like in my house. When I was thirteen I tested at third year college level for reading and vocabulary.

When I had the boy I managed to keep my sanity through all the chaos by reading to him every children's book I could get my hands on. We loved Dr. Seuss the most, but we read everything from The Chronicles of Narnia, the Beatrix Potter series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, we loved the Indian in the Cupboard and the Velveteen Rabbit, just to name a few.

My accuser doesn't know my history and only passed ever so slightly through here long enough to get ammunition to use against me to justify their own shortcomings. The whole thing is just sad.

It's sad that I didn't take Reas's word for it that the post made her angry and just leave it at that. I should have and I will from now on. :)

It's sad that I freely admit to only having a middle school vocabulary now and believe me I'm grateful for it. I think I do alright with what I have, considering what I went through. There was a time when I couldn't speak or write at all. I'm grateful the vocabulary loss is the only noticeable result of that terrible time in my life.

But the saddest thing of all is what I read that made me speak up with all my middle school vocabulary would allow me at that moment. What I read was a post from an ER nurse that was so filled with hate and racism I can not even link you to it for fear you will go read it. If you feel you must, go to Reas's page and you can find it there. Instead of blaming the system where the blame should be, she blamed the victim. It was also sad the number of comments she had that totally agreed with her and along with bashing me, invited me to take a walk on their side and then see how I felt.

I don't have to take that walk. I've lived it. I've lived with the disdain from doctors and nurses in the ER that write off the very idea that you might have any semblance of intelligence simply because you don't have insurance and have nowhere else to go to be treated. I've lived with "free" clinics that are filled beyond capacity and I have lived with being treated about as well as cattle going to slaughter.

What is not sad is that somewhere along the way I did manage to come across doctors and nurses and therapists with compassion and an understanding for me and my situation and they treated me with respect despite my circumstances. For these practitioners I will be forever grateful because were it not for them I would not have pulled myself out of the battered wife with a newborn syndrome. It was their strength of character and their compassion that made me believe there was light at the end of the seemingly endless tunnel.

I know I would be dead by now and so would the boy if all we had encountered were judgemental, biased, racist practitioners.

So I say to them...Take a look at how you really feel...maybe it's time to get out of the ER and go to a less stressful area of the hospital...maybe wherever it is in your hospital that the "insured" go.

The Second Road

The Second Road is a great place to spend some of your free time. TSR is all about recovery, recovery from more angles than you might have ever imagined. There are eight blogs involved, chat groups, forums, sharing walls and even raffles. They have recently launched a YouTube channel with different individual's stories of recovery. Check it out.

Appropriations Bill for FY 09 Provides Additional Funding for Programs Important to Women and Families--National Women's Law Center

The National Women's Law Center has published a great pdf hitting the high spots of interest to women of the 09 budget approved this week. Click the title link to be taken to the page.

"Congress has now passed legislation to fund government services for the rest of FY 09. (These appropriations are for regular program operations; increases for certain programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are in addition to these funds.) In contrast to President Bush’s budget, which cut funding for domestic programs, this appropriations bill increases funding above the FY 08 level for a number of services that are especially important to
women and their families"

The Real Reason AIG got the Money...Systemic Risk

Now we have a term for "bankrupting the entire world"-- systemic risk

If you have a hard time reading this you can view it larger here.


Aig Systemic 090309

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business & Legal baiklouts aig

Quote of the week...

This is the best(truest)explanation of what happened on/to Wall St. I've read to date. The quote?

"“In physics there may one day be a Theory of Everything; in finance and the social sciences, you’re lucky if there is a useable theory of anything.”"

Good Lord This Guy was Pissed at the Entire World!

I can't wait until tomorrow morning to hear the spin/speculations from all the news channels....

The Uninsured: Two Primers FYI

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007

The Uninsured: Key Facts About Americans Without Health Insurance

Or if you just want to hit the high spots, click the title link.

Tell Congress: "No More Dough Until We Know Where It Goes--Sign the Petition!

I got this email from Firedoglake today:

"On January 13, Rep. Alan Grayson asked Fed Vice Chair Donald Kohn to provide the names of the banks that received $1.2 trillion since September 2008.

Kohn refused.

Last week, AIG announced $61 billion in 4th quarter 2008 losses. Economist Nouriel Roubini called it "a nontransparent, opaque and shady bailout of the AIG counterparties." Still, the Fed refused to answer questions from Democrats like Chris Dodd and Republicans like Richard Shelby -- where did the money go?


Congress needs to hear that we want answers, too: No More Dough Til We Know Where It Goes.

Sign today and we'll deliver your signature and comments to Congress:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/Transparency

The petition says: "Dear Members of Congress: The public needs to know where all our money has gone. Restoring public trust is critical in getting our economy back on its feet. We ask that you move swiftly to re-regulate and bring transparency to a financial system whose rules have been written by bank lobbyists for their own benefit. No additional bank bailout funds should be approved until that happens."

We're now being told it will take another $750 billion, in addition to the original $700 billion, to bail out the banks.

Can you sign our petition today? Congress needs to know that if they demand answers to their questions, we'll support them. Click here to add your name:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/Transparency

-- Jane Hamsher and the Firedoglake team


PS: Please join us live right now for a chat with economist James K. Galbraith, who is answering questions about the need for transparency at http://firedoglake.com. Hosted by Christy Hardin Smith.

We're having a series of online chats this week with experts who will be discussing the critical need for bank bailout transparency. We know everyone has a lot of questions about what's happening, so please come by and ask them:


TUESDAY 7 pm ET: Rep. Alan Grayson, (D-FL), member of the House Financial Services Committee
THURSDAY 3:30pm ET: David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times former reporter and author of Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense [and Stick You with the Bill]
THURSDAY: Mark Pittman, Bloomberg News, a finance journalist who has covered the collapse. Bloomberg has filed many FOIA requests and done tremendous work seeking transparency.
FRIDAY 11am ET: Economist Rob Johnson, formerly a managing director at Soros Funds Management and chief economist of the Senate Banking Committee.

Want to support this series of chats? Bank lobbyists spent hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying Congress last year, but we depend on people like you. Chip in here: https://secure.firedoglake.com/page/contribute/TransparencyFunds09"

What Has Your Governor Been Up To Lately? Email from The Color of Change

"President Obama's stimulus package provides money for states to extend unemployment benefits for people in dire need of help, but Bob Riley of Alabama, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, Rick Perry of Texas, Sarah Palin of Alaska, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana--all Republican governors--are putting politics over people.3,4

All six governors have threatened to turn down these funds. Four are 2012 presidential contenders,5 and they all have a vested interest in seeing Obama fail. They're attacking the President's policies to increase their own profile and cozy up to the most die-hard conservatives.6 They also claim that taking the stimulus money would leave their states in debt when it runs out in three years. But that argument rings hollow--state legislatures could reduce benefits to pre-stimulus levels at that point.

While these governors posture, Black folks suffer the most. In all of these states, Black unemployment is at least twice that of Whites--and in Louisiana and Mississippi, the two Blackest states in the Union, the unemployment rate among Black people approaches three times that of their White neighbors.7

Tell these Republican governors to stop putting their personal and political interests above the good of all their states' citizens. Demand that they accept all of the stimulus money designated for unemployment benefits. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://colorofchange.org/govs/"

Enough Already...

So, I really don't want to blow my brains out. Really. I try hard not to hear the news but it just keeps sucking me in and sending me into the depths of depression and hopelessness.

Today I read a MSNBC piece about Bryan Ross, their evening news anchor, asking people to write in with some good news and he was flooded with emails from people with actual good news, stories of people doing good things to help out their neighbors and actual strangers. It wasn't very long or detailed or I would link to it. Mr. Ross will be sharing these stories starting next week so I think we should all tune in to hear it. If for no other reason than to keep from blowing our brains out.

I have totally stopped reading my reader too. It is filled with doom and gloom. So today I ventured into my reader and this is what slapped me...just the highlights, k?

From Crooks and Liars:

"Analysts increasingly view the administration's actions so far as insufficient given the scope of the problem. The stimulus package was designed to "save or create" 3.5 million jobs, according to the administration. But the nation has already lost 4.4 million jobs since the start of the recession. Many banks and other financial institutions, whose health is critical to the economy, are teetering, and the Treasury Department has yet to finalize the details of its plans to remove from their balance sheets the toxic assets dragging them down."

Then at the bottom of the article this (somebody please explain)

"The International Monetary Fund yesterday urged governments worldwide to consider additional fiscal stimulus, noting that the public sector must help prevent a collapse of confidence."

Are they trying to hook us in again, like the mortgage companies did, saying, don't worry about tomorrow, go on and spend it? Or are they speaking of the banks that are hoarding the TARP funds and not issuing credit when they should be? I'm confused.

And then there is friggin' AIG. I'm not going to link to anyone who has written a story about AIG. If you don't know the story then Google AIG and you will find out that this one company is going to bankrupt the entire world before it's finished. All I really want to know is who in the hell are they sleeping with and how in the hell can I get some of that action?

Don't even get my unemployed self started on the bleakness of the unemployment figures and my looming first loan payment. I don't even know if they will give me another forbearance. Hopefully they will.

Then there is healthcare. At this point I'm figuring I'll get screwed on that just like I got screwed with the stimulus package.

There was one good thing that happened this week, or will happen next week. From the National Women's Law Center:

The Obama Administration officially announced today that it is taking action to rescind a harmful Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule.

The following is a statement by Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:

" “The Obama administration deserves great praise for its move today to rescind this harmful rule, which serves only to undermine patients’ access to vital health care services and information, and poses especially grave risks to women’s health and lives.

“Americans have made it clear that they support a commonsense approach to reproductive health care that ensures that women have access to contraception and other much-needed services and information. We look forward to working with the Obama Administration on developing and expanding health care policies that meet the needs of women and their families.”

More information and analysis of the harmful Bush Administration HHS rule is available here." They also have a great resource page here

Then there is this:

"President Obama will announce Monday that he is reversing Bush administration limits on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research as part of a pledge to separate science and politics"

I swear if I could have I would have willingly donated the embryonic stem cells from my abortions. It would have gone a long way to alleviate some of the guilt if I could have been assured they were going for research. I suspect they probably did, even without my consent.

Ok, that's it for me tonight, maybe tomorrow I'll wake up with a better attitude... :)

*edit*

Forgot one...Headline of the week:


John 'Torture' Yoo now says he'll be honest

uh, huh...oh, why the hell not, you won't be punished for any of it...

*edit*

Did I forget the ponzi/scammers and their lavish lifestyles..How To Spot a Ponzi Con Artist? Follow the Yachts

Yep, that makes me feel all friggin' warm and fuzzy this morning...

New Links

I've added some new training links and a new toolkit to the Victim's Assistance Page

OMG! She Took Him Back....Rihanna, What in the H*** Are You Thinking?

Click the title link for the story. I just about fell out of my chair when I read the headline and almost puked when I read the story. This 20 year old woman has the moon. She has more going for her than any other 20 year old I can think of at the moment. She's beautiful and talented, (although I have to say here if I hear "Disturbia" one more time I will be disturbed to the point of actually being committed, but that's not the point) she had the entire music world at her feet. Girl, where is your pride? Your self-respect? Kick that angry little boy to the curb and run as far away from him as you can get. I don't care what he promised you, if he did it once he will do it again and the next time you might not be so lucky, if you can call the last time, lucky.

So I've had my say. I was going to explode if I didn't say something. I think now would be a good time to go over the warning signs for domestic abusers and some other pertinent information in case you or anyone else out there might need it:

The National Domestic Abuse Hotline Memorize this number. 1 800 799 7233

Domestic Violence and Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes and Effects Read this page until you have it internalized

Domestic Violence Emotional Abuse Checklist This one deserves to be typed out.

"Do you have to get permission to socialize with your friends?
Are you accused of cheating on him when you leave the house to do errands, etc.?
Are you afraid to talk about certain topics unless he's in a good mood?
Does he have control over the money and monitor your spending?
Does he tell you no one else would ever want you?
Does he threaten to harm himself if you leave him?
Does he go through your purse or open your mail?
Does he make disparaging remarks about the way you look or dress?
Does he use things against you that you've confided to him in the past?
Does he sabotage your efforts to be involved in pleasant social or family event?
Does he compare you negatively to other women?
Are you nervous about being on the phone when he is around?
Is it okay to return home later than scheduled without being fearful?
Does it feel more like you have a dad than a partner?
Does he give you the 'silent treatment' when you want to talk or work things out?
Does he try to turn the children against you?
Do you feel manipulated by his kindness or gifts?
Do you feel obligated to be sexual with your partner?
Are your activities and interests looked upon as unimportant and trivial?
Does he sabotage your schedule and outside commitments?


United States Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women: Domestic Violence This one needs to be entered here as well.

"Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.

Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

* Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, biting, etc. Physical abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.

* Sexual Abuse: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.

* Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.

* Economic Abuse: Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.

* Psychological Abuse: Causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating.

Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community at large. Children, who grow up witnessing domestic violence, are among those seriously affected by this crime. Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life - therefore, increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.

Sources: National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Center for Victims of Crime, and WomensLaw.org."

There are more links for help on the Domestic Violence page here

Please, at the very least, recognize the type of situation you are in and arm yourself with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and how to get out should another situation arise.

Want to Know Where your Money Really Went?

Have you ever noticed how, when speaking of the economy, hardly anyone ever mentions the cost of the Iraq war anymore? This post is specifically because last week the cost of the Iraq war crossed the 600 billion mark. It was a sad week. I tried to get excited about President Obama's State of the Union address. I tried to get excited about the new budget. I just couldn't because the counter was about to flip. I was sick about each passing dollar and I was sick about the talks of escalation in Afghanistan, meaning even more money being spent to fix a problem that should have had the first 600 billion spent on it rather than wasted for some private agenda. So I decided it was only right that I pay some kind of homage to the counter site itself. While I was there I found this chart:



In case you can't really see...it was 1943 when the lines crossed. There has been an ever-widening gap between individual tax and corporate tax since friggin' 1943!

So this is capitalism at it's finest? I don't think this is what the vision was when Ayn Rand spoke of true Capitalism. There was "honor", "ethics" and "morals" tantamount to her version. Believe me, I am all for free enterprise and profit and corporate growth. This is just pure out and out greed. It's been awhile since I read Ayn Rand but I think even she would be ashamed of the corporate looting of America going on presently.

How can people not see this? We (individuals) are paying in 50% of the United States total revenue while they (corporations) are paying 20%. I doubt, when it's all said and done that they are even paying that much. How can people continue to support the wingnuttia called the Republican Party who's only agenda, besides discrediting the Democratic Party, is to protect what they believe is rightfully theirs...the wealth of America that they out and out pilfered from each and every one of us?

I think Big Mama Thornton and Buddy Guy say it best...