I did the Halloween Costume party last year, but didn't post for the April Fool's one.

Then I glanced at the calendar and noticed that April 1st is on a weekend

Will PC&E do it on the following Monday?

Signed,

Uber nerdy over planner

http://thecoloradoobserver.com/2012/03/unborn-victims-of-violence-measure-clears-house/ 

DENVER, CO ? A bill to criminalize fetal homicide bill narrowly passed the House today in a 33- 32 vote split along party lines ? reflecting the Democrats? adamant opposition and Republicans? ardent support for the measure. Despite the bill?s passage in the House yesterday, it faces a more difficult road in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

House Bill 1130, sponsored by Republicans Rep. Janak Joshi, of Colorado Springs, and Sen. Shawn Mitchell of Broomfield, would make it a crime to murder an unborn child in the event of a criminal act against the mother, such as murder, assault or vehicular homicide.

?We honored our Girl Scouts ? past, present and future,? said Joshi of a legislative resolution last week to honor the GSA troops. ?But somehow we have missed giving them the protection of the law when a criminal hurts them during the most wonderful stage of their life which is pregnancy.?

?When a criminal perpetrator hurts or kills a pregnant woman and kills her unborn child, the criminal literally gets away with murder,? said Joshi. ?This bill is all about criminal justice? contrary to what we keep hearing, this bill is all about protecting our women.?

Legislators said there have been countless incidents of unborn children dying from accidents and assaults over the years. Most recently in the Denver metro area, Laurie Gorham Sherlock?s unborn baby perished in December 2010 after a hit-and-run driver injured Sherlock at an intersection in Stapleton. The case remains unresolved.

Nationally known is the case of Scott Peterson who killed his wife Laci and unborn son Conner in California in December 2002. In that state, the death of the unborn was son was already a criminal offense and charged against the father.

The Peterson case led to Congress passing the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004. The act defines an unborn victim as ?a member of the species Homo Sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb.?

Similar language is found in HB 1130, but Democrats have opposed the bill because they say it establishes personhood legal rights to a fetus ? a status that has been placed twice on the ballot but overwhelmingly rejected byColoradovoters.

During the bill?s second reading last Friday, Lois Court (D-Denver) questioned the intent of the bill and said that the language, ?an unborn member of the species Homo Sapiens is a pretty ambiguous term. This is personhood plain and simple.?

?We need to respect what they have said,? said Court of the personhood amendments rejected by voters in 2008 and 2010.

?What Representative Joshi is trying to do is bring criminal justice, which has been long overdue, to pregnant women who have been killed, beaten, maimed or injured by the very reason for being pregnant,? said House Majority Leader Amy Stephens. ?This is a violent criminal act against women.?

?This is a criminal justice bill whose time has come,? declared Stephens.

?There is nothing in this bill that says that personhood will not be established. There?s nothing. Look at the bill! Read the bill! This is a disaster,? asserted Rep. Crisanta Duran (D-Denver).

Rep. Daniel Kagan (D-Greenwood Village) argued that the bill?s language could lead to a charge of murder against a young woman who takes a ?morning after pill? or a doctor who performs an abortion.

If a doctor performs a safe abortion but his license has expired by one or two days or wasn?t licensed in Colorado, he has committed a crime of homicide under this bill, said Kagan.

?I don?t see how those charges are remotely involved in this bill,? said Rep. Chris Holbert (R-Parker). He added that the bill had been amended to exempt contraception choices and medical procedures approved by the mother of an unborn child.

Democrats insisted Colorado has existing laws against crimes committed against a pregnant woman. HB 1130, they argued, is too stringent because a driver of a vehicle involved in an accident could be charged with homicide if a mother is injured and her unborn child dies ? whether it is a one-day old fertilized egg or full term fetus.

?This is about creating criminal code in the state of Colorado that protects the unborn child,? declared Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Waller. ?This bill is not about abortion; it exempts abortion. This bill is a criminal justice bill that protects a child in the womb.?

Waller said it?s the difference between a 9-month old child having protection versus an unborn 9-month old child being unprotected from a criminal act that results in death.

?I would like to go back to that horrible accident in (Stapleton) where the whole community was in an uproar because a  woman lost her baby. She lived, but there were no legal recourse available to her,? said Rep. Carole Murray (R-Castle Rock), said of Sherlock.

?When a baby dies in certain circumstances, it?s murder,? said Murray. ?I think the bill is very clear about that.? 

Updated: 11:54 a.m. 

Jeb Bush is endorsing Mitt Romney for president, he announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, the former Florida governor congratulated Romney for his primary win in Illinois Tuesday night -- and called on his fellow Republicans to unite behind the former Massachusetts governor as the party's presidential nominee. 

"Congratulations to Governor Mitt Romney on his win last night and to all the candidates for a hard fought, thoughtful debate and primary season," Bush said in the statement. "Primary elections have been held in thirty-four states, and now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall."

He continued: "I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our Party's nomination. We face huge challenges, and we need a leader who understands the economy, recognizes more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed."

Bush, who is the brother and son of former presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush respectively, had up to this point declined to endorse a candidate, including during the Florida primary, when he told Bloomberg he would "stay neutral." 

"He has been watching the race and made the decision to endorse this morning. He called Gov. Romney this morning," a Bush spokesman told CBS News on Wednesday. 

Last month, Bush said he found the rhetoric being touted in the Republican presidential debates "a little troubling" because the candidates were appealing to voters' "fears and emotion" rather than more overarching political concerns.

"I used to be a conservative and I watch these debates and I'm wondering, I don't think I've changed, but it's a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people's fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective and that's kind of where we are," Bush said after a February speech in Dallas. 

The former governor, who has led efforts to forge a stronger relationship between the Latino and Republican communities, has also warned the GOP presidential candidates against alienating Hispanic voters ahead of the general election. 

"That could be an issue in the general election that plays out in a negative way for Republican candidates," Bush told Bloomberg in January. "In swing-states, Hispanic voters are increasingly the swing voters, and if you, by your tone more than anything else, send a signal that 'you're not wanted on my team' -- and I'm not saying any candidate has done that -- you could alienate voters that could be part of the winning" equation toward winning the presidency. 

In the same interview, Bush said "I don't agree with Mitt's views on immigration in their totality but that's OK."

"My not endorsing him does not relate to any particular issue," he said at the time. 

Bush has supported immigration reform, and has gone so far as to say he is "supportive" of the goals outlined in the DREAM Act, an immigration measure that would give upstanding undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children a pathway to citizenship.

Romney has said he does not support the DREAM Act as it currently exists, and has touted the concept of "self-deportation" as an alternate immigration plan. 

"The answer is self-deportation, which is people decide they can do better by going home because they can't find work here because they don't have legal documentation to allow them to work here," he said in a January debate. "And so we're not going to round people up."

Following Bush's announcement, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond told reporters the endorsement was "the completion of the establishment trifecta," referring to to Bob Dole, former president George H.W. Bush and Jeb Bush, all of whom have now endorsed Romney. 

Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, told members of the Legislative Health and Human Service committee that in the interest of protecting women?s health, he would withdraw those provisions. The bill that now is moving forward includes only its original provision to require doctors performing abortions to have admitting priviledges at area hospitals.

The original bill had ?represented the majority of Tennesseans ? people who are supportive of the culture of life,? Hill said. He said opponents were ?spreading lies about me and this bill. Their categorization of me as a terrorist, murderer or more has been used by their leftist friends to engender hatred and incite the threat of violence against me.?

?I have referred those threats to the proper authorities,? he said.

Critics of the bill, known as the Life Defense Act of 2012 or HB3808, say the proposal could expose doctors performing abortions to intimidation or violence by requiring the Department of Health to publicly post forms doctors routinely fill out and sign for each abortion. They also say the bill?s requirement that demographic details about a woman obtaining an abortion ? including her age, marital status, race, number of children, and county of residence ? could potentially identify her, particularly if she lives in a small or rural community.

The bill?s proponents, including Tennessee Right to Life, say the bill simply requires the state to make public information they already collect. State Sen. Mae Beavers, a Republican from Mount Juliet, is a co-sponsor.

Blagojevich's Barber: Ex-governor's hair dyed, will turn gray within months behind bars 

CHICAGO (AP) ? Rod Blagojevich's barber says the former Illinois governor's famously thick, dark hair is dyed and will turn gray within the first months of his prison term.Peter Vodovoz has been Blagojevich's barber for more than two decades. Vodovoz said Wednesday that the 55-year-old Blagojevich has dyed his hair for years. Blagojevich reported to a Colorado federal prison last week to begin serving a 14-year sentence for corruption. A spokesman for the prison says hair dye is banned becauseinmates could use it to change their appearances in escape attempts.Vodovoz says Blagojevich's dark-brown dye will fade quickly and could be as gray as talk-show host Jay Leno's hair within three months.When he was governor, Blagojevich was so obsessive about his hair he had a security official carry a brush.

refresh it for more funnies. 

 Our house has two large picture windows on the bottom. One is the living room and one is the dining room. It's just two large windows with no grid or anything.These are fine and in good shape for now. Upstairs we have 4 windows that need to be replaced.

Right now the windows have ugly aluminum trim with vinyl faded shutters from when the house was built in 1988.

I have no idea what to do. Get new shutters and mount them correctly? (on the window frame as opposed to the house itself)

or ditch the shutters all together and just have the window frame thicker. ( I don't know the correct word for this)

For the windows themselves, should I get a grid? Skip it? They have grids within the window (which I know a lot people hate) or removable grids.

Do you think a colonial style house needs shutters? 

 Any suggestions appreciated!

Actually, this is really for the people who don't know why your signature made me chortle. 

I've followed her after finding her on a friend's blogroll.

http://weare2ofakind.blogspot.com/2011/08/surgery-recap.html

P.S. Some of the pictures are graphic but she breaks down her entire process from start to finish and I felt it was very informative.

There are like 13 posts on her blog about the process if you want to read it all.

After word spread rapidly Wednesday that the New York Jets had acquired quarterback Tim Tebow from Denver for draft picks, the teams have encountered a hang-up in the language in Tebow's contract that could nullify the trade, a Broncos source tells ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

In Tebow's contract is a $6.2 million salary advance, of which $1.2 million already has been paid by Denver, sources told Schefter. The difference of $5 million is still advanced against his future salary, and that burden would shift to the Jets in a trade. The Jets, sources said, believe the Broncos should owe Tebow that money.

The trade, then, will not be finalized until the sides resolve their differences over which should pay the money coming to Tebow.

The teams agreed to the terms of the trade -- the Jets dealt fourth-round and sixth-round selections in 2012 in exchange for Tebow and a 2012 seventh-rounder from Denver -- before the Broncos asked New York to pay back a portion of bonuses and salary already paid to Tebow, sources told Schefter.

One league source said he believes the Broncos-Jets trade will go through. Sources also said that, if the trade falls apart, the St. Louis Rams could be in play for Tebow because the Rams do not have issues with Tebow's contract that New York does.

The same money issues in Tebow's contract also caused complications for Jacksonville trying to complete a trade for Tebow earlier, sources told Schefter.

Tebow, a former first-round pick, went on the trading block Monday when the Broncos secured free agent quarterback Peyton Manning, who signed a five-year, $96 million contract.

The timing of the trade is curious.

Two weeks ago, the Jets gave Sanchez a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension, professing their faith in him even though he regressed in certain areas last season. They signed former Detroit Lions backup Drew Stanton last week to be their No. 2 quarterback, handing him a $500,000 signing bonus. They also have former Alabama star Greg McElroy.

The Jets see Tebow as a change-of-pace player with the ability to run the wildcat offense. They've used the wildcat in recent years, but cut back last season with the departure of Brad Smith. The new offensive coordinator is Tony Sparano, who introduced the wildcat to the NFL as coach of the Miami Dolphins.

ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini contributed to this report.

Yeah, I'm prolly on TN too much. LOL! 

Try it out, if you have a hankering:

http://t.co/UGHsAi5V

#RL Jets have just announced they have agreed on a trade with Denver Broncos for QB Tim Tebow.

Ouch.

 http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7718136/sean-payton-new-orleans-saints-banned-one-year-bounties

Rick Santorum criticizes President Obama?s parenting

Today Rick Santorum criticized President Obama for allowing Malia Obama to travel to Mexico for a spring break trip.  Santorum?s comments were made during an interview with Glenn Beck.  Both Beck and Santorum cite a recent travel advisory released by the State Department.  What both Beck and Santorum neglect to mention is that the advisory does not treat all of Mexico the same, but instead American travelers are only told to avoid some parts of Mexico.  Ignoring this fact, Santorum claims that President Obama is setting a bad example by letting Malia travel down to a popular tourist destination in Mexico.  A video of Santorum?s comments can be seen in the video to the left.  A transcript appears below.

?What I would say is that the president?s actions should reflect what his administration is saying.  If the administration is saying that it?s not safe to have people down there, then just because you can send 25 Secret Service agents doesn?t mean you should do it. You should set an example. I think that?s what presidents do. They set an example. And when the government is saying this is not safe, then you don?t set the example by sending your kids down there.?

Beck?s own website, The Blaze, notes that there is no travel warning in effect for the part of Mexico that Malia is visiting.  Somehow Beck forgot to mention this during the interview. 

But the larger issue is even discussing President Obama?s daughters. Throughout American history it has been unspoken rule that a president?s children are off limits to the press when they are minors, particularly when not accompanied by their parents.  The president theoretically invited scrutiny when he chose to run for office, but the president?s children did not make such a choice.  Santorum has complained in the past about being asked about birth control rather than substantive issues that he would rather be discussing.  However, by talking about Malia Obama?s spring break trip rather than health care reform, deficit reduction, or job creation Santorum essentially invites more controversy.

I know that date didn't work for everyone but I promise we will do this again another time! 

So, after kids find out that (as my H would say) pleasure fucckings is fun and feels good because feeling good makes you feel good, you shouldn't have sexy time at all. Jesus H. Christ. Oh and the bill passed.

*headdesk* 

- Clearly, I'm hungover.

- I ate Five Guys last night after drinking but it wasn't enough grease, so I had to eat McDonalds grease for breakfast this morning.  Now I feel better.

WHO GETS DRUNK ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING?  BY DRINKING MOONSHINE?

Am I an official Tennessean now?

Totally unrelated to the above - and also random - John Elway kind of seems like an AW in that press conference from yesterday. Yeah, I DVR'd that sh*t.

Women Continue To Fill Rick Perry's Facebook Wall With Mock Questions

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/03/21/149056892/women-continue-to-fill-rick-perrys-facebook-wall-with-mock-questions?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Here's the first of more than 5,600 comments we saw this morning when we went to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Facebook page and opened up a post on his wall thanking those who supported his bid for the Republican presidential nomination:

"Governor Perry, I am experiencing mid-cycle cramping. Is this a punishment from god for not getting pregnant this month?"

That question seems to have since disappeared, but the message gives you a sense of what's been happening for several days on Perry's Facebook wall. As The Washington Post's She The People blog says, many women are "facetiously seeking advice on their menstrual periods" from the governor, "since he's styled himself as an expert on women's health."

And it's an organized protest over Perry's desire to cut government funds that go to Planned Parenthood.

Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier tells the Dallas Morning News that "there is no place for such inappropriate comments, which do nothing to advance the important discussion about issues surrounding the Women's Health Program. It's clear many of these individuals are basing their remarks on something other than the facts ? Gov. Perry is proud of his efforts to keep this program going with or without the federal government."

Susan G. Komen Woes Continue as a New York Bigwig Resigns

Dara Richardson-Heron, the CEO of Komen's powerful NYC affiliate, steps down, raising questions about the embattled cancer-fighting foundation. Abigail Pesta reports.

The chief executive officer of Susan G. Komen?s powerhouse New York City affiliate resigned today, a possible indication of further fallout from the foundation?s recent decision to de-fund?and then re-fund?Planned Parenthood. That scandal, which unfolded last month, triggered a backlash from critics and heavy scrutiny of the cancer-fighting foundation.

In a letter sent to constituents, the CEO of the New York City affiliate, Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., said, ?I have made a personal decision to leave my role as the CEO of Komen Greater NYC effective April 27, 2012, to pursue new career opportunities where I may continue to utilize my education, experience and expertise.? She continued, ?As a physician, as a 14-year-and-counting survivor, and as the daughter of a 24-year-and-counting survivor, you have my word that I will continue to be a strong advocate for all women and families impacted by breast cancer.?

Richardson-Heron wasn?t immediately available for comment. Her resignation comes amid the recent news that the New York City affiliate is postponing two spring fundraising events?an awards gala and a teen-focused event called Tickled Pink?due to concerns about efforts to raise funds in the near term, according to the group?s director of communications, Vern T. Calhoun. A free breakfast for ?grantees, supporters, and volunteers? is planned instead, according to a statement from the affiliate.

Calhoun declined to answer further questions about fundraising, saying only that the New York City affiliate is one of the top five affiliates in the country in terms of raising money. Komen has a nationwide network of affiliates, with more than 100,000 volunteers who work to raise money through races and pink-ribbon campaigns.

Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, who resigned today as CEO of the NYC affiliate of the Susan G. Komen foundation, Henry S. Dziekan III / Getty Images

Eve Ellis, a former board member of the Komen affiliate in New York City, said she believes Richardson-Heron?s resignation is tied to the Planned Parenthood controversy. ?I can?t say exactly why she [resigned], but I can tell you that Dara was working behind the scenes before the decision to cut funds to Planned Parenthood, saying, ?Please don?t do this.? After the decision, she was working behind the scenes to reverse it,? Ellis told The Daily Beast. She added, ?I have the utmost respect for Dara. I was on the selection committee when we selected her?she is an impressive force.?

She added that Komen affiliates had recently received a questionnaire from the foundation, asking if more needed to be done regarding the Planned Parenthood flap.

The Komen foundation, in an internal memo to affiliates, said of Richardson-Heron?s resignation, ?We wanted to take this opportunity to wish Dara well, to thank her for her service to our organization and to express our appreciation for her willingness to continue assisting the Greater NYC Affiliate during a transition. Under Dara's leadership, the Greater NYC Affiliate has grown in size and stature to provide meaningful programs in New York, serving many thousands of women in need throughout the region.?

Ellis, who has called on Komen founder Nancy Brinker to resign in order to restore the foundation's reputation, did so again today. ?When the CEO of one of the biggest and most successful affiliates resigns, I hope Nancy Brinker takes note,? Ellis said.

Brinker has come under fire for her handling of the Planned Parenthood matter and her management and spending style, including a questionable expense report uncovered by The Daily Beast last month.

Brinker?s advocates point out that in the 30 years since she launched the foundation, she has raised some $1.9 billion for cancer research. The foundation and its nationwide affiliates were all Brinker?s vision?she started the charity after her sister, Susan G. Komen, died of breast cancer in her mid-30s.

Ellis said of Brinker, ?I really feel that she can salvage this situation by stepping aside. I don?t mind if she steps aside as a hero, saying, look what I?ve built, with the help of others. The mission is bigger than all of us. Go out a hero, a martyr. It?s in Nancy Brinker's hands and in her board's hands. They are not an independent board?her son is on it. They need to be an independent voice.?

Richardson-Heron?s resignation is the third major departure from the foundation in recent weeks.

Katrina McGhee, the foundation?s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, announced this month that she will be leaving as of May 4, after six years on the job. In an internal memo, Brinker praised McGhee for her ?extraordinary contributions? and ?exemplary leadership,? saying McGhee was leaving for personal reasons and would continue to do some project work for the foundation.

Last month, Karen Handel, the senior vice president for policy at Komen, resigned, saying she had spearheaded the decision to cut funds to Planned Parenthood amid pressure from donors and Catholic bishops.

At the time, Handel told The Daily Beast, ?More donors said they were pulling out. The issue was ratcheting up. It wasn?t dying down. Two dozen Catholic bishops were saying not to support Komen ?We needed to find some options for moving to neutral ground. I was tasked with doing that.? She went on to call Planned Parenthood a ?gigantic bully." 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am interested to see if/how fundraising is affected at Komen this year - esp with the walks coming up in the spring. I also wish we were hearing more behind the scenes re the before and after of the PP decisions.

http://inashoe.com/2009/09/open-letter-working-moms/

I see you nearly every time I?m out with my children.  Sometimes you are very young, sometimes you look older.  You might look happy one day and tired or stressed the next.  You are different every time I meet you, but you say the same thing to me nearly every time:  ?You?re so lucky.  I wish I could stay home with my children but I just can?t afford it.?

Usually I smile and agree that I am blessed, but quite honestly  I?d like to challenge you.  You say you can?t afford to stay home.  Maybe you can if you?re willing to make some changes.

• Will you trade in your 2 year old car for a 13 year old mini van?  The side door might not work very well.  Yes, it will break down occasionally on your way to the kids? dental checkups, but that?s ok.  Your dentist will understand.  Do plan to change a flat every now and then, since you might be driving on older tires.
• Will you buy your clothes at thrift stores from now on?  I know your clothes aren?t terribly expensive now, but even inexpensive clothes add up when you buy them new.  No, you won?t always be able to wear exactly what you want, but you might find that it?s not such a big deal if you?re spending most of your time at home.  Your kids won?t make fun of your fashion sense.  Well, not unless they?re teens.  Then I can?t vouch for them.
• You might have to reconsider cable TV.  Anyway, the last thing you need is to watch the average 5 hours/day of TV.  Too much of it is about working moms driving late model cars and wearing all those clothes you won?t be buying.
• Something as simple as grabbing pizza on Friday night might become a financial decision, carefully weighed out.
• Your children should expect some changes too.  Ballet lessons, karate lessons, and sports might go on the chopping block.  They might be among the sad minority that does not possess a laptop or cell phone.  They might never visit Disneyland.  Summer camp might even be crossed off the calendar.  Don?t let the guilt get to you.  Just like adults, children are not entitled to all the best in life.   Children need to understand that these things are extras.  They are wants, not needs.  The sooner your children know this, the happier they will be.
• Would you be willing to sell your house?  If you?re serious about wanting to stay home with your children, this might be what it takes.  Are you willing to live in a smaller, older home, in a lower priced neighborhood?

To sum it up, are you willing to give up a middle class lifestyle?  I know you?re not rich now, but you could get by on less if you really had to.   Is staying home with your children worth that much to you?

I realize that not every situation is the same.  You might be a single mom, struggling just to keep the electric on.  Some churches would help you, but you might not be in that sort of church.

You might be willing to make all the lifestyle changes that would enable you to stay home but your husband insists that you work.

Maybe your husband is disabled, and truly can?t support the family.

Maybe you have other truly extenuating circumstances.

Or maybe you didn?t really mean that you?d love to do it.  Maybe you just meant it might be kinda nice, if you didn?t have to give up any of your current creature comforts.

But maybe, just maybe you really never thought of it this way and now you realize that you can afford to stay home.  Will you do it?

____________________This is the best comment________________________