We’ve all read about Oklahoma’s new law, passed by an override of the governor’s veto, that requires women who want an abortion to undergo an ultrasound. A vaginal ultrasound. With a monitor in the patient’s face, showing what’s happening while the doctor describes the fetus in detail. No exceptions for rape or incest victims, no exceptions for fetal or maternal health. A giant scarlet “A” tattooed across one’s torso would be so much more cost-effective for the state. That might be my bitterness talking though…

Nebraska recently enacted a ban on any abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy, without exception. Because the pain a fetus might feel is far more important than the physical or emotional health or the woman who is carrying that fetus. This bill, by the way, may be a test case for the Supreme Court to possibly overturn Roe V. Wade.

Now Florida’s state legislature has passed a new law requiring ultrasounds before an abortion, paid for by the patient, and explained in similar detail to the new procedure in Oklahoma. It still has to be either signed or vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist.

The Colorado legislature isn’t giving up on attacks against women either. Last month, 12 CO House representatives introduced the Protect Life Act (H.R.5111), which would

prohibit insurers from selling plans covering abortion to anyone receiving federal subsidies. The Washington Post reported that the Stupak amendment would have blocked 85 percent of customers using the health care exchange from receiving such coverage.

The Protect Life Act states that “No funds authorized or appropriated by this Act… including credits applied toward qualified health plans… or cost-sharing reductions… may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, received credits or cost-sharing reductions.”

The Act stipulates that the administrative costs of plans that include abortion could only be funded strictly through abortion-plan premiums. It’s unclear how insurance companies will structure abortion coverage administration costs under the health legislation in its present form.

They might not bother covering it at all. Which is the idea behind this, I suppose. Not quite as embarrassing or humiliating as having to undergo an ultrasound, but still.

The Super Bowl is a huge, huge extravagnaza, designed to attract football fans and their helpless victimsfamilies who are also watching. The two big non-football draws are the halftime show (fscking hell, did it have to be The Who???) and the commercials. The commercials are largely ignored at Chez Evil, mostly because that’s when we’re either on the phone or in the kitchen. Except for this year.

CBS has decided, in their infinite wisdom, to allow this commercial/PS announcement sponsored by Focus on the Family (sorry, I don’t link to those people; Google it) and featuring Tim Tebow, star quarterback of the Florida Gators, and his mother. It’s another spin on the classic “pro-life”/anti woman argument against abortion: A young woman had the choice to abort her unborn fetus or not. She chose not to, and that baby became…Ludwig van Beethoven/Barack Obama/George Washington/fill-in-the-blank-with-your-favorite-famous-person-here. This time it happens to be Tebow. As of today, CBS still plans on airing the commercial during the game.

If you recall, a couple of years ago the network turned down a commercial sponsored by the United Church of Christ which featured an inclusive (ie. not hostile toward LBGT people) message. At the time, the reason they gave for their decision was, “We don’t air advocacy ads.” I think that’s a fine policy. It’s a very sensible policy. I also think that in this instance it should be strictly adhered to, and the commercial should be removed from the lineup for the broadcast.

Actually, none of our teams made it to the Super Bowl this year. Not even to the playoffs almost two weeks ago. So we might settle for a nice Cajun dinner and a couple rounds of Call of Cthulhu.

Like scary for Halloween? Check out that video. At least the “pro-life” agenda is crystal clear: it’s not about the sanctity of babies, it’s about the domination and control of women as birthing vessels. Not pro-life, anti-woman.

Of course, they’ll be stocking Viagra. But then, I’m sure you already guessed that.

For those of you who say, “Hey, no big deal. Just go to the next drugstore, and have them fill your prescription”…This is one of 7 anti-woman pharmacies in the US, and there will be more. If that was the only pharmacist in town, and you had no reliable transportation to get to the “next drugstore”, what then? I’d say somebody was counting on that very likelihood. Of course, it could just be my paranoia talking.

Thanks to Atheist Nexus for the link.

Reason number 1: Apparently, Ms. Palin is a creationist. One who would like creationism to be taught in the public schools. There’s also the little matter of 2: her anti-reproductive choice stance, even in cases of rape, incest or the mother’s physical health.

For those of you who say, “Who cares about the Vice-Presidential candidate anyway?” I have two words: Dick Cheney. I’ve said too much already.

It sounds all sorts of crazy, but there is a proposed ballot initiative that would give fertilized eggs (zygotes) the same legal status as a full-born person. As TakeBackTheHouse points out in the article, it is indeed intended to outlaw abortion in our state. It is also, I believe, intended to force the issue in the US Supreme Court.

Ironically, the biggest challenge to this proposed initiative is the repeal of TABOR, the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights. Under current law, it would be considered a tax measure.

To date, zygote Coloradoans have been exempt based on the fact that they are not at all people. If the State can start designating ‘new people’ and make me start having to file a return for my chair, dog, and blastocyst, then the rules of TABOR specify they have to have the wording of the measure in very certain terms.

So, how many deductions do I get for each zygote/potential zygote (because if this is successful, you know what’s coming next) anyway? I like to be accurate with my return.

This has already been written about at Feministing, Progress Action Now!, and Shakespeare’s Sister, among a whole lot of other places. I think I like the comments at SquareState the best. All hail the Zygote Liberation Army! (Go over there and read the comments…)