Quick note for important legislation in Louisiana

Latinola has a link to an editorial in the T-P regarding pending legislation in Louisiana regarding immigrants. (Have I mentioned how much I love the colors of Latinola´s website?)

I´ve taken the time to write local officials and hope others will, too. Here is some information...

Listed below are all the immigration bills, plus one resolution that have been filed:

Ø HB 1357 by Rep. Geymann (District 35, Lake Charles) creates the crime of harboring, concealing, or sheltering an alien. (passed House floor waiting to be heard by Senate Committee)

Ø HB 1358 by Rep. Geymann (District 35, Lake Charles) creates crime of unlawful transportation of an illegal alien. (passed House floor waiting to be heard by Senate Committee)

Ø HB 25 by Rep. Geymann (District 35, Lake Charles) requires police officers to verify citizenship of every person they arrest. (passed House floor waiting to be heard by Senate Committee)

Ø HB 1365 by Rep. Burns (District 89, Mandeville) requires that landlords verify legal status of aliens (passed Committee waiting to be heard on House Floor)

Worth the two minute read, even if you're trying to dash off to another continent

Nails. It.

There are many reasons Clinton is losing the nomination contest, some having to do with her strategic mistakes, others with the groundswell for "change." But for all Clinton's political blemishes, the darker stain that has been exposed is the hatred of women that is accepted as a part of our culture.

h/t: laloca, who should keep reading the morning news

Maybe evil is more concentrated than I thought?

Back in October, laloca posted about Donald Rumsfeld's involvement in the FDA approval of the neurotoxin aspartame, a popular sweetener marketed as "Nutrasweet". In 1981, Rumsfeld was CEO of Searle Laboratories and called in favors to get the drug approved by then newly appointed FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hull Hayes. In her post, laloca does some investigative research into the toxicity studies on aspartame and finds it difficult to find abstracts on the works which report harmful effects. She also finds that there is a significant difference in the results of toxicity studies funded by the companies which produce the chemical versus the results of toxicity studies in parties not financially connected with the chemical's commercial success. At the time, I joked in her comments section about a possible link to the Monsanto company, makers of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up.

Today, Oyster posted about the Rumsfeld-aspartame connection with some other information... including the sale of the Nutrasweet brand from Searle to Monsanto. (He writes that Monsanto then sold it to a private equity firm.) Turns out there is a connection, if only by the sale of product whose safety had not been verified. How interesting that whenever lack of ethnics, paltry concern for human welfare, and corporate greed are playing out, members of the Bush Administration are never far behind?

Although I know of no direction connection of Bush cronies to the Monsanto Corporation, outside of the sale of neurotoxins as described above, Monsanto is pretty damn dirty all by themselves. Here is some information about Monsanto and their cash-cow, glyphosate, taken from a research paper I wrote during my MPH training for a course on Reproductive Epidemiology & Toxicology, 6 years ago... (I'm adding some bold font now)

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, non-selective systemic herbicide used for control of annual and perennial plants including grasses, sedges, broad-leaved weeds, and woody plants. Glyphosate was first discovered by J.E. Franz of Monsanto Corp in 1971 and was released commercially in 1974. In the early 1980’s glyphosate (Roundup) became the first individual pesticide to have sales of over $1 billion world-wide (Cox, 2000). Glyphosate is sold under the trade names of Roundup, Accord, Vision, Rodeo, Gallup, Landmaster, Pondmaster, Ranger and Touchdown. Glyphosate is the seventh most commonly used pesticide in U.S. agriculture, the third most commonly used pesticide on industrial and commercial land, and the second most commonly used home and garden pesticide. Total estimated annual use according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is between 38 and 48 million pounds (Aspelin, 1997). Glyphosate use is currently (1998) growing at a rate of about 20 percent annually, primarily because of the recent introduction of crops which are genetically engineered to be tolerant of the herbicide (Bureau of National Affairs, 1998).

Given that glyphosate herbicides are marketed as benign, it is striking that laboratory studies have found adverse effects in all standard categories of laboratory toxicology testing. These include medium-term toxicity (salivary gland lesions), long-term toxicity (inflamed stomach linings), genetic damage (in human blood cells), effects on reproduction (reduced sperm counts in rats; increased frequency of abnormal sperm in rabbits), and carcinogenicity (increased frequency of liver tumors in male rats and thyroid cancer in female rats) (Cox, 2000). People are exposed to glyphosate through workplace exposure (for people who use glyphosate products on the job), eating of contaminated food, exposure caused by off target movement following application (drift), contact with contaminated soil, and drinking or bathing in contaminated water.

(snip)

Tests done on glyphosate to meet registration requirements have been associated with fraudulent practices. Laboratory fraud first made headlines in 1983 when EPA publicly announced that a 1976 audit had discovered “serious deficiencies and improprieties” in studies conducted by Industrial Biotest Laboratories. Problems included “countless deaths of rats and mice” and “routine falsification of data” (Cox, 2000).

In 1991, the EPA alleged that Craven Laboratories, a company that performed studies for 262 pesticide companies including Monsanto, had falsified tests (Cox, 2000). “Tricks” employed by Craven Labs included “falsifying laboratory notebook entries” and “manually manipulating scientific equipment to produce false reports” (Cox, 2000). Employees at Craven Labs were indicted on felony counts and suffered jail time and steep fines as a result. Although the tests of glyphosate identified as fraudulent have been replaced, the situation casts doubt on the efficacy of the pesticide registration process and questions the motivations for the approval of glyphosate for public and private use.

In addition to connection with laboratory fraud, glyphosate has been indicated in claims of false advertising. Monsanto, the company who manufactures glyphosate, has had a history of settling court agreements over false advertising regarding glyphosate. Claims that glyphosate products are “safer than table salt,” safe for people, pets, and the environment, and degrade “soon after application” were challenged in both 1996 and 1998 because they were in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the national pesticide law (Cox, 2000).

It's some bad stuff. Something to think about when we consider spraying herbicide in our yards this summer.

Peace Love Dove

Something has got to be screwed up when Al Gore can get a Nobel Peace Prize and this phenomenal guy holds a job with sucky benefits probably making less in a year than Gore gets from one speaking engagement. Yet, who is the one doing the work of making the world a more peaceful place?

This was too good not to repost.

H/T: The Curvature

Must Read

If you only read one blog post this week, let it be this one.

Obama the Plagiarizer.

All those rumors about Obama plagiarizing are true. He has most certainly been plagiarizing. His catchy phrase, "Yes We Can," is lifted directly from Bob the Builder. No word on whether Bob is pressing charges, although Lofty threated a suit if Obama used, "Uh... yeah, I think so!"

Preoccupation

I can't get the news of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence out of my mind.

Why were we so quick to recognize Kosovo? What importance does it hold? Is there some sort of latent guilt for the years of Balkan wars where so many were tortured at the hands of the Serbs? (Yes, yes, atrocities occurred on all sides. However, the Croats, the Bosnians, and the Albanians all suffered many, many more deaths -- both civilian and military -- at the hands of the Serbs. Some of these atrocities occurred in front of UN troops assigned to the protect them.) What would our stance be if other ethnic majorities within areas of other countries -- the Kurds in Turkey/Iraq, for example -- declared independence? Didn't the treaties that stopped NATO attacks in Kosovo imply some sort of intent of keeping Serbia together, similar to the federation-style set-up used with Bosnians? I don't speak from a place of expertise here... I'm just trying to get my head around it.

Moreover, I was really moved by this book and what it means for a civilian population to be targeted and isolated. I've been addicted to her for months. I do not have faith in NATO or any other allied group to protect the vulnerable. The genocidal massacres at Srebrenica occurred in front of UN Security forces, who rolled back without once standing in protection of the civilian populace. This happened a year after Rwanda, four years after seeing what the Serb forces did in Vukovar. We've shown that we cannot bring ourselves to say the word "genocide" even when we know it is occurring because we'd be obliged to act. It makes me think that the only way to stop genocide from occurring is to help negotiate healing and understanding, not encourage nationalism and independence.

Vote Obama

Though I arrived shortly after 8am, had a friend in line not spotted me, I may not have made it in. As it was, we got in on the tail end and were rewarded with fabulous seats opposite from the speaker's podium and high enough above the media throng to take it all in.

Boy, that man can talk. I was impressed.

I'm too cynical to be an Apostle, but have no doubt that he's been my choice since Edward's dropped the race. After hearing him speak, I may have even been swayed to his camp even if Edwards stayed in. Maybe. He's not my vision of the perfect candidate, but of the playing field he's the best candidate hands down. I only hope he can do even a piece of what he promises.

He promised a lot: 100-year storm protection starting in 2011*; restoration of wetlands and barrier islands; no cronyism in Federal Government positions; FEMA director a nonpolitical position (similar to the Director of the Federal Reserve); tax incentives for businesses opening in rebuilding areas; a six month turn-around for Road Home applicants; a new city hospital and new Vets hospital; loan forgiveness for MDs willing to serve here; speeding up $58m approved in Congress to rebuild schools; $250m for teacher programs to give bonuses and incentives for teachers to come here for 3-year positions; college tuition tax credits each year of college; and educational systems that embrace all learning (arts, music, dance, poetry). Phew!

The stump speech was strong; followed with his contract -- "we will invest in you, and you will invest in us." It was stirring, motivational, and exciting. He made me forget how much optimism has been beaten out of me and for a minute, really think that the world he envisions is maybe, possibly... possible?

Some may have thought I'd be on the Clinton bandwagon, since she's the female in the race. Not so. For one, she's a Republican. She votes for war, she stood by her husband's disastrous "reform" of welfare, and she went soft on universal healthcare. Second, I am constitutionally adverse to supporting the continued control of the Executive Branch of our government by two families into a third decade. Third, black men voted, served in the U.S. Senate, and were elected in the House of Representatives before women, so I figure electing a black man into the White House before a woman just falls in line with our traditions (okay, this is glib, but it's still sort of an interesting bit of history). If I needed another reason, Ann Coulter may be endorsing Clinton and while I am all for the Kumbuyah mentality, I can not ever see a day when supporting anything Coulter endorses is a good thing. For other reasons to vote Obama and not Clinton, read this.

---
*I swear I heard him say 2011, following his saying that we "can't gamble" the protection of New Orleans, but I'm not sure my ears can be trusted. For a minute, I heard the crowd shout "Let's Pretend" and then "Let's Begin" before figuring out that the clamor was actually the words "Yes We Can," the official Obama fan shout.

UPDATE: Read Obama's speech HERE. Really, read it. It's worth it.

Things to freeze your arse off for while in DC

On Sunday, we slept until 9am, 8am Central Time, had breakfast and ventured in the 20-degree, clear sky D.C. day. Paul feared of frostbite at every turn, with good reason, since I was dragging him all over hillsides and sidewalks. We walked down to The Marine Corps Memorial, which I had never seen in person. I am embarrassed to admit it: but I didn't even know it was in Virginia (I assumed it was near the memorials along the Mall area.) I also didn't know it was so. damn. big. The thing is huge! After seeing it so many times in pictures, I was a little caught off guard when I noticed a lump in my throat looking up at it. It is surprisingly moving in person. (It is also surprising that the photograph of the monument on the National Park Service website is marred by a huge street sign in back of it. Yikes!) Can you see the Washington Monument peaking out to the right of the monument? It's a beautiful view into the District from this hillside.Then, after a 5 minute detour due to being lost, we headed into the District. We ended up hitting Independence almost all the way at the Capital, at the end of the Mall. A parking space magically appeared and we took it as a sign we should get out and go to the Museum of the American Indian.
If you went to public school in the United States, chances are pretty high that you know next to nothing about American Indians. By American Indians, or Native Americans, I mean in indigeous peoples whose residence in the Americas (South America, Central America, and North America) pre-date European settlers. What I know about Native Americans I learned mostly by going cross-country with my family when I was 16 (our first family vacation, but that is another story). The bottom line of this learning was that I uncovered the horrible truth: we (European settlers and early White Americans) were shit-heads to Native peoples and are country continues in this legacy to this day. Somehow this message got watered down in schooling.

Side note... One Big Reason for this, incidentally, was because Lynne Cheney (AKA: the Antichrist) during her tenure as the Director of the National Endowment for the Humanities in the 80s (*shutter*... a Reagan appointee... one of the many reasons that the nostalgia over 'the Reagan years' makes me hurl), she was hell-bent on an agenda for the design of teaching standards in American History. She advocated for "America-first" curriculum which heavily favored teaching U.S. students of the good 'ole days when our country's leaders were limited to wealthy, land-holding white men who own black slaves and discussed the merits of whether or not it was wise to let women learn how to read. Any type of programming which challenged the idea of the Destiny of America as some sort of Divine province worked against this ethnocentric vision. Programs which logically and realistically portrayed Native peoples or showed the happenings of history in a less-than-rosy light were Not Part of The Plan. So if you grew up thinking, "jeez, I know we've made some bad moves with Native Americans, but it's all good, 'cause we're the good guys!!" then you've got Lynne Cheney to thank. (Side note: she would rally against this very program when it was altered after her tenure at the NEH and later, she would advocate for the de-funding of the entire program. I watched her testimony on Capital Hill while I was a federal employee at the NEH's sister agency, the NEA.)

Anyway, if you grew up in the Lynne Cheney bubble, there is a cure. This museum. It is fantastic.


The inside has a huge open atrium that circles up (not unlike the Hirschhorn) -- like the inside of a huge hive. I only took A Photograph inside (below, of an Aymara Reed boat).

We didn't have enough time to enjoy all of the exhibits but were incredibly impressed with what we did see. I think my favorite exhibit was on the Contemporary Lives and Identities of Native Peoples, focusing on several tribes (the Igoolik in Canada and Pamunkey in Virginia are the ones that I can remember). The honesty and clarity within the presentation of materials was striking. Other areas that stood out were pieces that illustrated the impact of disease in Native peoples as a result of Contact (a word capitalized through exhibits) and the immense quantities of gold and treasures stolen. The range of quotations, thoughtful and memorable soundbites, and video clips were impressive. The Museum is a beautiful tribute to what must have been an incredible creative partnership. I strongly recommend taking the kids and giving it a go... can't wait 'til our kids are old enough to appreciate this sort of thing.

***
Across Independence was the Department of Education (where we parked) and after dragging Paul around the Mall, I noticed the little read school houses covering every entrance of the building. I had to get a closer look.

See the bell? It's a school bell from Milford, Pennsylvania. The plaque reads:

Milford School Bell
Dedicated November 13, 1989
As an enduring symbol of the United States Department of Education's goal to educate every American to his or her fullest potential.

George Herbert Walker Bush
President of the United States

Lauro F. Cazavoz
U.S. Secretary of Education

How nice! It's to symbolize the Mission of the Department of Education to provide a quality education to all American children. What is that, in back of the bell? Those little red houses? What do they symbolize? A closer look:

Expensive edifices with no purpose, reminding us that the No Child Left Behind program reigns this country. You know, the program that works fitfully against the message on the "enduring symbol" emblazed on the monument that sits in front of the building. Ack! The irony!


***
We drove more around the District (read: got lost a lot) and finally determined that it would be too long of a walk to see the WWII memorial. Instead, we drove down to Hain's Point, stopping along this bridge, by the George Mason Memorial.

Hi George!
Finally, we got to Hain's Point (read: got lost and almost couldn't find it). The Awakening was still there. The sky was crystal blue and we were the only ones there. (See that red car in the corner? That was the Ford Mustang the rental agency upgraded us to when we gave her Mardi Gras beads at check-in.)
Looking out Hain's Point.
Will would have LOVED this sculpture.
***

It took us about 30 minutes to get the airport (26 minutes were lost) and we had an easy trip back (read: there were no kids to wrangle). Great trip!

Indecisive No More

In our house, we are decidedly undecided about everything regarding the primaries. Because really, does it matter? Will our votes really sway the Louisiana electoral college to go blue? Seriously?

But if we could dream, who would we choose? No idea. In one of the first elections where I could vote, I remember discussing that we start a movement for all to join the Cherokee Nation, so that we could have Wilma Mankiller as President (I can't take credit for the idea, as I probably picked up the idea in Ms. magazine or something). The point is, if I was that disenchanted during the Daddy Bush/Clinton years, there really isn't much hope for me now.

But surprise: we have come to a decision on the next presidental election. If Mike Huckabee becomes President of the U.S., we are leaving the country. We can take Katrina, crime, awful schools and expense, but Mike Huckabee? No way.

Just trying to get my head around all this.

If a woman is caught receiving money for sex, she is guilty of prostitution and may serve time in jail. A woman who arranges other women to have sex for money is found guilty of racketeering.

But a man who pays women for sex can just apologize. Even more, a man who holds a very public job to uphold and protect the law (from a standpoint very supportive of criminalizing prostitution, incidentally) doesn't get punished. He gets to look forward to going back to work and chastise media for exposing his children to dirty things.

Yup. We've got no need for an equal rights amendment for women in the U.S. Totally unnecessary, 'cause we've totally got this equality thing down.

Join us tomorrow!

Join Abeona parents tomorrow as we march for Francis Pop and the children of New Orleans -- long neglected and unprotected. If you can't be here with us, PLEASE -- call your radio station, your television news, your local paper. We are not so naive that we believe our local government with change with a demonstration -- we know that we need media, Big Media, attention to refocus eyes on the terror, tragedy, and suffering in our city.

If can join us, we are gathering at the Harrah's fountain starting around 11 -- look for the Abeona sign. Email or call me for more information.

MARCH FOR OUR LOVED ONES
MARCH FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
MARCH FOR OUR CITY

While we're on the subject of fear...

Rolling Stone has a wonderful article about the rigging of the 2004 election.

Nightmares

Will thinks monsters are scary. I wonder if, like his parents, this is sort of stuff that he will recognize as truly, truly frightening.

Race in America

Some have balked at my earlier comments about the role of poor, nonwhites left in New Orleans to weather hurricane Katrina, as I argue that their role was to perish. I stand by my assertion of modern genocide; that the government system wants nothing more than to rid itself of those whom they feel are undesireables. The mis-education and mis-information of a conservative society (which we are) promotes false ideology regarding wealth (that it is earned, not something gained from privilege), work (that if you work hard enough and play by the rules, no matter what your circumstance, you get ahead), reproduction (that early childbearing, wrongly understood as a problem among poor nonwhites, equals any number of ills), and poverty (that it is a self-supporting "culture," not a socially induced position). In America, all of these untrue, unfounded, and misguided ideologies are connected to race, or more specifically, being black.

This ideology plays out in many ways. The comments by former education secretary, now conservative talk-show host, William J. Bennett, are an example. In Bennett's words: "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."

How is this okay? How is anyone okay with this?