Hate crimes bill stalled- Bush at it again

The stupidity of our nations president never ceases to amaze me. Just when you thin he cant possibly be any dumber he opens his mouth again. The federal hate crime bill may not make it now thanks to a house stall in getting it passed. The Bill would would add sexuality to a list that allows federal authorities to help investigate and prosecute crimes in which violence occurs based on certain things. The statute already includes race and religion. The bill was coupled with the 2008 defense authorization bill to avoid a Vito. It passed in September, and then went to conference where the two versions of it had to be combined for a final Vito. That's where it got stuck. The bill has been tied up with House fears that Democrats could not muster enough votes to pass the military bill with the Shepard Act attached to it. Things could be dragged out way passed December. Not wanting to wait to have the military bill passed, which would increase military pay and help wounded soldiers, not to mention be good for election year. The only way to end the stalling is to separate the two bills. The hate crimes bill could never survive a Vito on its own, the bush administration has said the Shepard Act is "unnecessary and constitutionally questionable." Yes, I am sure you could find lots of support from the constitution that says the protection of citizens from discrimination and harm is wrong, and sure as hell not necessary.

HIV donor crisis in Chicago

Federal officials are investigating in Chicago, what three hospitals knew and whether or not they told four organ transplant patients about a high-risk donor who infected them with HIV. There is a law that says even if the tests come back negative, a patients is to be informed of any rick factors known to the hospital regarding possible infection of the donor. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, the place that gathered the organs, told authorities that the hospitals were informed of the donors high risk behaviors upon getting the organs. Weather or not the hospitals fallowed protocol and then informed the patients has not yet been confirmed. The hospitals refuse to release and statement of what the patients were told, what organs they received, or what other care they got siting confidentiality. one of the infected patients, a female in cook county, filed a petition to keep the university of Chicago and Gift of Hope from destroying any documents pertaining to the transplants. She received a kidney from the donor that infected her with HIV. The tests that were don't on the organs came back negative for the virus but experts say it is likely the donor got the disease a few weeks before he died making direction with the method used impossible. the other way of testing which can detect the virus sooner costs more and there for was not used. The female patient says she was never informed of the donors risk by the hospital only that the test was negative and every thing was fine. chef medical examiner of Chicago's public health says she hopes this instance will make the newer test become the norm, cost or not. this is the first time HIV has been passed through organ donation since 1986.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Bird Flu is back in the headlines this morning as thousands of turkeys were killed when they were discovered to have had the virus. Sure this was in Eastern England but it does not leave me to hopeful for a happy thanksgiving. Does any one know how many turkeys we get from out side the us? I don't either but why take the chance? Not that the bird flu is any major threat. Only 200 people have died from it since 2003, but I still don't want to get it. The people in England are not sure weather the birds had the kind that was deadly to humans or not, their still testing. The company that owned the farm was Gressingham Foods, I doubt they'll be getting a lot of business this year.
on a more local note a suprime cort judge ordered the white house to save all its E mails, and Bush is not happy about it. Gee, what ever could he have to hide?

choice is relitive

In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.
- Andre Maurois

I like this quote. I chose to put it on my blog and use it to start a post. Does that shock you? probably not, but other things I have chosen might. I thought it would be interesting to make a list of some of the things I have chosen in my life and see how people respond to them. please comment and tell me what your reactions are, we'll find out together if Mr. Maurois is right. Yell at me if you want, preach, whatever, I don't get offended and really that's kind of the point of this. I want to get a rise, good or bad, but every thing on the list is true.

1. I chose to leave the Methodist church I grew up in for the Wiccan path.
2. once when I was little I chose to put my dog in the closet to see how long the air would last. (I lost attention in about 3 min so she was fine)
3. some would argue that I chose to be a lesbian.
4. I chose to drop out of college for trade school.
5. I chose an unstable major with no future that I can put my heart band soul in.
6. I chose acupuncture over a vicodin prescription.
7. I chose to get my belly button pierced.
8. I chose to move out on my own, them move back in with my mother, all for a horse.
9. when I was 14 I chose to shoplift for a friend.
10. I chose to drink Wisconsin old fashioned till I passed out last month. (I am legal to drink in Wisconsin)
11. I chose to be at my grandmothers side when she died, even though I missed all my finals.
12. I chose to take a friend to prom.
13. I chose never to go to a high school dance except prom.
14. I chose to quit playing volleyball because of politics.
15. I chose to be a vegetarian for health reasons, not moral.
16. I choose to flaunt my sexuality with rude T shirts and bumper-stickers.
17. I choose not to have a TV in my Apt.
18. I choose to have my air conditioning on all year round.
19. I choose to sleep naked.
20. I chose to post on the Internet that I sleep naked.

So there's my list, take it as it is. I am sure I could put lots more on here, but we'll keep it at 20, a good number. don't forget to comment, that's the only way this experiment of mine will work.

Wicca~ The New Religion

I am a proud Wiccan and it still gets to me how little pepole know about my religion, espeshaly some of those who clame to practice it. I'm not trying to say I have all the answers, but somethings are fact. (Fact: Proven with documentation; not left up to interpritation; certan.) So, I will place yet again in one more cornner of the web a list of Facts abotu Wicca that every one should know.

1. Wicca is a new religion. Created by a group of individuals headed by Gerald Gardner in 1939, Wicca is a religion pulled together using freemasonry and other aspects of the western occult tradition, including the writings of Margaret Murray, an early anthropologist.
2. Wicca is a "real" religion, and many institutions ranging from colleges to the US military recognize the right to practice it.
3. There is ONE all power represented by A Goddess and a God.
4. Wicca is an earth Religion.
5. Magick (note the spelling difference not to be confused with magic that is slight of hand) is an iatrical part of Wicca. Magick is simply the use of energy to create a desired affect.
6. You cant cast a spell to win a million dollars or make that certain someone one fall head over heals in love with you but magick can be a positive influence on your life.

That the basics for now I am sure I will be posting lots more on the subject later. I teach a class on Wicca that is open to any one with an Email address if your interestad. Keep checking back for more posts.