Personal Health – Parents Need to Tune In and Engage a Young Child With Talk – NYTimes.com

It’s nice to know I’m doing something right with my kid. According to this article, you should be talking to your infant. Well, I’ve been chatting like a parrot with Gabriel since he was born so apparently I’m on the right track.

This interview covers a recent book that challenges some conventional child rearing philosophies. I’m going to at least pick up the book and give it some thought. So far, I’ve heard a few things I’d like to use.

And this article discusses the benefits of having pets on both child development and general family health.

Conservative Bible Project Cuts Out Liberal Passages

Even the Bible is “too liberal” for conservatives. They are now rewriting the Word of God to get rid of things that offend them. Among the things that bother them are words like “comrade”, “peace”, and “miracle”.

They want to turn the miracle of the fishes into some kind of trickle-down parable. No, I’m not kidding.

And they want to remove all references to “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”. Still not kidding.

Okay, time for some kidding.

Salon decides to help them with their Hate Bible.

Cases in point:

John 8:3-7: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

Jesus bent down and picked up a rock. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “OK, we start on the count of three. And if I see any of you throwing like limp-wristed sissies, you’re next.”

Matthew 9:10-13: While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “Tax collectors? I had no idea, and wouldn’t have eaten with them if I had known, for I favor a flat tax.”

Matthew 5:21-22: You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, so git ‘er done.

The GOP supports rape

At least, the following senators voted to protect contractors like KBR from stopping people from turning in those who gang rape them.

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS) – isn’t he supposedly really religious?
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK) – this from an obstetrician even
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV) – yet more reason I’m ashamed to be represented by this prick
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK) – no big surprise, he even looks like a rapist
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ) – and the Rethugs wanted this guy as president
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA) – given that he likes whoring around, not a shocker
Wicker (R-MS)

Basically, these are a pack of pro-rapist thugs, led in all but name by McCain, a guy who decided to cheat on his wife because she lost her looks in a near-fatal car wreck. Many of the rest seem to have real dismal opinions of women as well.

Thankfully there are not in the majority in our government, and hopefully change their damn ways if they ever get there again.

Keith Olbermann’s Hour Long Special Comment on Health Insurance Reform: Health Care Reform, Saving American Lives

This should be required viewing for every member of Congress that still believes they owe their jobs to their electorate. If you need just the transcript, you can get that here.

Here is Nick Kristof’s story on the Waddington family and the sons who have been advised NOT to try to donate a kidney to their father. Keith referenced this story tonight and I remember reading it the other day in an increasingly blind rage.

I heard most of the sad story of Heather and Dave Mroz tonight on the way home. If this doesn’t make you want to beat the living hell out of an insurance executive, I’m not sure I want to know you anymore.