I CAN'T TAKE THE MESS ANYMORE!

As you can see, my blogroll is missing, along with links and images. I am starting from scratch on the template to fix whatever is making Firefox purée my column colors. Please bear with me 'til I figure it out.

Thanks.

I knew there was a reason I'm an over-protective mom...

According to AP, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi has discovered that our tax dollars have been paying for Sex offenders' Viagra prescriptions. How can we A) give these people their privacy, and B) keep from facillitating their unacceptable behavior?

Terri's Fight was just the beginning!

These stories show there's a lot more to do to protect people with cognitive disabilities from those who would call them non-persons.

Ethical discussions based on the theories of Peter Singer could suddenly put anybody who can't talk to a TV reporter in Terri's position. Those of us who value our "imperfect" lives need to
find a way to impact public opinion before this idea of shifting
"personhood" across the lifespan solidifies in American thought.

If I could be...

Thanks to Janette at Common Sense Runs Wild for tagging me to do this meme:

Immediately following there is a list of 18? 19? 20?different occupations. You must select at least 5 of them (feel free to select more). You may add more if you like to your list before you pass it on (after you select 5 of the items as it was passed to you). Each one begins with "If I could be..." Of the 5 you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession. For example, if the selected occupation was "pirate" you might take the phrase "If I could be a pirate..." and add to it "I would sail the 7 Seas, dating lasses from around the worlde." See how easy that is?

Here's the list:

• If I could be a scientist...
• If I could be a farmer...
• If I could be a musician...
• If I could be a doctor...
• If I could be a painter...
• If I could be a gardener...
• If I could be a missionary...
• If I could be a chef...
• If I could be an architect...
• If I could be a linguist...
• If I could be a psychologist...
• If I could be a librarian...
• If I could be an athlete...
• If I could be a lawyer...
• If I could be an innkeeper...
• If I could be a professor...
• If I could be a writer...
• If I could be a llama-rider...
• If I could be a bonnie pirate...
• If I could be an astronaut...

(Janette added):

• If I could be a politician . . .
• If I could be a kid again . . .
• If I could be an animal . . .
• If I could be a tree . . .
• If I could be a celebrity . . .

And my own addition is:

• If I could be a character from a book or movie...

Here are my choices:

* If I could be a scientist... I'd create a small, mobile device that would, without any damage to the user's actual health, simulate various disabilities, like blindness, deafness, cognitive impairments, or paralysis. The user would then live with the chosen disability for, say, twenty-four hours.

* If I could be a doctor... I'd create treatment plans based on respect for the patient, designed to communicate that respect without adding significantly to the costs of care.

* If I could be a painter... I'd create paintings to represent a song, a caress, or the flavor of chocolate...

* If I could be a professor... I'd teach my students that the only thing needed to achieve a dream is the decision to pursue it.

* If I could be a writer... oh, yeah, I am a writer!

And thanks to Janette for this one:

* If I could be a kid again... I'd stay in touch with my friends. And I'd realize how skinny I was!

* If I could be a character from a book or a movie... I'd be a dragonrider from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. I don't care what color my dragon would be, but I want to fight Thread before it disappears forever!

I'm tagging Summer, Rae, and Imfunnytoo

Senator Levin (or at least his office) responds to my email about Terri

Dear Ms. Petricko:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the case of Theresa Schiavo.

As you may know, on March 20, 2005, the Senate passed a private bill for
the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo (P.L.109-3). This
bill was subsequently passed by the House of Representatives and signed
by the President on March 21, 2005. P.L.109-3 gives the parents of
Theresa Schiavo standing to bring their case in federal court.

These matters have been traditionally within the jurisdiction of state
courts. In this case, state courts in Florida have repeatedly ruled that
Theresa Schiavo’s feeding tube be removed in accordance with her wishes,
as determined by the evidence before the court and the wishes of her
husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo. Over the course of twelve
years, courts in Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court have refused to
overturn that original decision.

I believe it was unwise for the U.S. Congress to intervene in this
deeply personal matter. It is the responsibility of state courts to make
difficult determinations in these matters and that is what the state
courts in Florida have done. While I opposed the overall intent of
P.L.109-3, I worked in a bipartisan manner to improve the legislation
that was ultimately signed into law by the President. During Senate
consideration of an earlier version of the bill, I objected to a
provision in the bill that would have required a federal court to issue
a stay in response to an appeal by Theresa Schiavo’s parents. This
provision was later struck from the bill. Prior to Senate passage of
P.L.109-3, I entered into a colloquy with Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-TN) to make clear that the bill does not in any way restrict
the discretion of the federal court and takes no position on whether the
court should take any action in considering the Theresa Schiavo case,
including whether it should issue a stay. The colloquy was later cited
by the 11th Circuit Court in its decision denying a stay in this case.
The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently rejected the appeal. The full text
of this colloquy and other statements I made with regard to P.L.109-3
can be found on my website at
[levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=234397].

I hope this information is helpful. Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Carl Levin

UK Parents' wishes for their child overruled by courts

BBC:
High court says: "Baby 'should be allowed to die'"

Charlotte Wyatt
Charlotte was born with brain, lung and kidney damage

A severely brain-damaged baby should be allowed to die if she stops
breathing, a High Court judge has ruled.

The parents of 18-month-old Charlotte Wyatt have lost their legal battle
to overturn a court order allowing doctors not to resuscitate her.

Darren and Debbie Wyatt, from Portsmouth, had been fighting the ruling,
made in October.

But Mr Justice Hedley said that the new order was not open-ended and
remained subject to review.

I am so predictable...

I'd love to deny it... it's so....NICE! Blech! Thanks to Janette at Common Sense Runs Wild for letting me in on this quiz by displaying her (much cooler) Angry girl.

What kind of little girl were YOU?
brought to you by Quizilla

Justice for Judge Van Sickle?

N.D. Court Affirms Guardianship Case
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 04:45:27 AM
By DALE WETZEL

A retired federal judge who once issued a landmark ruling on the rights
of the mentally retarded to live outside state institutions was properly
moved to a locked Alzheimer's ward in 2003, a court ruled Monday.

I will be digging into Judge Van Sickle's case soon. Coming up: A
special feature on the controversy surrounding former Ms. Wheelchair
Wisconsin, Janeal Lee.

Terri's Gift: Disabled Man Makes His Wishes Clear

Terri Schiavo has not died in vain. Her tragedy is creating conversations that will save at least one life. The Associated Press reports that Thor Spencer, 29, has let his family know: "I'd rather be alive than dead."

Despite the fact that the AP headline calls him a "Child," Thor is a man with a strong will. After seeing Terri on TV, he decided he never wanted doctors or the courts to make life-or-death decisions for him.

As a result, the Spencer family held a meeting, designed to help them come to terms with Thor's wishes. The family sees a pressing need for this conversation, because Thor often has health problems due to a brain injury.
In explaining his wishes,he brings up an experience I share, and one I've heard from others with disabilities:

Doctors said his clenched right arm might never relax. It did.

Doctors said he might not learn to talk again. He can.

Doctors said he probably would never walk on his own. He does.

"They were wrong," he says. "They were wrong every time. So, don't make that decision from what they say."

Like Thor, I have begun to tell my family and friends that I want to live, no matter what the doctors say. I am asking them what they want, and suggesting that they file living wills and durable power of attorney documents.

Thank you, Terri.

Rapist Lottery Winner Paroled in London?

From London's Daily Telegraph on the web:

Rapist free to spend lottery win

By JAMES MILLS

April 2, 2005

LONDON: A rapist who won the lottery while serving a life sentence left prison yesterday and got his hands on the $17 million fortune.

Why is a habitual sex offender who's been sentenced to life in prison being paroled, anyway?

TERRI HAS DIED

Recovery Part II

My Apologies to CNN's Dr. Gupta-- I'm afraid I have to directly contradict him. I don't know much about neurology, but I found a study which asserts that there have been three people who recovered from PVS after being treated with the Parkinson's drug Levodopa.

There are very few medical absolutes. When I hear "always" or "never" in a medical context, I can't help remembering that in 1970 I was the smallest preemie to survive in the hospital where I was born-- I was "never" going to talk and would "always" have to be cared for by my parents. Today I am a mother, speaker and writer, I drive my own van and work full time. I've been told that I "never" shut up!

Doctors are smart, hardworking people who mean well. But they can't see the future.

One way to see the value of life...

My Thanks to Dr. Charles for this quote: “A lot of people pity me because I don’t see the right colors,” he told me. “That never bothered me much. First of all I don’t know what I’m missing, and second of all who’s to say my world isn’t prettier.”

I've been trying to say that for weeks now. Lovely, Doctor.

No cases of recovery from PVS?

It seems the reason CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta and others can't find cases of recovery from PVS is because the treating physicians change the diagnosis if the patient improves!

Rae has posted a whole list of stories about people who were diagnosed PVS, and recovered to one degree or another-- at which time the doctors said, "Oops, sorry!" ((NOTE: scroll down to the posts beginning March 23.))

Terri Can Teach us to Choose Joy

I've noticed lately that it seems easy for people to watch the video and say "Maybe Michael Schiavo shouldn't be able to make this decision, but I wouldn't want to live like that."  The truth is, they don't know what it's like.  They're making assumptions about how they'd feel if they lost the ability to walk, talk, or be independent. Of course it's scary to contemplate a big change in someone's health or abilities.  But I hope those of us who fight for Terri will make a difference in the way that change is seen by the world.  That's what inspired me to write "18 Ways to Live--" There is no real need for Terri's life to be bleak-- She is loved; that's the big thing.  If she is allowed to be comfortable, to experience the world, and to work toward rehabillitation, that can be a rich, fulfilling life, despite limitations.  Truthfully, all of us have limitations, and any of us can choose to find joy despite loss.

Why the courts and the government don't need to help Terri now

This Morning's decision by the eleventh appellate court is devastating. I knew in the back of my mind that the Federal courts could decline to feed and hydrate Terri, but I hoped that the language of the law, the request for a "De Novo" trial, would motivate them to give her time. It seems to me that the courts may be reacting out of anger at congress' intervention, trying to protect the modern legal process: Specifically, not only ruling on cases, but deciding which cases to take and what evidence and arguments to hear, in order to shape the canon of US law.

Sadly, the extreme measures made in the House, and the rhetoric that follows, probably mean there will be no more intervention from them because of these embarrassing facts:

a) The voting public has seen the boneheaded memo that may have been sent out to Republican congressmen before the debate on the House floor.

b) President Bush, while still Governor of Texas, signed legislation that allows doctors to refuse to execute an advance directive in some cases. Texas Children's Hospital recently used this law to remove a ventillator from an infant against his mother's wishes.

d) The public, by and large, doesn't seem to find a lot of value in a life like Terri's. Once she's gone, this issue seems likely to become weighted on the side of ending treatment for others like her.

c) The next election is too far away for Terri's death to matter at the polls.

Despite the Schindler's vow to seek relief from the Supreme court, it looks to me like this is the place where the buck stops. I am not a lawyer, or a politician. I fervently pray that I am wrong.

Why is Terri Schindler-Schiavo my Problem?

I use a wheelchair because of Cerebral Palsy, and a prosthetic arm to replace the wrist and hand I was born without. I grew up with friends who were as "vegetative" as Terri-- loving life, enjoying (sometimes instigating) childish pranks, and just being kids. When I fight for Terri and others whose lives are being considered worthless by the medical establishment and the courts, I am fighting for my own life, my own value in their eyes-- my freedom.

18 Ways to Live

In Honor of Terri Schindler-Schiavo

1.Listen to great music.
2.Do Saturday-morning cartoons in your jammies.
3.Sit outside and enjoy the sun on your face.
4.Keep an eye on squirrels, bluejays, and children-- there's always a comedian around, if you look.
5.Play "Name that cloud."
6.Count your blessings.
7.Look at family photos.
8.Sit quietly with someone you love.
9.Smell flowers, babies, or the ocean.
10.Get a backrub.
11.Laugh.
12.Cuddle.
13.Dream.
14.Throw a tantrum.
15.Meditate and pray.
18.Let people pamper you.
16.Listen to a story-- preferably one about you.
17.Watch fireworks, lightning, sunsets, rainbows, and snow.


For more information on the fight to save Terri Shindler-Schiavo, see www.terrisfight.org

Thoughts on Oscar

I love Morgan Freeman. The world of cinema would be smaller, flatter, without him. I wanted to be jumping around my living room for him tonight-- It'll come as a surprize to few that I can't get excited for anyone in "Million Dollar Baby."

It isn't because I think they don't deserve recognition for their accomplishments; an offensive film can still be an artful one-- and based on Baby's press I suspect it's well done.

The words of accolade for the film should be balanced with words (FILMS!) that challenge the ideas it presents. If the filmmakers are serious when they say that "Baby" is one story about one group of people, and not a broader social statement, then I challenge them to _make_ a social statement by sponsoring the distribution of "Murderball" to be distributed along side it.

O'Reilly's "Only My Spin" Zone

This is a small excerpt from FDCH e-Media Transcripts of "The O'Reilly Factor" originally aired 02/09/05, as offered for licensing from Valeo Intellectual Property I have purchased licensing to post the transcript in its entirety, but I can't do that from work. Check back Friday 2/11/05 late P.M.

By Bill O'Reilly

Show: THE O'REILLY FACTOR

Guest: Andrea Moore-Emmett

O'REILLY: In the Back of the Book Segment tonight, an estimated 50,000 Americans live in polygamous families here in the USA, more than half of them in the State of Utah. Now the Mormon Church banned polygamy more than 100 years ago, but some fundamentalists in that religion have ignored the ban.

Joining us now from Salt Lake City is Andrea Moore-Emmett, former Mormon who's now written a book called God's Brothel about the polygamy situation.

**MAJOR SNIP (Check the article-- there is only discussion of polygamy, especially in Utah; No other controversial relationships/families are mentioned)**

O'REILLY: Well -- and if gay marriage got approved, then polygamy would have to be approved under equal protection, as we have said many times.

All right, Madam. Interesting book. Thank you.

MOORE-EMMETT: No, I don't think so.

O'REILLY: We appreciate it.

Next, we'll wrap things up with the Most Ridiculous Item of the Day and some of your mail.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)


I began tracking Bill O'Reilly a few months ago, on the recommendation of a right-leaning friend whose opinions I respect. It was some time in September or October 2004, and I was complaining about how difficult I find it to gather information from many points of view-- Most of the media outlets I am used to reading are liberal; My friend suggested Fox News as a good source, and O'Reilly in particular as a smart conservative commentator.

So OK-- O'Reilly is smart, but he's also contentious and arrogant. His gay marriage comment is out of context for this conversation; On top of that, his guest obviously disagrees. So what does this smart guy do? He jumps to a commercial break. I feel so bad for Ms. Moore-Emmett. I would've felt like a dirty kleenex after that exchange.