News and Views for Friday: Breast Implants and Evil Teddy Bears

   Daniel Abrahamson    over at Alternet has an interesting look at the Supreme Court and the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" free speech case that the court just heard this past Monday.

   I mentioned this case earlier because it has what could be a profound effect on student's right to speak their views on things of importance and the drug scene is one view that we should be allowed to hear.

The Article

The case has the potential to impact a wide swath of student expression. The Court, however, could walk a narrower path and carve out as undeserving of constitutional protection just one type of speech: drug speech. Based on the justices' questioning at oral argument, it appears that a majority of the Court may be inclined to refashion the Nancy Reagan's mantra "Just Say No" into "Don't Even Say It," when it comes to student speech that references drugs.  

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UPI    March 22, 2007

Breasts implants up self esteem, sexuality

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Most women who have their breasts surgically enlarged experience increased self-esteem and sexuality, too, a University of Florida study found.

"This study shows that there are genuine psychological improvements that follow plastic surgery and these issues must be understood and respected," Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, an assistant professor at the university's College of Nursing said in the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.

The study results appear in the current issue of Plastic Surgical Nursing.

Most of the 84 women in Figueroa-Haas's study had an increase in self-esteem and sexuality, the Sun reported. Participants were between the ages of 21 and 57.

Following their breast augmentation surgery, self-esteem rose an average of 24.9 percent, while sexual desire increased 78.6 percent and sexual satisfaction increased 57 percent.

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UPI

Expelled students get $69,000

INDIANAPOLIS, March 23 (UPI) -- An Indiana school district will pay $69,000 to three of four high school students it expelled for their film in which evil teddy bears threaten a teacher.

The three Knightstown High School sophomores, who were readmitted to school in January under a federal judge's order, will split the money, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The school district on Tuesday approved the $69,000 settlement and agreed to remove the boys' expulsion from their records, ending a federal First Amendment lawsuit brought by the teenagers when they were expelled in January, the Star reported.

A fourth boy didn't take part in the lawsuit, although he, too, was readmitted to school.

The boys were expelled over the film they called "The Teddy Bear Master," which they described as a parody of a horror movie which they made off school grounds.

District officials said it made threats against a teacher character who had the same name as a middle school teacher in the district.

Before she ruled in their favor in December, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker described "The Teddy Bear Master" as "humiliating" and "obscene," the Star reported.

 

Technorati tags: Supreme Court, student speech, breast implants, teddy bears

 

 

How It Looks From the Outside

From  kos at Daily Kos   Thu Mar 22, 2007

With all the hand-wringing over the details of the Iraq supplemental, one of the arguments many are making is that the bill "doesn't go far enough" and that it'll make the Democrats look "weak" for caving the to Blue Dogs and "watering it down".

I'm actually quite proud of the progressive caucus -- it's time House progressives start flexing their muscles a little. And the concessions they've won are important ones. Is the supplemental perfect? Nope. But ultimately, it matters little. Bush will veto it, just like he'd veto a "tougher" bill. The would-be-emperor from the unaccountable administration has no interest in agreeing to even the most mildest of oversight requests.

At the end of the day, this is a message battle. It's a chance for Democrats to show that they are interested in ending the war and getting our troops safely home, while the other side wants to escalate the war and get our troops killed.

To that end, look at the headlines the Supplemental is generating:

US Democrats press deadline for Iraq pullout
Iraq pullout measures moves with war bill
US House opens debate on US withdrawal from Iraq
House Democrats seek votes for Iraq exit timetable
Dems labor for sure majority on pullout
Iraq pullout measure moves ahead
After 3 decades, Congress again tries to end a war
Dems seek votes to order pullout from Iraq

You get the point. Few care about the details. The message being sent is that Democrats want out, Republicans want more Americans to die in Iraq.

That is the clear distinction we need heading into 2008. Voters will then decide which they prefer -- pullout or escalation. And when we win that battle and hold the White House and Congress, this war is history.

So the particular of the bills matter little. Whatever we pass, no matter how weak or strong, will be vetoed and we won't have the votes for an override. The war will go on until we get some sane people in charge of the joint.

So we use this as part of the message war.

If we can't end the war right now (and we can't, thanks to King George), then we lay the foundation that will ultimately accomplish that goal.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Bush