Good morning!

So I’ve decided to mix it up a bit and change locations of where I blog…ya know just to make it more interesting than blogging in bed. :) (Calvin you inspired me – Congrats on the numero uno spot :)

I used to step to a different venue on Sundays but I rather like stepping out during the week as well. So hear I am at “Actual Cafe”, a very cool joint with big open windows, soothing music and a low-key crowd. And like my Cubano Con Leche made with condensed milk (yummy!), and my fresh HUGE raspberry morning bun (another “yummer” – I know not a word, but I’m back to creating words again, and since this is my blog, I can do that. By the way, feel free to do as well :) , I’m diggin’ this place big time – right now life just can’t get any better. It certainly is what I needed this morning.

I HOPE your day is starting off as well as mine.  However, I hate to say it, but if you live in some if the more “conservative”(I call them “controlling”) states and like to have a say over what can and what cannot happen to your body – read on.  I’m talking to you girls out there, especially the ones who support the republican party…because girls…those “boys” you support have figured out another way to control you through sexual assault –  rape and get away with it.

State-Sanctioned Rape: Trans-Vaginal Ultrasound Laws in Virginia, Texas, and Iowa

Virginia is poised to send two of the most abhorrent anti-choice bills to Governor Bob McDonnell to sign. The governor, eyes trained on a vice presidential bid, has indicated he will sign at least one if not both of the bills.

The first is a bill requiring the use of trans-vaginal ultrasound prior to a woman obtaining an abortion, the other is an egg-as-person bill.  Like other failed “personhood” bills, the Virginia provision would outlaw not only abortion but also forms of hormonal birth control.

Although the Governor has said he will consider the personhood bill he has been clear he would sign the forced ultrasound bill.  But let’s start calling this what it really is: state sanctioned rape.

In Virginia, rape is defined as the following:

§ 18.2-61. Rape.

A. If any person has sexual intercourse with a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, or causes a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, to engage in sexual intercourse with any other person and such act is accomplished (i) against the complaining witness’s will, by force, threat or intimidation of or against the complaining witness or another person; or (ii) through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness; or (iii) with a child under age 13 as the victim, he or she shall be guilty of rape.

I called and emailed McDonnell’s press secretary Jeff Caldwell asking if the forced vaginal ultrasound bill would in-fact overturn the rape statute.  Caldwell did not return my call or email by the time of publication.

During the debate Republican State Del. Todd Gilbert said:

“the vast majority of these cases [abortion] are matters of lifestyle convenience.” And, 

“We think in matters of lifestyle convenience and in other matters that it is right and proper for a woman to be fully informed about what she is doing.”

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Executive Director Tarina Keene said of the ultrasound bill alluding to Gilbert’s ludicrous statement:

“This bill and comments on the House floor show the disrespect anti-choice lawmakers have for women’s personal and private reproductive decisions made with their doctors and their families.”

Gilbert embodies the nature of the debate in one sweeping statement; women choose abortion willy-nilly and women aren’t smart enough to make their own decisions about their bodies so big government and men will (he has since issued an apology.)

The ignorance Gilbert displayed is the norm and I encountered similar stupidity first hand when confronted by a group of men on Facebook regarding the Texas ultrasound law. This is the relevant passage from a my piece written for The Frisky on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade:

Last week I got into a heated exchange with a group of men on Facebook about abortion.  It was regarding the Texas law requiring a woman view an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion.  The man starting the thread praised the Texas Supreme Court for upholding the ultrasound law.

This opinion piece from The Houston Chronicle (via AlterNet) gives you an idea of what a the government mandated ultrasound law in Texas could mean:

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 88 percent of abortions occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Because the fetus is so small at this stage, traditional ultrasounds performed through the abdominal wall, “jelly on the belly,” often cannot produce a clear image. Therefore, a transvaginal probe is most often necessary, especially up to 10 weeks to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The probe is inserted into the vagina, sending sound waves to reflect off body structures to produce an image of the fetus. Under this new law, a woman’s vagina will be penetrated without an opportunity for her to refuse due to coercion from the so-called “public servants” who passed and signed this bill into law.

Under the Texas penal code penetration of a woman’s vagina without her consent is sexual assault.  In other words, it is rape  — which is punishable by imprisonment.

In my bizarre Facebook exchange mentioned above, a man brazenly told me rape by the state was analogous to paying taxes, “If you want to talk about government rape, let’s talk about paying taxes to the IRS!”

The conversation deteriorated from there, culminating with a man writing that I was “lucky your mom didn’t abort you” and to shut my “pie hole.”  It would have been simply hilarious if the premise of the conversation weren’t so disturbing.

And then there is Iowa – Iowa is no stranger to waging war on women’s reproductive rights, it has been the hobby of the religious right there for years.  State GOP Representatives have brought forward three bills; egg-as-person, forced ultrasound and a so-called “Woman’s Right to Know” bill.

The forced ultrasound bill passed out of a House subcommittee and is on to the full Human Resources Committee – and then its on to the floor for full debate and vote.  This bill is likely to pass out of the House but State Senator Steve Sodders told me (if it did make it out of the house) it would certainly die in the Senate.  The Iowa Senate is the sane chamber dominated by Democrats functioning under the leadership of bulldog Senator Mike Gronstal.

While it may be true that the ultrasound bill will not pass in Iowa, these attempts at passing forced ultrasound bills and other anti-women legislation must continue to be called out no matter if the bill will pass or not.  And like Texas and Virginia, the Iowa ultrasound bill could lead to forced trans-vaginal ultrasounds.

Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People for the American Way puts it this way when talking about Virgina’s bill but can be applied across the board, “…Virginia’s ultrasound bill takes the war on women to a new level. These politicians aren’t only invading women’s hospital rooms, they’re requiring women to undergo an incredibly invasive procedure without their consent. That’s not only insulting to women, it flies in the face of our values as a free nation.”

The bottom line is pro-choice legislators in state houses around the country as well as physicians and women’s rights activist must start drawing the clear line between state forced transvaginal ultrasounds and rape.

******

Readers: Can you believe some of the comments that these men are saying. I’m so sick of their attitude towards women…How can you compare paying taxes to the government to women getting raped? It is so cold and uncaring. I agree with the writer over the bizarre exchange – it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so very disturbing.

And I’m so sick of men making a comment one day and then apologizing for it the next day as if that just erases everything. Some apologies don’t mean shit anymore. It’s just a way to mollify those affected by the stupid statement. The meaning is still there, and the intention is still there. The apology is just a bunch of BS to get us to move on while the individual(s) continue to follow through with their sick plans. Don’t buy it.

It’s happening again. The “line” is not clear. What are we going to do? What are you going to do? Blog me.

Social Butterfly, Al: Thank you!

Lisa: Too sweet – thanks for sharing.

Anna of Guam: I like it. I think I’ll celebrate a day early next year. HOPEfully my love will remember as well.

Calin: I take it you read the above article that I posted. This is exactly what you are talking about with respect the female voters “voting away the benefits other women got for them through sweat and anguish and any chance of gaining parity from men”.

The forum is open – blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

Republicans Overreach With Sweeping Assault On Women’s Health

Declaring “There Is No Room For Compromise,” Republicans Push For Extreme Measures That Would Let Any Employer – Secular Or Religious – Deny Women Access To Range Of Critical Health Services, Including Mammograms, Sonograms and Contraception

Republicans Ignoring Polls Showing Broad Support For Administration Compromise – Including Among Catholic Women

New Push Is Just The Latest In Litany Of Republican Efforts To Curtail Women’s Access To Health Services

DECLARING “THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE,” REPUBLICANS VOW TO PURSUE EXTREME MEASURES TO RESTRICT WOMEN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

Sen. McConnell Pledges Senate Vote On Blunt Proposal To Give Employers Unprecedented Power To Deny Women Access To Critical Health Services. SCHIEFFER: “Well I guess what I’m asking you though is are you willing as far as Senator Blunt now wants to go and just write in legislation that would ban any group that had just a, quote, moral objection, not just a religious group but just any group that had a moral objection to that? Would you be willing to push that in the senate?” MCCONNELL: “Yeah. You know, if we end up having to try to overcome the president’s opposition by legislation, of course, I’d be happy to support it and intend to support it. It would be difficult as long as the president is rigid in his view that he gets to decide what somebody else’s religion is. I assume he would veto it. But yeah, we’ll be voting on that in the Senate. And you can anticipate that that would happen as soon as possible.” [Face the Nation, 2/13/12]

Speaker Boehner Vows Push To Restrict Women’s Access To Contraception.  “House Republicans say religious leaders are not convinced the White House contraception compromise ‘doesn’t constitute an attack on religious freedom, which has been a fundamental American right for more than 200 years,’ a spokesman for Speaker John Boehner said Friday. He urged the president to work with the Catholic bishops, and in the meantime the House would work on legislation ‘that respects all Americans’ constitutional rights.’” [Politico Pro, 2/10/12]

Sen. Coats: “There Is No Room For Compromise.” “Today’s announcement changes nothing. Whether religious employers are forced to pay directly for contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs or to act as facilitators, their religious liberty remains compromised. But what the president fails to understand is that when it comes to freedom of religion – a core American principle – there is no room for compromise.” [Press Release, 2/10/12]

Sen. Hatch: Anything Short Of Full GOP Position “Is No Compromise.”“This is about religious freedom, and anything short of a full exemption is no compromise” [Press Release, 2/10/12]

Sen. Blunt: Administration Compromise Is An “Accounting Gimmick.” “Just because you can come up with an accounting gimmick and pretend like religious institutions do not have to pay for the mandate, does not mean that you’ve satisfied the fundamental constitutional freedoms that all Americans are guaranteed. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that we reverse this unconstitutional mandate in its entirety.” [Press Release, 2/10/12]

Sen. Johanns: Repeal Entire Mandate. “Though he may call this a compromise, asking people of faith to turn their backs on their deeply held beliefs is anything but. The one thing you cannot compromise is your conscience, and the only way to avoid this dilemma is to repeal the mandate and protect fundamental rights granted by the Constitution.” [Press Release, 2/10/12]

Sen. Rubio: Solution Is Full Repeal Of Health Reform. “It’s good that the president reaffirmed that the federal government cannot force faith-based institutions to provide services that they teach are wrong. Unfortunately, as more of these rules are written, our constitutional rights will continue to be threatened by the administration’s policy goals. This issue exemplifies the problem with putting the federal government in charge of health care, and shows why we must fully repeal Obamacare.” [Sunshine State News, 2/10/12]

REPUBLICANS BACK RADICAL PROPOSAL TO ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO DENY COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTION AND OTHER CRITICAL HEALTH SERVICES TO WOMEN

Senator Blunt’s Proposal Lets Any Employer Deny Anyone Access to Health Care.  As part of their ongoing effort to politicize women’s health, Senator Blunt’s extreme measure would essentially allow any employer or health plan to decide not to provide any essential health benefit or preventive service to any American.

• Under Blunt Proposal, Any Employer Could Invoke Vague “Moral Conviction” To Deny Health Services To Employees.  The Blunt measure would allow employers and insurance companies to deny coverage of any health service – not limited to birth control – based on “religious beliefs or moral convictions.” This definition is so broad, for example, that CEO’s with a “moral objection” to Type 2 Diabetes or HIV screening could deny coverage of these services to all employees. [NWLC, 2/10/12]
• Employers Could Discriminate Against Individuals Under Blunt Proposal. The Blunt proposal would allow health plans to discriminate against individuals based on sex, race, color, national origin, age, and disability. As a result, if a CEO of an insurance company had a “moral objection” to out-of-wedlock births, the company could deny single, pregnant women access to routine sonograms. [NWLC, 2/10/12]
• Blunt Proposal Creates An Unprecedented Right of Action for “Threatened” Violations. Any individual would have the right to file a lawsuit in Federal court for actual or “threatened violations.” As a result, state officials might be less likely to enforce any law which could be perceived as a threat, thereby resulting in further restricted access to critical services. [NWLC, 2/10/12]

POLLS SHOW AMERICANS – INCLUDING CATHOLICS – BROADLY SUPPORTS BIRTH CONTROL BENEFIT

Poll: Fifty Six Percent of Voters Support Birth Control Benefit.  According to a poll conducted by PPP, 56 percent of voters support the birth control benefit, while only 37 percent are opposed, with women supporting the measure by a margin of 63 -29 percent.  Among independents 55 percent support it while only 36 percent oppose it.  [PPP, 2/10/11]

Poll: Fifty Three Percent of Catholics Support Birth Control Benefit. According to a poll conducted by PPP, 53 percent of Catholics support  the birth control benefit while only 44 percent are opposed.  [PPP, 2/10/11]

THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN LITANY OF REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CURTAIL WOMEN’S ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

Republicans Threatened to Shut Down the Government to Defund Planned Parenthood.  In April 2011, during the debate over funding the government, Republicans threatened to shut down the federal government in order to gut women’s access to healthcare. [ABC News, 4/8/11]

235 House Republicans Voted To Eliminate All Funding For Title X, Jeopardizing Critical Preventive Health Services for Women.  HR.1, the House Republican’s spending bill eliminated $327 million from Title X, whose providers served close to 5 million women with preventive services including screenings for breast and cervical cancer. [Wall Street Journal, 2/9/11; H.R. 1; Vote 147, 2/19/11]

Republican Budget Raised Prescription Drug Prices on 2 Million Women.The House Republican budget re-opened the Medicare Part D prescription drug “donut hole.”  As a result, senior women would have had to pay an additional $599 on average under the Republican proposal. [HHS, 2/2/12]

And, last night on “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

**********

Readers: Heard enough? When will women’s health be taken seriously and supported? In my opinion, any woman who votes republican needs to have her head examined. Thoughts? Blog me.

Doug, Howie, Zen Lill, Al…et al: Thank you for the Valentine wishes.

Peace & Love…

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

In 2008, I, along with others, fought really hard to pass Prop 2. California  voters overwhelmingly passed it with the intention of outlawing egg factory cages. We were determined to make California be a cage-free state. I was so delighted that the hens would soon be able to freely spread their wings, instead of living in cruel cramped quarters. My thought is this for the hens and all animals: The least we can do is provide those who give us their lives or give us food to nourish ourselves, a healthy, comfortable, stress-free environment. Is that too much to ask? Evidently, yes.

Today the egg industry wants to prevent what we have fought so hard for. This is what I just received in the mail:

A bill was just introduced in Congress that would keep laying hens locked in egg factory cages so cramped that they could not even spread their wings. This is a dirrect assault upon California law. The egg factories opposing Prop 2, having lost at the ballot box, are now trying a different tactic. They have introduced a Rotten Egg Bill – also know as the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 ( H.R. 3798). Substituting one cruel metal cage for another, the industry’s openly stated intention is to:

• Nullify Proposition 2 and all other existing state laws that ban or restrict battery cages.
• Deny state legislatures the ability to ever enact laws to outlaw cages or otherwise regulate egg factory conditions.
• Deprive voters of the right and ability to ever pass ballot measures banning egg factory cages.

Readers: I realize that many people don’t think about much abut the eggs they buy when they shop. But I like so many other do.  For me, I have a very difficult time when it comes to the livelihood and well-being of animals…even hens, as you see here, when they are abused. I have the ability to feel such compassion that it is literally painful for me.

And it doesn’t go away when the video ends. I imagine myself in a cage with no where to move and the horrible feelings of going crazy from the confinement. I know it’s crazy –   can you imagine how the hens feel? I would not want to endure this, and I’m sure the hens, nor any other animal or being does either.

It does not matter whether they were born in a cage or not, their nature is to be free doing the things that come naturally…things that they cannot do while confined to a cage. The pain, suffering and abuse is unnecessary. But of course, as in many things, the greed to be as profitable as possible is the motivating factor, and the animals are the ones who suffer because of this.

I take pride that I can put myself in the shoes of others…even animals, yet at the same time, it can be very overwhelming and stressful because the abuse is so prevalent on our planet…in our faces daily in one way or another. Thankfully as I have gotten older, I do not let it get the best of me, and my passion to protect remains steady.

All I ask is that if you eat lots of eggs, look at what you are buying. Are you supporting the horrific factory farming? I know they are more expensive but can you eat less and buy from the smaller farms that support “cage-free” environments?  I am not saying that “cage-free” factories are innocent, but it is a step in the right direction.

As always, I post these things hoping that one of them hits a nerve and becomes a passion for you as well. We can’t all take on all the suffering of those in this world. But we can find something, whatever it be…the environment, a child, an animal, or cause, that pulls on us to do more.  I can only tell you how wonderful it feels when you know you are making a difference. Thanks.

To read more about this bill and what you can do, as well as sign the petition, click here.

Peace & Love: “Live it, Give it”

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

I’m not a big football fan, hence I didn’t have any desire to watch the Super Bowl. Grew up with too many Super Bowls messing with my birthday celebrations. :) So the only part of the game this past Sunday that I indulged in was the half time entertainment. It wasn’t until after the fact was I aware of the commercial with Clint Eastwood. Did you see?

Clint Eastwood On Chrysler Super Bowl Commercial: ‘I’m Not Politically Affiliated With Mr. Obama‘

After a day filled with chatter about the political implications of his “Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler, acting legend Clint Eastwood moved to quell any speculation that he was making a pitch for President Obama’s economic policy.

“l am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. It was meant to be a message about job growth and the spirit of America,” Eastwood, a libertarian and longtime Republican voter, said Monday evening on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” about the ad, which features him extolling the virtues of a revitalized Detroit. Chrysler was one of the companies saved in President Obama’s 2009 auto bailout, which Eastwood has publicly opposed. “I think all politicians will agree with it,” he continued. “I thought the spirit was OK.”

Eastwood, who said he was “not supporting any politician at this time,” also gave his blessing for either party to reference the spot, or at least its message.

“If Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Fox News contributor Karl Rove criticized the ad for being “a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the President of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.”

In response, Eastwood’s longtime manager Leonard Hirshan told NY Magazine that the ad was never intended to be political.

“I think that Rove and everybody, if they’re sensible, would wonder why a longtime Republican and Libertarian would do that,” he said. “Just think about that, how silly that is: It’s not like [the ad] was done by a left-winger, like Paul Newman in his day. It was done by a Republican, and he was doing it about America. There’s not anything political to do with it whatsoever. I don’t want him to do commercials, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s a PSA [public service announcement]. Period.”

*******

Readers: I loved it. Eastwood may not be “politically affiliated with Mr. Obama”, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that the commercial kicked Obama some kudos in a complimentary indirect kind of way.  And Eastwood was against the auto bailouts.

Clint, said this to the L.A. Times in November 2011:

“But I’m a big hawk on cutting the deficit. I was against the stimulus thing too. We shouldn’t be bailing out the banks and car companies. If a CEO can’t figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn’t be the CEO.”

And yet he starred in this Chrysler commercial. What are you thoughts? Blog me.

The forum is now open.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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Good morning!

Not only women, but young girls deserve the title too. Here’s one of them…actually a three of them:

Teen Impact: Grand Prize Winner

This blog post was submitted as an entry in the Teen Impact contest and awarded as the Grand Prize Winner.

When I was 10 years old, my friend Sydney was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Sydney fought against it, but the tumor did not respond to treatment, and could not be surgically removed. The mass wrapped around her brainstem, the area of the brain that controls the vital functions of life such as breathing and blood pressure. Sydney died at the age of 11.

After her death, I felt immense grief for my friend and extreme frustration about pediatric cancer. I decided to turn these negative emotions into positive actions. When I was 11 years old, I founded the Pink Polka Dots Guild (PPD) with two friends. The guild is named after Sydney’s favorite color and pattern, which represents both the memory of my friend and the guild’s positive approach. My goal has been to raise enough money to find a cure for brain cancer, which is the second most common cancer in children.

Over the years, PPD has held fundraisers from lemonade stands to art expositions to golf tournaments. I have played a leading role in planning and organizing each PPD event. The very first Pink Polka Dots event, a garage sale, raised $9,000, and our most recent fundraiser, the fifth annual golf tournament, brought in over $73,000. The guild progressed faster than I ever anticipated. In five years, we have become 40 members strong, and raised almost half of a million dollars.

I’ve been astounded by the public recognition that the guild has earned. PPD received an award from a U.S. Senator, spoke at a TED Conference, was featured in Teen Vogue, and appeared on the Nate Berkus Show. Each of these honors has raised awareness and money for our cause.

The initiative that I have taken has truly impacted the world of cancer research. PPD has provided start-up funding for groundbreaking scientific discoveries, such as “Tumor Paint,” which illuminates cancerous cells so that surgeons can remove them with unprecedented accuracy. The discovery appeared in Time Magazine, and will be reviewed by the Food & Drug Administration starting in early 2012. If approved, “Tumor Paint” will significantly increase the success rate of cancer surgeries, decreasing the necessity for further surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I am extremely proud to have helped fund the research of this life-saving technology.

Pink Polka Dots has inspired me to be an activist. My experience has taught me that with passion and dedication, it is possible to make an impact in the world. The determination that Pink Polka Dots sparked in me has carried over to all aspects of my life, making me a driven academic, a competitive debater, a scrupulous editor, and a dedicated volunteer.

As PPD’s impact grows, it’s hard to decide what is more gratifying — knowing how many cancer patients’ lives will improve because of my work, or imagining how proud Sydney would be of all the accomplishments Pink Polka Dots has made in her honor.

**********

Readers: As usual, it is nice to open up my blog and see all of you here. I am planning on catching up with the comments this weekend, so until then…blog me.

Henry: My only answer to the story is: “It served its purpose.”

xoxo 

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"