tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31749375430323585152024-03-13T11:27:51.122-05:00True Blue TexanStacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.comBlogger589125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-23588174139879089302012-01-13T13:35:00.003-06:002012-01-13T13:35:56.469-06:00Girl Scout Promotes Cookie Boycott<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" id="twttrHubFrame" name="twttrHubFrame" scrolling="no" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1326407570.html" style="height: 10px; position: absolute; top: -9999em; width: 10px;" tabindex="0"></iframe>A Girl Scout in California is calling for a boycott of Girl Scout Cookies because a Colorado council allowed a 7-year-old transgender child to join a troop. Her video calling for the boycott has stirred up the expected controversy among LGBT activists.<br />
<br />
As a former Girl Scout leader, I feel I can speak to her concerns. As a friend to my former Girl Scout and transman, I have a little more insight to this issue as well. She goes on and on about how unsafe this precedent is and how having adolscent boys in all-girl troops would be a violation of Girl Scouts own safety rules. First of all, she needs to get her pronouns and terminology correct. The child in question in Colorado, and any transgender youth who joins GSUSA, is not a boy. <em>She</em> is a girl and as such would benefit from being in Girl Scouts for all of the same reasons any other girl would. Secondly, the child in question is 7 and unlikely to present a clear and eminent danger to her fellow scouts. <br />
<br />
The information she quotes from is factual. GSUSA did perform a study several years ago about the benefits of an all girl organization. Their findings are every bit as true for a transgirl as they are for any other. Perhaps, even more true. Being around other girls as she attempts to form her own identity as a girl can only be beneficial for that 7-year-old. Her fellow scouts will benefit as well. <br />
<br />
The California scout is not only concerned about the introduction of transgender youth to Girl Scouts, she feels strongly that GSUSA should break their ties with WAGGGS (the international scouting organization) because of their ties with Planned Parenthood and that GSUSA should do away with their sex education program.<br />
<br />
Clearly this girl has drunk the kool-aid.<br />
<br />
Planned Parenthood does far more that provide abortions. Far more. Far, far more. In fact abortion services are just a tiny fraction of what they do. But after listenting to this girl and looking at her website, it's clear that's what her motiviation is all about. As far as the sec education materials that GSUSA has available, the thing to remember is that are not required. They're available for troops who decided to use them, they are geared towards older girls and they are NOT required for any badges, awards or other recognition. In other words, if this girl and her troop find them so reprehensible, they don't have to use them. However, other troops might not have the same outlook. They should be able to use them.<br />
<br />
Here's really what I want to say to this girl and the adults who taught her to hate:<br />
<br />
Did you just join up and not do any kind of research at all?<br />
<br />
Did you think Girl Scouts was just camping and cookies?<br />
<br />
Have you been living under rock for the last decade? Were you truly not aware that GSUSA is a progressive organziation and is not simply Boy Scouts for girls?<br />
<br />
If you want your daughter in an organization that is primed to keep her barefoot and pregnant, teach her to be subservient and that sex is bad, then Girl Scouts is NOT the organization for you. Girl Scouts is all about teaching girls to be independent, caring, active members of society who think for themselves and are proud of who they are. Girl Scouts promotes girls and women's rights. If that's not what you want for your daughter, then find another group for her to join. But don't be surprised when Girl Scouts tries to keep up with the times.<br />
<br />
And leaves you in the dust.<br />Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-19795314868096373552011-05-25T15:00:00.000-05:002011-05-25T15:00:02.658-05:00Rep. Rob Woodall makes commercial for the GA DemsNo, seriously.<br />
<br />
Remember this asshat from yesterday when he told a constituent at a town hall meeting she needed to take care of herself and buy her own insurance if her company didn't provide healthcare as part of a retirement package?<br />
<br />
Well, at the same meeting, he had someone ask him why he didn't buy his own insurance and decline his government supplied healthcare. Especially since he had told her one of his goals was to do away with government AND employer supported insurance.<br />
<br />
What did he tell her? Watch for yourself.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d5MKaF7qO3o" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
That's right, he told her why should he when it's FREE. Words escape me. How do I describe someone who is at once both so completely arrogant and so completely clueless.<br />
<br />
He must be a ringer for the Dems. Cause really, all they have to do is play this video segment and the one from yesterday. A little editing, a little music, some voice over work as text relates some more of his statements and voila - instant commercial. <br />
<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="336" id="+id+" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MjA3MTAtNDY2NTE?color=003366"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <embed src="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/v/MjA3MTAtNDY2NTE?color=003366" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" name="clembedMjA3MTAtNDY2NTE" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="336" width="400"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Of course, he is from Georgia, the state that gave us Paul Broun.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://themoderatevoice.com/106701/georgia-rep-calls-fdr-a-commie/">Georgia Rep Calls FDR a Commie</a> (themoderatevoice.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/06/broun-democrats-hatched-diabolical-plan/">Broun: Democrats hatched 'diabolical plan'</a> (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/24/978528/-GOPer-supports-federal-default-unless-energy,-education-departments-axed">GOPer supports federal default unless energy, education departments axed</a> (dailykos.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.redstateprogressive.com/2011/05/rep-paul-broun-proposes-abolishing.html">Rep. Paul Broun Proposes Abolishing Department of Education</a> (redstateprogressive.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=779015cc-a7d5-452d-98c9-a1d187dda365" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-5825565688574299072011-05-24T20:20:00.001-05:002011-05-25T15:01:24.309-05:00More Evidence That Republicans Hate YouIn Texas this week, Governor Big Hair signed into law a truly hateful piece of legislation. HB 15 requires that any woman undergoing an abortion in the state of Texas be required to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound. She may choose to look away but must listen as the doctor describes what he sees. Yes, that's right. She has no choice except to look away. She must undergo the indignity (and ladies, we all know getting a vaginal exam is no spring picnic) of having a condom-and-gel-covered probe inserted into her vagina.<br />
<br />
This medical prodcedure has specific uses, according to <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003779.htm">NIH</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Transvaginal ultrasound may be done for the following problems:<br />
<ul><li>Abnormal findings on a physical exam, such as cysts, fibroid tumors, or other growths</li>
<li>Abnormal vaginal bleeding and menstrual problems</li>
<li>Certain types of infertility</li>
<li>Ectopic pregnancy</li>
<li>Pelvic pain</li>
</ul>Transvaginal ultrasound is also used during pregnancy to:<br />
<ul><li>Evaluate cases of threatened miscarriage</li>
<li>Listen to the unborn baby's heartbeat</li>
<li>Look at the placenta</li>
<li>Look for the cause of bleeding</li>
<li>Monitor the growth of the embryo or fetus early in the prgnancy</li>
<li>See if the cervix is changing or opening up when labor is starting early</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
The State of Texas has added one more use.<br />
<br />
Transvaginal ultrasound is also used during pregnancy to:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Force the mother to undergo an invasive procedure designed to discourage the abortion</li>
</ul>Rah. So glad to be from Texas. I won't even <a href="http://juanitajean.com/2011/05/24/texas-state-senator-dan-patrick-god-and-your-vagina/">repeat</a> what Sen Dan Patrick (R-Hell) had to say.<br />
<br />
So Texas has gotten it's long sought after bill to try to convince women to change their mind about an abortion. Sen. Patrick believes that if 20% of women change their minds that will "save"10,000 to 15,000 lives a year. Which goes well with this next tidbit.<br />
<br />
US House Republicans' budget plans are calling for a reduction in funding to the WIC nutrition program. If this item remains in the budget that eventually passes, The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3499">estimates</a> that WIC would have to turn way 325,000 to 475,000 eligible low-income women and young children next year. So those, 10 to 15K souls the Texas Sonogram bill is supposed to save? Well, they're on their own. Surprise.<br />
<br />
But real beauty of the week came from Kansas State Legislator Rep. Pete DeGraaf. Kansas approved a ban last week on insurance companies offering abortion coverage as part of their general plans except when a woman's life is at risk. If an individual or employer wants to get medical coverage for an abortion in Kansas they will have to purchase a supplemental policy rider that covers only abortion.<br />
<br />
When Rep. Barbara Bollier, a Republican who supports abortion rights, asked if it was reasonable to think women would buy such policies ahead of time, say before they're raped, the lovely Rep. DeGraaf replied this <a href="http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/newsnow/x1058165813/Kansas-backs-bill-restricting-abortion-coverage">way</a>:<br />
<blockquote>"We do need to plan ahead, don't we, in life?" He continued, to groans from his fellow House members, "I have spare tire on my car. I also have life insurance. I have a lot of things that I plan ahead for."</blockquote>Yes, you heard that right. He just compared an abortion rider to AAA. After all, every woman should expect to be raped in her lifetime. Avoiding unwanted pregnancies is entirely the responsibility of the woman, regardless of how that pregnancy occurs. If you want to be prepared and you're one of those heathen Pro-Choice types, then you buy yourself a rider. Otherwise, you just have to make lemonade out lemons, as Sharron Angle would day.<br />
<br />
These people, and I use that terms loosely, hate women. They want us back in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. They want to return to the time when a man owned a woman's body. When rape was considered a property crime and compensation, if there was any, went to the male who "owned" the woman be he husband or father.<br />
<br />
In truth, the current crop of Tea-Party-leaning Republican whack-a-doodles wants to return us to time before labor unions, before women's rights, before the Voting Rights Act, before anything as silly as the Clean Water Act or anything that regulates business in any way. They want to return us the era of robber barons. They care only about the pocketbooks of their wealthy cronies and supporters. If you can't afford to maintain your health insurance, pay for an abortion or feed your child, they don't care. It's your own fault for not working hard enough to get enough money to buy these things.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">H/T to </span><a href="http://juanitajean.com/2011/05/24/texas-state-senator-dan-patrick-god-and-your-vagina/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Juanita Jean</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/more-right-wingnuttery-women-should-plan-ah"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Crooks and Liars</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/perry-ceremonially-signs-sonog.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Dallas News</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3499"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/newsnow/x1058165813/Kansas-backs-bill-restricting-abortion-coverage">McPherson Sentinel </a></span><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=c9a8db1b-8c53-4164-8397-01a926bf5ec8" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-74553057933984102542011-05-24T13:54:00.000-05:002011-05-24T13:54:31.733-05:00In Case You Needed Any More Evidence...Republican politicians are out for one thing and one thing only - themselves. To this end they have sold their souls to the corporations, the Koch brothers, et al. They refuse to let go of their "principals" even when what they're espousing is patently absurd on its face.<br />
<br />
Here are three examples from today's headlines:<br />
<br />
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), whom according to <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/24/paul-gosar-millionaire/">Think Progress</a>, owns "a building worth up to $1 million, a dental practice worth up to $500,000, an antique store worth up to $500,000" and more, rightly earning the label "millionaire", told a town hall<br />
<blockquote>Seriously. I ain’t wealthy. I built my own house, I wouldn’t do it again. I own my building, I have a dental practice. I live just like the rest of you folks. It’s all on paper, it’s not in cash. </blockquote> And don't forget his 174K congressional salary.<br />
<br />
Next is Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga) who told a constituent who asked, what do I when I retire and my company doesn't provide health care coverage to employees?, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/23/rob-woodall-on-medicare-take-care-of-me_n_865724.html">quote</a>:<br />
<blockquote>"Hear yourself, ma'am. Hear yourself," Woodall told the woman. "You want the government to take care of you, because your employer decided not to take care of you. My question is, 'When do I decide I'm going to take care of me?'"</blockquote><br />
In other words, she needed to plan better and save the money to pay for her own healthcare cause the government can't be expected to help you.<br />
<br />
Speaking of help from the Government, today's winner of Asshole of the Day goes to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), He <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/24/cantor-disaster-relief/">says </a>that any federal aid to tornado ravaged Joplin, MO must be offset by spending cuts. Who knows how long that process will delay the release of funds. So, Joplin? You're on your own for a while. Maybe a long while. Maybe forever cause we know how those Republicans like to raise taxes. Maybe we can defund NPR to pay for the rebuilding. Of course, we could stop the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq and pay to rebuild Joplin and Tuscaloosa and Minneapolis on just the savings generated in a week. But that won't happen.<br />
<br />
Grr.<br />
<br />
Since our government is in no hurry to help Joplin, here's where you can go to help:<br />
<a href="http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=cf36d788b91cf210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&currPage=95af5188b26cf210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&gclid=COSLiNjwgKkCFUPf4Aod5l3mTg">Red Cross</a><br />
<a href="http://www.americares.org/newsroom/here-at-home/disaster-response-underway-joplin-missouri-tornado.html">AmeriCares</a><br />
<a href="http://www.uwheartmo.org/">Heart of Missouri United Way</a><br />
<a href="http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/teams_rush_to_help_joplin">Convoy of Hope</a>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-1465568580325330642011-05-23T19:21:00.000-05:002011-05-23T19:21:51.312-05:00What Would You Do?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zhl9MLno424?rel=0" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is a lovely reminder of the simple fact that despite what you may hear in the news, despite Governor Big Hair and despite the Religious Right and their spokespersons on the State Board of Education, Texas and Texans are far more open-minded than not. Yes, there are homophobes in Texas. But equally true is the fact that there are good and decent people willing to stand up to injustice and intolerance here as well.<br />
<br />
I've never watched the series on ABC, "What Would You Do?" and I'm not generally a fan of reality TV of any stripe but kudos to them for tackling this topic. And kudos to those who spoke out against the biogtry.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-59131644859202767242011-05-20T13:59:00.000-05:002011-05-20T13:59:31.868-05:00It's the End of the WorldOr so says the now famous, or infamous, Harold Camping. Though all his billboards say it's going to start on May 21, which is tomorrow, what he really meant to day was it's going to start at 6PM local time AT THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE. So that's like 1AM here.<br />
<br />
Oh, and just for grins he has a pamphlet all ready to go just in case, you know, NOTHING HAPPENS. Which apparently means that the end is still nigh just not yet here. Or something. Seriously, go read the article by Tina Dupuy on the <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/the-rapture-is-not-saturday-its-tonight/239177/">Atlantic</a>. She actually interviewed the old creepy dude.<br />
<br />
I personally think he looks like the insanely creepy preacher man from Poltergeist 2. Here's Camping: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHNiNhFJXZj9eXRjNrbVApD10h29m5TzEoz-8pLYTbnf9zuHCdmbtOfJ0BYzcESvgz5pkMY5d4jX5YKV9o-xsN8KJuLLhiGwbme7pOUPvig5ALaauodVDzP_lbCtCa1QSgmXtNlndwAXQ/s1600/rapture.banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHNiNhFJXZj9eXRjNrbVApD10h29m5TzEoz-8pLYTbnf9zuHCdmbtOfJ0BYzcESvgz5pkMY5d4jX5YKV9o-xsN8KJuLLhiGwbme7pOUPvig5ALaauodVDzP_lbCtCa1QSgmXtNlndwAXQ/s320/rapture.banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's the insanely creepy Preacher dude from Poltergeist:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_T_FmIX3NrmS9XUziPF2ugFbkhjmmlmylLSqPHm8eIlC-EA-SALuygfJH9hAApDUqorrh8OEc8LFf8_aMTnMM5xm8c2Tx-7uyivQTdk1zuJ7PkbU5BindMY7TlsYXDqMqCsePy-Alo9s/s1600/kane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_T_FmIX3NrmS9XUziPF2ugFbkhjmmlmylLSqPHm8eIlC-EA-SALuygfJH9hAApDUqorrh8OEc8LFf8_aMTnMM5xm8c2Tx-7uyivQTdk1zuJ7PkbU5BindMY7TlsYXDqMqCsePy-Alo9s/s1600/kane.jpg" /></a></div>Am I right? <shudder></shudder><br />
<br />
At any rate, an untold number of people actually think old creepy dude has a point. So much so that they're preparing for end by giving away their money and quitting their jobs. Despite the fact that he's predicted the world's demise before and was wrong, there are still some that think he may be on to something. The rest of us? Having endless amounts of fun laughing at the old creepy dude.<br />
<br />
I originally thought we should have a blow out end-of-the-world party Saturday, followed by another yay-we're-all-still-here party on Sunday. But since Harold says that end is coming sooner than I had thought, I may have to start tonight. Hmm. Is there enough alcohol in the house? Perhaps it's a good thing that Eldest is coming home this weekend.<br />
<br />
Still, I expect that come Monday morning, I will still be here, as will the rest of the world. But just in case the world does end this weekend, you need to have seen this:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="340" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; width: 512px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/387033/may-19-2011/john-lithgow-performs-gingrich-press-release" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">John Lithgow Performs Gingrich Press Release</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:387033" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor & Satire Blog</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video Archive</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Which, of course, reminds me of this:<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b5b0799f-da2e-4059-8d4b-9011b7eb6ee6" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" height="328" id="ordie_player_5052bc35d1" width="512"><param name="movie" value="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="key=5052bc35d1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed width="512" height="328" flashvars="key=5052bc35d1" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" quality="high" src="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf" name="ordie_player_5052bc35d1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0; text-align: left; width: 512px;"><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5052bc35d1/shatner-reads-palin" title="from Woohah">Shatner Reads Palin</a> - watch more <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/" title="on Funny or Die">funny videos</a></div><br />
Damn, still funny.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-79087393412859532192011-05-11T21:17:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:40:15.454-05:00Did Florida ban sex and does God have tongue spots?Well, maybe. Depends on how you read the <a href="http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0344/BillText/Filed/PDF">statute</a>.<br />
<blockquote>An act relating to sexual activities involving animals; creating s. 828.126, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting knowing sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal; prohibiting specified related activities; providing penalties; providing that the act does not apply to certain husbandry, conformation judging, and veterinary practices; providing an effective date.</blockquote>Technically, human beings are animals. So, on it's face that bit up there kind of implies that they did. But of course, that's not the entire statute.<br />
<blockquote>“Sexual conduct” means any touching or fondling by a <i><b>person</b></i>, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organs or anus of an animal or any transfer or transmission of semen by the person upon any part of the animal for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal of the person. [my emphasis]</blockquote>And that bit implies that the person who wrote the law sees people as separate from animals. Whether or not you agree with her (and yes, it's a her. You kind of knew it had to be, didn't you?) it's rather clear her intent was to make illegal the act of a human having sex with an animal. Specifically, the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/06/florida-bestiality-law-passes-third-attempt_n_858884.html">news</a> reports I've read mention a case of a goat and another with a horse, so she was thinking animal as in the 4-legged variety and not the kind that walks on two feet. Like Newt Gingrich.<br />
<br />
So while the Twitterverse and blogosphere went a little overboard with the idea that Florida had banned sex and after October 1st Florida residents would have to confer with a vet, animal husbandry professional or conformation judge (which is a fancy term for those folks who judge dogs and such for shows) before having consensual sex, it just ain't so.<br />
<br />
It does however raise another question.<br />
<br />
The very fact that so many would assume that the author of the bill didn't believe humans were animals got me to thinking (always a shaky proposition). Why do so many people, especially those of the more, shall we say, conservative bent, think that way? Which of course made me think of those Christians who think the only way to read the Bible is literally. Thus, "God created man in his image" means that God looks like us and not say, the family dog.<br />
<br />
Which I find patently absurd.<br />
<br />
Aibhne happened to be sitting in my lap while my husband and I discussed this silly Florida law and meandered on over to Bible literalists. I pointed to her and said, that's an image of God right there. To which he replied, does that mean God has tongue spots?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsK0NDpuQZ_B0X7FV4kq7lQw3RUQrSQv6awGbxlxEFjDJB81YypPcY_KdxsccxtG6JVI3tIKKze5Tr-Ktxy9PytZsLZOAjsWsSVdVDJjrMpHV6N28fT823Mr83eUYhR-knSdsWaFXQog-/s1600/DSCF0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsK0NDpuQZ_B0X7FV4kq7lQw3RUQrSQv6awGbxlxEFjDJB81YypPcY_KdxsccxtG6JVI3tIKKze5Tr-Ktxy9PytZsLZOAjsWsSVdVDJjrMpHV6N28fT823Mr83eUYhR-knSdsWaFXQog-/s320/DSCF0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes. Yes, it does. </div><br />
<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0 0 0;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.alan.com/2011/05/11/did-new-florida-law-ban-sex/">Did New Florida Law Ban Sex?</a> (alan.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://redbeardedoctopus.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/florida-finally-got-around-to-banning-bestiality-sex-altogtether/">Florida Finally Got Around to Banning Bestiality & Sex Altogtether</a> (redbeardedoctopus.wordpress.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/05/there_goes_the_florida_tourism.php">There goes the Florida tourism industry</a> (scienceblogs.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://gawker.com/5800990/did-florida-accidentally-ban-sex">Did Florida Accidentally Ban Sex? [Oops]</a> (gawker.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://onebluestocking.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/florida-bans/">Florida Bans Droopy Drawers, Sex with Animals</a> (onebluestocking.wordpress.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/lede-of-the-day/">Lede of the Day</a> (outsidethebeltway.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=28b78f1e-1de1-41a6-b5d3-eda48c7524fb" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-59928965157241868622011-04-29T15:43:00.000-05:002011-04-29T15:43:44.206-05:00What the Hell was She Thinking?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi7pKEqXZJgyherVWaIqeqEy7-IUSlgKtsc1XxhPuxUySsx0H0yBSfqaETS7It6ljGgAj09TFS7nqayV2jGqvLIOmFmM4DhJoVoQroG3TudYxrsbTKEhF_8JaYJIaE-RV09QyuRZpXE83/s1600/PRINCESS-BEATRICE-HAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi7pKEqXZJgyherVWaIqeqEy7-IUSlgKtsc1XxhPuxUySsx0H0yBSfqaETS7It6ljGgAj09TFS7nqayV2jGqvLIOmFmM4DhJoVoQroG3TudYxrsbTKEhF_8JaYJIaE-RV09QyuRZpXE83/s320/PRINCESS-BEATRICE-HAT.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>As I may have mentioned, the company I work for is British. Our home office in the UK got the day off and we had lunch brought in (the VP made homemade Shepherd's Pie) and watched a replay of the wedding.<br />
<br />
I somehow managed to miss this...thing...on Princess Beatrice's head. And I was sort of of looking for crazy hats cause it's a Royal Wedding and all.<br />
<br />
Not sure how cause damn it's a sight. Must have been the alcohol.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-51915793204328391672011-04-19T20:59:00.001-05:002011-04-19T20:59:53.883-05:00Day 6 - Possible escape tomorrow. Prayers, finger-crossing & other forms of barter appreciated.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-11971022878859678432011-04-18T21:46:00.001-05:002011-04-18T21:46:14.088-05:00Day 4 of latest hospital stay. Sucks as much as ever. Good news is we may have found right drug combo. Must remember it for the next time.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-28053670342440901652011-04-09T11:58:00.000-05:002011-04-09T11:58:21.930-05:00We The People - Move to AmendThere is a national movement that I have just discovered called Move to Amend. As the name suggests, they are working towards a constitutional amendment. Specifically, an amendment that would overturn the Citizens United ruling.<br />
<br />
In recent Wisconsin elections, Dane county and the city of Madison passed referendums supporting this effort. Communities in California and Minnesota have proposed or passed similar resolutions.<br />
<br />
On the <a href="http://www.movetoamend.org/">Move to Amend</a> website, I was unsurprised to find that Texas has no chapters. My husband is not an overly political person but this is something he feels strongly about - the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling was a disaster with wide ranging negative impact -something we agree on.<br />
<br />
Move to Amend states the following:<br />
<blockquote>We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:</blockquote><blockquote>* Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.</blockquote><blockquote>* Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our vote and participation count.</blockquote><blockquote>* Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate "preemption" actions by global, national, and state governments.</blockquote><blockquote>The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law. In a democracy, the people rule. We Move to Amend.</blockquote><br />
If this is something you agree with, I encourage you to check out their website and see if there are any local groups or chapters in your state. If there are none, think about starting one.<br />
<br />
We are. Anyone want to join us?Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-84235467917249307442011-04-07T12:53:00.000-05:002011-04-07T12:53:44.061-05:00Segway JoustingThis is every bit as awesome and silly as the title suggests. Not a bad way to spend your lottery winnings.<br />
<br />
<embed ="" align="middle" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#869ca7" flashvars="config=http://creativity-online.com/xml/config.player.php&p=22835" height="270" loop="false" name="player" play="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://creativity-online.com/video/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450"></embed>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-4499280956621777162011-04-02T11:38:00.000-05:002011-04-02T11:38:16.235-05:00Teacher Layoffs Growing in TexasYesterday, Fort Bend ISD, near Houston, announced it was laying off 470 employees. 195 of those were certified teaching positions. The district says that some of these teachers will be reassigned to new schools but doesn't say how many.<br />
<br />
May 25, Round Rock ISD, my home district, announced 280 employee layoffs, 234 of them probationary teachers. Those are generally new teachers in their first two years of employment. The district warned that the next round of layoffs will come from contracted employees - meaning those teachers and staff beyond their probationary period. They also announced that classroom ratios will be increased next year to 27:1 for middle and high school and 21:1 for elementary.<br />
<br />
Austin ISD voted March 28 to eliminate 490 positions. Some are administration but most are teaching and support staff.<br />
<br />
Dallas ISD is looking at eliminating almost 3,000 positions, of which 1,300 will be teaching positions.<br />
<br />
To the individual who told me that teachers wouldn't be losing their jobs, that it would just be a shell game moving costs to another budget line, I say this:<br />
<br />
Forcing early retirement may seem like a shell game, and some teachers <i>will</i> take early retirement, but the lion's share of these layoffs will come from those who can't do that - the probationary or new teachers. They're now stuck with student loans and no job. Their jobs will be gone. Not shuffled around to another school, not reassigned to a different place in the budget but simply gone. When all is said and done, after school districts have reassigned who they can, encouraged others to take early retirement or resign, there will be <b>fewer</b> teaching positions. More students in the classrooms for the teachers that remain. Fewer support services for those students and teachers. Ultimately, those who will suffer the most are the students.<br />
<br />
This is a nightmare. And not one we as a state will soon wake from.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-69261294823674969762011-03-28T19:12:00.000-05:002011-03-28T19:12:38.136-05:00"Bullied" screening at UCCIf you're in the Austin area, please stop by the United Church of Christ at 3500 W. Parmer Lane this Sunday at 6PM. We're hosting a free screening of the Southern Poverty Law Center's documentary "<a href="http://www.tolerance.org/bullied">Bullied</a>".<br />
<br />
The documentary tells the story of one high school student who held his school district accountable for the years of bullying he experienced while attending their schools. Despite repeated pleas for help, a suicide attempt and running away from home, this young man was forced to sue the school district before they would acknowledge the problem.<br />
<br />
The film is about 40 minutes long and there will be a short discussion afterwards. If you aren't in the Austin area, I encourage you to find a way to view this film.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-73377903138648160042011-03-26T13:30:00.001-05:002011-03-26T13:31:15.038-05:00Henry A Wallace - a definition of fascism and a warningExcerpted below is a letter written by Henry A Wallace, Vice President under FDR from 1941-1945. Written in 1944 and printed in the New York Times, this piece is warning of the dangers of American fascism. It's clear to me that many of the things he warns us about are evidenced today in the Republican party, especially the Tea Party variant. You can read the full document <a href="http://republicandirtytricks.com/henry-a-wallaces-warning-of-american-fascism/#more-1588">here</a>. Emphasis is mine.<br />
<blockquote>A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends. The supreme god of a fascist, to which his ends are directed, may be money or power; may be a race or a class; may be a military, clique or an <b>economic group</b>; or may be a culture, <b>religion</b>, or a <b>political party</b>. […]</blockquote><blockquote>The obvious types of American fascists are dealt with on the air and in the press. These demagogues and stooges are fronts for others. Dangerous as these people may be, they are not so significant as thousands of other people who have never been mentioned. […] The dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to <b>poison the channels of public information</b>. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but <b>how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power</b>. </blockquote><blockquote>If we define an American fascist as one who in case of conflict <b>puts money and power</b> <b>ahead of human beings</b>, then there are undoubtedly several million fascists in the United States. There are probably several hundred thousand if we narrow the definition to include only those who in their search for money and power are ruthless and deceitful. Most American fascists are enthusiastically supporting the war effort. […] They are patriotic in time of war because it is to their interest to be so, but in time of peace they follow power and the dollar wherever they may lead. American fascism will not be really dangerous until there is a <b>purposeful coalition</b> among the cartelists, the <b>deliberate poisoners of public information</b>, and those who stand for the K.K.K. type of demagoguery. </blockquote><blockquote>Still another danger is represented by those who, paying lip service to democracy and the common welfare, in their insatiable greed for money and the power which money gives, do not hesitate <b>surreptitiously to evade the laws designed to safeguard the public from monopolistic extortion</b>. […] </blockquote><blockquote>The symptoms of fascist thinking are colored by environment and adapted to immediate circumstances. But always and everywhere they can be identified by their <b>appeal to prejudice</b> and by the desire to <b>play upon the fears and vanities</b> of different groups in order to gain power. It is no coincidence that the growth of modern tyrants has in every case been heralded by the growth of prejudice. […] </blockquote><blockquote>The American fascists are most easily recognized by their <b>deliberate perversion of truth and fact. Their newspapers and propaganda carefully cultivate every fissure of disunity</b>, every crack in the common front against fascism. They use every opportunity to impugn democracy. […] <b>They claim to be super-patriots</b>, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection. […] </blockquote><blockquote>It should also be evident that exhibitions of the native brand of fascism are<b> not confined to any single section, class or religion</b>. […] It is an infectious disease, and we must all be on our guard against intolerance, bigotry and the pretension of invidious distinction. But if we put our trust in the common sense of common men and “with malice toward none and charity for all” go forward on the great adventure of making political, economic and social democracy a practical reality, we shall not fail.</blockquote>Those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">H/T to <a href="http://jobsanger.blogspot.com/2011/03/wise-words.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Flhav+%28jobsanger%29">jobsanger</a>.</span>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-58555116408219534532011-03-24T23:14:00.000-05:002011-03-24T23:14:11.116-05:00Bryan Fischer is an idiot<blockquote>The First Amendment was written by the Founders to protect the free exercise of Christianity.</blockquote>So says Brian Fischer at his column on <a href="http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/110324">RenewAmerica</a>.<br />
<br />
That someone has such a limited grasp of the Constitution and history is nothing short of amazing. He even goes so far as to quote a "Constitutional scholar" who says:<br />
<blockquote>"The real object of the [First] amendment was, not to countenance, much less to advance Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects, and to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment, which should give to an hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the national government."</blockquote>Really? I seem to remember the First Amendment to our Constitution differently:<br />
<blockquote>Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.</blockquote>The parts of the First Amendment dealing with religion are commonly referred to as freedom of and freedom from religion. The government will not force a state religion (freedom from) and will not prohibit a citizen from exercising religious faith (freedom of).<br />
<br />
I love that Fischer and his so-called Constitutional expert both seem to think Thomas Jefferson wanted to prevent the establishment of one Christian sect as primary but had no concerns about the free speech or exercise of religion for other religious faiths. Jefferson is who coined the term "separation of Church and State" and his interpretation of the First Amendment has stood the test of time. Plus, he was not really the kind of Christian that Fischer would have approved of - being a deist and eschewing orthodoxy.<br />
<br />
These people who hold up Jefferson has the perfect example of a Christian Founding Father should really pay attention to history. Or at least let the man speak for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson_and_religion">himself</a>:<br />
<blockquote>I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State.</blockquote>Or this:<br />
<blockquote>Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason than of blindfolded fear.</blockquote>There are more, of course. Jefferson was intensely interested in theology but not orthodoxy. He even went so far as to create an edited version of the Bible that removed all mention of miracles. Not really the kind of Christian Fischer and his cronies would like if they took the time to really get to know the man.<br />
<br />
H/T to <a href="http://tfninsider.org/2011/03/24/the-first-amendment-for-christians-only/">Texas Freedom Network</a> for the article that led me down this rabbit hole.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-71294616228598399452011-03-23T21:20:00.000-05:002011-03-23T21:20:04.667-05:00Recipe for Hilarity with a dash of WTFBlend:<br />
1 tank<br />
12+ Maricopa County Sheriff Office SWAT members<br />
1 bomb robot<br />
Steven Segal<br />
<br />
Add 115 chickens and one unarmed man.<br />
<br />
Mix well. Spice with terror, miscellaneous armored vehicles and blown out windows.<br />
<br />
Recipe makes 115 euthanized chickens, thousands in property damage and one community outraged.<br />
<br />
This, they're outraged about. Crazy immigration ideas, not so much. Oi.<br />
<br />
H/T to <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/23/959411/-Sheriff-Joe-Arpaio-takes-out-115-chickens-with-extreme-prejudice--and-Steven-Seagal-helped?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29">Daily Kos</a> for a diary that made me laugh out loud and then shake my head.<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a13a0494-61c0-41dc-b26c-830645962f70" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-74923903240330412352011-03-22T22:34:00.000-05:002011-03-22T22:34:46.393-05:00Texas State Board of Education and the LegeIt appears that the Texas Legislature is waking up to the fact the State Board of Education has royally screwed our children and, by extension, the future of Texas.<br />
<br />
Amazing when you consider that the legislature consists of a 101 to 49 Republican supermajority. Texans across the board think the SBOE crossed way over the line last year with their adoption of a "we have to stand up to the experts" expert-free social studies curriculum.<br />
<br />
There are at least 11 bills making their tortured way through the process as we speak. Some call for the complete dissolution of the SBOE, others seek to reform it. Most noticeable are three that specifically deal with how the Board handles curriculum votes and those experts they like to ignore. One other demands the nullification of the social studies curriculum and would force the Board to reopen the standards.<br />
<br />
It is my fervent hope that significant change comes to the State Board of Education. Here's my letter to my representative, Larry Gonzales.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As a Texas Freedom Network Lobby Day participant, I was able to meet with your Chief of Staff, Chris Sanchez to discuss our legislative agenda. I wanted to thank you and Mr. Sanchez for this opportunity. </blockquote><blockquote>I believe it is critical that we do everything legislatively possible to rein in the State Board of Education. </blockquote><blockquote>There are several House bills currently in committee that propose to do just that. In particular, HB 3257 and HB 3504 are both important steps in eliminating some of the more egregious tactics that Board has implemented in the past. HB 3257 would require that the Board make any amendments available for public review 3 business days prior to a vote and require the final version of the standards to be posted for at least 24 hours prior to final adoption. Currently, the board is able to make changes right up to the minute that the standards are voted on. This bill would allow much needed time for scholars and Board members alike to have ample time to review amendments and the final standards. HB 3504 goes one step further and requires a two-thirds vote by the Board to reject recommendations of curriculum and textbook review teams. Currently, as we saw to the state’s detriment last year, the Board only requires a simple majority vote to reject these recommendations. </blockquote><blockquote>HB 2217 would nullify the social studies curriculum passed last year by the Board and force them to reopen the review of the standards. The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_B._Fordham_Institute" rel="wikipedia" title="Thomas B. Fordham Institute">Thomas B. Fordham Institute</a>, a conservative-leaning education policy think tank, has said that the Board has created a “politicized distortion of history” through the adoption of the current standards. Educators, scholars and voters in Texas all agree that this curriculum needs serious review. </blockquote><blockquote>These are but a few of the bills currently under review by the legislature; I would strongly urge you, as your constituent, to review all of the pending legislation and determine which ones you can support. The State Board of Education has made our proud state not only the laughing stock of the entire nation, but the world as well. Their blatant attempts to revise curriculum from a personal and political bias may well cost us jobs. Employers want to know that their prospective employee pool consists of people who have a firm grasp on history and science. Currently, this is problematic, at best. </blockquote><blockquote>I left with Mr. Sanchez a list of the current bills pending or in committee. Please take the time to review this list and throw your support behind this vitally needed reform. As someone intimately connected with Texas education, I hope that you share my concerns with the direction the SBOE has taken.</blockquote>I will mail it to him tomorrow. I'm not really expecting a reply. My last letter to him after the Equality Texas lobby day has so far gone unanswered. I'm also faxing a note to each member of the House Public Education committee expressing my interest in seeing these bills make it out of committee.<br />
<br />
I'm tired of sitting back and letting the lege do it's thing every two years with no input from me. Here's hoping that being the squeaky wheel has some effect. At least they'll learn to cringe when my postmark crosses their desk.<br />
<blockquote></blockquote><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0 0 0;"> Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2011/02/18/slow-learners-conservative-think-tank-flunks-texas-social-studies-standards-2/">Slow Learners: Conservative Think Tank Flunks Texas Social Studies Standards</a> (secularnewsdaily.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7479205.html">Pressure mounts for curriculum redo</a> (chron.com)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=831afa28-f684-43cc-a785-27dd08a48eb1" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-27028763659848519742011-03-21T18:23:00.000-05:002011-03-21T18:23:22.290-05:00NaBloPoMo fail.Again.<br />
<br />
I did try. I even blogged on the road, but Las Vegas got the best of me. And my money. Surprise. We had a great time, despite the complete inability to win a damn thing in the casinos.<br />
<br />
We saw the Lion King at Mandalay Bay, ate entirely too much, spent more than we should have and discovered that the Hard Rock Hotel was...interesting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFhjryhy7sPPa1whB2NQ8tPMkKUbrI5Dfahuz8YkkROo6JiHR82lNQCjyLGSV-tZy6Se_P-2d9mQ5YRr3GjBP1I8zmnW5gZeOAEje7EZUYHFF27M1Vyz4CTDXa62iiDGgReT-cx-CHSkU/s1600/IMAG0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFhjryhy7sPPa1whB2NQ8tPMkKUbrI5Dfahuz8YkkROo6JiHR82lNQCjyLGSV-tZy6Se_P-2d9mQ5YRr3GjBP1I8zmnW5gZeOAEje7EZUYHFF27M1Vyz4CTDXa62iiDGgReT-cx-CHSkU/s320/IMAG0169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's an actual cymbal used as a lighting sconce. Pretty cool. So was the "mobile intimacy kit" that was in the room. This small, black box contained a pocket "massager", lubricant and two condoms. I brought it home and gave it to Youngest's boyfriend as his souvenir. What can I say? The Hard Rock appeals to a certain demographic - generally speaking - young. Although the music memorabilia all over the place was cool.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got good news on Thursday as we were getting ready to leave. Myrddin showed up at the back door that morning. Aside from being a bit skinnier, he seems perfectly fine after his 6 day excursion (which was apparently NOT all inclusive). Just when I was getting used to the idea of being a two dog household he shows up. And I think he may have fleas. Joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stopped by the Grand Canyon on our way home. It was a 3 and a half hour side trip that made us significantly late getting home. But worth it. All along the roadways we kept seeing signs that we should be alert for elk. For two hours we saw these signs but no elk. Talked to the Eldest as we were entering the park, hung up, lost service and what appeared over the hill? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A herd of elk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W6DrrB7eS0PWkpnx4Cvx-AjY8Bf6vfspEBnHPb2P4oMmVGyRQIX2QCYlt-5SaPnLFfcm9Fyw43gQBxtdDgo2g97tDLLoWBO4sLMeNGDG2YMw2g2eyylnVj5ea5lXGgdaQbnC-DCel7jB/s1600/IMAG0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W6DrrB7eS0PWkpnx4Cvx-AjY8Bf6vfspEBnHPb2P4oMmVGyRQIX2QCYlt-5SaPnLFfcm9Fyw43gQBxtdDgo2g97tDLLoWBO4sLMeNGDG2YMw2g2eyylnVj5ea5lXGgdaQbnC-DCel7jB/s320/IMAG0184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Timing. Not our best skill. At any rate, we made it home. We spent Saturday and Sunday morning at a church retreat and I participated in the <a href="http://www.tfn.org/">Texas Freedom Network</a>'s lobby day today.<br />
<br />
I'm pooped. I need a break from my break. Alternatively, I could just go back to work tomorrow. Which I will do, but I don't plan on enjoying myself.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-43624416577727361382011-03-15T11:59:00.001-05:002011-03-15T11:59:55.588-05:00Viva Las Vegas!<p>We got in last night after stopping at Hoover Dam, which was pretty incredible. Such as massive undertaking and, of course, the electrical engineer in Hubs was fascinated.</p> <p>The Hilton conned us into paying $20 more a night to get their new "upgraded" room. In this "upgraded room" we've already had to have maintenance come up and plunge the toilet, the shower curtain is torn and the internet is virtually useless. The last is because of damage sustained in California by the tsunami. So, not Hilton's fault. However, the pillow top bed was worth every penny of the upgrade cost.</p> <p>Tonight, we're going to see the Lion King at the Mirage. Last night we caught the tail-end of the Bellagio's fountain show and we'll try to catch it again tonight. Today, we're hitting the casino.</p> <p>Today also happens to be our 25th wedding anniversary. When asked what the trick is to staying married so long is, my Hubs always answers: "marry the right person." Not much help to those advice seekers, but accurate. I would add that luck had no small part in it.</p> <p>Also, we both just assumed we were in it for the long haul and the only way out would be pistols at 20 paces. Saves the messiness of a divorce. Sharing a sense of humor (dry and sarcastic), liking similar things (books, gadgets, games) and having similar outlooks on major things (politics, child-rearing) but still maintaining our separate-ness (he plays bridge and is very analytical, I'm a big picture/gestalt thinker). That's it in a nutshell. Probably not very helpful, but it's worked for us.</p> <p>Now, I'm off to go lose some money at the blackjack tables. Hopefully, not too much. Wish me luck.</p> Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-60369333121867099352011-03-14T12:25:00.001-05:002011-03-14T12:25:01.552-05:00OMG GOP WTF New Hampshire! Edition<p>Have you heard the latest group the GOP/TP wants to disenfranchise now? 18 - 20-year-olds.</p> <p>A Republican in the New Hampshire state legislature thinks that this age cohort should be denied the right to vote because students are "transient inmates . . . with a dearth of experience and a plethora of the easy self-confidence that only ignorance and inexperience can produce." </p> <p>So says state rep Gregory Doth in prepared remarks. Prepared as in this was not an off the cuff statement. No, he thought about it and decided this was what he wanted to say.</p> <p>And he wasn't alone. New Hampshire House Speaker O'Brien agrees: "Voting as a liberal. That's what kids do," he added, his comments taped by a state Democratic Party staffer and posted on YouTube. Students lack "life experience," and "they just vote their feelings.</p> <p>I urge you to go read the entire diary entry by Dante Atkins at the Daily Kos entitled Assault on Student Voting : Just the Latest GOP overreach. I can't link to it properly since I am composing this via email on my phone. But hey, the fact that I can blog while travelling 70mph on I-10 in Arizona is pretty damn nifty. </p> <p>Viva technology!</p> Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-54728032613235489542011-03-13T20:06:00.001-05:002011-03-13T20:06:12.094-05:00On The Road Again<p>We're off and headed to Las Vegas for our anniversary. </p> <p>Eldest has reluctantly signed on to dogsit (and be sister-taxi). We bought them enough food and alcohol to feed a small army. The usual rules apply - the house better be in the same condition we left it in or reduced to literal rubble. No half-assed measures.</p> <p>We just had dinner in Fort Stockton at John Chihuahuas. Service was really awful and the food (Tex-Mex) was just ok. Don't bother stopping there if you're ever in the ass end of Texas.</p> <p>We left town about 1:30. We still have another 3 hours before we're out of Texas. Then it's a mad dash across New Mexico, way too long in Arizona (which we've been warned is one giant speed trap) and a hop, skip and a jump to Vegas. We expect to get there about 1:15 PM, local time. Yes, we're driving straight through.</p> <p>It'll be fine. I know where all the 24 hour Shell stations are on our route.</p> <p>See you in Vegas!</p> Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-83032357229216225032011-03-12T23:02:00.000-06:002011-03-12T23:02:39.643-06:00Nuclear Meltdown Possible in JapanThough the information coming out of Japan is understandably sketchy and confused at this point, there is growing concern that at least on of the nuclear reactors in Fukushima is in meltdown. There was an explosion yesterday and Cesium has been detected in the atmosphere. Japan's government has ordered the evacuation of residents within 20 kilometers of one nuclear power plant and within 10 kilometers of a second. More than 83,000 people live within 10 kilometers of the two plants, according to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.<br />
<br />
This is horrible news. It's not enough that they have to deal with the worst earthquake in their history and the resulting tsunami, now there is this. This reactor is 250 km north of Tokyo. (For us non-metric folk, that is or about 155 miles, slightly less than the distance from Houston to Austin. )<br />
<br />
Some are calling this disaster worse than Chernobyl. An 18 mile restricted zone is still enforced around Chernobyl 25 years later. We could easily see a similar zone go up around Fukushima. Perhaps even larger since there are multiple reactors there and it's possible that more than one is in danger of meltdown.<br />
<br />
Remember, the effects of Chernobyl were felt far from the Ukraine. Today in Germany, the government buys wild boar meat from hunters to limit its exposure on the market. Why? Because it's radioactive. 25 years later, the <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20014108-503543.html">wild boar</a> in Germany are still finding cesium-137 in their diet of mushrooms and truffles, which tend to absorb more radiation.<br />
<br />
Germany is 720 miles from Chernobyl.<br />
<br />
While I doubt that it will happen, what happens if Japan, or a large portion of it, becomes uninhabitable? If Tokyo, with a population of 12 million, has to deal with radiation poisoning, how does the world respond?<br />
<br />
Japan has a massive economy. If that economy fails because of these combined disasters, what happens to the world economy?<br />
<br />
We're still very early in the aftermath. We'll learn more as the days pass. Right now, so much of the news we have seems conflicting. The human toll is still unknown. Death tolls and missing counts change regularly and depend on whom is speaking.<br />
<br />
Right now, all I can do is pray. Pray that the engineers stabilize the reactors. Pray that the loss of life is minimal. Pray that Japan recovers from this blow.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-57986208326441559302011-03-11T22:47:00.000-06:002011-03-11T22:47:07.256-06:00Earthquake and Tsunami in JapanAs I watched the videos of the earthquake I was struck by one thing - the lights didn't go out. They didn't even flicker. Every video I've ever seen of an earthquake in California, the lights flickered.<br />
<br />
I know it's a silly thing to note in the face of so much devastation, but I couldn't help but be impressed by the high quality of Japanese construction.<br />
<br />
The story is still coming out, in drips and drabs, as Anderson Cooper just said. We can expect more devastation and higher death tolls.<br />
<br />
No matter how well you build, the massive force of a tsunami is something that cannot be denied. Watching the video of the wall of water moving inland, picking up cars and flattening buildings, makes you feel pretty damn insignificant.<br />
<br />
When we watched the devastation emerge from Haiti last year, we responded. A country so poor clearly needed our help. The Red Cross has set up their 90999 number for donations. Text JAPAN to that number to send $10. <a href="http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/earthquake_and_tsunami_strike_japan">Convoy of Hope</a> has a text line set up as well. Text <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">TSUNAMI to 50555 to donate $10.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">There are other charitable and disaster relief organizations taking donations. My concern is that fewer people will respond to this disaster than did Haiti. In part because we've seen so little improvement in Haiti and people may feel that their money won't get where it is needed. My other concern is that people will look at Japan, an economic power house, and think - they don't need our help. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">That won't be true, of course. This is the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history. Aftershocks as high as 7.1 have been recorded. For comparison, the quake in Haiti last year was 7.0. These aftershocks are major quakes in their own right. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The Japanese people have a long way to go and much hardship ahead of them. On a more personal note, my company is getting ready to open an office in Japan. We just announced the hire of our first employee there yesterday and anticipated opening the office in April. Our new hire is fine and managed to get an email to us. He is shaken but unharmed. Where we go from here is unknown. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">My prayers go out to the Japanese people.</span>Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174937543032358515.post-47895865472526164592011-03-10T11:42:00.000-06:002011-03-10T11:42:59.935-06:00We Are All AmericansRep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the only Muslim in Congress, spoke today at Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) Congressional hearings on "radical Islam".<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Faxbht2lCoQ" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Republicans like King, who is personally channeling old Joe McCarthy, don't want to hear this. They don't want to be told that Muslim-Americans are real Americans. They want to believe that an entire group walks in the footsteps of Al Qaeda. They believe that radical Christians are "crazed individuals" acting alone and not worthy of a congressional hearing.<br />
<br />
King is not helping this country by painting all Muslims with the same brush as the terrorists. It's just not true. No more than it's true that all Christians are gay-bashing, muslim-hating, gun-toting Republicans. Radical elements of any faith get more press. In the case of Christians, the radical right wing of the faith seemingly dictates the dialog in the country. They no more represent a majority of Christians than radical Islamists do for their faith.<br />
<br />
Let us remember Mohammed Salman Hamdani as a shining example of a true American and a true hero. Let his sacrifice be a reminder that Muslim-Americans deserve our respect and not our suspicion.Stacy Hackenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17402317390064027370noreply@blogger.com0