Category Archives: Soapbox

Emails, life events, and things in the news that catch my attention and annoy me enough to rant about or interest me enough to comment on yell and scream about. Usually things regarding religious and political groups that insist on regulating the lives and lifestyles others with stupid laws and random taxation.

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Counterintuitive Health Care

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Almost one in five Americans lives without health care, how is this pro-life?
Even with insurance, contraception isn’t always covered.
“Conscience clauses” allow doctors and nurses to withhold both services and information from patients that are contrary to their beliefs such as contraception.
Why don’t republican’s care about people’s rights AFTER they’re born?

*** Update – I was informed that my 55 was actually a 53, so here is the revised 55 ***

Almost one in five Americans lives without health care, how is this pro-life?
Even with health insurance, contraception isn’t always covered.
“Conscience clauses” allow health providers to withhold both services and information from patients contrary to their own beliefs such as contraception and STD prevention.
Why don’t republican’s care about people’s rights AFTER they’re born?

Almost 1 in 5 Americans Going Without Health Care
12.03.07, 12:00 AM ET

“People tend to equate access to care with insurance,” said report author Amy Bernstein, chief of the analytic studies branch at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. “But access to care is more than insurance.”

“People assume that if you have health insurance of any kind that you’re okay, but that’s not the case,” she added.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 21, 2008

“This proposed regulation is about the legal right of a health care professional to practice according to their conscience,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “Doctors and other health care providers should not be forced to choose between good professional standing and violating their conscience. Freedom of expression and action should not be surrendered upon the issuance of a health care degree.”

North Dakota Abortion Center Says it Will Do Record Number of Abortions
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 2, 2008

Tammi Kromenaker, Rid River’s director, tells the Associated Press that the center is on pace for its highest number of annual abortions and is doing about 25 abortions a week.

She contends the number of abortions is on the rise because college students have seen funding for birth control and contraception cut.

Carly Fiorina’s fuzzy McCain-speak
By Cathleen Decker
July 10, 2008

“Let me give you a real, live example, which I’ve been hearing a lot about from women. There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won’t cover birth control medication. Those women would like a choice,” she said.

But as the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America was happy to point out, McCain twice voted against measures that would have required insurance companies to cover birth control – in 2003 and 2005.

Birth Control Foe To Head Family Planning
Bush Pick For Contraceptive Program Called Birth Control Part Of “Culture Of Death”
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2007

Orr has been criticized for public statements which have indicated an anti-contraceptive view in areas of education, public policy and health insurance.

In 2000, while working as a policy director at the Family Research Council, she objected to a Washington, D.C., city council bill requiring health insurers to pay for contraceptives. By not including a “conscience clause” allowing employers to withhold contraceptive coverage, Orr said the council would force employers “to make a choice between serving God and serving the D.C. government.

55 Flash Fiction Friday
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55 Flash Fiction Friday: Sarah Palin

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Palin confronts oil companies by raising taxes, though favors opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to them. She initiated a lawsuit against listing Polar bears as a threatened species fearing it would affect a proposed natural gas pipeline, and allowed Chevron to increase toxic waste poured into Cook Inlet despite dwindling numbers of beluga whales.

55 Flash Fiction Friday
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Letter to Sears Portrait Studio

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I received a flier from the Sears Portrait Studio a couple weeks before my daughter’s first birthday so I went there (studio number 42049) for her one-year birthday photos. The photographer took me to the back and asked what sort of background I wanted. I told her I didn’t know, because I didn’t know what they had to offer. Through the whole session she kept the same background and never asked if I wanted to, nor allowed me to, change outfits. My daughter wasn’t the perfect subject, but I felt like this photographer didn’t know how to work with mobile babies at all. She kept tickling my daughter’s face with a duster to get smiles but produced awkward faces. I would have been much happier with a more stoic look than sneers and grimaces. When she took pictures of my daughter’s whole body she was so far back my baby got lost in the background.

I wasn’t happy with the results, but I purchased three different poses that were only acceptable. One of the poses was of my daughter crying. I brought the flier I received in with me for the session. On the top of the flier it says, “No session fee”. I was charged a fee. They said that offer only applied if I ordered one of their package deals. The flier also said that I could get a portrait CD for as low as $9.99. They said that’s only after the purchase of a $120 CD or a $200 portrait package. The flier said that I could save up to 50% on “personalized collections”. The fine print even said that the savings was based on “individual products sold separately”. Somehow, the four sheets that I did purchase didn’t qualify. The flier said that they could have the portraits ready on the same day. I did get that. I saw my prints after signing the credit card receipt. I was horrified. My daughter looked like she had jaundice with pink splotchy skin. I was so angry I just left to cool down before asking for my money back.

Three days later, I returned to find out that the best I could get was a 50% refund. I don’t think it is fair for me to pay half of something that even the store manager admitted turned out “a little warm”. Nowhere on my SEARS receipt does it say that I would get anything less than a full refund if returned with the receipt, which I had. I called the customer service number and was told that the 50% refund was standard policy, however I don’t see anything on the Sears portrait site, the receipt I was given, nor the papers from the photo shoot, which outline that return policy.

Frustrated, I opted for the 50% refund. I returned the next day and was given a receipt for a complete 50% refund and told that it would go to my card. The manager acted as if I was done, but I hadn’t signed anything. I asked if there was anything I needed to sign and she printed out another receipt. This one only refunded 50% of the fee for the prints but not the sitting fee. She said the 50% for the sitting fee would have to be done separately but that I wouldn’t need to sign that one. I didn’t see her ring up the second receipt and I was not given a copy of either of those receipts.

With this sort of transaction, I’m keeping a close eye to see what shows up on my credit card. I never thought I would have to do that with a store that carries the SEARS name. To say I’m disappointed with the quality of prints I was given would be an understatement, but then to also pay $32.02 (or more depending on what shows up on my credit card) for absolutely nothing is outrageous. I will be sharing this story with my friends, family and everyone that reads my blog. I’m very angry about the quality of product – both the photographer’s skill and the prints, and the lack of customer service. I want a full refund.

A paper copy of this letter was sent to CPI Corp 1706 Washington Ave, St Louis, MO 63103-1717

CPI Corp is the owner and operator of Sears Portrait Studios and PictureMe Portrait Studios™ in Wal-Mart.

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55 Flash Fiction Friday: Fear of the unknown

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In high school, one teacher saw through what others thought to be a normal teen demeanor. The scars shown through in my behavior but his assumptions about the cause were wrong as before. I never confided in him. Though I don’t know that the outcome would be any different, I wish I had that confidence.

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Picture Perfect Photographer Fiascos

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At Christmas time last year we went to Olan Mills with Kurt’s Mom, Sister, and Niece. It was Kurt’s sister’s Christmas gift to everyone. The pictures all turned out great. The photographer who was also the manager of that particular store took tons of pictures and made sure that we got every family picture combination that we wanted including photos of just Kurt and I with our new baby. I was pleased until it came to the part of picking witch pictures we liked best because not only were they all really good but she kept flipping between them quickly, “which do you like better, number one or number two?” It was like going to an eye exam. I wrote it off as me being sick and groggy though. I mean hell, I even misspelled my own name while signing in! No shit, I was that bad and she still made pictures of me look acceptable – she’s that fucking good!

At Sophia’s six month birthday I went back to Olan Mills without much hesitation. The pictures were phenomenal again. This time I had a clearer head and could pick between number one and two. For most of them I knew what I wanted. She put some photo collages together as examples. I didn’t like the pictures she used on one of them, but liked the collage example itself so I ordered a couple with different photos inserted. It wasn’t until after I paid and was in the car that I noticed she left one of the example collages on my receipt as something I purchased. I went back to have her take it off. She said that she ordered it and I can have it free but she didn’t charge me for it? WTF? Then why was it ordered? She didn’t take it off. I still left, but was irritated. I called another Olan Mills store to verify the price of the collages. A couple weeks later when my pictures came in and I again told her, “look these are $25. I only wanted four of them not five”. She told me they were actually $30 and that I didn’t pay for the fifth one. Really? Then what about that extra $5? She never took off that fifth one. I got it for “free”. I’m still pissed.

A couple weeks ago, I got a flier from the Sears Portrait Studio so today I went there for Sophia’s one year photos. I want to cry. The pictures all suck ass. All of them! The girl took me to the back and asked what sort of background I wanted. I told her I didn’t know, because I didn’t know what they had to offer. Through the whole session she kept the same background. She kept focusing on Sophia’s face, which is fine for some shots, but I had told her this was for her first birthday. I want pictures of my baby’s whole tiny little body too. When she did take a picture of Sophia’s whole body she was so far back, my baby got lost in the background. I purchased three different poses that were only ok. One of the poses was Sophia crying. No, she wasn’t a perfect little subject, but really, what one year old is?

I brought my flier in with me for the session. On the top of the flier it says, “no session fee”. I was charged a fee. They said it was only if I ordered one of their package deals. The flier also said that I could get a portrait CD for as low as $9.99. They said that’s only after the purchase of a $120 CD or a $200 portrait package. The flier said that I could save up to 50% on “personalized collections”. The fine print even said that the savings was based on “individual products sold separately”. Somehow, the four sheets that I did purchase didn’t qualify. The flier said that they could have the portraits ready on the same day. I got that, but before we rejoice, let us have ourselves a little chat about quality.

I can have photos printed up at Costco and have them ready the next day. These are photos I take and send the digital image to Costco. It’s cheap. I can upload photos and pick the number of prints I want of each. I can order 8×10 ($1.49 ea), 5×7 ($0.39 ea), 4×6 (0.17 ea), whatever I want, and these pictures come out GREAT! It’s the same or at least very close to the quality you get from film camera prints. What’s better is that you can even crop the pictures at no extra charge! I could also buy a cheap ass photo printer for about $200 (I’m making it up – I’ve never shopped for one) but then I also have to buy ink and paper and the picture is printed on top of the glossy paper – it looks like crap. Given those two choices, I’ll take Costco without a second thought. So when I ordered my “same day” pictures today from Sears Portrait Studio I was hoping for the Costco quality because I know that just because it’s fast doesn’t mean it’s shit, but I was wrong. Oh so wrong! They used the cheap ass printer. My perfectly porcelain faced baby looks as if she has pink blotches all over her face. And I paid $64.02 for the privilege of all this. Sears Portrait Studio, you’re nothing more than blog fodder and I’m getting my money back as soon as I calm down. You BASTARDS! I’m going back to Olan Mills.

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55 Flash Fiction Friday: Grudge, one of many

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I was pulled out of class in third grade with no idea what happened. Kids chided me about going to the Principal’s office. Two people whom I didn’t know asked me questions about my family. The allegations made me furious. As an adult, I finally know the reason. I hate this person to this day.

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I have a Vagina, Vote for me!

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Democrats are focusing too much on Palin’s “lack of experience”. She may be from banjo-playing saw-toothed red-neck-central “small town America” and it may take some adjusting to with the big city D.C. folks but I have a feeling she’ll fit right in. Hell, just look at how well our current “C” average high school student did. Prior to being governor of Texas, Dubya’s only experience was running oil companies into the ground digging around for oil where no one else would risk drilling. Bless our look-the-other-way souls, we gave little Napoleon another chance. In fact, at least 50% of Americans enjoyed his smug smirks and simultaneously ignorant and arrogant sound bites. Palin closely follows Dubya’s footsteps by surrounding herself with people like her that “would not allow others to disagree with her”, protecting her from “haters”. She is also as absent from the state capital as Dubya is from the national one. You see, she’s totally ready to be a heartbeat away from the highest office in the country.

Like many people, I don’t fit neatly into the republican or democrat mold. I do agree with a lot more of what the democrats say they stand for and would like the things they promise (health care). During the primaries, I was hoping that McCain would be the selected republican. I figured if we have to have another one of *them* in office he seemed the least offensive. I guess I don’t pay close enough attention to the enemy. After he won, the media meat market frenzy began with his selection for running mate. I was appalled when I read the news. I thought for sure that he picked Sarah Palin solely to pick up the shattered dreams of the rejected Mickey Mouse Hillary Clinton club. I wasn’t a fan of Clinton but I was offended at the thought that McCain might actually believe women would vote for anything with a vagina.

Palin will ‘help me shake up Washington,’ McCain says
Published: Friday, August 29, 2008

Palin made an immediate play for support from Democratic women, mentioning that she followed in the footsteps of Geraldine Ferraro, who was the Democratic vice presidential running mate in 1984.

There are so many similarities between Palin and Ferraro. It’s so obvious, how could anyone miss them? Geraldine Ferraro grew up in New York and her father died when she was eight, forcing her mother to move them to the Bronx. Palin grew up in a small town. As an attorney, Ferraro headed a bureau that dealt with sex crimes, domestic violence and child abuse. Months after becoming became mayor of Wasilla the former Miss Wasilla beauty queen fired the police chief, Irl Stambaugh because he ‘intimidated her‘ and hired Charlie Fannon. Wasilla then became the only town in Alaska that charged rape victims for tests to collect evidence of the crime in order to avoid causing any burden to the taxpayer. In congress, Ferraro focused on legislation to bring equity for women. Palin’s reputation was built by standing up to oil companies by imposing higher taxes, though she’s in favor of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development and she initiated a lawsuit over the federal listing of Polar bears as a threatened species for fear it would affect proposed natural gas pipeline. She also allowed Chevron to increase the amount of toxic waste it pours into the waters of Cook Inlet even though the number of beluga whales in the area has dropped significantly. She is also accused of abusing her power for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan possibly because he didn’t fire her ex-brother in-law after a messy divorce from Palin’s sister. Ferraro was the running mate for the Democratic Party and Palin for the Republican Party; yes, the similarities just don’t seem to end.

She also referred favorably to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who drew 18 million votes in her unsuccessful run against Obama for the Democratic nomination.

Cause she has a vagina too! *eye roll* Like I said, I wasn’t a fan of Hillary. I can understand people choosing Hillary based on her platform, but some of the women blogs I read after she lost to Obama were freakishly insane. I read one that was upset because blacks received the right to vote before woman did. Seriously, this race isn’t about abortion rights or the Iraq war, but which minority group archives presidency first? Are you fucking kidding me?!? People complain that everything on TV is so superficial and revolves around sex but then they reduce political candidates to skin color and genitals instead of their accomplishments and political position. Yesterday it showed up in my local newspaper. An article that made me furious. They do exist. Those people that vote for genitals.

Love her or loathe her, Americans can’t stop chattering about Sarah Palin
By Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press

But Kidd’s mother, a former Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, likes Palin — partially, her daughter said, because of her personal qualities and also, she said, because she’s a woman.

And that’s an issue that Kidd, like many women, is struggling with: Wouldn’t it be thrilling to see a woman VP, no matter what her policies?

I’ll make this simple so you understand – OH HELL NO! MYGOD, how can anyone who was ready to vote for Hillary go to the republican side so easily? Unless of course she was only going to vote for Hillary because of rumors, that she has a vagina. And what exactly would make it so fucking thrilling? Watching her turn back time with Roe vs. Wade because she’s against abortion even in cases of rape and incest? Headlines of her church putting gays back in the closet by trying to convert homosexuals through prayer? What the Fuck decade does she live in?

Wagner decided long ago that she was voting for Obama. But her friend Katy Huggins isn’t so sure anymore. Huggins, also a mother of four, admires Obama, and though she’s a registered Republican, she had been planning to vote for the Democrat.

Then she watched Palin’s convention speech.

“I was like, wow, I want YOU to be president!” said Huggins, who adds that she isn’t much of a McCain fan. “I could completely relate to her on a lot of levels, especially as a mom. That’s what my world is about now.”

LEAPING LIZARDS Batman! Seriously, you’re picking her because she’s a mom? Lady, there aren’t words to describe the simplicity of your brain functions. Oh look, shiny object! Really, I’m floored at the stupidity. I vote that in order to vote you must be able to correctly answer a few questions about the person or topic in which you’re voting. Maybe then I won’t mind the individual votes of small states counting for more than the more populated states, maybe.

There was a rally against Palin in Anchorage on Saturday. This gives me some hope. Unfortunately, no one gave a specific number of protesters. The Seattle Times says there were “at least 500 protesters” and that, “The protest, outside a public library, came hours after the governor held a morning rally attended by as many as 1,500 supporters in downtown Anchorage, then flew to Nevada to resume campaigning.” USA Today didn’t list any specific number of protesters, but did mention what some of the signs/protesters said.

Some of the signs spoke out against Palin’s anti-abortion position. Laura Kimmel, a 40-year-old Anchorage woman expecting her second baby in April, wore a clothes hanger with a sign attached that said, “This is not a surgical instrument. Keep abortions safe and legal.”

Whoa, now that’s a statement! I’d love to meet that woman! ;-)

The Washington post also covered the protest. They also didn’t give a specific number of protesters but did say that it was, “in the high hundreds — perhaps surging past a thousand”

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Collagen: Cure Stretch marks, Cellulite, and Wrinkles

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Commercials and other age defying cures drive me batty, so I must inform that there isn’t a magic lotion or any other type of topical ointment cream, wrap or elixir that will give back the great young skin everyone wants. Stretch marks, cellulite and wrinkles are part of life. Grow up and old and just fucking accept that the enemy of imperfect skin is deteriorating collagen fibers.

Collagen is a protein in the connective tissue of animals (yes, humans are animals) that allows young skin to have its elasticity. Stretch marks are caused by gaining weight too fast for collagen cells to keep up. This is at cellular level people hence topical crap simply won’t cut it. The best way to avoid stretch marks is to not grow fast, which due to genetics maybe impossible at puberty (I have stretch marks on my knees from growing too fast as a kid). During pregnancy the growing parasite inside and your hormones, determine when you’re hungry and if the food is going to stay down. I was hungry ALL the time when I was pregnant. I remember my stomach waking me up (not the creature inside, but my actual stomach) at 2am and I HAD to eat something. I would be famished even after eating a large meal for dinner. – For those of you from the Midwest, when I say dinner I mean the evening meal not lunch. The evening meal is dinner not supper. The last supper was like 2000 years ago. There’s a painting showing the last supper hanging in a museum somewhere, so stop calling it supper. It makes my ass twitch to hear the word supper. It sounds stupid so just stop, ok?

Whether from puberty or pregnancy you won’t be able to control the rapid growth. **Pregnancy is not a time to diet.** So unless your mother, grandmothers and great-grandmothers all came away from pregnancy with out a mark you’re doomed to see those red lines. They will eventually fade and then only show up when attempting to tan. I think my red lines finally went away a couple months ago. I didn’t really notice when they disappeared. They didn’t leave a note. But I do know it took months because I remember wondering when they would finally leave.

Nothing topical helps cellulite either. The keys to keeping cellulite at bay are:

  • Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fiber
  • Staying hydrated
  • Regular exercise – this doesn’t mean marathon insanity just get up and move around. Walking is great exercise
  • Maintaining a healthy weight for your body frame/type (if you’re doing the previous three listed bullets and there are no medical conditions or medications affecting weight, this one should fall into place on its own)
  • Not smoking

Cellulite forms when collagen in areas that have fat near the surface of the skin – mostly tights and butt on women – stretch, break down, or pull tight. This doesn’t mean that only fat people get cellulite. It has to do more with being female (it’s more common in women than men – lucky us) and the collagen stretching and/or breaking down because skinny women can have it too. Several things may play a role in cellulite forming, genetics, hormones, fad dieting, slow metabolism, and even dehydration.

I gained 42 pounds when I was pregnant. My digestive system slowed down, and hormones ran amuck. I had cottage cheese ass and it wasn’t pretty. I’m back to my regular 130 pounds and things are mostly back to normal. I don’t have the dimples, but some stuff will never be quite like when I was 23, ever.

The only thing the topical lotions/ointments and other crap are good for is dry itchy skin, however the itchiness isn’t going to go away completely if your skin is healing scars or stretching across a pregnant belly. You’ll only get temporary relief from that.

In the US we tend to bathe too often and it doesn’t help our skin at all. Note that though I’m aware of this tidbit I still shower daily unless I’m camping or I just want to be left alone to my dirty-hippy-vegan-patchouli-oil-wearing self. No, I’m not a vegan. I’ve never even considered being vegetarian, and I’ve NEVER used patchouli oil. For those of you who do use it you should know that those of us that don’t think you smell funny and not in any sort of good way. Now go take a fucking shower and wash your funky hair.

Using regular soap instead of soaps with their natural glycerin byproduct removed and/or added detergents really helps. If you want to know what’s in your soaps, lotions and other cosmetics go to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database.

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55 Flash Fiction Friday: Impossible to be different

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I’m happy to be a stay at home mom, but without work, I have no insurance. I could buy it for $350 a month or if we were married, I could get it through Kurt. Thankfully, it’s only $50 annually for a single doctor visit, but today I had a prescription filled that’s $243.00 monthly.

55 Flash Fiction Friday
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