Today's Inspirational Thought

If you're in a flirtatious mood today, feel free to run with it and have some fun!

Today's Inspirational Thought

Your realistic outlook will help you to be very self-sufficient and effective today.

Today's Inspirational Thought

Step back to see the bigger picture in a relationship -- see how much you're valued.

Today's Inspirational Thought

Focus on what life could be like if all your dreams came true. Visualize success.

How Dare

Anyone take away my right to do with my body as I please?

Through surfing various blogs, I have become even more entrenched in the debate of "Choice." Yes, choice. I refuse to acknowledge it as anything but. I'm sure those of disagreeing view points will argue that I am choosing a euphemism for what they term "pro-abortion." In fact, I know they will as one such person stated such in response to a comment I posted on their blog. It's not a euphemism. It's a position. It's a position that is ground in the United States Constitution. To say that it does not exist is ignorant and intolerant.

If the term of choice for those who argue against the right of choice, is "pro-life", exactly whose life are they referring to? The embryo? The fetus? The mother? The lives of the mother's existing family? What about the mother? If her life is in danger, is it not of value? What about the lives of her living children, who now thanks to this awful and hateful decision, have no mother? Whose life is it anyway?

Reading the decision of the Supreme Court in Gonzalez v. Carhart, et al. (April 18, 2007) infuriates me to no end. For the first time ever, the Court has held that the mother's life has no value. Justice Ginsberg however said it best,

Today's decision is alarming. It refuses to take Casey and Stenberg seriously. It tolerates, indeed applauds, federal intervention to ban nationwide a procedure found necessary and proper in certain cases by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). It blurs the line, firmly drawn in Casey, between previability and postviability abortions. And, for the first time since Roe, the Court blesses a prohibition with no exception safeguarding a woman's health.

...

Revealing in this regard, the Court invokes an antiabortion shibboleth for which it concededly has no reliable evidence: Women who have abortions come to regret their choices, and consequently suffer from "[s]evere depression and loss of esteem." Ante, at 29.7 Because of women's fragile emotional state and because of the "bond of love the mother has for her child," the Court worries, doctors may withhold information about the nature of the intact D&E procedure. Ante, at 28 - 29.8 The solution the Court approves, then, is not to require doctors to inform women, accurately and adequately, of the different procedures and their attendant risks. Cf. Casey, 505 U. S., at 873 (plurality opinion) ("States are free to enact laws to provide a reasonable framework for a woman to make a decision that has such profound and lasting meaning."). Instead, the Court deprives women of the right to make an autonomous choice, even at the expense of their safety.

This way of thinking reflects ancient notions about women's place in the family and under the Constitution - ideas that have long since been discredited.

...

In sum, the notion that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act furthers any legitimate governmental interest is, quite simply, irrational. The Court's defense of the statute provides no saving explanation. In candor, the Act, and the Court's defense of it, cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this Court - and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women's lives.

- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Starting Again

I can't officially say I'm starting over...as I never truly walked away...I just took a hiatus. ;)

I have participated in two half-marathons over the last few years. The Dash for Donation 1/2 marathon occurs every July in Columbus. I plan on doing it again this year. I improved my time the second year. I hope to improve it again this year.

That being said, cardio and training are important to this goal. I've been off the gym track for a bit...going sporadically, etc. So today I started back up again. I'm going to slowly progress to the goal of running 13.1 miles completely.

Today I ran one mile on the treadmill at a moderate pace. The other thing I hope to do is to improve my speed a bit. I have a tendency to start out strong and burn out quickly. So, I'm training to build up endurance. In that vein, I ran my mile at 4.3 mph. Slow, but I ran the whole mile. The goal for the rest of the week is to increase the distance incrementally. It's totally more mental for me than it is physical. What did Irina Derevko say, "Truth Takes Time."

Today's Inspirational Thought

This is a great day to help other people, especially if they are improving things.

April 23 To Do

I'm going to take a page from my friend Helen's blog and start listing what has to be done in order to hold me somewhat accountable...

• Laundry - must finish folding and putting it away
• Draft the MPA LLC Operating Agreement - must be done by Wednesday evening's meeting
• Review and revise the MPA Purchase Agreement - must be done by Wednesday
• Cardio at least three times this week. 1/3
• Red Exerciser at least three times this week. 0/3

I think that's probably a good start. I apologize for the sparseness of the list. I aspire to reach Helen's level of listing soon.

- Updated 4/23/07 9:00 p.m.

Completed items appearing in green :)

Today's Inspirational Thought

If a friend needs to reschedule some social plans, be flexible, not resentful.


- Does it count if I rescheduled?!? :p

Today's Inspirational Thought

Welcome disruptions to your routine today -- they will wash away negative feelings.

Today's Inspirational Thought

Devote as much time as you can today to experiencing new things.

Choice

Yesterday was a terrible day for choice. Taking one's right to choose what one does with their body is dangerous. What's next? Taking away your right to get a tattoo? Taking away your right to pierce your ear? It's not about abortion. It's about choice. It's not "pro-abortion"; it's "pro-choice."

Conservatives are constantly railing how government should stay out of people's business. Why is it okay for it to butt into my personal business? Hypocrisy defined, yet again.

Am I shocked? No. And that is sad.

Today's Inspirational Thought

Always go in the direction of honesty. Avoid people who are being deceitful.

Hypocrisy?

THE PRESIDENT:

Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow. This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community -- and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation.

...

And soon the day took a dark turn, with students and faculty barricading themselves in classrooms and dormitories -- confused, terrified, and deeply worried. By the end of the morning, it was the worst day of violence on a college campus in American history -- and for many of you here today, it was the worst day of your lives.

...

And as you draw closer to your own families in the coming days, I ask you to reach out to those who ache for sons and daughters who will never come home.

...

Source - Official Transcript

Where is the mourning for the 3,311 U.S. Soldiers killed in Iraq? What happened at Virgina Tech is tragic. It was needless. It was madness. It deserves recognition as such. But what about the American citizens serving their country who make the ultimate sacrifice to their country - their life? Where are the flags flying at half staff? Where are the Presidential speeches expressing sympathy and mourning?

Aren't our soldiers worth it?

Today's Inspirational Thought

A beautiful person in your life has something to share with you. Be supportive.

Today's Inspirational Thought

The tide is starting to turn -- make sure you know where you're sailing to!

Amendment Number Two

I decided to resurrect a previous post on the Second Amendment in light of yesterday's tragedy. My opinion is my opinion. I am in no way attempting to make light of the Virgina Tech tragedy nor am I stating that stricter gun control laws would have prevented it. We do not know nor could we know that.

In fact, CNN is reporting that Cho Seung-Hui presented three forms of identification when he purchased the 9mm Glock at a gun shop. A background check was conducted in less than a minute. Cho was 23. It was unlikely that he had done anything in his 23 years on this Earth that would have prevented his obtaining that gun, however, a thorough background check certainly takes more than one minute.

That being said...

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Misrepresentation runs rampant when it comes to the Second Amendment. What people fail to understand is that limitations may be placed upon the amendments. The amendments are not absolute. I am not a strict constructionist. I believe that the U.S. Constitution is a living document. I believe that the Constitution has to be interpreted in conjunction with the Framer's intent and the current world situation. The First Amendment guarantees free speech. Yet, free speech is not absolute. You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater - it creates a clear and present danger. You cannot present false or misleading advertising. You cannot slander or libel another. These are all limitations which the U.S. Supreme Court has placed upon the First Amendment. Now, given that it is the First Amendment, one could reasonably argue, that the Framers intended it to be the most important. Yet, reasonable limitations have been placed upon it.

Shifting our attention to the Second Amendment. Back in 1776, our fore fathers were fighting a revolution for freedom. They were seeking independence from Britain. Britain had the Royal Army. The Thirteen Colonies had nada. As such, a militia was required to fight the Brits. The Framers gave each person the right to bear arms, in order to form a militia which was necessary for the security of a free state.

Now, let's jump to 2007. We have the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. All of which were formed for the security of a free state. So, naturally it begs the question as to whether the right to bear arms is even necessary?I believe that the right to bear arms should be preserved. If we unilaterally eliminated an amendment, it would be bad policy. There is something to say for preserving the Constitution. However, as limits have been placed upon free speech, it is not unreasonable to place limits upon the Second Amendment. Let's be realistic.

Is an AK-47 necessary to home defense? No. Are waiting periods and background checks an unreasonable restriction before a gun can be purchased? No. Is it unreasonable to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their creations? No. So, let's have a serious discussion about the second amendment and discuss the small steps that can be taken to maybe lessen the violence that our children are growing up to.

The massacre at Virgina Tech was an unspeakable event that no one would have imagined. I've read many blogs and stories over the last two days and many people talk about being "numb" to the tragedy. I cannot fathom being numb to the numbers of dead and wounded. As much as we have been exposed to over the last several years, I am still shocked that someone had the ability to act in the manner as this poor, deranged man did. Maybe it's my inherent belief that we are all good people, I don't know. What is shocking is the fact that every day U.S. soldiers are killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet they do not receive the same amount of press coverage. Does the fact that they are soldiers make it alright to dismiss their deaths? Death, in most instances, is tragic. Preventable death is horrific.

Monumental Tragedy

By USA TODAY staff

BLACKSBURG, Va. — At least 31 people are dead after a gunman went on a two-hour rampage Monday at a dormitory and classroom building at Virginia Tech University, government officials told the Associated Press. If the death toll is confirmed, it will be the worst shooting spree in U.S. history.

Some of the victims were students, most of them killed in a classroom in an engineering building. The suspected gunman is among the dead, campus police said, although it is not yet clear if he was shot by police or killed himself.


CNN is now reporting 33 dead, including the gunman.

Words cannot express the sympathy I feel towards the families of the deceased and wounded.

While we're firing people....

04.12.2007

While People Are Being Fired For Racist Remarks...

Bob Cesca

How can we forget this knee-slapper from Bill O'Reilly on the February 6, 2003 edition of The Factor?

"We'd save lives because Mexican wetbacks, whatever you want to call them, the coyotes--they're not going to do what they're doing now, all right, so people aren't going to die in the desert."

Whatever you want to call them, Bill. Fair.org reports:

"the Allentown, Pa. Morning Call (1/5/03) had O'Reilly using the same racist term in a speech earlier in the year: "O'Reilly criticized the Immigration and Naturalization Service for not doing its job and not keeping out 'the wetbacks.'"

And two months later Bill O'Reilly was hosting a charity event for urban school children. An African-American singing group called "The Best Men" were schedule to perform, but were late. O'Reilly said to the audience:

"Does anyone know where the Best Men are? I hope they're not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps."

So while television executives are busy firing people, well, you know... It's only fair.

April 12 of 12

12 of 12 as originally conceived by Chad Darnell....

6:30 a.m. - Getting my Friends fix...








7:15 a.m. - Hairspray!









7:45 a.m. - Quick pic of my new CanCon Utah dress!
















8:00 a.m. - A visit to the Store That Should Not Be Named to pick up two birthday cards and the new Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.








8:45 a.m. - The view of my desk.









9:50 a.m. - The aforementioned new Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.








10:20 a.m. - Mid-morning snack....EAS low carb chocolate fudge shake and an orange.








1:15 p.m. - Gotta get that gas....when are we going to have alternate fuel sources?!?









3:50 p.m. - Cherry Valley Lodge entrance. Gonna hot tub!









4:10 p.m. - Room with a View!









10ish p.m. - The kickass flat screen in the room watching the Imus furor on Anderson Cooper 360.








10:45 p.m. - Shutting down the comp for the night.









I did not get a chance to do the bonus pic....Next time!

Enjoy!

Mr. President

The brilliant Pink! on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Discussion

Now is the time to talk.
Black, White, Yellow, Red, Purple
It's not about color.
It's about people.

Decency.
Respect.

Do Unto Others.

Peace Out.