Rose's Place

When rumours of a possible coalition government started circulating, I didn't think it would ever actually happen. This is Canada, after all, and although we like to talk big, we don't generally take such dramatic steps.But it's becoming increasingly clear to me that Harper has misread the whole situation, and has pushed the opposition into a corner so that they have no choice but to fight back.As soon as the Conservatives decided to eliminate funding for politicial parties, the opposition was going to have to do something. The move would have completely crippled them, particularly as there was … [Read more...]

Getting screened for breast cancer can be difficult for a mother who is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mothers are often told to wean before having a mammogram due to the difficulty of reading one when a woman is lactating.When I spoke to a nurse at the breast health center of my local hospital about the possibility of having a mammogram while lactating, she told me that a mammogram of someone in my situation would be 'only about 45% effective' so it wasn't worth having one until after weaning. She delicately suggested that I decide for myself which were more important 'nursing my child or 'having … [Read more...]

This blog has moved. … [Read more...]

Who knew? But so what? Life goes on. Thanks to all who kept checking in to see if anything was happening here, even the ones who think I'm an idiot but for some reason were compelled to check here every day anyway. (I check FD daily, so why not.)I've got a new location I've been experimenting with and I'm not sure if it's ready for Prime Time (in fact, I'm pretty sure it's not) but that's the way it goes. So for good or bad or ugly, here it is. … [Read more...]

I apologize for not making a post for such a long period of time. I was busy getting ready for this little guy and it's been taking awhile to get some structure in my life since his arrival.I went into labour the night of the Canadian federal election. I had trouble getting comfortable all night and it turns out that it wasn't just because of Stephen Harper.My contractions started at around midnight and we left in a taxi at about 2 am. (My ex-boyfriend had been staying in my spare bedroom every night that week so he would be able to go to the hospital with me.) My friend Leah, who was my birthing … [Read more...]

I know I said the chorus of exploding right-wingnut heads would be enough to keep me amused for awhile, but really, uh... I lied. It's not enough. I'm tired. For good or ill, this koolade drinker is riding off on her sparkly pink Unicorn of Hope & Change and JoyJoyJoy. Thanks for reading... … [Read more...]

Looks like the Sarah Palin Saga might be just warming up:"Sarah Palin wasn't aware that Africa was a continent and she and her brood behaved like a band of "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," aides to Republican John McCain are telling prominent news organizations. Less than 24 hours after McCain lost the presidential election to Democrat Barack Obama, those close to him apparently wasted no time burning up the phone lines to dish the dirt on Palin, the Alaska governor who portrayed herself as a sensible hockey Mom when she was chosen the Arizona senator's running … [Read more...]

I'll really miss this kind of batshittery:"NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported." MORE than $150,000? You're shittin' me:"One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, … [Read more...]

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**WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!** U.S. ELECTION POST AHEAD!!! For those not interested in the history being made today, that was your chance to exercise your right to click. Please, I want you to. Onward...Apart from the presidential election, there are some important ballot measures being voted on today:Prop 8 (California): This hideous little initiative, backed by a ton of religious right money, would rescind equal marriage in California, thereby protecting the Institution Of Marriage from whatever the fuck it is they think gay people will *do* to it. If it passes, Prop 8 would not only … [Read more...]

Why was the "Culture War" scenario such an epic failure this election cycle? Whether the GOP wins or loses tomorrow, there's no question that this aspect of their campaign didn't work as well as it has in the past. While Sarah Palin might have electrified the superstitious, anti-intellectual, pro-ignorance, abortion-obsessed nutcase faction of the GOP base, it was reflected in only the briefest of upticks in the polls. The economy could be partly to blame, but could it also be that the whole "culture war" narrative has run its course, and there just aren't enough people who care about that bullshit … [Read more...]

I'm no psychologist but I know an Obama Derangement Syndrome*-driven pre-election nervous breakdown when I see one, and that is what seems to be in progress at our favourite fetus fetishist's blog as the spectre of an Obama victory looms on the American electoral horizon. All weekend long, SUZANNE's been feverishly cranking out desperate and furious posts that vacillate between painting a macabre picture of a post-Obama world awash in aborted fetuses and reminding everyone that there's still hope: John Kerry was ahead in the 2004 polls, too. Indeed he was, as you can see by the Electoral Vote … [Read more...]

Goin' rogue, you betcha:At a boisterous Sarah Palin rally in Polk City, Florida on Saturday afternoon, one name was surprisingly absent from the campaign décor — John McCain’s.Choosing a running mate just because she'll attract the people who hate your guts can't really end any other way, can it? Palin has already set her sights on 2012 -- and if she's the future of the GOP, it has no future. … [Read more...]

Why does Dick Cheney hate John McCain?And where's Georgie? He's been keeping pretty quiet since he said this. Loosen that muzzle! Let Georgie exercise his First Amendment rights! Speak, Georgie, SPEAK! … [Read more...]

As the US election campaign winds down, Canadian wingnuts are weighing in. Some are still in Denial, clinging to the tired old bullshit about the Biased Lie-beral Media and Obama's -- cue Hallowe'en music -- "past associations". Some have progressed to the Anger stage, blaming McCain for running a stupid campaign. And some... are rooting for Obama?? Here they are, in all their wingnutty glory.The warped:"One wonders how often Michelle sees Mona Khalidi these days? Do they go for coffee once in a while? I hope so. Should old acquaintance be forgot? No, but it happens. People outgrow each other; … [Read more...]

Georgie is still in power for another 76 days. That's Political Capital, bitches, and he intends to spend it like a drunken sailor:"The White House is working to enact a wide array of federal regulations, many of which would weaken government rules aimed at protecting consumers and the environment, before President Bush leaves office in January. The new rules would be among the most controversial deregulatory steps of the Bush era and could be difficult for his successor to undo. Some would ease or lift constraints on private industry, including power plants, mines and farms. Those and other … [Read more...]

Next Tuesday, Americans will be voting for more than just a new administration. In some states, there are a few ugly little ballot measures that will be voted on at the same time. One of these is "Proposition 8", a California proposal to ban same-sex marriage. Prop 8 has gotten a lot of attention and support from the usual religious right suspects -- in spite of the fact that it's a state initiative, money for the campaign to convince Californians to vote "Yes" to Prop 8 has been pouring in from bigots across the land.There's some pretty paranoid and hateful propaganda being disseminated by … [Read more...]

Hopeful Hallowe'en.(from yeswecarve) … [Read more...]