Well Whattaya Know

When I got home I noticed the Plan B article I wrote about earlier was entitled "Pharmacists lose pill ruling" in the printed copy of the Spokesman Review. I looked at the online version again and saw it was entitled "Pharmacists lose Plan B pill ruling". Having plenty of experience with screwing up I thought maybe I made a mistake. If so, I needed to 'fess up and set the record straight.

So I searched for the prior title and the same article shows up. It looks like the Review changed the title for the online version. But they didn't get rid of all the evidence.

I am vindicated. Regardless, I think that was a good thing for the Review to do.

Dousing The Fire With Kerosene

In today's Spokesman-Review there's an article about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting an injuction effected by a District Court Judge in the Western District of Washington. What's interesting is how it differs from the original. The original article, written by Carol Williams for the Los Angeles Times, is entitled "Pharmacists can't refuse Plan B pill, appeals court says".

But the Review decided to entitle the article "Pharmacists lose abortion pill ruling"

There is only one mention of abortion in the article and that had to do with the pharmacists' argument for not stocking and providing Plan B.

"...the new regulations would force them to choose between keeping their jobs and heeding their religious objections to a medication they regard as a form of abortion."

Any clear-headed person--even an editor--who can read should know that Plan B, unlike RU-486, is not an abortifacient. Just because you regard or believe it is doesn't make it so. By referring to Plan B as an abortion pill, the Review not only contributes to confusion, ignorance and the polarization of the subject, they implicitly takes sides in the matter.

Fan those flames, baby!

I also found the characterizations of the judges by Carol Williams to be inapplicable.

The three judges found common ground despite broadly differing outlooks: two conservatives named by President George W. Bush and a liberal named to the court by President Bill Clinton made up the panel."

I think you'll find the opinion (PDF) measured and objective. One would be well advised to read it before placing any importance on the presumed political leanings of the judges.

Forgot My Camera

Near the end of this morning's commute going through Riverfront Park I was greeted by an osprey carrying a fish in its talons. I couldn't tell if the fish was joyful or scared about flying through the air. It kept mouthing the words, "Oh, oh!"

Put The Fun Between Your Legs…

While Geoff was home for the Independence Day holiday he was telling me about the San Jose Bike Party. I like their motto. In two years they have grown from about 40 to over 1500 at the last ride. This Saturday they're having a Bike Party Scallywag Scavenger Hunt.

As another cyclist commented to me, why bother with having meetings for a year, getting insurance, paying for police, designing and buying t-shirts, etc., to have an organized ride when you can get a bunch of people to come out anyway?

Mawidge Is What Brings Us Together

The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), representing the Catholic Bishops of the State of Washington on issues of public policy, recently released this statement concerning Referendum 71 which aims to protect marriage by repealing SB 5688, the domestic partnership legislation that expands the rights and responsibilities of registered domestic partners.

WSCC opposed SSB 5688 because proponents publically [sic] stated that this legislation was intended to extend existing marriage rights to same-sex couples as a precursor to legalizing gay marriage in Washington State. While opposing all unjust discrimination against any individual, WSCC upholds marriage as a union between a man and a woman, which is the foundation of our civil society.

So never mind what the law says. Their concern is this is a stepping stone for legalizing same-sex marriage. It's a slippery slope situation. And while they oppose unjust discrimination, this discrimination is just.

One wonders, what with marriage being the foundation of our civil society and all, why priests can't be a part of that foundation. It might help them contribute something more constructive than this.

Can't Go Out - Can't Stay In

In a wonderfully irresponsible and confusing article in today's Spokesman-Review, Rebecca Nappi passes on tips from experts to help you keep your child safe during the summer.

Pools and parks are busier than ever this year, thanks to economy-induced “staycations” and the opening of new pools in Spokane. Rebuilt pools at Shadle Park and A.M. Cannon Park open today.

But the sunshine of summer can get clouded over by the presence in playgrounds, parks and pools of people who shouldn’t be there – sex offenders.

One wonders why parents allow their children to go to the Spokane parks and pools what with the profusion of child molestations and abductions occurring there. The whole tone of this presumably helpful article reminds me of former Vice President Richard Cheney's description of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism doctrine. If there's a one percent chance of something happening, we have to treat it as a certainty.

Be afraid and make your kids afraid, too. And if you're a lone adult out enjoying the park or pool, be careful you don't set off someone's sixth sense by talking to a child. So we are duly warned. Why bother with talking to your kids, building their confidence and self-esteem, etc., when telling them to be afraid works so well?

But wait! They're not done warning us of who to look out for.

Sgt. Jim Faddis, head of Spokane Police Department’s sexual assault unit, said, “The people you should be aware of, too, are people in your own home.”

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, 43 percent of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members, 33 percent are abused by someone they know and the remaining 24 percent are sexually abused by strangers.

And you thought the parks and pools were unsafe.

Beat The Rush

Kathy and I decided to scout the soon-to-be-opening north-south corridor between Farwell and Freya. Getting on wasn't a problem. With no striping to hem her in Kathy could be a road hog.

It offers unparalleled views of the industrial area along Market St.

There's still a short unpaved section, but the road bed is packed well so road tires were fine on it. We obviously didn't see the ramps in the background.

The road abruptly ends and you have to take the on/off ramp going to a roundabout at Freya.

Keypad Security

I wrote about an experience with this last January, but Bruce Schneier just blurbed about it on his blog. The examples he provided are far more obvious.

It reminded me of something else I saw at an airport a few years ago. (I'm not going to name the airport or the airline. And please don't let this affect the faith you have in the rest of the security theater associated with air travel.) When passengers are not getting on/off the plane the doors to the gateways taking you to the planes are locked and must be opened by a cipher lock. I watched as a pilot walked up the a door and clearly punched 1-2-3-4.

When you think about it they have to make it something that they all can remember, right?

McMorris Rodgers' Invisible Health Care Solution Made Clear

I was unable to take part in Cathy McMorris Rodgers' TeleTown Hall meeting last Wednesday evening, but a recording of it is available on her web site so I listened to it. After leading off with a prepared statement repeating the government control of health care canard she is so fond of, she took questions. The inaccuracies and incongruities were many.

One of the main themes was the effect of illegal immigrants getting health care and raising the costs for all of us. Our congresswoman said that of the 40-45 million Americans without insurance, 8-10 million of them are illegal immigrants. Illegal American immigrants?

Another theme was how bad government control of health care would be for us, mainly because of the lack of choice of health care providers and waiting lists that would result in order to keep costs down. Also, McMorris Rodgers is concerned that Obama's public option could be forced on people who already have private insurance.

When the subject of her medical insurance came up, McMorris Rodgers clarified that she had the same choices as every other federal employee but added that it was a pretty good deal. She complained about using her husband's TriCare coverage for their son because she couldn't choose her pediatrician. So she switched her son to her Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Having been a long time TriCare user myself, I have few complaints about it.

A small business owner said he didn't know how much longer he could provide health insurance for his employees because it costs so much. Then he segued into complaining about illegal immigrants which was completely unrelated to his problem. Nobody addressed the issue of why the cost of the insurance keeps rising.

One person asked why the hospital accepted $3,000 from his insurance company when his bill was for $15,000. She said the low reimbursement Medicare and Medicaid rates force private insurance companies to accept lower rates and forces hospitals to try to make up the difference by trying to charge people more. She also said that Medicare will go bankrupt in 2017 but did not say that it's because of the rising hospital costs forcing it to pay out more than it collects by then. Are you following this?

Overall, McMorris Rodgers succeeded in keeping the issue murky. At no time did she provide a clear strategy for dealing with health care other than saying no to government control. On a related note, although she would like the Shriners Hospital to stay open, nothing she proposes would have any effect.

Most inane moment: An elderly caller complained about the "donut hole" (Medicare Part D) that forces her to pay full price for her prescriptions. Our congresswoman said that not all plans have donut holes and suggested she talk to someone about switching plans. Hmm, but not addressing the cost of those plans. Anyway, that must be how choice works.

Most bogus poll: She asked, What is your biggest concern of the proposed government insurance option?

49% - Fear it will grow the size of government
21% - It will take longer for a medical test or procedure
13% - It would be harder to see you doctor
17% - Favor this type of option

It's so easy to craft these so you can get the answer you want, especially when people have little or no knowledge of a subject which is presented ambiguously anyway. I thought I'd make one up of my own as an example.

What is your biggest concern of the proposed lengthening of home-use chainsaw blades?

- Fear it will increase injuries causes by kickbacks
- It would require more maintenance
- The increased weight would make it awkward and uncomfortable
- Favor this type of option

The Captain Cy Show

Last night I saw the Review article about the death of David Cyrus Page. Over forty years ago I and six of my younger siblings were on that show. (The youngest was an infant so she missed out.) Just like other locally-made programs across the country it was a place where kids would be kids but with lots of people watching. So it was not unusual to see someone picking their nose, scratching their butt, and pulling, pushing or hitting a sibling. There were two memorable events from our visit that stuck with me over the years.

One of my sisters had a black eye courtesy of the youngest brother. Remember the wooden toy with the wooden pegs and hammer? You hammer the pegs through to the other side, flip it over and hammer them back. He nailed her with that wooden hammer. Of course, Captain Cy had to ask how she got the black eye. "My brother hit me with a hammer," was the reply. He moved on the to next child.

All the kids there were given a piece of bubble gum and we had a contest to see who could blow the biggest bubble. I won but I was loudly accused of cheating by two of my brothers who said I had two pieces of gum--which I did. Regardless, I was brought up front and center to show off my bubble blowing prowess. Seeing a TV camera pointed right at me with Captain Cy at my side patiently encouraging me and with my brothers in the background complaining about my cheating, I choked. I couldn't blow a bubble to save my life.

At least I didn't pick my nose.