For the Woman who has Everything

Bet you didn't think of getting her this. What says "I Love You" more than a gift certificate to Planned Parenthood? "Hey, honey, you can get whatever you want with it: an abortion, a test for STDs, some acyclovir, whatever you choose!" What's next? A keychain punch card?

Way to go, Indiana. I gotta say, you beat out Hagerstown tonight. Hands down.

UPDATE: I've received the following, understandably anonymous, comment:

hi, as a young 25 year old somewhat newly (2 years) married Christian woman, i feel i need to comment on this.

I have, as well as friends of mine, visited Planned Parenthood. There are lots of us who do not have money to go to a normal Gynecologist. They are getting to be VERY expensive even just for an annual exam and Pap. Planned parenthood offers them on a sliding scale based on your income, and they are often even MORE affordable than if you go to another Gyne. and have insurance coverage. ALSO, they offer Birth Control at a very affordable price or even FREE depending on your income. Now tell me, what is wrong with women taking care of their bodies, and getting it at an affordable price????

what about your girls when they grow up? If they don't have $$ to visit a Gynecologist every year, would you rather they neglect it than visit Planned Parenthood???

i am obviously NOT leaving my info, but if you would, PLEASE consider this, and leave a response comment on this post of yours. thanks. I really enjoy your blog, and especially your photos, but THIS has left me quite disappointed!!!

I will attempt to respond to each of your comments.
1.) I understand people trying to find cheaper or free health care. As a Christian, going to a taxpayer-subsidized abortion provider is something you will have to find justification for on your own. I'm not trying to be your conscience, and you don't have to like my viewpoint. I, in fact, did not give my viewpoint in this post--I was commenting on the ickiness-factor of a PP GC. Your defensiveness is an interesting response in that light.
2.) Straw man argument. Of course there is nothing wrong with taking care of your body (in fact, if you have a family, I believe it is mandatory). Of course there is nothing wrong with finding an affordable option. That said, one is very rarely given only two options with which to solve a problem.
3.) When my girls grow up, they will have been taught that some moral decisions may them cost more money. They will have to decide whether to visit a private health care provider who shares their values or one which is a $1B industry which includes performing morally heinous (to me, and possibly to them) actions.
4.) If a healthy body is important, nearly everyone can find the money to put away for those maintenance costs. We do it for every other thing we find necessary to us: car insurance, home maintenance, dentist, eating out, birthday/Christmas gifts. Surely, some sacrifices may need to be made in other areas--but again, if it's something that we determine is an either-or option, we will find a way. We always do.
5.) I'm glad you enjoy my blog; I'm sorry you were disappointed. It's my blog, and I will continue to post the things I find interesting, funny, sad, or disappointing. It's here for my own enjoyment, and that of my family and friends. It's not a popularity contest, which you can see by my choice of the absence of revenue-generating ads in the sidebars. I'm not afraid of controversy, so feel free to respond.
6.) If you're still here: I STILL stand by the giving of a PP Gift Certificate as a disgusting gift idea. What kind of unsentimental, bumbling doofus would give this to a gal??? One that wants dumped on Christmas Day, I presume. I mean...imagine someone you love giving this to YOU. Exactly.

FanTAStic

We've made Drudge. Weet-weeeoh! I haven't been this proud since K-Fed came to town to buy skivvies and video games at our WalMart.

Sour note: Md. mall quiets Salvation Army bells
Nov 26, 11:21 AM (ET)

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - A Maryland mall says Salvation Army bell ringers are making too much noise, and that's striking a sour note with merchants.

The mall is asking the charity to replace the insides of bells with paper clips to keep the clanging down.

Maj. Robert Lyle says the three indoor ringers at Valley Mall have replaced the clappers inside their bells. Lyle says he sympathizes with merchants who get tired of the noise. But he says the two bell-ringers located outside the mall are still at full volume.

Salvation Army volunteers ring the bells to call attention to their red kettles. Shoppers drop donations for the poor into the buckets.

Mall Marketing Director Brian Kaltenbaugh says the noise complaints came from kiosk- and cart-based businesses in hallways near the bell ringers.

For next year, they'll probably suggest this:

Cooking with ConvictsMartha

This has to be the funniest--and most painful--cooking program I've ever had the misfortune of watching. COGNAC? These are not your mama's taters. COGNAC??? Money quotes: "skizzin" and "What are we making again?"



Now, I'm off to get my shades and to collect ingredients for my contribution for T'giving dinner with the family. I'm taking Pioneer Woman stuff this year! Also this. If you haven't taken a gander at her site, you're missing a feast for the eyes. Also she'll make you laugh, and not for the reasons of the above contribution.

And here's a joke to leave you with:
Q: Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella everywhere?
A: Fo' Drizzle

My Baby Girlz

Playing with my 50mm f/1.4 lens. It's a great portrait lens---gives lots of good bokeh (that blurry b/g). Still have a ton to learn, but it's fun to shoot just because. This was one of the last barefoot days we had, and they took full advantage of it!

Just lookin' for ladybugs. The cat's along for the ride. I'll have to post about our twisted cat sometime soon. He's nice, he's usually cuddly. But he has serious, underlying issues. Attachment issues, if you will. I promise to post an illustration soon.

Rachel's Children

We heard lots about Joe the Plumber. There were people at rallies, like Spartacus, saying "I'm Joe the Plumber." Well, today "I am Rachel."

I had a long rant-ish epic composed and put in my draft folder since Wednesday, but I just threw it all down the dark rat hole. As I looked at the news today, what makes me the saddest is knowing what is to come--the indicators have been there for all to see. No more surmising, warning, scaring. It's going to happen. How many people voted knowingly for this ramping up of abortions? How many anti-war, leftist Mennonites voted for this man, in the name of "change" and "hope" and "peace" and unicorns and rainbows? Thank God under George Bush abortions declined, and the heinous partial-birth abortion was banned by him and upheld by the SC. Abortion is not "safe, legal, and rare." It's simply legal. As for being anti-war, he has just declared war on the most innocent of all creation--and YOU are going to help pay for it.

"A voice was heard in Ramah: wailing and great mourning. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they no longer existed." Mt. 2:18

I am Rachel.

Wordless Tuesday

"If my people..."

Click to enlarge and read this amazing ad from the 50's. Mr. Hilton, founder of the Hilton hotel chain, paid for this page in Life magazine. Just as appropriate now (if not more so) than back then.