Should Men be pre-conceivers too?

Here's a talking point about this you can bring up when discussing the issue below with men, courtesy of a friend of mine when I sent her the Post article:

Sure. As soon as they put out guidelines that recommend that doctors start discussing potential fatherhood and birth control at every physical exam, and that men keep their sperm in top shape throughout their reproductive lifetimes, acknowledging that sperm production takes 2-3 months, and so men need to leave completely clean lives so as to produce and store only healthy sperm (no drugs or potentially harmful prescriptions, no smoking, limited alcohol, avoid spending more than 30 minutes in water over 120°F, etc.).

After all, they might accidentally reproduce at any time, so they should make sure their offspring have the best chance of being healthy.

Pre-pregnant?

I was alerted to this article by Mac at Pesky'Apostrophe.
Here are some highlights:

New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.

Pre-pregnant? That's something we've actually made a word? Granted, most of that makes good health sense, but there's something mildly creepy about all women of reproductive age being treated as "pre-pregnant" regardless of whether they indend to or wish to concieve.

The idea of preconception care has been discussed for nearly 20 years, experts said, but it has drawn more attention recently. Progress toward further reducing the rate of unhealthy pregnancy results, including premature birth, low birthweight and infant mortality, has slowed in the United States since 1996 "in part because of inconsistent delivery and implementation of interventions before pregnancy to detect, treat and help women modify behaviors, health conditions and risk factors that contribute to adverse maternal and infant outcomes," according to the report.

I won't even talk about what a terrible sentence that is.

The report recommends that women stop smoking and discuss with their doctor the danger alcohol poses to a developing fetus.

Now this, some might be able to use to their advantage. "Honey, could you change the kitty litter? I'm pre-pregnant, you know."

I invite you to read Mac's post and letter to her senators on the subject here. I both appreciate and shudder at the Margaret Atwood reference.

No vote left behind??

Some election-day news from blackboxvoting.org
(the full "casualty list" is linked in the title)

JUST IN: Midland, MI - There were zero votes cast at Longview Elementary School during today's countywide school board election. It is City of Midland precinct 13-2 and has 1,006 registered voters. "I don't remember when there's been none, absolutely none." said Karen Holcomb, Midland County clerk.

- Senior citizen punches out Ohio voting machine. TSx succumbs to TKO. Photos below. (Aren't you glad there's a photo? )

- Ward 19 has irate citizen -- booth official gave him Democrat ballot and reportedly went ahead and cast the ballot. He wanted a Republican one. He filed a police report. (If he'd brought a pocket recorder, he'd have the proof he needs.)

- Marion County Indiana car stolen. Unfortunately the ballots were inside. (Minor glitch, poll opened late.) Another minor glitch: Some voters voted twice on school board race.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4848362&nav=menu188_2

- Ohio: Brook Park Rec Center had problems with Diebold TSx printers. Toilet paper roll hanging out of the printer, causing delays in poll opening. (The Diebold machines were spewing a paper trail several feet long -- what a great cell phone shot that would have been!).

- Ohio: Lack of three-pronged adaptors closes polling site for hours - Only had sockets for 2-prong plugs, couldn't open polling place until 1:30 p.m. -- Polling place stays open until 9:30. http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=51671

There's a long list of similar incidents. Check it out. Bev Harris really recommends taking an audio recorder and/or a cell phone camera with you when you voting. If people get what they can on tape/video, there's a lot that could be done with it.

I went last month to a meeting of a state-wide group working on ensuring we don't go the way of Ohio. They're working on getting the state legislature to require a hand count of 5-10% of the precincts to match up to the voting machines. Seems like a fairly sound plan. They also want to go back to a paper and pencil vote. After reading the BBV article, I can't imagine why! Our electronic voting went so well, they're considering not paying our machine provider. And Diebold's been making new offers to the state... I'll make sure I go again this month.

By the way, I hope everyone caught Stephen Colbert's gutsy speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The "Emperor has No Clothes" silence of the crowd was... indescribable... There's a link to a copy at http://www.thankyoustephencolbert.org/