tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17238771278181652352024-03-13T12:16:44.629-04:00Andraste's HareA journey to Victory, Wonderland, or both...Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-48616987284998625372013-02-11T11:30:00.000-05:002013-02-11T11:30:01.782-05:00There's something about a storm...There's something about being alone in the house with the wind roaring through the woods behind us that has me thinking witchy thoughts. There's incense burning on the altar, and a shelf full of witchy books to read. But I've realized I have no general witchy books. All my general pagan books are about specifics. Encyclopedias of goddesses, books full of prayers, books about witchy housecleaning or herbs or tarot or astrology. I don't have any general witchcraft books. So I'm searching Amazon for interesting books. Not that I have the money to buy them right now, but perhaps the library has some of them?<br />
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So far I've been looking at Ann Moura's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567186904/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1567186904&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20%22%3EGreen%20Witchcraft%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1567186904%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Green Witchcraft</a> series, but I think it might be too wiccan-y for me.<br />
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I've also been looking at Lora O'Brien's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1564147592/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1564147592&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1564147592" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095749940X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=095749940X&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=095749940X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738702226/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0738702226&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738702226" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> looks really interesting. The same author has published <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738705748/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0738705748&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738705748" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> as a sequel.<br />
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I've heard conflicting reviews about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875420508/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0875420508&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0875420508" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, but I guess it has to be a classic for a reason, right? And of course there's Silver Ravenwolf's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738703192/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0738703192&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738703192" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> which is also a little iffy to me.<br />
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Anyone have any recommendations for general pagan/witchcraft references?<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038192/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0143038192&linkCode=as2&tag=andshar-20">Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143038192" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is another one I'd like, but it's more a recent history of the people, and not so much a reference on the religion itself.<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-55477127307484811232013-02-08T03:11:00.004-05:002013-02-08T03:12:04.879-05:00C is for Car TroubleYou may have noticed I haven't posted much in the last week and a half. We were in a car accident last Wednesday, and the car's been in the shop since then. (We're all fine, medically, but the car's pretty banged up.)<br />
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Sascha still hasn't found a paying job since moving here, so we're still living on his unemployment. I had a job over the holidays, temp work at a craft store, but that's over and done with. So the financial stress plus the car stress has left me in...less than a writing mood, shall we say.<br />
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I blogged about the Cu Sith, or Black Dog, a couple of weeks ago, and how it contributed to our last major car accident. I had finally almost completely gotten over my anxiety about THAT car accident when we had this one. Now I have flashbacks from both accidents mixing in my brain and nightmares. So I haven't been sleeping well, and only go to bed when I'm exhausted for fear of staring into the dark and rehashing both accidents. (Which is why this post is getting written at 3 am.)<br />
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When we get the car back I'm planning to do a protection spell on it, but I haven't figured out just what I'm doing yet. I know I want to trace a pentacle on the hood, both sides, and the rear, but I'm not sure with what yet. Obviously I don't want anything permanent. Maybe just some water with essential oils in it? I'm thinking of smudging the inside of the car too. I have a sage stick lying around somewhere.<br />
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I know a couple of protection prayers, to Brigid - I should find something to weave a Brigid cross out of, perhaps, and hang that in the car.<br />
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The other logistical thing I'm trying to figure out is - where to do this. We live in an apartment; the parking lot isn't exactly private. I could perhaps pull it off at the parking lot at the brewery where Sascha is volunteering - it's a bit more secluded, and all his co-workers are, if not outright pagan themselves, completely accepting of it. (His boss wears the Norse hammer around his neck at all times!)<br />
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(If you're in the Maryland/DC area, you should totally come by and check out the brewery - it's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bayinghoundales">Baying Hound Aleworks</a> in Rockville. The people rock and the beer is tasty. I'll probably be there Saturday, and looks like I'll start being there most Thursdays from here on out.)<br />
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Hmmm. I just found <a href="http://astrologyguide.knoji.com/an-urban-wiccans-car-protection-spell/">this ritual</a>. I like it. I'll modify it, of course, for my gods, but it's a good starting point. Has anyone protected their vehicle? What did you do?Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-64164147806563044972013-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-01T00:00:04.115-05:00C is for CrowsAh, crows. Crows and ravens have always been special to me. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest; there are crows EVERYWHERE, and the occasional raven. I remember walking to school, and seeing a crow sitting on the sidewalk, simply watching me as I approached, until he finally hopped to the side of the sidewalk to let me pass. Perhaps some of the connection came from the tabletop roleplaying game I was playing at the time, in which I was playing a were-raven. I could see the intelligence in the crows that made the game creator think they could be humans in disguise.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DZ8Y1uXjoE/UMdxELrBaYI/AAAAAAAAEVc/8vbxRveYIDk/s1600/2012-12-11_12-04-18_694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DZ8Y1uXjoE/UMdxELrBaYI/AAAAAAAAEVc/8vbxRveYIDk/s320/2012-12-11_12-04-18_694.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A crow in the forest behind our current apartment</td></tr>
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So I grew up loving crows, and in high school when I started role-playing, found a deeper appreciation for them.<br />
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And early on in discovering my own witchiness, I spent some time with a dear friend of mine near Seattle. She's a witch, and had been for quite some time. Enough that she knew what she was doing at the time, and helped me with a lot of my questions. More than I think she realized I had. Simply being around her and observing her helped answer a lot of my questions. She has a close connection with a murder of crows. Watching her interaction with her flock, how they occasionally guided her through city streets or appeared when she needed a sign, deepened my appreciation further.<br />
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A year or two later, I was again in the Pacific Northwest while Sascha was deployed, and found there was a murder of crows that roosted in the trees surrounding my apartment. Every day I found feathers. Every day. And always in multiples of three. Always. I now have a large plastic bin full of black feathers; not enough for a cloak, which is what I'd really like to do with them, but a lot. I keep a couple of them on my altar.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxlFtLLlV50/TiuYXX5SSMI/AAAAAAAABW0/4Y-SIySH2V4/s1600/2011-07-23_20-51-29_632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxlFtLLlV50/TiuYXX5SSMI/AAAAAAAABW0/4Y-SIySH2V4/s400/2011-07-23_20-51-29_632.jpg" width="223" /></a>I no longer live near a murder - at least not year-round. (There was a giant murder roosting in the woods behind my apartment for a week or so this last fall.) But I still occasionally see crows when I'm pondering hard questions. They always seem to show up immediately after I've made a decision, as if verifying I've made the right one.<br />
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When we moved from North Carolina to Maryland, we saw them on the shoulder of the highway every couple of miles. As if moving was precisely the right thing to be doing.<br />
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To the right is Boudi, being very curious about the bowl of crow feathers on the table. (That bowl is about a third of what I wound up collecting, and yes, that is a normal-height table, Boudi's just huge.)<br />
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-21929329912002616482013-01-28T12:20:00.001-05:002013-01-28T12:28:25.510-05:00Educating myself!So I've enrolled in two classes on <a href="https://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a> that start today. Coursera, if you haven't heard of it, is a website offering free structured classes; they have weekly readings, video lectures, and sometimes homework. It's an international site; you can take these classes from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.<br />
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So the two classes I'm taking are:<br />
<a href="https://class.coursera.org/contraception-001/class/index">Contraception: Choices, Culture, and Consequences</a><br />
It lasts 5 weeks, the readings are a free download. It starts today, and I'll be diving into the videos and readings as soon as I'm done with this entry.<br />
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<a href="https://class.coursera.org/introphil-001/class/index">Introduction to Philosophy</a><br />
This one lasts 7 weeks, also starting today. There seems to be online videos and readings. I've taken one philosophy course before, Introduction to Ethics, and I LOVED it, so I'm expecting to enjoy this one as well.<br />
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So I'm excited, and will probably be talking about these two classes on the blog in the future!<br />
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Oh! And in this same note, I've been watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse">Crash Course</a> videos on Youtube. They have series on World History, Biology, Ecology, and Literature. I'm halfway through World History, I'm keeping up on Literature as it comes out, and I've started on Biology. But I find John Green, who does World History and Literature, a lot more watchable than his brother who does Biology and Ecology. (Though Sascha feels the opposite, so to each their own!) These are the same brothers that did the Youtube series Vlog Brothers. (I never watched that, but I'm told it was popular.)<br />
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Education. It's fun. :)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-878811525326603192013-01-27T12:00:00.000-05:002013-01-27T12:00:04.507-05:00Sunday Photo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Boudi doing what she does best - cheering me up. This time by being derpy.</div>
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-38047979501861058912013-01-25T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-25T16:26:19.361-05:00B is for the Black DogThe Black Dog is a figure in British Isles Mythology. He has many names; Cwn Annwn, Garmr, Cerberus, Cu Sith, the Barghest, Hairy Jack, Padfoot - there are many more listed on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dog_(ghost)">the wiki page.</a><br />
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Seeing the Black Dog is usually a harbinger of impending death or doom. He's also associated with lightning storms, but he's most known as the portent of death.<br />
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I'm writing about him today because I've had a personal encounter with the Cu Sith, or Black Dog.<br />
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Sascha and I were driving from Oregon to North Carolina. He'd just come home safe from Afghanistan, so we were moving back to North Carolina. Most of our stuff had been shipped; it was just Sascha, the cat, and I in the car, along with the stuff we needed for the two week journey. (We were stopping to see sights as we went.)<br />
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In the middle of Montana, miles from anywhere, we were cruising along at 75 MPH (the speed limit on their interstates) when a very large black dog ran in front of the car. We swerved, attempting to miss it, hit it anyway, spun out of control, across the road, and into a fence. The car was totaled. Sascha was life-flighted to a hospital sixty miles away with a punctured, collapsed lung and two broken ribs. I waited with the car until a nice SPCA employee came to pick up our cat (she kept her at her house until we could pick her up again!) and then the tow truck driver drove me to the hospital. I had twisted an ankle, but was otherwise unharmed.<br />
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And it was on the hour ride to the hospital, while I was quietly, inwardly panicking because I had no idea if Sascha was alright, that I realized the dog we'd hit was black. (SPCA later told us it survived, somehow, but disappeared from the road. They THINK the family who'd lost it came to get it, but they're not sure.)<br />
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Sascha spent a week in the hospital. It took us another week to find a new car, pull our stuff out of the old one, and pick up Boudicca so we could continue across the states. But Sascha survived, and is pretty much back to normal now, a year later.<br />
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Running into the Black Dog remains the scariest moment of my life. I still have nights where I think back on it, and the moments after we hit, when I looked over to see Sascha with blood running down his face, telling me he couldn't breathe. Those are bad nights. I still have moments in the car when I think I see movement at the side of the road. It's been pointed out that I seem to have a mild case of PTSD, which I think I agree with, but I'm getting better. Those nights are few and farther between now.<br />
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Looking in from the back of the car, you can see how the driver's side buckled inwards and broke Sascha's ribs. Boudicca's carrier was right behind me. The actually had to cut Sascha's door OFF to get him out of the car.<br />
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View of the car from the front.<br />
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Part of me wonders at the timing. The only real ritual I've performed was just after Sascha deployed to Afghanistan; I performed a protection ritual to keep him safe. Every night he was gone I prayed to Brigid. And he came home safe, but it was like the universe rubber-banded on us. I pulled too much and it snapped back.<br />
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Sascha has mentioned this principle in regards to weather-working. He doesn't do it much, because it tends to backlash eventually.<br />
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Has anyone else observed this with magic? Energy backlashing when you've pulled to hard the other direction?<br />
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Has anyone else had encounters with the Black Dog?Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-76960543654410004022013-01-24T13:58:00.000-05:002013-01-24T13:58:19.237-05:00Abortion Laws - MA, MI, MN, MS<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html">Massachusetts - #16 - B-</a></span></b><br />
29% of Massachusetts counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2647">Bans</a></i><br />
Massachusetts has not repealed its pre-Roe ban, though it is now unconstitutional and unenforceable.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2642">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2645">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
Partially unenforceable/unconstitutional requirement that a woman receive and sign a packet of state-approved materials 24 hours before an abortion.<br />
Health insurance policies provided by the state for its employees may not provide abortion coverage for certain post-viability procedures, with exceptions for the woman's health.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2648">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one's required to participate in abortions or sterilization procedures. Private hospitals don't have to provide/refer contraception, and religious organizations don't have to provide contraception or abortion insurance coverage.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2649">Restriction on Young Women's Access to Abortion</a></i><br />
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the consent of one parent.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/massachusetts.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2643">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and unenforceable restriction that abortions after 12 weeks must be performed in hospitals.<br />
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<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/09/federal-appeals-court-again-upholds-mass-abortion-buffer-clinic-zone-law/h8B40j5A1I6GVy1NqfB6IO/story.html">Court upholds Massachusetts Abortion Clinic Buffer Law</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Salvi">Wiki entry on John Salvi, who murdered abortion clinic workers in Massachusetts in 1994</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html">Michigan - #32 - F</a></span></b><br />
83% of Michigan counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2657">Bans</a></i><br />
Several bans, almost all of which are unconstitutional and unenforceable. But they keep trying.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2653">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2651">Counseling Ban</a></i><br />
24 hours before an abortion a woman must receive a state-approved packet of materials.<br />
State Department of Community Health funds for pregnancy prevention cannot be used to counsel about or refer to abortion. They also must give funding priority to organizations that do not provide abortion except in the case of emergency.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2660">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one has to participate in abortions; religious employers may choose not to provide contraception coverage.<br />
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<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2654">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2652">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Public funding for abortion is prohibited except to save the woman's life or in cases of rape or incest.<br />
Women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/michigan.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2650">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Facilities have their own unique licensing scheme, effectively requiring abortion clinics to be mini-hospitals. Doctors must have referring privileges at local hospitals.<br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/michigan-abortion-law-_n_2377744.html">Michigan governor signs new abortion law</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/minnesota.html">Minnesota - #18 - C+</a></span></b><br />
95% of Minnesota counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/minnesota.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2670">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/minnesota.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2663">Counseling Ban</a></i><br />
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman has to sit through a state-approved lecture, in person or by telephone.<br />
Family planning grants from the state can't go towards abortion. They also can't make grants under the "Positive Abortion Alternatives" program for abortion services.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/minnesota.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2666">Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion</a></i><br />
Women under 18 must wait 48 hours after notice is delivered to BOTH parents, either by certified mail or in person by the attending physician. Waived in cases of child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/minnesota.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2666">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Abortions after the first trimester must be done in a hospital or licensed "abortion facility" (which usually have to be mini-hospitals themselves.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html">Mississippi - #48 - F</a></span></b><br />
99% of Mississippi counties have no abortion provider. (Soon to be 100%!)<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2677">Bans</a></i><br />
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion, with one near-total criminal ban on abortion to take effect if Roe v Wade is ever repealed.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2679">Biased Counseling</a>, <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2678">Counseling Ban</a>, and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2680">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman must sit through an in-person, state approved lecture by the attending physician.<br />
Public school nurses are prohibiting from counseling about abortion. No money from the Mississippi Children's Trust Fund may be used for abortion counseling or services.<br />
No public funds can be used for abortions for state employees, except for rape or incest of inviability of the fetus. Insurance plans under the new state exchange cannot cover abortion except for rape, incest, or health of the mother.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2672">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to participate in ANY health care service.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2674">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2675">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, or if the fetus is not viable.<br />
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the written consent of both parents. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2671">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
The TRAP laws in Mississippi are forcing the state's sole remaining abortion provider to close its doors. After remodeling and following all the mini-hospital guidelines, none of the doctors have been able to secure admitting rights at any nearby hospitals. The law requires them to have such rights, but does not require the hospitals to give it to them. Which shuts them down. The LAST REMAINING CLINIC IN THE STATE. All of the surrounding states have 24 hour delay laws, which means the women of Mississippi will have to travel out of state, stay overnight in a hotel, and THEN get an abortion. As if getting an abortion wasn't stressful enough.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/did-you-know/mississippi.html">Other laws</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 97-29-11 of the Mississippi Code makes being the parent of an illegitimate child a misdemeanor, and requires that the State Health Department report out-of-wedlock births each month. The misdemeanor is punishable by “</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or both.” For repeat offenses, the jail time and fine double.<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>While this policy is not enforced, it is still valid law in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mississippi</st1:place></st1:state>.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/24/mississippi-abortion-clinic-legal-battle">Mississippi's last clinic fights to stay open</a><br />
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/01/mississippi-and-state-abortion-40-years-after-roe">Mississippi and the state of Abortion 40 years after Roe</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">National Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html">Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas</a><br />
Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a><br />
Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a><br />
Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: this postCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-36899242004958546302013-01-23T12:00:00.000-05:002013-01-24T13:59:46.112-05:00Abortion Laws - KY, LA, ME, MD<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html">Kentucky - #41 - F</a></b></span><br />
98% of Kentucky counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2595">Bans</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal ban on abortions after 12 weeks.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2597">Biased Counseling</a>, <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2607">Counseling Ban</a>, and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2602">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
Partially unenforceable law about the state-sponsored packet of materials that must be received 24 hours before an abortion. Court blocked the in-person requirement; still must get it by mail or telephone counseling session.<br />
Hospitals providing sexual assault care cannot inform the woman of her option to abort. School districts can't offer information or referrals to/about abortion.<br />
Insurance can't cover abortion except to protect the life of the mother, unless the woman buys an optional insurance rider.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2604"><i>Refusal Clause</i></a><br />
No one is required to participate in abortions.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=16&ssumID=2603">Public Facilities Restriction</a></i><br />
Abortions may not be obtained at publicly owned hospitals or other publicly owned healthcare facilities except to save the life of the mother.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2599">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2596">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding from being used for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Portions of the law are unconstitutional and unenforceable.<br />
Unmarried women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2598">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Doctors must have admitting privileges at local hospitals, abortion facilities have specific regulations, and clinics are susceptible to inspections at any time with no provisions made for the privacy of patients.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kentucky.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=24&ssumID=2594">Other Laws</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px;">"If . . . the United States Constitution is amended or relevant judicial decisions are reversed or modified, the declared policy of this Commonwealth to recognize and to protect the lives of all human beings regardless of their degree of biological development shall be fully restored."</span></blockquote>
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2012/12/31/republicans-think-anti-abortion-legislation-has-a-chance/">Kentucky heading for more anti-abortion legislation</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html">Louisiana - #50 - F</a></span></b><br />
92% of Louisiana counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2614">Bans</a></i><br />
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2612">Biased Counseling</a>, <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2619">Counseling Ban</a>, and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=3033">Insurance Prohibition</a><br />
A woman seeking an abortion must sit through a lengthy state-approved lecture by the doctor at least 24 hours before the abortion.<br />
No one employed by the state or receiving government funds can advocate for abortion.<br />
Health insurance policies in the state cannot cover abortion, no exceptions.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2609">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to participate in abortions except in emergencies to save the life of the mother.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=16&ssumID=2616">Public Facilities Restriction</a></i><br />
No public facilities or public funds can be used for abortion except to save the life of the mother.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2615">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2610">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest (reported to law enforcement).<br />
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2613">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
I don't even know how to summarize this, just check the link. Unique requirements for the facility, unique medical malpractice liability, other stuff.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/louisiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=24&ssumID=2618">Other laws</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">"The Legislature does solemnly declare and find in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions shall be enforced." </span></blockquote>
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/louisiana_abortion_jindal.html">Report says Louisiana is the most pro-life state</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maine.html">Maine - #7 - A</a></span></b><br />
69% of Maine counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maine.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2628">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
Maine has some pretty extensive refusal laws. People don't have to participate; pharmacists don't have to fill prescriptions if it's against their conscience, religious employers don't have to cover contraception in their insurance plans.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maine.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2622">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maine.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2623">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.<br />
Women under 18 must obtain consent from one parent with no exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maine.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=3014"><i>TRAP Laws</i></a><br />
Only licensed physicians may provide abortions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maryland.html">Maryland - #5 - A</a></span></b><br />
63% of Maryland counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maryland.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2636">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to participate in abortions, sterilizations, or artificial inseminations. Religious employers are not required to provide contraception coverage in their insurance.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maryland.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2630">Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion</a></i><br />
Women under 18 cannot get an abortion until one parent has been notified, unless the physician believes notifying the parent would not be in the best interests of the minor. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/maryland.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2971">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Maryland's trap laws are somewhat reasonable. A facility that provides surgical abortion as a regular service must be licensed as a surgical facility.<br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://somd.com/news/headlines/2013/16409.shtml">Anti-Choice protestor disturbs inauguration</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This post is part of a series.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">National Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html">Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas</a><br />
Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a><br />
Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a><br />
Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-61089581940094745102013-01-22T12:21:00.001-05:002013-02-04T23:04:41.945-05:00Abortion Laws - IL, IN, IA, KS<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Illinois - #17 - B-</span></b></a><br />
92% of Illinois counties have no abortion provider<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2566">Bans</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and Unenforceable ban on abortion.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2557">Counseling Ban</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2564">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
Grants provided under the "Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act" which is designed to "expand and improve the availability of, and access to, needed comprehensive community services which assist problem pregnancies and to obtain proper care and assistance to those persons in need" cannot include reference to or about abortion.<br />
Insurance paid for with state funds can't cover abortion.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2559">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to perform an abortion.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2565">Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion</a><br />
Unenforceable currently, pending court judgment. Would require parental notification.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2562">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Requires abortion facilities to be ambulatory surgical treatment centers, regardless of types of abortions performed.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/illinois.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=24&ssumID=2567">Other Laws</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">The General Assembly "solemnly declare[s] and find[s] in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions unless necessary for the preservation of the mother's life shall be reinstated." </span></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Indiana - #36 - F</span></b></a><br />
95% of Indiana counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=3055">Bans</a></i><br />
Ban after 20 weeks or viability, whichever is earlier. Ban after 12 weeks ruled unconstitutional&unenforceable.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2569">Biased Counseling</a>, <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2577">Counseling Ban</a>, and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=3040">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
At least 18 hours before an abortion, the woman must sit through a state-approved lecture. The employees of the Indiana Office of Women's Health may not advocate for, promote, or refer to abortion. Health insurance policies under the new state exchange may not cover abortion except for the health of the mother, rape, or incest.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2568">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to perform or participate in abortions.<br />
<br />
<i>Restriction on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2573">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2576">Young Women'</a>s Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion.<br />
Women under age 18 must obtain written consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/indiana.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2572"><i>TRAP Laws</i></a><br />
The State department of Health has authority to enact further trap laws without government approval. Abortions must be performed in hospital/hospital licensed facilities. All abortion providers must have admitting privileges with local hospitals.<br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/01/31/indiana-set-to-pass-numerous-restricts-including-ban-on-abortion-feta">Fetal Anomalies and Medication Abortion Next Targets of Indiana's Anti-Choice Legislature</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html">Iowa - #19 - C+</a></span></b><br />
91% of Iowa counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html">Bans</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and unenforceable ban after 12 weeks.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2580">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
Individuals and Hospital that are not controlled, maintained, or supported by a public authority may refuse to perform or participate in abortions except in emergencies.<br />
<br />
<i>Restriction on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2581">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2582">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion care unless the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, the fetus is physically deformed, mentally deficient, or affected with a congenital illness, or the pregnancy is the result of rape (reported within 45 days of the occurrence) or incest (reported within 150 days of the occurrence).<br />
Unmarried women under the age of 18 cannot get an abortion until 48 hours after one parent has been notified by certified mail or in person with the attending physician. Includes exceptions for child abuse, rape, and incest.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/iowa.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2970">TRAP Laws</a><br />
Only physicians licensed in surgery may perform abortions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html">Kansas - #46 - F</a></b></span><br />
97% of Kansas counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=3054">Bans</a></i><br />
Criminal ban on abortion after 22 weeks, measured from the woman's last menstrual period. In addition, allows the offending physician to be sued by the woman, her spouse, and her parents if under 18.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2592">Biased Counseling</a>, <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2591">Counseling Ban</a>, and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=3041">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
24 hours before the abortion a woman must receive an extensive packet of state approved materials.<br />
Kansas Department of Health may not enter contracts with organizations that provide abortions.<br />
Health Insurance Policies may not cover abortion unless a woman purchases an optional rider.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=27&ssumID=3061"><i>Public facilities and employees ban</i></a><br />
No public facilities or employees may participate in abortions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2593"><i>Refusal Clause</i></a><br />
No one may be required to perform/participate in an abortion or sterilization. In addition, no one may be required to provide birth control, including pharmacists.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2587">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2586">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.<br />
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent of BOTH parents, with the exception of incest. Additionally, she must attend a counselling session with a parent, guardian, or other trusted party over the age of 21.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/kansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=3050">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Abortion providers are subject to their own, very restrictive set of laws. They must be located within 30 miles of a hospital, and every physician at the clinic must have admitting privileges at that hospital. All facilities must be open to inspection at least twice a year, one of these without notice. Records must be available for inspection, with no privacy for the patients. (This section is fairly extensive, I'm not going to reiterate it all here.)<br />
<br />
<i>Other News Stories</i><br />
Kansas is probably the most well-known for the murder of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tiller">Dr. George Tiller</a>, one of the last doctors to provide late-term abortions in the U.S. His clinic is set to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/22/us-usa-abortion-wichita-idUSBRE90L0M120130122">reopen this spring</a>, after four years. <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/11/4006506/to-meet-new-rules-kansas-abortion.html">They had to remodel it to meet TRAP laws first.</a> Abortion opponents are <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/17/4016801/operation-rescue-files-complaint.html">trying to stop the remodel</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/21/aclu-gives-up-trying-to-stop-kansas-abortion-insurance-funding-ban/">The ACLU has given up trying to stop the Insurance Ban from going into effect</a>, but <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/kansas-abortions_n_2427270.html">it's going to court anyway.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This entry is part of a series on abortion laws across the U.S. Other parts can be found here:<br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">National Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html">Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas</a><br />
Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a><br />
Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a><br />
Part 4: this post<br />
<br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-1376483805263834582013-01-17T23:18:00.000-05:002013-01-18T14:48:29.746-05:00B is for Breaking Bonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I mentioned in last week's post that I no longer felt I had to hide my altar; that I was happy that I knew no one would be entering my house who would judge me for it. There's a reason for this development. But first, some history.<br />
<br />
I was raised very conservative Christian. I was the good little Christian girl. I was saving sex for marriage. I was homeschooled until eighth grade. I thought dinosaurs lived alongside humans in biblical times. (Hey, Job mentions leviathan and behemoth, those are obviously dinosaurs!)<br />
<br />
It wasn't until a few years out of high school that I really started questioning those beliefs; Sascha helped a lot simply by asking me questions and encouraging me to think - really THINK - about why I believed certain things. Even so, while I was questioning things, I didn't really make up my mind until I moved away from my home state, away from my family's influence. Without the constant pressure to be the good daughter, without fear of family judgement, I was finally able to decide that no, I was not Christian. I don't believe in God and Jesus or hell.<br />
<br />
Making this entire process slower was the way I'd been raised; women are subordinate in the household; you should be quiet and obedient. I mean, that wasn't said in so many words, but men were the heads of households. Men were pastors and elders of the church. Women don't get positions of authority. So mixed up in these religious beliefs were also beliefs about my place, and the lack of confidence in my own judgement and reasoning. (Trying to make a decision? Don't make it alone, look it up in the Bible and pray about it, because your reasoning is never good enough.)<br />
<br />
That was five years ago. It's taken me this long to realize my judgement is sound; I can be logical and reasoning. I have a right to make my voice and opinions heard. And they are NOT the same opinions as my family. I've even somewhat repaired the damage to my history and science education.<br />
<br />
So this last holiday season, my family, as usual, made a big deal on Facebook about "It's Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays!" and "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." Being a pagan who celebrates the Solstice, and having pagan and Jewish friends who are also celebrating holidays other than Christmas, I couldn't let this go. To one of my mother's posts (the one with Ben Stein saying he's not offended by Merry Christmas, if you know it) I posted three very long, very thought-out comments refuting the speech, statement by statement. Including the Snopes link saying that most of that is not, actually, from Ben Stein. My mother deleted the post.<br />
<br />
My favorite cousin re-posted the Ben Stein thing about a week later, which was when I discovered my mother had deleted hers. I told my cousin I would have linked her to my response, but I couldn't find it, so I just left the Snopes link. My mother FINALLY commented in reply, saying "I don't care who said it" but then continuing on to say "I'm sorry we failed you and I hope you see the truth someday." Saying she didn't care about the truth of a thing and they saying she hoped I found the truth pissed me off and made me laugh out loud at the same time.<br />
<br />
There were other Facebook posts that I objected to, and either didn't get replies to my comments or they were to the same effect. I did not get mad in my comments, I simply pointed out there were other holidays being celebrated at the same time, and I'd rather be inclusive with my "Happy Holidays" then exclude everyone who wasn't Christian.<br />
<br />
Well, last week I posted a picture I found that said "If in 2012 I have said anything that pissed you off, annoyed you, or offended you in any way, SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP because 2013 isn't going to be any different!"<br />
<br />
My mother replied and said since I was comfortable saying the "F" word but offended by Merry Christmas, she was blocking me from her Facebook feed. I promptly removed her, my father, a very religious aunt, and another conservative uncle, leaving only my older brother, his wife, and two cousins. I'm guessing my brother and his wife will probably follow shortly.<br />
<br />
And I feel FREE. Holy shit. The last several months I'd gradually stopped censoring myself on Facebook; my friends know who I am. To try to pretend to please my family was tiring. But I still had the "well, I'm gonna get flak for that statement!" stress when I posted things I knew my family wouldn't agree with. And it's GONE.<br />
<br />
It's taken almost six years, but I finally feel free to be my complete self. My pagan, feminist, pro-choice, liberal, profane self. 2013: the year I finally broke free.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-22980612936233935672013-01-17T08:24:00.001-05:002013-01-17T12:22:57.617-05:00Just a few quick but depressing links this morning<a href="http://jezebel.com/5976434/indonesian-supreme-court-nominee-says-women-enjoy-rape">An Indonesian Supreme Court nominee says Women enjoy rape</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://jezebel.com/5976559/roe-v-huh-most-under-30-dont-know-roe-v-wade-was-about-abortion">Most Americans under the age of 30 don't know Roe v Wade was about rape</a> (and other interesting statistics about people's SAD, lacking knowledge of this landmark ruling.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jezebel.com/5976651/most-poor-women-wouldve-gotten-earlier-abortions-but-needed-time-to-raise-money-for-the-costly-procedure">Most poor women would have gotten abortions earlier if they could afford it</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://jezebel.com/5975760/fetal-heartbeat-bills-are-sooo-2012-but-wyoming-didnt-get-the-memo">Fetal Heartbeat bills introduced in Wyoming</a> (because obviously the fetus is more important than the mother.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/14/troubling-number-of-women-denied-constitutional-rights-due-to-pregnancy/">Troubling number of women denied their constitutional rights based on pregnancy status</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jan/17/question-shocks-room/">Idaho lawmaker equates abortion to prostitution</a><br />
<br />
In better news:<br />
<a href="http://jezebel.com/5976307/awesome-indian-men-don-skirts-to-protest-rape-culture">Indian Men don skirts to protest rape culture</a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-49084612173072973572013-01-16T10:28:00.000-05:002013-01-24T14:00:23.353-05:00Abortion Laws - FL, GA, HI, IDPart 3 in a series.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Florida - #29 - F</b></span></a><br />
72% of Florida counties have on abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2529">Bans</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and unenforceable ban after 12 weeks.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=13&ssumID=2522">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=3039">Insurance Prohibition</a></i><br />
May not obtain an abortion until provided a state-approved pack of information as well as a mandatory ultrasound.<br />
Health insurance provided by the new state exchange established under the new health care laws may not include abortion if paid in part or full by state or federal funds, including tax credits or cost-sharing credits.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2528">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one can be forced to provide any abortion OR CONTRACEPTIVE services. Yes, this means a pharmacist can refuse to fill a prescription for birth control.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2524">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2525">Young Women's Access</a> to Abortion</i><br />
No public funds can be used for abortion services except in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother.<br />
No young woman under the age of 18 can receive an abortion until 48 hours after one parent is notified by telephone or in person by the attending physician. If parents cannot be notified, there must be a 72 hour wait after notification is sent by certified mail. Not waived in case of rape, incest, or child abuse. Waived in case of emergency.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/florida.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2523">TRAP laws</a></i><br />
Abortion clinics must keep records of patients for five years, organized for easy retrieval. No limitation on who may have access to the records, and no guarantee of privacy for the patient. Abortion clinics must also obtain special "abortion clinic" licenses.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html">Georgia - #30 - F</a></span></b><br />
94% of Georgia counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=3060">Bans</a></i><br />
Abortions after 20 weeks prohibited. Unconstitutional, Unenforceable ban on abortion after 12 weeks.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2919">Biased Counseling</a></i><br />
24 hour wait after receiving a state-approved lecture covering the usual: age of the fetus, development, estimate of viability, adoption services, pre-natal resources, etc. If she chooses to review the materials in written form she must wait 72 hours.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2534">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one is required to participate in an abortion. Pharmacists are not required to fill or refill contraception prescriptions. County and State employees are not required to participate in Family Planning Services. No one is required to participate in sterilizations.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2532">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2536">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother.<br />
Women under 18 must wait 24 hours after a parent is notified by the attending physician, or 72 hours after mailing notification by certified mail. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse. The young woman can, however, provide a signed statement from the parent saying they've been notified; the 24 hour wait can be waived if the parent certified in writing they have previously consulted with the young woman or if the parent accompanies the young woman to the procedure.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/georgia.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2535">TRAP laws</a></i><br />
Abortion facilities must be "available at all reasonable or scheduled operating hours for observation and examination" by state officials. No regulations provided for the safety or privacy of patients. All abortions other than D&E procedures must be performed in a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical centers.<br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/georgia-abortion-law-blocked_n_2360850.html">Georgia's 20 week ban</a> <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/01/04/1396431/georgia-fetal-pain-flounders/">blocked temporarily by state judge</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/hawaii.html">Hawaii - #4 - A</a></span></b><br />
20% of Hawaii counties have on abortion provider.<br />
No bans other than the Federal ban<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/hawaii.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2539">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No person or hospital may be required to participate abortion procedures. They must make reasonable efforts to find the patient a doctor that will provide the necessary services and continue to provide care until the patient is transferred.<br />
Religious employers, defined as non-profit organizations whose sole purpose is a religious one and primarily employs people who share the religious values of the company, are not required to provide coverage for contraceptive services in their insurance plans.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/hawaii.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2969">TRAP laws</a></i><br />
Only a licensed physician, surgeon, or osteopathic physician or surgeon may perform abortions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html">Idaho - #44 - F</a></span></b><br />
95% of Idaho counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=3053">Bans</a></i><br />
Ban after 20 weeks, no exceptions. Unconstitutional, unenforceable ban after 12 weeks that also outlines punishments for providers, including jail time, fines, and loss of medical license.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2545">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2546">Insurance Prohibitions</a></i><br />
24 hour waiting period after being provided with state-approved packet of materials.<br />
Disability insurance policies, individual insurance policies, and managed care plans may not include insurance coverage with an exception only to save the woman's life. Abortion coverage may only be obtained by an optional rider paid for with additional fees; no requirements for insurance companies to offer the rider. Health insurance offered in the new state exchange may not include abortion coverage with exceptions to save a woman's life or in cases of rape or incest.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2550">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No one can be forced to participate in abortion or sterilization services; refusal must be in writing. Exceptions for emergencies.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2551">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2548">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion except for saving the life of the mother, rape, or incest. Rape or incest must be documented by law enforcement or attending physician; a requirement that it be verified by two physicians was deemed unconstitutional.<br />
Young women under 18 may not obtain abortions unless they obtain the consent of one parent, except in cases of emergency, rape, or incest. No exception for child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/idaho.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2549">TRAP laws</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional requirement that all second-trimester abortions be done in a hospital. Providers must have "satisfactory" transfer arrangements with one or more acute-care hospitals within reasonable proximity. No exceptions for rural area clinics, or requirements for hospitals to make the agreements. Only physicians licensed by the state to practice medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery may perform abortions.<br />
<br />
Idaho state code states:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">"The supreme court of the United States having held in the case of '</span><em style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Planned Parenthood v. Casey'</em><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"> that the states have a 'profound interest' in preserving the life of preborn children, Idaho hereby expresses the fundamental importance of that 'profound interest' and it is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state that all state statutes, rules and constitutional provisions shall be interpreted to prefer, by all legal means, live childbirth over abortion." </span></blockquote>
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/01/17/1466161/idaho-sex-slavery/">Idaho lawmaker compares abortion to prostitution</a><br />
<br />
Other posts in this series:<br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">NARAL's Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html">Intro, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas</a><br />
Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a><br />
Part 3: this post<br />
Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-4799573096077160162013-01-15T12:09:00.000-05:002013-01-24T14:00:38.110-05:00Abortion/Contraception Laws: CA, CO, CT, DE<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html">California - #1 - A+</a></span></b><br />
22% of California counties have no abortion provider.<br />
No bans other than the federal ban on certain second-trimester abortions.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2487">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
Allows certain people/organizations to refuse to have anything to do with abortion services; does not apply to pharmacists. Applies to doctors, nurses, and religious organizations. Does not apply in emergency medical situations. Health-care providers can refuse to provide care they don't agree with, but must assist the patient in transferring to a doctor who will provide such care. Religious employers who disagree with contraception may exclude it from their insurance plans.Only applies to employers who are non-profit religious organizations who primarily employ people who share the religious tenets of the organization.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2488">Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion</a></i><br />
Ruled unconstitutional and unenforceable, this law would require a woman under the age of 18 to obtain parental consent before getting an abortion, regardless of rape/incest/child abuse.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2965">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Only licensed physicians or surgeons may provide surgical abortions. Only licensed physicians, surgeons, or someone who has obtained a specific license for it may provide non-surgical abortions.<br />
<br />
California has written the freedom of choice into their state laws:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;">"The legislature finds and declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions. . . Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse birth control. . . Every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and to obtain an abortion. . . The state shall not deny or interfere with a woman's fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and obtain an abortion. . ."</span></blockquote>
<br />
Pharmacists are prohibited from refusing to fill contraception prescriptions. California has a <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=22&ssumID=2486">protection from clinic violence policy</a>, and allows for <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/california.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=11&ssumID=2489">Medicaid/public funds to be used for low income women's family planning and abortion services.</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html">Colorado - #22 - C+</a></b></span><br />
78% of Colorado counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2497">Bans</a></i><br />
Colorado has an unenforceable, pre-Roe ban on abortion.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2495">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
Hospitals, hospital staff members, and people employed by hospitals may refuse to do any abortion services, but the refusal must be in writing. Private institutions, physicians, and the employees of such may refuse to offer contraception or abortion services. County and City employees may refuse to offer family planning services. No hospital or person may be required to participate in a sterilization. None of these refusal clauses have exceptions for emergencies.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2492">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2493">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i><br />
Colorado prohibits public funding for abortion except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Some of these provisions conflict with federal law that allows Medicaid to be used for abortion; therefore they are, for the most part, unenforceable.<br />
Women under 18 must wait 48 hours after notification has been sent to at least one parent, by certified mail or personally delivered by the attending physician. Not waived in cases of rape or incest, but waived in cases of child abuse if the physician has reported the abuse. Also waived in emergencies. These requirements may be waived by a judge.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/colorado.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2966">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
A law predating Roe v Wade requires all abortions to be performed in a hospital; ruled unconstitutional. Only licensed health-care professionals may provide abortions. <i>(I certainly have no problem with that.)</i><br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/01/16/colorado-senate-proposes-gender-based-abortions-ban-taxpayer-funding-ban-while-on">Colorado Senate proposes "gender-based" abortions ban</a> (uh, there's nothing suggesting these are happening...)<br />
<a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/bill-proposes-to-make-abortion-a-felony-in-colorado">Bill proposed to make abortion a class 3 felony</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/connecticut.html">Connecticut - #3 - A</a></b></span><br />
13% of Connecticut counties have no abortion provider.<br />
No bans other than the federal ban on certain second-trimester abortions.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/connecticut.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2500">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No person may be required to participate in any part of an abortion for any reason. Religious organizations may refuse to provide insurance coverage for contraception and abortion services.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/connecticut.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2502">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Clinic that provide abortions, whether surgical or not, must have a standard operating room. Clinics must hire counselors who are supervised by a person with a graduate degree or training in social work, psychology, counseling, nursing, or ministry. Only licensed physicians may perform abortions; however the CT Attorney General has issued an opinion stating this only applied to surgical abortions, and that state-licensed nurses, mid-wives, and physician's assistants may provide mifepristone (medical abortion drug) as long as they are acting under a licensed physician.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/connecticut.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=12&ssumID=2506">Young Women's Access to Abortion</a></i><br />
Women under the age of 18 must have a counseling session before an abortion, explaining options and exploring the possibility of involving the young woman's parents.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html">Delaware - #21 - C+</a></b></span><br />
33% of Delaware counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2513">Bans</a></i><br />
Unconstitutional and unenforceable pre-Roe blanket ban on abortion.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2909">Counseling and Delay Requirements</a></i><br />
Cannot receive an abortion until 24 hours after she gives her own written consent. Prior to giving consent, the woman must sit through state-mandated counseling. (Standard pack - other options, effects on future children, risks, etc) Waiting period has been ruled unconstitutional and unenforceable.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2515">Refusal Clause</a></i><br />
No person or hospital may be forced to participate in an abortion. Religious employers may refuse to provide insurance coverage for contraception and abortion services.<br />
<br />
<i>Restriction on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2510">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2514">Young Women's Access</a> to Abortion</i><br />
Prohibits public funding for abortion unless the life of the mother is in danger, or the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest reported to the police. (Exception, the physician notes in writing that the woman had just cause for not reporting the rape to police.)<br />
Women under the age of 16 may not receive an abortion until 24 hours after one parent has been notified. No exceptions for rape or incest, only for emergencies.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/delaware.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2967">TRAP Laws</a></i><br />
Only a state-licensed physician may provide abortions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>This is part two in my "Abortion Laws by State" series, you can find the other parts here:</i><br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">NARAL's Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html#more">Introduction and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas</a><br />
Part 2: This post<br />
Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a><br />
Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-76438665620511677292013-01-14T13:34:00.000-05:002013-02-01T00:40:40.069-05:00Abortion/Contraception Laws: AL, AK, AZ, ARYesterday I posted NARAL's pro-choice report card of the United States, in which the country as a whole received a D. Which didn't surprise me, but did surprise Elena-Maria of <a href="http://wiccanfusion.blogspot.com/">Wiccan Fusion</a>. Her comment made me realize that I do get page views from outside of the U.S. and those visitors probably don't know what's been happening here in regards to anti-choice laws. So in the next three days I'm going to go state by state and give a basic summary of the anti-choice laws.<br />
<br />
As an overall view, yes, we still have Roe v. Wade at the federal level, meaning abortion is legal. Women have the right to an abortion. At the state level, governments have been putting in restrictions left and right "for the health of the mother." They're saying women can still get abortions, so long as abortion clinics obey new and extremely restrictive, hard-to-follow laws. Several states have had personhood amendments introduced (and thankfully defeated) that would have given fertilized eggs full rights as citizens, thereby making abortion murder. A personhood amendment has even been re-introduced at the Federal level by none other than Paul Ryan, the Republican nominee for vice president last year.<br />
<br />
The Affordable Health Care Act (also known as Obamacare) requires that companies provide insurance plans that offer contraception with no co-pay. There are exceptions for religious organizations like churches, whose sole purpose is a religious one, but none for companies headed by religious people, such as craft store Hobby Lobby. They did come up with a compromise, in that if the company won't pay for the contraception, the insurance company will foot the bill, but that's not enough for some employers who continue to cry that it's against their religious beliefs. Hobby Lobby has reportedly stated that they will pay the fines (up to 1.3 million US dollars A DAY) rather than provide contraception coverage for their employees. Meanwhile, most companies still don't offer paid maternity leave, and still cover viagra in their insurance plans. (I don't know the details of Hobby Lobby's insurance or maternity leave.)<br />
<br />
Federal funds are prohibited from being used for abortion; so non-profits like Planned Parenthood, that provide a huge amount of women's health services, very carefully do their accounting so none of their federal funding pays for their abortion services. Only about 3% of what they do is abortions; the rest are contraception services, mammograms, pap smears, cancer screenings. Nonetheless, conservative-run states have been trying to defund Planned Parenthood, even if it means giving up federal funds. Texas successfully defunded PP this year in their state, foregoing federal funding for their other womens' health programs to do it.<br />
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Today we'll go over the laws for four states, after the break.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>(Follow the links for complete text on NARAL's website, I'm just summarizing.)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html">Alabama - #38 - F</a></span></b><br />
93% of Alabama counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2445">Bans</a></i><br />
First things first, there is an unenforceable blanket ban on abortion in Alabama, from the days before Roe v. Wade. It was never taken off the books. They do ban abortion after 20 weeks. They have another unenforceable ban on abortion as early as 12 weeks; unenforceable because there's no exception for a woman's health. The 20 week ban includes a provision allowing abortion to save the life of the mother.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2441">Counseling </a>and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2442">Counseling Restrictions</a></i><br />
The Alabama Office of Women's Health may not advocate for or promote abortion. Before getting an abortion, the mother must listen to a doctor tell her details about her fetus; approximate age, estimated anatomical and physiological characteristics, whether it's viable or not. She must receive, 24 hours before the procedure, in person, state-prepared materials providing lists of resources for pre-natal care and childbirth, adoption agencies, and the following statement:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;">"There are many public and private agencies willing and able to help you to carry your child to term, and to assist you and your child after your child is born, whether you choose to keep your child or place him or her for adoption. The State of Alabama strongly urges you to contact those agencies before making a final decision about abortion. The law requires that your physician or his or her agent give you the opportunity to call agencies like these before you undergo an abortion."</span></blockquote>
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<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=3059">Insurance Prohibitions</a></i><br />
Health-insurance policies offered in the new state exchange established under health-care reform may not include abortion coverage, with exceptions only to save a woman's life, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.<br />
<br />
<i>Restrictions on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2447">low-income women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2446">young women's</a> access to Abortion</i><br />
Alabama prohibits public funding for abortion for women on eligible for for state medical assistance for general health care, unless it's to save the life of the mother or the product of rape or incest. Women under the age of 18 must obtain the consent of at least 1 parent to obtain an abortion. This requirement is NOT waved in the case of rape or incest; however if the pregnancy is caused by the father figure, certified mail notification to the mother is acceptable. Requirement is NOT waved in the case of child abuse.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2448">Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP)</a></i><br />
Alabama requires extensive things of abortion providers; the doctors must have admitting privileges at a local hospital, many of which won't give admitting privileges to out-of-state doctors. Given that the environment is so hostile to abortion providers, many of the doctors come in from out of state twice a week to do procedures. And hospitals don't like giving admitting privileges to out-of-state doctors. This condition caused a lot of protest when it was enacted. Every provider is required to perform an ultrasound before every procedure, regardless of it is actually necessary. Only doctors licensed in the state to practice medicine or osteopathy are allowed to perform abortions.<br />
<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/01/18/1467591/alabamas-abortion-clinic-escorts/">A heartbreaking article about clinic escorts in Alabama</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alaska.html">Alaska - #14 - B+</a></span></b><br />
<div>
82% of Alaska counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alaska.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=10&ssumID=2452">Bans</a></i><br />
<div>
Unenforceable ban on abortion at 12 weeks.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alaska.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=13&ssumID=2455"><i>Biased Counseling</i></a></div>
<div>
Again, a woman may not receive an abortion until she has received information on the procedure and risks of the procedure; the materials are posted online rather than handed to her in person. However, the materials did include the now-disproved link between abortion and breast cancer. After protest by Alaskan doctors, that has been removed.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Alaska also has laws about parental consent for minors, allowing people to refuse to perform abortions, and TRAP laws, but they've all been ruled unconstitutional so I'm not going to go into them here. You can find them on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alaska.html">NARAL's site</a> if you're interested.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html">Arizona - #27 - F</a></span></b></div>
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73% of Arizona counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2460">Bans</a></i></div>
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Unenforceable blanket ban on abortion.</div>
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Ban on abortion after 20 weeks; counted not from fertilization, but from last gestational period, meaning this is likely an actual ban after 18 weeks. </div>
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Ban on second trimester abortion with no exception for a woman's health.</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=3024">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=2463">Counseling Restrictions</a></i></div>
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Again requires a 24 hour delay between receiving a state-approved packet of information and actually obtaining an abortion. Family planning services provided by the state cannot include abortion or abortion counseling. Courts upheld the 24 hour delay, but did not require the information be handed to the woman in person, which would have required two trips, like Alabama requires.</div>
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<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=16&ssumID=2465"><i>Public Facilities Restrictions</i></a></div>
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University facilities and facilities under a "health service district" program may not perform abortions or contract out abortion services.</div>
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<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2467"><i>Abortion Refusal Laws</i></a></div>
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"<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;">No hospitals, pharmacies, medical facilities, or health-care professionals, or employees of hospitals, pharmacies, medical facilities, or health-care professionals, who object in writing, may be required to participate in or facilitate medical or surgical procedures that result in an abortion. In addition, no hospital may be required to admit a woman for the purpose of providing abortion care."</span></blockquote>
This includes Plan B!</div>
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<a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2461"><i>Young Women's Access to Abortion</i></a></div>
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Required notarized parental consent. There are, however, exceptions for rape, incest, and child abuse. Parents or guardian of the minor can sue the doctor is parental consent is not obtained.</div>
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There are TRAP laws in Arizona, but they are still under consideration by the courts. More information <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arizona.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2464">here</a>.</div>
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<br />
<i>News Stories</i><br />
<a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/anti-abortion-group-ranks-arizona-as-th-best-state/article_efce090e-c42b-508d-8f2a-63e339b7e805.html">Anti-Abortion group ranks Arizona 5th best state</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.galvestondailynews.com/news_ap/texas/article_100e9462-62a1-5611-b655-a89dac09cdfb.html">Arizona's governor states he wants to make abortion "a thing of the past"</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html">Arkansas - #37 - F</a></span></b></div>
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97% of Arkansas counties have no abortion provider.<br />
<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=5&ssumID=2470">Bans</a></i></div>
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Unconstitutional, unenforceable blanket ban on abortion.</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=1&ssumID=2472">Biased Counseling</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=2&ssumID=3034">Counseling Restrictions</a></i></div>
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Prior to the day of the abortion, the woman must listen to a state-approved lecture on abortion procedures and risks. It also includes a list of resources for pre-natal care, adoption, the standard packet. The woman must be offered the chance to view the fetus on ultrasound, and put a signed acceptance or refusal form in her medical record for three years. State-approved materials include large glossy photographs of fetuses at various ages. State funds cannot go to abortion counseling.</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=18&ssumID=2476">Insurance Prohibitions</a></i><br />
Certain state employee plans prohibit abortion with only an exception for the mother's life being in danger. </div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;">Another lawsuit based on Amendment 68 sought to prohibit Pulaski County from continuing to offer employee health-insurance coverage for abortion in cases of rape and incest. The county changed insurance policies and now provides coverage only for abortion in cases of life endangerment. The lawsuit was then dismissed.</span></blockquote>
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Someone sued them because the covered abortion in the cases of rape and incest. SERIOUSLY?! What is wrong with people!?</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=14&ssumID=2475">Abortion Refusal Laws</a></i></div>
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Blanket law allowing anyone to refuse to perform abortion-related services. Including offering Plan B. There have also been reports of pharmacists refusing to fill normal birth-control prescriptions under this clause.</div>
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<i>Restriction on <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=7&ssumID=2474">Low Income Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=6&ssumID=2924">Young Women's</a> Access to Abortion</i></div>
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Prohibits public funding for abortion; conflicts with federal law disallowing states from prohibiting abortion under Medicaid. Unenforceable. </div>
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Parental consent required for a minor; except in cases of incest, if she signs an affidavit saying she only has one living parent and that parent raped her. No exception for child abuse. Consenting parent must consent in person, and show ID.</div>
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Extensive <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/arkansas.html?templateName=template-161602701&issueID=8&ssumID=2471">TRAP laws.</a> In addition, Arkansas' state constitution states: </div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">"The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution."</span></blockquote>
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News Stories<br />
<a href="http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/87852-group-says-3-anti-abortion-bills-in-the-works-for-arkansas.html">3 anti-abortion bills in the works for Arkansas</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/01/30/arkansas-heartbeat-ban-passes-senate-committee-vote">Arkansas Heartbeat Ban Passes Senate Committee</a><br />
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I intended to do ten states today, but these four have pissed me off enough. I'm stepping away from this issue for a bit; I will try to get a few more states up tomorrow. I'll continue until I've gotten through all fifty.<br />
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The rest of the series:<br />
<a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/sunday-photo_13.html">NARAL's Report Card</a><br />
Part 1: This post<br />
Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a><br />
Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a><br />
Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a><br />
Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a><br />
Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-53654267105391565142013-01-13T11:44:00.000-05:002013-01-24T14:01:05.866-05:00Sunday PhotoSo this isn't exactly a photo, but large graphics. NARAL just came out with their pro-choice report card, ranking the U.S. states by their pro-choice/anti-choice laws. I found it pretty interesting. (And I've added it to my resources for determining which states I will NEVER live in!)<br />
So here's the map, followed by the actual report card:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_i7EqOcnPrH90SaJbWJ8EmpXEJf00l1ykR8PpdEjB2tXqUr5nV4G8gsHimup4Ac823BUZXk61ZSP-3el3TqXTowetZBj5ln5FwND0p9s9ef4TzjGCR5IWnufWGNfssy43j1IpaMzQM/s1600/ProChoiceMap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_i7EqOcnPrH90SaJbWJ8EmpXEJf00l1ykR8PpdEjB2tXqUr5nV4G8gsHimup4Ac823BUZXk61ZSP-3el3TqXTowetZBj5ln5FwND0p9s9ef4TzjGCR5IWnufWGNfssy43j1IpaMzQM/s400/ProChoiceMap.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was very pleased to see my home state of Oregon got an A, as well as the state I live in now, Maryland. </div>
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The actual report card:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDAiC4oQIMcGyRTVIxe6JiINjIgNk3dR2w6TpznKzn48eXJ058Tpr8nFDkE7YqrGIoP1Gt9FQiSAZFhhGMzmPEkmV_gPvPiwdSW3tTFSc473QicC3ni2E5bgNjtnb51QfuGq4ilVSoYg/s1600/ProChoiceReportCard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDAiC4oQIMcGyRTVIxe6JiINjIgNk3dR2w6TpznKzn48eXJ058Tpr8nFDkE7YqrGIoP1Gt9FQiSAZFhhGMzmPEkmV_gPvPiwdSW3tTFSc473QicC3ni2E5bgNjtnb51QfuGq4ilVSoYg/s640/ProChoiceReportCard.png" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is the beginning of my summary of abortion laws by state. You can find the other posts here:</div>
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Part 1: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-summary-of-abortioncontraception-laws.html">Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansa</a>s</div>
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Part 2: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortioncontraception-laws-ca-co-ct-de.html">California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware</a></div>
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Part 3: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-fl-ga-hi-id.html">Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho</a></div>
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Part 4: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-il-in-ia-ks.html">Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas</a></div>
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Part 5: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ky-la-me-md.html">Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland</a></div>
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Part 6: <a href="http://andrasteshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/abortion-laws-ma-mi-mn-ms.html">Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi</a></div>
<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-91831572230124029172013-01-10T23:53:00.000-05:002013-01-17T23:23:47.011-05:00A is for Altars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.paganblogproject.com/"><img border="0" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDckcnHyfp2vGwY_W0LFDw98xUYcAQao5tbLpFPPnA9f_UHJZpujQRsn0_b2R4OekOQrQD5vFr9mqZj0jfGB3i55scH3EI6utPDcM39GW7hhxAHml5qllqmKCEfgdt_YiSSeL9974GIl0/s400/PBPBanner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yeah, I'm sure everyone is going to be doing altars this week, but every altar is different, no? So let me show you mine. I don't have the best light on this wall, so the camera's flash throws shadows a bit oddly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9C93eUMIdhlfLYvWcjQVTGH66OSK7cRcUjbTQYyuC3mg0wyRwNB4ljclEYh3ub0SdoMcAET643bawtxuVL9euEKZ69-VvAgfAqMDz3TqeloqylyjW3u0aj6jMThGkSOKslWXdM20WXA/s1600/2013-01-10_19-15-04_203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9C93eUMIdhlfLYvWcjQVTGH66OSK7cRcUjbTQYyuC3mg0wyRwNB4ljclEYh3ub0SdoMcAET643bawtxuVL9euEKZ69-VvAgfAqMDz3TqeloqylyjW3u0aj6jMThGkSOKslWXdM20WXA/s400/2013-01-10_19-15-04_203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'll have closeups in a moment. So this is the last part of the hallway into the living room; the door to the kitchen is just to the right of the altar. That means I walk past this spot multiple times a day. I like that it's in such a well-traveled spot; it keeps me mindful of it. The necklace hanging on the left side of the altar is a sun, the necklace on the right is a moon. The statue in the middle I found in the same shop that I bought the little statue of Ganesh and the little statue of Shiva. I don't see it as a fertility symbol so much as a sexuality symbol. Here's a close up of it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE2bOyAJDO3qzUX45Qws6mjPp_TBX_XmOryObJAOsM-td8t0pOIV6jMnRkxYRWwvubcX1hEG7dY0hIhLf8TtitXeeB0MXXPYmWIgY1Brl2ATlLeSsHXP18PoKtvjE-ERP52uDexHwLq0/s1600/2013-01-10_19-15-35_962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE2bOyAJDO3qzUX45Qws6mjPp_TBX_XmOryObJAOsM-td8t0pOIV6jMnRkxYRWwvubcX1hEG7dY0hIhLf8TtitXeeB0MXXPYmWIgY1Brl2ATlLeSsHXP18PoKtvjE-ERP52uDexHwLq0/s640/2013-01-10_19-15-35_962.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
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When I'm not wearing my necklace, it hangs here. It's a trinity knot inside a dragon ouroboros. The statue stands on top the tarot card The Sun, for family, love, and loyalty. Turning to the left side of the altar:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNII5lNVw4q8etew0jP2boPR-CU2ljCm5Xtv1QMIO3hFqb3UYbw0xlWg8_t3qroi-pWGLtVUYXJYhjKrOd60EjQ4_HKYDqM2JMaKlEXWKEapIN_SxnpepbYILEPUouydxi0HH4JXmQ6wI/s1600/2013-01-10_19-15-14_155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNII5lNVw4q8etew0jP2boPR-CU2ljCm5Xtv1QMIO3hFqb3UYbw0xlWg8_t3qroi-pWGLtVUYXJYhjKrOd60EjQ4_HKYDqM2JMaKlEXWKEapIN_SxnpepbYILEPUouydxi0HH4JXmQ6wI/s400/2013-01-10_19-15-14_155.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It looks cluttered in this shot, but it's really not. Ganesh is sitting on top of a glass cube with a dragon etched inside; That represents me. I coil my hematite bracelet around the cube when I'm not wearing it, and there's two more pieces of hematite to either side of the cube. I love hematite; it grounds me and makes a lovely worry stone. (Those two pieces occasionally go in my pocket if I know I'm going into a stressful situation.) I usually keep a tarot card or two under the glass cube for various purposes. The crow feather is one of many that I own; Crow is rather dear to my heart. On the left wall of the altar is a stuffed bull - I am a Taurus, after all!</div>
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Now the right side of the altar: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnEjM73xIdxhE5ONxsUKq4eNTonQk6ZbLqBrEjUVcKIbK3ZGZus38K9a2oAX4QDaHSr0Yw8qaYBuUg2FEFF1DbT96GP-_D8na8m8O6rz6jmfORy6ruezbgbKFJXkfYmVq8FC9wF799TA/s1600/2013-01-10_19-15-23_180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnEjM73xIdxhE5ONxsUKq4eNTonQk6ZbLqBrEjUVcKIbK3ZGZus38K9a2oAX4QDaHSr0Yw8qaYBuUg2FEFF1DbT96GP-_D8na8m8O6rz6jmfORy6ruezbgbKFJXkfYmVq8FC9wF799TA/s400/2013-01-10_19-15-23_180.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This glass cube has the Marine Corps' Eagle, Globe, and Anchor etched into it; it represents my husband until I can find a Peter Pan statue. Shiva sits next to him; Sascha rather likes destruction for creation's sake. As he's still looking for a job, there's a coin sitting on top of the cube; it happens to be a British pound coin, but it more the monetary symbol of it. (It was also left in our car by a dear friend and not discovered until we were halfway across the country from said friend, so it's a special coin to us.) In front of Sascha's cube is a dragon sheltering a fairy under his arm, a good symbol for us.</div>
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The two goblets on either corner hold small lavender candles for serenity. The altar cloth has an aquatic theme; I may be a very earth person, but I have Pisces rising and can be watery in my imagination and emotions. The entire altar is the top shelf of a bookcase (one of many in our house!) but this bookcase holds my pagan/feminist/philosophy/mythology books. </div>
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I'm very happy with my current altar; it's the first time it's really been out in the living space instead of hidden in a bedroom. I like not having it hidden anymore.</div>
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-90438984850948644362013-01-10T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-10T12:03:32.943-05:00Book Review - Celtic Fairy Tales<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486218260/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486218260"><b>Celtic Fairy Tales (Dover Children's Classics) - collected by Joseph Jacobs</b></a><br />
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I really enjoyed this short book of fairy tales. They are told in a conversational, story-telling style, making it a wonderful book for reading to children, or to memorize the tales to tell in some other setting. It includes some well-known stories, such as "Connla and the Fairy Maiden", where Connla rides with the fairies and steals the maiden they wanted to steal, and winds up marrying her; or "Fair, Brown, and Trembling", a celtic take on Cinderella. <b><br /></b><br />
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I particularly enjoyed "A Legend of Knockmany", though I've read it before. It's the story of how Oonagh, Fin M'Coul's wife, scared off Cucullin by pretending Fin was his own infant son. (All spellings from the book.) Upon seeing how strong the "baby" was, Cucullin realized the father must be immensely stronger than he himself was, and fled.<br />
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There are lesser known stories in the book as well, like "The Shee an Gannon" where a young man must discover what stopped Guragach Gaire from laughing in order to win the hand of the princess. I also enjoyed "Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree", in which a man's first wife is murdered by her mother out of jealousy over her beauty. His second wife revives his first, helps her kill her mother, and the two of them live happily with the husband ever after.<br />
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Some of the stories are simply re-tellings of other stories, like "Conall Yellowclaw" where a man disguises himself as a sheep to get out of the cave of a blind cyclops. Just like Odysseus and Polyphemus.<br />
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Overall, a very enjoyable book.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0486218260" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-61764431946164437002013-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-06T20:41:00.144-05:00Sunday PhotoIt snowed here just before Christmas, and though it didn't stick long, I have some really pretty pictures of the woods behind our apartment.<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-88114158318848492402013-01-04T01:37:00.002-05:002013-01-17T23:24:22.915-05:00PBP - Andraste's Hare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, here we are again! It's a New Year, and a new <a href="http://paganblogproject.com/">Pagan Blog Project</a>. So we start back at the beginning of the alphabet with A. Conveniently, the name of this blog starts with A, so I thought I'd explain the meaning.<br />
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Andraste is believed to be an ancient celtic warrior goddess and the patron goddess of the Iceni tribe. (The tribe Queen Boudicca hailed from.) Andraste is a warrior goddess, a goddess of victory. She oversees battles and is represented by ravens. There's a very in-depth look at her <a href="http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_goddess/andraste_-_the_warrior_goddess.asp">here</a>. <br />
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A few of the more important bits from that blog about her:<br />
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"Andraste is a warrior goddess, the goddess of victory, of ravens and of battles, similar in many ways to the Irish war goddess Morrigan. Her name is thought to mean "the invincible one" or "she who has not fallen". It is told that her presence was evoked on the eve of battle to curry favor. As a Goddess of divination, she was probably called upon to divine the outcome of battles and war."</blockquote>
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"As Andred, her romanised name is Andraste, she was a lunar mother-goddess figure associated with fertility and love. In her dark aspect however, she was associated principally with warfare and specifically with victory. She is sometimes compared to the goddess Andarte, a deity worshipped by the Vocontii of Gaul."</blockquote>
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The hare was believed to be a sacred animal to Andraste; before Boudicca led her troops into battle it's said she released a rabbit and watched where it fled, as an augury.<br />
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So Andraste's Hare, to me, is a path to victory. It's the journey. This blog is about exploring my spiritual side and deciding who I am. While Wisdom is what drives me, more than Victory, my condition of victory is finding wisdom, so in a way it works.<br />
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The mythos of Andraste and Boudicca and the white rabbit has more than one meaning for me; my Maine Coon cat is named for Boudicca. My beautiful fearless girl. I've often thought of this entire pagan journey as falling through the rabbit hole, or chasing the white rabbit. It's kind of amusing to me how often Andraste and Boudicca and her hare show up in my workings and in my life.<br />
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So Andraste's Hare. Finding victory and wisdom in the path of the White Rabbit.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-52671457788171735252013-01-03T14:02:00.000-05:002013-01-03T14:03:31.111-05:00Book Review - The Hollows, by Kim HarrisonToday's review is a little different. I'm about six books into The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I'd read the first four some years ago, and decided to re-read those and then catch up on the rest of the series. And they are FANTASTIC. They start with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061567191/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061567191">Dead Witch Walking</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061567191" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Dead Witch Walking introduces Rachel Morgan, Ivy Tamwood, and Jenks. They all leave the I.S. (think a supernatural FBI/police force) to form an independent investigator firm. Rachel's a witch, Ivy is a living vampire, and Jenks is a pixie. <br />
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The books remind me a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, before they devolved into porn. The Hollows has a few romance side plots, but they are definite side plots. They're not the main drive of the books. <br />
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So far I've read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061567191/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061567191">Dead Witch Walking</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061567191" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001SERO3S/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001SERO3S">The Good, the Bad, and the Undead</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001SERO3S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061567329/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061567329">Every Which Way But Dead</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061567329" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060788194/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0060788194">A Fistful of Charms</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0060788194" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061149810/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061149810">For a Few Demons More</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061149810" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and I've just started <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061149829/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061149829">The Outlaw Demon Wails</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061149829" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. The action does not stop in these books! <br />
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I thought the take on vampires was especially interesting in this series; there are living vampires and undead vampires; you can be born a vampire or bitten and turned. That makes you a highblood or lowblood living vampire, respectively. Once you die, you come back as an undead vampire without your soul. Through the use of vampire pheromones, the undead and living vampires manipulate those around them. They wind up being a very abusive family, where the undead vampires use and abuse all around them, their only thought being for their own welfare/pleasure, while the living vampires strive to please their undead masters because the pheromones make them think they love them.<br />
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I could see it being triggering for someone who'd been abused or lived through a similar situation. The author mentioned in an interview that she intentionally styled them after abusers/abused; where the living vampires struggle with their feelings of love for their abusers while fighting the instinct to pass the abuse on. The relationship between Ivy, Rachel, and Piscary (Ivy's undead master) is a good example of this.<br />
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The series continues with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B652VM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003B652VM">White Witch, Black Curse</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003B652VM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053U7CEY/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0053U7CEY">Black Magic Sanction</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0053U7CEY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006113807X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006113807X">Pale Demon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=006113807X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061957909/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061957909">A Perfect Blood</a>, and, on January 22, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061957917/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=andshar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061957917">Ever After</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andshar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061957917" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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I'm hoping to be caught up with the series by the time Ever After comes out, and I'm making good progress.<br />
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If you're looking for a good supernatural series that ISN'T all about the sex (there's a few sex scenes, but mild ones) then you should take a look at the Hollows series!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-2738272567342433742013-01-01T12:58:00.000-05:002013-01-01T12:58:16.173-05:00Happy New Year!Welcome to 2013. I am making a re-commitment to this blog for New Year's, but we're going to do it a little differently. I'm going to keep a couple of my theme days - Friday will still be the Pagan Blog Project, Sundays I will probably still just post a photo. Thursdays I will still be trying to review all of my books. Mondays are already Monday Madness, and pretty random. I've been having trouble finding anything to write about on Tarot Tuesday and Kitchen Witch Wednesday, though. So those will also now be random days. I do need to start posting more recipes, so I'll try to start that, but not only Wednesdays.<br />
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So Happy New Year! Did anyone do anything witchy for New Year's Eve? I went to a party with a ton of friends, and met a lot of new friends. The only thing witchy I did was invoke a quick circle and meditate for about five minutes because the noise level was breaking my little introvert heart. I like parties - I like people - but every so often I have to retreat to a corner of the house and get some peace. Luckily, the house was big enough I could do that easily!<br />
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I am looking forward to a new year of sharing things here on Andraste's Hare. What are you looking forward to this year?Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-52799303808846470162012-12-17T13:35:00.000-05:002012-12-17T22:33:27.690-05:00Monday MadnessI have, perhaps, a startling confession to make.<br />
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I don't believe in God.<br />
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I believe in gods - small g - but not God. I do not believe there is an omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful God. My gods are flawed. They do not know everything. They can't do everything. They're not always paying attention. One of my favorite quotes describes WHY I think of my gods like this.<br />
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<i>"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?"</i> <br />
(this has been attributed to Epicurus, but there's a lot of debate over whether that's correct.)<br />
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In the wake of the last two shootings - the one in the Oregon mall, my home state! and the one in Connecticut that killed all the children - this seems like a time for this quote. A benevolent, omnipotent, omniscient God COULD NOT have allowed that to happen. I refuse to believe in a God that would.<br />
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There's also the conundrum of, if God created us, then he created evil as well and allowed it. I will not believe in such a God.<br />
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My gods are small. I view my gods as facets of the same divine force; I see no issue with praying to Brigid with one breath and Kali with the next. I believe in Pantheism - EVERYTHING is part of the divine force. In a sense, praying to Brigid is praying to myself; focusing my energy, my will, through the lens that is Brigid in order to achieve an end. When I say I hear Cerridwen calling, it not that an entity named Cerridwen is trying to get my attention; it is that I feel myself needing to transform away from the hearth and homemaker I've been and into something new.<br />
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I do believe there is a divine force. I do believe in magic. This sets me apart from atheism. But the God of monotheism just angers me.<br />
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This rambling brought to you by <a href="http://imgur.com/KJhda">Facebook</a> <a href="http://imgur.com/jT8mg">drama</a> with <a href="http://imgur.com/7sYXB">family</a>. (I'm in green, my mother is in black.)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-66740163000975774372012-12-11T13:26:00.001-05:002012-12-11T13:28:50.676-05:00A walk through the woods<br />
Well, these crows apparently do not welcome my company like the crows back in Oregon did; they left soon after I began my walk, and are returning now, as I type this on the computer and watch them through the patio door. But my walk was enjoyable, nonetheless.<br />
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There were several trees with large, woody vines entwined around their trunks. I love seeing that image, even though I know it's not good for the tree.<br />
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Caught a crow mid-flight.<br />
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The squirrels were not as shy as the crows were; this guy scuttled around beside me for quite some time as I took pictures.<br />
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I love the S-curve of the creek through the woods; the way it has cut into the ground and made deep banks looks particularly cool.<br />
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One of the banks, held up by tree roots. There is a bit of trash in these woods, unfortunately. I've seen worse, but it's still disappointing.<br />
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Found a tiny sprig of holly growing; I was careful to walk around it and let it be. At least I think it's holly, but aren't holly leaves usually glossier? Not sure what else has those saw-tooth edged leaves, though.<br />
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Another bank held up by tree roots.<br />
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A large downed tree; looks like it came down quite some time ago.<br />
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I'm standing with my back to my apartment building here, looking deeper into the woods.<br />
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Turning around, I'm now facing my apartment, which you can just barely see through the trees. The woods wrap around the entire apartment complex, we occasionally see deer in the parking lot!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qO_DSKl9uk/UMdxEOlWgLI/AAAAAAAAEVc/NZzTosnr2eE/s1600/2012-12-11_12-33-32_116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qO_DSKl9uk/UMdxEOlWgLI/AAAAAAAAEVc/NZzTosnr2eE/s400/2012-12-11_12-33-32_116.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Thought this was an interesting little tree, with the bulby vine wrapped around the branch. At least I think it's a vine; it kind of looked like tree, but I'm not sure why it would have grown like that.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l73k2uM6ruE/UMdxEEoxlrI/AAAAAAAAEVc/-fEnnxHWMAs/s1600/2012-12-11_12-03-46_172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l73k2uM6ruE/UMdxEEoxlrI/AAAAAAAAEVc/-fEnnxHWMAs/s400/2012-12-11_12-03-46_172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I have to end this with what drew me out there in the first place today. So many crows!<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-78754597762216531472012-12-11T11:57:00.000-05:002012-12-11T11:57:02.762-05:00The Crows are callingGoing for a walk in the woods today, the crows are calling me to come play!<br />
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Video taken on the 9th, but they were back yesterday and again today. I'm heeding the call today. I should have Sunday, there were about twice as many crows then as there are now. </div>
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723877127818165235.post-1795466159006787312012-12-03T11:53:00.001-05:002012-12-17T22:33:05.940-05:00Monday MadnessYes, I'm aware Monday is the only day I've been posting the last couple of weeks. I've been working almost every day at the retail store lately. (Holiday Shopping, Joy!) There will, however, be a new Pagan Blog Project post this Friday.<br />
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That said...I'm writing again. In other places than the blog. You see, in high school I dreamed of being a writer. I loved writing. I wrote short stories, plots for longer stories, poetry...I just wrote. I wrote less and less in college until I finally stopped altogether. I can count on one hand the number of poems I've written in the last ten years.<br />
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But...I had a scene worm its way into my head one night, and refuse to leave. Once I wrote it down, two more quickly followed. Now I have a partial plot, an inkling of how magic works in this world, and three main characters. I have a full year before NaNoWriMo rolls around again; I may spend this year building scenes and plots and outlines and characters, and then next NaNoWriMo I may attempt a book.<br />
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If you had a species that was kind of a cross between a roc and a dragon - and they bonded telepathically with their riders, like so many dragons do in books - what would you call them?<br />
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I'm currently calling them "Companions" but that's also the name of the Heralds' horses in Lackey's Valdemar. So it's mostly a place holder. (It's also a bit of a side plot - the story lies with the people more than the birds.)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388768103952918193noreply@blogger.com0