Utah Bill Criminalizes Reckless Behavior Causing Miscarriage

MoonHowler

A controversial  bill is awaiting the signature of Utah Governor Gary Herbert.  If the governor does nothing, the bill becomes law.  Why is this bill so dangerous?

In a nut shell, the bill criminalizes reckless behavior that causes a miscarriage.  The bill’s sponsor, State Representative Wimmer (R) says of course not wearing a seat belt would not cause a pregnant woman to be prosecuted.  However, the lawmaker could not give real assurances that this wouldn’t happen.  He did add that taking drugs could be determined reckless behavior.

The bill, ostensibly, was created because some teenager paid another person money to beat her in hopes of aborting.  The fetus lived and Utah law failed to provide a means to prosecute the girl beaten or the person who did it.  Wimmer also says that this bill’s intent is not to restrict legal abortion.  (note raised eyebrow)  It would seem that this law is just poised and perched to be a test case for legal abortion to be criminalized.

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VA Tech Drinkers will be narc’ed out to Mommy and Daddy

MoonHowler

All of us know of a student who went away to school only to get into serious trouble with alcohol.  Some of them don’t come home, at least not in a way that is desirable.  Some kids get away from home for the first time and end up dead in alcohol related accidents on the road.  Other kids simply die of alcohol poisoning.  Still others die from aspiration in their sleep when they are simply too drunk to react involuntarily.  Some kids are fortunate enough to just have to spend the evening toilet hugging with a killer hang over the next day.

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Manassas Area News and Updates

MoonHowler

It seems that convicted killer Paul Powell has filed for clemency.  His lawyers say even though he has been bizarre and obnoxious he doesn’t deserve  to do.  His execution has been set for March 18. 

The boom boom boom we have all heard is coming from Quantico.  The News and Messenger reports the following:

Quantico Marine Corps is blasting this week.

Residents in the area have been hearing loud booms today as a result munitions training that is expected to last all week. The overcast skies are increasing noise and vibrations, base officials said.

The training continues through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day.

The BOCS met yesterday.  I believe they voted to restrict parking long Coppermine Drive off Williamson Blvd.  I sure hope so.  It is a blight.  I do wish the BOCS would read out what they are voting on and what yea and nay means in the case of the vote.  I often am unsure what the vote is.  It would add more transparency to county government.

Please add to the news.

Support your local community, buy locally!

Elena

potomacfarmsGreat story from the PWCA blog.  I love supporting local farmers, either buying produce or beef.  Here is a wonderful way to support your local community!

 

 

Click here to read the full story!

What: PWCA 1st Thursdays – Local Food & Sustainable Agriculture
When: Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, 9350 Main St., Manassas

Once home to a thriving farming community, subdivisions and shopping centers have replaced much of Prince William’s rural landscape. This loss isn’t unique to Prince William. Family farms have given way to corporate agribusiness nationwide, essentially entrusting the quality of our food and well being to big business.

Today, after years of rising obesity and blood pressure, fast food diets are giving way to increasing interest in locally grown food… fresher food that retains more nutrients.

Better food is only part of the benefit. Locally grown means locally sold. Supporting urban farming also preserves open space, improves the appearance of our community and supports our local economy, helping keep our taxes in check.

Do you know where your food comes from and what’s in it? How far did it have to travel before reaching your table? Is it even possible to have agriculture in DC’s densely populated suburbs?

On March 4 at 7:00 p.m., Hiu Newcomb, owner of Potomac Vegetable Farms, will tackle these questions and talk about the benefits of locally grown food and sustainable agriculture.

Water-board Attorney to Visit UVA

MoonHowler
John Yoo
John Yoo

John Yoo, attorney with the Bush Administration will speak at UVA on March 19 at the Miller Center for Public Affairs.  Yoo was an author of the ‘torture memos’ which advised the Bush Administration that water boarding and other harsh techniques of interrogation were legal.

John Yoo was deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel.  He currently has returned to teaching at the University of California at Berkeley’s law school and is promoting his book, “Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George W. Bush.”

Last week after a long series of DOJ investitgations, it was determined that Yoo and other attorneys “exercised poor judgment” in formulating their legal advice to the Bush Administration.  The ruling was very controversial and polarized political factions.

Expect to see heated debate at UVA.  Various liberal groups have called Yoo a war criminal.  Thomas Jefferson’s academic village will be rocking on March 19 with this latest visitor.  I don’t expect the students to go quietly with this guest speaker.

Yoo called a war criminal in rotests in Philadelphia
Yoo called a war criminal in rotests in Philadelphia

VA Delegate Assembly Disses Freedom of Speech

MoonHowler

virglogo4

From Virginia Planned Parenthood:

Yesterday, SB18, the omnibus package that includes the ‘Trust Women, Respect Choice’ license plate was passed by the full House. However, like the House version of the bill, the language in SB18 was changed to redirect revenue generated by the sale of the plates away from Planned Parenthood to the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund. Despite the public outcry and media attention, anti-choice Delegates refuse to grant Planned Parentood equal viewpoint.

So there you have it.  The Virginia Delegate Assembly has not only dissed freedom of speech but it looks like they don’t think that women have enough sense to state where they want their money to go. Rewind to a few weeks ago.  In An Issue of Fairness we illuminated the hypocrisy going on in the Delegate Assembly with HB 1108 which was about Pro-Choice license plates which read Trust Women/Respect Choice (see illustration).

UPDATE: The bill now goes to the Senate. Hopefully the Senate will amend this bill by returning the funds to Planned Parenthood.  No victory laps yet, delegates.

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Senator Bunning Attempts to Snarl Traffic

MoonHowler

Senator Bunning apparently is trying to make a point as 2000 DOT workers were furloughed without pay. According to ABC News:

ABC News’ Lisa Stark reports: Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., didn’t just stop extensions of unemployment and health insurance benefits with his “hold’ on these funding measures last week, he also stopped an extension of the Highway Trust Fund for 30 days. That means the fund cannot be used to pay for any of its programs or its employees.

So, the Department of Transportation as of Monday morning, furloughed 2,000 federal workers. DOT says that number could climb if this stalemate over funding drags on. Employees affected include federal inspectors overseeing highway projects on federal lands. If the inspectors aren’t there, the projects must shut down. DOT says that will affect 41 critical construction projects from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Democrats are using this stand off to point out Republicans being obstructionists. Senator Bunning thundered out at reporters who attempted to talk with him heading up to the Senate floor. (and this video is especially for Cousin Slowpoke)

Senator Bunning allegedly demonstrated the international sign of contempt. The highway fund will probably go through this week. ABC reports:

Bunning did go to the Senate floor and give a coherent explanation of why he is holding up the unemployment benefit extension, COBRA, and Highway Trust Fund money – he wants it to be paid for elsewhere in the budget. His preference would be to use unspent stimulus funds.

“I support extending unemployment benefits, cobra benefits, flood insurance, highway bill fix, doc fix, small business loans, distant network television for satellite viewers. If we can’t find $10 billion to pay for something that we all support, we will never pay for anything on the floor of this U.S. Senate,” he said.

This debate stands every chance of squaring off into its respective corners.  Republicans will probably call this move by Senator Bunning  being fiscally responsible.  Democrats will probably use the O word.  I probably side with the Senator on the elevator issue.  I can understand being territorial about one’s elevator access.  You let one reporter on, they all want on.

“Give me my bus back”

MoonHowler

A big blue sign saying “Give me my bus back” greeted those attending the budget hearing at SJHS Monday night.  Many students and parents came out to protest the proposal to eliminate   shuttle transportation to and from the specialty school areas.  Such specialty schools might be IB at Garfield, SJMS, SJHS, Beville, Bio-Tech at OPHS,  Foreign Language at Parkside,  the Cambridge Program at Brentsville, IT at Forest Park  and Fine & Peforming Arts at Woodbridge High School, to name a few. 32 buses are currently used to take students from hubs to the specialty programs.  The school system is expecting to add 3,500 new students.  The buses will be used to help offset these additional students.

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We are the World: Visited, Revisited, and Revisited Again on SNL

MoonHowler

The Original (For Africa)

The Remake: We are the World for Haiti

And the SNL Version

That original song was wonderful. It crossed all generations. Sadly, the for Haiti version just made me sad.  I hate hate hated the ending.  I got depressed seeing Michael Jackson, who had done so much with the original.  I knew who all the artists in the original were.  I only recognized a few in the Haiti version. 

But to be fair, I was a lot better 20 some years ago than I am today, so perhaps I should be kinder.  I was very disappointed in the much awaited We are the World for Haiti.  SNL brings it all home.  Don’t ya just love Willie Nelson?

PWCS Budget Timeline 2010-2011 update

MoonHowler

In the interest of space, PWCS Budget Timeline 2010-2011 post has been moved to a permanent page running across the top just under the banner.  Hopefully contibutors will be able to access the timeline as long as needed. 

Those pages under the banner offer readers access to news and political publications also. 

Remember the little home in the upper left hand corner takes you back to the beginning.

Happy blogging.

Thanks to our hosts to the North: O Canada

MoonHowler

The torch was extinguished last night.  The athletes are headed home.  Some achieved  their life’s dream. Others only came close.  Some, like Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia, will not go home like the others.  Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed while practicing a luge run.  He pursued his passion.   To their credit, his teammate stayed and pushed on.

The United States of America owned the podium.  We are bringing home 37 Olympic medals  9 are gold.  Germany takes home 30 medals and Canada 26.  The Gold Medal winner is Canada.  They won 14 gold medals.  Amazing. 

The hockey game was the perfect ending.  Well, almost perfect.  In a last minute sudden death in overtime, Canada slammed the puck home for a  3-2 win.  Team Canada owned the day and Sidney Crosby was Canada’s national hero.

I didn’t resent that win at all.  The Canadians had been wonderful hosts.  Their pageantry was spectacular Canadians are wonderfully friendly, kind people.  I have to admit to tearing up over that final O Canada.  The pride on their faces as they sung the words to their national anthem made me willing enough to say I rooted for Team USA but in the end, when it wasn’t to be, I was happy for our neighbors to the north. 

The athletes  for the 2010 Olympics were decent to one and other.  The usual rancor and egos seemed to be softened in Vancouver. We all had a favorite competitor and game.  Who were your favorites and what were the highlights of the 2010 Olympics?  Do we expect things to go as well in 2014 when the Olympics are held in Sochi, Russia?