Bayer Sold HIV-tainted Plasma

I couldn't believe this, so I googled a bit. It appears to be true, and just now, 20 years later, coming to light. NONE of the American executives responsible have been indicted, or even asked to own up to what they have done. See:

http://www.ahrp.org/infomail/0503/22.php

Echoes from the past

From the original Mother's Day, actually. Spoken by the woman who called for Mother's Day in the wake of the U.S. Civil War. Listen to Julia Ward Howe as we approach Memorial Day:

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of tears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

"We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says 'Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.'"

Blood does not wipe out dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.
Julia Ward Howe
Boston
1870

Thank you Anitra for blogging this.


Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. - Arundhati Roy

Seven Areas of Self-Esteem

What a great list! Stolen from Cheryl's blog:

The Seven Areas of Self-Esteem

Physical prowess: Feeling confident in your bodys ability to meet the demands of daily life through physical strength, endurance, and flexibility.

Social skills and social comportment: Knowing how to present yourself well and to act appropriately and graciously in a variety of social situations. Becoming someone others want to spend time with.

Self-discipline: Developing the ability to direct your will toward a desired goal in a sustained manner; to stay with a task even when youre tired, distracted, discouraged, or no longer interested; to keep your promises.

Self-trust: Knowing how to tune in to and trust what you know and what you feel; to assess safety and danger; to act on your perceptions even when others may not agree with them.

Financial literacy: Developing your ability to spend, save, give, and invest wisely; to value your time and energy fairly; and to understand the laws of prosperity.

A place in the sun: Developing a special skill or innate talent for which you will be recognized and valued.

Positive self-image: Feeling secure and good about yourself, which includes a positive body image, and a positive relationship with self-adornment and personal style.


He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe. - Marcus Aurelius

Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years?

What Is the Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years?

Beloved, by Toni Morrison, center, was chosen as the best American fiction of the last 25 years. Runners up were Philip Roth, Cormac McCarthy, John Updike and Don DeLillo.

By THE NEW YORK TIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/books/fiction-25-years.html
Published: May 21, 2006

Early this year, the Book Review's editor, Sam Tanenhaus, sent out a short letter to a couple of hundred prominent writers, critics, editors and other literary sages, asking them to please identify "the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years."

THE WINNER: Beloved, by Toni Morrison (1987)

THE RUNNERS-UP:
Underworld, by Don DeLillo (1997)

Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy (1985)

Rabbit Angstrom: The Four Novels, by John Updike (1995)
(Rabbit at Rest (1990), Rabbit Is Rich (1981), Rabbit Redux (1971), Rabbit, Run (1960)

American Pastoral, by Philip Roth (1997)

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS ALSO RECEIVED MULTIPLE VOTES:
A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole (1980)

Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson (1980)

Winter's Tale, by Mark Helprin (1983)

White Noise, by Don DeLillo (1985)

The Counterlife, by Philip Roth (1986)

Libra, by Don DeLillo (1988)

Where I'm Calling From, by Raymond Carver (1988)

The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien (1990)

Mating, by Norman Rush (1991)

Jesus' Son, by Denis Johnson (1992)

Operation Shylock, by Philip Roth (1993)

Independence Day, by Richard Ford (1995)

Sabbath's Theater, by Philip Roth (1995)

Border Trilogy, by Cormac McCarthy (1999)
(Cities of the Plain (1998), The Crossing (1994), All the Pretty Horses (1992))

The Human Stain, by Philip Roth (2000)

The Known World, by Edward P. Jones (2003)

The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth (2004)

Sounds like some good books to add to the reading list for the next few years.

Women threatened by fake Planned Parenthood clinics

I just heard about the following story from Planned Parenthood. I hope you'll join me in taking action to put a stop to the outrageous practices of fake "clinics" by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

An Indiana mother recently accompanied her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend to one of Indiana's Planned Parenthood clinics, but they unwittingly walked into a "crisis pregnancy center" run by an anti-abortion group -- one that shared a parking lot with the real Planned Parenthood clinic, and was designed expressly to lure Planned Parenthood patients and deceive them.

The group took down the girl's confidential personal information and told her to come back for her appointment, which they said would be in their "other office" (the real Planned Parenthood office nearby). When she arrived for her appointment, not only did the Planned Parenthood staff have no record of her, but the police were there -- the "crisis pregnancy center" had called them, claiming that a minor was being forced to have an abortion against her will.

The "crisis pregnancy center" staff then proceeded to wage a campaign of intimidation and harassment over the following days, showing up at the girl's home and calling her father's
workplace. Our clinic director reports that she was "scared to death to leave her house." They even went to her school and urged classmates to pressure her not to have an abortion.

Behind the Story: The anti-choice movement is setting up so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" across the country. Some of them have neutral-sounding names and run ads that falsely promise the full range of reproductive health services, but dispense anti-choice propaganda and intimidation instead. And according to The New York Times, there are currently more of these centers in the U.S. than there are actual abortion providers! What's more, these centers have received $60 million of government grants. They're being funded by our tax dollars.

A bill has just been introduced in Congress to stop the fraudulent practices of fake clinics, but it desperately needs more support. Tell your representative to take a stand: anti-choice extremists must not get away with this any longer! Click here to contact your representative:
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/fake

Thanks.

----------
Donate Now >> https://secure.ga0.org/02/fake_clinics
Tell a Friend >> http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/fake/forward
Take Action >> http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/fake

Money, Religion and Politics

I have to file this under news and politics, although the problem is that it is NOT news. My friend Bruce has written an explosive blog, full of stuff you have to read! However, he tells the story in a very calm, reasoned manner. Everyone who cares about the state of equal rights around the world, and within the United State, should read this blog. And leave a comment, and blog about it, talk about it, spread the word.

So, go read: Lords Of The New Church

Go on........

If the crazy MySpace (ColdFusion) link doesn't work, try http://tinyurl.com/qqqvt. Or click on his name, above, and go to his blog.


"Remember these names: Scaife. Olin. Bradley. Coors. Smith-Richardson. Carthage. Koch. Lambe. Earhart. DeVos. Ahmanson."