San Francisco students practice how to put on condoms wearing goggles that simulate being drunk.



In Philadelphia, a man was killed because he dared ask his neighbor to clean up after his two dogs


Big Google has been watching...and tracking you.



Soldiers Wear fake Breasts and Bellies to understand Pregnant PT.



NC School Confiscated Student's Turkey Sandwich and Replaced it With Chicken Nuggets.



Media Matters: In Business to Vilify the Right

...that Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine would be endorseing straight-laced, sweater-vested Rick Santorum for President of the United States, well, I would have been shocked.

But he has. Then again, what would I really expect from the author of the song, "Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?"



Chuck Norris has endorsed Newt.

The Aisle runs through Hollywood:

Backing the GOP:

Stephen Baldwin | Pat Boone | Dean Cain | Russell Crowe | Jon Cryer
Clint Eastwood | Kelsey Grammer | Producer Craig Haffner | Vanilla Ice
Retired speed skater Dan Jansen | Author Dean Koontz | Barry Manilow
Dennis Miller | Chuck Norris | Wayne Newton | Nick Searcy | Gene Simmons
Gary Sinise | Doug Stanhope | Ben Stein | Janine Turner | Vince Vaughn
Jon Voight | Hank Williams Jr.

Backing Democrats:

George Clooney | Ari Emanuel | Will Ferrell | Jamie Foxx | Morgan Freeman
Lady Gaga | Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas | Tom Hanks
Scarlett Johansson | Rashida Jones | Jeffrey Katzenberg | Eva Longoria
Gwyneth Paltrow | Sarah Jessica Parker | Julia Roberts | Will Smith
Steven Spielberg | Harvey Weinstein | Oprah Winfrey | Anna Wintour

But, what I really want to know is who Tim Thomas is voting for... Thomas-Palin 2012!

And I leave you with the visual of Rick Santorum in the pit at a Megadeth concert... lol

Just because (it's been reported that) Ford pulled this ad after "pressure from the Obama administration" doesn't mean that the Obama administration can change the fact that most Americans didn't need the commercial to know that Ford didn't take the bailout.

According to a Rasmussen poll 1 in 5 Americans bought a Ford because they didn't take the bailout:



And yesterday I REJOINED those ranks. The Man and I bought our THIRD Ford.

Now, I have to be honest...the bailout wasn't the only factor that prompted my second Explorer purchase. But, it was in the top three. Also, I have become super reliant on the keyless entry and The Man can fix most anything that goes wrong with them. So now the front of our house has two Explorers and an F250. (Dear Ford: We're available for the next ad campaign) ;)

(And I am not a conspiracy theorist, so I am not implying anything when I tell you that all of those Ford commercials have been wiped from YouTube and the original articles that are referenced in the articles that I linked...and gone.) Hmmmmmm....

I Won The Lottery Once



As some of you readers know, I graduated from a Charter School. To get into it, you had to enter a lottery. Back in 1995 I won that lottery and was one of 12 students lucky enough to escape my inner city high school.

My old high school has a 75% drop out rate. It's rife with violence, gangs, drugs, you name it. Ever seen that movie "Lean On Me?" That was my high school. The teachers didn't give a fuck. If they bothered to show up, they didn't teach. They were mean, seemed to hate kids and the last thing on their minds was education. They were there to collect a check and get the summer off. All of them.

So I entered a lottery, and I won. I got accepted to a Charter School that was like a different world. Because I won that lottery, I do okay. I'm not dead, or in jail like all my friends are now.

So this article caught my eye today. I would also encourage you to watch films like "Cartel" and "Waiting For Superman."

Its time to admit the Teacher's Union is a big part of the problem, and the last thing they care about is kids- especially inner city kids- bettering themselves. Charter Schools and school of choice can fix about 80% of the problems out there.

But the Union is too powerful.

That's why breaking the Teacher's Unions is so important. I'm not all that anti-union believe it or not - but some unions are bad and some are horrible.

The Teacher's Unions are the worst of the worst. Time to go.

(You can read Free daily at John Galt for President)

The GOP's Bad Scrabble Hand



Thomas Friedman points out that the current version of the Republican Party isn't conservative...it's radical. And that's making it impossible for anybody to make the changes necessary to really get our country back on track.

(You can read J. Marquis daily at Major Conflict)

Yes, you do remember this post from last year...but I do feel it's worth repeating:

Fox News watchers have been inundated over the last few weeks with Vermont Teddy Bear ads. I am always so worried that men out there will buy (literally) into this ad. The surest way for The Man to have a bad Valentine outcome is to show up with a Vermont (or any other state) Teddy Bear.

We are not little girls. We are WOMEN. We are wives, mothers, lawyers, soldiers, teachers graphic designers and doctors. We don't want stuffed animals. And I don't know anyone over 10 years old that would want matching PJs with their teddy bear ($99 for that horror btw)?!

Jewelry, a gift certificate to the mall, cute PJs from Victoria's Secret...Name a star after me (it's a lot cheaper and way more romantic) or just a baby sitter so we can stroll around Center City together for a few hours. Even a card with a heart-felt note inside...all better (and most cheaper) options.

Anything but a Vermont Teddy Bear...that I won't know where to put and how to dust and what the appropriate amount of time before I can donate it is. :)

Some woman-approved V-day ideas (Shop Etsy!):

Pillow with your anniversary date

Personalized Jewelry with your anniversary

Wood heart necklace

Personalized love bird necklace

Saw another one of the same girl that said, "Complains there are no jobs for college grads" at the top and, "Majored in 18th Century French Poetry" at the bottom... (Sorry to all my friends/siblings that fit that classification...) ;)

Feel free to add any...

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

-Pastor Martin Niemöller, (1892–1984) Dachau survivor

I haven't been able to get this out of my head the last few days... I am not Catholic and I, personally, would much rather pay for contraception than abortions and unwanted children...BUT, what will they come for next and who will be there to speak for me?

"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand

As Conservatives Americans we should speak up BEFORE it effects us personally. We should be outraged because it's WRONG and not just because it inconvenienced us or someone we know. Raise Autism awareness BEFORE you have a kid that has it. Respect freedom of religion BEFORE yours is threatened. Raise a fuss when someone is ripped off even if YOU didn't lose a dime.

Care, intervene and make a difference because it's the right thing to do...not just because it benefits you.

This is my wish for myself...I hope you'll join me.

If one candidate doesn't possess both, what is the most important quality of the 2012 GOP nominee?

Strong Conservative Values

Perceived Electability in the General Election

  

pollcode.com free polls 

CATHOLIC WAR



Dear Democrats,

You should be afraid when you piss off Catholics so bad, the leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, wrote a letter to be read at all Sunday Masses for U.S. military personnel around the world that said that a regulation issued by the Obama Administration under the new federal health care law was “a blow†to a freedom that U.S. troops have not only fought to defend but for which some have recently died in battle.

Right now, Catholic Soldiers who haven't been to Mass in years are so mad they are starting to go to Mass. I saw it over the weekend. All the Catholic Soldiers are talking about it. The Arch Bishop went on to say in his letter to the troops-

“We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law.â€

Of course the Army is FREAKING OUT about this, and trying to shut the Arch Bishop up... but it ain't work'n folks.

Catholics in general are super pissed off... and there are 70 million of them living here in the good old U.S.A. Since every major Democrat contributor got an ObamaCare waiver I suggest you good little Dems write your reps and get them to issue a religious exemption for the Catholics. Otherwise, you might start a fucking civil war.

The Founding Fathers put the 1st Amendment into the Constitution specifically to prevent this sort of religious conflict which has destroyed so many European countries. Lets not go down that road shall we?

P.S.

When you ask "How come Christian Conservatives always say there is anti Christian persecution from liberals?" this is one of your answers. There's your sign.

(You can read Free daily at John Galt for President)

A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW



I would say the current contraception discussion illustrates why we need a public option. It's patently ridiculous to keep our healthcare tied to our jobs and the whims of our employers.

____________________________________________________________________________________

HO HUM



It's surprising how low Republican voter turnouts have been in the primaries, especially considering how much they claim to hate the president.

(You can read J. Marquis daily at Major Conflict)

One of my paying gigs immerses me in all things veterans, and believe it or not there is a debate brewing amongst them... (Aside from the bad feelings of past conflict veterans that all new services and bills being introduced are for those that served after 9/11)

Parade or no parade for the returning Iraq War Veterans?

Half the camp (including past participants of this site Army Girl & CBFTW) says no parade. That it would be disrespectful to those that are still in harm's way in Afghanistan. They believe the money that would be used for a parade should indeed be allotted for veterans and be used to provide much needed service.

The other camp, 'led' by the outspoken founder of IAVA Paul Rieckhoff, contend that the veterans returning from multiple deployments deserve at least the same amount of fanfare as recognition than men that recently won a football game.



So, what do you think? Does honoring the veterans that have returned diminish the ones that are still fighting? Should we have a Operation Iraqi Freedom parade now and an Operation Enduring Freedom later...or wait until everyone is home?

My only concern is that in this world of ever-growing threats...will there ever be a time when everyone is home?

Rick Santorum wins Republican votes in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado: His victories are setbacks for Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney — and for Newt Gingrich's hopes of being the conservative alternative to Romney.

Wow. The power of the sweater vest! Rick's right, apparently Conservatism is alive and well in the Midwest. Nice one, Rick.

Isn't the Romney folks touting a win in Nevada akin to the Pope boasting a win in the Vatican? Duh, it's Nevada...of course Romney won...

Speaking of Mormonism, I came across this fascinating article this morning...



And he address MY major concern with Romney:



Read the entire article: Ex-Mormon Speaks Out on Mormons Gaining Visibility, Mitt Romney

I want a hard-core Mormon that will address this. If the Mormon Hierarchy (the Prophet/BYU President) and the best direction for the country are at odds...who wins? Could Romney dismiss the advice/council of a man he believes is an actual prophet of God on earth if it conflicted with what was best for the country? No one will ever answer this question. They always point to the faiths of other Presidents, but other faiths don't believe in living, breathing, modern day prophets... Someone? Anyone?

...a follow-up of Friday's post...

Chances Are at Least Two Women Per Year May Die Because Planned Parenthood Will Get Komen Funds



I read an article (1) on ChicagoTribune.com which got me wondering, If SGK pulled PP’s funding, how many more women would die of breast cancer? The consequences, according to the Interwebs, would be dire.

However, the numbers indicate that SGK’s funding of PP’s clinical breast exams might be resulting in more cancer deaths than if SGK were funding mammograms directly.

Assume that PP used all of SGK’s money for breast cancer screenings and mammograms over the past five years. Also assume that PP got an average of $650,000 per year for those five years. (I cannot find actual figures.)

Now let’s do the math.

$650,000*5 = $3,250,000.

Mammograms funded by SGK through PP in those five years: 6,400. (1)

Total SGK funding used for mammograms (via pass-through grants to PP) at a high-end cost of $125 per mammogram (2): 6,400*$125 = $800,000

Remaining funds used for clinical breast exams (CBEs) at PP: $3,250,000-$800,000 = $2,450,000

Breast cancer screenings performed by PP in the past five years: 170,0001

Cost per CBE performed by PP: $2,450,000/170,000 = about $15.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) can’t find evidence that the CBE is effective. Only mammograms have been proven to be effective. (3) About CBE’s, PP says this:

Dr. Vanessa Cullins, a vice president with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, defended its use of clinical breast exams. The exam, in which a doctor feels the breast for lumps, is “a good tool†when followed with mammograms and other tests as needed, she said. (1) (emphasis added)

Clearly, funding of CBEs is diverting resources from more effective exams, but how many?

More math:

Amount of money spent on CBEs performed by PP: $2,450,000.

Number of mammograms which could have been performed with that money (at a higher-than-average cost of $125 per mammogram): $2,450,000/$125 = 19,600.

If the SGK money had been used for mammograms in the last five years:

Number of women per year, ages 39-49, whose lives might have been saved: 19,600/1,904/5 = 2. (4)

Number of women per year, ages 50-59, whose lives might have been saved: 19,600/1,339/5 = 3.

Number of women per year, ages 60-69, whose lives might have been saved: 19,600/377/5 = 10.

So if you were in the driver’s seat at SGK, which would you choose, an unproven use of your money, or an effective use which is proven to save lives? Would you choose to defund PP, too?

The Interwebs disagree with you.

One final note: Outside of these numbers, it’s entirely possible that the backlash against SGK could have cost SGK more funding than the funding lost (and subsequently made up) by PP. The effect of SGK’s loss is also calculable in human terms. But until SGK pulls funding from PP and we can see the cost to SGK’s fundraising, we won’t know that effect.
____________________________________________________________________________________
1 Surprises in Komen-Planned Parenthood dustup: How cancer screening is done and who pays for it, ChicagoTribune.com

2 How Much Does a Mammogram Cost?, CostHelper.com

3 Screening for Breast Cancer, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

4 Screening for Breast Cancer An Update for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Table 1, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

(You can read Bill daily at Bill's Words)

On the SGK/PP Split



First, take a deep breath, then promise to stick with me to the end.

I am disappointed in the outrage which has been expressed by the Internet community at large on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (SGK, for short) decision to withdraw its support for Planned Parenthood (PP). The outrage seems to be based on a misunderstanding of the facts. The only praise for the decision arises from conservatives who view it as a blow to abortion. But both sides of the debate are missing what could be (could be) a benefit to women’s health, the very cause at the center of the argument.

Two days ago, SGK followed its own relatively new policy of withdrawing funding for organizations which are under congressional investigation, which PP is. The policy, in and of itself, makes sense. There’s no reason why a private, non-profit organization can’t decide to withdraw funding from something which has been accused—rightly or wrongly—of misconduct. SGK has decided its in its best interests to withdraw support of organizations which might stink.

So, does PP stink? It doesn’t matter. SGK is following its own policies, as it should.

Was it politically motivated? SGK says “No.†Before you go dragging out words like “failed gubernatorial campaign,†remember that SGK supports cancer research, not the abortion and reproductive health businesses. So whether it’s politically motivated or not, it’s certainly in their right to drop funding for an organization which spent SGK’s money on services other than early cancer detection.

Is this a change in SGK’s core values? No. SGK’s mission statement reads as follows:

Promise: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

You’ll note that it does not say:

Promise: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cures by funding Planned Parenthood.

So you can—and should—continue to support SGK if you wish to fund the continued fight against breast cancer.

And you should drop the outrage. Because I think there’s a potential benefit which is being overlooked—if SGK lives up to its promise of “ensuring quality of care for all,†that is.

PP has already said that the SGK funds are already well on their way towards being replaced—$400K or the $648K in less than 24 hours isn’t a bad fundraising record. They have also said that the services funded by that $648K will still be available, regardless.

So far, the PP patient population is covered. If SGK “ensur[es] quality of care for all,†then there’s a potential benefit—an upside!

If SGK lives up to its promise, it will put that $648K towards cancer prevention. That’s what you should be talking to SGK about. Not about defunding PP. Not about abortion. Not about political motivations. What you should be voicing is what to do with the money instead, insisting that it go where it should go: to the ground, where feet meet the street.

In the best-case scenario, SGK would arrange for vouchers for breast cancer screenings equivalent to what PP is providing to be distributed to clinics in the cities where the defunded PP offices are—preferably at clinics very near the PP offices. Put all $648K to work here. Since PP is already covering the people who would go to PP for help, that’s an awful lot of additional women who have access to care—and may be another segment of the population which would go to a clinic but wouldn’t set foot in a PP office.

In the “worst case,†SGK will dedicate the money to research or similar (not a bad thing, but not in keeping with the original mission of that $648K). In the worst case, nobody loses. In the best case, more women have access to breast cancer screenings.

Furthermore, if we assume that it was only some percentage of the SGK donation to PP which was going to breast cancer screenings in the first place, then SGK is actually focusing more on its core values. More of its money will be going towards breast cancer research or early detection and not to other PP services. (Again, the other PP services are not part of SGK’s core mission.) In the end, it’s a better use of SGK money, which you probably helped raise and wanted to see go towards fighting breast cancer in the first place.

So… if not now, then when should you be outraged?

— When SGK doesn’t restore funding to PP if/when PP is ever found not guilty of misconduct, provided SGK wants to use its funds in that manner.

— When SGK doesn’t put the funds into the hands of the people who need it most by funding screenings directly.

Then I’d expect to see this kind of outrage again.

But, until then, cool your jets. Please.

(You can read Bill daily at Bill's Words)

Hybrids...all the hipsters have them.

But, in a moment of honesty a very liberal couple The Man and I were friends with admitted that their Saturn got much better mileage than their Prius. I know it was a painful thing for them to fess up to, but they weren't the last to make this confession.

SO this court case was only a matter of time:

"Commissioner Douglas Carnahan presided over a suit in small claims court [in California] by Heather Peters, who claimed her 2006 Honda hybrid never achieved the gas mileage Honda claimed in its advertising. The court ruled in her favor Feb. 1, 2012, awarding her just under $10,000.

"American Honda believes that the judgment in this case is a radical and unprecedented departure from California and federal law," the automaker said in a statement." (source)

Watch out Toyota...If the Hipsters are willing to publicly admit they were hornswoggled, I can only assume you're next.

"Like alcohol and tobacco, sugar is a toxic, addictive substance that should be highly regulated with taxes, laws on where and to whom it can be advertised, and even age-restricted sales, says a team of UCSF scientists...they argue that increased global consumption of sugar is primarily responsible for a whole range of chronic diseases that are reaching epidemic levels around the world." (source)

The scientists then went on to lament that 'personal responsibility' wasn't going to cut it and we need the 'government to guide people to healthier choices' even if it takes 'brute force.'

They go on to call for "taxes on heavily sweetened foods and beverages, restricting advertising to children and teenagers, and removing sugar-ladened products from schools, or even from being sold near schools. They suggest banning the sale of sugary beverages to children."

Please, all those that claim they'll abstain from the election if this person or that person gets the nomination...RECONSIDER. Think of all the REGULATION that is in the pipeline. My new mantra: Even Obama-light is better than Obama. repeat that with me please...

H/T: Matt F.

(For the recipe above and other soon-to-be-outlawed deliciousness...join Pinterest!)

Our country's priorities have turned upside down.

Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story was all over the news because he is a substance abuser, an adulterer, sexually promiscuous and obnoxious.

Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story was all over the news because she is a celebrity drug addict and thief.

Something as frivolous as Kim Kardashian's stupid wedding [and short-lived marriage] was shoved down our throats, while........

Justin Allen 23
Brett Linley 29
Matthew Weikert 29
Justus Bartett 27
Dave Santos 21
Jesse Reed 26
Matthew Johnson 21
Zachary Fisher 24
Brandon King 23
Christopher Goeke 23
and Sheldon Tate 27

All Marines that gave their lives last summer for you. There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names.

(H/T: Jpck)

Though I personally don't subscribe to the 'every sperm is sacred' school of thought, I am as equally appalled by Obama's new birth control mandate as my friends that do.

I know the mantra is tired and old, but time after time it's only Christian beliefs that are acceptable to trample. It's frustrating.



Let's see, can we think of analogies our liberal friends can understand? Forcing Catholic institutions to give out/fund birth control is akin to forcing Mosques to hand out pulled pork or finance pig petting zoo. Since when does one person's personal convictions out weigh an entire populations religious beliefs/freedoms?!

It has been said that Obama somehow garnered 47-54% of the Catholic vote in 2008. I have to wonder whether any Catholics that voted for Obama (Who are you people?! He voted YES for partial birth abortion for Christ's sake) plan to do so again in 2012. The next objective for this Administration will be moves in the direction of requiring Catholic hospitals to provide abortions...

And if you were a 'Catholic for Obama' and that happens, I guess you just bypass Purgatory and go straight to hell at that point...?

(The only thing that has made this a bit more bearable is watching the libs writhe over Susan G. Komen's announcement that is it discontinuing grants to Planned Parenthood)

About a year ago I decided that I needed to overcome my fear of css stylesheets and FTP servers to help a friend. She had gotten astronomical estimates to build an e-commerce store for her burgeoning jewelry business and asked if I could build it for her. Due to my lack of formal web design training and my (still) lingering fear of css, every successful code feels like a huge accomplishment. Though, what I am really proud of is the photography (about 95% of the photos on the site are mine...)

Yesterday I added a new coupon code option and to test it my friend is offering 30% of all sales on the site until midnight so we can see it in action.

So my code change experiment can be your chance to be a hit this Valentine's Day! When you're done shopping, enter GotWood for your 30% discount (and there's always FREE SIPPING).

Payton Woodcraft Jewelry Design