RaRa

The de rigueur, White House barbeque is scheduled on the South Lawn today, with fireworks later.

Bad press always seems to come when Obama is on a trip. Obama et al, will be in route to Moscow Sunday night; anyone want to guess what un-pleasantries will unfold while he’s gone?

I’m in Phoenix, recuperating from the effects of 3500 screaming teenage girls, (and their supporters) in a weeklong volleyball tournament that was held here, last week . I had thought we would check out some of the local scenery, like the Tonto National Park. However, since it appears we need to purchase passes, maybe we will do that tomorrow.

If the last week is any judge, the club sport of volleyball is still on the rise among women. The logistics, support, organization and plain money that it takes to transport teenagers, coaches, parents, and grandparents to this yearly event, from all over the United States; and places like Canada, Puerto Rico and Italy is pretty astonishing.

As one of the screaming supporters, therefore, I personally am disturbed by the recent UC Davis settlement, which will allow a Title IX deviation to 1.5% from the previous 5% proportion of female athletes to female students. UC Davis has a women’s volleyball team. The settlement has the potential to undermine future Title IX rulings.

It’s not good enough, folks.

In the meantime, as Dennis Kucinich says, troop movement is not the same as troop withdrawal.

The Inspector General is still not releasing the report of the CIA’s interrogation tactics.

And, as been blogged elsewhere today, Michael Jackson is still dead.

No Volleyball?

This announcement strikes close to home. It is a good reminder of why, even though Title IX was a leap forward for women, women’s rights are still vulnerable. This is especially true in these times of financial stress. Women, and the men who support them, must be vigilant that cirriculum cuts if required, are evenhanded.

 May 14, 2009

Quinnipiac University Sued for Title IX Violation

by Kolbe Franklin, Program Assistant, 

National Women’s Law Center

In a recent suit in federal court, the members of the female volleyball team at Quinnipiac University, along with their coach, have charged the University with violating Title IX based on its decision to eliminate the sport. With support from the Connecticut chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the suit claims that the University has continually failed to provide equal athletic opportunity for its female students and that the recent decision to eliminate volleyball has further exacerbated the problem. Despite comprising 62 percent of the student body, women have historically received only around half of all athletic resources.

http://www.womenstake.org/2009/05/quinnipiac-university-sued-for-title-ix-violation.html

Imagine, if instead, the ERA were ratified and women’s rights were guaranteed by the Constitution!

 

Worth a Thousand Words?

ABC has reported that President Obama will fight the release of additional detainee abuse photos, that the ACLU has requested.

 http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/05/president-oba-5.html

 See the ACLU’s response HERE.

 Yah, why release more proof of your miscreant behavior, when you or someone in Congress might get sued for it….

 And, all this on the heels of Philip Zelikow’s  testimony to the Senate Hearing Committee today.

Jewish Heritage Month

In case you didn’t know, May is National Jewish Heritage Month. What are your doing to commemorate our history?

Do a Google of “jewish support of the american revolution” and you will get around 226,000 hits.

Think of people like Hayim Soloman, or these folks, without whom there would not be a United States.

Compare what Benjamin Franklin believed and did to how we think today.

Shalom!

 

US Wins a Seat on the UN Human Rights Council

Associated Press reports that the United States won her first seat on the UN Human Rights Council yesterday HERE. As you may remember, the USA was required to produce a pledge to the Council, which the ACLU felt left several human rights points obscure. The Pledge can be found in the linked ACLU page on the recent blog HERE.

In case you forgot the history of the Council, Wiki has a brief chronology HERE.

When SOS Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the US intent to seek a seat in March of this year, it reversed a Bush policy decision to shun the Council over membership of other nations who were considered to be repressive.  However, as she and US Ambassador Susan Rice have noted, the decision is part of “new era of engagement”.

The whole thing gets back to whether it’s better to work in the system in hopes of changing it, or outside of it.  Israel, one of the nations who, along with the US, first opposed the Council’s formation, continues to object to participation. 

Even so, the Council is purely advisory to the UN and has no authority to initiate actions on it’s own.

Katherine Hepburn

“Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.”

Born this day, May 12th:

Katherine Hepburn was named the greatest American Actress in 1999, by the American Film Institute. Her personality and independent nature were the stuff of legend. Her personal life was darned interesting too. 

http://www.examiner.com/x-5967-Nashville-Entertainment-Examiner~y2009m5d12-Oscar-winning-Best-Actress-Katharine-Hepburn-born-May-12-honored-by-hometown-with-Cultural-Center

Remembering Sichuan

A year ago today, a 7.9 earthquake decimated homes, schools and lives in Sichuan Province, China. In an area still rattling nerves with aftershocks, the government is racing to meet the goal of housing all earthquake victims by 2010.

Recent speculations aside, earthquakes happen and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  In the mean time, NGO’s have been given an expanded role and are working together in the Province, with the Chinese Government. It’s a big job. As many as five million people were left homeless.

Sichuan Province is also the home of the largest panda preserve. The breeding center was destroyed in the earthquake and four staff members died. However, the new center is now under construction. In light of all the reconstruction, there is concern over whether the panda’s native habitat will be fragmented.

Monday Ketchup – 090511

This latest small study is a window into our everyday life. Women working to defend their environment were tested and toxins were found. Perfumes, air and car fresheners, soaps, softeners, waxes, scented plastics, and the manufacturing sites themselves should all be viewed suspiciously.

Roxana Saberi Freed

ABC reports Saberi will be freed:

 Iran Frees Jailed U.S. Journalist Roxana Saberi

Iranian-American Wins Appeal, Won’t Serve Her Eight-Year Prison Term on Espionage

 By LARA SETRAKIAN and AFSHIN ABTAHI

April 23, 2009—

 [American journalist Roxana Saberi was freed from a Tehran prison today after an Iranian court suspended her eight-year sentence handed down after she was convicted of espionage. That means no prison time, and she will be able to leave the country immediately, though Saberi will not be allowed to report from Iran for five years, her lawyer told ABC News....]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/International/story?id=7555143&page=/

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

What Quaker Dave said HERE. If you live in the Boston Area follow his links and make some calls.

Read what Wiki says about Cinco de Mayo HERE, and the Franco-Mexican War HERE.

While we’re at it, let’s celebrate today’s British success in the REPULSION of the hatemongers. These guys have had far too much influence for too long.

I am beyond fed up the with the illness and idiocy of Weiner’s “Savagery” as a main radio program.