Strollerderby : indiana

Indiana Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates

Brett Singer — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

From the Chicago Tribune:

"What do you get the person who has everything—except adequate health insurance? If you live in Indiana, consider this offering from the state's Planned Parenthood affiliate: gift certificates in $25 increments."

In news even less surprising than Clay Aiken coming out of the closet, anti-choice groups are not happy. The Tribune quotes Jim Sedlak, who is with both the American Life League and Stop Planned Parenthood (where DOES he find the time?) as saying that the gift cards are just PP's "annual [attack] on the Christian community at Christmastime...[Planned Parenthood] could easily have said, 'these certificates are not to be used for abortions.' But they intentionally chose not to do that." Because I'm sure that Planned Parenthood spends most of their time thinking about how they can ruin Christmas for Christians everywhere.

Now my initial reaction was a great big ol' "Huh?" Luckily my mother was present when I heard this news (on The Daily Show). She pointed out, as does president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana Betty Cockrum, that most of what PP does is "provide basic health care." In fact, Cockrum says that's 95 percent of what they do. Still, "a pap smear in a Pear Tree" doesn't sound very appealing.

All joking aside (you can see Jon Stewart's slightly reluctant mirth-making on this topic in the video below), I guess this isn't as weird as it sounds. It's not weirder than a doctor's office selling gift cards. Well, that would be weird too. The underlying message of providing health care is a good one. But who do you buy one of these cards for? The Duggar family? Jon and Kate? Kevin Federline? (I know, it's about health care, not just birth control. The jokes are almost too easy. If Jon Stewart can apologize, so can I!) I guess in theory you could pick one up for someone you know who doesn't have health care. But isn't that incredibly awkward? "Hi, I know you're uninsured, so I thought you could use one of these. Happy holidays!" I would love to know how many cards Planned Parenthood Indiana (who have the unfortunate acronym PPIN – say it out loud and then make a Beavis and Butthead chuckling noise) actually sells. So far, they say they've sold about twelve. This isn't Vegas, but I'm putting the over-under at 25. Anyone want to take that action?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Planned Parenthood Gift Cards

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Source: The Daily Show, Chicago Tribune

Image: PPIN

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HIV Positive Teen Sues School for Harassment

JeanneSager — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:57:00 GMT

When news started spreading around Westlane Middle School that a fourteen-year-old student had HIV, the harassment began. There were notes slapped on her locker warning her "No AIDS at Westlane." The coach of her soccer team joked that they could use her disease to their advantage - because the other team would be scared. The girl suffered daily name calling, teasing and constant bullying.

Now the girl's been pulled out of school by her parents, who are suing the Indiana institution for doing nothing to save their daughter from her tormentors. More than two decades after Ryan White, do kids still have to hide their HIV status?

There's a marked difference in the knowledge out there about HIV from the instant fear and massive homophobia of my eighties childhood. Ours was perhaps the first generation to be raised to have safe sex not to ward off unwanted pregnancy but to protect you from disease. We grew up in the time of Ryan White . . . and of Magic Johnson and Arthur Ashe. We were taught to be cautious - perhaps taught too much. I remember the health teachers giving us a blow by blow on what HIV and then AIDS could to do the body. Then they gave us the rundown of every single way we could possibly contract the virus. They terrified us - to the point where a bunch of overactive teenage imaginations were envisioning catching HIV by brushing up against someone walking down the street.

Too much of the information thrown at us to keep us safe was off base and overblown. Now the generation raised to shake in their boots at the thought of AIDS is charged with raising their own kids. What are they telling them? Because it sounds like the kids in Westlane Middle School are scared. It sounds like they don't understand that a teenage classmate with AIDS does not mean a death sentence for them. In this day and age it doesn't even mean a death sentence for her (thankfully).

Source: Salon

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Morning News: McCain, Palin Forced to Tone It Down

Madeline Holler — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:00:00 GMT

After getting caught with rabid, freaky supporters that are making them look pretty bad, John McCain and Sarah Palin have been forced to tone down the anti-Obama rhetoric that leaves the crowds shouting "he's a terrorist." Instead, they're going old school and comparing plans, etc.

Meanwhile, polar ice caps aren't the only thing melting down in Alaska. So is Palin's governorship. Your Daily Palin:

Sarah Palin's rural adviser resigned from her position. Why? Because she's not a native Alaskan. She thinks the position should be filled with someone who has Native Alaskans' interests at heart, which is what everybody thought when Palin made the unusual appointment two years ago.

Also, the former public safety commissioner caught up in Troopergate says Palin's credibility has taken a huge hit in the entire mess.

Not only that, but the whole reason for choosing her as a running mate -- that she would appeal to women voters -- isn't working. Women are leaving the GOP in droves.

Actually, men must be too, because they're dispatching Palin to Indiana, a state the GOP shouldn't actually have to campaign in this close to the general election.

But Hank Williams Jr. will tell you (actually, he'll sing it to you) this is all the media's fault. McCain's campaign strategist agrees.

Tina Fey promised to she'd "leave Earth" if Palin wins. And, in any case, she won't continue her role as the marble-mouthed candidate after Nov. 4.

On to the family who can do no wrong, here's how Michelle Obama makes all this travel and campaigning and time away from the kids work (hint: she gets loads of help).

In another effort to get the economy back on track, the U.S. will invest $250 billion dollars in banks and secure shares on behalf of taxpayers. Technically, it's called "nationalizing," but for purposes of keeping one's head in the sand, it's called unfreezing credit.

Will the Dow continue to gain as it did yesterday? Or is it just being a tease?

No teasing, docs say kids aren't getting enough Vitamin D and that they should take supplements. In the next breath, they say hmmm, we're not too sure how much is enough!

She's not breastfeeding but she's hamming it up for the camera. Check out the next round of "intimate family portaits" shot by Brad Pitt of his lovely wife Angelina Jolie and their kids. Let's just be honest, this couple loves attention. There. We said it.

PS: LA is on fire!

Photos:

Students Suspended for Hair Dyed Pink in Honor of School Nurse's Battle with Breast Cancer

JeanneSager — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:27:00 GMT

It was a rare show of selflessness for a bunch of middle school students, but showing up with strips of pink in their hair last week earned a dozen Indiana pre-teens suspension. The kids said they were doing it in honor of the school nurse who recently passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

Their parents are refusing to make the kids wash the pink out of their hair, but the school is firm. Dyed hair, says the principal, is distracting.

No doubt the kids went about their impromptu remembrance - which for some kids was also a tribute to moms who've fought the battle and won - the wrong way. If you know hair dye is against the rules, why not slip on pink armbands or wear pink ribbons in your hair? Maybe approaching administration with the plan to begin with would have enabled a school-wide dispensation for the day to honor a faculty member who teachers must be mourning as well. Interviewed on camera, the principal expressed his regret for having to stick to the rules - he thinks it's a good idea. But the rules are the rules - no dyed hair.

You can't fault a principal for requiring every kid follow the same rules. But you can fault the rule.

It's just hair. Is it distracting in the morning when a kid shows up with blue hair? Yes. But show me something that won't get a bunch of hormonal pre-teens riled up. Exactly. Do we have to worry about kids flashing gang colors in schools today? Unfortunately, yes. But tell me how it's any different to have it in a hair streak than a barrette. It's just hair, which I'd rather kids were talking about then picking on the fat kid or spreading rumors that turn a girl into the class slut. It's just hair, which I'd rather my kid were playing with than drugs, booze or guns to get my attention.

When kids want to get attention, I'd like to see them doing it in positive ways - like joining up to dye their hair pink for breast cancer awareness. So maybe we could stop telling kids what they can't do and start telling them what they can do?

Image: WSBT

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Do You Live in America's Best Place to Raise a Family?

Jen Chaney — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:33:00 GMT

If you live in Hamilton County, Ind., then the answer to that question is yes, at least according to Forbes Magazine. Forbes recently releas ed its list of the best places to raise a family, another of those classic magazine rankings destined to either make you angry (how could my alma mater not be on the U.S. News list of best colleges?) or unjustifiably proud (my high school made the Newsweek list!).

As you look at the various counties that landed in the Forbes top 20 -- including Marin County, Calif., Howard County, Md., and Johnson County, Kan. -- you might wonder how, exactly, the magazine's editors decided which places deserved such high marks. Schools were a major factor, in terms of the quality of the districts, graduation rates and SAT scores. (Any place where the average scores fell below 1,050 was eliminated.) Among the other factors considered: cost of living, home prices, crime rate, air quality and commuting time.

Of course, there are plenty of other issues that, for me, contribute to the quality of life for families, including access to top medical care, the presence of arts and cultural opportunities and ethnic diversity. That's why lists like these, while fun to read, don't really reflect everything that makes a city or county a wonderful place to live.

In other words, if your home isn't on the list, don't feel like you're raising your kids in Craptown, USA.

P.S. If you do happen to live in one of the places mentioned on the Forbes list, by all means, feel free to gloat unjustifiably) in the comments below.

Image: Forbes.com

The Great Lemonade Stand Robbery

Brett Singer — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:30:00 GMT

So, like, taking candy from a baby. That's generally considered a bad thing, right?

How about stealing from a lemonade stand? Steven Tryon from Terre Haute, Indiana, did just that.

The perp was chased into a nearby house where police spent 45 minutes trying to coax him outside. They did, and he will be forced to drink 10 gallons and lemonade and then be denied access to the men's room. OK, I just made that up. But it seems like an appropriate punishment, yes?

I had other jokey potential punishments in mind – being forced to change his name to Bob Q. Buttcheeks, etc. – but then I read that this is an 18-year-old who is being charged with felony robbery. So I kind of feel bad about it. Maybe he's really poor, or just screwed up in the head somehow. Of course, it's also possible that he's just a big jerk who thinks swiping $17.50 from two little kids at a lemonade stand is an okay thing to do.

Here's a video report, including a perp walk.

images and video: Wane.com

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Political Nanny: 7 Reasons Hillary Won't Pack It In

Madeline Holler — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:31:00 GMT

There comes a time of dread for every nanny, when it looks like one of her charges will have to move on, leaving a hole in her heart, the schedule, life. Political Nanny saw most of her charges' departures coming -- John Edwards caught her off guard, as did the quick demise of Rudy Giuliani (remember him?!).

But Hillary Clinton has been a special kind of emotional roller-coaster ride. The only girl, she's added an interesting dimension to the race. And the most stubborn. Well, that's been a challenge. Seems every other Tuesday Political Nanny is doing a quick and quiet inventory of Hillary's stuff -- sort of mentally packing up the girl's things and getting ready to see her off.

Last night's narrow victory in Indiana would surely, surely bring some closure to the Democratic primary. Or so Political Nanny thought. But Hillary, who loaned her campaign another $6 million, has vowed to stay in. (Truthfully, that was kind of expected.)

So we all know why it might not be such a bad idea for her to get out of the race. Here are 7 plausible reasons she should stay in. Got any reasons of your own for her to stay in or get out? Should she exercise her nuclear option? And, is the general election going to be any fun? Remember when we all used to have fun?

Photo: CNN.com

Political Nanny: Barack Wins North Carolina Primary

Madeline Holler — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:37:00 GMT

News organizations are calling North Carolina for Barack Obama. Not a huge surprise but certainly thickening the plot. No results yet from Indiana, though reports say that Clinton's in the lead.

Could this be the primary that finally calls the Democratic race? Eh. Not likely.

Political Nanny will be staying tuned.

Political Nanny: And Then There Were ... Crap! Still 3!

Madeline Holler — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:27:00 GMT

Political Nanny adores her stubborn little Hillary just as much as her other three charges (OK, OK, four. But Ronny's still not around all that much). It's the process that's getting to her, though. And probably to you.

Here's what Politico says about why she won:

For all the campaigning and money spent, Hillary Rodham Clinton won Pennsylvania with the same base of white women, working-class voters and white men that revived her candidacy in Ohio last month. The demography that has defined the Democratic race went largely unchanged, according to exit polls.

But enough from the pollsters pundits, why do you think Hillary won? And what do you think will happen in Indiana and North Carolina? Those races are May 6, which, while not five weeks away, sort of feels like it.

You know, some people are still talking joint ticket ...

Photo: CNN.com

Indiana Teacher Suspended Over Pro-Gay Editorial

Patti — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:35:00 GMT

Journalism advisor Amy Sorrell was suspended with pay this week after approving an op-ed piece written by a student newspaper staffer which described a friend's coming-out process and advocated tolerance for homosexuals.

The newspaper staff overrode a mandate from Woodlan High School principal Edwin Yoder after consulting the Student Press Law Center, which resulted in a written warning from Yoder for Sorrell's insubordination and failure to carry out orders, as well as for exposing the students to "inappropriate" information. Students attended a school board meeting to argue their position and were directed to the district assistant superintendent, who advised that the piece in question was "biased" (which, correct me if I'm wrong, is the very definition of an "op ed" essay).

School Confirms Sixth Graders Had Sex in Class While Teacher Was (Supposedly) Teaching

thezeroboss — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:02:00 GMT

You know that scene from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life where John Cleese's teacher character give his charges a class in "sex education" by screwing his wife in front of them? Only in the movies, right? One can only pray. Still, reality has a way of proving that it's more fiendish and bizarre than Hollywood could ever hope.

For months, school administrators for the Warren Township District wouldn't talk about what was rumored to have happened in a sixth grade class at the Raymond Park Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Now, they're finally admitting that two students got it on in full view of an "experienced teacher" and 10 student witnesses. Even worse? School officials told everyone to shut the hell up and pretend it never happened.

The teacher supposedly turned the students in the minute he realized what was happening. But, come on. Most classrooms aren't that large. Can you say "out of control class"? Whoops, too late - your students are already copulating!

Strollerderby : indiana

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Political Nanny: And Then There Were ... Crap! Still 3!

Indiana Teacher Suspended Over Pro-Gay Editorial

School Confirms Sixth Graders Had Sex in Class While Teacher Was (Supposedly) Teaching