On August 18th Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa will host its 18th Annual Free Pap Day for women in need of cervical and breast cancer screening. Additional details are on the flyer below:
Recently in Misc Category
Since this blog began, I've used Movable Type. What I love about the software is that I have incredible flexibility with it. I can add my own code, and change nearly everything to the way I want it to look and behave.
Unfortunately, all of that freedom to customize comes with a big price tag on my time.
Over the past few months, I've spent a great deal of time playing around with this blog. Everything I was doing, however, was on the back-end, which never really resonates with the readers. In fact, what I'm discovering is that the limited time I have available for updating this blog is spent doing something other than writing for it. I don't think that's how it should be, and it isn't what makes me happy.
So, the next time I get a three-day weekend or some extra time, I'm migrating away from this software platform to something that I'll enjoy a lot less from a freedom standpoint, and something I'll enjoy a lot more from a time-consumption standpoint.
In a perfect world, this shouldn't matter much to our readers. Goodness knows, however, that I'm far from perfect. It may very well be that I went I begin the transformation that you'll encounter problems. If so, bear with us. The end result should be more great stuff for you to read.
Unfortunately, all of that freedom to customize comes with a big price tag on my time.
Over the past few months, I've spent a great deal of time playing around with this blog. Everything I was doing, however, was on the back-end, which never really resonates with the readers. In fact, what I'm discovering is that the limited time I have available for updating this blog is spent doing something other than writing for it. I don't think that's how it should be, and it isn't what makes me happy.
So, the next time I get a three-day weekend or some extra time, I'm migrating away from this software platform to something that I'll enjoy a lot less from a freedom standpoint, and something I'll enjoy a lot more from a time-consumption standpoint.
In a perfect world, this shouldn't matter much to our readers. Goodness knows, however, that I'm far from perfect. It may very well be that I went I begin the transformation that you'll encounter problems. If so, bear with us. The end result should be more great stuff for you to read.
Cedar Rapids Gazette's Rick Smith brought to light a public hearing scheduled April 13th. Public input, a discussion, then a vote. $17,000,000.00 on the line.
Rick tells of the official notice for the hearing. It includes the possibility of a reverse-referendum. The decision to buy bonds would be subject to a special election if 10% of the number of voters in November's council race made the request.
Plans began to form. By the dawn's early light we had a petition approved by the Iowa Secretary of State. Canvassing is happening.
Last month the Yardy, now this? We won't even discuss praying in the park!
Talking heads play sound bites of Candidate Corbett and Mayor Corbett. The candidate says, "the people have a right to vote". The Mayor attempts to slide a bond issue past us.
I had a surreal experience this afternoon as I collected items for the Linn County 2010 Census Complete Count Committee. Reviewing the petition, waiting for a colleague, I took the time to visit the Memorial for our fallen Heroes. I touched the etched marble sculpture, following the letters, M I A.
Heroes, they sacrificed greatly. Slowly, I walked the circle. Pausing, acknowledging their sacrifice, thanking our Heroes. Photos, eyes staring back. I wondered if any might have seen fingers dipped in purple ink, proof of a joyous vote. Witnesses of glorious expressions of freedom.
Yet, there I was, right smack in the heartland of the United States of America. Iowa, where Presidents are determined. Holding a petition requiring over 2300 signatures so that I might vote. For a moment, for only a moment, I wondered if it was worth the effort.
As the wind whipped the MIA flag, I determined in my heart of hearts, I will remember MIA Heroes. I will do my duty as an American, I will not be MIA.
Scientific Journals report the increase of political corruption in States receiving FEMA money.
This situation with the City Council should be a wake up call, on second thought, the Yardy was the alarm clock, apparently, we hit the snooze button.
It's time to WAKE UP CR! You snooze and you will lose.
Kathy Potts
Rick tells of the official notice for the hearing. It includes the possibility of a reverse-referendum. The decision to buy bonds would be subject to a special election if 10% of the number of voters in November's council race made the request.
Plans began to form. By the dawn's early light we had a petition approved by the Iowa Secretary of State. Canvassing is happening.
Last month the Yardy, now this? We won't even discuss praying in the park!
Talking heads play sound bites of Candidate Corbett and Mayor Corbett. The candidate says, "the people have a right to vote". The Mayor attempts to slide a bond issue past us.
I had a surreal experience this afternoon as I collected items for the Linn County 2010 Census Complete Count Committee. Reviewing the petition, waiting for a colleague, I took the time to visit the Memorial for our fallen Heroes. I touched the etched marble sculpture, following the letters, M I A.
Heroes, they sacrificed greatly. Slowly, I walked the circle. Pausing, acknowledging their sacrifice, thanking our Heroes. Photos, eyes staring back. I wondered if any might have seen fingers dipped in purple ink, proof of a joyous vote. Witnesses of glorious expressions of freedom.
Yet, there I was, right smack in the heartland of the United States of America. Iowa, where Presidents are determined. Holding a petition requiring over 2300 signatures so that I might vote. For a moment, for only a moment, I wondered if it was worth the effort.
As the wind whipped the MIA flag, I determined in my heart of hearts, I will remember MIA Heroes. I will do my duty as an American, I will not be MIA.
Scientific Journals report the increase of political corruption in States receiving FEMA money.
This situation with the City Council should be a wake up call, on second thought, the Yardy was the alarm clock, apparently, we hit the snooze button.
It's time to WAKE UP CR! You snooze and you will lose.
Kathy Potts
Darcy Pohland, a 48-year-old reporter at WCCO-TV in Minnesota, was found dead in her home today.
We talk a lot on this blog about women who break barriers and make a difference in their communities. It is for this reason that we take a moment to honor Pohland, who, due to a swimming accident, was permanently paralyzed from the chest down. She was one of the few quadriplegic reporters of either gender currently serving in television news. She began at WCCO in 1983 as an intern and worked her way up the ladder to become a reporter for the station.
I never had opportunity to meet Pohland in person, but had admired her tenacity and "gumption" for several years. In her honor, I'm going to make it a point today to reach out to a couple of other female journalists and let them know how much I appreciate the work they do, and the challenges they have overcome.
Initial reports are that Pohland died in her sleep, and an immediate cause of death is not known.
We talk a lot on this blog about women who break barriers and make a difference in their communities. It is for this reason that we take a moment to honor Pohland, who, due to a swimming accident, was permanently paralyzed from the chest down. She was one of the few quadriplegic reporters of either gender currently serving in television news. She began at WCCO in 1983 as an intern and worked her way up the ladder to become a reporter for the station.
I never had opportunity to meet Pohland in person, but had admired her tenacity and "gumption" for several years. In her honor, I'm going to make it a point today to reach out to a couple of other female journalists and let them know how much I appreciate the work they do, and the challenges they have overcome.
Initial reports are that Pohland died in her sleep, and an immediate cause of death is not known.
It's part of the City Charter, the Mayor gives a State of the City speech by February 28th each year. A tradition has been for the League of Women Voters to host a luncheon for this event.
Mayor Corbett had a pleasant speech for his guests on Wednesday during the $30 luncheon. Seats were available for those who did not purchase a lunch.
Mayor Corbett added a bit of the Christian religion into his speech using a couple of verses from the Bible.
" I personally have one more piece to add to the trio and that is a 'guiding principle'. I am going to mix a little spirituality, not really religion, to this speech. This is just me talking, not the City Council or City staff. I have a bible verse that I have adopted as the Mayor's verse. I have chosen Proverbs 31:8-9, as my guiding principle. This is the New International Version: 'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.' I believe this is what life is all about... helping people. And that's my role as the mayor of your city. This is step one in achieving results.
I can't help but thinking that it is rather ironic that the poor and needy are being talked about as some of the City's most rich and powerful are sitting around tables eating their $30 dinners.
I was told by a county employee there were a couple of tables with flood victims, guests of the City. However, just because they were flood victims does not necessarily mean they are poor and needy.
It's not always the ones that look poor and needy that are in need. A small businessman or woman can be stretched so thin they don't have a dime to spare. Would they sit on the sideline and not eat lunch? Would you?
Perhaps we should not have an important city event where the needy, those obvious and not so obvious ones, don't feel able to participate. Make it open and equal to all, not just those with money in their pockets.
Kathy Potts
Mayor Corbett had a pleasant speech for his guests on Wednesday during the $30 luncheon. Seats were available for those who did not purchase a lunch.
Mayor Corbett added a bit of the Christian religion into his speech using a couple of verses from the Bible.
" I personally have one more piece to add to the trio and that is a 'guiding principle'. I am going to mix a little spirituality, not really religion, to this speech. This is just me talking, not the City Council or City staff. I have a bible verse that I have adopted as the Mayor's verse. I have chosen Proverbs 31:8-9, as my guiding principle. This is the New International Version: 'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.' I believe this is what life is all about... helping people. And that's my role as the mayor of your city. This is step one in achieving results.
I can't help but thinking that it is rather ironic that the poor and needy are being talked about as some of the City's most rich and powerful are sitting around tables eating their $30 dinners.
I was told by a county employee there were a couple of tables with flood victims, guests of the City. However, just because they were flood victims does not necessarily mean they are poor and needy.
It's not always the ones that look poor and needy that are in need. A small businessman or woman can be stretched so thin they don't have a dime to spare. Would they sit on the sideline and not eat lunch? Would you?
Perhaps we should not have an important city event where the needy, those obvious and not so obvious ones, don't feel able to participate. Make it open and equal to all, not just those with money in their pockets.
Kathy Potts
When women are faced with a difficult pregnancy they really only need two things:
1) Unfettered access to doctors' opinions about their situation
2) Freedom to make an informed choice based on those opinions
The ad that has caused the latest stir features a mother and her son. The son happens to be the quarterback at the University of Florida and a Heisman trophy winner -- but that is supposedly only important in the context of this ad being connected to the "big game." (The ad is being created by a conservative religious group, Focus on the Family, and they are continuing to build excitement and speculation by not pre-releasing it.)
Members of the Tebow family, including Pam, the mom, have been overseas missionaries, and founded the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association in the Philippines. During one of their mission trips to the country Pam developed dysentery, which escalated until she was comatose. The medications she was given at that time are known to possibly cause harm or death to a developing fetus -- and she was unknowingly pregnant at that time with her son, Tim Tebow.
The Tebow family was given medical advice by doctors and they then made their decision to continue the pregnancy.
Some may say the Tebow's "were fortunate" or "got lucky." Others will say it was the "grace of God" or the "power of prayer." Quite frankly, people's thoughts about the outcome of the pregnancy aren't nearly as important as the fact that a woman was presented with unfettered access to information about her personal situation, and that same woman, understanding all the risks, made a decision that she felt was best for her and her family.
That's a beautiful story. That's a story we can all be proud to hear and proud to share. The fact that Focus on the Family and its donors feel compelled to spend between $2 and $3 million so that viewers can know what a good thing it is to trust women? We should all be up applauding.
1) Unfettered access to doctors' opinions about their situation
2) Freedom to make an informed choice based on those opinions
The ad that has caused the latest stir features a mother and her son. The son happens to be the quarterback at the University of Florida and a Heisman trophy winner -- but that is supposedly only important in the context of this ad being connected to the "big game." (The ad is being created by a conservative religious group, Focus on the Family, and they are continuing to build excitement and speculation by not pre-releasing it.)
Members of the Tebow family, including Pam, the mom, have been overseas missionaries, and founded the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association in the Philippines. During one of their mission trips to the country Pam developed dysentery, which escalated until she was comatose. The medications she was given at that time are known to possibly cause harm or death to a developing fetus -- and she was unknowingly pregnant at that time with her son, Tim Tebow.
The Tebow family was given medical advice by doctors and they then made their decision to continue the pregnancy.
Some may say the Tebow's "were fortunate" or "got lucky." Others will say it was the "grace of God" or the "power of prayer." Quite frankly, people's thoughts about the outcome of the pregnancy aren't nearly as important as the fact that a woman was presented with unfettered access to information about her personal situation, and that same woman, understanding all the risks, made a decision that she felt was best for her and her family.
That's a beautiful story. That's a story we can all be proud to hear and proud to share. The fact that Focus on the Family and its donors feel compelled to spend between $2 and $3 million so that viewers can know what a good thing it is to trust women? We should all be up applauding.
