Out in Left FieldOut in Left FieldWhere parenting and politics meet, but don't always play nice. 
Articles
Is Revenge the Same as Justice? Can a Vendetta Ever Be Justified?
2009-04-02 16:18:00 I’m just curious. Lemme tell you my story and then you decide. Check it. Three years ago, Husband had a job offer in Tampa, but took one in Colorado instead. The Colorado gig had more potential. So we paid for him to fly back and forth, dealt with separation issues, sold our house at a loss and moved our happy asses to Colorado. We found ourselves in a toxic environment from the beginning. Our closest friends out there had awful, horrible, nasty, disturbing shit to say about each other. Think Desperate Housewives/Dallas/Falcon Crest nonsense. I listened and… Kept everything to myself. Everything. I told no one and simply chalked it up to venting, nerves, stress, or the fact that a few of them were in a very bad place emotionally. I tried to calm, counsel, and suggest medication. When it appeared that things weren’t working out as promised, I did not blame anyone. Solution-based, I found a better job in Florida and moved our happy asses back home. Husband was able to get fl... More About: Justice , Revenge , Justified
Chapter 18
2009-04-02 14:35:00 A fictional reminder that sometimes killing is justified. More About: Chapter
Low Cost Health Insurance in Florida
2009-03-30 22:12:00 A guest column…for a change. It’s a state where more than 4 million people are uninsured, but yet there are hardly any takers for the new low-cost healthcare program in the state, the Cover Florida Health care Access Program. It’s hard to believe that of the millions who are uninsured, only 952 have signed up between January 5 when the program was launched, and Feb 29. Six health insurance providers are offering both preventive and catastrophic coverage under the authorization of the Agency for Healthcare Administration, the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Executive Office of the Governor across all 67 counties in the state. The monthly payments are as low as $41.64 and at an average of $155, but there are still very few takers for this program, and Governor Charlie Crist and his office are doing all they can to spread awareness and get more people to sign up. Almost anyone between the age of 19 and 64 who has been without medical cover for six months is eligible to... More About: Cost , Health Insurance
Let’s Leave the Pope and Prayer Out of It
2009-03-29 15:44:00 I am in Denver this weekend, soaking up the love of my niece and nephew and catching up on all things newsworthy. What’s up with the Pope ? Your favorite cross-dresser and mine was in Africa recently telling the AIDS-ravaged continent that condoms won’t really help prevent AIDS. Great. I expect such ramblings from the crazy nun down at the local church, but a world leader? If you listen closely, you can hear frustrated grumbles the world over from doctors and scientists who know better. Hey, Benedict, why not encourage people to smoke, forgo exercise, and stop washing their hands too? Ya douche. I love how religious leaders apply the same logic and reason they used to come to the conclusion that there is an all-powerful boogeyman in the sky who knows what we do with our naughty bits every night to also conclude that educated physicians don’t know shit. In related news, the Brady Center, whose work I admire and support, wants March 30th to be a National Day of ... More About: Prayer , Leave
Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients?
2009-03-28 14:49:00 I know I’ve been slacking here lately, but certain news stories are not escaping my attention. For example, Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Virginia Legislature, wants anyone applying for food stamps, unemployment compensation or any federal program to submit to mandatory drug tests. Similar laws have been introduced in Kansas, Hawaii, Missouri, Minnesota, and…wait for it…Florida. A person testing positive for drugs doesn’t get assistance from the state. Is this correct? Well, then, what happens to them? Drug addicts are a most pathetic group of people. They are suffering a severe health problem. They are punished with lost jobs, decaying teeth, premature death, alienation from friends and family. Now they are going to be further punished with no assistance? Why are we focused on punishment rather than concern and help? And who is going to pay for the added bureaucracy devoted to screening, testing, and evaluating these people? Drug addicts need re... More About: Tests , Welfare
I Get By With a Little Help From…You
2009-03-25 21:25:00 I’m a mouthy broad who’s always believed that happiness and success are self-bestowed. I still do. That’s why it’s sometimes hard for me to ask even close friends and family for anything that might make the load a bit lighter. Trying to be self-sufficient and all. But recently I’ve found that most people respond quite favorably when you ask them to go easy, focus on the positive, pump up the kindness and love. To paraphrase my wise friend Dalia - “You do what you can for someone you love.” Here I was, hesitating to be all transparent because I never want to come across as a complaining whiner. Turns out I worried for nothing, because my loved ones see with better eyes than that. I was finally honest and said: “Look, I’m going through a lot. Medical issues, demanding career, building a side business, single parenting…I say this not to complain, but to ask if you could help me get through it. I need some peace, harmony, love...
Today is the Day for Gainesville
2009-03-24 10:51:00 Voters will decide today whether to remove sexual orientation and gender identity from the Human Rights Ordinance. If you know someone who lives, works, or goes to school in Gainesville, please take a moment to forward this post. We are all connected and if something like this can happen in a progressive community like Gainesville, then we are all at risk. This is what Equality looks like - enjoy. More About: Today
Update on “Guns in Parks” Rule
2009-03-21 12:37:00 A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to block the Bush Administration’s last-minute rule change to allow loaded, concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Thanks to key documents that showed the Bush Administration ignored the warnings of senior career Department officials who said the rule change violated several laws - the judge said the government’s case was “astoundingly flawed.” Pretty much sums it up. More About: Guns , Update , Parks , Rule
I Know You Can’t Wait to Read My Book About Life in Colorado
2009-03-20 21:54:00 And believe me, it’ll be worth the wait. But right now I’ve got to take whatever free time I have (read: next to none) and get busy with rewrites about teaching in Tampa. Which leads me to contemplate a show I was listening to on WMNF several weeks back about writers. Apparently we exploit those around us. Do we? Is every artist a cannibal and every poet a thief? Do we really kill our inspirations and sing about grief? I don’t consider myself an artist or poet and I definitely don’t dig on human flesh. But the show seemed to indicate that if a writer is worth anything, he or she writes what he or she knows. That includes the people that he or she knows. Sometimes the result is funny and poignant; other times it’s scandalous or embarrassing. Is it fair? In other words, should friends and loved ones handle the fact that their writer friends write about shared experiences and try to find the joy in being immortalized forever in the pages of a story? Or i... More About: Life , Colorado , Book , Read , Wait
This is Why I Encourage Crazy Talk
2009-03-19 18:32:00 Because nonsense can be entertaining. Check out the comments about my vaccine/autism post over at The Political Whore. More About: Crazy , Talk
You Could Learn a Thing or Two from the Irish
2009-03-17 02:47:00 Muslims, African-Americans, poor people, homosexuals and other targets of discrimination - listen up. Here’s how you beat bigotry with some style. How many of you are familiar with the story of the Irish ? It ain’t about green beer (oh the horror), corned beef and cabbage. What is it about, you ask? What are we celebrating today? Check it. St. Patrick, ’tis himself, was a slave who managed to break free from bondage. Instead of forming a terrorist organization or right-wing talk show on WFLA, he devoted the rest of his life to ending slavery in all its forms. St. Patrick’s battles are similar to the battles his people took on after him and eventually overcame. Between 1641 and 1652, the English killed over half a million Irish and forced another 300,000 into slavery in order to take over the country. Oliver Cromwell’s army and band of thieves completed the occupation and yet, for three hundred years, Irish nationalism grew. It grows even today as the occupat... More About: Learn , Thing
Jackie Mason is a Cranky Jew
2009-03-15 22:51:00 In another installment of “Is this news?” - media reports say that Jackie Mason (read: who?) called President Obama a nasty word well-known in Jewish circles. I’m only running this post because I like Rev. Al Sharpton’s comment: “At this stage in Jackie’s life and career he should get our prayers more than our responses.” Stay classy, Jackie.
WMNF, True Talk, and Gaza - Fun Topics for Conversation
2009-03-14 15:12:00 “Is President Obama giving money to the people in Gaza who hate us and want to destroy Israel?” That’s the question posed to me by my nine year-old son. One of his friends at school told him this disturbing bit of news and so he came home and asked about it over dinner that night. What the f*ck? Isn’t he still supposed to be asking if Superman is real? I told him that there are people in Gaza who are hungry and sick. If we don’t help them, they will get help from bad people who will use that assistance as a way to get more support for doing bad things. If we do help victims in Gaza, maybe they will reject bad ideas from bad people. I told him we need more friends and fewer enemies in that part of the world. Speaking of friends and enemies, the following day I was in the car and turned on the radio to catch True Talk on WMNF. Host Ahmed Bedier uses this forum to discuss Muslim issues and events. For instance, a recent lobbying day in Tallahassee, called... More About: Topics , Conversation
A Public Service Announcement - Against Stupidity in All Its Forms
2009-03-11 16:59:00 There’s a teacher at my old school who’s spreading misinformation based on faulty science and fundamentalist nonsense. No, I’m not talking about Intelligent Design. What’s interesting is that this particular teacher would probably frown on such mindless stupidity. Yet she’s just as bad. She is telling students about the dangers of vaccinating babies and toddlers. “If you ever have children,” she tells her students, “don’t get them vaccinated. It could cause them to become autistic.” She then goes on to talk about her own stellar background as a single mom who decided she didn’t want “that” kind of child so she decided not to vaccinate her son. On some level, she should be allowed to raise her children in whatever manner she sees fit. What bothers me is that her little love child is putting my children and your children at risk. Thanks to the Bimbo Philosophy, as its come to be called based on the IQs... More About: Public Service , Public , Service , Announcement , Stupidity
Who would schedule FCAT the week after the time change and during a full mo
2009-03-11 13:55:00 Only Florida. h/t Beth More About: Change , Time , Schedule , Week , Full
I’ve Said it Before - I’m Not Domestically Inclined
2009-03-08 22:37:00 Even so, when my kids asked me to bake Hamentashen for Purim - what could I say? I got all the necessary ingredients together - sugar, baking powder, unbleached flour, organic filling, and a pomegranate martini. Must have for every kitchen. After going over the ground rules (”What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen” and “Hands off Mommy’s booze”) we were buzzing around like a foul-mouthed Rachael Ray surrounded by two children who will later be placed in military school. Well. Maybe I was the only one buzzing. Side Note: When kids say they’re going to help you, they are g*ddamn liars. It isn’t long before they lose interest and announce, “This was a bad idea, Mommy. Maybe the Publix bakery is a better plan.” But by that time, I was invested in this little project. I was *committed.* (Insert your own joke here.) Besides, the cookies started out good. But eventually spread open like Paris Hilton at an Oscar party. ...
I Get the Best Emails - Ongoing
2009-03-07 14:22:00 To: Catherine From: Paul Darby is once again making the news as she works to help find new treatments for breast cancer. To say that she is an inspiration to us all would be an understatement. More About: Emails
The Body Should Be Hot, Not Toxic
2009-03-06 21:50:00 . I’ve mentioned before the dangers of polluting our children with chemicals. That’s why I reject wrinkle-free and stain-resistant clothing, scotchguard, teflon, and any nonstick cookware. Well. I reject nonstick cookware mostly because I reject the idea of me standing over a hot stove. But I digress. I recently found out, thanks to this delightful little pageturner, that microwave popcorn is to be added to the list that just a few years ago only contained dead animals, partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. Ahh. The good old days. If you’re at the library, pick up The Body Toxic and learn a great deal about the ways in which chemicals are harming all of us. I bet your list will grow as well. More About: The Body
Creative Loafing’s “I Got a Brazilian For This?” Launch Party
2009-03-05 04:39:00 Never underestimate the lengths to which an overworked, overstressed mother of twins will go to get out of the house. Creative Loafing has a new website and I’m one of their contributing writers. They invited me to their launch party and I thought it’d be fun. That’s what I get for thinking. I put on my hot mama jeans, did my hair, and even applied some goddamn makeup. One of my favorite Republicans, Jim Johnson, said he’d meet me there so I stuck the boys with my mom for the evening and took off for South Tampa. Pulling up to the party, I immediately felt a sense of trepidation. No, it’s not because I had to circle the block a few times before finding a parking spot between two dumpsters and a guy named Wizard selling incense. It wasn’t because I then had to walk two blocks in high heels with only the half-lit street lamp lighting my way. It wasn’t even the Public Enemy song booming from the warehouse that passes for an office building. The trepidation came when I got... More About: Party , Launch , Brazilian
Urge the Florida Legislature to Lift the Veil of Ignorance and Cruelty - An
2009-03-04 15:49:00 Why should gay parents be allowed to adopt children? - All children deserve to have a real family. In many cases where foster children are concerned, their gay parents are the only parents they’ve ever known. Why is the government discriminating against these wonderful couples raising children who would otherwise have no one? - Banning based on sexual orientation is unconstitutional. This is a 30 year-old ban and most of the old farts who originally voted *for* it are now *against* it. - Every major child welfare organization is opposed to laws that ban gay people from adopting. Every. Single. One. - It is bad public policy to limit the number of potential adoptive parents by banning broad categories of people. Besides, your straight fat ass isn’t out there offering a stable and loving home to children who need it so why the f*ck are you against others who wish to do so? Urge the Florida Speaker of the House to schedule a hearing already.Representative Cretul hasn’... More About: Ignorance , Legislature , Cruelty , Lift
Ensign Amendment Could Give DC Residents the Vote and Armor-Piercing Sniper
2009-03-03 16:45:00 Senator John Ensign, R-Nevada, couldn’t get his constituents worked up about a bill to give DC residents a vote in the US House of Representatives until he added in a provision that would allow them to - cross state lines to buy handguns in neighboring states and repeal the district’s ban on military-style weapons, including sniper rifles that can pierce armor plating. It would lower from 21 to the federal limit of 18 the age when people can possess handguns and ease the district’s registration requirements. So not only do we credit Nevada for giving us prostitution and gambling, we can credit them for making the streets of DC a whole lot scarier. The Senate yesterday passed this reckless bit of of legislation. If you live in Florida, call Senator Nelson (202.224.5274) and thank him for voting against it. Then call Senator Martinez (202.224.3041), who voted for it, and express disappointment with his decision. Or you can simply tell him to suck it. Whichever you pr... More About: Amendment , Vote , Give , Armor , Sniper
Chapter 17
2009-03-02 21:08:00 For those of you who like killing and passion…with a twist of humor. More About: Chapter
A Silly Interview
2009-03-01 19:28:00 My Facebook friends are posting interviews with children and so here are my children’s answers. …the highlights, anyway. Interview with Oldest What is something mom always says to you? –Walking feet! What makes mom happy? - Love What makes mom sad? – Fighting, I suppose. What was your mom like as a child? – Tough. If your mom is on TV for something, what will it be for? – Causing trouble for some Republican who said something stupid. What is your mom not very good at? – Remembering tissues in the car. What does your mom do for her job? – She writes for people. What is your mom’s favorite food? – I’m pretty sure it’s Chinese food. What makes you proud of your mom? – That she’s my mom. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? – Lucy from Charlie Brown. How are you and your mom the same? – I would say she looks like me a little bit. Interview with Youngest What is something mom always says to you? – Hands to yourself. What ... More About: Silly
Are We Over the Octuplets Saga - Or Just Beginning?
2009-02-28 15:54:00 I’ve read all the arguments about Nadia Suleman’s story - welfare mom giving birth to eight children when she has six of her own back home - and the national outrage associated with it. Some of the arguments lead to other arguments. I’ve talked with women who have used IVF successfully and yet feel free to say that other women should be banned due to socio-economic factors. So I asked if Nadia Suleman should have used selective reduction, a medical procedure where a doctor reduces higher-order multiples to a more manageable number, usually two. Although. I’m here to tell you. Two ain’t always so manageable. But I digress. These IVF moms, who consider themselves pro-life, are quick to say that abortion, no matter how it’s phrased, should not be an option. At that point, such women get confused and then usually drop the subject. I’ve never used IVF. My twins happened by chance, or maybe God, if God exists, decided to have some fun by zapping... More About: Saga
Right Wing Whack Jobs
2009-02-23 23:28:00 Alexandra Pelosi’s new documentary Right America: Feeling Wronged is simultaneously frightening and funny. She talks to the kind of people who spend eight hours waiting in oppressive heat just to catch a glimpse of Sarah Palin. Then these same people ignorantly fantasize about eight years of even more oppressive heat. Check it. This kid reminds my of former students before they became my students. I know some of you will write to me that these people are the exception and not the rule. I disagree. Over 58 million of them voted against Barack Obama in November and this documentary represents their thinking in a brutally honest way. Plus I’ve seen pictures of the Florida State Fair. Who do *you* think is dipping bacon in chocolate? Speaking of brutally honest bacon…what’s up with Michele Bachmann? Is she an exception as well? More About: Jobs , Right Wing , Wing , Whack
Color Me Surprised
2009-02-22 21:50:00 Turns out, I have some views that even surprised me. I support Israel’s covert assassination program instead of war. Remind me to cry for Iran’s nuclear scientists some other time. Cameras at Dover aren’t such a great idea. There are better ways to honor our fallen soldiers. Moderate Muslims are clearly sometimes just as batshit crazy as their fundamentalist counterparts. Obviously. Senator Charlie Crist isn’t the worst case scenario. More About: Color
Abstinence-Only Funding Gets Slapped
2009-02-19 22:18:00 Governor Crist finally said he’ll review abstinence-only funding. “The weight of the evidence cannot be ignored, and it is time to answer tough questions about why we continue to waste millions of dollars a year on a policy that has failed to keep teens healthy and safe,” said Adrienne Kimmell, Healthy Teens Campaign member and executive director of the Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. “We encourage Governor Crist to take the next step and join the 25 governors who no longer accept federal abstinence-only funding.” Right now, Florida receives nearly $13 million for these failing programs. Failing. Between 1991 and 2004 there have been - more than 345,000 teen births in Florida , costing taxpayers a total of $8.1 billion. 23,804 births to teen mothers in 2004 alone. $489,158,000 in taxpayer cost for these births. “Abstinence -only programs waste taxpayer dollars in the short-term and long-term,” added Kimmell. “These programs have failed to b... More About: Funding
Senator Sobel Introduces Domestic Partnership Legislation
2009-02-19 02:49:00 The Senate’s version, SB 1642, will have a version in the House sponsored by Rep. Richard Steinberg. Many polls show 77% of Floridians favor benefits for unmarried couples, even at a time when a woman is suing a South Florida hospital for refusing to grant her access to her partner while she lay dying. This case proves that gay couples are especially vulnerable when there is no legal protections for their families. When passed, this bill will make sure that committed, unmarried couples in Florida have access to basic legal rights like visiting each other in the hospital. About. F*cking. Time. Let’s hear it for Eleanor Sobel and Richard Steinberg. Hmmm…I like those names. More About: Domestic , Legislation , Senator , Domestic Partnership
Let’s Play a New Game: Is This Racism?
More articles from this author:2009-02-19 00:13:00 Carol Carter, a Republican official from Hillsborough County, asked in a recent email: “How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn’t get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?” Is this racism? I like how another rightwing activist said this email doesn’t represent the Republican party. Really? Several Repubs I talked to said that they didn’t condone such an email but “it’s a good question.” Is this racism? The New York Post ran the following cartoon: Is this racism? Al Sharpton thinks it is. Discuss amongst yourselves. More About: Play , Racism , Game 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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