Boobquake 2010

Boobquake 2010 was Ms. Jen McCreight's "modest proposal": Let women wear their most "immodest" clothing on April 26 and see if the world erupts in earthquakes like the misogynist fundamentalist Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedigh fears. Read more here.

Well today is April 29 and we are all still here. The world is fine as it did not completely collapse into a mess of global quakes. I do believe that Boobquake 2010 was a success. :) Immodest dress does not promote seismic activity - at least for the Earth's crust.

Did I participate in Boobquake? Let us just say that I am very well endowed and did a bit of flaunting in Boobquake's honor. :)

I would like to say to Ms. McCreight - YOU GO WOMAN! I hope you run this again next year. I'll participate. In the meantime I'm gonna get a t-shirt. (http://www.zazzle.com/blaghag) I would also encourage you to subscribe to Ms. McCreight's blog - www.blaghag.com - which is also linked on this blog.

P.S. I would also now like to quote Ms. Gloria Steinem who once said "I think women should ware whatever the f*ck they want." Amen sister. ;)

Opposition of A Planetary Nature

According to my emailed newsletter from Astrology.com the planets Saturn and Uranus have had moments of opposition since November 4, 2009. They will continue to have these moments until July 26, 2010. Saturn is the planet of stability, status quo, and conservatism. Uranus is the planet of change, trying new things, and liberalism. When planets are in opposition, they are fighting to balance each other out. Or just plain fighting, depending on how you like to look at things.

Are you grinning along with me?

Hey, I'm not here to tell you that astrology is TRUE! But for this human being who likes narrative there is something quite fun knowing that Saturn and Uranus have some hit some moments of intense opposition since Obama became our president. It also makes me think more about the mean spiritedness of those who are in the Tea Party and even those who oppose health care.

Huh.

So carry on and if there is BIG STRIFE for you in the next few days, well go ahead and give some nod to the planets.

P.S. Here's something from Astrodynamics about the big opposition.

Thank you Tim Wise

Thank you Tim Wise. Thank you for putting down in words and publishing to the world exactly what I think about the whole Tea Party thing. Thank you for illuminating the violence and bigotry of the Tea Party. Thank you. And yes I totally agree with you.

http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html

Look, I'm not the best person for having rational civil discussions about politics. Yes, I get very emotional. Often I keep my mouth shut, or leave the conversation and then rant online. (I love you Internet!) However this whole Tea Party, and the subsequent awesome Coffee Party (http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/) make me want to be more rational and less hateful.

So perhaps in the future we can agree to take 5-10 minutes to rant and rave and scream and spew forth obnoxiousness and then apologize to each other and then get down to the business of living together and working together in a multi-cultural diverse nation. And world.

Let's try it, ok?

On Warriors and Health

Hello. Well it could be just me but it seems that some people don't want to spend money on universal health care but do want to spend it on the military. Some people want to spend money on universal health care but not on the military. Uh, sorry to sound strange but I want to spend it on both.

My real bone marrow uncompromising view about wanting universal health care (UHC - my words) comes from the 15 months of my life when I had two major surgeries and broke my arm. The two surgical procedures alone cost $45,000. That amount does not include the medication and post-surgical supplies like a back brace. Oh and don't forget the two MRIs - each costing $500 a piece. In between those two surgeries I also broke my wrist. So add in x-rays, cast, oh and don't forget a few visits to the Emergency Room and of course the doctor's office. OH! And did I mention the lost work time since I didn't have any sick days? That was a month's salary.

Which, when I totaled it all up, I lost about $4500 in less than two years. Thank goodness my partner had medical insurance and I was covered with it. If I hadn't been covered, we would be looking at a $45,000 debt and possibly losing our house.

Ok, there are some who would say but see you had insurance so you didn't have to worry. Yes. I'm happy about that. But let me be perfectly clear: I am furious that there are Americans who would have been financially destroyed due to shoveling snow one day. That is utterly appalling to me. My life would be very bad right now if I was saddled with such a debt. What is worse is that there are people out there who might have had to declare bankruptcy if they were in my shoes.

And please don't tell me I didn't need the surgeries or the cast. My nasal cavities had a chronic sinus infection and unhealthy tissue living in them. I could barely breathe and I was sick every six weeks. As for my second surgery, I delayed it as long as I could because I couldn't cope the the thought of back surgery and having to pay for another surgery all at once. I nearly lost the use of my leg due to nerve bruising. If I hadn't had insurance and had not gone in due to no money, I would not be walking without a cane right now. As for the cast, well I wouldn't be able to type or do my job with a deformed wrist.

So don't ever tell me that we don't need health care for all. If all Americans have an improved quality of life, then we ALL become wealthier.

Now for the warriors.

I am always amazed that some of the people who are screaming about big government spending have no problem with the huge debt the war has cost us. Oh wait! We can't be against the war. That means we don't love our country. Bullsh*t, ok. I LOVE my country. I'm just not happy that we ignore the financial problems brought to our beloved country due to the war.

Now I do believe in warriors. I believe that everyone has a warrior spirit within them. What that spirit looks like or how it is expressed varies with each individual. But I know I have within me a fierceness that would not hesitate to kill if it meant saving my family and loved ones. I may be sorrowful about it later, but I would do it.

So I totally understand and support those in the military who have the warrior spirit and the need to protect those who are their brother and sister Americans. Amen. I get it and I support you. However, let's not have a war that drains the nation of its wealthy and well-being.

And please for goodness sake stop screaming about government spending if you aren't going to talk about ending the war. Supporting the military and wanting to end the war are compatible! I don't want more of my brother and sister Americans dying on foreign soil for a war I cannot support.

Also when it comes to preparing for war we need to remember that we really can't be invaded. Can you imagine anyone surviving crossing the borders without a bunch of very well armed American citizens shooting them down first? Yes, in case you are wondering, I am a member of the well regulated militia. :) It's the armed American citizens that help keep us safe in our country.

Now look, we are a great, diverse, wealthy nation and we can have both a healthy citizenry and a well prepared military. Why not? Let's just do it.

P.S. And... I want the military men and women who have served and serve this great nation to be cared for. If the VA hospitals aren't good THEN MAKE THEM GOOD! Our veterans, irregardless of how you may feel about the war they served in or didn't serve in, deserve our care and support.

P.P.S. I may not be for the war, but I am always for the warrior. You can quote me.

Reading "Going Rogue"

Hmm... I'm 2/3rds of the way through Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue." Ok, I admit, I like her. I wouldn't vote for her (we differ a bit on several issues) but I sure do like her. We are quite similar women and heck, who says politics is rational? I like her, deal with it. As my Hubby said, "She could easily be someone we know."

Hubby and I bought her book and I am enjoying it. But it also saddens me. See, I don't like witch hunts (chalk it up to past life memories). I didnt' like it when people went after Bill Clinton for his morality and wasted lots of time and taxpayer dollars to uncover a big fat lot of nothing. That seems to have happened to Sarah Palin in her last days as a Governor. That saddens me. A lot.

It is also making me realize I need to be more rational and careful about politicians. Sure I can say I despise them as people, however I can still agree/disagree with their statements and policies.

Ok, enough for now.

Experience

I'm a little sick and tired of this whole "experience" thing. I think it is a bizarre thing to expect out of someone running for president. After all, the only way to get experience as president is to be the president. Note: You can only be president for two terms. Do the math.

People yell that Palin isn't experienced enough to be V-P. Yet she has at least three years working in the executive branch of the government. Also being a governor tends to help you in being president. For example, President Carter, President Clinton, President Reagan, Presidents Bush. Obama on the other hand has no executive branch experience and out of his three years in the legislative branch has spent two of them campaigning.

If we really wanted to talk experience then let me point out that the ONLY candidate on either side with experience was Hillary Clinton. She's been in the White House already - when her husband was president. She's the only candidate who knows the job inside and out, knows the political players in DC, knows the foreign leaders, and would be able to get experienced staff and advice from a former president.

So, if we go by experience, the only candidate is Hillary Clinton.

Hmm.

No Matter What

Hello. Ok, tonight, 14 hours before I go to vote, I am feeling, well happy. See to me right now no matter what the turn-out tomorrow night, either a black man will be president or a woman will be vice-president.

Thirty, twenty, maybe even ten years ago, no one would have thought this.

Good job, America. :)