December 2008 Archives

I really, really hate stories like this one from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier:

A 16-year-old father was arrested Tuesday morning on charges connected with the death of his 3-month-old son.

Xzavier Posey Sr., 1120 College Ave., is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment, according to Davenport police. His son, Xzavier Posey Jr., died Nov. 15.

Posey will turn 17 on Saturday.

Children having children and, although I don't know the specific circumstances in this case, not having an adequate support system to help them quickly transition from children to adults.

As I've said numerous times on this blog, people in the U.S. seem to have a real difficult time talking openly about biology. We all want to protect our children, yet we seem so sheepish about telling children the facts about sexuality and sexual activity. Giving young people facts about sex will not somehow morph them into beings that do nothing but contemplate and partake of sex all day. Giving young people facts about sex will ease their fears, arm them with knowledge and help them understand that sexual intimacy is something serious and sacred.

When we ignore our young people or provide them misinformation, we are doing society as a whole a disservice. A mystery is intriguing to people of all ages -- something they want to solve and understand. The result of leaving sexual activity on the level of some great human mystery is unintended and, often, sad consequences.

Professors involved with the Modern Language Association's survey of professors haven't yet relinquished their full report, but they have provided a glimpse into some key findings.

Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed reports on what the professors had to say during a MLA annual meeting on Sunday about the gender disparities for faculty members in English and foreign languages.

• On every measure of job satisfaction, men are more satisfied than women in English and foreign languages.
• The only area where women are overwhelmingly very satisfied (although still not at the same level as men) is their autonomy in the classroom.
• Women spend an average of 1.5 hours more per week than do men on grading student work.
• Men work an average of 2 hours more per week on research.
• It takes women longer than men to earn the promotion from associate to full professor, the gap larger in foreign languages than in English.
• Contrary to other reports and anecdotal evidence, male and female faculty members do not report differing levels of service requirements, although both men and women feel that these obligations are increasing.

Go read the entire article for more information on the perceptions expressed by the women on their worth as teachers and researchers.

The quotation that stuck with me most was the one by Joycelyn K. Moody, the Sue E. Denman Distinguished Chair in American Literature at the University of Texas in San Antonio. She said that the survey showed there are "intersections of shame and gender and power" that need attention.

Thanks and a hat tip to TaxProf Blog

The good folks at the U.S. Census Bureau reminded me that:

Iowa became the 29th state to join the Union on this day in 1846.

The name "Iowa" is derived from an American Indian word meaning "the beautiful land," and it's thought that the nickname "the Hawkeye State" is in honor of the famous Indian chief, Black Hawk.

Iowa has long been an agricultural powerhouse and is the nation's leading producer of corn and soybeans, as well as hogs and eggs.

College football and basketball teams from Iowa are often nationally ranked. When Iowa became a state, it had a population of less than 200,000. Today, it is home to almost 3 million people.

Just over half of those roughly 3 million people living in Iowa are women. According to the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, there were just over 1.5 million women in Iowa as of July 1, 2006 -- nearly three years ago. That being said, males outnumber females in every five-year-age group until the 55-to-59 group. At that point women begin to outnumber men and, by age 85, there are more than twice as many women as men. The estimated median age for all women in Iowa is 39.6 years.

Although women make up the majority of the population in Iowa, there are still significant quality of life disparities. For instance, the 2006 median income for women in Iowa who worked full-time is $30,738. The median income for men in the same time frame is $40,729.

Women who are sole providers for children -- who have no husband present and are providing for children under the age of 18 -- fare even worse. Their median income is $22,100.

Women are far more likely to be living in poverty -- 12.2 percent -- than men -- 9.8 percent. More than 52 percent of female households, no husband present with related children under age 5, are below the poverty level. The corresponding rate for married couples with families of related children under five is 5.9 percent.

And, before someone gets on a high-horse about women deserving what they get when they birth children without being married, keep in mind that these statistics are not limited to that particular circumstance. Women who have lost their spouses through divorce or death are also included.

I highly recommend "The Road I Grew Up On," an Iowa history project at Iowa State University, for those who are interested in learning more about rural women.

How would you like to be entertained and help fight ovarian cancer at the same time? You can do just that this January in Iowa City by purchasing tickets to "Menopause the Musical Out Loud."

The production will have one showing only on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Englert Theatre. Tickets are either $46 or $42. If a group of four plans to attend, be sure to purchase tickets from the box office (and not online) so that you can take advantage of the "buy three, get one free" offer. The group rate, which cannot be combined with the other offer, allows groups of 15 or more who purchase their tickets in one transaction to take $5 off the ticket price.

A portion of all ticket proceeds will be donated to the Iowa Women's Foundation.

The following information about the production is taken from its Web site:

Since March 2001, the hilarious show Menopause The Musical has entertained and inspired women from coast-to-coast and internationally. The work of writer Jeanie Linders, Menopause The Musical is a 90-minute production which includes 25 re-lyricized tunes from the '60s and '70s and culminates with a salute to women who are experiencing The Change.

Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance, the musical pokes fun at things such as hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and eating binges. The show's intended message is that menopause is a passage, but it should no longer be The Silent Passage. It is a stage in every woman's life that is perfectly normal.

The show is intended to promote a healthy dialogue about menopause and female aging. The 2005-2006 tour raised roughly $500,000 for ovarian cancer research and awareness. The 2008-2009 tour kicked off in South Carolina this past September.

Deer experts at the University of Alaska have studied the various depictions of Santa's reindeer and have concluded that the whole team -- from Vixen to Rudolph -- are female. This is because reindeer, also known as caribou, are the only deer that feature antlers on both genders. Male reindeer shed their antlers prior to December. Females, however, carry their antlers until after birthing season in the spring.

But, there's more. Because of birth, gestation and rutting times, it is quite likely that all of the female reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh tonight are also pregnant.

According to the experts, the only way for the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh to be male would be if they were castrated. This is because castrated males would not be interested in the "festivities" that immediately preclude the holiday season. They would not have fought over the female caribou and risked their antlers. They also would not be as likely to be too tired for the Christmas trip with the jolly old elf.

Of course, as the old joke goes, the mere fact that Santa makes his way around the world without getting lost is proof enough that he is being led by a team of females who aren't ashamed of asking for directions.

State Senator-elect Swati Dandekar, who served in the Iowa House before winning a seat in the Senate, has been named Person of the Year by AsianWeek.

The publication, the nation's oldest and largest English newspaper serving the Asian/Pacific Islander American community, cited Dandekar's courage in not sitting back and relaxing in the Iowa House seat she'd held for three terms.

Dandekar's successful run for the Iowa House in 2002 earned her the honor of being the first Indian-born American citizen in the nation to serve in a state legislature. That seat, like the State Senate seat she just won, had been held held by a Republican.

Swati Dandekar could have played it safe and stayed in her House seat because most incumbents are re-elected. Instead, she chose to reach for a higher office that required her to knock on doors in areas where she had not represented the people and where knowledge of Asian Indian Americans may not have been high. As a result of her successful gamble, however, she now has added clout as she battles for educational opportunity and other key concerns. And APAs now have a state Senate-level standard-bearer in a state not know for its high percentage of APAs.

Sen. Dandekar's rise in politics has other lessons for APAs interested in community involvement, no matter where they live and no matter what their life circumstances, because she did not start life thinking that she would become a politician. She started with science-oriented undergraduate and masters degrees in India and came to Iowa to be with her husband in 1972. Like many stay-at-home mothers, she raised her two sons while doing volunteer work in the community.

As her kids got older, however, she got more involved in the community. She became president of the Parent Teachers Organization and did such a good job that, when a seat opened on the local school board, her friends convinced her to run. She learned how to ask for votes, raise money and speak out on the key issues facing her community. On Election Day, she won with 80 percent of the votes, and her political career was underway.

Not everyone can be as smart, organized and compassionate as Swati Dandekar. But all of us can learn to get involved in our local communities, speak out on issues of concern to us and get beyond our comfort zones so that we can have more impact on the world around us.

Dandekar has represented Iowa House District 36, which primarily encompasses Marion in northeastern Iowa, for the past three terms. In January she will be sworn in as an Iowa Senator representing District 18, a district that was previously represented by long-serving Iowa Republican Mary Lundby.

Speaking with The Des Moines Register today, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy outlined the three primary functions of state government:

"Educate, medicate and incarcerate" are three primary functions of state government, and lawmakers will look at doing those things more efficiently, McCarthy, a Des Moines Democrat, said.

Given that I've been through the school system and university, I suppose that I've been educated. Nevermind that the latter part of that equation had little to do with state government, since I financed it out of my own pocket. The only things, according to McCarthy, that state government has left to offer me is either medication or incarceration.

Hmmm...

Medication doesn't sound so bad. After all, once you toss back a few pills such intelligent opining from our state legislators probably would just fuzz over and make you feel warm and good inside.

Then again, with the current economic instability in the state, three hots and a cot has its definite advantages. Maybe, just maybe, since I've been a diligent taxpayer for the state for so long, this doesn't have to be an either-or question. Maybe I can get both medication and incarceration. That way I'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside and still have a hot meal every once in while.

Our state leaders could just wake up to the fact that state government has a lot more to offer than education, medication and incarceration. Maybe they could do a little in the area of fixing the roads -- the ones that make me wish my bum was medicated. Maybe they could take a look at leveling the playing field for small and large businesses in the state. Maybe they could empty their campaign coffers in favor of financing flood recovery.

Then again, maybe I just need a dose adjustment.

Barb Finch, a former legislator from Story County, died Wednesday in a car crash on Interstate 35 near Albert Lea, Minn.

"Former Rep. Barb Finch was a remarkable public servant, leader and friend," said House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen in a prepared statement. "Her passion for making this state a better place to live will be missed. She will forever be a part of our legislative family. We are very saddened to hear of her passing, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family."

The Minnesota State Patrol reports that a truck traveling south crossed the median and hit the Finch van. The van was knocked into a spin and struck by a semitrailer.

Erin Finch, 25, was injured in the crash but is expected to make a full recovery. Barb Finch, a resident of Ames, celebrated her 56th birthday last month.

Iowa First Lady Mari Culver will join with U.S. Cellular to present the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids with a $20,000 donation tomorrow. The funds are to be used to assist the organization with its flood recovery efforts.

The presentation, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., will take place at Johnson Elementary School on the city's southeast side.

When her husband was elected governor, Mari Culver, a Des Moines attorney, indicated that her focus would be on women's and children's services. It will be good to see Mari back in Linn County.

Democratic Iowa House leaders Kevin McCarthy and Pat Murphy have received a call from the members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement to remove Dolores Mertz (D-Ottosen) as chairwoman of the House Agriculture Committee. The group cites Mertz's voting record and close ties to the factory farm industry as reasons for the action.

Mertz, an 11-term member of the House, was re-appointed last week by leadership to serve as chair of the committee for the 2009 legislative session.

"For more than a dozen years, she has consistently voted for policies that benefit corporate factory farms and worked against the interests of hundreds of thousands of everyday Iowans," read the ICCI press release. "In addition, Mertz's son, Peter, owns a 4,000-head hog factory, which raises other questions about her votes."

Kevin Shilling, a member of ICCI and a livestock/poultry farmer, accused leadership of caring "more about the factory farm industry than the quality of life of everday Iowans."

"Mertz claims she supports family farms, but her votes and actions clearly show she has bent over backwards to please the factory farm industry," he said. "McCarthy and Murphy knew exactly what they were doing when they re-appointed her as House Ag Chair."

The group also wants House leadership to re-assign Rep. Mark Kuhn (D-Charles City) to the Agriculture and Environmental Protection committees. ICCI members believe Kuhn has been a voice for stricter regulations for factory farms.

Some of the long-term readers of this blog will no doubt remember that I previously posted much of my coverage of the Agriprocessors saga -- the kosher meatpacking plant in Postville that was the site of a massive May 12 immigration raid -- here as well as on Iowa Independent. I stopped cross-posting the information for several reasons, including a change of work flow by my employer, but largely because I was having a difficult time justifying ink on the subject when it overall seemed so largely removed from this Web site's stated purpose of politics and women.

While keeping my eye out for all things Postville related, however, I came across an opinion piece by Melissa Nalani Ross, published by On The Issues. Ross is the director of the Campaign for a United America, a national initiative of the Center for New Community in Chicago to push back against the racism of the anti-immigrant movement.

I want readers to know that the full piece, which is well worth reading, has a definite pro-immigrant flavor. Ross also goes full-force at one particular group, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which most likely provided that group's organizers a reason to cheer more than bow in shame. But if you look not so much at the propaganda of the opinion piece, but at the information Ross provides in terms of how immigrant women are treated, I think you'll find something that cannot be ignored.

On one hand our government is fighting a battle against human trafficking largely because of the horrendous and unthinkable implications that system has on women and children. On the other hand, our own government policies are at least partially to blame for the conditions under which immigrant women -- even those who come here with proper documents -- are forced to live.

Immigration is a Women's Issue

The violence and abuse immigrant women face on a daily basis in the United States are challenged, mostly in solitude, by the immigrant rights movement. By and large, the women's movement has failed to stand in solidarity with the women who suffer under anti-immigrant activity. Why haven't more women leaders and women's organizations added their voices to the national dialogue and opposed the push for stricter immigration enforcement practices and the dehumanization they portend?

Part of the problem is that the gender aspects of harmful immigration policies go unrecognized and unacknowledged. The women's rights movement over the last several decades has largely been about equal rights and equal treatment But women, always on the frontline, are the most deeply and intimately impacted by systems and institutions wrought with injustice. ...

As evidenced by the terror that immigrant women face in the United States, the struggle for women's rights is not over. It will take the efforts of women throughout the country to ensure that all women, whatever their "status," live in a safe and just environment.

In my coverage of Postville, the stories that have hit me the hardest are those of the women left behind. Many continue to live in limbo in Postville -- harnessed with tracking devices by the government, but otherwise unable to provide for themselves or their children. At an informal Congressional hearing in Postville this summer, one such woman, overcome by emotion, told of sexual propositions amid comments of "we know you need the money."

Other women have spoken to me about being raped or forced to perform sexual acts in exchange for promotions or better workplace treatment. And, no, these stories are not limited to Postville. Immigrant women I've met in other Iowa cities, or immigrant women who traveled to Postville for the rally have also told me of how bosses and other people in positions of authority treated them.

There are many who will point a finger at these women and say that they've made their own bed and they should have to sleep in it. In our country, however, we have a concept of justice and civil rights that are ideally there because we are better than others who would stand by and watch or allow the suffering of others. This is why we feed, clothe and care for our nation's most heinous criminals. We even offer life-saving medical treatment to the terminally ill on death row.

Are we truly, as a society, prepared to stand by as immigrant women are raped? Have we become so close-minded that we believe a convicted murderer or rapist or child molester is more deserving of human dignity than someone who came into the United State illegally?

Kate and Trish Varnum, Cedar Rapids residents and lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit that questions the constitutionality of the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act, are still shocked when they see their names in the newspaper. They have a difficult time grasping the fact that whether not their case is successful in allowing same-sex couples to marry, their names have become a thread in the fabric of Iowa history.

"I knew that when we first started this that we were going to be making history, but I don't think I've ever considered it since then," Trish Varnum said.

"It was exciting and it was new. But now? I just want to get married. I don't care about the history books -- they aren't my focus."

The Varnums were two of many who spoke Wednesday night at a Cedar Rapids forum hosted by Lambda Legal, a national gay and transgendered legal advocacy group, and One Iowa, a statewide equality task force. The forum, one of many being held throughout the state, comes on the heels of oral arguments made before the Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday morning in a case challenging the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act.

In December 2005, the Varnums joined five other couples who had been denied marriage licenses and filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court. Nearly two years later, in August 2007, that court ruled that wording within the Iowa Code that defined marriage as between one man and one woman was unconstitutional. Polk County attorneys appealed the decision, and a stay was granted the following day to preserve the status quo.

The status quo, according to the Varnums, is simply not working. Despite having gone through the legal system to set up Powers of Attorney and other documents intended to protect their relationship, the two described several instances in which the documents were either questioned or ignored-- instances they believe would have gone routinely had they had a legally recognized marriage.

"Trish was sitting in the exam room in her hospital gown and pleading for the medical team to let me come in and be with her," Kate Varnum said about her partner's recent surgery.

"We spent so much money to get all of these little rights that other committed couples get with a marriage license."

Linda Langston, a county supervisor in Linn County, waved off emotions as she spoke about the different futures she sees for her two sons if the current law stands.

"My marriage of 33 years is something that's very important in my life," she said. "So these discussions make me sad because I hope for both of my children that they have that same opportunity in life -- to be married, to have that important, significant-other relationship. It also angers me because I can't believe that anybody who has been a parent, or a brother, or a sister would say, 'I don't ever want you to be able to have this.'"

It's bittersweet, Langston said, to watch as her sons have grown and are now embarking upon their lives as independent adults.

"I watch [my older son's] excitement and joy as sees his younger brother in a relationship that will likely lead to marriage," she said.

"He talks to me about his own hopes and aspirations about someday meeting someone and having his own marriage. He desperately wants children ... but he wants to be in a committed relationship before he takes that step."

No one at the forum was willing to offer speculation as to how the court might rule, but most said they were optimistic.

"We were very encouraged by the justices," Kate Varnum, who was in the courtroom during oral arguments, said.

"We feel that they gave us a very fair hearing and, of course, we are very excited about the possibility of being married."

This story is also posted at Iowa Independent.

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."
~ Charles Dickens

As I look back on all the wonderful holidays seasons of my life, I'm struck by how I remember very few gifts. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to the rule. I vividly remember the Barbie karaoke record (!!) player that my parents bought for me when I was 10 -- and all the the times I annoyed my siblings by singing along to David Cassidy and Debbie Gibson. I also remember (and still cherish) a wooden box that a niece brought back for me from her trip overseas. Likewise, I still have the auto insurance policy from The Game of Life on the back of which my brother wrote a note explaining that he had paid the next year of my premiums. (No small gift if you've priced auto insurance for a 16-year-old lately!)

So while I'll be the first to admit that there are "special" presents that we do remember and cherish, I'll also go out on a Christmas tree limb to say that most of what we give to one another is junk that either breaks or is quickly forgotten.

What I remember most from holidays past are the times I spent with family, special meals cooked by my mother and casual get-together events with friends. I bet if you consider the holidays in your life, you will also remember much more about the event than the gifts you received.

As many -- especially Iowans who have been hit by disaster -- try to manage the stress of the holiday season and the economic downturn, I'd like to provide a list of some of my favorite holiday memories. While there might be a few on this list that cost money, even I was shocked by how many do not.

• Baking holiday goodies. I remember being with my mother in the kitchen during the holidays was one of my favorite things. My own children visit with their grandmother each year and carry on this tradition. When she is no longer with us, I know my children will have built up their own special memories of holiday baking with their grandmother -- special memories we will share with one another as I take my turn baking with them.
• Candlelight services. I have been incredibly blessed to have been a part of so many holiday ceremonies and services -- religious and secular. Sometimes it was as simple as a group of friends placing their worst memories or most embarrassing moments in a shoe box and burning them in a campfire. Other times it was grand, religious ceremonies with hundreds of people holding candles and praying for good things. Either way, there is a real sense of belonging to be found in such events.
• Going out on the town. When I was in high school, my music teacher gave me her ticket to my very first opera, Carmen. My mother, who was one of those women who could walk in a store, see a dress and go home and make it, had just finished this amazing crushed red velvet dress for me, which I wore to show. My high school French teacher and her husband were my escorts for the evening and they were more than content just to let me drink it all in. Years later, in college, my boyfriend presented me with tickets to a Dallas Theater production of A Christmas Carol. As the actor playing Ebenezer Scrooge ran up the runway toward the stage in the round, he nearly knocked the boyfriend out of his chair. I don't think I've ever laughed as hard or enjoyed anything as much.
• Sliding around. Growing up in the south there wasn't always a lot of snow for sledding, but there seemed to always be ice. We would spend hours outside in our slick-soled cowboy boots just sliding, laughing and, yes, falling. Good, clean fun -- especially for those younger folks who don't have to worry as much about breaking a hip.
• Board and card games. If you are going to be a member of my extended family, you have no choice but to be a game player. But please don't confuse us with the type of folks who sit around and pass the dice in silence. We are a rowdy bunch, often yelling teases at one another or good-heartily accusing the game winner of cheating.
• Decorating. Our family didn't buy new stuff every year, we reused the same decorations year after year after year. Bringing the plastic Santa out of the box was like welcoming an old friend back home. There were tiny Santa mugs (which now live at my house), electric candlesticks with red bulbs (which my father always hated), and numerous red, white and green homemade doilies that my mother was given by her mother. When you think about it, pulling out the decorations and putting everything in its place was a huge chore, but my parents always found a way to make it fun for all of us.
• Caroling. Yes, I'm one of *those* people. When I went to school, enrolling in a music class didn't prevent you from graduating, or take up half of your school day. In addition, the band and choir kids use to get together on our own, outside of school and class, just do community-minded things. For instance, we would carol the downtown business district or set up an impromptu concert in a city park. Of course we had holiday programs that we'd prepared for school events, but we seemed to have the most fun when we were just out in the community and doing our thing. When I went to college, this tradition continued with my friends in the dorm as we caroled around campus or in shelters or convalescent homes. I have to tell you that there is nothing in the world better than knowing that you did something so small that seemed amazingly large to someone else.
• Window shopping. Of course, if you are going to take part in this tradition, it has to be done up and down city streets. Truthfully, doing this inside a shopping mall just isn't the same. People act differently on the street than they do inside of a building. Couples tend to hold hands or wrap their arms around one another. Children are more often allowed to bounce with excitement. If you're lucky, you'll run into at least 10 people who will tell you Merry Christmas -- just because they've passed you on the street and not because they are handing your purchase across the counter. So, grab a warm beverage and start walking and people watching. It is a great holiday past time.
• Kindness and generosity. I have had opportunity to be on both sides of the charity truck during the holidays. That is, I've helped fill it for needy families, and I have been a part of a needy family that has received gifts. Both sides are heart-warming and eye-opening places to be. If you or your family has extra this year and decides to help someone less fortunate, many blessings to you. If you happen to not be in such a good place and will be relying on charity to help with a holiday dinner, gifts for your family or whatever, just make yourself a promise that when life does get easier, you'll be returning the favor. Life has its seasons -- some of drought others of harvest -- but we should never let the seasons prevent us from being thankful for the journey.

And, in the words of my father -- the man who liked to open his presents in private, while cutting the scotch tape with his pocket knife so the paper could be reused: "Merry Christmas, Y'all. The fact that we have each other is all the blessing we need."

If you are so inclined, please leave a comment about your favorite holiday memories. They get even sweeter when shared.

Possible trigger

A 43-year-old Marion man appeared in federal court today after being arrested on Dec. 6 and charged with one count of production of child pornography.

The complaint alleges that around August 2008 Michael Donehoo took a photograph of a 13-year-old girl engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The photograph was believed to have been taken in Donehoo's bedroom. In addition, Donehoo allegedly posted the photograph on the Internet.

If he is convicted, Donehoo will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a possible maximum sentence of 30 years. He also faces a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment and supervised released for the remainder of his lifetime.

The man is currently being held, pending a detention and preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11.

I'll admit that I've been watching the Republican SCC drama involving Kim Lehman with interest. On one hand, I don't feel qualified to offer an opinion. After all I'm not personally affected by the outcome of the GOPers' decisions. On the other hand, however, I feel a sort of kinship with Lehman and the balancing act she embarked upon by running for national committeewoman and maintaining her leadership position at Iowa Right to Life.

From the beginning, I had little doubt that there would come a time when Lehman would have to choose between the two positions. I believe Steve Roberts summed it up really well in my interview with him about the incident when he said that Lehman could not serve two masters.

That being said, I also think Lehman got a raw deal from the Republican State Central Committee this weekend. As David Chung reports on his blog, Lehman was given a formal censure by the group. The resolution of censure was done after Lehman informed those in attendance that she would be stepping down from her position at Iowa Right to Life.

There is no disputing the fact that a conflict of interest happened. There is also no disputing the fact that Lehman recognized it as such -- perhaps not as quickly as a few would have liked -- and made her choice before more conflicts could arise.

On the other hand there still remains a Republican county chair in Iowa's 1st Congressional District that openly and bluntly called for a write-in candidate against the winner of a Republican primary. The Republican State Central Committee took no action on that front. And, before anyone points it out, Republican policies do not provide for an SCC rebuff of a county chair... they don't provide for rebuff of a Republican National Committee member either. In my opinion -- and I understand that I have nothing else to offer to this conversation -- one should not have been censured without the other, since both women were equally guilty of pretty much the same offense.

As a final note, today I am more appreciative than ever of the fact that there is no such thing as a secret ballot within the Iowa Democratic Party. To hold this very important vote in secret is a pretty good indicator of where the Iowa GOP is today: in hiding, in secret, incognito. It perhaps also speaks to much of the rumblings on the street about the lack of party leadership and inattention to the grassroots.

In contrast to the GOP meeting this weekend, the Dems were fairly boring. There was review of election returns and discussions from the subcomittees, but nothing firm brought to the table for consideration.

It seems that some missed the post a few weeks ago about the expanded writing staff at Essential Estrogen. Lynda has been joined on this blog by Renee, a Republican woman from eastern Iowa. Readers who can't tell who wrote what post by just reading can always look at the bottom of the posting for the name of the author and the time stamp.

Within the next week or two, some server work needs to be completed on the site. Although I don't anticipate this will cause any problems, there is always the off-chance that I'll kill it all in one fatal click of my mouse. If you notice the site acting oddly during that time frame, it's probably just me working on the server. Wait a few hours and try again. With any luck, there will be no major damage or problems. As for my part, I'll try to complete the work during the times when we are least active.

My apologies to those who had left blog comments this weekend. I was out-and-about and didn't get to them in as timely a fashion as I typically do. (Because of spam comments, everyone's have to go through human moderation -- nothing else seems to work.) The comments are posted now & we're grateful to have all of your viewpoints.

Finally, I need to express some thanks to those who helped make this past week amazing.

The Rotary Club for Lisbon-Mount Vernon invited me to come and speak a little about blogging and a lot about Agriprocessors in Postville. It was just a great night -- even if I totally eclipsed my 30-minute speaking time frame -- with lots of good conversations and insights. I think I learned as much from them as they did from me.

A Cedar Rapids businesswoman invited my youngest daughter and I to her home this weekend for a Christmas tea. It was just an amazingly wonderful event that helped remind me of what's really important during the holiday season: good friends, family and, of course, yummy food. I won't mention the woman's name here because I didn't ask permission to do so ahead of time, but she'll know who she is and how much I thank her.

It seems that since the flood in Cedar Rapids that I'm greeted by something new every time I venture into downtown. On Saturday night, as I drove through Cedar Rapids on my way home from Des Moines, a beautiful Christmas tree was on display on Mays Island. It was breathtaking against the newly fallen snow and Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the background. It was so beautiful that I pulled to the side of the bridge then exited my car so that I could drink in the sights for a few minutes.

There are small things that I notice now that I didn't before. Maybe this is because I'm on the lookout for things, or maybe it is because even the little things seem more important and vulnerable now. In any event, I was captivated by steam rising from a street grate and almost missed the series of four ice sculptures sitting on the corner of 3rd Ave. and 2nd St.

I snapped a few pictures and then sat down on a nearby bench to check the shots. Up and down 3rd Ave. the trees have been strung with tiny white holiday lights. I decided to walk back toward the bridge, with the intention of trying to take a photograph of the Christmas tree on the island, and hoping to capture the lighted tree on top of Quaker in the distance. When I reached the intersection of 1st St. and 3rd Ave., I saw one of the strung trees on 3rd Ave. that had been engulfed in red "caution" fencing and traffic cones. It had a mid-size backhoe sitting nearby, which I'm sure didn't offer much protection from the winter elements. Still, the scene rather epitomized the state of life for much of Cedar Rapids.