Everyone’s favorite online chick writer, Heather Havrilesky, (no — the other Heather Havrilesky) was on NPR with a great piece about her childhood imaginary friend . If I weren’t married I’d have to break this girl’s heart! (” Chauvinist bastard! “)
I’m sure Rush and NRO will find a way to dispute it (along with jank and reeder) but this article posits that Bush’s reinstatement of Reagan’s abortion rights gag rule has closed health clinics in many international communities that have no other health care alternatives. The article is obviously left-biased and I would love to see a more balanced approach to the topic, but either way this was Bush’s first mistake for winning my support (and if I remember correctly it was his first action in office) and I predicted this outcome would happen. Whatever your beliefs about abortion, it is a human rights crime to contribute to the closing of these clinics. I suppose the sickness and deaths of thousands, possibly millions, of people who might have been offered information about abortion is a plus in some people’s books.
After many years of a heavy heart for Israel and Palestine I had a moment of uplifting this morning. This letter was discussed on NPR this morning and I suffered a moment of such elation that I nearly cried. I have no problem tossing aside machismo and admitting that witnessing high points of human compassion moves me to tears. Hopefully this manifesto will become a symbol kicking off a new era of peace on our planet. I have faith that it will be recorded historically in the same place as “I Have a Dream” and the fall of the Berlin wall.
Twenty-seven Israeli pilots signed a declaration that they will no longer carry out attacks in Palestinian territories that could cause civilian casualties. In one report I heard they even mention that they consider these attacks that are modus operandi for Israel to be a violation of international law. They are being denounced by much of Israel’s military and the press there is ripping them to shreds, but this letter will send a clear message to the Palestinians who desire peace that there are some Isrealis, in the military no less, that want peace, too, and are willing to give more than lip service to the effort.
In their petition, the pilots said airstrikes on crowded Palestinian areas are ‘illegal and immoral.’ They also condemn Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, saying it corrupts Israeli society.
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‘Today, in light of pointless military operations … people are beginning to ask questions,’ wrote military commentator Alex Fishman in the Yediot Ahronot daily. ‘And these (the pilots) are the very best people we have. We can ground them, and we can lock them up, but we cannot ignore the questions they ask.’
FUFA – As I get my iPod loaded with old CDs that I haven’t listened to in a long time I uncover forgotten gems and some gems that I didn’t give a fair shake the first time around. Sleater-Kinney’s All Hands on the Bad One was purchased at a busy time in my life. I had heard the title-track and wanted to give a band full of intelligent ultra-hip women a chance to rock me. I may have got a chance to listen to it once…maybe twice.
Listening to it this morning in the car I realize how great they are. If you didn’t listen to this the first time around (and especially if you are one of those people grousing about Liz Phair selling out), here’s a redeemer. The lead singer’s caterwauling vacillations about men are rock-solid and her diatribes covering all social levels are a mighty powerful catylyst for this all female rock, rock, rock trio.
p.s. I highly recommend getting an UR(unemployed roommate) when you buy your iPod. It is definitely a must-have iPod accessory. I am paying my UR(unemployed roommate) $0.33 per ripped CD. I figure that’s just above minimum wage and if he can get off his slacker-ass, he will have all 400 of them done in about a week.
