I was sitting with a good friend, watching the world go by, on a sunny, August day when a group of people–what appeared to be a family–passed by. The man was carrying a baby, the woman was pushing a stroller and three other pint-sized kids were with them, for a total of five. No one was crying and they looked to be having a pretty nice afternoon stroll. My friend says, “I hope they aren’t all theirs!” to wish I say, “I hope they are!” And we continued chatting.

Yesterday I read a column by a woman who is a producer of pornography. Today I read a column by a prostitute. These were both in mainstream British papers.

It strikes me as interesting that in both cases, the byline details were slipped into the columns as if it were as normal as declaring that the sky is blue.

I’m not sure how to wrap up this comment. Perhaps only by saying that we no longer appear to strive toward virtue for the sake of it. I’m not saying these women are any more wicked than you or I–I believe the line between good and evil is drawn in every human heart. But what I am saying is that I feel that perhaps in the past we didn’t put wickedness on display and claim it as virtue.

I suppose I could link to the columns. But I’d rather not lend them further exposure so you’ll have to take my word for it.

Imagine how little this will cost in five years time.

…in whatever form we find it:

Starting with a small group of determined men who met at a print shop in London on May 22, 1787, to begin the campaign against the slave trade, the abolitionist movement is an example of how evil can only be overcome by determination, perseverance, hard work and sacrifice. This movement also demonstrates the truth of a popular saying: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

An article from Huffington Post:

Studies show that newer birth control pills containing drospirenone, a synthetic version of the female hormone, progesterone, present a higher risk of blood clots than previous forms. According to an FDA report from Oct. 27, 2011, 10 in 10,000 women on the newer drugs will form a blood clot; with the older drugs, the risk is 7 in 10,000.

Newer versions, older versions, the Pill has dangerous side effects. There are other options, effective, safe and empowering, which I would recommend to anyone who asks. Or doesn’t ask, as the case with this blog may be.

…literally, anything. I’ve got mixed emotions about capitalizing on a girls’ first period, but as a mother of three girls, I guess I like the idea of making the whole experience less scary than the nightmare gym teacher presentation I had when I was a kid. What do you think? Watch the HelloFlo Ad here.

The Guttmacher is the research arm of Planned Parenthood. Since Planned Parenthood acts as a cheerleader for abortion in our culture, I am not a fan of either of these groups. But when I got today’s Guttmacher release about publicly-funded birth control (government overreach if I ever saw it!) the only thought to come to my mind was that we are planning ourselves out of existence. Our fertility rates are desperately low in this culture–below the level required to merely replace our population.

This may seem like a theoretical proposition (fertility rates, replacement rates… yawn) but it isn’t. It means Canada and the USA (and Europe, while we are on the topic) are dying. Civilizations wax and wane: BIRT ours is waning.

Aren’t you glad I’m back from my extended weekend away–angel of optimism that I am?

You can think they are great; you can think they are terrible (yes, even the top-notch American made ones) for women’s health. But whatever they are to you, birth control pills are but very rarely medicine. Which is how this author consistently refers to them. She is ranting because she can’t get her birth control pill brand in Iran. Which, I’m going to go out on a limb, is probably not the main concern of those living under that dictatorship.

If women like the one writing this article practiced something like Billings or Creighton (which are, for the millionth time, not “the rhythm method”), she’d have birth control with her everywhere she went.

(On a different note, there are ads in the bathroom stalls at Carleton University for a particular birth control pill right now. They are advertising them by saying “You shouldn’t have to pay more for your choice.” At least they understand it’s a choice. “You shouldn’t have to pay more for your medicine!” isn’t how the ads go…)

1. Ottawa: I live in a really beautiful city (and a really beautiful country). Yup, it’s just like the Canadian pavilion at Epcot describes.

2. My health. There it is. I’m truly old enough to say this. I’m inspired to be all the more grateful when my ancient hip cries out.

3. My friends. I have many of them, none of whom I pay. Unless you count my swim club, but that isn’t directly into their pockets.

4. My parents. They raised me right. Just like the disclaimer on a book jacket: Anything good, they deserve the credit. Any mistakes? I take the blame.

5. My sister. I’ve never known a day without her. I am a stronger person in this world because of my sister. Thanks to her I can also recite more of Nacho Libre than I care to admit. Ees for fun. Just like stretchy pants.

6. My nieces. Best kids in the world. Don’t contest it. That’s what they are to me, and that’s what matters for this particular list.

6. Water. No really. As I wash dishes, sometimes I am amazed that it continues to come out of the tap. And it’s clean. Also, I can kayak, canoe and swim around here, pretty much at will.

7. Freedom. I have a hard time assessing to what extent this is being chiselled away, but I think self-censorship is the biggest problem Canadians face. The government does not tell us what to think in the manner that people endured behind the Iron Curtain, for example.

8. “A thousand points of light.” Small glimmers of hope where it should be dead. As this poor translation of a Czech proverb says, “Hope dies the last!” (8a. Thank goodness for Czech proverbs, poorly translated.)

9. Faith. It’s a gift. It is my only consolation on bad days.

10. Life. Breathing. On any given day, and thus far, every day, I wake up. The basics matter.

I’m heading out for a couple of days off around this weekend, so blogging will be lighter than usual. Have a good one.

That’s me, not taking it for granted that no one is forcing me to wear my life jacket

A federal judge strikes down a law that went through in North Dakota that would have outlawed abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be found at six weeks.

Conley noted that the law went from proposal to enactment in 43 days and had no medical purpose to support it.

Hey–neither does abortion–it serves no medical purpose. Just saying.