Author Archive
And you thought “freedom fries” was bad…
For pure stupidity, just leave it to the Republicans.
“You don’t support Democrats. Why should your ketchup?” says the W Ketchup Internet site wketchup.com, which promises a totally US-made condiment, right down to the bottle.
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W Ketchup insists its initial stands for Washington, as in first president George Washington, whose face adorns its bottle beneath the Stars and Stripes.
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“Choose Heinz and you’re supporting Teresa and her husband’s Gulfstream Jet, and liberal causes such as Kerry for President,” it warns. “When you choose W Ketchup, you also support the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to the children of our brave heroes who have fallen in battle.”
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“Thank you for giving us a delicious American alternative to the standard Heinz Ketchup. Henry Heinz may have been a great American, but I have absolutely no interest in supporting The Kerry’s anti-American causes,” wrote “S.S” of Akron, Ohio.
The Power to Influence
For years, many concerned about human rights and disability rights have been trying to get countries like The Czech Republic (along with Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary) to stop the use of “caged beds,” often used to control those with mental illness and/or disabilities.
Despite being condemned as a violation of human rights by the EU, The Council of Europe, Amnesty International and the UN, caged beds continue to be used in the four new EU accession countries, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and The Czech Republic.
That was a quote from an article on July 7. A week later, The Czech Republic has made a move to eliminate all of it’s caged beds. What was the critical difference in making them change their minds this time?
A letter. Not just any letter, but a letter from a very influential person, calling for the elimination of these beds. So, who could this incredibly powerful and influential person be? Kofi Anan? Nelson Mandela? Madeline Albright?
No. J.K. Rowling. Yes, that’s right — a single letter from the famed children’s author was what prompted the change.
On 13 July the Czech Minister of Health Jozef Kubinyi issued a press statement stating that he had instructed directors of all health institutions to immediately cease use of ‘cage beds’, calling for the elimination of ‘net beds’ by the end 2004, and advising replacement of these beds with seclusion rooms and increased numbers of staff to improve care for people with mental disabilities. This decision was made days after the authorities received a letter of concern from “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling.
“We have been following the situation for some time and the letter from Ms Rowling was one reason we decided to act now,” she added.
Congratulations are in order
Our own PinkDreamPoppies was the winner of flea’s contest. He was the quickest person to correctly identify all the vibrators featured in both the Dog Toy or Marital Aid quiz and flea’s store, The Honeysuckle Shop.
I suppose I can admit that I only got 9 out of 14 right in the “warm-up round” on that quiz. I just hope people don’t feel the overwhelming need to hide their dogs from me. But I suppose I wouldn’t blame them at all for hiding their dog toys from me.
Michigan Prepares to Legalize Medical Discrimination
After picking my jaw up from my desk and checking for bruises, I had to check the calendar today, to check and see if it’s really still 2004. According to my calendar, it still is, but I’m having trouble believing it.
In an appalling move by the Michigan State Legislature, discrimination against gays and lesbians is becoming more and more overt, and going far beyond refusing equal rights in marriage. Now they’re going for healthcare.
Doctors or other health care providers could not be disciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.
The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don’t agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.
Three other three bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which would exempt a health insurer or health facility from providing or covering a health care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement.
Opponents of the bills said they’re worried they would allow providers to refuse service for any reason. For example, they said an emergency medical technicians could refuse to answer a call from the residence of gay couple because they don’t approve of homosexuality.
The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.
The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.
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Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the bills promote the constitutional right to religious freedom.
“Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising faith-based teaching,” he said in a written statement.
