Wednesday Open Thread

post from My Left Wing - Front Page on 25 April 2012 07:00:00 AM. © My Left Wing - Front Page

The obscure we see eventually.
The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer.

Edward R. Murrow

Born April 25, 1908

Read The Full Article:
http://www.myleftwing.com/diary/27911/wednesday-open-thread

Digg this

Muse in the Morning

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 25 April 2012 06:00:00 AM. © Docudharma - Front Page

Muse in the MorningCounterspin 2 I know you have talent. What sometimes is forgotten is that being practical is a talent. I have a paucity for that sort of talent in many situations, though it turns out that I'm a pretty darn good cook. :-)Let your[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.docudharma.com/diary/29707/muse-in-the-morning

Digg this

Friday Deadline to Tell the USDA: No Agent Orange
Crops

post from They gave us a republic... - Front Page on 25 April 2012 06:00:00 AM. © They gave us a republic... - Front Page

By @KYYellowDog

By email from Eric Schlosser and Gary Hirschberg:

We only have until FRIDAY to contact the USDA about this new type of corn genetically engineered to withstand 2,4-D herbicide, which some studies have shown may be linked to several forms of cancer. Over 50,000 of you have contacted the USDA, but if we want them to listen, we need to inundate them with even more comments.
We should be able to decide for ourselves what to feed our families. But if the USDA approves this new corn, we won't be able to make that choice since genetically engineered foods aren't labeled.
Contact the USDA today!
SNIP
Although we might not all agree on the science concerning the long-term effects of eating genetically engineered foods, we can all agree that everyone should be able to decide for themselves whether to eat them. And that's why we should proceed with caution when approving new unlabeled GMO crops like 2,4-D corn.
Along with the new GM salmon, one of the most disturbing new species under review is a type of corn genetically engineered to withstand 2,4-D -- an herbicide that some studies have shown may be linked to major health problems including reproductive abnormalities, birth defects, and several forms of cancer.
Approval of Dow Chemical's genetically engineered corn would trigger an increase in 2,4-D use and our exposure to this herbicide. Yet the USDA has not analyzed the resulting impacts on public health, the environment, or neighboring farmers. Do you want to take the risk?
Urge the USDA to reject the genetically engineered 2,4-D resistant corn until these impacts are addressed:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50202/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7574
The herbicide 2,4-D is a persistent chemical with a habit of moving around in the environment. It presents a risk to our drinking water, food, pets, and backyard gardens. A growing number of farmers are concerned about the potential impact on their crops from the herbicide drifting onto their fields.
We know you care about the food you eat -- that's why you asked the FDA to label genetically engineered ingredients. Before the USDA makes a decision on 2,4-D resistant corn, they want to hear from people like us. But they're only accepting comments from the public for a short period of time!
Help flood the USDA comment box before it's too late:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50202/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7574

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheyGaveUsARepublic-FrontPage/~3/vjRn0X8quAc/frida
y-deadline-to-tell-the-usda-no-agent-orange-crops

Digg this

If you miscarry, you can go to jail

post from DemConWatch on 25 April 2012 05:59:59 AM. © DemConWatch

I'm not joking. In Tennessee, there's a new law that has passed both chambers which allows prosecution if a pregnant woman miscarries. Even in the first few weeks when she is carrying an embryo. Let's be clear: about half of all fertilized eggs never become babies, as per NIH.

It is estimated that up to half of all fertilized eggs die and are lost (aborted) spontaneously, usually before the woman knows she is pregnant. Among those women who know they are pregnant, the miscarriage rate is about 15-20%. Most miscarriages occur during the first 7 weeks of pregnancy.

Some common causes include, but are not limited to, obesity, maternal age, diabetes, physical problems with the egg, and physical problems of the mother. Suddenly, this is a crime. Miscarriage can also be caused by accident, exposure to toxins and chemicals and all sorts of other things. For example, if you have cancer and are undergoing chemo and get pregnant, a miscarriage is likely. You're in a car accident. Or you accidentally fall down the stairs. Like this:

Life can't get much worse for Christine Taylor. Last month, after an upsetting phone conversation with her estranged husband, Ms. Taylor became light-headed and fell down a flight of stairs in her home. Paramedics rushed to the scene and ultimately declared her healthy. However, since she was pregnant with her third child at the time, Taylor thought it would be best to be seen at the local ER to make sure her fetus was unharmed.
That's when things got really bad and really crazy. Alone, distraught, and frightened, Taylor confided in the nurse treating her that she hadn't always been sure she'd wanted this baby, now that she was single and unemployed. She'd considered both adoption and abortion before ultimately deciding to keep the child. The nurse then summoned a doctor, who questioned her further about her thoughts on ending the pregnancy. Next thing Taylor knew, she was being arrested for attempted feticide. Apparently the nurse and doctor thought that Taylor threw herself down the stairs on purpose.

Amazing? No - the far right in action in Iowa.

Let's say you're a drug addict who is raped and gets pregnant. You go for drug treatment so that the baby can be born clean. In Alabama, you can be arrested for child endangerment since you exposed the fetus to drugs, even though the intent is to protect the pregnancy. It's happened to 60 women to date.

It's hard to know what to say here. You've got a bunch of far right teabaggers who care about cellular clumps, which is what a 2 week old embryo actually is: undifferentiated cells. Care more then they do about actual people. Look at all the couples who try in vitro: most of those embryos are lost. Should they be prevented from trying because of the fear of jail? Should a woman immediately go to bed and stay there once she knows she's pregnant to avoid any potential threat? The people who write these laws are insane, and devoid of any knowledge of science. And yet they get re-elected. Get up, get angry, and make sure everyone you know knows what they're voting for when they vote for a Republican.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com/diary/5300/if-you-miscarry-you-can-go-to
-jail

Digg this

By: StonyPillow

post from Comments on: Last whirl on the gravy train. on 25 April 2012 05:33:14 AM. © Comments on: Last whirl on the gravy train.

Newt needs the Secret Service penumbra. It does wonders for his mojo, and gives him and his assistant that all-important "heads-up" when Callista's approaching.

Read The Full Article:
http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/25/last-whirl-on-the-gravy-train/#comment-2520352

Digg this

By: oldhippiejan

post from Comments on: Last whirl on the gravy train. on 25 April 2012 05:19:52 AM. © Comments on: Last whirl on the gravy train.

In the general scope of government spending, $40,000. per day isn't much. But since these candidates are already bought and paid for by corporate interests and moneyed elite, they should pick up the tab for their protectiion.

Read The Full Article:
http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/25/last-whirl-on-the-gravy-train/#comment-2520351

Digg this

Subdued Trading Ahead of FOMC

post from Jutia Group on 25 April 2012 05:06:49 AM. © Jutia Group

Source: Advanced Currency Markets | G10 Advancers and Decliners vs USD GBP -0.04 EUR -0.06 … [visit site to read more]

Read The Full Article:
http://jutiagroup.com/20120425-subdued-trading-ahead-of-fomc/

Digg this

NSA: Every Step You Take, We'll be Watching You

Cross posted from The Stars Hollow GazetteWhistleblower: The NSA is Lying-U.S. Government Has Copies of Most of Your EmailsNational Security Agency whistleblower William Binney reveals he believes domestic surveillance has become more expansive under[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.docudharma.com/diary/29709/nsa-every-step-you-take-well-be-watching-yo
u

Digg this

How to Safe Guard Social Security: Put People to
Work & Expose the Lies

Cross posted from The Stars Hollow GazetteIn an article for FDL Action, Jon Walker cites a Gallup Poll that there are 150 million people around the world who would immigrate to the United States:WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About 13% of the world's adults -- or[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.docudharma.com/diary/29708/how-to-safe-guard-social-security-put-peopl
e-to-work-expose-the-lies

Digg this

Last whirl on the gravy train.

Shocking, I know, but Newt Gingrich managed to lose a primary badly yet again. But with more than $4 million in debt and no financial sugar daddy anymore is he going to face reality?[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/firedoglake/fdl/~3/KzBu98PeR8Y/

Digg this