Or is this another earth bound finding from the patriarchy?

So many people insist god speaks. Jimmy says Jesus ''does not want all of these abortions''. I dunno Jimmy. Could Jesus maybe have helped with the rescue that crashed in the desert, all those years ago? Maybe you could ask AND get an answer...

The Fifth US Circuit Appeals court has indeed upheld a MS lower court finding that the right to privacy does not extend to purchasing sex toys. Further, the MS high court ruled that there is ''no fundamental right of access to purchase sex toys''.

Could they stand on their hind legs? Do you think?

performing pastel-colored poodle,
in a clown and poodle show
[OCRegister]

Ari Berman in The Nation takes a look at the Dems, embroiled in their running soap opera of duck and cover. Hide from it all but be The Alternative --also known as The Candidate:

Iraq returned as a central theme in George W. Bush's State of the Union address this year. With the war on the minds of many members of the public and with the 2006 midterm elections approaching, it seemed natural that the opposition party would forcefully challenge the President's policy.

So... USAToday popped up with this:

The Constitution, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, also opposes a ban. The court has repeatedly said abortion is a private matter, subject only to reasonable regulation.

How could it say otherwise? No matter how sincere the beliefs of abortion opponents, a ban is, in the end, an attempt to impose one group's faith on others.

So opponents have settled instead for back-door tactics: mandatory waiting periods, burdensome regulations, prescribing what doctors can or can't tell patients, and requiring minors to obtain parental consent.

Sometimes a love affair lasts, half a lifetime, a lifetime. Perhaps not exactly unrequited but, shall we say unknown to one party... Requited, as writers need their readers.

Vidal in Ravello [Reuters]

My favorite political interview... to date (subject to revision and new loves), Jerry Brown interviewing Gore Vidal in the mid 90s for Pacifica Radio.

Power Moves

From the LAT:

High Court to Address 'Partial-Birth' Abortions

By David G. Savage, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court today set the stage for a major ruling on abortion by agreeing to decide whether Congress can outlaw so-called "partial birth" abortions during the mid-term of a pregnancy.

The case, to be heard in the fall, will test whether lawmakers can strictly regulate how abortions are performed.

catch it and hold it still in your hand, listen to what rises beyond El Norte:

The following is drawn from the text of a speech given on December 24 at the "In Defense of Humanity" conference.

Our Struggle is Against US Imperialism

I Believe Only in the Power of the People

By EVO MORALES

What happened these past days in Bolivia was a great revolt by those who have been oppressed for more than 500 years. The will of the people was imposed this September and October, and has begun to overcome the empire's cannons. We have lived for so many years through the confrontation of two cultures: the culture of life represented by the indigenous people, and the culture of death represented by West. When we the indigenous people--together with the workers and even the businessmen of our country--fight for life and justice, the State responds with its "democratic rule of law."