Worth a thousand werds

Via the Mudflats

The true death panels.

Interesting true story at the Mudflats.

I love Vanity Fair.

Here is an edited version (courtesy of Vanity Fair) of Sarah Palin's resignation speech. I didn't understand it then, but now it almost makes sense...

On teen pregnancies and medical records... or lack thereof

After the announcement that Sarah Palin's17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant, at the RNC, I've been extremely interested in that "developement."

Growing up in the second most conservative city in the US that strongly believes in abstinence only eduction, as well as having friends strong involved in advocacy of comprehensive sex education, I wondered what it meant for the future of America, especially if McCain/Palin won the election.

In late October, a great article ("Red Sex, Blue Sex") was published in the New Yorker about sexual activities in teenagers from conservative vs liberal ideaologies/backgrounds/etc...

Since then, about once a week, I'll google "Bristol Palin" and see the most recent articles about her , maybe to see pictures about how her pregnancy is progressing and overall just to see what actually happens.  There are obviously less and less articles appearing, but today I ran across an extremely interesting one from the BayouBuzz.  About the "released" medical records, which SP keeps insisting the mainstream media needs to look at to prove the "goofy" issue of Trig's paternity.

Really? If its so "goofy" and ridiculous, why not just release his birth certificate?  Or SP's medical records?

Regardless, I went into this whole, so-called "Sarah Deception" just interested in what will happen to Bristol with this pregnancy.  Now, I don't even believe she was 5 months along at the time... maybe 3 or 4.  Regardless, I'm curious how the birth will go, if Bristol and Levi will actually get married, etc.

And don't even get me started on the medical records... invoking the right to medical privacy when you're trying to overturn the most famous case that is based on that right?  Pick a side and stay there.  I, for one, think Sarah Palin is full or more inconsistencies and idiocies than G.W., but that is not an argument for this post.  This is about medical records.  Which I now want to see.  Desperately. 

But now that I've looked into it... is Sarah actually Trig's mother?  Or is Bristol?  

wtf america?

I think Nov 4 was an interesting day.  Not necessarily in terms of a change in the presidency, Senate and House, but in the dichotomy the US is now facing.  Three states banned same sex marriages--including one of the most liberal states, California, which began allowing the marriages in June after a court decision ruled the Calif. constitution didn't restrict marriage to a union between a man and a woman--while two other states (Massachusetts and Connecticut) still allow them.  

On the same ballot as Proposition 8 in California, Prop 4 (which would have required parental notification for girls under 18 seeking an abortion and mandated a 48-hour waiting period before the procedure) was rejected 52% to 48%.  In South Dakota, Measure 11 was rejected by 56% of voters although it wasn't an outright abortion ban and had a number of exceptions.  By 3 votes to 1, Colorado's Amendment 48 (which would have defined a "person" from the point of egg fertilization) was defeated... even a number of prominent pro-life activists felt the definition went too far.

Nebraska and Colorado banned affirmative action, although Nebraska's result is currently being challenged in court due to shady signature collecting.  Arizona, Florida, California and Arkansas further reduced rights for gay and lesbian couples. Michigan is allowing medicinal marijuana (too much influence from our northern neighbours eh??) and Massachussetts decriminizlied marijuana.  Massachussetts also decided to keep their state income tax (and by two-thirds!), while Missouri made English the official state language.  And finally, the State of Washington legalized physician assisted suicide for terminally ill patients (Oregon already passed a similar law).

I feel like these propositions best show, for the most part, which direction America's moral compass is facing.  So far the federal government hasn't had to step in on any of these issues, but by taking a look as these ballot initiatives I think you can see what might happen if they did.  I believe we'd uphold Roe v. Wade... all 3 anti-abortion initiatives were struck down, including in South Dakota which already has the strictes abortion laws in the nation!  But on the flip side of that, gay marriage is still, and for the most part will remain, illegal... because all though two states allow it, at least 14 more have rejected the idea.

The rest I point out for interest since I know not many people followed every states ballot initiatives (myself included until I heard about Colorado's Amendment 48)... its interesting to see each state march to its own drum while maintaining some semblance of unity.

Game. Set. Match!

Its Obama!  FiveThirtyEight called it at exactly 8:27 pm ET after he won Ohio:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/barack-obama-wins-ohio.html

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/obama-to-become-next-president.html

Hopefully some of the damage of the past 8 years can be repaired and we can give the world something good to think about... living abroad has really shown me a lot of international opinions of the US, and a majority of them not good.  I am ready for a CHANGE!

Happy election Day!!

Itsssssssssss election day!  I have been reading articles and blogs all day long in between grocery runs and errands.  In about 20 mins I'll be heading to yoga to take my mind off of the stressfulness of today... and I am hoping that by the time I get back we will have a new-president elect who can do some good in the world!

The 2 resources I am heavily utlizing tonight are the wonderful blog FiveThirtyEight (http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/) and the NY Times presidental voting spread (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/votes.html).  FiveThirtyEight explains the entire process AND breaks down the numbers for you, which is great.  And the Times voting spread is just the best version of this I've found.  

So if there is good news at the end of the next several hours, maybe I will be back to comment on it.  But as of right now, I am taking a time out to breathe!

I hope everyone who didn't early vote or vote in absentee took time to vote today, despite the long lines and crowds, its one of the most important elections ever (especially in my lifetime) and its time for a CHANGE!