onestepforward
onestepforward's JournalBloom like an artist
(added)
Cartoon strip created by Norwegian artist, Ida Eva Margrethe Neverdahl
Windshield wipers and a cat
Texas Weighs Ban on Women
Senator Harland Dorrinson, one of the many pro-life lawmakers backing the woman ban, crafted his bill after witnessing Senator Wendy Davis filibuster an anti-abortion bill last month.
“That was our moment to say, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” he said. “This comes down to a choice between life and women, and we choose life.”
Senator Dorrinson said his bill would call for a twenty-foot woman-proof fence to be constructed along the borders of the state.
“Women are great at talking, but not at climbing,” he observed.
But another G.O.P. state senator, Cal Jamson, believes that the total ban on women goes “too far” and is proposing a less draconian bill that would allow some women to remain in the state as guest workers.
“Texas needs women to cook, clean, and cheerlead,” he said. “If they show that they can do those things and stay out of politics, there could be a pathway to citizenship.”
From Andy Borowitz, of course!
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/07/texas-weighs-ban-on-women.html
1,100 attend rally in downtown Houston for Texas women
http://www.click2houston.com/news/1100-attend-rally-in-downtown-houston-for-texas-women/-/1735978/20911776/-/m66yjcz/-/index.htmlAn estimated 1,100 people packed Discovery Green in downtown Houston Tuesday night for the "Stand with Texas Women" bus tour.
Democratic lawmakers from the Texas Senate and officials from Planned Parenthood said women deserve to make decisions for their own bodies.
"Are you really ticked off? Have you really had enough? It's been a long time since we have been in power," said Sen. Rodney Ellis (D) of Houston. "I'll tell you friends, we have to show that crowd in power that we have waited too long. We have fought too hard. We have come too far and we have gotten too damn smart to let them stay in power."
When Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D), of Houston, suggested that Texas elect a female governor, the crowd erupted cheering for Sen. Wendy Davis.
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Bonus picture from another website:
"Supermoon" this Sunday
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/supermoon-june-2013-perigee-moon_n_3461899.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularAlso known as a perigee moon, the event occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific point in its orbit, called the lunar perigee. That's the point at which the moon is nearest to Earth as it traces its elliptical path around our planet.
Since it's closer to us, the moon appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual. Coined by astrologer Richard Nolle, the term "supermoon" essentially means a bigger and brighter full moon.
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My favorite moon song:
What's yours?
Battling with "tree" roaches (don't read if sensitive!)
If you live in Houston or any where in the South, you've probably seen these huge, flying "tree" roaches, also called palmetto bugs. They are at least 3 inches long and love flying right at you!
Well, tonight I open the garage door to step out for a quick smoke. One flies in the garage and I quickly sweep it back out with a broom. Now 6 more have appeared and more are coming. It's a swarm. This happened last week! I quickly close the garage door, turn off the light and go back in.
I can hear them hitting our office window over and over. They are attracted to light. I need to go back into the garage to get something and when I do, I find out that one of them tripped the safety sensor and the garage door was open and full of these flying creatures. I scream, not out of fear, but out of surprise that they re-opened the door!
AllenVanAllen is inside and working in his underwear. I tell him what happened and he immediately begins putting on his battle gear, lol! Pants are donned, hair is put back into a ponytail and he fashioned a club from an empty wine box. In he goes! Boom, boom, boom for 5 or so minutes. These guys are very hard to kill. He comes back in looking battle-weary, but triumphant! As you can imagine, it's very unnerving.
All is quiet now 
What's really weird is that this would only happen once a year. In a little over a week, we've had 2 now. I suspect climate change.
Aversion, suffering and breathing it in.
The economy has caused me tremendous stress for the last six years along with millions of my fellow Americans and I don't see any relief in the near future. I sometimes get a pain in my stomach just getting the mail by dreading more bills. I almost freeze up with dread when I check my bank balance online. I wake up on most days with a fear that something unplanned will happen, like my old car breaking down and I will not have the funds to fix it. You get the point.
I try very hard to stay in the present moment, but I've been having difficulties because the present moment is so stressful. I was reading a book by Pema Chodron (Comfortable with Uncertainty) and she was talking about a goal of not going to the top of the mountain to escape suffering, but a goal of going down the mountain... to the nitty gritty of life. Suffering.
I've been causing myself more suffering by having such an aversion to it. I've been trying a new technique that has really helped me and I wanted to share. I am now looking directly at my aversion, in the present moment, and mentally "breathing" it in several times. It helps me to accept it and it helps to take the panic and fear away. By acknowledging and accepting my aversion, I help to dissipate it. It has worked very well for me and I will continue, as I am a beginner 
Peace and love to all.
Jon Stewart, I will miss you.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/stewart-reveals-his-summer-movie-project-in-heartfelt-goodbye-hands-show-off-to-jon-oliver/Stewart will be directing a movie based on the experiences of Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, whom the Daily Show profiled in a 2009 field piece, a segment that may have gotten him in trouble with the Iranian government. Bahari was arrested one week after the piece aired.
“One of the things he was interrogated about was being in contact with an American spy,” Stewart said. The spy was Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones, who, as Stewart pointed out, is neither a spy nor American (he’s Canadian).
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To the man who helps me preserve my political sanity, you will be dearly missed. I wish you the very best in directing your new movie. It's a fascinating story.
There's a wonderful video at the link which describes what's going on.
Union workers prepared to strike at Baytown refinery
http://www.click2houston.com/news/union-workers-prepared-to-strike-at-baytown-refinery/-/1735978/19980260/-/v2qyt8z/-/index.htmlThe local chapter of the United Steelworkers Union notified the company of its plans to strike in less than 60 days.
A union spokesman said workers are asking for an update on safety measures and an improvement in education efforts. They claim the same measures were implemented at the company's refineries in Beaumont and Louisiana.
The company has about 56 days to respond to union demands, but a worker said the union has already brought in trailers and other equipment in preparation for a strike.
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I'm glad that these workers will stand strong together for a safer work environment. Exxon needs to get it together.
Here are the numbers:
Oh course Perry wants to copy Florida's failed policy. I'd expect nothing less from him.
Idiot.
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleCurrent location: Red \'burbs of Blue Houston
Member since: Fri Nov 7, 2008, 02:22 PM
Number of posts: 3,691
