And straight to the weekend links. No, not the golf links, as enviable as that might be.
- In case you missed it, renowned and reclusive author J.D. Salinger passed away this past Thursday. In his home, of course.
- The Utah Legislature is moving forward with a bill that will criminalize "illegal abortions." The problem? It also criminalizes miscarriage. Big problem, right? Not really, says the bill sponsor, because they just won't prosecute! Delightful.
- Remember how Prop 8 sponsor Protect Marriage sued the Courage Campaign over a website logo? Turnabout's fair play, as the Courage Campaign has now filed a complaint against Protect Marriage's lead counsel Andy Pugno for misuse of public funds in getting earlier anti-gay measures on the ballot. Even more delicious: said Andy Pugno is also a candidate for State Assembly in California.
- Following up on an earlier story, Congresswoman Jackie Speier has confirmed her interest in running for Attorney General in California.
- For all the PC devotees out there: iPad vs. Rosetta Stone.
- Secretary Sebelius announces new rules that support mental health parity in group health plans and that appear to address coverage of substance abuse therapy, copayments, and other items in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, aka Mental Health Parityand Addiction Equity Act of 2008. --exmearden
- The Canadian government signals no change in stance on repatriating Omar Khadr. See Jeff Tietz's Rolling Stone article in 2006, The Unending Torture of Omar Khadr, for the historical background of Khadr's status. --exmearden
- Twenty one years after his death at age 52, there's finally a star on the Walk of Fame for Roy Orbison. --exmearden
- A tribute and a view from across the Pond. RIP WWII Tuskegee airman and ace Lieutenant-Colonel Lee Archer (September 6, 1919 – January 27, 2010). --exmearden
- The Menifee, California school district wants to ban all dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, that contain sexual terms like "oral sex" because "a number of referenced words are age-inappropriate." --Angry Mouse
- Now that murderer and terrorist Scott Roeder has been convicted, is Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, trying to recruit the next enforcer of the "Law of Blood"? --Angry Mouse
- A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules that re-instating 10 reporters who were fired from the Santa Barbara News-Press for union organizing would pose "a significant risk" to the First Amendment rights of owner, publisher, and generally despised Wendy McCaw. --Angry Mouse
- If you're looking to add more Jesus to your gym workouts, a "Jesus-centered health club" might be right for you. --Angry Mouse