Congressional Bills Introduced: Pay Equality, Repealing the Healthcare Act & 50th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing
Retiring Senator Tom Harkin and Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)/Read the first time (1/29/13)---A bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 entirely. Senators Patrick Leahy and Mike Crapo rging Senate support for their bill to renew and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act.
Elaine Soloway's Caregiving Series: Green Thumb
When the seed catalogs arrived in the mail, I handed them to Tommy. Instead of snatching them, he pointed to the coffee table. I dropped them there. Later, when I saw him stuff them, unopened, in the straw basket on the side of the couch, I asked, “Too much work?” “Yes” was the nod. I wondered: had the lapses in his brain that ended his speech, also turned his cherished pastime into something too complex.
Matisse: Pushing "further and deeper into true painting"
Val Castronovo reviews: Matisse liked happy subjects and happy colors. His paintings are suffused with light and with bright, bold colors and exotic patterns derived from Islamic art (a favorite of his after visiting Morocco in 1912). He thought art should make you feel good, saying that he “dreamt of an art of balance and purity and serenity, devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter ... a mental soother ... like a good armchair.”
My Quarter-Century Daily Destination, Grand Central Terminal, Celebrates 100 Years
Editor's Note: Aside from my own home and the Time-Life Building across from Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Station was the building I spent time in, going to and from my job It was familiar, imposing, welcoming and in the last analysis, spectacularly beautiful. It is said that more than 21,600,000 annual vistors come to the terminal making it the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world.
Gorgeous People in Trouble – The State Department warns about Internet dating and romance scams
The Setup: An American man meets an alleged American woman through an online dating service. After a successful online courtship, the two agree to meet. However, before they do, she must travel overseas to attend to some important personal business. While out of the US, she befalls an unexpected tragedy. She is now feeling lonely and vulnerable, and is counting on him to help her through this difficult time .... Several US citizens report losing thousands of dollars through such scams.
I'm a Liberal .... Because of Bobby Kennedy
Liz Flaherty writes:
I never wanted to be a liberal. Truth be told, I never wanted to be political at all. It’s all Bobby Kennedy’s fault, because way back in the 1960s, he made me think all things were possible. For everybody.
Shakespeare Uncovered on Television: Drawing on historical sources and developing dramatic ideas from politics of the day
In a unique series of six films debuting on PBS, the series combines history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis, and the passions of its hosts, actors Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson, and David Tennant.
I Remember When
Rose Madeline Mula writes: We never had to struggle to learn how to fold a fitted sheet, because we never had fitted sheets. You could buy a house for about one-third the price of today’s car; and you could buy a do-it-yourself home permanent for about a dollar. Unfortunately, you couldn’t leave the house for at least a month after doing-it-yourself for fear of frightening dogs and small children.
Doubts Before Marriage? 47% of husbands and 38% of wives in study said yes
Among women, 19 percent of those who reported pre-wedding doubts were divorced four years later, compared with 8 percent of those who did not report having doubts. For husbands, 14 percent who reported premarital doubts were divorced four years later, compared with 9 percent who did not report having doubts.
After the Speech: Lobster, Bison, Apple Pie - Inaugural Luncheon Menu and Recipes
"You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course." Since 1901, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has been responsible for the planning and execution of the swearing-in ceremonies and the luncheon for the Inauguration of the President of the United States at the US Capitol. Additionally, the complete transcript of the inauguration speech delivered by President Obama.
At the Museum: A Theatrical Headress Inspires Maria Pinto Clothing
Pinto chose 25 Museum garments and adornments, attracted by their form, texture, and colors. Fascinated by the range of materials people used, the pieces’ meticulous craftsmanship, and their sheer beauty, the designer and curator created the exhibit. Pinto then drew connections between these pieces and her own designs, seven of which are featured in the exhibition.
Smell the Insidious Violence
Doris O'Brien writes: Who can fault frightened people for blaming the metal instead of the mentality? The concept of a ban on a commodity as a way of preventing bad behavior is nothing new. In the 20s, Prohibition was enacted to do just that. A law was passed making the sale and use of liquor illegal. If we didn't have access to booze, the argument went, there wouldn't be so many drunken brawls, accidents, killings. But Prohibition failed.
Where Doctors Are Scarce Nurse Practitioners Step In
Nurse practitioners, registered nurses with advanced degrees, are capable of providing primary-care services such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medication, ordering tests and referring patients to specialists. But only 18 states and the District of Columbia currently allow nurse practitioners to perform these services independently of a doctor.
CultureWatch — The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy; The Mysteries and International Negotiating of Midsomer Murders and Kidnap and Ransom
Reviewed by Jill Norgren: David Nasaw does not ask his readers to like Joe Kennedy. He does not hold back on the damning stories of deceit and unbridled ambition. He does, however, appear utterly convinced that Kennedy doted on his children — beyond needing them to fulfill his ambitions, and that they returned his love. Joe Kennedy “had pledged to faithfully love and support [Rose] and the children they might have together …. What he did not intend to do was give up being a ‘ladies man’.” And he did not.
Dying Sooner and in Poorer Health in the US: Why?
Among rankings that include Canada, Australia, Japan and many European countries, the US is at or near the bottom in nine key areas of health: infant mortality and low birth weight; injuries and homicides; teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections; prevalence of HIV and AIDS; drug-related deaths; obesity and diabetes; heart disease; chronic lung disease; and disability.
In Minnesota, Democratic Grandmothers Gather Data About Their Neighbors
Much of the data the Grandma Brigade collects is prosaic: records of campaign donations or voters who have recently died. But a few volunteers see free information everywhere. They browse the listings of names on Tea Party websites. They might add a record of what was said around the family Thanksgiving table — Uncle Mitch voted for Bachmann, cousin Alice supports gay marriage.
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In Minnesota, Democratic volunteers scour their local newspapers each morning for letters to the editor with a political slant. They pay attention to the names of callers on radio shows. They drive through th…
2012, A Dubious Banner Year: From State Family Planning Funding to Reproductive Toxins
Against the backdrop of a contentious presidential campaign in which abortion and even contraception were front-burner issues supporters of reproductive health and rights were able to block high-profile attacks on access to abortion in states as diverse as Alabama, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
2012 Saw Second-Highest Number of Abortion Restrictions Ever
January 2, 2013
Reproductive health and rights were once again the subject of extensive debate in state capitols in 2012. Over the course of the year, 42 states and the District o…
If The Cup Fits, Wear It
Roberta McReynolds writes: There are circumstances when a degree in algebra would certainly be beneficial. Never once did any of my instructors say, "Pay attention young ladies! You’re going to need to know how to calculate your correct bra size someday and it won’t remain the same throughout your life. You don’t want people to look at your chest and realize you flunked algebra, do you?"
Women in Combat and Under the Waves: Redefining the Role of Women in the Military
The Military Leadership Diversity Commission stated that DOD should take deliberate steps to open additional career fields and units involved in direct ground combat. Such a move would essentially limit or repeal, in its entirety, the 1994 DOD policy regarding women serving in combat units.Women’s right supporters contend that the exclusionary policy prevents women from gaining leadership positions.
The Most Interesting New State Laws of 2013
A California law prohibits mental health providers from engaging in efforts to change the sexual orientation of patients under the age of 18. Illinois law enhances the penalties for manufacturing and selling bath salts. Oregon school districts must adopt a policy on teen dating violence. California law adds breastfeeding as a category of sexual discrimination in housing and employment.Illinois created the Toxin-Free Toddler Act banning manufacturers and wholesalers from selling children's food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A(BPA).
Against All Odds, Rita Levi-Montalcini’s Story: “No food, no husband, and no regrets”
Rita’s first big hurdle was persuading her father to let her go to college. Mr. Levi, an electrical engineer and mathematician, believed that a career interferes with the duties of a wife and mother. When the Germans invaded Italy in 1943, she moved to Florence, where she lived under ground with another makeshift lab until the end of the war.
A Pair From Ferida's Backyard: The Nuthatch and the Thrush
Ferida Wolff writes: The Nuthatch is the only bird that regularly starts at the top of the tree (or birdfeeder) and works its way down as it seeks its food. There is an advantage to going downward; the bird is able to see food overlooked by the usual upward direction of other birds.
Off the Table for Now: Using the Chained CPI to Reduce Social Security Payment Calculations
"The chained CPI grows more slowly than the traditional CPI does: by an average of 0.3 percentage points per year over the past decade. As a result, using that measure to index benefit programs and tax provisions would reduce federal spending (especially on Social Security and federal pensions) and increase revenues."
The Mystery of a Slit Throat and a Harem Conspiracy
CT scans of Ramesses III revealed a wide and deep wound in the throat of the mummy, probably caused by a sharp blade – and which could have caused immediate death. A Horus eye amulet was also found inside the wound, most probably inserted by the ancient Egyptian embalmers during the mummification process to promote healing.
Aging America: The Cities That Are Graying The Fastest
Joel Kotkin writes: In 2000 only three US metro areas had more elderly than children under the age of 15 (Pittsburgh, Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL). The 2010 Census showed we now have 10, with the addition of Buffalo, Boston, Cleveland, Hartford, Providence, Rochester and San Francisco to the first three. The elderly population is overtaking the younger population not only in Florida’s retirement havens, but in a number of Rust Belt and Northeastern cities.
