Life Beyond Code

Check out my featured Link at Life Beyond Code.

-To participate in this project is a humble honor indeed.

All Hail The Lion King of Narnia!

Young student's documentary leaving audiences stunned

Kiri Davis is a young filmmaker whose high school documentary has left audiences at film festivals across the country stunned -- and has re-ignited a powerful debate over race.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Ghandi

Please watch this video and forward it to all.

The Missing Paragraph

Over at the Huffington Post,E.A. Hanks writes;

"Excuse me, Mr. President? Gosh...this is so embarrassing, but you have a... Well, Sir, you have a hole in your speech. Yeah, um, no - not there. There. Where you were supposed to talk about Katrina? That hole. It's a little big, don't you think? Didn't you think anybody would notice it?" (More)

Which lead me to ponder what reaction his State of The Union speech would have gotten if he had included the remarks he gave recently to a Pro-Life protest group :

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Nellie, thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much, Nellie. And I want to thank everybody there for taking part in today's March for Life. I appreciate so very much the devotion to such an honorable cause, and the good work everyone is doing to defend life.

And, Nellie, it's good to hear your voice again, and I thank you very much for giving me a chance to visit with you and the crowd that is assembled there on the Mall. (Applause.)

It is important for all Americans to remember that our Declaration of Independence states that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (Applause.) It also states that these rights come from our Creator, and that governments are formed to secure these rights for all their citizens. And we believe every human life has value, and we pray for the day when every child is welcome in life and protected into law. (Applause.)

Nellie, I want to thank you very much, and the members of Congress there who have worked hard to make progress toward this goal over the last six years. I want the folks assembled there to know that we're making progress. We promoted adoption, support parental notification laws, ended federal funding for abortions overseas, and are funding crisis pregnancy programs. (Applause.)

I had the privilege of signing legislation that extends legal protection to children who are born, despite abortion attempts, allows prosecutors to charge those who harm or kill a pregnant woman with harming or killing her unborn child, as well. (Applause.) I signed into law a ban on the cruel practice of partial-birth abortions, and we will vigorously defend that law in the courts.

Nellie, what I'm saying is, is that we're building a culture of life here. And I want to thank you and everybody assembled for helping.

A matter of Trust

The State of the household address:

As the tweenkin child of Kelley Bell, it is my honor to address the blogosphere and deliver the state of the household address.
While we as a family have many issues to face in the years ahead, today, I would like to speak to you about trust.

How do your parents send you off to school in the morning? Do they feed you breakfast, tie your shoes, give you lunch money and hurry you off to the bus with a kiss?

Mine dosn't. Today, she got me out the door by throwing donuts at me. You know, the powered sugar mini dounuts that explode in a big poof when they hit the dark blue walls of your kitchen?
Yeah, it looks cool, I know, but it makes a big mess, and why should I have to dodge donuts on school daze?

If my mother wants me to treat her like an adult, she needs to act like one. Right now, her behavior demonstrates she can not be trusted, and trust my friends, is what it's all about.

Parental response from house majority leader Kelley Bell:

If I have to feed her breakfast, get her to the bus on time, and clean up the all messes, why shouldn't I have some fun doing it. GAWWWWDDD, kids can be so uptight sometimes.

Seeds of Change

Last night I attended a banquet commemorating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
Good food, good friends, good speakers.

At one point, I had a chance to chit-chat with executive director of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio,Gary Dougherty, and asked how I could get more involved.

"Don't under estimate what you did with Meijer. Because of you, all of the pharmacists and technicians in 27 stores will be educated about Meijer's policy on this issue. Those people will do some research on their own and talk to their friends about it. In addition, you should think about that couple that went to Walmart and got laughed at by the pharmacist when they requested Plan B. Because of you, that won't happen at Meijer."

He then told me a story of an experience he had as a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood. "I had a meeting with a freshman Ohio Representative. My goal was to introduce Planned Parenthood and explain our position on the issues. For most of the meeting, her eyes were glazed over and I could tell I was not saying anything to connect to this woman. Then I told her about Plan B refusals. Her eyes opened wide and she said "You mean to tell me that I could take a prescription to the pharmacy and BE REFUSED?!"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you."

"After that, we were able to communicate and work together to push for sensible legislation. Those are the moments that make this work so rewarding."


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Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

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On a side note: I apologise to my readers for the mountain of political posts. I try very hard to keep my subject matter in balance. It's just that lately, there has been a lot of political material to cover.

Keep an eye out for a fun family snow sculpture post in the near future. The munchkins and I are about half way through with this years masterpiece!

Life in Munchkinland

My almost teenage munchkin (aka: tweenkin) went to the music store with me the other day, because my garage door broke.

I made a deal with Scottie the Door Man. He would fix the overhead mechanism if I would string his guitar and teach him to play it.

I guess you could say I got my garage door fixed for a song! (LOL)

Anyway, I'm browsing the sheet music at the string shop while my tweenkin is chatting up her "peeps," (thats munchkinese for friends, from the root word "people. btw) when the hot rock star clerk leans over the counter and beckons me with his finger for a confidential chat.

I was intrigued. Many a moon has passed since the last time THAT happened.

"I just heard your daughter tell her friends on the cell phone that you are the coolest mom ever."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's hot. I don't usually hear kids talk like that, unless they want something." He shrugged and flipped back his long black hair in that rock star cool sort of way. "I just thought you'd want to know."

"Thanks. Of course, the title has its downside. I have half the population of Munchkinland in my living room every day of the week."

He laughed.

"The food bill is insane, and my carpet, well, It aint the yellow brick road, but it sure has a well worn path!"

"We had a mom like that in my neighborhood. We started our first band in her basement."

"Sounds like I have a lot to look forward to."

"Oh Yeah. But don't worry, it's worth it. It's cool, having kids in the house."

Yes it is, but Ms. Mayor of Munchkinland knows the job is fraught with mishaps and mayhem.

On Sunday I took the tweenkins to our schools first Ski club event. Twelve Lakefront Lines Deluxe Tour busses filled to capacity, and I was a chaperone.

We herded em in, showed em the drill on how to get lift tickets, skis, boards and boots, and warned the beginners repeatedly to stay off the black diamond runs.

Tying shoe laces was never my favorite mom duty, but hunching over to fit a busload of em made me wish a house would fall on me.

One kid ended up in the clinic with a bruised collar bone, saying "The bunny hill is for babies." One threw up on the bus during the ride home, and I still can't straighten my spine out of the boot fitter hunch.

Overall, I'd call that a successful day.

Well, gotta run. The Semi truck delivery of snack foods is backing up to the garage door right now.

Blogging for Choice Day

The author at Uncommon Misconception offers a compelling and heart wrenching story about late term abortion. It is a must read for anyone who has strong opinions on this issue.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania tells us "reproductive freedom means the right to make informed decisions about whether and when to become a parent without government interference and to access a broad range of reproductive health care including contraceptives, prenatal care, treatment for sexually transmitted disesase, and abortion."

Click here to see what the law is in your state regarding access to abortion.

Bardiac put up a post full of good links including this one:

"The National Network of Abortion Funds can help you find local resources to help fund care for women who don't have access for financial reasons."

Baxter Sez is blogging for Choice because "a woman's ability to determine whether and when she gets pregnant affects every other aspect of her life. Everything--my relationships, my job, my economic status, my existence in my own body--would be affected were I to get pregnant. Now, that's not to say that they would be affected in a negative way, but they would be affected, and only I am in a position to weigh all the factors and judge whether or not pregnancy and motherhood are right for me."

This post from This Woman's Work inspired some thoughtful comments from a blog community focused on infertility issues and adoption.

Anna Winter Links us to Feministing and Pandagon, with this concept:

"We’re living in a time where pregnant women are roundly punished—whether they decide to terminate the pregnancy or carry it to term...our capacity for getting pregnant is what connects us all in this mess of discrimination and punishment."

Buddy's Books says:

"The right-wingers have always known that once women finally secured certain freedoms, like reproductive and sexual rights, society would adapt, changes would be swift, and control over women would cease. The outcome, in their sick minds, would be devastating—women would join the work force, run for office, speak out on social issues, and even challenge the authority of the husbands. Hell on earth!!!!!

That’s why we must never compromise with these perverse individuals. They care little about fetuses--what they want is power. And believe me, these right-wingers stay up nights lamenting and shedding tears over what has happened since the 1960s: women’s rights, feminism, racially-mixed marriages, gay marriages, civil rights."


Not That Desperate has a powerful post about her mother regarding sexual control over women.

Caffeinated Geek Girl tells us:

"My right to make decisions about my own well being are constantly being assaulted for no other reason than because I am a woman... I'm pro-choice because I know what's best for my own existence, and trust that other women know what's best for theirs."

Carrie Callahan cracked me up with her video and humor. She jokes:

"I used to be really pro-life in high school, but what changed for me was in college I had a pregnancy scare.
Before my pregnancy scare I thought about abortion in terms of "When does human life begin?" and "When can the government regulate people's bodies?" And then after the pregnancy scare, the question that kind of framed the debate for me was, "You want me to have a motherf*cking baby?"

Alexandria brings up two important points:

1) "I realized early on that getting pregnant means more than just baby powder and diapers. It means a woman is changed–economically, physically, professionally, and emotionally. In the best of circumstances, those changes are all positive, but too often, they’re not."

2) "Abortion will not go away, whether or not is it legal. Women who can afford to will simply have them elsewhere. Poorer women, or those without health care, will have them, too–in unsterilized, unprofessional, and dangerous environments."


Delightfully Dogmatic is right on when she says:

"I wish I could tell you how many young women I have heard argue that there is "no need for feminism." That "women are equal." One needs to look no further than the battle over contraception and abortion to understand that simply isn't true."

Feministe hits all the talking points and provides a platter of worthy linkage too. (Rock on girl, you must be exhausted!)

And for that matter, so am I.

I have been reading and linking all morning, and am only half way through the list.

I will conclude by saying, I am Pro-Choice because I stand in solid support of each and every one of these women, and I hope you do too.

Blog for Choice Day

Bush v. Choice, and NARAL Pro-Choice America are proud to announce the second annual Blog for Choice Day.

"Today, Monday January 22nd - "the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade - we are asking pro-choice bloggers to join us in a day of activism for choice. Blog for Choice Day is a chance to raise the profile of reproductive rights issues in the blogosphere and the media, and to let everyone know that a woman's right to choose is nonnegotiable.
This year's topic is a simple one: tell us, and your readers, why you're pro-choice.

Sign up for Blog for Choice Day below to let us know that you're planning on devoting at least one post on January 22nd to sharing the story behind your pro-choice beliefs."


Here is a quote I really liked from one of the bloggers signed up for the event:

"I’ve been struck today, time and again, by how ineffective punitive approaches are to securing the health of women, children, families, and communities. But I’ve also been struck by how infrequently women are actually a factor in this debate. So often — too often — we talk about how to ensure healthy children, or healthy births. But as Erica Lyon said in a panel today,[at the National Advocates for Pregnant Women’s National conference in Atlanta] we need to push for a goal of healthy mothers as the building block of healthy families and healthy communities. While it might be more efficient politically to talk about children’s health (and certainly the government focuses on fetal and children’s health usually to the exclusion of concern for pregnant women and mothers), it’s disingenuous.

As the inimitable Loretta Ross, co-founder of SisterSong said today, when we talk about reproductive justice, we need to think holistically about women’s lives and to include the right to have or not to have children, and the right to parent our children."

"I'm in, and I'm in to win!"

"I'm in, and I'm in to win!"
-Hillary Rodham Clinton

That's right folks, Hillary Clinton has announced she is forming an exploratory committee to run for president.

I for one am very excited about this.
Not because I am a die hard democrat.
Not because I am an expert on her political record.
And not because she represents the polar opposite of George W. Bush.

I am excited about this because Hillary Rodham Clinton stands as a symbol of liberty for this country.

While America is a beacon of hope for many, it is also viewed as the evil empire by others. Both views have basis in fact. As an American, I want my country to be a symbol of freedom for the world. I want to use our position, our authority and our voice to promote the ideals of our constitution for all the world to see.

I want my country to stand proud as a symbol of Lady Liberty, for the poor, the tired, and the hungry.

And I want a woman in the white house.

I do not say that simply because I support feminism, I say that because a democracy can not survive if the voice of the people is not heard. Women represent 50% of our population, and yet in two hundred years, no woman has ever been elected president. If America is the role model for democracy, then or government must reflect the diversity of our people.

When we finally break through the marble ceiling, including women as leaders in the highest office of the land, the floodgates will open for all minority groups to gain representation in positions of power.

I believe a woman leader will stand as a symbol for the mature, wise, nurturing, mothering concept of America; the caring, parental, lady liberty figure of global politics, instead of the bullish world police image we are branded with now.

We need a democratic president to rebalance our positions for the short term, but we need a woman president to rebalance our history for the long term.

America can not lay claim to the title of free republic until our government truly reflects the demographics of our population. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the first woman in history who has a real shot at winning the presidency, and she may be the last one to emerge for a long, long time. For this reason alone, we owe her our vote.

You may not agree with her position on every issue, but her stance is centerist, which is where our country needs to lean. We have survived swings to the left and right many times. We will survive four years in the center.

One term in office has limited effects, but the symbol of a woman as the leader of the most powerful country in the world, now THAT will have long lasting implications.

Change is measured in centuries, not decades, and this change is one that must occur now. It is a long over due step for the country that stands as a symbol of liberty for the world.

Plan B?? No.

"Plan B®'s availability over the counter is a huge victory for women's health, but it will take more work to ensure that women know about, and have access to, this safe, effective form of birth control and don't encounter delays or harassment at their local pharmacy," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
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While I was in Meijer today filling a prescription, I asked the pharmacist if they kept Plan B in stock. The young blond in the white coat looked at me like a confused puppy.

"According to the computer it's an over the counter drug." She blinked innocently.

"Yes it is, for women over 18. Do you have it?"

"Um, let me look." The Blonde says as she runs behind the shelves to hide. Then a slightly older woman comes out to take over.

"I'm sorry. we don't have it." (Big Meijer smile)

"Can you order some in?" (Long Pause.)

"Um, well, see, our Meijer corporate has a contract with this one wholesaler, and we can only carry what they have, and Um, well, see, they don't give it to us."

"Can you request it?"

"They don't sell it."

"Could you ask them to?"

"Um, well, I suppose I could call corporate and ask them to ask. You should probably get it somewhere else though."

"Oh, I don't need it. I had my tubes tied years ago. I'm just asking so that I can report the information to NARAL and Planned Parenthood."

"What's NARAL?" She asked.

I looked at the three women standing there in their fancy white pharmacy coats, staring at me and I could not believe my ears.

(What's NARAL???? And THESE women fill our prescriptions??? What happened to the T.V. image of the wise and trusted Pharmasist we should go to with all our medication related concerns??? )

"NARAL is a national women's rights organization, but maybe you should just give me the name and number of someone in corporate."

"Um, well, No, I can't, but I could take your name and number and have them call you."

"Well, as a matter of privacy, it would be better if I called them. I mean, It's not that I care if you have my name, But, I think a lot of women in need of this medication might be a bit intimidated about the lack of anonymity. So, why don't you give me the numbers for corporate and wholesale, and let me call them. Then you won't have to bother."

"Oh, um, well, I can't do that." .

"Are you sure? "

"I'm sorry. I will give them them your number though. We'll get back to you."



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UPDATE:

With the help of a friend at my local Planned Parenthood, we got on the phones and pushed back. The result: The district manager for Meijer pharmacies has assured me they will have Plan B available in all 27 stores in this district from now on, and they will instruct their technicians and pharmacists on the companies policy to dispense it without delay.

-Ain't it Amazing what a woman or two can do in twenty four hours.

What a Day, What a DAY!

UPDATE 2:

Women are talking about this and taking action

The outspoken and adorable Bitch PhD has added her voice to the fray

UPDATE 3:

Planned Parenthood's Ohio Action Network just sent an e-newsletter to all their supporters Here's a very informative post on the subject

UPDATE 5:

Today my local paper, The Columbus Dispatch, ran an editorial about access to Plan B and told the story of a couple who were laughed at by the pharmasist at Walmart.

Even though Walmart had Plan B in stock, no one but the pharmasist on duty could dispense it, and he refused. The writer of the editorial stated: "Why does the pharmacist even need to be involved? The medicine is behind the counter only to ensure that those under 18 can not obtain it. Why not put this medicine in the cashier lane where they sell tobacco?"

Action Alert!

Once again, My friend over at The Fat Lady Sings has alerted us to a grave injustice. Apparently Bill O'Reilly of FOX News has done the unthinkable, even for his outrageous standards. He is actually claiming 15 year old pedophile victim Shawn Hornbeck LIKED his four years of captivity and wanted to remain with his abuser.

To quote Bill:

"I think when it all comes down what's going to happen is there was an element here that this kid liked about his circumstances..."

"The situation here with this kid is looks to me to be a lot more fun then when he had under his own parents. He didn't have to go to school, He could run around and do what he wanted."

Fat Lady Sings duly notes, "Bill O’Reilly needs to be fired from Fox News. Immediately. His comments make me wonder – is he a pedophile himself? Those arguments he makes – those are NAMBLA talking points – right out of the pedophile handbook. He seems awfully conversant with their stated ideas and opinions."

NAMBLA is The North American Man/Boy Love Association whose goal is to "end the oppression of men and boys who have freely chosen, mutually consensual relationships."

(As if there could be any such thing!)

Steve Huff of The True Crime Blog tells us, "O'Reilly has been in the news for 30 years or more, covering all sorts of stories, and he's never heard of preferential pedophiles? He's never heard of brainwashing or complete intimidation? He can't do the math where a 6'4", 300-lb pedophile with a violent temper against a slightly-built boy from rural Missouri equals one having complete control of the other?"

This public stance by O'Reilly is an outrage! The man must be stopped. Please join us and take action! E-mail the O'Reilly producers at FOX NEWS and get this lunatic OFF THE AIR!

OReilly@FoxNews.com