Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

The Crackpot Calling The Kettle Wack

Give me a break.

For months now, Republican leaders have been fomenting hatred and unrest, and running a campaign of pure misinformation, smears, and lies about the proposed healthcare reform bills.

Death panels ring a bell? 

Now they have their britches in a hypocritical knot because Florida Democrat, Rep. Alan Grayson, spoke these words on the floor of the House last night: 

"It's a very simple plan.  Don't get sick. That's what the Republicans have in mind. And if you get sick America, the Republican health care plan is this: die quickly."

"That is about the most mean-spirited partisan statement that I've ever heard made on this floor, and I, for one, don't appreciate it," Tennessee Republican Rep. Jimmy Knicker Knots Duncan responded.

Really?

Really?

And distorting, misinforming, and lying to your constituents to make them believe the bullshit that the Dems are going after grandma and special needs babies is civil?

What's that?  Your side has never said anything unseemly?  Untrue?

Um, let's refresh that selective memory of yours, shall we?

Despite Outrage, Many House Republicans Have Said Dem Health Care Will Kill People

It's Jennifer's Day!

Jon Stewart Proves Hannity To Be Fish Out Of Water When It Comes To Facts and History

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Just DON'T Do It

Abstinence only education.  Purity pledges.  A denial of actual education on reproduction, contraception, consequences.  It's a mindset and a government funded program that simply doesn't work.

From an article by Chicago Tribune intern Tracy Jarrett: 

In a survey published in the January 2009 issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Professor Janet Rosenbaum found that "purity pledges" were no more effective than their advocates make out contraceptives to be. Her five-year study of two teen groups with similar religious views found that most of the abstinence pledgers were not less sexually active than non-pledgers -- but they were less likely to use condoms.

The numbers bear it out.  The babies of teen parents bear it out.  The abortion rate bears it out.  (In 13 years we have wasted over a BILLION DOLLARS on this notion that telling kids NO makes a difference.  Well, yes, yes it does - the wrong direction.  The ludicrousness of that wasteful spending highighted on the campaign stage when Sarah Palin - a true believer in this garbage - introduced her very pregant teenage daughter to the world.)

But the right wing Christian conservatives demand it of their representatives, so another $50 million dollars in government funding is headed towards telling kids Just DON'T do it.

The bill has passed the Senate committee and is headed to a House and full Senate vote

$50 million dollars for a program that is simply stupid.  We can't get healthcare reform, we can't fix schools literally crumbling around our kids' heads, but we can get this?  It is the equivalent of flushing stacks of dollar bills down the toilet.

I live in a state dominated by Republican (and yes, there are Democrats who believe in this mindset as well - ignorance is not the sole domain of one political party - but this agenda was born in and pushed by the right wing) "family values" folks - those God fearing, church going, holier-than-thou types who will celebrate this as some sort of victory.  These are the same folks who can't have an honest conversation about puberty with their own children. 

PEWberty, sure.  Drag the kids to church, deny them access to contraceptives and real education about their bodies and the consequences of their wholly natural desires.  But don't have an on-going dialogue about hormones, sex, STDs - that is unseemly, unChristian.

These are the same folks, both in the heartland and in the funding process, who pitched a fit over President Obama daring to address schoolchildren and encourage them to do well in school.  They called it "indoctrination" and "brainwashing."

They spread their web of lies and fear - this asshatted belief that Obama - in the space of a 20 minute address - could somehow twist their kids' minds.

I have news for them - it's been less than a month - which in kid time is like YEARS - and I doubt the majority of them have thought twice about the speech they were allowed / not allowed to watch, let alone been warped or brainwashed to follow "Dear Leader."

But, let's play their game.  If it is so easy to brainwash the children of this land, then let's save that $50 mill and just arm Obama with a speech about abstinence, make it mandatory viewing, and then - again, following their (gag, hock, spew) logic - no more teens laden with STDs!  No more kids having kids!

I have never pushed some bullshit abstinence-only agenda with my daughters.  It is unrealistic.  It flies in the face of every natural urge a human being is born with.  What I have done is open the doors of communication from an early age, answered and continue to answer every question they come up with, and have put the responsibility on THEM.  These are THEIR bodies, their decisions to own about who, when, where, if, how.

I invest in their knowledge, their self esteem, in giving them power over their bodies.

Again, this is a government funded, religiously motivated program THAT DOES NOT WORK.  It has been proven TO NOT WORK.

So tell me.  When do the teabaggers take to the streets to protest this waste of their tax dollars?

(Insert VERY pregnant pause...)

Jon Gets The Sack And A Conscience?

TLC has announced they have dropped Jon from the new season of Jon & Kate Plus 8, renaming it Kate Plus 8.

Good.

Short of canceling it altogether, at least this will rid the show of the 9th child whose mission in life is to relive his twenties which were so cruelly ripped from him by - *gasp*  - marriage and parenthood.

TLC will concentrate on Kate's evolution to single parent (well, as single as a TV mom with a large income and staff of nannies can be).

I have to say that Kate has presented herself quite well as of late - her stint on The View showed her to be articulate, thoughtful, and actually fairly media savvy.

As for Jon?  Good luck with that show you're trying to put together with the other D List dads like Lohan.  (I assume the "D" stands for douchebag?)  And it will interesting to see how long all those young ladies continue to hang around him now that his "star" has so significantly faded.  Those pathetic Ed Hardy duds, double earrings, and beer gut just don't seem as alluring now...

Interestingly, he and his lawyer have this to say - excerpted from an upcoming piece in In Touch:

When Jon Gosselin heard that his estranged wife, Kate, had a breakdown during the taping of a TV pilot in September, he knew he was responsible for her suffering. In addition to flaunting his relationship with his new girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, and partying at clubs all over the country surrounded by scantily clad women, Jon went on ABC's Primetime recently and said he "despised" the mother of his eight children. "He woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and didn't like the reflection," Jon's attorney, Mark Jay Heller, tells In Touch. "He realized he'd made some bad choices." Jon and Kate were due to be officially divorced by the end of November -- but now he claims he's had a serious change of heart. "I regret my conduct since Kate and I separated [on June 22]," Jon tells In Touch exclusively. "I used poor judgment in publicly socializing with other women so soon."

Shockingly, today, Jon submitted a document to a Pennsylvania court-approved arbitrator, which he hopes will suspend his split with Kate for 90 days. He explains, "This will enable Kate and me to restore our relationship as cooperative parents and to open up our lines of communication. I hope that she will be as receptive and enthusiastic as I am to do what is best for our family." He also pleaded with her to set aside their anger so they can start interacting amicably. "I would like to get back with Kate as a partner in parenting," Jon tells In Touch. "Even though we were heading for a divorce, it appeared that Kate had been suffering from this divorce as much as I had. That's why I asked my attorney to put the brakes on this divorce so I could try to regain control over the future of our family. So Kate and I could join on a cooperative course that would benefit our family -- not destroy it."

Jon claims he's done sowing his wild oats and grown disenchanted with his playboy lifestyle. Jon believes that his womanizing was a result of being dumped by Kate, who told him it was over in October 2008 before filing for divorce. "When Kate broke up with me, I begged her to go with me to counseling," he says. "She was totally against it. I think I was reacting to the pain I have been suffering as a result of Kate's rejection of me." Heller insists that Jon wants the document to be a sort of peace treaty: "He is hoping to inspire his wife to become less rigid, inflexible and controlling and open up. We're hoping Jon and Kate can sit down together and start exploring what to do about their situation. Once they do that, the rest will fall into place."

~~~~~~~~~

He gets fired from his meal ticket and suddenly has this massive change of heart and grows a conscience?  Sorry, Jon.  Far too little, far too late.  You made your bed - er, rather messed up quite a few from all accounts - so now you have to lie in the sticky sheets of your own self loathing.

 

Jon Stewart Calls BS Once Again On GOP, Beck, et al

It really is sad to me how something as innocuous as school children can be turned into another fear mongering talking point.

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TriOH?

Amazing what's out there...

Just stumbled upon the Trio - a three channeled pan that allows you to cook three separate meal items at one time.

$29.99 at Amazon.com.  Sold as a lasagna pan, the possibilities obviously stem far beyond some layered noodles and sauce.  What would YOU make in yours?   I'm thinking brownines, brownies, and brownies...

Kris Allen's First Real "At Bat" Doesn't Strike Out

I know, I know - the majority of folks are much more eager to hear what Adam Lambert releases, but Kris Allen's first real song - (I do not consider the required-Idol-aural-saccharine that was No Boundaries to be REAL) - is not bad at all.  It is called Live Like We're Dyin'.

Give it a listen...

Special Prayers For A Mother & Child Reunion

I just received this email from a reader, and I immediately thought of the lyrics to Paul Simon's song, Mother & Child Reunion...

I just can't believe it's so,
and though it seems strange to say
I never been laid so low
In such a mysterious way
And the course of a lifetime runs
Over and over again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda,

 

I have been a long time reader of your blog, occasionally responding, and usually agreeing with your views.  I have seen the blogmunity come together with prayers, good vibes, chants, etc. for people who are in need.  I am asking for the above for a friend of mine.

 

Deena is a young lady, in a long term relationship, with the father of her children.  She works full time in a gas station / convenience store in my neighborhood. She was 32 weeks pregnant, and after working an 8 hour day, went home to spend the evening with her family. As she left, she told her co-workers she would see them the next day.

 

That evening, while at home, Deena collapsed. She was found by her oldest daughter.  Her family called 911, and began CPR, as she was not breathing. Deena was taken to the hospital, where she remains, 2 weeks later. She remains on a ventilator, in a coma. The doctors delivered her baby, a little girl, at 5 lbs, 3 oz, who is in the NICU on a vent. Deena threw a clot.

 

The doctors are trying to wean her baby from the vent as we speak. They are unsure what, if any, brain damage Deena will have if she makes it. Her prognosis is not good.

 

Linda, I am asking that the blogmunity keep this family, especially Deena and her baby as they pray, chant, whatever they wish.  Deena did no drugs, did not drink, was / is a good mommy to her kids. She worked hard and set a good example for her family. Her family needs her.

 

Thank you for all you do.

 

Michelle H. in WV

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michelle - the power of this blogmunity is an amazing thing.  Please know that tremendous support will be coming their way - hopes, prayers, chants, wishes.  And I have explained everything to Carson - she said she will use her heart radio tonight as she goes to sleep and make sure God is watching over Deena and her baby.  May their mother and child reunion be only a motion away.   Miracles can and do happen. ~ Linda

 

A Happy Update From Kelly...

Linda,

At the beginning of this year, I had contacted you about a friend of mine at work. His name is Kyle and he is about my age (mid to late 30's) with two beautiful little girls and a lovely wife who stays home to raise them. Kyle is a wonderful Social Studies teacher who loves to hunt, fish, ride his four-wheeler, etc. He is the ultimate "redneck", as he willingly calls himself. Kyle was diagnosed with cancer around the beginning of 2009.

 

He has been off work since then and did not return to us this school year.

 

Now...for the good news. After enduring 9 rounds of chemo, Kyle finished his treatments at the beginning of August. He just had  a PET scan and is, according to that test, cancer free at this time. He has been to hell and back and has come out of it in the end. He has to have 3 more surgeries to repair a hernia and remove the port for his chemo. He is planning to return to work in January. I just wanted to thank you and all in the blog-munity for the thoughts and prayers sent to Kyle and his family when the original story was posted. God truly has blessed Kyle and his family in his recovery.

 

Thanks,

Kelly in PA

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know everyone here at DGMS will be thrilled for Kyle and his family and will keep them all close in our thoughts. ~ Linda