Right As Usual

...and I'm feeling like I can't wait.  I live with an Obama supporter, and it has been difficult, at times. I do understand that supporter's feelings - it all started with such optimistic hope - that America would begin to relate to each other, not with automatic suspicion based on race, but on a basis of commonality.  We share so many values; the ideals that separate us are fewer than those separating us from other country's cultures. The hope was that we could all work together to forge an improved America - inclusive, tolerant, and working for the best in America. That didn't happen. Very soon after Obama took office, he met with Congressional leaders of both parties.  When the Republicans questioned the amount of spending in his proposals, he replied, "I won." His meaning, that, because of the election, he had total say in any spending or managing of the government, without input from the other side, clearly signaled his approach - his way, or the high...

According to the Kids Health site: About 1 or 2 in every 100 women who use ECPs will become pregnant despite taking ECPs within the recommended amount of time. Statistically, about 5% - that's 5 out of 100 women - having totally unprotected sex - will conceive in a single act of intercourse. Other studies have shown that the effective rate of EC is less (that site is using AMA stats): EC is up to 89 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, depending on how quickly a woman begins the pills, the type of pills taken, and when the sex occurred during the woman’s menstrual cycle. The state of Illinois has, also, some stats that would seem to back up the AMA stats: Combined EC pills are about 75 percent effective. Progestin-only EC pills are 89 percent effective if used within 72 hours and 95 percent effective if used within 24 hours. Why is this such a big deal?  The common perception is that EC pills are a magic treatment that WILL prevent the pregnancy from starting.  There is no...

...YOU were offended". That phrasing has become the de facto standard for public apologies.  Eva Longoria recently went on record with a similar "apology".  What does it say? I'm NOT sorry if you weren't offended.  In other words, everyone who agrees with me can take comfort that I STILL feel the same way, just can't openly express what I truly feel, for fear of career meltdown or public disapproval.  It's all the fault of those darn Fascists, who won't shut up and accept their lesser place in this New World. The problem is YOU, who chose to take offense.   I'm not to blame, you are, with your prickly sensitivity to a perfectly normal political opinion.  That is, it's normal in MY circles, which, of course, means that ALL rational people will agree with it. I still, arrogantly, feel that I was correct to say it, but also want to avoid the public criticism that accompanies having deliberately, and publicly,  spoken harshly and offensive...

I've been following this campaign season for the entire time, and have noticed a deterioration of civility - of SOME people on BOTH sides (for now, I'm ignoring the Ron Paulians - but, I WILL be back if they don't reform).  The recent VP debate brought my disgust to the surface. I don't care who started the disrespect.  I DO care that we all take the first step, without waiting for the other. Failure to do so puts us in jeopardy of splitting this country in a New Civil War (which is caused, in part, due to not-so-civil behavior). I propose that all of us who take our politics seriously take a pledge: I urge everyone to take the Pledge.  I urge you to accept your personal responsibility to change the way politics in this country has gotten to be such a gutter sport. No saying, "Well, I will AFTER they do it." In this, we need to set the example. We can disagree.  But, we MUST be civil. That civility may allow us to point out that a behavior is a violation of Th...

The Congressional probe into the scandal is over, Eric Holder has been largely left non-responsible, and things are back to normal. Guess who has just returned from abroad? Kevin O’Reilly, the link between the White House and Operation Fast and Furious. Read the whole thing, and ask your Congressional Representative to re-open the investigation - FIRST issuing a supoena for Kevin O'Reilly.

The Obama Re-election Team (ORT) is dancing with delight at the new jobs report.  It states that the unemployment number have FINALLY gone under 8%. The real question is:  have the numbers been "tweaked" to improve the final score? Sweetie, I don't want to say that the numbers have been massaged, but they just asked for coffee and a cigarette.