August 2008 Archives

Whoa, how long has it been since I did one of these?

Here's your earworm: Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray by the incredible Patsy Cline

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Sherry at A Feather Adrift has an excellent round-up of all the issues surrounding Sarah Palin. It's worth a read... and a re-read.

Another great column about the selection was written by Missouri's own Jolie Justus on her Freshmeat blog. (She also has several posts from the convention in Denver.)

And, if you haven't had enough, head over to Pop Politics for another great article by Bernie Heidkamp.

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There has been a ton of reaction to the news that Iowa blogger Kyle Payne was sentenced to 6 months in jail and a lengthy probationary period. (Payne has put a new post on his blog -- a listing of his contact information while he's a special guest at the county jail.) Here's a quick list of blogs with discussion that will, no doubt, lead to more links to reactions:

• Hoyden About Town
• The Curvature
• The Partial Muse
• Renegade Evolution
• uncool
• Feministe
• Modern Mitzvot
• Natalia Antonova
• feminisn't

After finishing up the news report from the sentencing, I wrote a post with my reflections after attending the hearing.

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The First Lady's Conference on Solutions to Poverty, originally scheduled for June but postponed due to flooding, is not slated for Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. There is a $25 registration fee that includes lunch.

Although former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was booked as the keynote speaker at the conference, he is no longer scheduled to be in attendance. Kevin Walker, president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Area Foundation will provide the keynote address.

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The California Supreme Court refused to hear a case involving the surviving members of the rock band The Doors. This leaves members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger obligated to pay more than $5 million to drummer John Densmore and the estate of Jim Morrison for touring in 2003 under the name of "The Doors of the 21st Century" and imagery associated with the group.

The decision, at least in part, goes back to an agreement signed by the band members in 1970 that stated they would all, including Morrison, have to unanimously agree to any possible business deals. Fans will remember that this deal was reached after an exceptionally heated dispute involving the use of the song "Light My Fire" in a Buick television advertisement. At that time Morrison alone refused to allow the band's music to be used for commercial purposes and the car ad was never made. Densmore has carried on Morrison's "no ad" tradition by refusing a $15 million deal from Cadillac and another deal with Apple (iPod).

The touring band members have since begun calling themselves "Riders on the Storm" and continue to play hits from The Doors. It is estimated the touring members netted $8 million during the tour that started the lawsuit.

I wonder what Jim Morrison -- whom I adore -- would have said about all of this had he been alive today?

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Via Bookslut, a Maine woman has decided she'd rather go to jail than return a library book. Unfortunately, it isn't because she loves the book. She does, in fact, believe the book to be "dangerous" to children.

JoAn Karkos, 64, was told by a judge to fork over her borrowed copy of "It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health." Karkos says the book violates the city's obscenity ordinance and calls her refusal to return it an act of "civil disobedience."

The woman borrowed the book last summer, then sent a letter to the library director stating her intentions to keep it. She did enclose a check to cover the cost of the book, which was returned to her. She was the channel she should take if she wished to file a complaint about the book.

Once the story of Karkos' objections were picked up by local media, the library received eight new copies of the sexual education text from people throughout the nation.

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In honor of the 3rd anniversary of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, click over to Operation Eden and read some of the stories that have been posted by Clayton Cubitt. The glimpses he provides into the people of the area will both inspire and sadden you.

Since I posted the information distributed by the John McCain campaign that contained quotations from women who support the selection, I thought it would be good to also post some other women's reactions.

Dr. Andrea McGuire, former candidate for lieutenant governor:

Hillary Clinton's Iowa co-chair, Dr. Andrea McGuire didn't know who Palin was, but she wasn't alone. Though she's on board with Barack Obama, McGuire's curiosity had her "Googling" like a Republican.

"I applaud them for increasing the amount of women running for vice president, but that's about all I can do," McGuire said.

McGuire says her excitement faded when she realized Palin holds the same values as John McCain. ...

"It's great that she's a lot like me. Has a kid and is a mom and wife, but that's not who we vote for when we vote for president and vice president. We vote for the person who'll do the best for the country," McGuire said.

Quotes courtesy WHO-TV via MSNBC. McGuire supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the Iowa caucus.

Kim Gandy, chair of the National Organization for Women's PAC:

"Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest...

"What McCain does not understand is that women supported Hillary Clinton not just because she was a woman, but because she was a champion on their issues. They will surely not find Sarah Palin to be an advocate for women.

"Finally, as the chair of NOW's Political Action Committee, I am frequently asked whether NOW supports women candidates just because they are women. This gives me an opportunity to once again answer that question with an emphatic 'No.' We recognize the importance of having women's rights supporters at every level but, like Sarah Palin, not every woman supports women's rights."

Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List:

"How ironic that, on his 72nd birthday, McCain has raised the question of whether his running mate is prepared to be Commander in Chief and lead the country. Governor Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe V. Wade, they both want to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush administration and they both offer more of the same that has led this country down the wrong path. McCain clearly sees the power of women voters in this election but has just as clearly failed to support any of the issues that they care about. His choice for vice president only reinforces that failure."

The following three statements from Iowa Republican women were distributed by Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign in conjunction with the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Mary Kramer, former ambassador to Barbados and the eastern Caribbean and former president of the Iowa Senate:

"Governor Palin has always answered the call to serve, and done so for the right reasons. She has demonstrated executive leadership in every office she's held and actually has a record of getting results to back it up."

Sandy Greiner, retiring member of the Iowa House of Representatives:

"Women who have been in politics a lot longer than I were fixed to televisions and moved to tears upon seeing that Governor Palin had been chosen to be our vice presidential nominee. The excitement here is incredible and it is because her selection signifies real change for the Republican Party and for the United States."

Carmine Boal, retiring member of the Iowa House of Representatives:

"Governor Palin is known as a maverick in her own right and is a perfect fit to help lead the real campaign for change in Washington. In her home state of Alaska, she has battled corruption, stood up to lobbyists, even turned away pork spending from Congress. Governor Palin is the best choice to help Senator McCain fight the same old politics that have divided our nation."

During the Iowa caucuses, Boal supported Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee while Greiner supported former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. I'm not sure if Kramer made an endorsement during the caucuses.

Several weeks ago I wrote a news article detailing the misconduct of people associated with 5W Public Relations, a firm that had been hired by Agriprocessors to deal with public sentiment following the May 12 immigration action at their kosher meatpacking plant in Postville. The public relations firm, during in the course of representing their client, used the name of Rabbi Morris Allen without permission on several blogs.

"What's ironic is that [Agriprocessors] is currently being investigated, and there are two plant supervisors sitting in jail for encouraging people to use false identities," Allen said. "Now the Agriprocessors' PR firm believes it is acceptable to just take someone else's identity and run with it. It is outrageous to say the least."

While preparing that story, I discovered and documented evidence of a 5W employee posting on this blog and impersonating a grassroots Jewish social justice movement known as Uri L'Tzedek. The misconduct by the public relations firm here and elsewhere was subsequently highlighted by trade magazine PR Week.

This morning I received a brief statement from 5W via e-mail, which I believe is supposed to be taken as an apology for the firm's misconduct:

We understand that you have received the attached unauthorized internet, email, or blog communications designed to appear as if they were sent by Rabbi Morris Allen and Hekhsher Tzedek. Neither Rabbi Morris Allen or Hekhsher Tzedek authorized or sent these comments. Rather, an individual at 5W Public Relations posted these communications without Rabbi Allen or Hekhsher Tzedek's authorization or approval. We apologize for any damage this may have caused

Editor's note: There were no attachments included in the e-mail message.

The last time I spoke with the U.S. Attorney's Office I was told that identity theft carried a maximum penalty of two years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. But, I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with four e-mailed sentences.

Actually, I'm not sure if I'm more ticked off about the tone of the "apology" or the fact that the salutation, written to me as administrator of a blog called Essential Estrogen, is "gentlemen."

For the past 18 months the nation has had opportunity to discuss and confront a myriad of issues: Infrastructure deficiencies, the Iraq war, treatment of veterans, energy independence, government corruption, the continued conflict in Afghanistan, education, the national deficit, immigration, health care and, yes, even society's perception of race and gender. Conversations on these topics, however vital they may be to the nation, do not easily lend themselves to the marketing jargon and quick quips that have become the hallmarks of today's Republican Party.

It should come as no surprise then, when even the most staunch within the GOP are finding it difficult to be inspired by the party's candidate for our nation's highest office, that Arizona Sen. John McCain would reach out and tap an individual with a personal story loud enough to drown out the collapse of interstate bridges.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a former beauty queen, sports journalist, city councilor and mayor, is the mother of five children. She has three daughters: Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, and Piper, 7. She also has two sons. Her eldest son, Track, joined the Army last fall. Her youngest son, Trig, was born this past April and has Down Syndrome.

As Iowans saw when Rep. Janet Petersen took time off this spring to give birth to her son, conservatives aren't always tickled when a female public servant takes time away from her duties to give birth. In Palin's case, however, there was a reason to celebrate the otherwise termed "dereliction of duty." While speaking with Michael Baggot of LifeSiteNews.com, Palin described her newborn as a "gift."

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

I've no doubt she and her entire family have been and will be blessed by their new member. I've also no doubt that her choice to carry this child to term played heavily in the vice-presidential selection process -- something that saddens me and should sadden us all.

Standing alone McCain had little hope of winning the emotional support and excitement of social conservatives. Standing with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, McCain's own short-comings would have been highlighted. While Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty definitely brought a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket, but he, like McCain, lacked the ability to pull the heart strings of social conservatives and make them want to support McCain. Palin, as a woman with a compelling personal story, can provide McCain what no other individual could. Even at the cost of lowering the national conversation once again into divisive politics... even while publicly proclaiming his desire for armed conflict to continue for 100 years... McCain has gladly and gleefully grasped Palin's "pro-life" credentials as a last resort to motivate the previous supporters of Pres. George W. Bush to head to the polls in November.

Looking past November and at Palin's record in relation to government corruption, however, it's difficult to know the role she will play if she and McCain meet with success in the general election. In many ways, she is the true maverick, having bucked Alaska GOP leaders to take on incumbent and fellow Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski in a heated primary. Then rising above the monetary to defeat former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the general election to become not only Alaska's first female governor, but the youngest governor in the state's history.

She has built her administration on the foundation of old-time GOP values such as fiscal responsibility and limited government. While Republicans in the beltway have dived further under the covers with their big oil partners, her administration is noted for seeking independence from such interests. While Republicans in the beltway are linked to lobbyists like Jack Abramoff, Palin sold a jet purchased on a state government credit account on eBay for $2.7 million.

Although she is currently embroiled in a legislative probe as to whether she abused the power of her gubernatorial office -- a probe not expected to be completed until after the November general election, it's worth noting that McCain, in his lust to entice social conservatives, may have neglected to consider the ramifications of bringing someone so well known for unearthing government corruption into a White House so recently vacated by the Bush administration.

This article is also cross-posted on Iowa Independent.

There is a new assault on birth control and reproductive health care freedom. Unsurprisingly, it comes at the hands of the Bush administration via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The federal agency has proposed regulations that could seriously undermine access to basic reproductive health services, including birth control. Within this new regulation, patients' rights and individual health care needs have been given a back seat to religious belief -- even when such beliefs are not based in medical fact. What's worse is that the proposed regulations will not come before Congress for approval. The regulation is, however, subject to public comment.

If you believe -- as Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and nearly all of our federally elected officials believe -- that this proposed regulation is wrong and will compromise the health of women throughout the nation, consider sending your comments during this period.

I have a theory about people who habitually lie. I think they do so because they like the attention. Because of that, I've not wasted a lot of time on this blog upping the Google stats for those who are willing to distort the truth to advance their own media standings.

That being said, I find myself sickened by the blatant lies uttered Bill O'Reilly on his radio show this week.

There are so many points to be made here that I'm not exactly sure where to start. First, Media Matters has already recapped the lies about no abortion laws prohibiting terminating a pregnancy in cases of incest or rape. So, I'm going to concentrate on his assertion that there is never need for a late term abortion.

...partial-birth abortion is never necessary with all the technology they have now -- never necessary.

One of the things necessary for a public debate is for all affected parties to both understand and agree to the language used. The term "partial-birth abortion" didn't exist before a Republican in Congress and his staff made it up. That is, it's a political term, not a medical one. It is used to create an emotional response to a specific and extremely rare medical procedure known as D&X or (intact) dilation and extraction or intrauterine cranial decompression.

Due to O'Reilly's choice of phrases, I'm not exactly sure what he believes is "never necessary." If he is saying that there are other medical options to a D&X procedure, then I will agree. As the U.S. Supreme Court outlined in its decision, there are other procedures that can be done -- procedures known to place the woman at higher risk. So, if O'Reilly is speaking about this particular procedure, he is toting the same line as other pundits and politicians who have supported this particular ban: This isn't about reducing the number of late term abortions, this is about making them more dangerous for the women who seek them. In addition, this isn't about banning doctors from performing abortions, but creating laws with such vague language that doctors who do so potentially open themselves up to litigation and loss of insurance.

Given the subject and context of the quote, however, I think O'Reilly was making a statement in relation to late term abortion. As readers on this blog already know, this is a subject to which I have personal experience.

I take personal offense with those who, like O'Reilly, make an assertion that only women who "have foot pain" or "a migraine" opt for a late term abortion. I've yet to meet a woman who decided in the few weeks before her due date that she just no longer wanted to be pregnant. Every woman I've ever met who had a late term abortion did so after agonizing over the decision. In 99 percent of those cases, terminating the pregnancy was done due to severe defects that either would have ended the child's life or had massive impacts on the child's life. Further, each and every one of the women I know -- including myself -- who have had late term abortions did so while under a physician's care and while following that physician's advice.

Many of those who have co-opted the "pro-life" label like to pin it to their shirt and prance around as if they are a moral authority on all things. Some even host radio shows and spout off personal opinion as fact without regard for the damage they inflict on others. Above all else, they like to tell women like me -- women who have opted to terminate a pregnancy after finding out the child they carried had terminal defects -- that we shouldn't be playing God.

The truth is, I'd really like to live in a world where abortion didn't exist. I'd like to live in world where women aren't raped. I'd like to live in a world where children aren't molested and subject to incest. I'd like to live in a world that boasts birth control that this 100 percent effective. I'd like to live in a world where there are no neural tube defects.

Unfortunately, I live in the real world. Maybe one day Bill O'Reilly will join me.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a person that tends to draw strong emotions from other people. While I realize I'm painting with a wide brush (something I find to be a rather scary practice), the sense I have from 18 months of election commotion is that people tend to have warm feelings toward the former first lady or they tend to view her with skepticism. I don't believe, however, that these personal perceptions of the woman will be the subject of discourse in 20 or 30 years.

While the discussions about the Clinton campaign ranging from the leaked memo about skipping the Iowa caucuses to the possible stumbles heading into to Super Tuesday will no doubt go on for a few years, the historical and more lofty conversation will one day turn to the incredible contributions Clinton has made to all women who aspire to hold public office. For the first time in our nation's history, we all had to look within ourselves and decide what we thought about a woman leading the entire nation. Obviously, we all had our own thoughts and our own perceptions of what that would mean to the country, to the military, to policy and to all of us as individuals.

It was this public conversation -- which often landed firmly in the gutter -- that will remain of historical significance. For instance, whether in public or behind closed doors we were all forced to decide if we believed any ambitious woman to automatically deserve the title of "bitch." We had to decide if people of high ambition had "balls" or "guts." We had to look emotion in the face and decide if it was a trait of gender or of mankind.

As a resident of the first state who had opportunity to offer media coverage of the presidential hopefuls, I was proud to report that most Iowa media outlets played fair and kept themselves in check when it came to balancing sexist language that is so ingrained in our society. I honestly believe most media outlets did their best to present the candidates as candidates on equal footing ... despite being confronted by a campaign that seemed to want to simultaneously revel in and push away from gender.

There were, however, several journalists and pundits who drifted from the shores of good taste. Most, I'm sad to report, are habitual offenders. The National Organization for Women has a Wall of Shame devoted to those in the media who resorted to name calling, violence and stereotypical generalizations based on gender. I encourage you all to go look, read and learn.

When Clinton made her first trip into Iowa to kick off her presidential campaign, the events were marketed as "conversations." Ironically, I think history will take note. Without Clinton's campaign and without her larger-than-life presence on the political landscape, I doubt we would be having the conversations we now tackle as a nation. Without Clinton's dip into the turbulent and often cold waters of national politics, we wouldn't be as far as we are today in deciding what true gender equity means and looks like.

Thank you, Sen. Clinton.

There have been very few instances in my life as a reporter in which a courtroom was a happy place. Even when a sentence is justified, I often find myself sympathizing with the family of the offender and lamenting a life that has, for all practical purposes, ended or been severely wounded. As such, I was not completely sure how I would personally react to whatever sentence was handed down Monday in the Kyle Payne case.

For those who haven't already read the article I filed on the sentence (six months in county jail and extended supervision afterward), now might be a good time.

I knew quite a bit about the case before I ever entered the courtroom. I knew the name of the young woman Payne had exploited, but I didn't know her face -- or the faces of her family -- until Monday.

I'd seen Payne's face and heard his voice through the videos he posted on his blog, but Monday was the first time I had opportunity to look directly upon him without the aid of technology. For whatever reason, I expected him to be taller than he actually was. Maybe it was that I wanted him to be imposing or to look more like a threat so that I could dislike him more.

One thing I didn't know was that the defense had stipulated to the fact that Payne had videotaped himself masturbating in public buildings. Even when I heard this mentioned as a part of the sentencing hearing, I thought maybe I misunderstood. I had to double-check with the court before I believed my ears. I'm still not sure what to make of it except to view it as one more example of a person out of control and unable to confine himself to the basics of proper behavior.

Courtroom action isn't nearly as exciting in person as it can be in novels, films and television shows. During the times when the court went about its business -- for instance, the judge going over the charges -- I found myself watching the light gleam off Payne's bald head and wondering why he shaved it. One of the first pictures I saw of him was that of a shaggy looking young man. The next time I saw a photo or video, his hair had been cut. The picture used in this posting was taken from one of his latest videos and its easy to see how short his hair was.

While the change in hairstyles could be a simple result of the change of seasons, I couldn't help but think about the women who, after suffering from an assault or incidents of domestic violence, pull out their own hair and eyebrows. From there my thoughts drifted to the primarily young women who take up the practice of cutting themselves. Is it possible that Payne could be that self-loathing? You wouldn't know it from reading his blog or watching his videos.

Payne, who wore a dark suit, kept his back to the audience nearly throughout the proceedings. Even when questioned by his attorney, he rarely turned his head so that his profile could be seen, but instead leaned to the right and let his attorney speak quietly into his ear. Payne would then answer, often with a gesture of his hand, without turning his head.

I had not expected the victim and her family to be in the courtroom, much less offer impact statements. Although I know it was a difficult day for them, I'm glad they decided to come because I was worried it might turn out to be something they'd regret at a later date if they had not done all they could to bring the matter to a close.

Both the young woman and her mother spoke from their hearts. They made it clear to the court with both their words and their emotions that this incident was not a minor offense to them. The young woman, in particular, said what many who learned of the case thought: "How do we know exactly what he did while the woman was unconscious?" We don't. We probably never will. Only Payne can say what did and didn't happen and, frankly, I'm not inclined to believe him.

That's not to say that I believe he cried crocodile tears in the courtroom when he offered his brief apology. The tears and the emotion behind them were real. He was very sorry that he'd been caught. He was very sorry that he had been convicted. He was very sorry that now he would likely spend time in jail. He was very sorry that his life would be forever changed because of these things. In short, he was feeling very sorry for himself and the position he was in. After reading his posts, watching his videos and observing him in court, I've yet to see one instance of remorse for his actions in relation to the young woman he exploited. Even as he stood before the judge, he still acted as if he believed himself to be a victim carrying more wounds than the young woman at the neighboring table.

Some have questioned my interest in the case. It's been said that if Payne hadn't been a blogger, I probably wouldn't have continued to follow the story. Likewise, it's been said that if he hadn't considered himself a feminist and an advocate for women that I wouldn't have been as interested in the case. Well, I can't deny the fact that I was drawn to the story because of the unusual circumstances that surrounded it. It's also important to note that because Payne wore these hats -- male feminist, advocate for women, anti-pornography champion and dormitory resident adviser -- his crime was all the more horrible.

People in positions of power, people who have intimate knowledge of how scarring sexual assault can be, people who advocate against something with passion are, rightfully, held to a higher level of conduct than people who do not have those abilities and attributes. The defense attorney argued that the judge couldn't factor his client's hypocrisy into the sentence. I would argue that it was Payne's hypocrisy and his willingness to use a position of power that made the crime even more horrible.

Despite Payne's claim of immediately regretting and being baffled by the fact that he secretly undressed and photographed a co-ed in his care, police records don't discuss pulling the images in question from his digital camera. The images were taken from his computer. So, Payne was so distraught about what he'd done that he left the room with the pictures still on his digital camera, traveled back to his own room and proceeded to download them onto his hard drive?

In my opinion, he not only knew exactly what he was doing with the images, but he knew exactly what type of scars he had already left on the young woman in her dorm room. Because he had served as a volunteer for women in crisis -- women who had been exploited, hurt, molested and raped -- Payne knew what type of emotional damage his photo shoot would leave behind. He simply didn't care... or, more likely, cared more about himself and his immediate gratification than on the long term implications of his actions.

I walked into the courtroom expecting to have some feeling of empathy toward Payne. While I did feel for his family and the loss they were suffering, my heart did not soften toward the young, bald man in the dark suit. I left feeling like I would probably see Kyle Payne again... most likely in another courtroom.

The announcement of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as the Democratic pick for vice president has left Essential Estrogen's site counter in a tizzy. In order to help keep server load down (and pages loading quickly for everyone), I'm putting together this round-up of my coverage of the Senator and his family from the Iowa caucus season.

The piece that seems to be garnering the most attention is the interview I had with Jill Biden in November 2007 while she was campaigning in Iowa for her husband. As a part of that same "family" series, I also interviewed Hunter Biden, the youngest of the two sons. These two interviews were at the top of my thoughts when the announcement was made that Biden would be the veep pick. I must admit that I'm finding it nearly surreal that I've sat around and discussed women's issues and my Girl Scout troop with the woman who could very well be in a position to help shape policy.

Speaking of policy, I have a series of videos from a Black Hawk County event where Biden and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd discuss the following issues:

• global warming
• minority disparities
• Medicare reimbursement
• economic security
• health care
• Iraq

Note: these videos aren't the best visual quality, but the audio is clear.

Two of the most interesting people I met during the 2008 caucus season came to Iowa in order to campaign on Biden's behalf. You might find it interesting to read what a South Carolina legislator (Fletcher Smith) and a veteran's wife from Texas (Carissa Picard) found so compelling about the Senator from Delaware.

If you are seeking footage from early in the caucus season, I have three videos from May 2007 that feature Biden's speech before the Linn County Democrats. (Actually my earliest coverage of Biden dates back to the summer of 2006 and, as such, pre-dates the blog. There is, however, a short video clip on YouTube.) There is also a formal write-up from the Linn County event in May -- that contains Biden's thoughts on women.

There's more Biden coverage from a breakfast meeting in July, a corn boil near the Mississippi River, and an evening house party in August.

One of my favorite Biden events was one that was held in Waverly last November. (Some may have seen this event on CSPAN -- it was the one where, toward the end, he had an especially touching conversation with a veteran.) While Biden always seems to pull energy from the people around him, there were special sparks in the air that night. He spoke forcefully and honestly, often leaving those in the audience in thoughtful repose as they contemplated his remarks.

It was at that event that he told Iowans the difference between his first and second bids for the White House -- "This time, it's okay to lose."

There is little doubt that between now and the general election every pundit on the boob tube will be discussing Biden's strengths and what they think he adds and diminishes on the Democratic ticket. So, instead of giving you my thoughts on the political, I thought you might enjoy some personal observations.

I've met very few men who can actually pull off charming while maintaining strong masculinity. Joe Biden is one of those men. When he speaks to you, he often makes a point of leaning or stepping in, effectively invading your personal space. But instead of this movement being weird or uncomfortable, it contains a hint of conspiracy -- as if he's sharing something incredibly important with you.

Biden is a showman and a statesman. That is, he is as comfortable visiting with a bunch of blue-collar workers and rural farmers as he is with heads of state. I've watched him bypass local politicians and celebrities in order to visit with an old friend he has spotted in the "hand shake" line following events. After months and months of being introduced at events by this county chair or that local politician, Biden didn't tire and didn't seem to grow bored with the process. He actually listened to the introductions, made comments during their delivery and interacted with others on and near the stage. After watching him interact with staff, other politicians, opposing candidates, his family and other everyday folks on the campaign trail, it is easy to see that he truly enjoys people.

I was at a Biden house party the night before I was scheduled to interview his youngest son, Hunter. Biden, who always likes to stay as long as possible and talk with those attending, was being whisked down the sidewalk and toward the car by his weary staff. I'd been hanging back, intending to approach him as he walked to the car to see if there was something he thought I should ask his son. I saw my opportunity slipping away... probably already gone... so I raised my voice and asked, "Senator Biden, what do you think I should ask Hunter when I interview him tomorrow."

Biden didn't stop walking, but seemed to spin in mid-step so that he was suddenly facing and walking toward me. He sported a wide grin -- a facial expression in direct contrast with those of his tired staff, who realized their escape attempt had been botched and soft beds would have to wait a few minutes longer -- as he brought his frame into my comfort zone. "Robert Hunter?" he asked and, once I confirmed, he told me a family story that I could use to jump-start the interview.

Watching Biden as he discussed his son and seeing the absolute love and affection in his eyes was ... well, I don't really know how to describe it. It's just very good to know that the people we send to Washington to develop policy for all of us have that depth of compassion and affection within them.

While I have my doubts that even the well-oiled and message-centered Obama campaign will be able to manage the energy that is Joe Biden, I have none about the type of vice president Biden will be. I've not always been in sync with the Democratic nominee or his staff, but this was a good decision. In my opinion, Biden is one of only two men who had the credentials and the heart for the job.

Update - the Cleveland paper has removed the report of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones' death. The new post reads: "Tubbs Jones in critical condition at Huron Hospital." While things remain bleak, it seems the report of the Congresswoman's death was unfounded.

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U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first African-American woman elected to represent Ohio, has died today after suffering a brain aneurysm, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

She died only a few minutes after being removed from life support at Huron Road Hospital.

I'm devastated by the news and am sending my deepest condolences to her family and friends.

I'm a firm believer that every so often life steps up, looks you in the eye and slaps you silly.

If you turn the clock back two to four years and peeked into the window of my life, things would look quite a bit different than they do today. I wasn't a happy person back then. The motions were completed -- dressed the kids, went to family events, mopped the floors, cooked dinners, volunteered, worked -- but nothing really clicked. It was as if I was out of sync with everything and everyone around me.

I went through a bout of depression that was not only horrible, but was so severe that I have a difficult time believing that it was something that happened to me. The only way I know how to describe it was as if someone had put me under a thick, black blanket. I was removed from everything and couldn't connect with happiness anymore than I could connect with anger.

As I was climbing out from under the blanket, I met several insightful and beautiful women. It was through their continued encouragement that I became politically active and began to regularly visit the world of the living. It was because of their constant prodding and their want for me to be able to making a living by doing what made me happy, that I began to make little changes that grew. One of those "little changes" was the launch of this blog.

Two friends and I -- all three of us Iowans who had initially met online -- plotted and schemed for months before Essential Estrogen was born. Within a few months after we began, one of us decided that the potential ramifications of being a woman blogger was not something she could accept. Paige and I continued plugging away as a team for awhile after that, but it soon became clear that there were other aspects of Paige's life that were (rightfully) more important than posting here. I would be lying if I were to say that the absence of my friends wasn't disappointing and, on some level, taken as a personal slight.

The three of us were able to get together recently, and although I'm still trying to completely process our conversation, there are some decisions that I'd like to share.

The bottom line is that my friends never intended to be longterm partners in this blog. Realizing that it would take me years to launch the blog on my own... if I ever gathered the courage to do it... they played along. In short, it was a selfless act on their part to give me something they knew I'd love -- long before I had ever realized myself how much I wanted or needed it.

Very few people know... well, I guess very few people knew until I wrote this that I worked my way through the depression and the grief following my pregnancy losses by writing. There are hundreds of short stories, poems, essays and even a novel that I wrote purely as mental therapy. After all, when the medical community can't give you reasons as to why a child has died, sometimes the only resolution is to make your own reality. I know it sounds crazy, but it did help.

The reason very few people know is because they weren't written for public consumption. I can count on my fingers how many people have read these raw and often gut-wrenching writings. For instance, one poem deals with the reality of that first winter after our son died. Night after night I had to fight off the urge to drive the cemetery and dig up his grave. A good mother wouldn't leave her child out in the cold, would she? In any event, the women who began this blog with me have read them all. They understood something that I didn't and found a confidence in my ability that I still can't quite grasp.

"When faced with the worst and best of life, people turn to their passion," Paige explained. "When you are happy -- you write. When you are sad -- you write. I bet that when you walk through the effin' grocery store you're writing in your head. You write, Lyn. That's what you do and it's what you have to do if you want to be happy."

It was nearly two years ago that we first began discussing the possibility of this blog. The site and writing about politics wasn't my idea and if either of my friends had said that to me then I would have laughed at her. This is not to say that I haven't known for a long time that I'm a good writer. Although this will sound over-confident and pompous, the truth is that I know I'm a good writer. I just never really thought of it as a "passion." To be honest, I figured my writing talents had been honed because I read every thing that passes by my eyes and because I was compensating for being such a horrible speaker.

My friends are right on more levels than they could guess. That is, I'm ashamed to admit that I have been known to go about mindless daily tasks like grocery shopping while working on a story in my head. I listen to books on tape/CD during long car drives not only because I enjoy them, but because my mind tends to wander too much if it doesn't have something of substance on which to concentrate. I'm not sure if writing is my life's passion or not, but I'm convinced that it isn't a casual fling. Which brings us to the second big topic of conversation between my friends and me.

"We are afraid that if you don't start writing -- really writing -- that you are going to fall back into the trap you were in before this started."

It's a valid concern and one that I've been chewing on for several weeks now. The bulk of what I've been writing lately is news, and it's true that such pieces don't typically get the creative juices flowing. Most don't require a muse, but tend to be built on more tried and true journalistic formulas.

By that same token, I've encountered few things that can compare with the rush of discovering a previously unreported piece of information. There is a real pleasure associated with writing a good news story -- getting the facts right, pulling thoughts from the community on the subject and then presenting it without personal opinion to readers. It's a little like finding a great recipe then getting to watch the faces of your friends and family as they consume the dish. It's nurturing. More than that, it is just good, fulfilling work -- something that has me excited to get up in the morning and start the day. You just never know what you might learn and be able to share with others from one day to the next.

But while I've pursued something that has brought me pleasure (not to mention a paycheck), I have neglected this blog and its supposed focus on women and politics. That has to change. So, in the coming months, this blog will be returning to its roots -- and the timing is good for such a change.

Iowa Independent has gone through some behind-the-scenes work flow changes that make it much more challenging to cross-post news items on both sites. I've already begun to limit the number of posts that are going up on both sites and this will continue to decrease. I anticipate that only items that deal directly with women in politics or the impact of politics on women and families will continue to be cross-posted here. In addition, readers will begin to find new, original content here that is not intended to be cross-posted elsewhere.

And, because I know Paige and Dee have been waiting to read/hear this, I've decided to schedule time for pure fiction writing each week -- the results of which may or may not be posted here. Who knows, I might enter a contest or write a book that I actually want other people to read. Whatever comes my way, I know that I'm going to be alright -- I have two incredible friends who are going to make sure of it. (Love you both.)

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver today voiced his displeasure with President George W. Bush's proposed rule change that would redefine birth control as abortion.

"Redefining certain forms of birth control as abortion is an unreasonable interpretation of basic contraception and family planning," Culver said. "Over 98 percent of all American women will use contraceptives at some point in their lives. Assuring access to safe, affordable and reliable forms of family planning is sound public policy."

In a letter sent Aug. 6 to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt Culver called for a block of the proposed Bush Administration rule change.

... Thirty-four states, including Iowa, have enacted laws and policies that would be jeopardized due to the proposed definitional change. These state-based legal protections ensure women's access to: birth control, including contraceptive equity in insurance, emergency contraception for sexual assault victims in the emergency room, and birth control at the pharmacy.

As Governor of the State of Iowa, I am very concerned with the federal government's efforts to impose upon our state's rights. This attempt at overturning legitimately-enacted laws focused on increasing access to basic health care and family planning is wrong. I strongly urge you not to proceed with this rule change and to prevent its formal introduction.

Iowa is among 27 states that have laws or policies that require insurance providers that cover prescriptions to provide coverage of the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices.

The proposed regulation change defines abortion as "any of the various procedures -- including prescription, dispensing, and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action -- that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation." The definition could be interpreted to sweep in birth control, including emergency contraception, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and other forms of hormonal contraceptives. This expanded definition is to be applied based on the providers' beliefs and could allow any provider who wants to deny women birth control pills to claim protection based on a personal belief that such pills fit the regulatory definition of abortion. Up to 34 states, including Iowa, would be subject to changes in existing law.

Culver joins a growing coalition of Iowa elected officials who are opposed to this new rule. Federal office holders Tom Harkin, Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack, all Democrats, have all voiced their opposition to the proposed rule change based on the impact it could create for women in Iowa and across the nation.

"Without consulting doctors or relying on sound science, the Bush Administration is deciding to change the definition of birth control for all Americans," said Jill June, chief executive officer and president of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. "It's ludicrous, and people in Iowa and across the country will not buy it."

"You see, that's the problem," said Ed when he stopped mowing long enough to accept a bottle of cold water. "Everything has changed. What's the world coming to when a man can't even tend his yard without a reporter asking him why he's doing it?"

Ed, who asked that his last name not be used, is one of thousands of residents who had a home or business within the more than nine square miles of Cedar Rapids that was directly impacted by the June floods. Like so many of his neighbors, family and friends, he is stuck in a waiting game.

"No one knows what the city is going to do," he said. "I can't get a straight answer from our insurance company, and the federal programs seem to be linked [to what the insurance companies decide]. We've done what we can -- got our stuff that wasn't ruined out and tried to gut the worst of the damage. Now we wait and see if we have something that we're going to be able to save."

It's been eight weeks since the Cedar River reached a record-breaking 31.2 feet in Cedar Rapids. And, while progress has definitely been made and is continuing to be made in the recovery effort, mental health providers are preparing for different type of crest.

"We are still at the point where we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg," said Cindy Kaestner, executive director of Abbe Center for Community Mental Health. "There are beginning to be increased calls from some of the service providers, but its still too early to even get a handle on what we think volume is going to be."

From speaking with mental health professionals in other states who have already gone through a natural disaster, Kaestner said similar professionals in Iowa believe a spike in those seeking and/or needing mental health services will take place between three and six months after such an event takes place.

"The timing has to do with the fact that there are basic concrete things that individuals focus on first," she said. "There is that whole initial phase of shock, but then people move on to the nuts and bolts of finding out what they can do with their property. There are certain phases to disaster cycles that people go through and that the communities go through."

Kaestner said that when reality does set in, it is typically an economic one that can result in several manifestations or triggers.

"People are starting to get the economic information now and, unfortunately, there aren't going to be quick answers to the government buy-out situation or to questions about the fate of specific neighborhoods," she said. "Some people may now know or will soon learn how much they are eligible for through the government programs, insurance or other programs. Many times, there are going to be gaps. So, the financial realities start to become very evident. That's when people start to see just how difficult this is going to be."

In other communities that have dealt with natural disasters, the wake of the event left a trail of increased substance abuse, more incidents of domestic violence and, in general, people with short fuses.

"A lot of people do fine day-to-day while everything is clicking along, particularly on a financial level when they have jobs and money coming in," Kaestner said. "Those individuals may not have needed any extra support or extra assistance in terms of mental or behavioral health needs. But if they've now lost their job -- even those individuals who did not experience the flood at their residence, but their business or place of employment was affected -- and there is no longer any income. That situation is going to create additional stress that may be just enough to create additional problems elsewhere in their life. So, historically that person may not have needed extra assistance, but this was just one more thing that may tip the scale."

As people work through their personal aftermath with the flood, Kaestner said, the reactions, both good and bad, will be born of the individual's interests and circumstance.

"I think [in terms of the man mowing the yard around his damaged house] that this was probably the one thing he could control," she said. "You know, he could make his yard look nice. It could also be that this was an activity that he particularly enjoyed. I've heard people remark as they've been out looking at the flood-affected neighborhoods about how nice the yards look. 'Just look at how nice that yard looks. They obviously want back in their home. They have so much pride in this piece of property.' My guess would be that it makes these individuals feel better to do something, to have control over one aspect of what's going on. When people can do something concrete, it makes them feel like they are moving forward."

Although family members and close friends may be the first to notice a person consistently acting in ways outside of his or her normal character, individuals can still take stock of the amount of focus they are able to put into activities they've typically enjoyed.

"Perhaps you are a person that has typically read novels for enjoyment, but now you find that you can't concentrate or focus on what you're reading," she said. "When you can no longer find enjoyment in the things that you previously like to do, that can signal problem. Also, if you are having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much. Maybe your appetite has been affected. These can all be signs that a person is having a difficult time dealing with the current situation and may need some support.

"By that same token, some individuals may respond by engrossing themselves in books or whatever they find enjoyable. That can be a problem too when it is being used as a way to completely escape and not deal with the current reality."

The Abbe Center is the lead organization in Linn, Benton and Jones counties for federally-funded crisis counseling in the wake of the floods. In other counties that have received a Presidential disaster declaration, there are other community mental health organizations leading the local program. In the coming weeks, these organizations hope to establish grassroots support networks for those dealing with the aftermath of both the flooding and tornado disasters in Iowa. Sometimes, according to Kaestner, a person just needs an opportunity to talk to other people and tell his or her story.

"You'd be amazed how much it can help to just tell someone else what you are going through," she said.

The federal grants, which came into Iowa through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, totaled $350,855 as of Aug. 1. The six organizations in addition to the Abbe Center that have contracted to provide stress counseling services are:

• Pathways Behavioral Services -- Bremer, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw and Floyd counties
• ResCare Inc. -- Des Moines, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska and Wapello counties
• Backbone Area Counseling Center -- Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette and Winneshiek counties
• Waubonsie Mental Health Clinic -- Adams, Fremont, Mills Page and Union counties
• Mid-Eastern Iowa Mental Health Center -- Cedar and Johnson counties
• Mental Health Clinic of Tama County -- Jasper and Tama counties

Individuals seeking crisis-counseling assistance can contact the providing organization directly or may phone the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. The hotline is operated by Iowa State University Extension Outreach.

A house boat from Ellis Harbor sits overturned along the banks of the Cedar River.

County and city facilities on Mays Island continue to be surrounded by clean up trucks and crews.

The Cedar Rapids Softball Hall of Fame has been gutted due to flood damage, much of the insides now strewn on the facility's front lawn.

A home on the city's northwest side sits naked after damaged interior and exterior portions have been stripped and gutted.

Although clean up has begun at the Great America Furniture Mart, there is still much to be done.

The historic Paramount Theater was hit hard and, like much of downtown, continues to be cleaned and rebuilt.

A parking area along 1st Street SE and behind Siegel's Jewelry is now home to a pile of damaged debris.

The trailer a family friend was nice enough to loan us is full again and ready for another trip to the county dump. That's pretty much how the entire summer has gone for our family.

Especially given the circumstance of so many other Cedar Rapids area residents as they try to wade through local politics, FEMA disbursements and insurance red tape, I've tried not to complain too loudly about our specific circumstance. Still, to say that it's been frustrating would be an understatement.

The guys we hired to re-roof our home were repeatedly thwarted by the heavy rains. One night I came home from a meeting and was greeted by large plastic tubs that had been strategically placed to catch the rain water as it meandered its way around the tarps above.

Then, as the sun began to shine and the hammers began to pound, the river went wild. The guys, all of whom sustained significant damage to their own homes, abandoned our roof to evacuate their own families, find temporary housing and then deal with the aftermath. It was no one's fault and, as such, there was no one deserving of impatience or temper tantrums.

The tear off that was stacked on either side of our home served as a dam during those days, preventing water run-off and resulting in a soaked basement. At that point we had to stop our plans to help friends muck out their basements and concentrate on our own problems. It was simply a mess -- one that seemed to never end.

In total we've now made five trips to the dump. Each load has been roughly a ton of old singles, wood, brick and a few creepy-crawlies. The picture above is of the last of the tear-out that was on the ground. It's almost a bittersweet thing that the roofers are back at work today and creating new piles that will need to be hauled off.

It's August now. Next week the children will go back to school. In a few more weeks the leaves will begin to change. Sadly, it's too late to try and salvage my flower gardens. For me, that's been the most depressing part of all -- the inability to get in my gardens and, even worse, watching as my gardens were taken apart to make room for wheelbarrows. But there's always next spring, right?

When political newcomer Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks squeaked out a victory in Iowa's 2nd District congressional primary, a few Republican eyebrows raised. None of those eyebrows, however, were attached to the people who met the Ottumwa ophthalmologist and learned her story. When considered in context with the rest of her life, the primary was just one more challenge she met with planted feet.

"I really had no desire to be in politics prior to last year," Miller-Meeks said. "Nine years ago, when I first began visiting Congress with the Academy of Ophthalmology, advocating and addressing health care issues, I had a wonderful rapport and relationship with the honorable [former Congressman] Jim Leach. I thought [Leach] was an ideal representative for our District. He was very thoughtful. He was introspective. He was highly intelligent. He would dissect bills and issues and then give you a response. Now, he may not have always given the response that you wanted, but at least you were assured that there was insight and a true understanding of the difficulties and different sides of an issue. I always felt that he was doing what was best for the District and for the constituents within the boundaries of the Constitution."

Miller-Meeks went on to explain that when she returned to Washington, D.C. after Leach's departure, she had a very different experience.

"I didn't have a sense that there was an understanding for the voters' problems, or a sense of knowledge of the issues -- the thing that I believe makes a good representative and provides thoughtful insight into regulations and laws," she said.

The decision to run for Congress came, she said, once she realized that her own background and life experiences afforded her a unique understanding on a wide variety of issues.

"One of the very effective things about my candidacy is the fact that I am a small business owner, that I am a woman, that I'm a mother, that I'm a wife of almost 25 years, that I'm a veteran, that I was a nurse, and the fact that I left home at 16 and paid my own way through college. ... All of these combination of things are so very different in and of themselves. Yet they make a complete package that is a microcosm of our entire society and our entire District," she said.

Because Iowa is one of only two states that has not ever elected a woman to Congress, there is always an added pressure of historical context placed on any woman who launches a campaign. Miller-Meeks said, however, that possibly being the first woman elected to Congress doesn't put added pressure on her campaign, but it does result in her holding herself to a higher level.

"One is always cognizant of the fact of being a role model for those that will hopefully come behind," she said. "I try to always present myself as I am -- to be authentic and sincere. I'm caring, but also intelligent and knowledgeable on the issues. Voters want someone who is credible and competent and capable. And then, if you have those additional attributes that women bring to the table, that's icing on the cake."

Women, because of their views on life and specific experiences, she said, bring a wealth of knowledge that is well-suited for a civil service career.

"I believe there is a difference between men and woman -- although I also realize that there is crossover," she said. "I think women tend to be more receptive of other viewpoints. Women listen carefully, build consensus and are good at collaborating. They have knack for bringing different groups of people into the fold, so to speak."

Miller-Meeks, who is an Army veteran and has worn numerous (sometimes multiple) hats throughout her life, said she is not only well-suited but has a proven track record of results when interacting in primarily male-dominated fields.

"I think that having the experience of working around men in a position of authority ... and being able to be respectful, dignified and commanding, but doing so in a manner that doesn't leave anyone feeling inadequate or less significant ... is important," she said. "So, yes, I think that my having been in the military when there were very few women; starting medical school when there were very few women; being the first woman faculty member at the University of Iowa in the Opthalmology Department; and being the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society positions me well to work with different groups of people, to collaborate well and to interact well and make everybody feel that they are a necessary component to the entire puzzle."

Miller-Meeks and her husband, Curt, have lived in Ottumwa for the past 11 years. She is in private practice there while he is a compliance officer at Ottumwa Regional Health Center. They have two young adult children, Jonathon and Taylor. Miller-Meeks retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1998 after more than two decades of service. Her husband retired from the military in 2006. Both held the rank of lieutenant colonel upon retirement.

After defeating two Republicans -- Lee Harder and Peter Teahen -- on the June primary ballot, she will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack in November.

When Phill Kline took the oath of office as Johnson County, Kansas district attorney, one of his first acts was to fire seven prosecutors. Among those fired was Steve Howe, a political newbie who smartly smacked Kline in the Republican primary on Tuesday.

Kline is best known for launching the first criminal charges against a Planned Parenthood clinic since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The case remains pending, but Kline's stance against abortion is estimated to have netted his candidacy more than $100,000 in out-of-state funds, according to the Kansas City Star.

Howe, who is also anti-abortion, used Kline's strong anti-abortion politics to his own advantage on the campaign trail. In his acceptance speech on primary night, Howe continued this trend by saying, "We need to put politics behind us, and get back to putting away the bad guys."

In the Star a local GOP leader speculates that the influx of non-Kansas cash may have turned off some voters.

Howe will face Democrat Rick Guinn, the assistant attorney general, on the November ballot.

"The voters have rejected Kline's leadership," Guinn told the Star. "They want an office led by a veteran prosecutor, not a politician with a personal agenda, and my 27 years of successfully prosecuting dangerous criminals makes me the most qualified candidate for the job."

Hat tip to the Feminist Majority Foundation.

The song that's been stuck in my head for the past few weeks is "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor:

I think the first time I heard that song -- or at least the first time I remember hearing and thinking about the words to that song -- was when I was few summers out of high school. I was with a group of friends and we were on our way out to the lake for swimming and general mischief. My niece Debbie, who died this year, and I were singing and trying to harmonize as the summer heat and humidity swirled around us. We met with applause from the others in the bed of the truck, but I imagine they were primarily happy our makeshift rendition of the song was over.

Back then I was the wild one, and although it would have saddened, I doubt it would have completely shocked many if I had met with an early demise. It's still difficult not to think of Debbie being alive, hard to believe that I won't ever enjoy laughing or harmonizing with her again.

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Meant to have this post up earlier today, but I think I broke a few things while trying to do a software upgrade. Of course, that's what I get for adding custom code and not using basic templates. I think I'm going to take the whole operation to a sand box until I can get it figured out.

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Been covering the situation with Kyle Payne for some time now, although I think Eleanor's Trousers was the first blog to start discussing him and the January 2007 incident at Buena Vista University. I'm really curious why other Iowa bloggers, especially feminist bloggers, haven't picked up on the story. Then again, the truth is that there really aren't hordes of feminist Iowans who blog -- which brings me to my second thought: It is during times like this that I'm so thankful for an active feminist blogging community.

I'm not sure how many blogs, domestic and international, have made comment about Payne's unusual situation. Here's a sample (trigger warning applies for many of these links):

• The F Word
• Doing Feminism
• PhysioProf
• mirabile dictu (alterwords)
• Womanist Musings
• Hoyden About Town
• The Curvature
• Bookworm
• The Corvid Diaries
• Renegade Evolution
• Bastante Already
• Fetch Me My Axe
• Sex, Life & Frilly Bits
• bastard.logic
• The Mustard Seed
• The Legal Satyricon
• The Secret Chord
• Rage Against the Man-chine
• Buried Alive
• Galling Gala
• Editorializing the Editors
• Shakesville
• Modern Mitzvot
• Safer

... and that's just a partial list. To date, I've stayed with straight reporting coverage of the Kyle Payne situation. It's getting harder every day to continue that trend -- especially when I see similarities between the Payne story and Agriprocessors, another reporting assignment. I'm going to have to make a point of doing some nice, sweet feature stories in the coming days and weeks. Since the stories I've been doing lately seem to lack a "good guy," my mood has taken a downswing.

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Speaking of news I really don't want to hear/read, there's a report in the NY Times that HIV infection rates are 40 percent higher than previously thought.

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I'll be the first to admit that I've not been following the 2008 presidential race as well as I did before and right after the Iowa caucus. But I must have been in the right place at the right time, because I caught this excellent piece -- McSexist by Kate Sheppard. Go. Read.

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For those interested in blogging as a profession, there's a post at Viva La Feminista that you need to read. At least in my opinion, one of the great things about being a primarily political blogger is that I don't have to do the corporate thing. (I had more than my fair share of looking out for advertisers' interests when I was a newspaper journalist.)

So, if you've been losing sleep due to wondering what types of freebies have been coming my way, let me ease your mind. Last winter I was given a coffee mug after I did an interview for a political organization. And, like all politically-active souls in Iowa, I've been given t-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, fans, hats and other various items by the presidential campaigns on either side of the aisle.

A 22-year-old Iowa blogger is speaking out today and providing his personal reflections as to why he, a volunteer who had worked with rape and sexual assault victims, chose to photograph another woman's body without her consent.

Kyle Payne, who is awaiting criminal sentencing in connection with the January 2007 incident, says that he wrote today's post as an example that he has the courage to "own" what he has done and to open himself up to criticism.

While I still wholeheartedly identify with feminism - and in fact, started a personal blog as an attempt to become more in touch with feminist principles - there is no question that my actions have grossly contradicted these principles. Furthermore, by failing to address these contradictions openly, while presenting myself as any sort of ally to women, I have not been completely honest. There was no malicious intent to withholding this explanation - for legal and psychological reasons, I was not prepared to address them. As part of my attempts to make amends, however, I will not post any new material on my blog until such time that I have been welcomed back into a community of feminists.

According to Payne, he is currently undergoing therapy for "various mental health issues." He claims to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse and that his work with survivors of sexual violence triggered flashbacks, panic attacks, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

On June 30, Payne signed a plea agreement with the state, agreeing that he was guilty of felony attempted burglary in the second degree and two counts of invasion of privacy. Sentencing was originally set for Aug. 11, but his attorney, citing a need for Payne to continue therapy and time to gather more letters of support, has requested a continuance.

At the time of the incident, Payne was employed by Buena Vista University as a dormitory resident adviser. Police reports indicate that while attending to an intoxicated and unconscious female student, Payne reportedly assaulted and photographed her. The guilty plea he entered with the court did not include assault charges. Tips received by police and campus security following the incident led to a 10-month investigation that resulted in Payne's arrest in February.

A few days ago Sherry at A Feather Adrift bestowed Essential Estrogen with an award:

While I'm incredibly tickled to have the award, I'm more honored that Sherry would decide to give it to me. I've been going through a re-evaluation period lately in relation to the blog, life and what-not. Because I've been so internally wrapped up in fretting and decision-making, Sherry's kindness came as a tall glass of ice water on a hot summer day. Thank you.

Now, in accepting this award, I've also agreed to a couple of responsibilities. First, in that grand blogging tradition, I need to pass the award along to seven more blogs/people. I'll leave those folks a comment to let them know about the award. Finally, I put a copy of the award here on Essential Estrogen with a link to Sherry's blog.

The seven blogs I've chosen, in no particular order, are:

1. Sharon, at One Small Square, seems to always have amazing insights about life and happiness. I was first drawn to her blog by the text in the "about me" section. (I'm a big fan of Joseph Campbell.) I love her voice and sometimes the photographs she shoots take my breath away. Not to mention that through Sharon's blog I found...
2. Anet, at Purple Squirrel, makes me think about the small stuff in my life. For instance, her recent post about coffee mugs reminded me to pull out the sandstone beads I picked up during our last trip to Oregon. I still haven't gotten a creative muse as to what I'm going to do with the beads, but it was good just looking and remembering. I also liked her advice on putting "interesting things" in the path of children.
3. Jay, at Bailey's Buddy, gives me a glimpse of places I might want to go visit and people I might like to meet and things I might want to do -- all right here in Iowa. He has a friend Bob that likes to take photos -- and the photos, which Jay posts on his blog, are just wonderful. And, seeing how I'm often traveling to central Iowa and am always on the lookout for good places to eat, I especially enjoyed one of his recent posts about Audubon's in Ames -- even if the photos left me licking my lips.
4. Blue Gal, at (of course) Blue Gal, always keeps me clicking -- and often laughing too. Not sure if blog awards are her thing or not, but she's worth the love regardless.
5. I "met" Eleanor, at Eleanor's Trousers, after I started covering a story that involves a certain self-proclaimed male feminist who got himself into quite a bit of criminal trouble. It was one of those times where you visit and find the place so comfortable that you end up sitting around for awhile and just taking it all in.
6. Primalscreamx, at Don't Print This, deserves this because I'm happy he's made it to August without dying. (Just 5 more months to go and you can mark that off your list!) Actually, I read his blog because sometimes its just nice to know that there's someone else out there banging away on a keyboard and trying to create something.
7. Moe, at Iowa Voice, keeps me sane and at peace with simply amazing photographs. I also appreciate that I can go there and learn a little bit about the plants, animals and insects that share our world.

Hope all of you get as big of a boost as I did out of receiving this award.

Kyle D. Payne, a 22-year-old Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist, would like more time to undergo counseling and gather letters of support before appearing in court, according to a motion filed by his attorney in Buena Vista County this morning.

Payne, who pleaded guilty to secretly photographing and filming a college student's breasts, was scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 11. His attorney, F. Montgomery Brown, cites conflicts within his own schedule as well as Payne's need for more time to prepare as reasons the court should grant the motion to continue.

Defendant is in the process of continued counseling, the results of which will be presented at sentencing in this matter and may bear upon the Court's determination of the appropriate sentences in the above-entitled matter.

Counsel for Defendant is in the continued process of acquiring letters of support to support to the Court (sic) at sentencing and reasonably believes that additional time is need (sic) to acquire additional letters.

According to the motion, Payne is currently employed and continuing post-graduate studies. Because of this, Brown argues, Payne is "neither a risk to flee or danger to the community." Brown closes by requesting the sentencing date be moved to October. The prosecution is expected to resist an extended continuance of the hearing.

Payne presented his guilty plea to the charges of felony attempted burglary in the second degree and two counts of invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor, on June 30. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $7,500. As a condition of the plea deal, the state has agreed that no other charges will be filed as a result of this incident.

The incident that led to Payne's arrest and subsequent plea agreement happened while Payne was employed as a dormitory resident adviser at Buena Vista University. Police reports indicate that while attending to an intoxicated and unconscious female student, Payne reportedly assaulted and photographed her. The guilty plea entered by Payne did not include assault charges. Tips received by police and campus security following the incident led to a 10-month investigation that resulted in the February arrest.

The case has sparked the ire of many feminist bloggers throughout the nation, primarily due to the fact that Payne has claimed to use activism and education to promote "a more just and life-affirming culture of sexuality" for women, especially those women who have been victims of sexual violence.

Yesterday I wrote a post about an offer I received to possibly participate in a research focus group for pay. The research company was searching for "two focus groups comprised exclusively of females" to discuss Iowa issues, including civil unions and marriage for same-sex couples.

I noticed this morning that I received a comment on that post from one of the members of the firm's management. I'm reluctant to post the comment because it is both written as a personal correspondence to me and because it contains contact information for the writer. In other words, I'm not sure if the writer intended it to be a public comment or a private note.

In lieu of fully publishing the comment, which does make good points on my post from yesterday, let me just clarify to the readers: I don't know who the client is that contracted the focus group on this topic. I also do not know exactly what is being researched for the client. As I pointed out yesterday, however, I am curious -- especially given my experience with the qualifying survey.

From the comment:

We have thousands of individuals in our data base and often have hundreds of people respond to our emails within minutes of posting. It's important to note as well that these focus groups could be just part one of a multi-faceted study. And, we often ask questions and eliminate participants simply to throw possible respondents of the trail of what the study might or might not be about.

In the comment, the writer goes on to suggest that I clarify to readers that my speculation in relation to this particular study could be wrong. Although I'm fairly sure that yesterday's post was written in a way that conveyed that it was born out of curiosity and not of fact or any direct knowledge in relation to the research, I also did not intend it to somehow stifle or tilt the process. In fact, learning the opinion of a room full of Iowa women on any number of issues and topics is something with which I find fascination and value. That's what prompted me to write about it yesterday -- and what still has me curious about the focus of the research today.