Book ReviewsThe Blood Within The Stone – by T.R. ThompsonSeptember 21, 2021Book Reviews / fantasyThe Blood Within the Stone is Book 1 of the Wraith Cycle. In it, T.R. Thompson gives the reader a dark and creepy story that exists in what I would consider a fantasy world. The magic in this world is unlike anything I’ve seen before in either a book or movie. This is not a book for children – but adults who enjoy a mix of fantasy, magic, and horror will enjoy this book as much as I did. It starts with a poem. Four lines that rhyme and whisper hints about something beyond the reader’s knowledge. One really quick way to get my attention is to give me poetry, especially a poem that appears to hold a secret. The Blood Within the Stone is a book that I found difficult to put down. I quickly became so invested in the characters that I needed to know what would happen to them. The scene is set with a short passage that describes “when the trees cease their chatter and the shadows lie heavy on the leaves”. A lone guard is afraid of the darkness and what it might hold. It turns out, the guard has good reason to be nervous. The reader starts inside the head of Wilt, a boy who is attempting to complete a test that involves stealing something from the local Blacksmith. If he successfully completes the test, he might be invited to join the thieves guild. Wilt had been a thief for most of his life, it seems. Plenty of other children resort to this dangerous work as well. Greystone seems to have an abundance of homeless children. Things do not go as expected. Some time ago, Wilt met a younger boy named Higgs (who was attempting to pick Wilt’s purse). Instead of beating up Higgs, Wilt took Higgs with him, fed the very skinny boy, and found him a safe place to sleep for the night. The two eventually became inseparable. It turned out that Higgs had some excellent thief skills of his own – especially when it came to finding food. It turns out that Wilt has a special ability that lets him get inside other people’s heads. He can read their thoughts, and tends to use that information to enhance his ability to steal purses from people without being caught. Wilt doesn’t know where this ability came from, and doesn’t seem interested in finding out. One day, the head of the thieves guild (which both Wilt and Higgs have become a part of) alerts Wilt that a Prefect from Redmondis would be visiting Graystone. In short, the boys track them, but are noticed. Not willing to give up, they continue tracking the Prefect, along with the other two robed people accompanying him. Wilt and Higgs watch from above, and discover that there was no Prefect. In the Prefect’s place was a Sister, one of nine women who are connected to each other’s minds, and who are incredibly brutal. Greystone holds a festival that includes a physical game between two teams. It is a mix of rugby and “capture the flag”. It was an exciting part of the book, described so well that I felt as though I was among the people in the stands who were cheering the team they bet money on. Wilt ends up playing on one of the teams. The game ends in a frightening and ominous way. Without providing any “spoilers”, I will say that Wilt and Higgs end up going on a journey, traveling by wagons to Redmondis. A kind man helps Wilt to recover from an injury. He teaches both Wilt and Higgs how to hone their already existing magic skills. I found the way magic works in this book to be interesting and unique; a mix of the natural with risk of an underlying darkness that one could lose control to. Old magic that had been forbidden. Wilt accidentally learns how easy it could be to give in to that darkness. Eventually, the caravan ends up at the gates of Redmondis, an imposing place with rock walls. Wilt, Higgs, and the other initiates file into a courtyard, where they eventually are separated. The Cantors choose students based on their skills. Eventually, they are led to a dormitory where they share a room with a roommate. Things get pretty boring for a while for Wilt. Higgs, on the other hand, has figured out how to use his skills to obtain hard to find items and good food. In time, things get more dangerous. Both of the boys start using magic they learned from the kind man who was part of the caravan. They didn’t know it yet, but they were going to need it. Things quickly become very dark and dangerous. Would Wilt be strong enough to use his magic skills to fight against evil? Or would he dive into the deeper, darker, unknown magic from far below? I am looking forward to finding out how the story unfolds in Book Two of The Wraith Cycle.... Stories From The Kitchen – Various AuthorsAugust 19, 2021Book Reviews / fictionStories from the Kitchen is part of the Everyman’s Pocket Classics collections of stories. I found this book in a thrift store. Each story in this book centers itself around food. A few of them contain recipes. The stories are written by authors whose names you might recognize. My copy of the book had an inscription on the inside cover, which was written in 2017. It was written to someone named Jason from “Dad & Leah”. The short message read: “Take time to enjoy XO”. As I read my way through the stories in this book, I realized that some are focused on families and how they interact. “Best Quality”, by Amy Tam, could be viewed as a story about a Chinese-American family celebrating Chinese New Year. A daughter (who is an adult) helps her mother find the best quality crabs in Chinatown. They start picking out crabs, when a second crab grabs onto the one they selected. The second one was not good quality, but ended up in their bags anyway. But, there’s more to it than that. The story also includes traditions about the Chinese New Year dinner; the daughter’s memory about the first time she watched her mother throw a live crab into a pot of boiling water; and ideas about who – exactly – counts as family. Old arguments resurface. “Potatoes and Love”, by Nora Ephron, focuses almost entirely on her love of potatoes. She notes that there are certain times when a specific type of potato dish should be made. Miss that window, and it isn’t the same. There are some recipes included in the story that a reader could easily use to make the potato dishes that she describes. The story is also about the stages of a romance. She recommend that you must make crisp potatoes at the beginning is that “if you don’t make them in the beginning, you never will.” There is a lot of work involved in the two crisp potato dishes she discusses. The middle is when you go to the potato drawer in your kitchen to find that the potatoes have gone bad. One has a terrible odor and is leaking, and the others are sprouting. You throw them out and settle for pasta. Also in the middle, is when your lover decides to go low-carb, preventing you from serving potatoes. The end is when the relationship is over, and you wish there was someone around who could make you mashed potatoes. Alas, it is too late for that. “Sorry Fugu”, by T.C. Boyle, is the story of Albert, the restaurant owner (and chef) who hopes to please a caustic food critic named Willa Frank. She visits restaurants, tastes the food, and leaves. Then, she writes a scathing review that puts both the restaurant – and the food – in a very unpalatable light. One day, Willa Frank arrives at Albert’s restaurant. The story is about the efforts made by himself and his staff to please the cantankerous food critic. Not every story in the book is delightful. “Short Friday”, written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, is the story of Schmul-Leibele (a tailor) and his wife Shoshe. They are devoutly Jewish, and want to make a feast to celebrate Short Friday. Shoshe made a lot of food the night before the holy day. Her husband eats some of it that night, but there is plenty of food. To me, it gives the feeling of a fairy-tale by the Brother’s Grimm. There was something the couple forgot to do before falling asleep, and this brings about their demise. I highly recommend this collection of short stories about food. None of them take very long to read, and each are separate from the rest. Those who enjoy cooking could attempt to reproduce the recipes that are provided in detail in some of the stories. As for me, the best part of this collection is that it enables me to “experience” foods that I cannot safely eat. Those who know me well are aware of my multitude of food allergies. In real life, my choices about what to eat are very limited. Stories like these offer an escape from my food-related limitations. #Blaugust2021 Stories From The Kitchen – Various Authors is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Geeks – by Jon KatzAugust 8, 2021Book Reviews / non fictionGeeks was published in 2000, which feels like a very long time ago. It is a non-fiction book about two computer-savvy young men in the 1990s who used technology to “make it possible to change their lives and alter their destiny”. Some part of this book were originally published in Rolling Stone before the book was published. My copy of this book is hardcover and is smaller than a standard hardcover book. It is not nearly as bright as the one posted at the top of this book review. That difference could be due to the fact that it came from a local used book store. Before you get into the actual story, the book includes several definitions of the word “geek”. The introduction is a mini non-fiction story that briefly goes over the author’s description of how he ended up writing this book (and the Rolling Stone articles before it). Geeks follows the lives of Jesse and Eric, two 19-year-old geeks who lived in Idaho. They eventually decide to move to Chicago, where they thought they would have a much easier life. It doesn’t work out the way they hoped it would. The most interesting part of this book, at least to me, are the descriptions of the computers the young men were using. If you were about the same age as Jesse and Eric back in the 1990’s you may feel some nostalgia about how things used to be. People who too young to have memories of that time will probably be horrified by how limited those computers seem today. Here is a description from an early part of the book: Jesse’s computer was a Pentium II 300, Asus P2B (Intel BX chipset) motherboard: a Matrix Millenium II AGP; 160 MB SDRAM with a 15.5 GB total hard-drive space; a 4X CD-recorder; 24X CD-ROM; a 17-inch Micron monitor. Plus a scanner and printer. A well-thumbed paperback – Katherine Dunn’s novel Geek Love – served as his mousepad.Eric’s computer: an AMD K-6 233 with a generic motherboard; an S3 video card, a 15-inch monitor; a 2.5 GB hard drive with 36 MB SDRAM. Jesse wrangled those parts from work. Jesse worked for a computer store. His job was pretty flexible, and he was allowed to play video games on store computers while waiting for someone to bring in something that needed repair. Eric worked at an Office Max. It would have been really easy to abscond with a random computer part or two at one of those computer repair places back in the day. I say this as a person who, back in the mid-to-late 1990’s, was dating a guy who worked in an IT department. He managed to gather up enough discarded parts to build me a PC computer. The guys had linked their computers and played Quake II together. Jesse listened to music and answered ICQ questions while playing. Jon Katz said that somebody called and asked about ordering an ID card – which Jesse could supply. People paid $50 for it. Others emailed MP3s to him, or software and upgrades to Quake and Doom I. I guess what I’m trying to say is this book provides some vivid examples of how the world has changed. It was a time when people who knew a decent amount about computers and the early internet could get a job pretty much anywhere. Jesse and Eric were able to move from Idaho to the outskirts of Chicago and rent an apartment for a pittance of what that would cost today. Geeks – by Jon Katz is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Black Spire – by Delilah S. DawsonAugust 2, 2021Book Reviews / science fictionBlack Spire was written by Delilah S. Dawson. It was released in 2019. I was given the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition of this book, which contains a painting of Black Spire Outpost. The painting opens up into what is meant to look like a hand drawn map of the location. At the start of the book, Vi Moradi is sent out on a mission given to her by General Leia Organa. Vi is a Resistance spy, and hadn’t entirely recovered from her previous mission. She was caught by the First Order and tortured by one of them. She managed to turn her torturer, Captain Cardinal, against the First Order. In short, this was discovered, and he was nearly killed. Vi brought him back with her. General Organa wants to send Vi Moradi to Batuu, but only if she is ready. It is not a vacation, but an important strategic location. After Vi agrees to go, General Organa informs her that she has been assigned a partner. His name is Archex. General Organa explains that this is the same man who tortured Vi. He has been rehabilitated. There is, of course, an explanation. General Organa feels that Vi and Captain Cardinal (who has now reverted to his name before he was part of the First Order) have things in common. She wants Vi to not only lead the mission, but to find out useful information from her former torturer. Vi agrees to go. Their ship crash lands on Batuu, and they awaken after someone has stolen most of their belongings. A droid that accompanied them now has some parts missing. They have no food, and very little shelter. As time goes on, Vi finds employment at a place that goes through scrap metal (and other tossed away items). The owner appears to somehow just know things. A woman who is a co-worker points out that he is hoping to find some relics in the debris that has been gathered. The implication is that he might be force-sensitive. Archex (previously Captain Cardinal) is having a rough time. His body wasn’t entirely healed before the mission, and the crash landing caused more injuries. He is in a lot of pain, but trying to hide it from Vi. Archex longs for the drugs that he was issued while in the First Order. A painkiller would be nice. One of the key characters is Oga, proprietress of Oga’s Cantina. As Vi interacts with more of the locals, she learns that Oga is not one to be messed with. She has a small, but very dangerous, group of thugs that will do her bidding. Vi’s biggest concern is that the people of Batuu believe that their little part of the universe is too small to be noticed. Most feel like the war between The First Order and the Resistance is far away. Eventually, The First Order shows up. I’m leaving out many parts of the story so as to avoid spoilers. What I can say is that I absolutely loved this story. It has a cast of interesting characters (which I will leave you to discover). There are moments of fun and also parts where things get seriously intense. In my opinion, some of the characters are seeking redemption for mistakes they made in the past. Black Spire made me feel as though I was walking around in Batuu, a few steps behind the characters. I read this book not long after visiting the Star Wars part of Disneyland with my husband. The entire area has cast members who roleplay as people who grew up on Batuu, or who arrived there from somewhere else. Speak with any of them, and they will tell you about their life. We went to Batuu shortly before COVID-19 broke out across the world. While in the thick of a crowd, I spotted a woman wearing an orange jacket, despite the day being warm. She had a blue streak in her black hair. When I made eye contact with her she put her finger to her lips to say “shhh”. I nodded as we passed each other by. I had no idea who she was until I looked at the cover of Black Spire. It turns out I “met” Vi Moradi when both of use were visiting Batuu. I would love to return to the little outpost someday. #Blaugust2021 Black Spire – by Delilah S. Dawson is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... The Stoplight Mice – by Tom McNellisJuly 20, 2021Book Reviews / Children's booksThe Stoplight Mice features a boy named Sneakers and his horse, Quicksilver. This is a children’s book that provides a fun example of how to do collaborative problem solving. It is a useful skill to learn, especially when surrounded by people who don’t seem to know how to fix a problem themselves. Sneakers and Quicksilver visit Grumpyburg, which looks like a modern-day town or city. The people there are unhappy and unwilling to work with each other. There is a traffic jam in Grumpyburg, with each driver demanding that the other driver move out of the way for them. The people of Grumpyburg didn’t understand how to take turns. Sneakers finds two people who had the skills necessary to build a stoplight for Grumpyburg. They worked together, but didn’t quite solve the problem. A tiny mouse named Melody knew what to do to make the stoplight work properly. The people of Grumpyburg were not listening to the mice because they were small, and considered to be unimportant. I think this is something that happens with a lot of children. Their ideas are overlooked because they are small and young, and the adults around them think they know better. The Stoplight Mice story shows that no matter a person’s age, or their size, they can still make a difference. The colorful illustrations in The Stoplight Mice are delightful and enhance the story for children who are still learning to read. The inspiration for this story came from bedtime stories that Tom McNellis created for his daughter. The Stoplight Mice – Tom McNellis is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites (unless you are the author of this book).... Thirteen Reasons Why – by Jay AsherOctober 20, 2020Book Reviews / fictionThirteen Reasons Why is a story about a teenager named Hannah Baker who died from suicide. Before ending her life, she recorded a series of cassette tapes in which she explained some of what happened to her that influenced her decision. She arranged to have those tapes sent to the people who had hurt her. This book was becoming popular at a time when I was working in a bookstore. Thirteen Reasons Why was located in the teen/young adult section. There was a day when one of my managers pointed out Jay Asher to me as he stood in the teen/young adult aisle, counting the number of copies of his book that were on the shelf. To be clear, this is an extremely common thing for writers to do. He eventually noticed us, turned around, and waved hello before going back to counting books. Years later, I found a hardcover autographed copy of the book in a thrift store. I live in a college town, and students who are moving back home for the summer tend to donate items that they don’t want to bring back home with them. My best guess is that someone did not want their parents to find this book and assume that their offspring was considering suicide. My visit to the thrift store happened after Netflix launched a TV series based on the book. Some found the series to be controversial because it depicted Hannah’s way of ending her life in graphic detail. (Netflix later removed that scene.) I have not watched the TV series that was based on the book. As such, this review is based entirely on the book itself The majority of Thirteen Reasons Why comes to the reader from the viewpoint of Clay Jensen. He received a mysterious box on his front porch that was addressed to him. Inside was a series of cassette tapes. There was no return address on the box. I’m not entirely certain what year the story takes place it, but it is clear that it is long after it was common for teenagers to record music on cassette tapes to share with a friend or with someone they were dating. We called them “mix tapes” back in the day. Clay doesn’t have anything that he could play the tapes on. Fortunately, his father has what I would have called a “boombox” in the garage. It is here that Clay starts playing the tapes, becoming more and more nervous and upset the more he listen to them. The instructions left by Hannah on the first tape include some warnings. If you received the box of tapes, it meant that you were on at least one of them. Those who find themselves on a tape are to listen to the rest before boxing up the tapes and mailing them to whoever is the focus of the tape after theirs. Failure to send the box of tapes to the next person would result in having all of the tapes released publicly. If that happened, all of the bad deeds and secrets on the tapes would spread. That’s a really potent threat that ensured that the tapes would be passed on. Clay “borrows” a Walkman – the kind that plays cassette tapes – from a friend (without the friend’s knowledge). He embarks on an extremely emotional and stressful journey listening to Hannah’s tapes while walking to different locations on a map that matches where the events of a specific tape happened. The reader learns that Hannah made those maps herself and pushed them into the lockers of the people who she talked about on the tapes. Clay shoved the map into his backpack and was able to dig it out of there. I thought it was really clever of Jay Asher to convey Hannah’s story via cassette tape. There is something really personal about listening to someone’s recorded voice. Having that voice on a cassette tape – a physical, tangible, object – increases the intensity of the shared audio moment. Clay spends several hours focusing on the tapes. Which one was he on? What did he do that hurt Hannah? I could feel his anxiety and nauseousness as he listened to the tapes. What makes this even more dramatic is that Clay really liked Hannah, and they only had a brief moment together before she passed away. The majority of the rest of the book comes to the reader from the viewpoint of Hannah. I found this very interesting because it gives her a voice and allows her to explain what she was thinking, and feeling, before she died. This can only happen in a fictional situation. In reality, people who lose a loved one to suicide are often left with more questions than answers. Without going into “spoilers” I will say that it wasn’t one incident that caused Hannah to decide end her life. Instead, it was a snowball of bullying and bad situations that really hurt her. Thirteen reasons why, each one explained in great detail, on either the A or B side of a cassette tape. While Clay is listening to the tapes, he starts making connections between what Hannah is describing and the confusing things that he saw happen in the months and days before she died. None of those situations made sense to him until after he listened to the tapes and heard Hannah’s side of the story. According to Wikipedia, Thirteen Reasons Why was released in 2007, long after the days when teenagers listened to music on tapes (or CDs, for that matter). Today, people of all ages mostly listen to digital music, and to podcasts of a variety of topics, online. It would be extremely difficult for a person who is a teenager today to follow in the fictional Hannah’s footsteps by recording their pain on a series of cassette tapes. To the best of my knowledge, stores don’t sell packages of cassette tapes anymore, or the Walkman or “boombox” to play the tapes on. I think Jay Asher chose wisely when he decided to have Hannah tell her story through the cassette tapes. Doing so made a nice contrast between Hannah’s recorded voice and the voice in Clay’s head as he agonized about what the tapes would reveal. In addition, he picked a means of sending a note to those Hannah left behind that could not be easily imitated by the teens of today. One big lesson that can be learned from stories like the one in Thirteen Reasons Why is valuable regardless of the age of the reader. Be kind. You cannot always know, for certain, what’s going through another person’s mind, or what is troubling them. A small moment of kindness can potentially make a big difference in the life of a person who is suffering. There are resources for people who are thinking about suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, twenty-four hours a day, and all seven days of the week. You can speak to someone in English or in Spanish. They also can connect with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Thirteen Reasons Why – by Jay Asher is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Father-Mucker – by Greg OlearJuly 28, 2020Book Reviews / fictionFather-mucker is a work of fiction from the viewpoint of Josh Lansky. He (tries) to make his living by pitching ideas to magazines and movie studios. He is a stay-at-home dad who is currently parenting his two young children by himself while his wife is on a business trip. Things do not go as planned. This book is, at times, hilarious. It also offers some interesting insights and commentary on parenting, modern culture, politics, and the problems that come when rumors spread. The title of this book confused my dyslexic brain, and I had to stop and take a closer look at it. The meaning of the title is explained in the story by the main character. It’s not anywhere near as bad a meaning as you may have suspected it would be. Josh and his wife, Stacy, have two preschoolers. Roland is autistic, and his primary interests are “states” (as in the individual states that make up the United States) and light fixtures. He enjoys looking at catalogs and online photos of lamps, bathrooms, and big houses – especially if he can find out what state the house is located in. Maude is the younger sibling. She is very demanding and speaks as though she is royalty. She is physically tough, and Josh thinks she might become a linebacker someday. Near the beginning of the story, Josh gets an email from a parenting magazine that has accepted one of his pitches. They will pay him to do an interview with a former punk-rocker who is now a father. Josh’s son happens to have the punk-rocker’s daughter in his class at preschool. Josh is instantly elated, and then realizes that it might not be easy to find a way to interview the former punk-rocker. All he knows is that Roland really likes the musician’s daughter. Of course, Josh posts this good news on Facebook. His friends are a group of mommies who have set up play-dates at one of their homes. Josh is an honorary mommy. Some of the interesting social commentary starts while Josh is on Facebook. For example, someone he follows plays a game that involves killing vampires. It is the type of game that automatically posts the player’s kills. These types of annoying posts were common back in the earlier days of Facebook. Josh wonders if the number of kills his friend has is a high number, or a low one. He considers the idea that that maybe the friend was actually killing vampires. Josh hadn’t finished his coffee yet. Later, Josh opens a magazine and thinks about the ridiculous names that celebrities choose for their children. Apple. Pilot Inspektor. He later thinks about movie stars who “boink babysitters”… and then, sometimes, divorce their wives and marry the babysitter. At the play-date, one of the mommies quietly tells Josh that she believes that his wife, Stacy, is having an affair. This rumor, of course, has him second-guessing his entire marriage. Sleep deprived and exhausted from being the only parent to his children for several days in a row, Josh struggles with this news. After the play-date ends, Josh returns home with Maude. (Earlier that day, he took Roland to preschool). The babysitter that Josh scheduled to come over and watch Maude arrives. She is twenty-six years old and still in college. He finds her to be ditzy, childish, and annoying. She wants a raise. Josh does not give her a raise. The purpose of the babysitter is to entertain Maude so Josh can go with Roland on a class field trip to a pumpkin patch. To his surprise, the punk-rocker dad is among the other parents who accompany their kids on this field trip. Josh is extremely nervous about how to approach the guy and ask for an interview. And then, all hell breaks loose… for a while. A meltdown occurs. There are difficult choices to be made. Josh must decide whether or not to believe the rumor about his wife cheating on him. He goes back and forth on this, often via flashbacks of unrelated things that happened years ago. As a writer, his mind is searching for the clues he now things he missed. Could she have started seeing one of her ex-boyfriends again? If so… which one? More rumors are spread. Could the husband of one of the mommies be having an affair? The mommy group (Josh included) discuss a rumor about two people who live in town that – supposedly – had sex with each other in a public place while having an affair. It’s like high-school, all over again. A clique of board and frustrated people are spreading gossip in an effort to harm others, to make themselves look better in comparison, or just to pass the time. By the end, the rumors get resolved. The truth is revealed. Some of it was predictable (even for the characters), and some was a mystery right up until the end. I won’t spoil the ending by revealing the outcome. Overall, Father-Mucker is a fast moving story, from the viewpoint of an exhausted dad who is struggling with being a (functionally) single parent for several days in a row. Parents who read this will probably relate to the difficulties and absurdities of potty-training, children throwing tantrums, and the high-pitched scream of a child who has been hurt by another kid in the play-group. As I mentioned, there’s a lot of social commentary about rumors, celebrity quirks, Facebook statuses (and the proper way to respond to them). There are brief glimpses of what Josh and Stacy went through while trying to get Roland on an IEP, and memories about what their life was like before children. I ended up liking Josh Lanksy more than I might have expected. I kept wanting things to work out for him, and hoping that he would, eventually, be able to get some sleep. Father-Mucker by Greg Olear is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... The Great Influenza – by John M. BarryJuly 18, 2020Book Reviews / non fictionThe full title of this book is The Great Influenza – The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History. I started reading it during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a book I’d been meaning to read long before COVID hit, and now seemed like a very appropriate time to start. The influenza pandemic happened about 100 years before the COVID-19 pandemic did. There are so many similarities between how people back then reacted to influenza and how people today are reacting to COVID-19. The book is not for everyone, particularly those who are already overwhelmed by everything involved with the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, I recommend the book to those who happen to enjoy reading about science, and health, and history. The book is presented in a way that resembles a narrative. In other words, it is not just a dry pile of facts and figures. John M. Barry did an excellent job of making scientists and doctors who were involved in trying to stop the spread of influenza into relatable, interesting, people. He noted their skill set, their personalities, and their quirks. I learned a lot from this book. It was astonishing how little we have learned between the influenza pandemic and today. “Spanish Flu” The influenza pandemic was, at the time, referred to as the “Spanish Flu”. But, it didn’t start in Spain. Instead, it started in the United States, in rural Kansas. The pandemic started just before the United States got involved in World War I. The governments of the countries that allied with the United States imposed strict rules about what could, and could not, be published in newspapers, played in movie theaters, or sung. The goal was to prohibit anything that might reduce to morale of the troops. Spain stayed out of the war – or, at least, did not join it – for a long time. As such, the newspapers in the country were free to write whatever was newsworthy. Many people first heard about the influenza pandemic after reading about it in Spanish newspapers. At the time, Spain was one of the countries that had been hit by the virus. People (outside of Spain) started calling the virus “Spanish flu”. The book shows evidence that the influenza virus began in rural Kansas, and spread from there to Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas. The enlisted went from there to other camps, some of which were in France. Young men, from different areas of the United States, were packed into quarters that were not designed to accommodate so many people. Influenza spread through the military very quickly. Today, the (impeached) President of the United States calls COVID-19 “The Chinese Virus“, or “Kung Flu“. It is clear that the COVID-19 virus began spreading in Wuhan, China. But, that’s no excuse for the President to refer to the virus in such racist terms. Overloaded Hospitals The hospitals during the influenza pandemic were as overloaded as the ones today that were hit by a surge of COVID-19 patients. In both cases, people did not understand what they were seeing when it started. Back then, the doctors thought their patients had pneumonia, or that it was “only influenza”. They had no way of knowing how bad this particular strain of influenza actually was, but understood that most influenza cases were mild. Today, doctors diagnosed many patients with pneumonia, when it turned out they most likely had COVID-19. Some were turned away from hospitals (in the United States, for sure, perhaps in other countries) because they weren’t considered sick enough for a bed. Access to testing was problematic, and there are many people who had COVID-19 but were never tested. Meanwhile, the (impeached) President Trump has asked his “people” to slow down the testing. Back then, doctors and nurses were dying as they attempted to provide care for overloaded wards of influenza cases. Today, doctors and nurses are getting sick with COVID-19 as they beg their governors, representatives, senators, and (impeached) president to provide them with enough PPE to keep them safe. Sadly, back then and now, morgues were filled to capacity and hospitals had to find other places to store bodies. In both cases, casket makers were unable to make enough to keep up with the need. Then, and now, people were dying at home. In 1918, part of the problem that people were afraid to help neighbors who had influenza. This was especially true in places where there was a high death rate. It should be noted that President Woodrow Wilson was strongly emphasizing that hospital beds should be reserved for the troops. Doctors and nurses were recruited and sent to camps to help treat enlisted men who had caught influenza. The result was that American civilians were dealing with a doctor and nurse shortage. There was also no infrastructure set up to properly remove the bodies of the deceased. Some families placed the bodies of their dead loved one on the porch. Others had no option but to put the person in a corner, or leave them on the bed they died in. Spouses were sleeping on that bed, and I cannot imagine the level of trauma that caused. Today, there are people dying at home from COVID-19. Their family members are calling paramedics, but the person dies before the ambulance can arrive. In 1918, cities sent out wagons which were used to collect the dead. Police came to the door of the houses of the deceased and put the bodies into the wagon. Again, coffins were scarce, so some bodies were in bags. A few were in boxes that were definitely not coffins. Today, there is a man in Houston, Texas, who is collecting the bodies of the dead. He has a contract with the county, the police, and various funeral homes. Mask Slackers The idea of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of a virus seems to annoy some people. That was true one-hundred years ago, and sadly, is true today. Back then, the Red Cross, which was an extremely helpful force in fighting the influenza pandemic, had women make gauze masks. The surgeons at the time wore gauze masks. So, the prevailing thought was the gauze masks would also help other people to prevent spreading the virus. It should be noted that this effort began after the influenza pandemic had spread widely across the United States. Members of the Red Cross set up tables and tried to hand masks to every un-masked person who walked by. Police at the time were allowed to insist that a “mask slacker” wear a mask. Those without masks had to pay a fine, and could be arrested. Today, a quick glance at social media will reveal that we have plenty of “mask-slackers” who like to gather together in large groups, unmasked, and not engaging in social distancing. They are clearly much more aggressive about their resistance to mask wearing than were like-minded people in 1918. To my knowledge, there aren’t any places in the United States today where people can be fined or arrested for refusing to wear a mask. It is possible that some states or counties are considering it. Today, we wear masks when we want to shop at a grocery store. Back then, people stood outside the store and shouted their order loud enough for the shop workers inside the store to hear them. Another option was to write down a list of what they wanted to buy, leave the list near the door, and wait. Science Takes Time The most frightening thing I learned from this book is how long it can take for scientists to develop a vaccine. The scientists of one-hundred years ago had disadvantages to overcome. Few had managed to create a vaccine – for anything. They had to start from scratch while trying to develop an influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, some doctors still believed that it was “only influenza”, and assumed the virus wasn’t very serious. My assumption is, as the death toll rose, at least some of the doctors realized they were mistaken about how dangerous influenza actually was. Shortly before the influenza virus started infecting people, a huge change was made in regards to the determination of who could be considered a doctor. The medical universities in the United States started out as for-profit. Today, we would probably call them “diploma mills”. The purpose of these schools was to create revenue, which was used to pay the professors salaries. Medical students learned from lectures or books, but never once actually saw a patient. Heaven help the first patient those doctors attempted to treat! Those who truly wished to practice medicine in the United States traveled to Europe to attend their medical schools. Those schools actually taught students the knowledge and skills they would need as a doctor. These students worked on cadavers and, eventually patients, before graduating. In short, what happened was the “diploma mills” were examined by someone who not only had plenty of knowledge about medicine, but also had no qualms about giving the schools the bad grades they deserved. Many closed after that, unable to meet the new criteria. Some merged with real medical schools. Johns Hopkins was formed around this time. Today, as I write this book review, we are approximately six months into the COVID-19 pandemic. We have some wonderful doctors and nurses, but they are suffering from not being able to obtain the PPE that they need in order to prevent catching the virus. There are several different companies that are attempting to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Science takes it own time, however, and there is no way to be certain when a vaccine will become available. Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise. Looking Ahead The version of The Great Influenza that I read was published in 2005. It includes a new Afterword that I found to be extremely informative. It delves into SARS, H1N1, and other corona viruses. In addition, John M. Barry offered advice about what the United States should do in order to be prepared for a new pandemic. At the time, Barry stated that we were not prepared at all. He recommended that the United States start making their own vaccines, and not depend upon other countries to supply us with it. In 2004, the United States was relying on Great Brittan for vaccines, and faced a problem when Great Brittan cut the total doses available outside of their country by 50%. Berry also emphasized “surveillance” in the form of what we may recognize as contract tracing. The earlier we identify a new virus, he wrote, the better chance we have to develop and distribute a vaccine. My hope is that the next President of the United States will take the time to read The Great Influenza and learn lessons from it. There is potential that we could have a new President in January of 2021. That person will have the opportunity to put plans in place to prepare for the next pandemic – while continuing to fight this one. Based on what we have seen, the current (impeached) President has little to no interest in protecting Americans from COVID-19. The Great Influenza – by John M. Barry is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... The Sovereignties of Invention – by Matthew BattlesJanuary 26, 2020Book Reviews / fictionThe Sovereignties of Invention is a book of short stories – all of which are at least somewhat creepy. Matthew Battles does a good job of keeping readers in a state of curiosity and wonder, which sometimes leads to dread and horror. This may not be the book for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. If you like stories that include strange situations that leave the reader wondering what happens next, this is the book for you. My favorite story in this book is called “The Gnomon”. It takes place at a technology convention, where everyone is walking around wearing lanyards with little plastic pockets that serve as their admission passes. The Gnomon is a black box that has no discernible ports, no lights, and absolutely no one there to explain what it does. It becomes a topic of conversation as people try to figure out what it might be. Then, it starts following the people who are attending the conference on social media. There is a point where the story goes from an interesting puzzle to true horror. The reader is never given a specific explanation of what The Gnomon is, or why it suddenly reacts the way it did. The first story in the book is called “The Dogs in Trees.” It involves a situation where people are noticing that dogs have started appearing in trees. At first, it seems like a quirky story, but it slowly becomes very disconcerting. Only the dogs seem to know why they’ve taken to the trees. A story called “I After the Cloudy Doubly Beautifully” had me interested in it just from the title alone. A librarian was given the tax of clearing out the “X cage” – a repository of things that didn’t quite fit anywhere else. The librarian finds a mechanical translator machine, that involves ball bearings with letters on them that are spun around inside a glass dome. A ticker tape comes out with the words that it makes. The machine can translate back and forth into several languages. The librarian starts translating things from one language, to another, to yet another one. I found myself wondering what the final translation would sound like. But, something happens before the librarian is finished with the machine. There are other stories that I have not mentioned and will leave the reader to discover for themselves. The Sovereignties of Invention is filled with glimpses of strange and beautiful things that can also be creepy and unnerving. I found myself thinking about these stories long after I’d finished reading the book. The Sovereignties of Invention – by Matthew Battles is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Restoration – by Olaf OlafssonJanuary 13, 2020Book Reviews / fictionThis is a heartbreaking story of love, and loss, and loneliness. It takes place in Italy, in the 1920’s. After the war begins, everything becomes more uncertain than it was before. It is the story of love gone wrong, due to misunderstandings. There are unanswered questions, dripping with regret and second guessing. All of this is set in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape, which provides a vivid contrast to the sadness that some of the characters are experiencing. Alice is a British ex-pat who is living in Florence, Italy with her family, surrounded by other families who are also British ex-pats. She comes from wealthy family, and is expected to marry an Englishman. Instead, she marries Marchese Claudio Orsini, a titled, Italian nobleman who was the son of a landowner. He is ten years older than Alice, which doesn’t bother her. Alice’s mother, however, is completely distraught that her daughter failed to marry an Englishman (like she was supposed to). The two newlyweds fled shortly after their wedding, in an effort to escape all the pointless social necessities. Most of Alice’s family were mean to Claudio, and this made it easier for her to leave her family and start a new life with him. Long story short, they buy a large farm in Tuscany. While they do have a few people who are helping them with the work, there is still much to do. Alice knows nothing about farming, and she has difficulty adjusting. Eventually, she decides she loves this life and never wants to leave. The couple have a son, who is delightful. He becomes sick, ends up in the hospital, and dies while there. His father, Claudio was there when he died. But, Alice was absent, because she left the hospital to visit her lover. This causes a huge rift between Claudio and Alice, one that is not repaired. He leaves one morning to tend to a family who lives on their land – and never returns. Alice is left mourning their son, while also wondering if Claudio would ever return. The sense of loneliness hangs thick and heavy in the air. Time goes on, and the war begins. It eventually enters Tuscany. Refugees are fleeing the countryside as the German army advances. Many end up at the farm, which by now, has a nurse and a make-shift hospital. There are homeless children who become part of a school/orphanage. Food is scarce, and times are very difficult. There is always the threat that the German army will one day come and take the farm. Some of the people Alice (and her workers) are protecting are those that the German army would happily kill. In the midst of all this, a woman arrives at the farm. Her leg is badly injured, and she does not give her name. The reader learns her story in pieces. She was once working for a painter, who became her lover. He refused to leave his wife. The woman has all kinds of doubts about whether she made the right choices, including one that was an indirect type of revenge. The story is heartbreaking, and beautiful, and desperately sad. I feel like most of the unanswered questions are resolved by the end of the book. It is the kind of story that gives the reader a rich, visual, environment to walk around in, filled with people who are longing for someone they cannot have. Restoration – by Olaf Olafsson is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... DiabloSeason 24: Lower and Upper Realms of Infernal FateSeptember 19, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosAfter completing the Lower and Upper Realms of Cursed Fate, my Barbarian ran through the Lower and Upper Realms of Infernal Fate. As before, these Realms blend into each other, giving the player a lot of variety of monsters and terrain to fight in. In this video, my Barbarian started at Level 65, hoping to hit 70. By the end of the video, she was level 67. I think these two areas (and the previous ones) are new content. Or, at least, they are new to me. They provide an interesting way to level up in an area that feels new. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Lower and Upper Realms of Cursed FateSeptember 16, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Barbarian started at level 62. I didn’t feel like doing Bounties or Nephalem Rifts. On accident, I found what I thought was brand new content – and I sent my Barbarian there. There is a section of the Act IV map that has four areas that seemed new to me. In this video, my Barbarian completed the Lower Realm of Cursed Fate, and the Upper Realm of Cursed Fate. The areas in them flow into each other, which adds to the variety of monster as well as location. It took longer than expected to get through, but it had the benefit of leveling up my Barbarian a little bit more. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Diablo and SiegebreakerSeptember 12, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosAfter finally hitting Level 60, my Barbarian was ready to fight Diablo and Siegebreaker. Doing so would not only help her level up some more, but also are required to complete part of the Season Journey. It took longer than expected for my Barbarian to finish what she set out to do. The objectives required Hard difficulty (or higher). I was on Expert difficulty, but went back to Hard difficulty thinking that would speed things up. One mistake I made was jumping into a portal that was a Bounty while on my way to fight Diablo. Another was that my Barbarian was wearing bracers that produced extra monsters when you hit a shrine or pylon. The Bounty included shrines, so this made things take longer than expected. To my surprise, it seemed like the fight dynamics against Diablo – and against Siegebreaker – had been updated. Both of them moved around a lot more than they previously did. These changes made the battles really fun! Objectives completed in this video: Innocence: Kill Diablo at level 60 or higher on Hard difficulty or higher. (Chapter II)Living Siege Engine of Hell: Kill the Siegebreaker Assault Beast at level 60 or higher on Hard difficulty or higher. (Chapter II) If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Chasing GoblinsSeptember 9, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Barbarian started off at level 57 and worked her way to Level 60. She did this by running through some of the locations in Act III. There were a few reasons why I picked Act III. I’ve already ran through locations in Act I and Act II, and didn’t want to redo them. I didn’t feel like completing bounties or Nephalem Rifts. I also hoped that maybe, if I was very lucky, I’d open a chest that had an Ethereal in it. In the process of leveling up, I had plenty of opportunities to chase Goblins and pick up their loot. Achievement completed in this video: Hero of Sanctuary: Reach level 60 Reaching level 60 doesn’t sound like a big deal. However, it is necessary to get there if you want to complete two specific parts of Chapter II in the Season Journey. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Desolate SandsSeptember 3, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Barbarian started off at level 55. Instead of running through more Nephalem Rifts, or doing more Bounties, she went to the Desolate Sands. The interesting thing about leveling this way was that it was an area of the game that I don’t often visit. The difficulty was set to Expert, and that made it just enough of a challenge without being frustrating. In addition, there were a total of three “dungeons” (for lack of a better word). It was fun! By the end of the video, my Barbarian was at Level 57. I have yet to find any Ethereals. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Khazra, Skeletons and ZombiesAugust 28, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Barbarian started out at level 50 and ended up at level 55. To do this, she completed some – but not all – of a set of Bounties. After that, it was a lot of Khazra, skeletons, and zombies. Unlike my previous video, this one actually recorded the in-game sounds. I always turn off the in-game music, because I put it on YouTube. I’m trying to avoid copyright strikes. All it took for me to fix the audio problem for this video was download something and click a button. As such, the upcoming videos should have proper audio. Another thing I learned by making this video is that I’m having more fun running around Sanctuary killing skeletons, zombies, and now also Khazras than doing a set of bounties all in a row. That said, I have exactly zero ethereals. There is still time to get them. #Blaugust2021 If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Skeletons and ZombiesAugust 25, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Barbarian hit level 50 and finished Chapter I of the Season Journey. She started with a Nephalem Rift on Expert difficulty. After that, just to make things more fun, she set out to fight as many skeletons and zombies as she could find. This video did not go as planned. The video portion recorded perfectly, and my voice in the video is clear. However, for reasons I have not figured out yet, the recording did not pick up the in-game sounds. That made for a very boring video. The first thing I did was edit the video because it was way too long. I ended up with a video that was just over an hour. To fix the lack of sound in the video (other than my voice) I made use of YouTube’s music collection. Anyone who wants to put a video on YouTube can make use of the songs YouTube supplies. The songs you hear in this video are: “Resolver” – Amulets “Devoid” – ELPHNT “Serious” – The Tower of Light “Imagine a New Darker You” – The Tower of Light “Underworld” – Myuu “Zombie March” – Sir Cubworth “Poisoned Rose” – Aakash Gandhi Objective earned in this video: Forged In Fire: Reach Level 50. (Chapter I) #Blaugust2021 If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Diablo II: Resurrected – Open BetaAugust 20, 2021Diablo II: Resurrected Open Beta / Diablo IIIThe Diablo II: Resurrected Open Beta began on August 20, 2021. At the time I am writing this blog post, I don’t remember when it is scheduled to end. My best guess is we will have the weekend to run around in the game and search for bugs. I picked the Barbarian character because it is my absolute favorite class in the Diablo games. In Diablo II, (and Diablo II: Resurrected) there is one choice per class. The Barbarian is always male, and there is no option to choose a female one instead. You can do that in Diablo III, but not this game. For me, that’s fine. I tend to switch off between male and female Barbarians every season. I decided to use the random name generator to pick a name. Among those names was “Cronan”. It seemed appropriate! As such, I am playing Cronan the Barbarian. I never got to play Diablo II when it was new. The PC I was using back in the day had been cobbled together from spare parts. It played Diablo just fine, but wasn’t strong enough to run Diablo II. The game kept crashing, and I eventually gave up on it. One of the things I found interesting is that some of the characters in the Rogue’s camp were ones I’ve “met” before. They were in a different Rogue’s camp in the Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha. Their versions in Diablo II: Resurrected sound younger than the ones in Diablo Immortal did. Which means some people did an excellent job as voice actors when those characters aged in the Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha. The biggest problem I’m having has nothing at all to do with the Open Beta. The problem is that I’m playing the game on my Xbox Series S. For years, I’ve been using a Mac instead of a PC. My current set up includes a Mac Mini. Unlike other Apple products, this one does not come with a built-in monitor. So, the monitor I’m using is from LG. The Mac Mini doesn’t seem to be aware that the monitor it is hooked up to is NOT an Apple product. There is a button-like thing on the bottom of the monitor that allows me to switch between my Mac Mini and my Xbox S. For me, the process is confusing, and I’m often frustrated by it. When I manage to navigate my way through that, I now have to fight my way through all the screens and options that Xbox S puts between the player and the game they wish to play. The first part involved figuring out how to connect my Diablo II: Resurrected Open Beta to my Battle.net account. If you’re playing on a PC, that’s probably a super easy thing to do. However, if you have a Mac computer, and Apple devices, it becomes a puzzle to solve. If I remember correctly, the reason you had to connect to Battle.net was to put in a code. My best guess was to see if I could put Battle.net on my iPad Mini tablet. I could! But, it turned out to be limited to chat. Eventually, I used the Safari browser in my iPad Mini to find Battle.net, log in, and put in the code. It should be noted that those who wanted access to the Open Beta were required to pre-purchase Diablo II: Resurrected. I was intending to buy the game anyway, so I didn’t see that as a problem. Success! In the screenshot above, my Barbarian is standing inside the Den of Evil after killing all the monsters within it. When this happens, he says “The Rogues are safe… for the moment.” It was very satisfying to finish my first quest in this game. Off in the corner is an outline of the map of the area he is standing in. The location reminds me of where the map can be found in Diablo III. It is also possible to have the map overlay become very large. When viewed this way, it looks like your character is walking around inside that overlay – but also is still within the game’s environment. I like this way better. After I finish up this blog post, I am going to see how long I can play the Diablo II: Resurrected Open Beta before I fall asleep. The beta is only around for a limited time, and I want to make the most of it! Diablo II: Resurrected – Open Beta is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Act V BountiesAugust 17, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my softcore Barbarian completed a set of Act V Bounties. She started by killing Malthael (again). In addition, she also completed a Seasonal Objective that required a transmogrification. Objectives completed in this video: Westmarch’s Most Wanted: Obtain an Act V bounty cache. (Chapter III) Penchant for Enchants: Replace a property on an item with Enchanting at the Mystic. Enchanting is very useful for replacing an unwanted primary affix on a near-perfect item. (Chapter II) My Barbarian ended this video at Level 37. She’s slowly working her way through the Season Journey objectives. What she can do is limited by the level she is at. #Blaugust2021 If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Season 24: Act IV BountiesAugust 15, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my softcore Barbarian started out a Level 30. She completed a set of Act IV Bounties. Objective completed in this video: Heaven’s Most Wanted: Obtain an Act IV bounty cache. (Chapter III) By the end of the video, my Barbarian hit level 33. There wasn’t much she could accomplish in the Season Journey while at such a low level. I think I’m going to have to spend more time grinding some Nephalem Rifts in the hopes of leveling up my Barbarian to where she can be effective. I’m still having fun playing Diablo III. But, I’ve been really busy this month and it’s been difficult to find the time – and the energy – to spend a long span of time playing the game. #Blaugust2021 If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you!... Other Video GamesAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Isabelle’s Creek CooldownSeptember 15, 2021Animal Crossing Pocket Camp / Other Video GamesIsabelle’s Creek Cooldown began on July 28, 2020, and ended on August 9, 2020. Isabelle is a special character who guides new players through the variety of things they can do in the game. In addition, Isabelle sometimes comes to the player’s campsite and starts a new event. Isabelle’s Creek Cooldown is the first of three events that are connected to each other. All of the events in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp start with special flowers. Players must plant them in their gardens, then return to collect the rare creatures (bugs) that find them. Prizes are distributed based on how many bugs the player caught. Isabelle: Summer is definitely one of my favorite seasons, but the heat can certainly leave me feeling groggy. Isabelle: At the very least, I need to find a way to cool off for a few hours… Isabelle: So, I came up with a really great idea! Isabelle: Why not create a creekside area where everyone at the campsite can come to cool off for a bit? Isabelle: I’m going to give you some seeds to start, so go ahead and plant them in your garden. Isabelle gave my Pocket Camp character 5 bags of purple starflower + seeds. and 5 bags of purple starflower seeds. The ones with the + grow super fast! Isabelle: Once these flowers bloom, they’re sure to attract plenty of creek fireflies. The goal is to keep planting the event-specific flowers and then come back and collect the rare creatures that landed on them. The number of bugs is what grants the player prizes, which usually match the theme of the event. Task complete! My Pocket Camp character and Isabelle are standing on a path in my garden. The plants directly in front of them are not done growing yet. Off screen are the five purple starflower+ seeds that grow much faster than the rest. I picked the fireflies off of them, and got enough to earn a reward. This process takes place, over and over again, until the event ends of the player earns all the rewards. I earned two stardust fans. These items are required in order to complete a set of quests. I earned a bamboo-boat lantern! Task complete! My Pocket Camp character is wearing a straw beach hat and a white beach dress. Those items were not part of the event, but might have connected to a previous one. Here are what the fireflies that were attracted by the purple starflower plants looked like. Task complete! The flowers in the above screenshot are pink starflowers. I was able to earn some prizes by planting them, but I don’t think I got all of the rewards. The event ended before I could do that. Here are some other rewards that are connected to Isabelle’s Creek Cooldown: river stepping-stones flowing-river rug three-tier lantern A river rock dancing fireflies three-tier lantern B red standing umbrella riverside veranda A There were classes that required some of the items that players could earn during this event. Creek Cooldown was the first class. It only required a few items. The highlighted items are the ones that the player needed to place. One of them is Cool-Stone Riverbank (highlighted rocks in the background). I must have obtained at least one of them, but cannot find the screenshot. The other two are River Stepping-Stones, and I’m certain I earned two of them. Success! Creek Cooldown 2 was the second class. Creek Cooldown 2 required the river rock, river stepping-stones, red standing umbrella, and three-tier lantern A. Some of those items were also used in the Creek Cooldown class. An overhead look at the Creek Cooldown 2 class. The required items are highlighted. Success! I put some of the Creek Cooldown items into my campsite. Goldie seems to be enjoying these items. More of the Creek Cooldown items were added to the same space after I earned them. I like how these items, when put together with a few more that fit the theme, felt very peaceful. Isabelle: We’d all be sad and sweaty if it weren’t for you. Thanks for making this possible, Ownka! A small scene appears when the Creek Cooldown event is over. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Isabelle’s Creek Cooldown is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Cool Scoop Scavenger HuntAugust 31, 2021Animal Crossing Pocket Camp / Other Video GamesThere is a pattern to the events on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. It starts with planting flowers for prizes. Next is a Fishing Tourney (for more prizes). The last one is a scavenger hunt where the player collects gyordites and uses them to craft prizes. Usually, there is a theme that runs through all three events. This time, that didn’t happen. This series of events started with Gulliver’s Port Resort, where players collected items to make that resort in their campground. The Fishing Tourney Pirate Life followed. Players caught special, sparkling, fish and traded them for pirate-themed prizes. The Cool Scoop Scavenger Hunt focuses on ice cream. One of these things is not like the other! The screenshots in this blog post are from July of 2020. Players had to go from one location to another and gather up all the cool scoop gyordites that they could find. The gyrodites are only available during the event. A certain number of them is one of the things required for players to craft the prizes associated with this part of the event. Prizes earned during the Cool Scoops Scavenger Hunt: creamy-cone holder ice-cream-shop table blue ice-cream cart sherbet-cone holder pink ice-cream cart There were more prizes available, but I didn’t manage to collect enough cool scoop gyordites before the event ended. I missed out on the Ice Cream Shop cart that looked different from the other two carts. One item could only be purchased with Leaf Tickets (the in-game currency). It wanted 150 of them, and I didn’t have it. Most, if not all, of the Animal Crossing Pocket Camp events include classes that the player can take. The classes disappear after the event ends. To pass the class, the player needs to obtain specific items. Cool Scoop Parlor is the first of three event-related classes. Cool Scoop Parlor 1 required the ice-cream-shop table and the creamy-cone holder. It also required players to craft a Candy Gingham Shirt, which was not part of the event. Success! Cool Scoop Parlor 2 also required the ice-cream-shop table. Additional items include the blue ice-cream cart, and the sherbet-cone holder. It also required a cream soda – which players had to craft. My Pocket Camp character is thinking about where to put the required items for this class. The highlighted objects are the ones that were required for this class. Success! Cool Scoop Parlor 3 required Creamy-cone holder. It also wanted the Ice-Cream-Shop cart (which I did not have). It sometimes is possible to pass the class without having everything needed. It also required the menu chalkboard, which players had to craft. My Pocket Camp character is trying to figure out how to pass this class. The highlighted areas are the ones where the required items are supposed to go. I didn’t have the Ice-Cream-Shop cart. When that happens, the game suggests an item that the player should put instead. So, I ended up with a table that had a large umbrella over it. Not quite a success, but good enough! Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Cool Scoop Scavenger Hunt is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Neko Atsume: Honey PotAugust 30, 2021Neko Atsume / Other Video GamesNeko Atsume is a game where players attempt to attract cats to their home/yard. The only way to do it is put out items that the cats might be interested in playing with. Some of the cats enjoy the Honey Pot. The flavor text of the Honey Pot says: The inside of this jar keeps a constant temperature for storing sweet things: e.g., honey and snoozing cats. Most of the screenshots in this blog post were taken in 2017. Pickles Pepper Bolt Ginger Pumpkin Princess Chocola #Blaugust2021 Neko Atsume: Honey Pot is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Fishing Tourney Pirate LifeAugust 27, 2021Animal Crossing Pocket Camp / Other Video GamesThere are three parts to an event in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. The first one involves planting flowers and capturing rare creatures. The second one is a Fishing Tourney. The third is a scavenger hunt. Fishing Tourney Pirate Life started on July 11, 2020, and ended on July 19, 2020. It began shortly after Gulliver’s Port Resort ended. The screenshots in this blog post were taken in July of 2020. The game gives the player an announcement when a new Fishing Tourney begins. The theme connects to the previous event. Sometimes, the theme matches well. In this case, my campsite had been turned into a Port Resort. This Fishing Tourney gives players the opportunity to obtain pirate-related loot. It works! Chip: Oh boy, it’s finally here… “Fishing Tourney (Pirates)”! All of the Fishing Tourneys work the same way. The player needs to go fishing in the place the Fishing Tourney is held. (There is another location player can fish from – but fish caught there won’t count.) There is a timer on how long a player can fish – meaning that the Tourney fish will disappear after a short span of time. The player then hands over the Tourney Fish they caught to Chip who will measure them. Prizes can be earned. I caught two Bering wolffish! I earned a wood fish trophy. Chip: Now, let’s see here. What have I got for ya… Players needed to collect a number of mariner’s anchors in order to complete a series of quests. There are prizes that can be obtained by those who gather enough mariner’s anchors before the event ends. Here is what the fish in the Fishing Tourney (Pirates Life) event looked like: smalltooth sand tiger great barracuda two great barracuda I used a Fishing Tourney net. Players get one for free at the start of a Fishing Tourney. I caught a Bering wolffish, some great baracuda and some smalltooth sand tigers. I’m not sure if the number I caught includes only what was in the net, or if it includes the fish I pulled out of water before deploying the net. Bering wolffish two smalltooth sand tigers Here are the prizes that players can earn while doing this Fishing Tourney: pirate tee and vest wooden box eye patch black bandana I now had the right items to complete one of the classes that connected to this Fishing Tourney. The first Pirate Life class required the wooden box, pirate tee and vest, and black bandanna. The required items go into the spots that have a transparent rectangle on them. Success! I have been assigned the rank of Amateur Rank 9! Here are more of the prizes that come from the Pirate’s Life Fishing Tourney: barrel chair barrel table pirates’ treasure map pile of Bells For those who have never played an Animal Crossing game – Bells are the in-game currency. There are many ways to earn Bells in the game. This particular pile of Bells is only cosmetic, and cannot be used to buy something with. I now had all the items that are necessary to complete the second Pirate Life class. Success! pirates’ bounty pirate skull banner stack of barrels I now had everything necessary to complete the Pirate Life 3 class. My Pocket Camp character is thinking about where to place the items. This is what the Pirates Life 3 class looks like after everything has been properly placed. Success! I earned three medals in each of the Pirate Life classes. The Fishing Tourney (Pirate Life) shared some quest goals that carried over from the Port Resort event. As such, I was able to obtain some rewards that were part of each event just by completing quests. white resort bench Here is the white bench in the middle of my Port Resort. Fishing Trophies I already posted the wooden fishing trophy in this blog post. Somehow, I failed to get a screenshot of the next one, the bronze fishing trophy. silver fish trophy After the Fishing Tourney Pirate Life ended, I got this announcement of my results. I earned a gold fish trophy. It was time to take a rest! Rod’s adventure cookie One of the rewards for completing all of the quest goals was a Rod’s adventure cookie. Players earn it. Usually, the special cookies cost Leaf Tickets (a type of currency that players can earn – or purchase with real money). To open a fortune cookie, a player’s character must eat it. There is always a short fortune inside, just like in real world fortune cookies. There will be a prize inside (that usually looks way too big to fit into a cookie). I got a pirate captain hat! A pirate’s life for me! The Port Resort part of my campground has been taken over by the Pirate Life items. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Fishing Tourney Pirate Life is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Neko Atsume: Temari BallAugust 25, 2021Neko Atsume / Other Video GamesNeko Atsume is a game where the entire goal is to attract cats to your home/yard. The only way to do it is to put out items that the cats might be interested in playing with. Some cats enjoy the Temari Ball. The flavor text on the Temari Ball says: Real Temari Balls are fine pieces of Japanese folk art fashioned from layers of fabric. This one’s made for cats. Most of the screenshots in this blog post were taken in 2017. Caramel Dottie Lexy Marshmallow Patches Peaches Smokey Spud Snowball Sooty Neko Atsume: Temari Ball is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Seekers Notes: Mysterious Friend CollectionAugust 23, 2021Other Video Games / Seekers NotesSeekers Notes is a game where the player becomes the Seeker and must find hidden objects that the townspeople lost. The town of Darkwood is under a curse, and things go missing. Most quests in the game are “one-offs” that end when a player completes a collection. The Mysterious Friend Collection is part of a series of quests that are part of the Performer’s Path event. This one takes place after the player finishes the Creative Environment Collection. The screenshots in this blog post are from July of 2021. Amy: Seeker, have you seen my grandpa? I waited for my friend for almost an hour, but he didn’t come to the rehearsal. I’m afraid he won’t come to the concert either. I’m so upset – I want to go home with Grandpa. Seeker: I’m so sorry, Amy! Congratulations! You completed a stage challenge and get Glove as a reward! I completed the quest line for the first bubble in this part of the Performer’s Path event. Blacksmith: What’s going on?! My little star is so disappointed. Did Pete run himself ragged and forget about everything? Let’s treat Amy to her favorite cornflower sorbet and find out more about the situation. Pete is one of the other children in Darkwood. He is the son of Darkwood’s toymaker. I found the cornflower sorbet! Blacksmith: That’s news to me! My Amy cheered up after eating a couple of spoonfuls and sorbet and said Pete wasn’t even her partner! Do you know a boy named Rudy? My granddaughter says she met him recently. Amy: No way! Pete never would’ve agreed to participate in a sentimental play. I thought all boys were like that, but Rudy turned out to be a big fan of the classics. Take a look at our playbill! One unique thing in Seekers Notes is that the more you play through (and successfully find all the hidden objects in) a specific location – the more you level it up. The Music Hall was now at the Connoisseur rank. This matters mostly for locations that are part of a limited-time event, as part of completing the event requires players to level up the location all the way. Congratulations! You completed the stage challenge and get Bohemian Snack as a reward! I have now filled in two of the bubbles in this section of the Performer’s Path event. I found the playbill! Amy: Rudy was planning to perform alone, but when he met me, he revised the show to include us both. If it weren’t for him, I never could have mustered the courage to go on stage! But now it seems like I won’t be getting on stage either way. Blacksmith: Amy is sad again and can’t utter a single word. Well, my mother used to say some fresh clean water can wash all your troubles away! I’ll go help Amy wash her face, but I need to find a towel first… I found the towel! Blacksmith: Oh, you found such a beautiful and soft towel! Amy will enjoy drying her pale cheeks with it after she washes up. And the color is so bright! She’ll perk up right away when she sees it! Amy: Grandpa has asked me to tell him more about Rudy to help me find him, but I can’t get my thoughts together. I wanted to show you Rudy’s gift – a fun little frog that reads poems – but it seems to have vanished too. I found the frog toy! Amy: Oh, you found my toy! Thank you! This little frog reminded me that Rudy always stayed in character, acting out his role from the play. I’ve never seen him without a cape and mask before, and he also had an interesting accent! Blacksmith: It’s too bad Amy hasn’t seen her friend without a mask, but if Rudy had an accent, we should start our search with the families that are new to the area. There aren’t many of them in Darkwood. Let’s look for their addresses in the directory! Congratulations! You completed the stage challenge and get a Captain’s Wheel as a reward! The Performer’s Path section with the creatures that the Seeker must placate has been updated. There are now three out of five bubbles filled in. Blacksmith: Great! All of these families have children Amy’s age. What if the boy got a bad grade, and his parents are making him study right now? Together we can convince them to let him go out for a night. Blacksmith: I’m starting to worry, Seeker. We didn’t find a Rudy in any of the families. Maybe he made up that name when he introduced himself to Amy. But why his he playing this game of cat and mouse? No, I don’t think any of the kids lied to us. Helen: What a sad story! Poor Amy, I can only imagine how much energy and aspiration she’s put into this performance. I’m sure her friend didn’t do this on purpose. Let’s look for his name in the student registry! To obtain the student registry, the Seeker must collect a certain number of objects. Those objects are dropped by creatures that the seeker must placate by giving them specific items. Clicking on the blue arrow allows the player to complete the Mysterious Friend collection. Helen: Alas, either the name isn’t real or Amy mixed it up, but, according to the registry, there are no boys Amy’s age named Rudy in Darkwood. Congratulations! You completed the stage challenge and get Chocolate Present as a reward! I have now filled in two of the six bubbles on the part of the Performer’s Path that shows a decorated box. Seekers Notes: Mysterious Friend Collection is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – ButterfliesAugust 21, 2021Animal Crossing Pocket Camp / Other Video GamesOne of the most relaxing things to do in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is to catch bugs. The types of bugs are swapped in or out, depending on the season. There are sometimes events that require players to catch a certain number of a specific type of bug. The butterflies are the most interesting to me. There is a surprising amount of variety to them! purple butterfly Andromeda satyr Cairns Birdwing blushing phantom peacock butterfly paper kite butterfly common bluebottle giant blue swallowtail Madagascan sunset moth emperor butterfly purple swallowtail stresemanni swallowtail #Blaugust2021 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Butterflies is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Neko Atsume: Manta Gel MatAugust 18, 2021Neko Atsume / Other Video GamesNeko Atsume is a game where the player attempts to attract cute, cartoon, cats to their home/yard. Place items that you think the cats might enjoy, and wait to see what they do with it! The flavor text on the Manta Gel Mat says: A cushion-like gel mat with the just-right cool temperature. Do not release into the ocean. The Manta Gel Mat was one I selected when the weather in real life started getting hot. It was one of many cooling mat items that I put out for the cats to use. Not all cats use the Manta Gel Mat, but the ones that did looked exceptionally comfortable on it. Sunny Cocoa Bolt Socks Sooty Chip Fred Snowball #Blaugust2021 Neko Atsume: Manta Gel Mat is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Seekers Notes: Placating Performer’s Path CreaturesAugust 16, 2021Other Video Games / Seekers NotesSeekers Notes is a game where the player becomes the Seeker and is tasked with finding lost objects. It includes puzzles, locations where you need to find all the hidden objects, and a creepy storyline. In order to complete a collection in a time-limited event, the player must placate three creatures that are part of the event. Each one can drop the items that the next-in-line wants. These screenshots were taken in July of 2021. This placating creatures chain of quests is interwoven with the Creative Environment series of quests. The player needs to successfully locate all necessary hidden objects in the Music Hall. If successful, the area might drop an item needed by the first of the three creatures that are part of the event. Every event works the same way when it comes to placating creatures. Find all the objects in the special location of the event. Hope it drops the thing the first creature wants. The first creature wants one specific item. The second one wants two specific items that the first one drops. The third one wants three of the specific item dropped by the second one. There is a leaderboard that counts how many times a player placates these creatures. I’m not sure why the game creators felt the need to add that. The purpose of placating creatures is that they (eventually) give the player the “extra” items they need to complete a collection. Helen: Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop has been holding his guitar in his wings for several hours without putting it down. Mac’s enthusiasm is laudable, but it’s difficult for other performers to rehearse because of his loud singing. Maybe he’ll take a break to eat a juicy snack. To obtain a Juicy Snack, players must successfully complete the Music Hall location. It might drop one Juicy Snack – or none at all. Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop requires one Juicy Snack at a time. He will require more than the two you give him at first, so keep feeding him! Helen: I can imagine how much energy it takes to play and sing nonstop for several hours in a row. No wonder Mac couldn’t resist the juicy snack we offered him. The performers are grateful to us! Congratulations! You’ve successfully placated the creature: Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop. Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop: Beginning artists have a lot to learn from Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop! This tireless musician often misses the strings of his guitar and sings choruses out of tune, but all the flaws of his playing are made up for by the passion and sincerity that Mac puts into it! Placating item: Juicy Snack. Antoine: Miss Ostriss believes that her look alone deserves thunderous applause. If you ignore her once, you won’t be able to outrun this resentful ostrich! Let’s give her gorgeous roses. Miss Ostriss: A concert fasionista who’s hungry for attention. Miss Ostriss requires 2 Gorgeous Roses. The only way to get them is to placate Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop two times. He will drop Gorgeous Roses each time you give him a Juicy Snack. Congratulation! You’ve successfully placated the creature: Miss Ostriss. Antoine: Phew, I think I’m safe now, thank you! Honestly, Miss Ostriss’s jewelry, hat and feathers may blend into all the flamboyant concert attire, so its best to always keep a bouquet at close hand. Miss Ostriss: If you lost part of your concert costume shortly before a performance, there is a high probability that this item was borrowed by Miss Ostriss. This feathered lady loves to spend time in dressing rooms and try on new hats and jewelry. Placating item: Gorgeous Roses. Colonel Hammerstrike: Wild Gracius is harmless, though he does resemble a lion. Performers consider his appearance at rehearsals a good omen. But if Gracius has fallen asleep on the stage, interfering with the performance, then a confetti popper will help. Wild Gracius: An extravagant creature with feline traits. Wild Gracius requires three confetti poppers. The only way to get them is to placate Miss Ostriss. To placate her, the player has to placate Mac Boop-Boop-a-Doop. To placate him, a player needs to successfully complete the Music Hall location. Fortunately, players only have to do this one time through in order to complete this series of quests. But, that’s not the end! The entire process needs to be repeated enough times to give the player the extra items that are needed to finish a collection. Congratulations! You’ve successfully placated the creature: Wild Gracius. Colonel Hammerstrike: The confetti popper work Wild Gracius up, and he stretched and left in search of a more comfortable place to rest. Thank you for your help, Seeker. The performers can continue their rehearsal. Congratulations! You completed the state challenge and get a Vibrant Mocktail as a reward. I have now completed one part of the event that involves placating creatures. #Blaugust2021 Seekers Notes: Placating Performer’s Path Creatures is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Neko Atsume: Cake BoxAugust 14, 2021Neko Atsume / Other Video GamesNeko Atsume is a cute game where the player attempt to attract adorable cartoon cats to visit them. To do this, the player needs to put items into their home and/or yard that the cats might like. The Cake Box one of them. The flavor text on the Cake Box says: A sweet box like this is sure to pique a cat’s curiosity. Here is what the Cake Box looks like when it is placed in your home or yard. Based on how the cats use the Cake Box, I’m going to assume it smells really good! Willow Peaches Sunny Patsy Socks Ginger Bandit #Blaugust2021 Neko Atsume: Cake Box is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Out of Spoons (Chronic Illness)Everything You Need to Know about the Texas Abortion LawSeptember 5, 2021Out of Spoons / Public HealthTexas Flag by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash A Texas abortion law made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States. Typically, the entire Supreme Court would schedule the case for a hearing, listen to arguments made by both sides, question the hell out of the lawyers, and then take time to make a decision. Instead, the conservative members of the court chose to drop the ball and allow Texas to enforce a six-week abortion ban. How did we get here? The vote was 5-4. Those who voted against the Texas six-week abortion ban include Chief Justice John Roberts (nominated by President George W. Bush), Stephen Breyer (nominated by President Bill Clinton), Sonia Sotomayor (nominated by President Barack Obama), and Elena Kagen (nominated by President Barack Obama). Those who voted to harm everyone in Texas who has a uterus include: Clarence Thomas (nominated by President George Bush), Samuel Alito (nominated by President George W. Bush), Neil M. Gorsuch (nominated by President Donald J. Trump), Brett Kavanaugh (nominated by President Donald J. Trump), and Amy Coney Barrett (nominated by President Donald J. Trump). In short, a one-term president, who had been impeached twice by Congress, packed the court with three justices of his choice before losing the 2020 election. As such, it makes total sense for President Biden to increase the size of the court with his own choices for justices. Doing so could flip the Supreme Court to outnumber Trump’s extremely conservative justices. If it was okay for Trump to pack the court – then it is okay for Biden to do it. What should you know about the Texas six-week abortion ban? The law is called S.B. 8. It is called the “Texas Heartbeat Act”. The purpose of this bill is to prevent a pregnant person from having an abortion. The bill itself uses the word woman throughout it, but it will also affect trangender men who have a uterus and who can get pregnant. The law is also going to affect anyone under the age of 18 who becomes pregnant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted a report that states that the average age of menarche (menstruation) in 2017 was 11.9. That means an eleven-year-old in Texas could become pregnant and be prevented from having an abortion. Keep in mind that was the average age of starting a period. Some children who have a uterus could start earlier than eleven-years-old. Planned Parenthood explains that pregnancy is times measured by “gestational age”, which starts on the first day of your last period. The first two weeks are when a person is menstruating. About two weeks later, the egg is released from their ovary. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. During weeks three and four, (if the egg has been fertilized), it will move down the fallopian tube and start dividing. It reaches the uterus about three to four days later. About six days after fertilization, it attaches to the lining of the uterus. A pregnancy has occurred – but most people don’t have any recognizable signs that they are pregnant by six weeks. That’s the main problem with limiting abortion to before six weeks of gestation. By the time the pregnant person understands that they are pregnant – Texas has already prohibited them from having an abortion. Another terrible (and misinformed) part of S.B. 8 has to do with the idea of a fetal “heartbeat”. That term is often used in bills that are designed to prevent pregnant people from having an abortion. The reason the “heartbeat” is included in these bills is to sound as though it were science. (It is not science.) NPR reported that the Texas abortion law reads: “A physician may not knowingly perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman if the physician detected a fetal heartbeat for the unborn child.” The law defines “fetal heartbeat” as “cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac.” NPR asked physicians about this. Dr. Nisha Verma (an OB-GYN) said: “When I listen to an patient’s heart, the sound I’m hearing is caused by the opening and closing of cardiac valves. The sound generated by an ultrasound in very early pregnancy is quite different”, she said. “At six weeks of gestation, those valves don’t exist. The flickering that we’re seeing on the ultrasound that early in the development of the pregnancy is actually electrical activity, and the sound you ‘hear’ is actually manufactured by the machine.” In short, the Texas bill is full of lies. It was based on “fetal heartbeat”, which is absolutely impossible at six-weeks of gestation. Another physician NPR spoke with, Dr. Jennifer Kerns (OB-GYN) clarified that the correct scientific term for six weeks of development is “embryo” – not fetus. The Louisiana Department of Health makes it clear that an embryo does not become a fetus until week eight (ten weeks after the last normal menstrual period.) S.B. 8 gets worse. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) pointed out the following: “… The law includes a bounty-hunting scheme, encouraging private individuals to sue anyone in Texas who violates the law. A reward of at least $10,000 will be given to anyone who successfully sues a doctor, health center worker, or any person who helps someone obtain an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Lawsuits may be filed against a broad range of people, including abortion funds providing financial assistance to patients, health center staff, and even a member of the clergy who assists an abortion patient… The ACLU also stated that “Texas’ ban is different because it allows private individuals to enforce the ban rather than state officials. Anti-abortion politicians designed the law this way to try and insulate it from federal court review…” This is absolutely terrifying. First, the “bounty-hunter” stands to make $10,000 if they can successfully sue someone who provides an abortion or seeks one. Texas Tribune reported that the Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold to continue the benefits. The last of the extended assistance will be given through the week of September 11, 2021. When that assistance disappears, it is possible that some people will feel desperate enough to try and get that $10,000. That could mean lying about a neighbor who isn’t even pregnant and insisting that the person is seeking an abortion. It could mean suing everyone in a health care clinic that provides abortion – just because they happen to work there. It could mean a pregnant person who miscarries could be sued for failing to carry the baby to term. It could mean the doctor whom the pregnant person sought out for help with a miscarriage could also be sued for providing the medical help that was necessary. Of course, despicable people who are very rich could also decide to become a “bounty-hunter”. The law doesn’t limit who can win a bunch of money by lying about a person being pregnant, or trying to sue the person who miscarried, or the doctors who helped that person. The difference is the rich people don’t need the money and would be targeting people they don’t happen to like. When I think of the words “bounty-hunter”, I think about the Star Wars movies and TV shows. I think about the “wild west” where “bounty-hunters” went after people who stole someone’s horses or robbed a bank. People who are pregnant – or who can potentially get pregnant – and who live in Texas will now have to worry about “bounty hunters” interfering with their lives. Everything You Need to Know about the Texas Abortion Law is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... My County Issued a Mask MandateSeptember 1, 2021Out of Spoons / Public Healthwoman wearing a mask in a grocery store by Anna Shvets on Pexels The county I live in has issued an indoor mask mandate. It started today. I rarely go outside anymore because I have two auto-immune disorders. When I do leave the house, I am almost always the only one wearing a mask. According to my county’s Department of Public Health, the mask mandate is in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases that are described as the highest number of COVID-19 patients that the county has ever had. Part of the reason for the mask mandate is to enable hospitals to have room for people who need treatment for heart attacks, broken bones, or cancer (as a few examples). I’m not going to say which county I live in, but will disclose that it is somewhere in California. The mask mandate applies to not only those who are not vaccinated, but also those who are. An order has been issued that makes it clear that failing to adhere to the order is “a public nuisance subject to citation, abatement, or both, as well as a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.” This is not new. In 1918, there was an influenza pandemic. The United States issued a mask mandate. Back then people who were not wearing a mask, or who were wearing their mask improperly (below their chin, for example), were given 30-day jail sentences. Those who could afford it could pay a $10 bail and be released. My county now requires that masks be worn over the mouth and nose in all indoor settings. It includes gatherings, workplaces, offices, retail stores, restaurants, bars, fitness centers, theaters, museums, personal care services, family entertainment centers, and government offices serving the public. Businesses must now require everyone who wants to enter to wear face coverings. The business must post signs at the door to make it clear that people must wear a mask if they want to go inside. Students, teachers, and others working at in-person schooling, will be required to wear a mask while indoors. Personally, I am relieved to hear this news. The mask mandate will help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It makes the county a little bit safer for people like me who have weak immune systems. People who need to go to the hospital for non-COVID health issues will have a chance to get the care they need. I cannot help but wonder what things would be like today if the United States government issued a mask mandate right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many lives could have been saved. Anti-maskers are probably going to get angry about my county’s mask mandate. I recommend they get used to ordering their groceries to be delivered to their homes. They should also expect to pay fines for being maskless inside a store or business. My County Issued a Mask Mandate is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... I’m TiredAugust 30, 2021Out of Spoons / Spoonie Writingsleeping woman by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash I’m tired. So very, very tired. All the time. Maybe you are too, but for different reasons. I’m tired of having chronic illnesses that have no cure. Both of them are auto-immune diseases. Antihistamines provide temporary peace from airborne allergens, but it doesn’t last long. It does nothing for my food allergies. Fibromyalgia causes muscle pain and memory issues (“fibro fog”) that leave me struggling to find the right words. Constant pain causes exhaustion. I’m tired. I’m tired of living in a world where covid is still spreading. I took a chance and got vaccinated. Luckily, my immune system was able to handle it. I worry for those who have immune systems more fragile than mine, and for kids who are too young to get the vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that the global rollout of covid-19 vaccines is progressing at “two alarmingly different speeds”. Less than 2 percent of adults are fully vaccinated in most low-income countries compared to almost 50 percent in high-income nations. The longer this is true, the longer we will all be stuck living in a world where covid is spreading. I’m tired of the people who choose to spread covid. Every time a group of anti-maskers get together to protest mask requirements, it makes me tired. They gather in groups and shout, droplets spewing out of their mouths and noses, and potentially spreading covid. These people are the reason why we can’t have nice things, as the saying goes. We can’t end the pandemic unless every physically healthy person is vaccinated. Until then, there is a need for everyone to wear masks. I’m tired of waiting for the anti-maskers to grow up and do the right thing. I’m tired of fighting an ant invasion. California is in a drought. When this happens, ants come into people’s homes, in search of water. They’ll happily take any crumb of food they can find, too. We put down ant poison, and that worked for a while. Eventually they learned to avoid it. Since then, I’ve been spraying the ants with disinfectant (like the kind you would use to clean sinks and toilets). It works, but I’m going through it fast. The house is very clean, but even that doesn’t entirely stop the ants from coming in. We can no longer leave a few, rinsed, dishes in the sink overnight. The ants find them. I’m tired from spending so much energy trying to keep the Borg of the insect world outside. #Blaugust2021 I’m Tired is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Tennessee’s Bathroom Bill was BlockedJuly 22, 2021Out of Spoons / Public HealthPhoto by Tim Mossholder from Pexels Everybody needs to pee. Holding in your pee for too long causes health problems. That’s one of many cruelties of “bathroom bills” that prohibit people who are transgender or non-binary from using a public restroom. Holding in your pee causes health problems What happens if you have no choice other than to hold in your pee? The answer to that question comes from Lamia Gabal, MD, a board-certified urologist. “Holding in pee is a complex series of interactions between your bladder muscle and your pelvic floor muscles, which make up the urinary sphincter,” Dr. Gabal said. “Chronically holding in your pee can overstretch your bladder and lead to muscle weakness.” Planned Parenthood points to a number of ways to prevent having a urinary tract infection (UTI). One piece of advice says: “Pee when you need to. Don’t hold it.” Cleveland Clinic says that a urinary tract infection can be easily treated with antibiotics. If it isn’t treated or if the person stops taking the medication early, this type of infection can lead to a more serious infection, like a kidney infection. In short, “bathroom bills” are a public health problem because they prohibit people who are transgender, non-binary (or both) from being able to pee when their bodies need to. Cruelty is the entire point of “bathroom bills”. How did the Business Bathroom Bill happen? It starts with Senate Bill 1224 (SB 1124) which was titled: “AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 68, relative to public facilities”. The purpose of this bill was to harm people who are transgender. Here is what SB 1124 said: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 120, Part 1, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) A public or private entity or business that operates a building or facility open to the general public and that, as a matter of formal or informal policy, allows a member of either biological sex to use any public restroom within the building or facility shall post notice of the policy at the entrance of each public restroom in the building or facility. (b) Signage of the notice must be posted in a manner that is easily visible to the person entering the public restroom and must meet the following requirements: (1) Be at least eight inches (8″) wide and six inches (6″) tall; (2) The top-one third (1/3) of the sign must have a background color of red and state “NOTICE” in yellow text, centered in that portion of the sign; (3) The bottom two-thirds (2/3) of the sign must contain in boldface, block letters the following statement centered on that portion of the sign: THIS FACILITY MAINTAINS A POLICY OF ALLOWING THE USE OF RESTROOMS BY EITHER BIOLOGICAL SEX, REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGNATION ON THE RESTROOM (4) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), have a background color of white with type in black; and (5) Be located on a door to which the sign must be affixed or have its leading edge located not more than one foot (1′) from the outside edge of the frame of a door to which the sign must be affixed. (c) If an entity or business is notified that it is not in compliance with this section, the entity or business has thirty (30) days in which to comply before any action is taken against the entity or business. (d) As used in this section: (1) “Policy” means the internal policy of a public or private entity or such policy as the result of a rule, ordinance, or resolution adopted by an agency or political subdivision of this state; and (2) “Public restroom”: (A) Includes a locker room, shower facility, dressing area, or other facility that is: (i) Open to the general public; (ii) Designated for a specific biological sex; and (iii) Excludes a unisex, single-occupant restroom or family restroom intended for use by either biological sex. SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2021, the public welfare requiring it. What does this really mean? There’s a whole lot of willful ignorance and cruelty to unpack here. I’m going to start by critiquing the sign that the Tennessee legislature wanted to force businesses to post on bathrooms doors. The top part of the sign must be red, and the word NOTICE on that part of the sign must be yellow. Those colors, when put on a sign, typically indicates that there is something dangerous nearby (or past the point of where the sign is located). The purpose of forcing businesses to use up printer ink to post these horrible signs on every bathroom, locker room, etc., is to sneakily cause people to subconsciously start equating people who are transgender or non-binary as “dangerous”. That intent is further emphasized by forcing the businesses to put an awkwardly worded sentence in BOLD TEXT that is really confusing to read. “THIS FACILITY MAINTAINS A POLICY OF ALLOWING THE USE OF RESTROOMS BY EITHER BIOLOGICAL SEX, REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGNATION ON THE RESTROOM” That wording, following the “danger danger” part at the top of the sign, was designed to not only make people afraid of encountering a transgender or nonbinary person in a public bathroom, but also to make them think they would be in great danger if that happened. That is an extremely harmful message because it could persuade a transphobic person to enact violence upon someone whom they think is in the wrong bathroom. I’d also like to point out the part of the sign (that is in bold text) is extremely confusing. Trans women are women, and should use the women’s bathroom. Trans men are men, and should use the men’s bathroom. The sign isn’t there to protect people who are transgender, though. It’s there to rile up transphobic people in an effort to further “other” people who are not cis-gendered. A similar type of discriminatory rules were enacted in the 1940s. Those rules were called Jim Crow laws, which were intended to cause harm to Black people. The Jim Crow laws segregated bathrooms, water fountains, and where people could sit on buses, based on whether the person was white or Black. Today’s anti-trans laws are not identical to the Jim Crow laws. However, both had the purpose of discriminating against entire groups of people simply for being who they are. This is how the Tennessee legislators voted on SB 1124: SB 1124 is the Senate version of the bill. HB 1182 is the House version of the bill. The primary sponsor of HB 1182 is Tim Rudd (Republican). He represents District 34. His term ends in 2022. SB 1124 was sponsored by Paul Rose. He represents District 32. His term ends in 2024. The vote on both bills is posted on the same page. Here is who voted AYE on HB 1182: Rebecca Alexander (R)Charlie Baum (R)Clark Boyd (R)Rush Bricken (R)Scotty Campbell (R)Dale Carr (R)Michele Carringer (R)Glen Casada (R)Scott Cepicky (R)Mark Cochran (R)Michael G. Curcio (R)Tandy Darby (R)Rick Eldridge (R)Andrew Farmer (R)Ron M. Gant (R)Johnny Garrett (R)Rusty Grills (R)Curtis Halford (R)Mark Hall (R)Kirk Haston (R)David Hawk (R)Patsy Hazelwood (R)Esther Helton (R)Gary Hicks (R)Tim Hicks (R)John B. Holesclaw Jr. (R)Dan Howell (R)Bud Hulsey (R)Chris Hurt (R)Curtis G. Johnson (R)Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar (R)Justin Lafferty (R)William Lamberth (R)Tom Leatherwood (R)Mary Littleton (R)Susan Lynn (R)Eddie Mannis (R)Debra Moody (R)Jerome Moon (R)Dennis Powers (R)John Ragan (R)Bob Ramsey (R)Tim Rudd (R)Iris Rudder (R)Lowell Russell (R)Jerry Sexton (R)Paul Sherrell (R)Robin Smith (R)Mike Sparks (R)Bryan Terry (R)Todd Warner (R)Terri Lynn Weaver (R)Mark White (R)Sam Whitson (R)Ryan Williams (R)Jason Zachary (R)Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) Here is who voted NAY on HB 1182: Bill Beck (D)Kent Calfee (R)Karen D. Camper (D)Jesse Chism (D)John Ray Clemmons (D)Barbara Cooper (D)Vincent Dixie (D)Bob Freeman (D)Yusuf Hakeem (D)G.A. Hardaway (D)Torrey C. Harris (D)Jason Hodges (D)Darren Jernigan (D)Gloria Johnson (D)London Lamar (D)Harold M. Love, Jr. (D)Sam McKenzie (D)Larry J. Miller (D)Antonio Parkinson (D)Jason Potts (D)Jason Powell (D)Johnny Shaw (D)Mike Stewart (D)Dwayne Thompson (D) Here is who voted either “present” or “not voting”: John Gillespie (R)Pat Marsh (R)Ron Travis (R) Here is who voted AYE on SB 1182: Mike Bell (R)Janice Bowling (R)Richard Briggs (R)Rusty Crowe (R)Todd Gardenhire (R)Ferrell Haile (R)Joey Hensley (R)Ed Jackson (R)Jack Johnson (R)Becky Duncan Massey (R)Frank S. Niceley (R)Mark Pody (R)Bill Powers (R)Shane Reeves (R)Kerry Roberts (R)Paul Rose (R)Steve Southerland (R)Art Swann (R)Dawn White (R) Here is who voted NAY on SB 1182: Raumesh Akbari (D)Heidi Campbell (D)Brenda Gilmore (D)Sara Kyle (D)Katrina Robinson (D)Jeff Yarbro (D) Here is who voted either “present” or “not voting”: Page Walley (R) On April 30, 2021, CNN posted an article titled: “Tennessee legislature passes bill requiring some businesses to post signs indicating inclusive bathroom policy”. It was written by Devan Cole and Veronica Stracqualursi. From the article: Tennessee is a step away from requiring some businesses in the state to post signs indicating that they allow transgender and other non-binary people to use the bathroom in their establishment that matches their gender identity, a policy LGBTQ advocates say is “offensive and humiliating” for members of the community and could lead to harassment……While the legislation is reminiscent of the so-called bathroom bills a few years back — when Republican lawmakers around the country pushed to restrict trans students from using the bathrooms that corresponded to their gender identities — it doesn’t explicitly ban trans people from using the facility that matches their gender identity, but it is still harmful to trans people, LGBTQ advocates stress. They argue the signage could inadvertently lead to harassment of trans people and businesses with inclusive policies.It also comes at a time when GOP-controlled states have been passing laws that advocates say restrict trans rights.Tennessee’s GOP-controlled Senate passed HB 1182 on Thursday by a party-line vote of 21-4. The House previously passed the bill by a vote of 62-25 and the legislation now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee……Though the legislation doesn’t define what “biological sex” means, the term has been used by conservative lawmakers around the country to refer to one’s sex as determined at the time of birth based on their reproductive biology and genetics. While sex is a category that refers broadly to physiology, a person’s gender is an innate sense of identity. The factors that go into determining the sex listed on a person’s birth certificate may include anatomy, genetics and hormones, and there is broad natural variation in each of these categories.For this reason, the language of “biological sex,” as used in this legislation, can be overly simplistic and misleading… On May 17, 2021, Human Rights Campaign posted a press release titled: “Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Signs Anti-Transgender ‘Business Bathroom Bill’ into Law”. It was written by Wyatt Ronan. From the press release: Today, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed House Bill 1182 (SB 1224) into law, a discriminatory bill that aims to prevent transgender people from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity by requiring businesses with “formal or informal” policies of allowing transgender people to use the appropriate restroom to post offensive and humiliating signage……HB 1182 (SB 1224) is part of the 2021 “Slate of Hate” rippling through the Tennessee state legislature. This anti-transgender bill is the fourth discriminatory piece of legislation signed by Governor Lee this session, following SB 228 an anti-transgender sports ban, SB 1229, a sweeping anti-LGBTQ education, bill, and HB 1233, anti-transgender student bathroom bill. These anti-equality bills are being pushed by national extremist groups and peddled by lawmakers in Tennessee in an effort to sow fear and division.The governor has not yet taken action on SB 126 (HB 1027), an unnecessary regulation of life-saving, best practice medical care for transgender youth.Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David issued the following statement in reaction to Gov. Lee signing HB 1182:“Gov. Lee’s decision to sign HB 1182 will cause real harm to transgender Tennesseans. Denying transgender people the ability to access a bathroom consistent with their gender identity is degrading and dehumanizing – and can have real health and safety consequences. Gov. Lee and Tennessee lawmakers are determined to discriminate against the transgender community and roll back the clock on equality instead of focusing on real problems facing Tennesseans. To be clear – Tennessee residents will suffer economic, legal, and reputational consequences of these bills and we will hold those who are indoctrinating hate into our laws accountable.” On May 25, 2021, News 4 Nashville posted an article titled: “Nashville DA won’t prosecute new bathroom bill”. It was written by Chuck Morris. From the article: Nashville’s District Attorney General Glenn Funk said his office will not enforce the new bathroom equality bill signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee earlier this month.The bill requires any public or private entity or business that allows a member of either sex to use a public restroom to post a sign stating either sex, regardless of designation, can use that restroom.“I believe every person is welcome and valued in Nashville,” Funk said in a statement. “Enforcement of transphobic or homophobic laws is contrary to those values. My office will not promote hate.”Lee told reporters the bill promotes “equality in bathrooms”, despite the prohibition against transgender people using multi-person facilities that don’t align with their sex at birth……LGBTQ advocates have said the legislation is discriminatory. The Human Rights Campaign said its the first bill restricting bathroom use by transgender people signed in any state in about five years… I posted that article in this blog post to point out that if the Nashville Attorney General has decided not to enforce the “Business Bathroom Bill”, no one else in Nashville will be able to enforce it, either. This is good news for transgender people and the businesses who welcome them. As I mentioned earlier in this blog post – everyone needs to pee. On June 10, 2021, WKRN.com posted an article titled: “Nashville DA can refuse to enforce transgender bathroom sign law, lawyers say”. It was written by Gerald Harris. From the article: Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk is not backing down on his decision not to enforce the controversial transgender bathroom sign legislation once it becomes law July 1.This is despite backlash from Republican lawmakers including East Tennessee Representative John Ragan who said the action from Funk is “offensive.”The law requires businesses to notify the public if their bathrooms are inclusive.“Every person is welcomed and valued in Nashville. Enforcement of transphobic and homophobic laws is contrary to those values. My office will not promote hate,” Funk said in a letter.Abby Rubenfeld, a Nashville Civil Rights attorney with Rubenfeld Law Office said, “General Funk’s response was completely appropriate, I mean he has limited resources, he has to make priorities about enforcement of laws and that’s just the accepted part of his job.”There’s been continued outcry from Republican lawmaker who say it’s there job to write the laws and it’s Funk’s job to enforce them……It’s unclear how the law will be enforced or if any other district attorney will also refuse to enforce the law… Here come the lawsuits On June 25, 2021, the Tennessee American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) posted a press release that stated the following: The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court today challenging a new, first-of-its-kind Tennessee law that would require businesses and other entities that allow transgender people to use the restroom that matches their gender to post a government-prescribed warning sign.The lawsuit, filed on behalf of business owners in Nashville and Chattanooga who object to the stigmatizing message they would be required to display, states that the law violates the First Amendment and asks the court for a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of the law while the lawsuit proceeds.“Forcing businesses to display a stigmatizing message for political expedience is unconstitutional,” said Hedy Weinberg, ACLU of Tennessee executive director. “Furthermore, by targeting the transgender community, these government-mandated signs marginalize and endanger transgender individuals. Tennessee should be embracing and protecting all Tennesseans, not passing unconstitutional discriminatory laws.”The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kye Sayers, owner of the Sanctuary performing arts and community center in Chattanooga, and Bob Bernstein, owner of Fido restaurant in Nashville. Both businesses have informal policies allowing customers to determine which restroom is appropriate for them, and have not had any complaints or concerns raised about their restroom policies.“Sanctuary was founded specifically to create a safe space for transgender and intersex people and their families in a state that can be unwelcoming to LGBTQ people,” said plaintiff Kye Sayers. “I am against posting offensive signs that stigmatize and deny the existence of transgender and intersex people at our center. These signs undermine Sanctuary’s very mission and send the exact opposite of the welcoming message we try to convey in everything we do.“As a former journalist, I believe strongly in free speech. Politicians have no right to force me to post a controversial, ideologically-motivated and inaccurate sign in my place of business,” said plaintiff Bob Bernstien. “I have worked hard to create a welcoming environment for all in the restaurants that I own, and I don’t intend to stop now.”If the law goes into effect, any business that fails to prevent transgender and intersex people from using the restroom that most aligns with who they are would be forced to post signs with the word “NOTICE” in yellow on a red background at the top, followed by text stating “THIS FACILITY MAINTAINS A POLICY OF ALLOWING THE USE OF RESTROOMS BY EITHER BIOLOGICAL SEX, REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGNATION ON THE RESTROOM,” or face criminal charges……While courts have recognized that businesses can be required to display factual and noncontroversial information, they have repeatedly ruled that forcing a business owner to display a sign for the sole purpose of promoting a political viewpoint is unconstitutional… A Copy of the lawsuit was posted by the Tennessee ACLU: The Plaintiffs are: Bongo Productions, LLC, Robert Bernstein, Sanctuary Performing Arts LLC, and Kye Sayers The Defendants are: Carter Lawrence, Tennessee State Fire Marshal, in his official capacityChristopher Bainbridge, Director of Codes Enforcement, in his official capacityGlenn R. Funk, District Attorney General for the 20th Judicial District, in his official capacity, and Neal Pinkson, District Attorney General for 11th Judicial District, in his official capacity The lawsuit went to the United States District Court For the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division. Here are some key portions of the lawsuit: …Plaintiffs are Tennessee businesses and service providers and their owners. They serve the public, and provide public access to their restrooms. Plaintiffs welcome transgender customers, clients, and staff, and allow transgender people to use the restroom or facilities that accord with their gender identity. …Plaintiffs do not want to display this notice. They do not agree with this characterization of their policies, and they do not want to convey the Tennessee General Assembly’s controversial and stigmatizing message to customers, clients, and staff. Under newly enacted H.B. 1182/S.B. 1224, 112th Gen. Assemb., 1st Reg. Sess. … Plaintiffs – and many other businesses or public entity in Tennessee that allows transgender people to use the appropriate public restroom – will be required to post a controversial and misleading warning notice advising that “THIS FACILITY MAINTAINS A POLICY OF ALLOWING THE USE OF RESTROOMS BY EITHER BIOLOGICAL SEX, REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGNATION ON THE RESTROOM.”… If H.B. 1182 is allowed to go into effect, Plaintiffs and all other similarly situated businesses and entities open to the public in Tennessee will be forced to either display this government-mandated warning notice, or risk being charged with a Class B misdemeanor for violating the Tennessee building code, with a maximum penalty of six months in prison or $500. By forcing Plaintiffs to display a government-mandated warning notice with which they disagree, the Act violates the Plaintiffs First Amendment right against compelled speech. Plaintiffs bring this action to challenge the constitutionality of the Act. Unless enjoined by this Court, the Act will take effect on July 1, 2021, irreparably harming Plaintiffs and their customers, clients, and staff, and violating Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights... Here is a portion of the lawsuit under “Factual Allegations – Legislative History of H.B. 1182”: …The legislative history shows that the Act is intended to apply to entities that allow transgender people to use a restroom facility that accords with their gender identity, rather than the sex they were assigned at birth. During the legislative debates on H.B. 1182, the sole justification offered by its sponsor, Representative Tim Rudd, was that the bill was necessary to “protect [] women and children against” people who could “tak advantage of policies, executive orders, or legislation [] that [] allow the ‘opposite biological sex’ to enter a restroom, shower, or locker room.” He explained, with “new …giving transgenders more rights … I don’t want women… or children calling me next year how they have been raped or molested “ During a subsequent committee meeting, Representative Rudd stated that “a woman has the right to know whether a man is going to be in her bathroom and vice versa for a man.” This too was a reference to transgender people using the restrooms that accord with their gender identity. When questioned by other representatives about the need for this bill, Representative Rudd responded that the bill was suggested by a constituent at a fundraiser, and he felt the bill was needed because of the executive orders regarding rights for transgender people “coming out of Washington.” There was no testimony offered in support of the bill. The committee nonetheless voted to move the bill forward. During House floor debates on March 29, Representative Mike Stewart asked about the public policy underlying H.B. 1182. Representative Rudd once more responded that with the new executive orders and policies from Washington, it would be “good to put on notice.” He also stated that it is “shocking and a danger to people that enter a bathroom marked ‘men’ or ‘women and someone of the opposite sex is standing there, which could scare people and provoke violence.”… Here is another key part of the lawsuit: …Transgender people are frequent targets of harassment and face widespread discrimination in all facets of life. Being forced to use restrooms that do not align with their gender puts transgender people at greater risk of harassment or violence, and also causes psychological and physical harm. Policies that allow transgender people to use the correct sex-designated restroom – the restroom that best matches their identity – do not legalize harassment, stalking, violence, or sexual assault. Nor do these policies change the sex-segregated nature of these facilities. In other words, allowing transgender people to use restrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity simply ensures that everuone has access to spaces that match who they are. These policies do not permit unfettered access for anyone, regardless of sex, to spaces restricted to one sex. Law enforcement officials and sexual assault advocates in states and cities with policies that prohibit discrimination based on transgender status, including with respect to use of single-sex facilities, have rejected the contention that these policies cause safety problems. Plaintiffs recognize that people who are transgender may need to use the restroom while out in public, just like everyone else. Plaintiff Bongo has sex-designated restrooms and has informal policies allowing transgender people to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity. Plaintiff Sanctuary does not have sex-designated restrooms at this time, but will shortly, and intends to allow transgender people to use the restrooms that align with the sex they know themselves to be… …In order to avoid being subject to the Act’s compelled speech requirements, Plaintiffs would need to change their policies to bar transgender people from using the restrooms that accord with their gender identity. They do not wish to do so… …Plaintiffs do not have anyone guarding their restroom doors to ask for their birth certificates, inspect anyone’s genitals, or interrogate any other aspect of their sex. They do not even know how they would attempt to do so without gross intrusions into the privacy of their employees, customers, and clients. Yet, unless they do so, Plaintiffs and indeed all other businesses and other entities with restroom facilities open to the public throughout Tennessee will be required to display the specific sign required by the Act… Fido has sex-designated multi-user restrooms. Mr. Bernstein is concerned that the Act’s required warning notice will create confusion for his customers, clients, and employees. Based on the legislative history of the Act, Plaintiffs Bongo and Mr. Bernstein are reasonably concerned that the Act applies to them, because they allow all women, including transgender women, to use the women’s restroom, and all men, including transgender men, to use the men’s restroom. Plaintiff Sanctuary has two multi-user restrooms that are not presently sex-designated. Anyone is welcome to use any of Sanctuary’s restrooms. Sanctuary intends to being operating a cafe next month, and will then have to display a sex designation on its two multi-user restrooms because such a designation will be required by municipal building codes. Sanctuary and Ms. Sayers are reasonably concerned that the Act applies to Sanctuary now because its all-gender multi-facilities are not “excluded” under the Act’s definition of covered entities. They are also concerned that the Act will apply to Sanctuary in the future once it adds a sex designation on its multi-user restrooms. At that time, Sanctuary will allow all women, including transgender women, to use the women’s restroom, and all men, including transgender men, to use the men’s restrooms… Here is what this lawsuit is asking the judge for: Issue a preliminary injunction, later to be made permanent, restraining Defendants, their employees, agents and successors in office from enforcing the Act;Enter a judgement declaring that the Act is unconstitutional under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;Award Plaintiffs their reasonable costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988; andGrant such other or further relief as the Court deems just, proper, and equitable. On June 30, 2021, Tennessean posted an article titled: “Mike Curb joins fight against Tennessee anti-trans bathroom signage bill with federal suit”. It was written by Mariah Timms. From the article: A contentious Tennessee bill requiring businesses to post signs if they allow transgender people to use the bathroom of their choosing is facing another attack in the courts.Mike Curb, music industry heavy-hitter and former California lawmaker, called the law discriminatory and hostile when announcing a new federal lawsuit filed Wednesday……The first-of-its-kind law requires businesses to post signs about transgender-friendly bathrooms and is expected to take effect July 1. It was signed by Gov. Bill Lee in May……So far, legal pushback to the law has come from the business community.The new suit, filed Wednesday in federal district court on behalf of Curb Records and the Mike Curb Foundation, joins a volley from the American Civil Liberties Union and its Tennessee chapter in the same court last week on behalf of two business owners. They’re suing Lee, the state fire marshall Carter Lawrence, Metro Nashville Codes Director William B. Herbert IV and Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk.Funk said in May he will not press charges against anyone refusing to post the signs, sparking criticism from conservative lawmakers.Deeming the law “transphobic,” Funk said his office would not “promote hate.”……Violations would be misdemeanors and could lead to up to six months if jail time and a maximum fine of $500, according to Tennessee code.“The required notice serves no legitimate or rational purpose and solves no actual problem. Instead, it seeks to conscript Tennessee businesses and other institutions to spread the State’s preferred message of fear and intolerance towards transgender people and to falsely portray them as a threat to the safety and privacy of other members of the public”, Wednesday’s lawsuit argues. “In doing so, it also forces businesses like Curb Records and many other Tennessee employers to violate federal law, which prohibits discrimination against transgender employees… On July 10, 2021, The Tennessee Star posted an article titled: “Record Label of Popular Christian Band Sues Tennessee over Trans Bathroom Law”. It was written by Peter D’Abrosca. From the article: The record label behind one of America’s most popular Christian bands, along with several country music artists, is suing Tennessee over the state’s new transgender bathroom signage law.Mike Curb, former Republican lieutenant governor of California who also earns Curb Records in Nashville, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging HB 1182, which requires Tennessee businesses to post signage that says “this facility maintains a policy of allowing the use of restrooms by either biological sex regardless of the designation of the restroom” if the business intends to allow both sexes to use the same bathroom, locker room, dressing rooms, or other typically-single sex areas.Curb and his record label are listed as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit… A copy of the lawsuit can be read on SCRIBD. Here are some key points: The Plaintiffs are: Curb Records Inc. and Mike Curb The Defendants are: William Lee, as Governor of Tennessee, in his official capacityCarter Lawrence, as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, in his official capacityWilliam Herbert IV, as Director of the Nashville Department of Codes and Building Safety, in his official capacityand Glen Funk, as District Attorney General for the 20th Judicial District of Tennessee, in his official capacity The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division. Here are some key parts of the lawsuit: Plaintiffs Curb Records, Inc. and the Mike Curb Foundation bring this federal constitutional challenge to Tennessee Public Chapter No. 453, signed into law on May 17, 2021, and referred to herein as the “Compelled Sign Law.”… The Compelled Sign Law forces businesses and other public and private entities in Tennessee to post an inflammatory, false, offensive, and discriminatory notice on any multi-user restroom that is open to the public if the business permits transgender individuals to use that restroom based on their gender identity, just as other employees, customers, and visitors are permitted to do. The state-mandated notice requires such businesses to falsely state that they permit the use of restrooms by “either biological sex, regardless of the designation on the restroom,” which falsely and offensively conveys that a transgender woman is not a woman and that a transgender man is not a man. The required notice serves no legitimate or rational purpose and solves no actual problem. It instead seeks to conscript Tennessee businesses and other institutions to spread the State’s preferred message of fear and intolerance towards transgender people and to falsely portray them as a threat to the safety or privacy of members of the public. In doing so, it also forces businesses like Curb Records and many other Tennessee employers to violate federal law, which prohibits discrimination against transgender employees. The first Amendment to the United States Constitution forbids Tennessee from compelling Plaintiffs and other private entities to express the State’s discriminatory message. And under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, the Compelled Sign Law is preempted by federal law and for that independent reason is void and unenforceable… Another key part is called Enactment of the Compelled Sign Law …HB 1182, which would become the Compelled Sign Law, was introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly on February 10, 2021. The primary sponsor was Representative Tim Rudd. The bill passed in the House of Representatives on March 29, 2021, and passed in the Senate on April 29, 2021. HB 1182 was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on May 17, 2021… Part of this section reiterates what the Compelled Sign Law is, and the rules about it that businesses would be forced to follow. (I’ve got that in an earlier part of this blog post). …During a hearing on the Compelled Sign Law before the House Public Services Subcommittee, Representative Rudd stated that the bill as necessary to “protect [] women and children against” people who could “tak advantage of policies, executive orders, or legislation [] that [] allow the ‘opposite biological sex’ to enter a restroom, shower, or locker room.” Representative Rudd further stated that with “new … giving transgenders rights… I don’t want women… or children calling me next year how they have been raped or molested “. During a later hearing, Representative Rudd stated that the bill was suggested by a constituent at a fundraiser, and that the bill was necessary to respond to executive orders regarding rights for transgender people “coming out of Washington”. The Compelled Sign Law was enacted amid a flurry of hostile legislation targeting transgender people during the 2021 Tennessee legislative session. Including the Compelled Sign Law, Governor Lee signed a total of five bills into law that specifically single out transgender Tennesseans for various forms of discrimination. No other state has enacted so many bills targeting transgender people in a single legislative session. Other Tennessee legislation targeting transgender people adopted in 2021 includes laws (1) banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, (2) prohibiting transgender students from competing in sex-specific school sports based on their gender identity, (3) authorizing lawsuits against public schools when a student, teacher, or school employee encounters a “member of the opposite sex” in a shared school restroom or changing facility, and (4) requiring school districts to notify parents of any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity and allow them to opt their children out of such instruction. The legislative history of the Compelled Sign Law further demonstrates that, in addition to singling out transgender people for adverse treatment, the Compelled Sign Law was not enacted to address any real problem or actual public need… Impact of the Compelled Sign Law on Curb Records, the Mike Curb Foundation, and Businesses and Institutions that Support Fair and Equal Treatment of Transgender Persons …Both Curb Records and the Foundation have as core values anti-discrimination and respect for diversity. Both entities seek to promote equality and inclusion for all. This includes equal treatment of transgender persons. Both entities maintain a policy of nondiscrimination based on sex and transgender status with respect to their employees, customers, and visitors. The Compelled Sign Law stigmatizes transgender persons and encourages members of the public to view transgender persons as inferior or as a threat to their safety or privacy. It does so by requiring entities that allow transgender women to use the women’s restrooms and transgender men to use the men’s restrooms to post a false and misleading notice stating that persons of “either biological sex” are permitted to use such restrooms “regardless of the designation on the restroom”. The Compelled Sign Law also increases the risk that transgender persons will be subjected to violence, harassment, or discrimination; and seeks to deny transgender persons full and equal access to employment and educational opportunities and places open to the public. The Compelled Sign Law promotes the creation of a hostile climate for transgender individuals in public places including workplaces in Tennessee that maintain nondiscriminatory access to restrooms. It seeks to foster a culture of fear, hostility, and rejection of transgender people and to discourage businesses, schools and universities, government agencies, and other institutions to treat transgender employees, students, customers, and visitors in a fair and nondiscriminatory manner. Curb Records and the Foundation do not wish to convey that damaging and intolerant message to their employees, customers, visitors, or to the general public at large, and they do not wish for their facilities to be commandeered by the State to spread that message. The Compelled Sign Law interferes with Curb Records and the Foundation’s businesses and charitable interests and risks driving away customers and visitors that they want to attract by forcing them to convey a message that conflicts with their corporate values of inclusion, diversity, equality, and respect for all people… Here is what the plaintiffs are asking the Judge for: To declare the Compelled Sign Law violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, both facially and as applies to Plaintiffs, and may not be enforced by Defendants and/or any other Tennessee state and/or local official.Declaring that the Compelled Sign Law is preempted by federal law and therefore is void under the Supremacy Clause, U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2, and may not be enforced by Defendants and/or any other Tennessee state and/or local official.Declaring that the Compelled Sign law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, both facially and as applied to Plaintiffs, and may not be enforced by Defendants and/or any other Tennessee state and/or local official.Preliminarily and permanently enjoining enforcement of the Compelled Sign Law by Defendants; their officers, employees and agents; and all individuals under any Defendant’s supervision, direction, or control; and all persons acting in concert or participation with any Defendant.Awarding Plaintiffs their costs, expenses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees according to 42 U.S.C. 1988 and any other applicable laws; andGranting such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. On July 7, 2021, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (who are defending Curb Records, Inc. and Mike Curb Foundation), filed for a motion for preliminary injunction. It was sent to Chief Judge Crenshaw and Magistrate Judge Holmes. From the motion: Plaintiff’s Curb Records, Inc. (“Curb Records”) and Mike Curb Foundation (“the Foundation”) move this Court to preliminarily enjoin enforcement of Tennessee Public Chapter No. 453, which they refer to as the “Compelled Sign Law” or “the Law.”… The Law requires all businesses and other entities with restrooms open to the public with formal or informal policies that allow transgender people to use the restroom that accords with their identity to post a stigmatizing and demeaning warning sign stating: “NOTICE: THIS FACILITY MAINTAINS A POLICY OF ALLOWING THE USE OF RESTROOMS BY EITHER BIOLOGICAL SEX, REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGNATION ON THE RESTROOM.”… The Compelled Sign Law forces Plaintiff’s businesses to post highly visible red and yellow signs in conspicuous locations that express a message that is the opposite of the welcoming and inclusive message they wish to express to everyone, including to any transgender employees and customers… Instead, the law compels Curb Records and the Foundation to publicly endorse a climate of fear and non-acceptance of transgender people that contradicts the companies’ values. In doing so, the Compelled Sign Law violates settled First Amendment law and, unless enjoined, will cause Plaintiffs to suffer irreparable harm to their business interests and to their fundamental right not to be compelled by the government “to speak a particular message.”… …The Compelled Sign Law also puts Plaintiff Curb Records as an employer subject to Title VII in the position of being forced to violate federal law. Curb Records must comply with Title VII’s prohibition against discrimination against any transgender people… As such, Curb Records must, and does, permit any transgender workers to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity. But if Curb Records complies with the Law by posting required signage, it will violate Title VII by subjecting any transgender workers to disparate treatment and to a hostile work environment. Under settle law, when a state law conflicts with a federal law, as the Compelled Sign Law does here, federal law controls, and the state law may not be enforced… …Plaintiff Curb Records asks this Court to enjoin enforcement of the Compelled Sign Law to avoid the serious penalties that would result from its enforcement… …Defendants will suffer no injury from an injunction. An injunction will merely maintain the status quo. The state has no compelling interest in enforcing the Compelled Sign Law by requiring anyone, including Plaintiffs, to post misleading and discriminatory notices on the public restrooms of businesses… Here is Judge Aleta A. Trauger’s decision on the case filed by Tennessee’s ACLU: (on July 9, 2021) …The State of Tennessee has enacted a law ordering the plaintiffs to say something that they do not wish to say, in furtherance of a message they do not agree with. The plaintiffs challenge that law on the basis that the First Amendment typically does not permit such a mandate unless it is narrowly tailored to satisfy a compelling government purpose. Because the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their challenge to that law and because allowing the law to be enforced while this litigation proceeds would harm them irreparably, the court will grant a preliminary injunction against the law’s enforcement…. Here is another key part of the decision: …As the court has held, each of the factors guiding the decision to grant a preliminary injunction favors granting such an injunction here. The plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits; if they are not granted a preliminary injunction now, they will be harmed in a way that cannot be repaired; and requiring the State of Tennessee to abide by the U.S. Constitution, sooner rather than later, vindicates the public interest in rule by law and the acceptance by States, of constitutional government. The court, therefore, has little difficulty concluding that the preliminary injunction should issue… On July 9, 2021, NBC News posted an article titled: “Judge blocks Tennessee’s transgender bathroom sign law”. It was written by Jo Yurcaba. From the article: A federal judge blocked a Tennessee law that required businesses to post a notice if they allow transgender people to use bathrooms that match their gender identity.Two weeks ago, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of two business owners – who own Sanctuary, a performing arts and community center in Chattanooga, and Fido, a restaurant in Nashville, among other businesses – in an effort to block the law from taking effect July 1. Judge Aleta A. Trauger of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction against the law while litigation proceeds.“Restaurants and performing spaces are businesses, but that is not all they are; they are also among the most important physical locations in which communities – so often consigned, in this era, to electronic space – can gather and grow together in a manner rooted in a particular neighborhood, in a particular city, in a particular state,” Trauger wrote.“The plaintiffs have presented evidence that they have strived to be welcoming spaces for communities that include transgender individuals and that the signage required by the Act would disrupt the welcoming environments that they wish to provide,” Trauger continued. “That harm would be real, and it is not a harm that could simply be remedied by some award at the end of litigation.”……The suit is one of two filed against the law. The other was filed last week by Mike Curb, a Nashville record label owner, who is represented by GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders… This was a big win for one of the court cases that was challenging the “Compelled Sign Law”. The other case has not yet been granted an injunction. It is unclear to me whether or not the preliminary injunction can be applied to both cases. In a state like Tennessee, which has passed a multitude of laws that are harmful to people who are transgender – it is good to see a win against the “Compelled Sign Law”. Tennessee’s Bathroom Bill was Blocked is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Health Care Under Biden-Harris Administration – January 2021July 7, 2021health insurance / Out of SpoonsPhoto by René DeAnda on Unsplash The Biden-Harris Administration has been making it easier for people to receive the health care they need. This is a huge change from the Trump-Pence Administration, that greatly restricted access to health care. This blog post is a timeline that covers health care starting on Inauguration Day. It includes federal and state regulations and decisions about health care, and calls from health-related organizations for more to be done. It also includes some of the harmful decisions made by Republicans. January 20, 2021 – January 30, 2021 January 20, 2021: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Looks Forward to Working With the Biden-Harris Administration to Advance Reproductive Freedom”. From the press release: Today, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in – providing a critical opportunity to protect and expand reproductive freedom as we work to undo the damage the Trump administration has done to our fundamental rights. With the help of NARAL members and our organization’s largest-ever electoral program, voters turned out in historic numbers to make their voices heard and send President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to the White House, electing a ticket that has vowed to fight for reproductive freedom……As we turn the page on four years of unyielding attacks on our rights and freedoms we must remain vigilant as threats persist, working on the federal and state level to protect and expand reproductive freedom whenever possible. It’s critical that the Biden-Harris administration demonstrate its commitment to protecting and expanding access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare – including abortion care – and upholding sexual and reproductive rights in the United States and around the world by: Expanding access to reproductive healthcare by removing harmful and medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion care during COVID-19;Initiating a comprehensive FDA review of medication abortion – a safe, effective, FDA-approved option for ending an early pregnancy – so that people’s access to care reflects science, not politics;Rescinding Trump’s executive actions limiting access to care, including the dangerous global gag rule, the domestic gag rule and attacks on comprehensive coverage;Ensuring that the president’s budget advances reproductive freedom and excludes discriminatory restrictions on abortion coverage; andNominating and appointing judges and executive branch officials with positive records on reproductive freedom, health, rights, and justice. On the campaign trail, President-elect Biden outlined his commitment to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom by vowing to work to safeguard Roe v. Wade, only appoint judges who will respect Roe, support the repeal of racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment, and use executive action to protect and expand access to abortion and contraception, including reversing Trump’s global and domestic gag rules. The Biden-Harris administration heads the White House at a critical time in the fight for reproductive freedom. Thanks to the Trump administration stacking the court with judges hostile to reproductive freedom, our fundamental rights are in peril. Anti-choice politicians remain determined to criminalize abortion – putting the advancement of their political goals above the health and well-being of the American people. Just before Election Day, Donald Trump and Senate Republicans jammed through the confirmation of Amy Barrett, a judge with a record of hostility towards the legal right to abortion, to the Supreme Court.Barrett’s presence on the Court solidifies an anti-choice supermajority on the bench that could threaten our fundamental rights for decades. Dozens of cases that put Roe and access to abortion care at risk are making their way to the Supreme Court. Last week, Justice Barrett and the anti-choice majority on the bench once again demonstrated their hostility towards reproductive freedom when they ruled to reinstate a restriction forcing people to travel to a health center to access medication abortion during the still raging COVID-19 pandemic. January 20, 2021: President Biden issued a executive order titled: “Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing”. From the executive order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7902(c) of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of my Administration to halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by relying on the best available data and science-based public health measures. Such measures include wearing masks when around others, physical distancing, and other related precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Put simply, masks and other public health measures reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when communities make widespread use of such measures, and thus save lives.Accordingly, to protect the Federal workforce and individuals interacting with the Federal workforce, and to ensure the continuity of Government services and activities, on-duty on or-site Federal contractors, and other individuals in Federal buildings and on Federal lands should all wear masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in CDC guidelines.Sec. 2. Immediate Action Regarding Federal Employees, Contractors, Buildings, and Lands. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall immediately take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require compliance with CDC guidelines with respect to wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and other public health measures by: on-duty or on-site Federal employees; Federal contractors; and all persons in Federal buildings or on Federal lands.(b) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the Administrator of General Services, in coordination with the President’s Management Council and the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President (COVID-10 Response Coordinator), shall promptly issue guidance to assist heads of agencies with implementation of this section….Sec. 3. Encouraging Masking Across America. (a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), including through the Director of the CDC, shall engage, as appropriate, with State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials, as well as business, union, academic and other community leaders, regarding mask-wearing and other public health measures, with the goal of maximizing public compliance with, and addressing any obstacles to, mask-wearing and other public health best practices identified by CDC……Section 5. Federal Employee Testing. The Secretary of HHS through the Director of the CDC, shall promptly develop and submit to the COVID-19 Response Coordinator a testing plan for the Federal workforce. This plan shall be based on community transmission metrics and address the populations to be tested, testing types, frequency of testing, positive case protocols, and coordination with local public health authorities for contact tracing… January 20, 2021: American Medical Association (AMA) posted a press release titled: “AMA applauds Biden Administration on first-day executive actions”. From the press release: The American Medical Association (AMA) today applauded the Biden Administration’s first-day actions that tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, re-engage with the World Health Organization (WHO), and advance racial equity, among other policies. The executive orders, memoranda, and other actions are the first steps on issues critical to improving the health of the nation.Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic Launching a “100 Days Masking Challenge”Re-engaging with the WHOCoordinating a unified federal response to COVID-19 “Defeating COVID-19 requires bold, coordinated federal leadership and strong adherence to the public health steps we know stop the spread of this virus – wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and washing hands,” said AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD. “We are pleased by the Biden Administration’s steps today, including universal mask wearing within federal jurisdictions, providing federal leadership for COVID-19.”Rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change“Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement is a critical step to demonstrate American leadership in the prevention of the devastating health harms of climate change,” Dr. Bailey said. “Climate change has massive public health implications, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and the poor. We are encouraged by today’s action by the Biden Administration to rejoin the world community in this monumental global effort.”Immigration issues Rescinding the exclusion of undocumented aliens from the censusPreserving and fortifying the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programRescinding the immigration ban on Muslim countries “The AMA strongly opposed the previous administration’s efforts to rescind DACA and was part of the successful Supreme Court case overturning that decision,” said Dr. Bailey. “Today, thousands of Dreamers are working in, or training to join, health care professions and our country is in need of their services in the fight against COVID-19. Giving Dreamers certainty about their legal status is a critical step in the right direction by the Biden Administration. People with DACA status contribute to a diverse and culturally responsive physician workforce, which benefits all patients.”Prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation“The AMA believes that LGBTQ+ individuals must be protected from workplace discrimination in order to prevent negative health outcomes,” said Dr. Bailey. “We were proud to join 15 other leading health organizations in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the recent Title VII case, and we are encouraged by today’s action by the Biden Administration to ensure equality. The AMA supports access to quality, evidence-based health care for all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and we will continue to work diligently at all levels to expand access to health care, reduce stigma in treating patients with unique needs, and break down discriminatory barriers to care.” January 20, 2021: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – California) posted a press release titled: “Dear Colleague on President Biden’s Day One Executive Actions”. From the press release: Dear Democratic Colleague,Today, when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office, it was a breath of fresh air for our democracy, for American and for our future. Happily, today, Senator Chuck Schumer became the Majority Leader of the Senate.Now, our Democratic House Majority will work to deliver progress For the People – to honor Joe Biden’s promise that “Help is On the Way.” Working with the Biden-Harris Administration and the new Democratic Majority in the Senate, we will ensure that our nation will recover from the coronavirus and economic crisis. And we will Build Back Better in a way that will advance justice, equality and progress for all Americans.We must get to work immediately – which is why I am pleased to support President Biden’s Day One Executive Actions to meet the needs of the American people, which will start by addressing the coronavirus. These Executive Actions will: Crush the coronavirus: by launching a unified, all-of-government response to increase mask-wearing and other science-based steps to stop the virus’s spread. It also takes specific action to address the disproportionate impact on communities of color, while recognizing the importance of re-engaging with the international community.Deliver urgent economic relief: by extending moratoriums on evictions, foreclosures and student loan payments.Combat the climate crisis: by rejoining the historic Paris Climate Agreement and rolling back Trump’s special interest, dirty energy Executive Actions.Honor our nation’s diverse heritage: by protecting Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients, rescinding the Muslim ban and taking bold action to end anti-LGBTQ discrimination.Advance racial equality: by launching a whole-of-government initiative to promote racial equity… January 21, 2021: Center for Reproductive Rights posted a statement titled: “CEO Nancy Northup’s Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., as the 46th President of the United States”. From the statement: Today’s inauguration of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th president of the United States presents an urgent opportunity to put human needs and human rights at the center of a new U.S. domestic and foreign policy. It is also a barrier-breaking day, as Vice-President Kamala Harris becomes the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the office.The urgency of this moment is abundantly clear. People are suffering and dying of COVID-19, the U.S. economy is in turmoil, and armed insurrectionists bearing racist symbols stormed the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago. The opportunity is now to roll-back the harms of the past four years and move forward with the vision of reproductive rights for all. President Biden ran on a platform that embraced America’s diversity as its greatest strength, promised to address human rights wherever they are under threat, and committed to protect and advance reproductive health, rights, and justice.We urge President Biden to take quick and decisive action to reverse the Trump administration’s harmful policies and to move forward on this critical agenda. Specifically, we call on the new administration to: Promote the health and well-being of women and girls in U.S. foreign policy: Rescind the Global Gag Rule: This policy bans federal funding to international healthcare providers if they provide counsel or advocate for abortion access, even when they use a separate funding source to do so. Restore reporting on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the State Department’s annual country reports on human rights. Restore funding to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and rejoin and restore funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). UNFPA is the lead U.N. agency focused on sexual and reproductive health. The WHO coordinates high-impact research and sets global standards on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Stop wrongly implementing the Helms Amendment while pushing for its Congressional repeal: For nearly 50 years, the Helms Amendment barred U.S. foreign aid from being used for abortion services “as a method of family planning”. Prior administrations have wrongly treated this as a total ban on abortion care, even in cases of rape, incest, or the endangerment of life or health. Rescind Trump Era Regulations, including the Domestic Gag Rule, which prohibits clinics receiving Title X family planning funds from referring patients for abortion services, regulations that allow health care workers to deny reproductive health services and information, and regulations that allow employers and universities to deny contraceptive coverage to their employees and students. Promote reproductive health policies guided by science, not ideology: The FDA should take the same approach to allowing access to medication abortion by telemedicne, in line with its approach to other drugs. Support policies to end racial disparities in maternal health care by launching an interagency task force on maternal care, promoting expansion of Medicaid coverage to at least one year postpartum, and championing passage of the Black Maternal Health Momibus Act. In addition to taking these actions that are within the power of the executive branch, we also call on President Biden to champion legislation to address the abortion access crisis. Since 2011, states have enacted over 500 restrictions on abortion access. These come on top of policies that deny insurance coverage for abortion to those who receive their health insurance from the federal government, including Medicaid. Restrictions on abortion access and coverage have fallen disproportionately on Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people living on low incomes, and young people. Congress must address the abortion access crisis and long-standing injustice of the Hyde Amendment by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act and the EACH Woman Act.As the Biden administration combats the devastating coronavirus pandemic, it must also move forward to advance reproductive rights because the need for access to the full range of reproductive healthcare – including contraception, maternal health care, and abortion care – does not abate in a pandemic… January 21, 2021: The White House posted an executive order titled: “Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery”. From the executive order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to address the disproportionate and severe impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on communities of color and other underserved populations, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated severe and pervasive health and social inequities in America. For instance, people of color experience systemic and structural racism in many facets of our society and are more likely to become sick and die from COVID-19. The lack of complete data, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates, as well as underlying health and social vulnerabilities, has further hampered efforts to ensure an equitable pandemic response. Other communities, often obscured in the data, are also disproportionatley affected by COVID-19, including sexual and gender minority groups, those living with disabilities, and those living at the margins of our economy. Observed inequities in rural and Tribal communities, territories, and other geographically isolated communities require a place-based approach to data collection and the response. Despite increased State and local efforts to address these inequities, COVID-19’s disparate impact on communities of color and other underserved populations remain unrelenting.Addressing this devastating toll is both a moral imperative and pragmatic policy. it is impossible to change the course of the pandemic without tackling it in the hardest-hit communities. In order to identify and eliminate health and social inequities resulting in disproportionately higher rates of exposure, illness, and death, I am directing a Government-wide effort to address health equity. The Federal Government must take swift action to prevent and remedy differences in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved populations.Sec. 2 COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force (Task Force).(a) Membership. The Task Force shall consist of the Secretary of HHS; an individual designated by the by the Secretary of the HHS to Chair the Task Force (COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair); the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, or offices (agencies) as the Chair may invite, and up to 20 members from sectors outside the Federal Government appointed by the President……Mission and Work.(i) Consistent with applicable law and as soon as practicable, the Task Force shall provide specific recommendations to the President, through the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President (COVID-19 Response Coordinator), for mitigating the health inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and for preventing such inequities in the future…. January 21, 2021: The White House posted an executive order titled: “Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety”. From the executive order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. Ensuring the health and safety of workers is a national priority and a moral imperative. Healthcare workers and other essential workers, many of whom are people of color and immigrants, have put their lives on the line during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is the policy of my Administration to protect the health and safety of workers from COVID-19.The Federal Government must take swift action to reduce the risk that workers may contract COVID-19 in the workplace. That will require issuing science-based guidance to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure, including with respect to mask-wearing; partnering with State and local governments to better protect public employees; enforcing worker health and safety requirements; and pushing for additional resources to help employers protect employees.Section 2. Protecting Workers from COVID-19 Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, in furtherance of the policy described in section 1 of this order and consistent with applicable law, shall:(a) issue, within 2 weeks of the date of this order and in conjunction or consultation with the heads of any other appropriate executive departments and agencies (agencies), revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic;(b) consider whether any emergency temporary standards on COVID-19, including with respect to masks in the workplace, are necessary, and if such standards are determined to be necessary, issue them by March 15, 2021;(c) review the enforcement efforts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) related to COVID-19 and identify any short-, medium-, and long-term changes that could be made to better protect workers and ensure equity in enforcement;(d) launch a national program to focus OSHA enforcement efforts related to COVID-19 on violations that put the largest number of workers at serious risk or are contrary to anti-retaliation principles; and(e) coordinate with the Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs and Office of Public Engagement and all regional OSHA offices to conduct, consistent with applicable law, a multilingual outreach campaign to inform workers and their representatives of their rights under applicable law. This campaign shall include engagement with labor unions, community organizations, and industries, and place a special emphasis on communities hit hardest by the pandemic.Sec. 3. Protecting Other Categories of Workers from COVID-19. (a) The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health consistent with applicable law, shall:(i) coordinate with States that have occupational safety and health plans approved under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act) (29. U.S.C. 667) to seek to ensure that workers covered by such plans are adequately protected from COVID-19, consistent with any revised guidance or emergency temporary standards by OSHA; and(ii) in States that do not have such plans, consult with State and local government entities with responsibility for public employee safety and health and with public employee unions to bolster protection from COVID-19 for public sector workers.(b) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall, consistent with applicable law, explore mechanisms to protect workers not protected under the Act so that they remain healthy and safe on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, shall consider whether any emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 applicable to coal and metal or non-metal mines are necessary, and if such standards are determined to be necessary and consistent with applicable law, issue them as soon as practicable… January 21, 2021: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center For Children and Families posted a blog titled: “The Tennessee Waiver: Block Grant, Aggregate Cap, or Windfall?” It was written by Andy Schnieder and Allexa Gardner. From the blog post: …Since its enactment in 1965, Medicaid has guaranteed federal funding to participating states for the costs of health and long-term care services to low-income children, adults, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly. State spending on covered services for eligible individuals is matches by the federal government on an open-ended basis at an average rate of 65 percent. The more that states have to spend in order to meet the needs of their low-income residents, the more the federal government will match those state expenditures. This open-ended matching is particularly important during times of natural disasters or public health emergencies (think pandemic). Of course, if there is no state spending, then by definition there is no federal matching.TennCare III jettisons this arrangement……The federal government will continue to match Tennessee’s Medicaid spending at its regular matching rate but only up to a fixed amount each year, for each of the next 10 years. That amount – let’s call it a cap – can be adjusted up (or down) if enrollment grows (or declines) more than 1 percent. The per enrollee spending amounts used to make this adjustment grow at a generous rate of over 5 percent annually for the first five years; after that, both the caps and the adjustment amounts will be renegotiated, creating significant uncertainty for state policymakers, providers, and beneficiaries.Capping federal Medicaid spending had been former Administrator Verma’s North Star. Early in her tenure, she set forth her vision in a speech to state Medicaid directors. She strongly supported the Trump Administration’s 2017 effort to enact a Medicaid cap, which fell short of Senate passage by one vote. Having failed to change the Medicaid statute through the legislative process, former Administrator Verma had been trying since early 2018 to rewrite it by Executive Branch fiat, her calls for humility in government to the contrary notwithstanding. In Tennessee, she finally found a willing partner……The former Administrator’s ideological fixation on capping Medicaid spending is crystal clear. But why would a state with among the highest rates of uninsurance and rural hospital closures in the nation decide to let the federal government dump the risk of increases in health and long-term care costs in the middle of a pandemic – much less lock itself into a a 10-year limit on federal funds knowing that medical care inflation is completely unconstrained?In a nutshell: free federal finds. Under the demonstration, if Tennessee spends less during a year than the cap for that year, it gets to keep 55 percent of the federal share of “savings” – without spending a dime of its own money……Medicaid is a federal-state matching program. If a state spends its own funds on behalf of an eligible individual for a covered service, the federal government matches that expenditure. But there has to be a state expenditure. If a state doesn’t spend money purchasing covered services on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries, the federal government doesn’t pay any matching funds. Both the state and the federal government save, in proportion to their regular federal-state shares. Under TennCare III, the state will be able to draw down federal matching dollars even though it has not made an expenditure of its own funds……There is, of course, a legal way to improve the health of low-income Tennesseans and their communities. It’s called Medicaid expansion. And it comes with a statutory 90 percent federal matching rate, considerably more generous than Tennessee’s regular 66 percent matching rate. If Tennessee took up Medicaid expansion, there would be less need to refinance Community and Faith-based clinics for the uninsured, because there would be 260,000 fewer uninsured Tennesseans. January 22, 2021: The White House posted a statement titled: “Statement from President Biden and Vice President Harris on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade”. From the statement: Today marks the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade.In the past four years, reproductive health, including the right to choose, has been under relentless and extreme attack. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone has access to care – including reproductive care – regardless of income, race, zip code, health insurance status, or immigration status. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and appointing judges that respect foundational precedents like Roe. We are also committed to ensuring that we work to eliminate maternal and infant health disparities, increase access to contraception, and support families economically so that all parents can raise their families with dignity. This commitment extends to our critical work on health outcomes around the world. As the Biden-Harris Administration begins in this critical moment, now is the time to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that all individuals have access to the health care they need. January 22, 2021: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “Planned Parenthood Celebrates 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Calls for Further Action”. From the press release: Today, on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood Federation of America commemorates this important milestone and calls for robust action to protect and expand abortion access nationwide. Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:Today marks 48 years since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which established the legal right to an abortion. Yet, nearly half a century later, abortion is a right in name only for millions of people across the country. As reproductive justice organizations have said for years, Roe is the floor, not the ceiling. Without access to abortion, this right is meaningless. Now is the time for President Biden and our elected officials in states across the country to take necessary and immediate action to ensure that everyone, no matter their race, income, or ZIP code, has access to safe and legal abortion… January 22, 2021: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Releases Statement on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade”. From the press release: On the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:“We celebrate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade at a pivotal moment in the fight for reproductive freedom. The landmark decision and the legal right to abortion are on the line like never before, thanks to the efforts of anti-choice state lawmakers trying to chip away at abortion access at every turn, and Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell’s work to stack the court with judges hostile to our fundamental rights.We must work together to ensure that reproductive freedom is a reality for every body – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. For 48 years, Roe has been a vital part of keeping us on the path to realizing this vision for our future.The Biden-Harris administration embodies a new and welcome era of leadership – one that has committed to taking bold action to safeguard reproductive freedom and connected reproductive rights to the fight for justice and equity. As we work to undo the damage done by Trump and anti-choice politicians, we must carry the guiding principle that Roe is the floor, not the ceiling for the vision we espouse for this country. Fighting to ensure abortion remains legal is critical, but it is only the tip of the iceberg.NARAL and our more than 2.5 million members across the country will not stop fighting until every body is free to make their own decisions about pregnancy and parenting, free from political interference.”Any day, the Supreme Court could decide to review a case on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which directly challenges Roe v. Wade and violates nearly 50 years of Supreme Court precedent. If Roe fell tomorrow, 24 states would likely take action to prohibit abortion outright. Ten states already have “trigger bans” in place, which would ban abortion immediately if Roe is overturned. If Roe is rolled back and states are able to ban abortion, the consequences would be devastating. Scenarios about punishing and interrogating pregnant people and healthcare providers aren’t far fetched – they’re already happening. Pregnant people across the country are already charged or prosecuted for experiencing pregnancy loss, for struggling with substance use during pregnancy, for self-managing abortion care, or even a suspicion of it. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); those in rural areas; and those with low incomes are disproportionately the focus of these cruel overreaches.Despite the anti-choice movement’s relentless efforts to overturn Roe and criminalize abortion, they are widely out of touch with the values of the majority. Across the United States, the vast majority of people believe that abortion should be legal. Polling shows that 77% of Americans support Roe, and there is no state in the country where banning abortion is popular. January 22, 2021: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a news release titled: “ACOG Statement on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade”. From the news release: The following is a quote from Eva Chalas, MD, FACOG, FACS, President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):“Forty-eight years ago this week, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. As we reflect on the anniversary of this historic case, it is also imperative to reflect on the future. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the availability of high-quality reproductive health services for all patients. Today and every day, ACOG reaffirms our commitment to ensuring our members can practice evidence-based medicine free from political interference, intimidation, and threat of criminal penalties, and that their patients can access the full range of essential reproductive health care.” January 22, 2021: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – California) posted a press release titled: “Pelosi Statement on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade”. From the press release: Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement marking the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade:“For 48 years, Roe v. Wade has been a cornerstone of health and equal rights for all American women. This landmark decision protects a woman’s fundamental right to make her own reproductive health decisions.“Nearly half a century later, Roe v. Wade is settled law. Yet, due to relentless Republican attacks in states across the country, it is hanging on by a thread, threatening to drag American women back to a dark, dangerous and deadly past. These harmful attacks challenge our nation’s bedrock values and significantly undermine women’s health and economic security, particularly women of color and those in low-income communities. But with the tireless voices and activism of women across the country, these Republican efforts must continue to fail.“Our new, unified Democratic government will continue working to strengthen women’s comprehensive health care, to reduce unintended pregnancies, to lower maternal and infant mortality and to safeguard every woman’s personal right to decide when and how to start a family. On this anniversary, we renew our commitment to build on the legacy of Roe v. Wade so that we can protect a woman’s right to choose and defend women’s hard-won freedoms, now and always.” January 22, 2021: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled: “Vaccination Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten – United States, 2019-20 School Year”. From the summary of the report: What is already known about this topic?State immunization programs conduct annual kindergarten vaccination assessments to monitor school-entry vaccination coverage with all state-required vaccines.What is added by this report? For the 2019-20 school year, national coverage was approximately 95% for diptheria and tetanus toxiods, and acellular pertussis; measles, mumps and rubella; and varicella vaccines. The national exemption rate remained low at 2.5%What are the implications for public health practice?Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to reduce vaccination coverage in the 2020-2021 school year. Increased follow-up of undervaccinated students is needed from schools and immunization programs to maintain the high vaccination coverage necessary to protect students in preparation for schools returning to in-person learning. January 22, 2021: National Women’s Law Center posted a resource titled: “The Equality Act of 2021: Expanding Antidiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ People and Women”. From the resource: While the Supreme Court’s marriage decision in 2015 and workplace rights decision in 2020 expanded explicit protections for LGBTQ people, there is still much to be done to ensure equal treatment under the law. Federal law and the majority of states lack explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in housing, at school, and elsewhere, leaving many open to discrimination.The Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other key federal nondiscrimination laws to provide clear, explicit protections clarifying that the prohibitions against sex discrimination include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These protections would apply in the context of housing, public accommodations, credit, federally funded programs (including education), and federal jury service. In line with the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock, the Equality Act would make clear that discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in all of these settings is unlawful.The protections the Equality Act would provide are vital for LGBTQ individuals across many areas of their lives. For example, 8% of LGBTQ individuals and 29% of transgender individuals reported that healthcare professionals refused to see them based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Further, nearly one quarter of transgender respondents said they did not seek necessary healthcare for fear they would be mistreated based on their trans identity.As a further example, transgender women of color also face pervasive housing discrimination – with 31% of Black transgender women and 27% of Native transgender women reporting being denied a home or apartment in the past year because they were transgender.The Equality Act would also close longstanding gaps in federal law and for the first time prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in public spaces, services, and all federally funded activities, providing important new legal protections for women and LGBTQ individuals. Finally, the Act would expand the scope of what kinds of entities count as a place of public accommodation, thereby creating new protected entities including race and national origin. January 24, 2021: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families posted a blog titled: “Biden Administration Promises Predictability on Future Extensions of the Public Health Emergency”. It was written by Tricia Brooks. From the blog: In a recent letter to Governors, Acting Health and Human Services Secretary Norris Cochran signaled that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) “will likely remain in place for the entirety of 2021.” Moreover, the letter assures states that when a determination is made to terminate the PHE or let it expire. HHS will provide states with 60 days’ notice. By law, a PHE is limited to a 90-day period but it can be terminated early or extended. The Biden Administration’s announcement is a big deal because our nation’s public health response to the pandemic, as well as efforts to support families and shore up the economy, are inextricably linked to PHE.Enhanced federal funding for Medicaid would continue through March 2022.For state budgets, the announcement provides greater certainty of the 6.2 percentage point increase in the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) until the end of the quarter in which the PHE expires or is terminated. If extended through the entirety of 2021, the earliest the PHE would expire would be January 16, 2022, meaning states can count on the FMAP bump through March 2022 (three-quarters of most states’ fiscal years.)Continuous enrollment in Medicaid would continue through January 2022.To claim the enhanced match, states must continue to meet the conditions of the maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions in the Family First Coronavirus Response Act. Importantly, the MOE protects Medicaid enrollees with continuous coverage until the end of the PHE and prohibits states from rolling back eligibility or imposing new administrative barriers to enrollment. Initially, HHS issued guidance in the form of FAQs that also disallowed states from reducing benefits or increasing cost-sharing. But those protections were shattered when HHS rammed through an interim final rule in early November, reversing aspects of its prior guidance without going through the rulemaking process that incorporates public comment before finalizing a new regulation… January 25, 2021: President Biden posted a Presidential Action titled: “Executive Order on Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform”. From the Presidential Action: By the authority vested in me as President of the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. All Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States (“Armed Forces”) should be able to serve. The All-Volunteer Force thrives when it is composed of diverse Americans who can meet the rigorous standards for military service, and an inclusive military strengthens our national security.It is my conviction as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces that gender identity should not be a bar to military service. Moreover, there is substantial evidence that allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military does not have any meaningful negative impact on the Armed Forces. To that end, in 2016, a meticulous, comprehensive study requested by the Department of Defense found that enabling transgender individuals to serve openly in the United States military would have only a minimal impact of military readiness and healthcare costs. The study also concluded that open transgender service has had no significant impact on operational effectiveness or unit cohesion in foreign militaries.On the basis of this information, the Secretary of Defense concluded in 2016 that permitting transgender individuals to serve openly in the military was consistent with military readiness and with strength through diversity, such that transgender service members who could meet the required standards and procedures should be permitted to serve openly. The Secretary of Defense also concluded that it was appropriate to create a process that would enable service members to take steps to transition gender while serving.The previous administration chose to alter that policy to bar transgender persons, in almost all circumstances, from joining the Armed Forces and from being able to take steps to transition gender while serving. Rather than relying on the comprehensive study by a nonpartisan federally funded research center, the previous administration relied on a review that resulted in a policy that set unnecessary barriers to military service. It is my judgment that the Secretary of Defense’s 2016 conclusions remain valid, as further demonstrated by the fact that, in 2018, then-service Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corp, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force all testified publicly to the Congress that they were not aware of any issues of unit cohesion, disciplinary problems, or issues of morale resulting from open transgender service. A group of former Unites States Surgeons General, who collectively served under Democratic and Republican Presidents, echoed this point, stating in 2018 that “transgender troops are medically fit as their non-transgender peers and that there is no medically valid reason – including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria – to exclude them from military service or to limit their access to medically necessary care.”Therefore, it shall be the policy of the United States to ensure that all transgender individuals who wish to serve in the United States military and can meet the appropriate standards shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination.Sec. 2. Revocation. The Presidential Memorandum of March 23, 2018 (Military Service by Transgender Individuals), is hereby revoked, and the Presidential Memorandum of August 25, 2017 (Military Service by Transgender Individuals), remains revoked… January 25, 2021: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi posted a press release titled: “Pelosi Statement on President Biden Executive Order Reversing Trump Transgender Service Ban”. From the press release: Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on President Biden’s Executive Order directing agencies to reverse the Trump transgender military ban and immediately prohibit involuntary separations, discharges and denials of reenlistment or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity or under circumstances relating to gender identity:“Today is a day of great hope and progress for thousands of heroes in our military and indeed for our entire country, as the Trump transgender ban is thrown into the trashbin of history. Led by President Biden, America is restoring our proud pledge: that no one with the strength and bravery to serve in the U.S. military should be turned away because of who they are.“The Trump ban was a cruel and arbitrary decision designed to humiliate transgender Americans who have stepped forward to serve our country. The Biden-Harris Administration and Democratic Congress will continue to reverse this and other discriminatory actions that weaken our military readiness and betray our core American values.“Democrats’ defense strategy will be dictated by the priorities of security, stability, peace and American values – not the hate and prejudice that defined the Trump presidency.” January 26, 2021: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) posted an article titled: “How Quickly We Need To Ramp Up Vaccinations To Get To Herd Immunity”. It was written by Drew Altman. From the article: The country needs to ramp up vaccinations rapidly if we are to reach herd immunity by, say, July 4th our Independence Day, Labor Day, or even by the beginning of next year.Some basic math and assumptions paint the picture:We need to average 2.4 million doses a day starting now to reach the point where 70% of the population is vaccinated by July 4th (assuming two doses needed per person), There are many estimates out there of what’s needed for herd immunity, and that’s probably the bare minimum. It’s also harder than it sounds, because kids aren’t being vaccinated right now, so we need to reach the vast majority of adults, which means overcoming hesitancy where it exists.It’s 1.9 million doses to reach it by Labor Day.And 1.2 million doses per day if we achieve the goal by January 1, 2022……Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1.6 million vaccinations were given across the U.S. and yesterday the Biden administration revised its goal to 1.5 million shots per day for the first 100 days. If the administration uses that time to begin putting measures in place such as mobile vaccination clinics, mass vaccination sites, more pharmacy-based vaccination and other steps described in the Biden strategy to replace the current broken vaccination non-system with one that works, it seems reasonable to expect a ramp up in the numbers of shots in arms after that. Increasing to two three milion vaccinations per day by late Spring or early Summer seems doable….…the limited factor may be the supply of vaccine. That too seems somewhat hopeful with J+J/Jansen and then others from AstraZeneca and Novavax expected to come on line. And, the J&J vaccine is expected to be a single dose rather than two, so it would mean fewer overall doses are needed. Still, the biggest mystery remains what the supply of vaccine is expected to be and when new approved vaccines will be ready, even if everything breaks favorably. January 26, 2021: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “New Planned Parenthood Issue Brief Examines Social Health Needs Among Women of Reproductive Age”. From the press release: Today, as the Biden-Harris administration announced “bold and ambitious steps to root out inequity,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America published “What About Her? – Assessing Social Determinants of Health Among Women of Reproductive Age,” an issue brief focused on the unique ways that women of reproductive age are affected by the social determinants of health (SDOH), those conditions of the environments in which people live, play, work, and age that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes……The brief’s key finding is that women of reproductive age report being very or somewhat comfortable discussing their SDOH-related needs within the health care setting, including with a primary care physician (PCP), a general practitioner, or a Planned Parenthood provider. In fact, women are just as comfortable discussing SDOH-related needs with a Planned Parenthood provider as discussing needs with a PCP or other general care provider……Notably, the “What About Her? brief found that two populations report greater comfort in discussing their SDOH-related needs with a Planned Parenthood provider: Women of color, as compared to white women; andWomen with lower annual incomes, as compared to women with higher annual incomes. This is particularly true among women of reproductive age with annual incomes of less than $25,000 per year… …Other important findings highlighted in the brief are: More than two-thirds of women of reproductive age say it is very or somewhat hard to pay for the very basics, such as food, medical care, housing, and heating. While the types of social needs among women of reproductive age varies, the most commonly reported areas of need for assistance are: Having enough food for themselves or their family (23 percent); Utilities (17 percent); Transportation (17 percent); Employment or help finding a job (15 percent); Childcare (12 percent); and Housing/having a steady place to live (8 percent). Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women of reproductive age are more likely to report needing SDOH-related support in many areas: Black women of reproductive age report the highest need for SDOH support in all surveyed areas except for intimate partner violence (IPV), where non-Hispanic white women report the highest rate of need for support. Asian/Pacific Islander women of reproductive age report lower need for support with childcare and utilities, and are more likely than other women of color to report support needs related to IPV… January 26, 2021: The White House posted a Fact Sheet titled: “Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces New Steps to Boost Vaccine Supply and Increase Transparency for States, Tribes, and Territories”. From the Fact Sheet: Administration to Purchase Additional 200 Million Doses to Be Delivered This SummerJust over a year since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the United States, the nation has hit another grim milestone in the pandemic, reaching 25 million infections and counting. The pace in which this virus has spread throughout the U.S. is staggering and with new variants emerging, the spread is not slowing any time soon. That’s why it is critical that we vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.President Biden has a comprehensive National Action Strategy to put the pandemic behind us and he and the COVID-19 response team are aggressively implementing it. Today, the President is announcing bold steps that will help meet the goal of administering 100 million shots in 100 days and ramp up vaccine supply as fast as possible. As a result of these actions, the federal government will have enough vaccine supply for the entire U.S. population by the end of the summer.The President is taking the following actions today: An Increase in Weekly Vaccine Supply to States, Tribes, and Territories: The Biden-Harris Administration will increase overall, weekly vaccine supply to states, Tribes and territories from 8.6 million doses to a minimum of 10 million doses. This increase of 1.4 million doses per week will allow millions more Americans to get vaccinated sooner than previously anticipated. The Administration is committing to maintaining this as the minimum supply level for the next three weeks. Increased transparency for States, Tribes, and Territories to Help Their Vaccination Efforts: The Biden-Harris Administration is taking action to provide states, Tribes and territories with a reliable three-week supply look-ahead. The Department of Health and Human Services will provide will provide allocation estimates for the upcoming three weeks as opposed to the one week look-ahead that they previously received. This increased transparency will give and local leaders greater certainty around the supply so that they can plan their vaccination efforts and administer vaccines effectively and efficiently. Purchase 200 Million Additional Doses to be Delivered This Summer, Double the Nation’s Vaccine Supply: President Biden directed his COVID-19 Response Coordinator to work with HHS to increase our total vaccine supply for the American people. The Biden-Harris Administration is working to purchase an additional 100 million doses of each of the two Food and Drug Administration-authorized vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna. This increases the total vaccine order for the U.S. by 50%, from 400 million to 600 million with these additional doses expected to deliver this summer. With these additional doses, the U.S. will have enough vaccine to fully vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of this summer. January 27, 2021: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) posted news titled: “Vaccine Monitor: Nearly half of the Public Wants to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine as Soon as They Can or Has Already Been Vaccinated, Up across Racial and Ethnic Groups Since December”. From the news: Most Convincing Messages to Promote Vaccination Highlight Effectiveness at Preventing Illness and a Return to Normal Life; Hearing about Rare Allergic Reactions and Side Effects May Discourage Some.New KFF Dashboard Features Key Data and Insights from the Vaccine MonitorWith millions of Americans getting their first COVID-19 vaccinations, the public’s eagerness to get a vaccine is rising across racial and ethnic groups, though Republicans and rural residents remain the most reluctant groups, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor reports.Based on a survey fielded just before President Biden took office, the latest Monitor report shows nearly half (47%) of the public want to get the vaccine as soon as they can or have already been vaccinated. That is significantly higher than the third (34%) of the public in the most-eager “as soon as possible” category in December.An additional 31% say they want to “wait until it has been available for a while to see how it is working for others” before getting it themselves. One in five (20%) are more reluctant to get vaccinated, including 7% who say they will only get the vaccine “if required to do so for work, school, or other activities,” and 13% who say they will “definitely not” get it.The share who have already been or want to get vaccinated “as soon as possible” is up among Black, Hispanic, and White adults, though White (53%) adults remain more likely than Black (35%) and Hispanic (42%) adults to say so. Black (43%) and Hispanic (37%) adults are more likely than White adults (26%) to say they want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated.Similarly, there has been a shift toward greater enthusiasm for getting vaccinated across urban, suburban, and rural areas, though rural residents remain most hesitant. Democrats and Independents also show increased enthusiasm, though Republicans’ views are little changed since December.The Monitor shows that Republican and rural residents are now the groups most likely to say they either definitely won’t get a vaccine or would only do so if required……About a third (32%) of health care workers – a priority group for getting vaccinated – say they have gotten at least their first dose of a vaccine, and a quarter (26%) want to get it as soon as possible. Another quarter (28%) want to wait and see before getting vaccinated, while small shares say they would only get it if required (5%) or definitely wont get it (36%)……Nearly half (47%) of the public now say that they have personally received at least one vaccine dose or know someone who has, though these experiences aren’t spread out evenly across groups. White adults (51%) are more likely than those who are Black (38%) or Hispanic (37%) to have either been vaccinated or know someone who has, and those with annual household incomes of at least $90,000 are almost twice as likely as those with incomes under $40,000 to say so (65% vs. 33%)……A third (34%) of those who have not yet been vaccinated have heard one of three inaccurate claims about the vaccine and either believe the misinformation or aren’t sure if it is true. For example, nearly one in five (19%) say that they have heard that the vaccine includes live COVID-19 virus and believe that it is true (8%) or that they heard that and aren’t sure if its true (11%). Small shares report the same about the vaccine causing infertility (3% believe, 9% aren’t sure) and about having to pay out-of-pocket to get the vaccine (4% believe, 8% aren’t sure)… January 27, 2021: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “100 Organizations Call for Swift Expansion of Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice by Biden Administration in Ad Published in Washington Post”. From the press release: Today, the Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, representing more than 199 bold, progressive organizations, published a full-page ad in the Washington Post highlighting top priorities for the Biden-Harris administration to swiftly expand access to sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. The ad highlights actions from the Blueprint First Priorities, which are among the most pressing needs to improve reproductive health, rights, and justice – including abortion access – in the U.S. and around the world… The Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice includes the following information: 1 On day one, the president must issue an executive order unequivocally stating his commitment to protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care, uphold sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion care, in the U.S. and around the world, and rescind or revoke prior executive actions limiting access to care. This executive order must: Clearly and explicitly state that the president is committed to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion; that everyone should be able to decide for themselves when, whether and how to start their families, the right to raise their families in a safe and healthy environment, free from government interference; that politicians have interfered with personal decision-making and bodily autonomy by passing harmful laws and regulations that restrict access to care both domestically and around the world; that these policies restriction access to care have fallen hardest on Black people, Indigenous people, and many more people of color; and that no one should be denied access to comprehensive reproductive health care; including abortion, because of how much money they make, where they live, the source of their insurance or health care, or the religious or personal beliefs of others; Revoke the January 23, 2017 Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Mexico City Policy and clarify what is permitted under current law to ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including foreign assistance for abortion, to the maximum extent allowed; Rescind Executive Order 13535 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Consistency with Longstanding Restrictions on the use of Federal Funds for Abortion; Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to lift the FDA’s in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone for the duration of the public health emergency, consistent with similar directives and waivers issued to reduce risk of COVID-19; and Direct all executive departments and agencies to rescind other harmful policies and regulations, and take proactive steps to protect care, including but not limited to those actions listed under sections 5 and 6. 2 Upon assuming office, the president must make a public statement that the U.S. will re-engage on a global scale to advance the health and rights of individuals worldwide, and take action to re-engage fully with the United Nations, including re-joining and re-funding the World Health Organization, and re-funding the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. 3 As a budget is a reflection of priorities, the president’s budget must demonstrate a commitment to sexual and reproductive health; That includes investing in the following domestic and international programs at the designated amounts: At least $1.66 billion for global family planning and reproductive health programs, including $111 million for UNFPA; Significant increased investments in the International Organizations and Programs account, and to vital global health programs, including for maternal, newborn, and child health, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (at least $5.5 billion), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (at least $1.56 billion), USAID HIV programs (at least $350 million); At least double the National Institutes of Health and United States Agency for International Development funding available for the research and development of contraceptives and multipurpose prevention technologies; $100 million to restore navigator funds and marketing funds to promote open enrollment, and remove anti-abortion language and policies from navigator program notices of funding opportunity; $150 million for the Teen Pregnancy Program; $150 million for the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP); $954 million for the Title X Family Planning Program; $850 million for the Title V Maternal & Child Health Services Block Grant $100 million for the CDC Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Initiative; and $100 million for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Initiative. End the Hyde Amendment and related restrictions, and ensure that everyone has abortion coverage, regardless of their income or source of insurance, and commit to veto legislation that extends, reiterates, or incorporates the Hyde Amendment and related restrictions, including annual appropriations bills; Eliminate the Weldon Amendment and commit to veto legislation that would expand it or make it permanent; Remove the Helms Amendment and commit to veto legislation that extends, reiterates, or incorporates the Helms Amendment; Modify the Siljander Amendment to prohibit the use of U.S. funds to lobby against abortion; Remove the Kemp-Kasten Amendment and replace it with a blanket prohibition on U.S. funding going to coercive activities in U.S. foreign assistance, in line with the ICPD; Eliminate unnecessary restrictions on the U.S. contribution to UNFPA, including the requirement to segregate the U.S. contribution, such that none of the U.S. contribution may be used for abortion, none of the U.S. contribution may be used in China, and the dollar-for-dollar withholding for any funding UNFPA provides to China; Eliminate the Livingston Amendment, which allows organizations that receive certain government grants to refuse to offer the full range of contraception based on their religious objections; Eliminate all funding for abstinence-only until marriage programs, including the Title V “Sexual Risk Avoidance Education” program. 4 As personnel is also a reflection of priorities, the president must nominate and appoint individuals for executive branch positions who are experts in their field, committed to the core mission of the agency, and possess a positive record on reproductive health, rights, and justice, and who will contribute to the diversity of the executive branch. 5 Upon assuming office, the president must immediately halt all non-final regulations that will limit access to reproductive health care, including abortion. Further, within forty-five days of assuming office, the administration must initiate the process of rescinding regulations below (including designating them in the respective agency unified agendas as being in the pipeline for repeal): Compliance with Statutory Program Integrity Requirements, otherwise known as the “Domestic Gag Rule,” decimating the evidence-based and historically bipartisan Title X family planning program, which previously served nearly 4 million people, the vast majority of whom (80%) have low or no incomes. Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventative Services Under the Affordable Care Act and Moral Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventative Services under the Affordable Care Act, allowing virtually any employer or university to deny coverage for contraception in a drastic departure from previous regulations that ensured 61.4 million had coverage; Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs and Activities, Delegation of Authority, revising the regulations for the Section 1557 Health Care Rift Law to undermine the statute’s protections, including by providing a narrow interpretation of “sex discrimination” that excludes people from protections and that is in direct conflict with the recent Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v Clayton County; Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care, Delegation of Authority, otherwise known as the “Refusal of Care Rule,” unlawfully and dramatically expanding existing refusal laws to encourage heath care workers to deny care and information; the rule was vacated by several federal district courts in late 2019 and is currently on appeal in the 2nd and 9th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals; Inadmissibility Based on Public Charge Grounds expanding and weaponizing the concept of “public charge” to discourage immigrants from accessing basic services and public programs; Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Program, excluding DACA recipients from benefits under the ACA, including tax credits, cost sharing, and the marketplaces; and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Exchange Program Integrity, imposing onerous and arbitrary requirements on insurance issuers that offer health plans that include abortion coverage on the ACA marketplace. 6 Within 90 days of assuming office, the president must institute the following changes in policy and practice including, where appropriate, issuing guidance: The FDA must review the REMS for mifepristone to determine whether a REMS remains necessary, or whether the goals and elements should be modified or removed from the approved strategy to best reflect scientific evidence and real-world use; The Department of Health and Human Services must protect patients’ choice of reproductive health care provider, in part by reinstating 2016 guidance reaffirming Medicaid’s free choice of provider provisions, and ensuring that states may not exclude qualified providers of reproductive health care from Medicaid for reasons unrelated to their qualifications, including their provision of abortion care; The Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on 1332 wavers aimed at improving access to health benefits and services. The guidance should be designed to encourage states to expand coverage for new populations (such as DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants) and to add benefit, and should affirm that waiver applications that do not comply with the four statutory guardrails of comparable services, affordability, number of people covered, and deficit neutrality will be denied; The administration must use every mechanism at its disposal to encourage states to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage to at least 12 months postpartum, including by issuing guidance, while ensuring continued Maintenance of Effort (MOE); As part of a broader overhaul of the immigration detention system, including closure of all family detention centers and a significant reduction in detention overall, the Department of Homeland Security must issue a directive immediately prohibiting ICE and CBP from detaining any person during pregnancy or postpartum recovery, and medically vulnerable person, or a primary caregiver of a child, and requiring immediate release from detention of any person found to be pregnant or medically vulnerable; The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) must rescind a 2008 policy that requires ORR involvement in abortions and issue new guidance to ensure that all care facilities provide minors with timely, confidential access to family planning services, including pregnancy tests and comprehensive, non-directive information about and access to reproductive health services, such as abortion and contraception, including emergency contraception. It must also protect minors’ confidentiality and ensure their timely access to courts to seek judicial authorization for abortion, if needed; The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must issue guidance to state Medicaid programs that federal law does not mandate the use of Explanation of Benefits and initiate a public and private stakeholder effort to develop additional recommendations and guidance to balance the need for consumer protections with the need for confidentiality, especially when it comes to sensitive health services; Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator must make it clear that PEPFAR funds can be used to pay for contraceptive commodities to ensure individuals living with and at risk for HIV have access to a full range of voluntary contraception options and to make the promise of integrated HIV and family planning services a reality for countless more adolescent girls and young women; The State Department must champion sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in UN meetings and multilateral forums, including by adopting and advancing comprehensive definitions of SRHR and comprehensive sex education, promoting the inclusion of diverse civil society experts in multilateral forums and on official U.S. delegations, ensuring participants from around the world are granted visas to engage in convenings at UN headquarters, the Organization of American States, World Bank and other multilateral institutions located in the U.S., and prioritizing participating and serving on the Executive Board of UN Specialized Agencies related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including WHO, and encouraging the expansion of their programs and policies globally; The administration must establish an Interagency Taskforce and issue regulations to encourage the development of a culture of equity, dignity, respect, and empowerment in health care systems, whereby accountability mechanisms are encouraged and implemented across systems to address discriminatory care, disrespect, mistreatment, and abuse of pregnant individuals based on race, age, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), ability, immigration status, insurance coverage, perceived socioeconomic status, and other factors; The president must rescind and undo actions taken pursuant to Executive Order 13798 Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty, which set the stage for expanding the use of religion to discriminate against people seeking reproductive health care, including the rules that allow employers to deny birth control coverage to their employees, and the creation of the HHS Conscience and Religious Freedom Division which emboldens discrimination and refusals of care; and The Department of Justice must not investigate, arrest, or prosecute individuals under the federal criminal code for any act or omission for their own pregnancy, and must end its policies and practices that place people at risk of criminal charges for any act or omission with respect to their own pregnancy. Such acts or omissions include, but are not limited to: self-managing or attempting to self-manage an abortion; failing to seek medical help when they miscarry, have a stillbirth, or experience any pregnancy loss, no matter its cause; using substances, whether prescribed, over-the-counter, or criminalized, during pregnancy. January 27, 2021: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a joint statement titled: “ACOG and SMFM Joint Statement on WHO Recommendations Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnant Individuals”. From the statement: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) are aware of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations to withhold COVID-19 vaccines from pregnant individuals unless they are at high risk of exposure. ACOG and SMFM continue to stress that both COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should not be withheld from pregnant individuals who choose to receive the vaccine. ACOG’s and SMFM’s current guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant patients remains in place.Despite efforts by ACOG and SMFM to advocate for their inclusion, clinical trials that informed the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the vaccines did not include pregnant individuals. However, preliminary developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) studies for both the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines are encouraging, with no safety signals reported. DART animal studies provide the first safety data to help inform the use of these vaccines in pregnancy until there are more data in this specific population. These studies do not indicate any adverse effects on female reproduction or fetal/embryonal development. ACOG and SMFM strongly urge manufacturers and federal agencies to collect and report data regarding the use of these vaccines in pregnancy. Data have demonstrated that symptomatic pregnant individuals with COVID-19 are at increased risk of more severe illness and death compared with nonpregnant peers. Many pregnant individuals have medical conditions known to put them at further increased risk of severe illness and complications. Therefore, given clear evidence of the dangers of COVID-19 in pregnancy, an absence of data demonstrating adverse effects associated with the vaccine in pregnancy, and in the interest of patient autonomy, ACOG and SMFM recommend that pregnant individuals be free to make their own informed decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccination.This decision should consider a number of factors, including the available information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and consideration of a lack of data regarding the use of the vaccine during pregnancy. Additional considerations include the level of activity of the pandemic in the community, the potential efficacy of the vaccine, and the potential risk and severity of maternal disease. While pregnant individuals are encouraged to discuss vaccination considerations with their clinical care team when feasible, documentation of such a discussion should not be required prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.As physicians who care for pregnant individuals, and as vaccine rollout expands to other eligible populations, ACOG and SMFM continue to firmly assert that pregnant individuals should be given the opportunity to make their own decision as to whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and that barriers should not be put in place to prevent access and hinder the ability of pregnant people to protect themselves from a virus that could potentially be life-threatening. January 27, 2021: National Women’s Law Center posted a resource titled “100 Wins, 100 Days: Decisive Actions to Advance Gender Justice”. (For the purpose of this blog post, I will highlight the portions that focuse on health and/or health care.) From the resource: The first 100 days of a new administration are critical. Against the back drop of a country plagued by the COVID-19 crisis, under attack by white supremacists, and reeling from the after effects of a hostile Trump administration, we spent the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration fighting to redefine what it means to be safe, to enshrine dignity in our policies and laws, and to advance gender equality for all… …For Health Care: Show a commitment to protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care, including abortion. (IN PROGRESS)Rescind the Trump administration rule allowing a range of health care personnel, including receptionists and ambulance drivers, to refuse to help people seeking care, including abortion and sterilization.Issue new rulemaking that rescinds and replaces the Trump administration rules that allow virtually any employer or university to deny birth control coverage otherwise required by the Affordable Care Act.Undo the Trump administration’s rollback of critical protections against discrimination in health care, restore and strengthen health care non-discrimination protections.Eliminate the harmful budgetary riders that restrict access to reproductive health care, namely the Weldon and Hyde Amendments, and pass a budget with a $954 million for the nation’s family planning program (Title IX).Rescind the devastating global and domestic gag rules, which have jeopardized care for millions of patients in the United States and around the world. (IN PROGRESS)Issue guidance to lift the FDA’s in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone for the duration of the public health emergency, consistent with similar directives and waivers issued to reduce risk of COVID-19 (DONE)Establish an interagency task force or a high-level office to develop a coordinated federal response to the ongoing crisis in access to reproductive health care crisis, with a particular focus on communities who are most impacted.Restore the HHS Office of Civil Rights to its original mission of enhancing and protecting the health and well-being of all Americans, including by closing the “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division,” which was solely focused on emboldening health care providers to use personal beliefs to discriminate against patients.Reopen and investigate complaints alleging the state of California and University of Vermont Medical Center violated federal laws simply for protecting individuals’ access to abortion. While investigating, immediately halt the unprecedented enforcement of taking $200 million in Medicaid funds quarterly from the state of California.Rescind the Trump administration’s rule intended to take insurance coverage of abortion away from people enrolled in qualified plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.Protect patients’ choice of reproductive health care provider, ensuring that states may not exclude qualified providers of reproductive health care from Medicaid for reasons unrelated to their qualifications, including provision of abortion care.Strengthen access to Medicaid coverage for people with low incomes by rescinding the January 2018 Opportunities to Promote Work and Community Engagement Among Medicaid Beneficiaries State Medical Director guidance, denying all pending proposals, and withdrawing all approvals.Issue guidance on Affordable Care Act section 1332 waivers aimed at improving access to health benefits and services. The guidance should be designed to encourage states to expand coverage for new populations, such as DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants, and to add benefits, and should affirm that waiver applications that do not comply with the four statutory guardrails of comparable services, affordability, number of people covered, and deficit neutrality will be denied. (IN PROGRESS) Establish an Interagency Taskforce and issue regulations to encourage the development of a culture of equity, dignity, respect, and empowerment in health care systems, whereby accountability mechanisms are encouraged and implemented across systems to address discriminatory care, disrespect, mistreatment, and abuse of pregnant individuals based on race, age, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), ability, immigration status, insurance coverage, perceived socioeconomic status, and other factors.Strengthen Medicaid programs and maintenance of effort requirements and end policies that undermine them. Incentivize states to expand Medicaid and family planning services, and subsidize higher reimbursement rates for providers. (IN PROGRESS)Expand financial support for health care providers and ensure that any future COVID relief package does not include restrictions on abortion care.Pass the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, which ensures that all servicemembers and their dependents who rely on the military for health care have comprehensive contraceptive coverage and counseling.Pass the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, which provides birth control at no-cost for veterans accessing care through the Department of Veteran Affairs. (IN PROGRESS)Pass the Access to Birth Control Act, which addresses inequities to health care services, including sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services, for immigrants.Pass the COVID Community Care Act, which addresses disparities in the containment of COVID in underserved communities.Pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, which will fill gaps in existing legislation to comprehensibly address multiple dimensions of the Black maternal health crisis in America. (IN PROGRESS)Pass the EACH Act, which would repeal the Hyde Amendment and related abortion coverage restrictions, ensuring that anyone who gets care or insurance through the federal government will be covered for all pregnancy-related care, including by abortion. By lifting the bans that deny abortion coverage, the EACH Act ensures that the decision to have an abortion does not depend on a person’s income or how they are insured. (IN PROGRESS)Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect the right to access abortion care by creating a safeguard against bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that do not apply to similar medical care. January 27, 2021: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) posted news titled: “Nearly 9 Million Uninsured Americans Could Get Free or Subsidized Health Insurance if the Biden Administration Re-Opens ACA Marketplace Enrollment in Response to COVID-19”. From the news: Four million uninsured people could get an ACA bronze plan with no premium payment and 4.9 million others could get subsidies to offset the cost of such a plan if the Biden Administration were to re-open ACA marketplace enrollment, a KFF analysis finds.The 8.9 million people eligible for free or reduced-cost coverage represent nearly 60 percent of the approximately 15 million uninsured people in the U.S. who could shop for health insurance coverage on the ACA Marketplaces, the analysis finds. Compared to the general non-elderly population, the uninsured people in these categories are more likely to be young adults aged 19-34, Hispanic, non-native English speakers, lacking internet access, high-school educated and working in service industries such as arts, entertainment and recreation.Those eligible for free bronze plans are also more likely than the general non-elderly population to be unemployed or working part-time, and to live in rural areas. More than half of them live in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, or Georgia.Free or reduced-cost bronze ACA plans generally carry steep deductibles, requiring policy holders to pay thousands of dollars for care out of pocket before coverage kicks in. However, the analysis finds that about 2 of every 3 uninsured people who are eligible for a free ACA bronze plan have household income low enough to be eligible for significantly lower deductibles if they purchase a more expensive silver plan instead.Based on campaign pledges, President Biden is expected to move towards reopening Marketplace enrollment as soon as this week, for example by announcing a COVID-19 special enrollment opportunity (SEP). His administration is also expected to direct more resources to marketing and outreach, following several years in which the Trump administration pared back such efforts.The findings of the new analysis can inform government agencies or navigators engaged in outreach and marketing efforts. Uninsured people who are eligible for subsidies to buy Marketplace plans may be unaware of their options or need help understanding the tradeoffs.KFF researchers estimate that more than $1 billion in unspent federal user fee revenue has accumulated that could be used by the new administration to invest in changes that would make it easier for consumers to enroll in health coverage… January 28, 2021: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “New Planned Parenthood and University of Utah Study Reveals Additional Options for Emergency Contraception”. From the press release: A new study shows that patients may have a new option when it comes to emergency contraception. Today, the New England Journal of Medicine published results from a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of two intrauterine devices (IUDs) when used as emergency contraception. Conducted by researchers at the University of Utah Health in close partnership with Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, the three-year study found that Liletta – a levonorgestrel 52 mg IUD – is no less effective as an emergency contraceptive method as Paragard, the copper IUD. The findings represent a clear advance in clinical practice and patient access to care – providing another highly effective option for patients who seek emergency contraception and ongoing birth control.Up till now, there had been little data on the effectiveness of hormonal IUDs as a standalone emergency contraception method. Best practices had recommended that patients who had unprotected sex before placement of the Liletta or Mirena IUD as an emergency contraceptive up to five days after unprotected sex, but it also demonstrates that only one method of emergency contraception is required to prevent unintended pregnancy……The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health and carried out at six Planned Parenthood health centers in Utah, found: The Liletta IUD is no less effective than Paragard as an emergency contraceptive following unprotected intercourse in the previous five days.The Liletta IUD is effective on its own – with no need to supplement with an oral emergency contraception – as an emergency contraceptive.The Liletta IUD can be used as a quick-start method of birth control, meaning that it can become effective at any day of the menstrual cycle, as long as there is a negative pregnancy test prior to having it placed. While all participants of the study – conducted between 2016 and 2019 – received Liletta, its findings would also apply to Mirena, a levonorgestrel 52 mg IUD as well… January 28, 2021: The White House posted a statement titled: “FACT SHEET: President Biden to Sign Executive Orders Strengthening Americans’ Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care” From the statement: The Biden-Harris Administration will open a Special Enrollment Period for Americans to sign up for health coverage and roll back attacks on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and access to reproductive health care.After four years of attempts to strip health care from millions of Americans, President Biden will sign two millions of Americans, President Biden will sign two executive actions that will begin to restore and strengthen Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. The Biden-Harris administration will re-open enrollment to the Health Insurance Marketplace, take additional steps to strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and protect women’s health. These actions demonstrate a strong commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect and build on the Affordable Care Act, meet the heath care needs created by the pandemic, reduce health care costs, protect access to reproductive health care, and make our health system easier to navigate and more equitable.For President Biden, this is personal. He believes that every American has a right to the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access to affordable, quality health care. Because of the Affordable Care Act, over 100 million people will no longer have to worry that an insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums just because they have a pre-existing condition. Roughly 20 million additional Americans obtained the security that comes with health insurance, and young people transitioning from school to a job can stay covered by their parents’ plan until age 26.As we continue to battle COVID-19, it is even more critical that Americans have meaningful access to affordable health care. The actions the President is taking today complement the commitment he made in the American Rescue Plan to make health insurance coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. Reliable and affordable access to health insurance doesn’t just benefit families’ health; it is a critical source of economic security and peace of mind for all.Today’s actions include:Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. This Executive Order takes critical steps to reverse attacks on and strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, so they can continue to provide access to live-saving care for millions of Americans. Based on this Executive Order, it is expected that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will open HealthCare.gov for a “Special Enrollment Period,” from February 15, 2021, – May 15, 2021. This Special Enrollment Period will give Americans that need health care coverage during this global pandemic the opportunity to sign up.The President will also direct federal agencies to reconsider rules and other policies that limit Americans’ access to health care and consider actions that will protect and strengthen that access.Agencies are directed to re-examine: Policies that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID-19;Demonstrations and waivers under Medicaid and the ACA that may reduce coverage or undermine the programs, including work requirements;Policies that undermine the Health Insurance Marketplace or other markets for health insurance; Policies that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid and the ACA; andPolicies that reduce affordability of coverage or financial assistance, including for dependents. As part of their reviews, agencies will consider whether to take additional actions to strengthen and protect access to health care.Protecting Women’s Health at Home and Abroad. Across the country and around the world, people – particularly women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and those with low incomes – have been denied access to reproductive health care. President Biden is also issuing a Presidential Memorandum to protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care. The memorandum reflects the policy of the Biden-Harris Administration to support women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States, as well as globally. Like memoranda issued by President Clinton and President Obama, it immediately rescinds the global gag rule, also referred to as the Mexico City Policy, which bars international non-profits that provide abortion counseling or referrals from receiving U.S. funding. In recognition of the additional work necessary to protect access to reproductive health care, President Biden’s memorandum also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to take immediate action to consider whether to rescind regulations under its Title X family planning program. January 28, 2021: President Biden tweeted: “This afternoon I took action to restore and strengthen Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. The issue is personal to me – and now more than ever, I’m committed to ensuring everyone has access to the care they need.” The tweet included a photo of President Biden at signing an executive order. January 28, 2021: The White House posted “Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act”. From the executive order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1. Policy. In the 10 years since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has reduced the number of uninsured Americans by more than 20 million, extended critical consumer protections to more than 100 million people, and strengthened and improved the Nation’s healthcare system. At the same time, millions of people who are potentially eligible for coverage under the ACA or other laws remain uninsured, and obtaining insurance benefits is more difficult than necessary. For these reasons, it is the policy of my Administration to protect and strengthen Medicaid and the ACA and to make high-quality health care accessible and affordable for every American.Sec. 2 Special Enrollment Period. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered a historic public health and economic crisis. In January of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading, the Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency. In March of 2020, the President declared a national emergency. Although almost a year has passed, the emergency continues – over 5 million Americans have contracted the disease in January 2021, and thousands are dying every week. Over 30 million Americans remain uninsured, preventing many from obtaining necessary health services and treatment. Black, Latino and Native American persons are more likely to be uninsured, and communities of color have been especially hard hit by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider establishing a Special Enrollment Period for uninsured and under-insured Americans to seek coverage through the Federally Facilitated Marketplaces, pursuant to existing authorities, including sections 18031 and 18041 of title 42, United States Code, and section 155.420(d)(9) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, and consistent with applicable law.Sec. 3. Immediate Review of Agency Actions (a) The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of all other executive departments and agencies with authorities and responsibilities related to Medicaid and the ACA (collectively, heads of agencies) shall, as soon as practicable, review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency (collectively, agency actions) to determine whether such agency actions are inconsistent with this policy set forth in section 1 of this order. As part of this review, the heads of agencies shall examine the following:(i) policies or practices that may undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID-19, under the ACA;(ii) policies or practices that may undermine the Health Insurance Marketplace or the individual, small group, or large group markets for health insurance in the United States;(iv) policies or practices that may present unnecessary barriers to individuals and families attempting to access Medicaid or ACA coverage, including for mid-year enrollment; and(v) policies or practices that may reduce the affordability of coverage or financial assistance for coverage, including for dependents.(b) Heads of agencies shall, as soon as practicable and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider whether to suspend, revise, or rescind – and, as applicable, publish for notice and comment proposed rules suspending, revising or rescinding – those agency actions identified as inconsistent with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.(c) Heads of agencies shall, as soon as practicable and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider whether to suspend, revise, or rescind – and, as applicable, consider whether to take any additional actions to more fully enforce the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.Sec. 4. Revocation of Certain Presidential Actions and Review of Associated Agency Actions. (a) Executive Order 13765 of January 20, 2017, (Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal), and Executive Order 13813 of October 12, 2017 (Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States), are revoked.(b) As part of the review required under section 3 of this order, heads of agencies shall identify existing agency actions related to or arising from Executive Orders 13765 and 13813. Heads of agencies shall, as soon as practicable, consider whether to suspend, revise, or rescind – – and as applicable, publish for notice and comment proposed rules suspending, revising, or rescinding – any such agency actions, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law and the policy set forth in section 1 of this order… January 28, 2021: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – California) posted a press release titled: “Pelosi Statement on President Biden Executive Actions Strengthening Health Care”. From the press release: Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the Executive Actions announced by President Biden today to strengthen Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care:“The coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis have demonstrated with heartbreaking clarity that access to health care is a matter of life-or-death. President Biden’s Executive Actions are a lifeline for millions of American families and a clear sign that our nation now has the leadership in the White House to turn these crises around. “These Executive Actions represent a 180-degree reversal from the assault on health care waged by Donald Trump and Republicans in the courts and Congress in the middle of the pandemic. In stark contrast, President Biden is restoring and expanding access to health care in a way that promotes equity and justice for working families, those who have lost jobs, seniors, women in need of reproductive health care at home and abroad, and more. In particular, opening a special enrollment period will enable potentially millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance through no fault of their own to access care.“The Democratic Congress applauds these lifesaving actions, and we will continue to work to protect and improve affordable, quality health care – during this pandemic, and in the months and years to come. January 28, 2021: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center For Children and Families posted a blog titled: “Biden Administration Announces It Will Reopen Federal Marketplace Enrollment”. It was written by Edwin Park. From the blog: Today, January 28, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order establishing a new special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces in most states, in order to increase health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The special enrollment period will begin February 15, 2021 and run through May 15, and like the annual open enrollment period, will likely be available to anyone who is eligible a marketplace plan. (The special enrollment period will apply in the 30 with federally-facilitated marketplaces and the 6 states with state-based marketplaces using the federal platform. In these 36 states, the annual open enrollment period for 2021 had previously closed on December 15, 2020. The remaining 15 states and the District of Columbia with state-based marketplaces could potentially reopen enrollment through the new special enrollment periods as well but that will be a state-by-state choice.)This special enrollment period could facilitate the enrollment of many more people in marketplace plans, particularly if it is supported by a coordinated, well-financed advertising, marketing, outreach and consumer assistance campaign. Such an effort would significantly increase public awareness of the new special enrollment period and help guide families through the application, enrollment, and selection process. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2021, nearly 9 million people are estimated to be eligible for subsidized marketplace coverage but remain uninsured. But a Kaiser Family Foundation poll in December 2020 found that only 14 percent of Americans who buy insurance on their own or are uninsured were aware of the annual open enrollment period deadline for the marketplace in their state.This is due, in part, to the Trump Administration’s significant reduction in spending on marketing, outreach, and consumer assistance activities related to the Affordable Care Act over the last four years. As a result, new marketplace enrollment has fallen every year since 2016. The Trump Administration’s failure to reverse course during the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly egregious, as millions of families lost their jobs and their employer sponsored insurance… January 28, 2021: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities posted a blog titled: “Biden Directs Federal Agencies to Reconsider Trump Policy Under Which Thousands Lost Medicaid Coverage”. It was written by Hannah Katch. From the blog: The Biden Administration today released an executive order directing federal agencies to “reconsider rules and other policies that limit Americans’ access to health care and consider actions that will protect and strengthen that access.” The order specifically requires the Department of Health and Human Services to re-examine a Trump Administration policy encouraging states to take Medicaid coverage away from people who don’t meet harsh work requirements, which led to large coverage losses but didn’t increase employment. The Department should act quickly to rescind this policy.Under the Trump policy, announced in 2018, states could submit proposals for demonstration projects letting them take coverage away from people who didn’t document that they worked or participated in work activities like job training for a specified number of hours each month – something that the federal government never previously permitted. The Trump Administration approved proposals from 12 states, though only Arkansas fully implemented its demonstration (until a federal court struck it down). In the seven months that the Arkansas policy was in effect, more than 18,000 people – nearly 1 in 4 of those subject to the new rules – lost their coverage.Other states, too, would have suffered large coverage losses if they had fully implemented their demonstration projects. New Hampshire was on track to take coverage away from nearly 17,000 people – about 40 percent of those subject to the pending rules – before state policymakers on a bipartisan basis halted the policy. Similarly, some 80,000 Michiganders – nearly 1 in 3 of those subject to work requirements – were in danger of losing coverage is a court hadn’t stopped the policy. In all three states, the number of people who were set to lose coverage exceeded the estimates of the presumed target population: people who weren’t working or eligible for an exemption. This indicates that working people and people who should have been exempt from the new rules almost certainly lost or risked losing coverage due to red tape.Large coverage losses, including among people who are working or who should be eligible for exemptions, are unavoidable under these policies. People with disabilities and other serious needs – especially mental health conditions or substance use disorders – lose coverage because they struggle with paperwork to claim exemptions. Working people lose coverage due to both paperwork barriers and the nature of low-wage work, like fluctuating hours. (That’s why nearly half of working low-income adults wouldn’t be able to document at least 80 hours of work each month, as many state demonstrations required.) And when people lose coverage, they face financial hardship and lose access to medications and other needed care, which can be catastophic for those with chronic physical or mental health conditions.Taking away coverage also fails to help people find and keep jobs. One study found evidence that people losing Medicaid under Arkansas’ policy became uninsured, but no evidence that the policy increased employment……To execute today’s action, the Department of Health and Human Services should quickly rescind the Trump Administration’s letter to states encouraging work requirement policies, revoke approval for those state policies where they are in effect, and petition the Supreme Court to dismiss pending litigation on this matter, since the policy is no longer in effect anywhere. January 28, 2021: The White House posted a presidential action titled: “Women’s Health at Home and Abroad”. From the presidential action: MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTSection 1. Policy. Women should have access to the healthcare they need. For too many women today, both at home and abroad, that is not possible. Undue restrictions of the use of Federal funds have made it harder for women to obtain necessary healthcare. The Federal Government must take action to ensure that women at home and around the world are able to access complete medical information, including with respect to their reproductive health.In the United States, Title X of the Public Health Services Act (42. U.S.C. 300 – 300a-6) provides Federal funding for family planning services that primarily benefit low-income patients. The Act specifies that Title X funds may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning, but places no further abortion-related restrictions on recipients of Title X funds. See 42 U.S.C. 300a-6. In 2019, the Secretary of Health and Human Services finalized changes to regulations governing the Title X program and issued a final rule entitled “Compliance With Statutory Program Integrity Requirements,” 84. Fed. Reg. 7714 (March 4, 2019) (Title X Rule), which prohibits recipients of Title X funds from referring patients to abortion providers and imposes other onerous requirements on abortion providers. The Title X Rule has caused the termination of Federal family planning funding for many women’s healthcare providers and puts women’s health at risk by making it harder for women to receive complete medical information.It is the policy of my Administration to support women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States, as well as globally. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b(f)(I)), prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive federal funds from using those funds “to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions.” The August 1984 announcement by President Reagan of what has become known as the “Mexico City Policy” directed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to expand this limitation and withhold USAID family planning funds from NGOs that use non-USAID funds to perform abortions, provide advice, counseling, or information to legalize abortion or make abortion services more easily available.These restrictions were rescinded by President Clinton in 1993, reinstated by President George W. Bush in 2001, and rescinded by President Obama in 2009. President Trump substantially expanded these restrictions by applying the policy to global health assistance provided by all executive departments and agencies (agencies). These excessive conditions on foreign and development assistance undermine the United States’ efforts to advance gender equality globally by restricting our ability to support women’s health and programs that prevent and respond to gender-based violence. The expansion of the policy has also affected all other areas of global health assistance, limiting the Unites States’ ability to work with local partners around the world and inhibiting their efforts to confront serious health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, among others. Such restrictions on global health assistance are particularly harmful in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Accordingly, I hereby order as follows:Sec. 2 Revocations and Other Actions. (a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall review the Title X Rule and any other regulations governing the Title X program that impose undue restrictions on the use of Federal funds or women’s access to complete medical information and shall consider, as soon as practicable, whether to suspend, revise, or rescind, or publish for notice and comment proposed rules suspending, revising, or rescinding , those regulations, consistent with applicable law, including the Administrative Procedures Act.(b) The Presidential Memorandum of January 23, 2017 (The Mexico City Policy), is revoked.(c) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of USAID, and appropriate officials at all other agencies involved in foreign assistance shall take all steps necessary to implement this memorandum, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. This shall include the following actions with respect to conditions in assistance awards that were imposed pursuant to the January 2017 Presidential Memorandum and that are not required by the Foreign Assistance Act or any law…(d) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of USAID, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, shall suspend, revise, or rescind any regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions that were issued pursuant to the January 2017 Presidential Memorandum.(e) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in a timely and appropriate manner, shall withdraw co-sponsorship and signature from the Geneva Consensus Declaration (Declaration) and notify other co-sponsors and signatories to the Declaration and other appropriate parties of the United States’ withdrawal… January 28, 2021: Center for Reproductive Rights posted a statement titled: “CEO Nancy Northup’s Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order”. From the statement: Today, President Joe Biden issued an executive order repealing the Global Gag Rule that had been re-issued and greatly expanded during the Trump Administration; beginning the repeal of the Title X rule; withdrawing the U.S. co-sponsorship and signature from the Geneva Consensus Declaration; and restoring funding to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This follows President Biden’s announcement last week to rejoin the World Health Organization.The following is a statement for Nancy Northrup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights on this executive order:Today the Biden administration took an important first step towards righting the Trump administration’s tremendous wrongs impacting access to reproductive health, rights, and justice. In revoking the Global Gag Rule and acting to rescind the Domestic Gag Rule, President Biden is stopping policies that were intended to force reproductive health centers, in the U.S. and around the world, to stop providing and referring for abortion services. The Biden administration also disavowed the disgraceful anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQI+ “declaration” that the Trump administration co-sponsored in October and ordered the State Department to take the steps to restore funding to UNFPA and to ensure that there are adequate funds to support women’s reproductive and sexual health needs globally… January 28, 2021: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted news titled: “HHS Announces Marketplace Special Enrollment Period for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency”. From the news: In accordance with the Executive Order issued today by President Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families for Marketplace coverage in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which has left millions of Americans facing uncertainty and exceptional circumstances while millions of while millions of Americans have experienced new health problems during the pandemic. This SEP will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage. Beginning February 15, 2021, and through May 15, 2021, these Marketplaces will operationalize functionality to make this SEP available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) operating their own platform have the opportunity to take similar action within their states.“The Department is committed to ensuring that we deploy every available resource during the Public Health Emergency. This Special Enrollment Period will ensure that more individuals and families have access to quality, affordable health coverage during this unprecedented time,” said HHS Acting Secretary Norris Cochran.The SEP will be offered to consumers applying for new coverage or updating an existing application through HealthCare.gov, the Marketplace call center, or through direct enrollment channels. Coverage is prospective, with coverage beginning the first day of the month following the date of plan selection… January 28, 2021: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted news titled: “2021 Special Enrollment Period in response to the COVID-19 Emergency”. From the news: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) national emergency has presented unprecedented challenges for the American public. Millions of Americans are facing uncertainty and millions of Americans are experiencing new health problems during the pandemic. Due to the exceptional circumstances and rapidly changing Public Health Emergency (PHE) impacting millions of people throughout the US every day, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured and still need affordable health coverage. In accordance with the Executive Order issued today by President Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) determined that the COVID-19 emergency presents exceptional circumstances for consumers in accessing health insurance and will provide a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families to apply and enroll in the coverage they need. This SEP will be available to consumers in the 36 states served by Marketplaces that use the HealthCare.gov platform, and CMS will conduct outreach activities to encourage those who are eligible to enroll in health coverage. CMS strongly encourages states operating their own Marketplace platforms to make a similar enrollment opportunity available to consumers in their states.Starting on February 15, 2021, and continuing through May 15, 2021, Marketplaces using the HealthCare.gov platform will operationalize functionality to make a SEP available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. These consumers will newly be able to access the SEP through a variety of channels: through HealthCare.gov directly, the Marketplace call center, or direct enrollment channels. Additionally, consumers can work with a network of over 50,000 agents and brokers who are registered with the Marketplace, along with over 8,000 trained assisters, ready to assist consumers with their application for coverage.To promote the SEP and ensure that a broad and diverse range of consumers are aware of this implementation, CMS will conduct an outreach campaign in cooperation with community and stakeholder organizations, focused on education and awareness of this new opportunity to enroll in English, Spanish, and other languages. CMS outreach efforts will include considerable awareness building efforts to encourage the uninsured and those who come to HealthCare.gov to explore coverage to continue the process and enroll. CMS plans to spend $50 million on outreach and education, on a mix of tactics to increase awareness, including advertisments on broadcast, digital, and an earned media.Some consumers may already be eligible for other existing SEPs, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – they can visit Healthcare.gov now to find out if they can enroll in this new SEP. Starting February 15, consumers seeking to take advantage of this SEP can find out if they are eligible by visiting HealthCare.gov, and are no longer limited to calling the Marketplace call center to access this SEP. Consumers who are eligible to enroll under this SEP will be able to select a plan with coverage that starts prospectively the first of the month after plan selection. Consumers will have 30 days after they submit their application to choose a plan. Current enrollees will be able to change to any available plan in their area without restriction to the same level of coverage as their current plan. In order to use this SEP, current enrollees will need to step through their application and make any changes if needed to their current information and submit their application in order to receive an updated eligibility result that provides the SEP before continuing on to enrollment. This SEP opportunity will not involve any new application questions, or require consumers or enrollment partners to provide any new information not otherwise required to determine eligibility and enroll in coverage. In addition, consumers won’t need to provide any documentation of a qualifying event (e.g., loss of a job or birth of a child), which is typically required for SEP eligibility.As always, consumers found eligible for Medicaid or CHIP will be transferred to their state Medicaid and CHIP agencies for enrollment in those programs. January 28, 2021: NARAL Pro-Choice posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Applauds President Biden’s Action to Expand Reproductive Freedom”. From the press release: Today, President Joe Biden took executive action to end the global gag rule, roll back the domestic gag rule, restore funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and withdraw the United States from the anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ Geneva Consensus Declaration. The global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City policy, is a harmful and discriminatory policy that prevents non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. global health assistance from using their own, private funds for abortion referrals or to provide abortion care. The Biden-Harris administration announced plans to roll back the Trump administration’s domestic gag policy that strips Title X funding from reproductive health and abortion care providers in the United States. The Department of Health and Human Services must begin the work to rescind this policy immediately so that family planning providers in every community have the resources they need to resume their critical work……In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump announced a further expansion of the global gag rule from previous iterations implemented under Republican administrations. This move was the beginning of the Trump administration’s four-year-long effort to undermine reproductive freedom and to roll back our fundamental rights. Research has shown that the global gag rule prevents people from accessing a wide range of critical health information and the healthcare they need and want. The reduced effectiveness of global health assistance as a result of the policy puts the lives of women, girls, LGBTQI+ people, BIPOC people, and other groups who face systemic barriers to care at risk. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, this draconian policy exacerbates global health challenges.President Biden also took several actions to roll back other harmful Trump-era policies with global impact including ending the United States’ involvement in the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD). The GCD is an attempt from the Trump administration to undermine international consensus around sexual and reproductive health and rights.Additionally, President Biden restored U.S. funding to UNFPA, which plays a critical role as the largest multilateral provider of family planning and reproductive health services with operations in more than 155 countries. Republican administrations and members of Congress often target the U.S. contribution to UNFPA and the Trump administration took things farther than any previous administration by cutting off all funding to the agency.In addition to the unprecedented breadth of the Trump administration’s global gag rule and global anti-choice agenda, the Trump administration also implemented a sweeping domestic gag policy that stripped Title X Family Planning Program funding from healthcare providers who – in addition to other services – provide abortion care or referrals for abortion care.While the Biden-Harris administration’s actions today undoubtedly expand reproductive freedom, it’s critical that this administration demonstrate its commitment to protecting and expanding access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare – including abortion care – and upholding sexual and reproductive rights in the United States and around the world by: Expanding access to reproductive healthcare by removing harmful and medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion care during COVID-19;Initiating a comprehensive FDA review of medication abortion – a safe, effective, FDA-approved option for ending an early pregnancy – so that people’s access to care reflects science, not politics;Rescinding Trump’s other executive actions that limit access to care, including refusals of healthcare and attacks on contraception coverage;Ensuring that the president’s budget advances reproductive freedom and excludes discriminatory restrictions on abortion coverage like the Hyde and Helms amendments;Nominating and appointing judges and executive branch officials with positive records on reproductive freedom, health, rights, and justice. January 28, 2021: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Denounces Anti-Choice Lawmakers in the South Carolina Senate for Passing Extreme Ban on Abortion”. From the press release: Today, anti-choice lawmakers in South Carolina state Senate passed an extreme and unconstitutional bill to ban abortion before many people even know they’re pregnant. The bill passed by a 30-13 vote and will now head to the state House of Representatives for consideration.Nearly 7,000 South Carolinians have lost their lives to COVID-19, and over 427,000 cases have been reported in the last year. Republican state senators’ decision to make attacking reproductive freedom their top priority in the 2021 legislative session reflects an increasingly extreme Republican Party that couldn’t be more out of touch with the needs of its constituents – not to mention the 77% of Americans who support Roe v. Wade and the legal right to abortion……Recent polling of South Carolina voters in key state Senate districts 31, 33, and 41 found that a large majority (67%) of voters believe that abortion should be legal and that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself.In South Carolina, 71% of women live in counties with no abortion clinic. With Roe in the crosshairs, the stakes for women, people who are pregnant, and families are higher than ever. South Carolina already has some of the most severe restrictions on reproductive freedom in the United States, which include forcing a pregnant person to wait 24 hours before they can access abortion care and subjecting people to mandatory biased counseling. These restrictions disproportionately harm BIPOC, low-income, and rural communities, and are part of a coordinated effort by the Radical Right to maintain white patriarchal control at all costs. January 28, 2021: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted information titled: “Women’s Preventive Services Initiative Receives Five-Year Grant Extension”. From the information: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is pleased that the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded ACOG a five-year cooperative agreement to continue the work of the Women’s Preventative Services Initiative (WPSI), a coalition of national health professional organizations and consumer and patient advocates with expertise in women’s health across the lifespan to develop, review, and update recommendations for preventive healthcare service, including HRSA-sponsored Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines. These HRSA-adopted recommendations help ensure that women receive a comprehensive set of preventive services without having to pay a co-payment, co-insurance or deductible… January 29, 2021: National Women’s Law Center posted a resource titled: “The Biden-Harris Administration’s First Action on Reproductive Health Care Is A Win, But They Must Do So Much More to Expand Access to Abortion and Birth Control”. From the resource: On January 28, 2021, President Biden took his first official action to start addressing dire gaps in access to reproductive health care. He issued a presidential memorandum to reverse select dangerous policies put into place by the Trump Administration, in recognition of the extraordinary harm done to sexual and reproductive rights, health, and justice in the last four years.But while this was an important first action, it is not enough. The Biden-Harris Administration needs to move quickly to address other harmful Trump policies restricting access to reproductive health care. And the Biden-Harris Administration needs to go beyond just undoing the harm of the last four years; they need to move us forward to protect and expand access to reproductive health care.The Presidential Memorandum of January 28, 2021:President Biden issued a presidential memorandum (PM) to rescind the devastating global gag rule, which bars foreign non-profits from receiving any U.S. global health assistance if they provide information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or advocate for the legalization of abortion in their country, even if these activities were supported solely with non-U.S. funds. The global gag rule has blocked health care access, stifled local advocacy efforts, and undermined reproductive rights worldwide.The PM also takes the important first action of directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider rescission of the harmful domestic gag rule. The domestic gag rule prevents grant recipients in the nation’s Title X family planning program from providing nondirective options counseling to pregnant patients or referring to abortion providers, and allows Title X projects to refuse to provide the broad range of contraceptive methods.This step is critical to ensuring that patients are no longer blocked by these rules from getting the care and information they need when they seek family planning care. While necessary, these actions are not sufficient to truly address the fact that across large swaths of the country, people are unable to access essential reproductive health care, jeopardizing their health, economic security, futures, and lives.Here are additional actions the Biden-Harris Administration must take over the coming weeks to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, especially abortion.Additional immediate actions needed to undo the harm of the Trump AdministrationSuspend In-Person Dispensing Requirements for Medication Abortion During the PandemicThe Biden Administration must issue guidance to suspend in-person dispensing requirements for medication abortion for the duration of the public health emergency. Requiring people to make an unnecessary trip to a health center during a pandemic puts their health at serious risk. Yet despite the risk, and despite the fact that all major medical groups, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), support lifting the requirement, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump Administration to reinstate the FDA’s requirement for medication abortion to be dispensed in-person only. The Biden Administration must act quickly to stop enforcement. The FDA should also initiate a full review of the restrictions placed on medication abortion to ensure patient access is based on the latest science and medical evidence.Rescind the Trump Administration Refusal of Care RuleThe Trump Administration finalized a rule that gives sweeping new rights to virtually any individual or entity involved in patient care to refuse to help people seeking health care. The refusal of care rule targets patients seeking reproductive health care, particularly abortion and sterilization, and LGBTQ+ patients. The Biden Administration must act quickly to rescind this rule and ensure health care entities do not use personal beliefs to deny patients care.Rescind the Trump Administration Rule Intended to Eliminate Private Insurance Coverage of AbortionThe Trump Administration finalized a rule placing onerous and arbitrary requirements on insurance companies that offer plans with abortion coverage on the ACA marketplaces. This rule is intended to make it so burdensome for insurance companies to offer abortion coverage that they drip abortion coverage from their plans, ultimately eliminating abortion coverage from the ACA marketplace altogether. The Biden Administration must rescind this harmful rule.Undo the Trump Administration Rollback of Critical Health Care Non-Discrimination ProtectionsThe Trump Administration finalized a rule that rolled back critical protections against discrimination in health care, leaving patients more vulnerable to discrimination, more likely to be confused about their rights, and less likely to seek out care. The rule puts people’s lives in danger and is especially harmful to those living at the intersection of impacted communities. The rule specifically targets abortion care by imposing religious and abortion exemptions and further stigmatizes care. The Biden Administration must rescind this rule and restore and strengthen health care non-discrimination protections. No one should face discrimination in health care.Additional immediate actions needed to move us forwardStrike the Hyde and Weldon Amendments from the President’s BudgetThe President’s budget must eliminate the Hyde and Weldon amendments. These dangerous policy riders are included in the annual appropriations process and are intended to erect barriers to abortion care for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, as well as people with low-incomes. The Hyde Amendment denies abortion coverage to individuals enrolled in Medicaid. The Weldon amendment threatens policymakers with the loss of critical federal dollars if they seek to protect their residents’ access to abortion. The Trump Administration attempted to dramatically expand the reach of the Weldon Amendment to punish states that ensure abortion coverage and to allow health care providers to deny patients abortion care. As President Biden’s January 28 PM acknowledged “ndue restrictions on the use of Federal funds have made it harder for women to obtain necessary healthcare.” It is beyond time for these injustices to be righted and for both of these policies to go.Create an Interagency Task Force or High Level Office on Reproductive Health CareThere is a reproductive health care crisis in this country, which is compounded by the COVID-19 crisis and underlying systemic racism. The crisis was undeniably worsened by the Trump Administration, but the cause of the crisis goes deeper and cannot be solved by a single agency or by merely reversing the harms of the Trump Administration. The Biden-Harris Administration should establish a White House Interagency Task Force on Reproductive Health Care – or a similar high level office – to develop a coordinated federal response to the crisis, with a particular focus on communities who are most impacted… January 29, 2021: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services posted news titled: American Rescue Plan Lowers Health Insurance Costs for Americans Who May Have Lost Their Job”. From the news: As part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) signed by President Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) is again lowering the cost of health insurance and opening more pathways for Americans to obtain affordable and comprehensive health coverage. Starting July 1, 2021, consumers who received or are approved to receive unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 may be able to find even lower cost plans and save extra money on out-of-pocket expenses through HealthCare.gov.To take advantage of these additional savings, consumers who received or have been approved for unemployment compensation in 2021 need to visit HealthCare.gov to submit a new application or update their existing application to maximize the savings they can get for the rest of 2021. An average of three out of five eligible uninsured Americans can access $0 plans after advance payments of tax credits and an average of four out of five current HealthCare.gov consumers will be able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after advance payments of tax credits CMS encourages current consumers who have received unemployment income for any week beginning in 2021 to update their application and enrollment between July 1 and August 15 to maximize the savings on their Marketplace coverage for the rest of the year.The Biden-Harris Administration is focused on providing relief to millions of families who need to access health insurance coverage because they have been impacted by job losses or underemployment during the pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Administration has made it easier than ever for Americans to enroll in an affordable, comprehensive health insurance plans through HealthCare.gov thanks to the increased financial assistance provided through the American Rescue Plan. We encourage consumers who have received unemployment compensation in 2021 to visit the Marketplace to see if they qualify to save money on their health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.”“We are doing everything we can to remove financial barriers to comprehensive health care,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “The American Rescue Plan provides consumers with additional savings and will make coverage even more attainable for those most in need. We welcome people who received unemployment benefits in 2021 to check out their health coverage options on HealthCare.gov on July 1.” January 30, 2021: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a press release titled: “CDC requires wearing of face masks while on public transportation and at transportation hubs”. From the press release: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in the United States, CDC is implementing provisions of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel and will require the wearing of masks by all travelers into, within, or out of the United States, e.g., on airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares. The mask requirement also applies to travelers in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and seaports; train, bus, and subway stations; and any other areas that provide transportation.Transportation operators must require all persons onboard to wear masks when boarding, disembarking and for the duration of travel. Operators of transportation hubs must require all persons to wear a mask when entering or on the premises of a transportation hub. This action is to further prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and to further support state and local health authorities, transportation partners, and conveyance operators to keep passengers, employees and communities safe.Today’s order from CDC is part of a comprehensive, science-driven, U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One component of the whole-of-government response is taking actions related to reducing virus spread through travel. Transmission of the virus through travel has led to – and continues to lead to – interstate and international spread of the virus.“America’s transportation systems are essential,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH. “Given how interconnected most transportation systems are across our nation and the world, when infected persons travel on public conveyances without wearing a mask and with others who are not wearing masks, the risk of interstate and international transmission can grow quickly.”Traveling on public transportation increases a person’s risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 by brining people in close contact with others, often for prolonged periods, and exposing them to frequently touched surfaces. Face masks help prevent people who have COVID-19, including those who are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic, from spreading the virus to others. Masks also help protect the wearer by reducing the chance they will breathe respiratory droplets carrying the virus……This order will be effective on February 2, 2021… This blog will be updated if and when I find additional relevant information from credible sources. Health Care Under Biden-Harris Administration – January 2021 is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... The ACA is Here to Stay!June 27, 2021health insurance / Out of SpoonsHealthcare in Scrabble letter next to a green fern by Total Shape on Pexels A brief history of how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act came to be, and a review of the lawsuits that tried to destroy it. On June 17, 2021, The Associated Press reported that the Supreme Court rejected the latest major Republican-led effort to kill the national health care law known as “Obamacare”. The result is that the Supreme Court preserved insurance coverage for millions of Americans. Also on June 17, 2021, Politico posted an article titled: “Supreme Court tosses lawsuit challenging Obamacare”. It was written by Susannah Luthi and Josh Gerstein. From the article: The Supreme Court on Thursday threw out a lawsuit threatening the entirety of the Affordable Care Act, finding that Republican-led states behind the case did not have legal ground to challenge the landmark health care law.The 7-2 decision, which preserves health insurance for millions and the law’s popular protections for preexisting conditions, may serve as the final chapter in the decade-long legal assault on the Affordable Care Act, arriving as President Joe Biden seeks to build on the law’s coverage provisions. It’s also the final blow to former President Donald Trump’s pledge to rip up his predecessor’s signature health care law, after his administration had supported the red states who brought the lawsuit… How did the Supreme Court Justices Decide this Case? The case was called California Et Al. v. Texas Et AL. The case was argued before the Supreme Court on November 10, 2020, and decided on June 17, 2021. From the syllabus portion of the decision: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as enacted in 2010 required most Americans to obtain minimum essential health insurance coverage and imposed a monetary penalty upon most individuals who failed to do so. Amendments to the Act in 2017 effectively nullified the penalty by setting its amount to $0. Subsequently, Texas (along with over a dozen States and two individuals) brought the suit against federal officials, claiming that without the penalty the Act’s minimum essential coverage provision, codified at 26 U.S.C. §5000A(a), is unconstitutional.They sought a declaration that the provision is unconstitutional, a finding that the rest of the Act is not severable from §5000A(a) both unconstitutional and not severable from the rest of the Act. The District Court determined that the individual plaintiffs had standing. It also found §5000A(a) both unconstitutional and not severable from the rest of the Act. The Fifth Circuit agreed as to the existence of standing and the unconstitutionality of §5000A(a), but concluded that the District Court’s severability analysis provided insufficient justification to strike down the entire Act. Petitioner California and other States intervened to defend the Act’s constitutionality and to seek further review.Held. Plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge §5000A(a)’s minimum essential coverage provisions because they have not shown a past or future injury fairly traceable to defendants’ conduct enforcing the specific statutory provision they attack as unconstitutional….…(a) The Constitution gives federal courts the power to adjudicate only genuine “Cases” and “Controversies.” … To have standing, a plaintiff must “allege personal injury fairly traceable to the defendant’s allegedly unlawful conduct and likely to be redressed by the requested relief.”… No plaintiff has shown such an injury “fairly traceable” to the “allegedly unlawful conduct” challenged here……(b) The two individual plaintiffs claim a particularized individual harm in the form of past and future payments necessary to carry the minimum essential coverage that §5000A(a) requires. Assuming this pocketbook injury satisfies the injury element of Article III standing, it is not “fairly traceable” to any “allegedly unlawful conduct” of which the plaintiffs complain… …Without a penalty for noncompliance, §5000A(a) is unenforceable. The individuals have not shown that any kind of Government action or conduct has caused or will cause the injury they attribute to §5000A(a). The Court’s cases have consistently spoken of the need to assert an injury that is the result of a statute’s actual or threatened enforcement, whether today or in the future… …Here, there is only the statute’s textually unenforceable language.Unenforceable statutory language alone is not sufficient to establish standing, as the redressability requirement makes clear. Whether an injury is redressable depends on the relationship between “the judicial relief requested” and the “injury” suffered… … The only relief sought regarding the minimum essential coverage provision is declaratory relief, namely, a judicial statement that the provision challenged is unconstitutional. But just like suits for every other type of remedy, declaratory-judgement actions must satisfy Article III’s case-or-controversy requirement……Article III standing requires identification of a remedy that will redress the individual plaintiffs’ injuries… …No remedy exists here. To find standing to attack an unenforceable statutory provision would allow a federal court to issue what would amount to an advisory opinion without the possibility of an Article III remedy. Article III guards against federal courts assuming this kind of jurisdiction……The Court also declines to consider Federal respondents’ novel alternative theory of standing first raised in its merits brief on behalf of the individuals, as well as the dissent’s novel theory on behalf of the states, neither of which was directly argued by plaintiffs below nor presented at the certiorari stage……(c) Texas and the other state plaintiffs have similarly failed to show that the pocketbook injuries they allege are traceable to the Government’s allegedly unlawful conduct… …They allege two forms of injury: one indirect, one direct.(1) The state plaintiffs allege indirect injury in the form of increased costs to run state-operated medical insurance programs. They say the minimum essential coverage provision has caused more state residents to enroll in the programs. The States, like the individual plaintiffs, have failed to show how that alleged harm is traceable so the Government’s actual or possible action in enforcing §5000A(a), so they lack Article III standing as a matter of law.But the States have not shown that the challenged minimum essential coverage provision, without any prospect of penalty, will injure them by leading more individuals to enroll in these programs. Where a standing theory rests on speculation about the decision of an independent third party (here an individual’s decision to enroll in a program like Medicaid), the plaintiff must show at least “that third parties will likely act in predictable ways”… …Neither logic nor evidence suggests that an uninforcable mandate will cause state residents to enroll in valuable benefit programs that they would otherwise forgo. It would require far stronger evidence than the States have offered here to support their counterintuitive theory of standing, which rests on a “highly attenuated chain of possibilities.”……(2) The state plaintiffs also claim a direct injury resulting from a variety of increased administrative and related expenses allegedly required by §5000A(a)’s minimum essential coverage provision. But other provisions of the Act, not the minimum essential coverage provision, impose these requirements. These provisions are enforced without reference to §5000A(a). No one claims these other provisions violate the Constitution. The Government’s conduct in question is therefore not “fairly traceable” to enforcement of the “allegedly un-lawful” provision of which the plaintiffs complain…Reversed and remanded. Breyer, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, J.J., joined. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion. Alto,J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Gorsuch J., joined. What Came Before this Case? Ballotpedia provided the following overview of Obamacare: 2010 July 2009: House Democrats introduced the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the precursor to the Affordable Care Act. The House passed the bill on November 7, 2009: with the votes of 219 Democrats and one Republican (Representative Joseph Cao – R-La.). Thirty-nine Democrats and 176 Republicans voted against the bill. December 24, 2009: The Senate passed its version of the bill 60-39, with all Democrats voting in favor of the bill and all Republicans but one voting against it (Senator Jim Bunning – R-Ky). January 1, 2010: The federal government begins providing tax credits for small business offering health insurance to employees. January 2010: Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts won a special election to fill the seat of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass), who had died in August of 2009. With the election of Brown, Senate Democrats would not have the 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster on a new bill. A majority of the House Democratic Caucus agreed to pass the Senate bill as long as subsequent budget-related changes to the bill could be made via the reconciliation process. Reconciliation bills only need 50 Senate votes to pass and are not subject to filibuster. March 21, 2010: The House passed the Senate bill with 178 House Republicans opposing the bill’s passage along with 34 Democrats, while 219 Democrats voted in favor, leaving the final vote 219-212. The House passed the reconciliation package on the same day by a vote of 220-211. March 23, 2010: President Obama signed the Senate bill. March 25, 2010: The Senate approved the reconciliation bill by a vote of 56-43. March 30, 2010: President Obama signed the reconciliation bill. The two bills together are referred to as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. July 1, 2010: The Temporary Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan is established, offered by either the federal government or individual state governments. The program provides coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions until 2014. July 1, 2010: Deadline for HealthCare.gov to be established as a minimally functioning website to educate consumers on coverage options. July 1, 2010: The federal government begins collecting a 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services. September 23, 2010: The requirement for insurers to allow adult children to remain on a parent’s health insurance plan until age 26 begins. September 23, 2010: Insurance plans are prohibited from setting lifetime coverage limitations. September 23, 2010: The requirement for insurers to allow appeals with an external review process begins. September 23, 2010: New plans established after this date are required to cover a standard set of health benefits (the 10 essential health benefits). Healthcare.gov provided information about the 10 essential health benefits: Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)Emergency servicesHospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)Prescription drugsRehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)Laboratory servicesPreventative and wellness services and chronic disease managementPediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits). Additional benefits plans must also include: birth control coverage; breastfeeding coverage Essential health benefits are minimum requirements for all Marketplace plans. Specific services covered in each broad benefit category can vary based on your state’s requirements. Plans may offer additional benefits, including: dental coverage; vision coverage; medical management programs (for specific needs like weight management, back pain, and diabetes) 2011 January 1, 2011: The requirement for insurers to provide rebate each year if a minimum portion of premiums was not spent on medical services begins.January 1, 2011: Health savings accounts can be used for certain purposes. According to HealthCare.gov, health savings accounts (HSA) are a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs. HSA funds generally may not be used to pay premiums. While you can use the funds in an HSA at any time to pay for qualified medical expenses, you may contribute to an HSA only if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) – generally a health plan (including a Marketplace plan) that only covers preventative services before the deductible. March 23, 2011: The first round of grants are provided to states for the establishment of health insurance exchanges. 2012 September 23, 2012: The requirement for all insurers to provide a uniform summary of care and benefits to consumers begins. 2013 January 1, 2013: Deadline for states to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whether they will form their own exchanges or join the federal exchange.July 1, 2013: Deadline for grants and loans to be awarded to start-up co-ops, nonprofit, member-run health insurance companies designed by the ACA. 2014 January 1, 2014: States begin to be allowed to expand Medicaid coverage to childless adults under 65 earning incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.January 1, 2014: Deadline for individuals to obtain health insurance to avoid paying a tax penalty.January 1, 2014: Insurance companies no longer allowed to place annual limits on the amount they pay out for benefits.March 31, 2014: Months spend without health insurance begin to be counted toward the tax penalty. 2015 January 1, 2015: Employers with more than 100 employees assessed fees, per employee, for not providing health insurance options. 2016 January 1, 2016: Employers with 50 – 99 employees assessed fees, per employee, for not providing health insurance options. A List of Obamacare Lawsuits National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius Argued March 26, 27, 28, 2012 – Decided June 28, 2012 The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) describes itself as “the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven.” They were founded in 1943. Ballotpedia provided some background on this case. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, was enacted with the primary aim of expanding health insurance coverage to more people. To that end, the law required most individuals to acquire and maintain minimum health insurance coverage or be penalized. It also required states to expand eligibility for their Medicaid programs to all individuals with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. If the state refused to expand, the law said that the federal government could completely withhold its portion of Medicaid funding from the state.Less than two months after the law was enacted, a federal lawsuit was filed in Florida, consisting of 26 states, two individuals, and an independent organization. The following plaintiffs joined: The Attorneys General of Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Georgia, Alaska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, Maine, Iowa, and Wyoming: Mary Brown and Kaj Ahlburg; and the National Federation of Independent Business. The lawsuit was brought to the federal District Court for the Northern District of Florida by Florida state Attorney General Bill McCollum on March 23, 2010.The lawsuit challenged the Affordable Care Act for the Northern District of Florida ruled on January 31, 2011, that the individual health insurance mandate exceeded Congress’ authority. It also ruled that the individual mandate could not be severed from the rest of the Affordable Care Act, thus striking the entire act. However, it found in favor of the federal government with regard to the Medicaid expansion.The federal government appealed the ruling, which then went to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgement of the lower court. It agreed that the Medicaid expansion provision was not unconstitutionally coercive and that the individual mandate was unconstitutional. However, the Eleventh Circuit held that “the individual mandate could be severed without invalidating the remainder of the ACA”… The Supreme Court released its decision on June 28, 2012. Here is part of the syllabus: Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and decrease the cost of health care. One key provision is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to maintain “minimum essential” health insurance coverage. 26 U.S.C. §5000A. For individuals who are not exempt, and who do not receive health insurance through an employer or government program, the means of satisfying the requirement is to purchase insurance from a private company. Beginning in 2014, those who do not comply with the mandate must make a “hared responsibility payment” to the Federal Government. 5000A(b)(1). The Act provides that this “penalty” will be paid to the Internal Revenue Service with an individual’s taxes, and “shall be assessed and collected in the same manner” as tax penalties. §5000A(c), (g)(1).Another key provision of the Act is the Medicaid expansion. The current Medicaid program offers federal funding to States to assist pregnant women, children, needy families, the blind, the elderly, and the disabled in obtaining medical care… The Affordable Care Act expands the scope of the Medicaid program and increases the number of individuals the States must cover. For example, the Act requires a state to provide Medicaid coverage by 2014 to adults with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, whereas many States now cover adults with children only if their income is considerably lower, and do not cover childless adults at all… The Act increases federal funding to cover the States’ costs in expanding Medicaid coverage… But if a State does not comply with the Act’s new coverage requirements, it may lose not only the federal funding for those requirements, but all of its federal Medicaid funds…Twenty-six States, several individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business brought suit in Federal District Court, challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion. The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the Medicaid expansion as a valid exercise of Congress’s spending power, but concluded that Congress lacked authority to enact the individual mandate. Finding the mandate severable from the Act’s other provisions, the Eleventh Circuit left the rest of the Act intact.Held. The judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.1 Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Part II, concluding that the Anti-Injunction Act does not bar this suit.The Anti-Injunction Act provides that “no suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of tax shall be maintained in any court by any person,” 26 U. S. C. §7421(a), so that those subject to a tax must first pay it and then sue for a refund. The present challenge seeks to restrain the collection of the shared responsibility payment from those who do not comply with the individual mandate. But Congress did not intend the payment to be treated as a “tax” for purposes of the Anti-Injunction Act. The Affordable Care Act describes the payment as a “penalty” not a “tax”. That label cannot control whether the payment is a tax for purposes of the Constitution, but it does determine the application of the Anti-Injunction Act. The Anti-Injunction Act therefore does not bar this suit.2 Chief Justice Roberts concluded in Part III-A that the individual mandate is not a valid exercise of Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause…(a) The Constitution grants Congress the power to “regulate Commerce”… The power to regulate commerce presupposes the existence of commercial activity to be regulated. This Court’s precedent reflects this understanding: As expansive as this Court’s cases construing the scope of the commerce power have been, they uniformly describe the power as reaching “activity“… The individual mandate, however, does not regulate existing commercial activity. It instead compels individuals to become active in commerce by purchasing a product, on the ground that their failure to do so affects interstate commerce.Construing the Commerce Clause to permit Congress to regulate individuals precisely because they are doing nothing would open a new and potentially vast domain to congressional authority. Congress already possesses expansive power to regulate what people do. Upholding the Affordable Care Act under the Commerce Clause would give Congress the same license to regulate what people do not do. The Framers knew the difference between doing something and doing nothing. They gave Congress the power to regulate commerce, not to compel it. Ignoring that distinction would undermine the principle that the Federal Government is a government of limited and enumerated powers. The individual mandate thus cannot be sustained under Congress’s power to “regulate Commerce”….(b) Nor can the individual mandate be sustained under the Necessary and Proper Clause as an integral part of the Affordable Care Act’s other reforms. Each of this Court’s prior cases upholding laws under that Clause involved exercise of authority derivative of, and in service to, a granted power. … The individual mandate, by contrast, vests Congress with the extraordinary ability to create the necessary predicate to the exercise of an enumerated power and draw within its regulatory scope those who would otherwise be outside of it. Even if the individual mandate is “necessary” to the Affordable Care Act’s other reforms, such a mandate is “necessary” of federal power is not a “proper” means for making those reforms…3 Chief Justice Roberts concluded in Part III-B that the individual mandate must be construed as imposing a tax on those who do not have health insurance, if such a construction is reasonable.The most straightforward reading of the individual mandate is that it commands individuals to purchase insurance. But, for the reasons explained, the Commerce Clause does not give Congress that power. It is therefore necessary to turn to the Government’s alternative argument: that the mandate may be upheld as within Congress’s power to “lay and collect Taxes.”… In pressing its taxing power argument, the Government asks the Court to view the mandate as imposing a tax on those who do not buy that product. Because “every reasonable construction must be restored to, in order to save a statute from unconstitutionality,” … the question is whether it is “fairly possible” to interpret the mandate as imposing such a tax…4 Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Part III-C, concluding that the individual mandate may be upheld as within Congress’s power under the Taxing Clause…(a) The Affordable Care Act describes the “hared responsibility payment” as a “penalty,” not a “tax”. That label is fatal to the application of the Anti-Injunction Act. It does not, however, control whether an exaction is within Congress’s power to tax. In answering that constitutional question, this Court follows a functional approach, isregarding the designation of the exaction, and viewing its sub-stance and application.”…(b) Such an analysis suggests that the shared responsibility payment may for constitutional purposes be considered a tax. The payment is not so high that there is really no choice but to buy health insurance; the payment is not limited to willful violations, as penalties for unlawful acts are; and the payment is collected solely by the IRS through the normal means of taxation…. None of this is to say that payment is not intended to induce the purchase of health insurance. But the mandate need not be read to declare that failing to do so is unlawful. Neither the Affordable Care Act nor any other law attaches negative legal consequences to not buying health insurance, beyond requiring a payment to the IRS. And Congress’s choice of language – stating that individuals “shall” obtain insurance or pay a “penalty” – does not require reading §5000A as punishing unlawful conduct. It may also be read as imposing a tax on those who go without insurance…(c) Even if the mandate may reasonably be characterized as a tax, it must still comply with the Direct Tax Clause, which provides: “No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.”… A tax on going without health insurance is not like a capitation or other direct tax under this Court’s precedents. it therefore need not be apportioned so that each State pays in proportion to its population.5 Chief Justice Roberts, joined by Justice Breyer and Justice Kagan, concluded in Part IV that the Medicaid expansion violates the Constitution by threatening States with the loss of their existing Medicaid funding if they decline to comply with the expansion…(a) The Spending Clause grants Congress the power “to pay the Debts and provide for the… general Welfare of the United States.” … Congress may use this power to establish cooperative state-federal Spending Clause programs. The legitimacy of Spending Clause legislation, however, depends on whether a State voluntarily and knowingly accepts the terms of such programs…. ” Constitution simply does not give Congress the authority to require the States to regulate”…. When Congress threatens to terminate other grants as a means of pressuring the States to accept a Spending Clause program, the legislation runs counter to this Nation’s system of federalism.(b) Section 1396c gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to penalize States that choose not to participate in the Medicaid expansion by taking away their existing Medicaid funding… The threatened loss of over 10 percent of a State’s overall budget is economic dragooning that leaves the States with no real option but to acquiesce in the Medicaid expansion. The Government claims that the expansion is properly viewed as only a modification of an existing program, and that this modification is permissible because Congress reserved the “right to alter, amend, or repeal any provision” of Medicaid… But the expansion accomplishes a shift in kind, not merely degree. The original program was designed to cover medical services for particular categories of vulnerable individuals. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid is transformed into a program to meet the health care needs of the entire nonelderly population with income below 133 percent of the poverty level. A State could hardly anticipate that Congress’s reservation of the right to “alter” or “amend” the Medicaid program expansion thus violates the Constitution by threatening States with the loss of their existing Medicaid funding if they decline to comply with the expansion.(c) The constitutional violation is fully remedied by precluding the Secretary from applying §1396c to withdraw existing Medicaid funds for failure to comply with the requirements set out in the expansion… The other provisions of the Affordable Care Act are not affected. Congress would have wanted the rest of the Act to stand, had it known that States would have a genuine choice whether to participate in the Medicaid expansion…6 Justice Ginsburg, joined by Justice Sotomayor, is of the view that the Spending Clause does not preclude a Secretary from withholding Medicaid funds based on a State’s refusal to comply with the expanded Medicaid program. But given the majority view, she agrees with THE CHIEF JUSTICE’s conclusion in Part IV-B that the Medicaid Act’s severability clause, 42 U. S. C. §130, determines the appropriate remedy. Because THE CHIEF JUSTICE finds the withholding – not the granting – of federal funds incompatible with the Spending Clause, Congress’ extension of Medicaid remains available to any State that affirms its willingness to participate. Even absent 1303’s command, the Court would have no warrant to invalidate the funding offered by the Medicaid expansion, and surely no basis to tear down the ACA in its entirety. When a court confronts an unconstitutional statute, its endeavor must be to conserve, not destroy, the legislation… Roberts, C.J., announced the judgement of the Court and delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Parts I, II, and III-C, in which Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, J.J., joined; and an opinion with respect to Parts III-A, III-B, and III-D. Ginsburg, J. filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, in which Sotomayor, J. joined, and in which Beyer and Kagan, J.J., joined as to Parts I, II, III, and IV. Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito, J.J., filed a dissenting opinion. Thomas, J. filed a dissenting opinion. Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. Argued March 25, 2014 – Decided June 30, 2014 Ballotpedia provided information about Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, mandated that insurance plans must cover preventative healthcare – which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services later interpreted to include contraception – at no cost. Employers that didn’t provide this benefit in their health insurance plan would face fines. Religious organizations argued that being required to cover birth control violated religious freedoms. Religious employers and nonprofits were exempted from the requirement, but religious for-profit corporations were not.Hobby Lobby, a company that describes itself as “operating… in a manner consistent with Biblical principals,” sued the secretary of health and human services, Kathleen Sebelius, on September 12, 2012. The company sought exemptions from coverage of four different contraceptives – two emergency morning-after pills and two intrauterine devices (IUDs) – on the basis that those contraceptives violated their religious beliefs. The company did not argue against providing other forms of contraception.The district court denied the company’s request for a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the mandate, a judgement that was affirmed upon review by a two-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court also denied the request, at which point Hobby Lobby requested – and was granted – a hearing by the full Tenth Circuit Court. The Tenth Circuit reversed the opinion of a two-judge panel and ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby, holding that closely held religious corporations were protected by both the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.Similarly, Conestoga Wood Specialties was a company owned by a Mennonite family who objected to contraceptives that could potentially cause an abortion. In July 2013, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Conestoga Wood Specialties on the grounds that for-profit corporations cannot engage in religious exercise.To resolve the discrepancy, the Supreme Court granted certiorari on November 25, 2013, and oral argument on March 24, 2014. By the time the case made it to the Supreme Court, Kathleen Sebelius was no longer the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sylvia Mathews Burwell was sworn in as the 22nd Secretary of Health and Human Services on June 9, 2014. The Supreme Court limited oral arguments to the following question: “Whether RFRA allows a for-profit corporation to deny its employees the health coverage of contraceptives to which the employees are otherwise entitled by federal law, based on the religious objections of the corporation’s owners.” RFRA is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It was passed by Congress in 1993. It is described this way: Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 – Prohibits any agency, department, or official of the United States or any State (the government) from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except that the government may burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person: (1) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. The Supreme Court ruled on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., on June 30, 2014. From the syllabus: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) prohibits the “Government substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability” unless the Government “demonstrates that application of the burden to the person – (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.”… (b) As amended by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), RFRA covers “any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.”…At issue here are regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), which, as relevant here, requires specified employers’ group health plans to furnish “preventative care and screenings” for women without “any cost sharing requirements.”… Congress did not specify what types of preventative care must be covered; it authorized the Health Resources and Service Administration, a component of HHS, to decide… …Nonexempt employers are generally required to provide coverage for the 20 contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including the 4 that have an effect of preventing an already fertilized egg from developing any further by inhibiting its attachment to the uterus…. NOTE: The description of the 4 contraceptive methods “…that have an effect of preventing an already fertilized egg from developing any further by inhibiting its attachment to the uterus…” is entirely incorrect. On May 1, 2013, LiveScience posted an article titled: “How Does Plan B Work?” It was written by Rachael Rettner. From the article: …The drug mainly prevents pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, and by preventing the fertilization of an egg. Dr. Christopher Estes, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told MyHealthNewsDaily in a 2011 interview. While the drug causes changes to the lining of the uterus, it does not interfere with the implantation of a fertilized egg, Estes said. In fact, in order to stabilize the pregnancies of women who’ve suffered miscarriages, doctors give a drug very similar to Plan B, Estes said.The drug will not work if a woman is already pregnant. (It has no effect on an existing pregnancy, according to Teva.) Emergency contraception will not cause an abortion… Planned Parenthood posted information about IUD’s (Intrauterine Device): There are 5 different brands of IUDs that are FDA approved for use in the United States: Paraguard, Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla. These IUDs are divided into two types: copper IUDs (Paraguard) and hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla)……Both copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by changing the way sperm cells move so it can’t get to an egg. If sperm can’t make it to an egg, pregnancy can’t happen.The Paraguard IUD uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Sperm doesn’t like copper, so the Paraguard IUD makes it almost impossible for sperm to get to that egg.The hormones in Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla IUDs prevent pregnancy in two ways: 1) they thicken the mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm, and 2) the hormones also sometimes stop eggs from leaving your ovaries (called ovulation), which means there’s no egg for a sperm to fertilize. No egg, no pregnancy… Now that I’ve provided accurate information about these forms of birth control – that absolutely do not prevent “an already fertilized egg from developing any further by inhibiting its attachment to the uterus”, we can return to the syllabus of the Supreme Court. …Religious employers, such as churches, are exempt from this contraceptive mandate. HHS has also effectively exempted religious nonprofit organizations with religious objections to providing coverage for contraceptive services. Under this accommodation, the insurance issuer must exclude contraceptive coverage from the employer’s plan and provide plan participants with separate payments for contraceptive services without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on the employer, its insurance plan, or its employee beneficiaries.In these cases, the owners of three closely held for-profit corporations have sincere Christian beliefs that life begins at conception and that it would violate their religion to facilitate access to contraceptive drugs or devices that operate after that point. In separate actions, they sued HHS and other federal officials and agencies (collectively HHS) under RFRA and the Free Exercise Clause, seeking to enjoin application of the contraceptive mandate insofar as it requires them to provide health coverage for the four objectionable contraceptives. In No. 13-356, the District Court denied the Hahns and their company – Conestoga Wood Specialties – a preliminary injunction. Affirming, the Third Circuit held that a for-profit corporation could not “engage in religious exercise” under RFRA or the First Amendment, and that the mandate imposed no requirements on the Hahns in their personal capacity. In No. 13-354, the Greens, their children, and their companies – Hobby Lobby Stores and Mardel – were also denied a preliminary injunction, but the Tenth Circuit reversed. It held that the Green’s businesses are “persons” under RFRA, and that the corporations had established a likelihood of success on their RFRA claim because of the contraceptive mandate substantially burdened their exercise of religion and HHS had not demonstrated a compelling interest in enforcing the mandate against them; in the alternative, the court held that HHS had not proved that the mandate was the “least restrictive means” of furthering a compelling governmental interest.Held. As applied to closely held corporations, the HHS regulations imposing the contraceptive mandate violate RFRA…(a) RFRA applies to regulations that govern the activities of closely held for-profit corporations liek Conestoga, Hobby Lobby, and Mardel.(b) HHS argues that the companies cannot sue because they are for-profit corporations, and that the owners cannot sue because the regulations apply only to the companies, but that would leave merchants with a difficult choice: give up the right to seek judicial protection on their religious liberty or forgo the benefits of operating as a corporation. RFRA’s text shows that Congress designed the statute to provide very broad protection from religious liberty that it did not intent to put merchants to such a choice. It employed the familiar legal fiction of including corporations within RFRA’s definition of “persons,” but the purpose of extending the rights to corporations is to protect the rights of people associated with the corporation, including shareholders, officers, and employees. Protecting the free-exercise rights of closely held corporations thus protects the religious liberty of the humans who own and control them.(2) HHS and the dissent make several unpersuasive arguments.(i) Nothing in RFRA suggests a congressional intent to depart from the Dictionary Act definition of “person” which “include corporations… as well as individuals.”… The Court has entertained RFRA and free-exercise claims brought by nonprofit corporations… And HHS’s concession that a nonprofit corporation can be a “person” under RFRA effectively dispatches any argument that the term does not reach for-profit corporations; no conceivable definition of “person” includes natural persons and non-profit corporations, but not for-profit corporations… Why did Justice Alito think corporations are people? History.com provides an answer to that question. Here are the main points: …But it wasn’t until the 1886 case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Rail Road that the Court appeared to grant a corporation the same rights as an individual under the 14th Amendment. The case is remembered less for the decision itself – the state had improperly assessed taxes to the railroad company – than for a headnote added to it by the court reporter at the time, which quoted Chief Justice Morrison Waite as saying: “The Court does not wish to hear argument on the question whether the provision in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution which forbids a state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws applies to these corporations. We are all of the opinion that it does.”In later cases, this headnote would be treated as an official part of the verdict, and Wait’s conclusion reaffirmed in subsequent decisions by the Court, from an 1888 case involving a steel-mining company to the 1978 Bellotti decision, which granted corporations the right to spend unlimited funds on ballot initiatives as part of their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.In the 2020 case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC), the most sweeping expansion of corporate rights yet, the Supreme Court cited Bellotti in its highly controversial 5-4 ruling that political speech by corporations is a form of free speech that is also covered under the First Amendment. In 2014’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, another 5-4 ruling by the Court granted the right of closely-held companies, which aren’t traded on the stock market, to file for exemptions to federal laws on religious grounds… And now we return to the Supreme Court’s ruling … (ii) HHS and the dissent nonetheless argue that RFRA does not cover Conestoga, Hobby Lobby and Mardel because they cannot “exercise… religion.” They offer no persuasive explanation for this conclusion. The corporate form alone cannot explain it because RFRA indisputably protects nonprofit corporations. And the profit-making objective of the corporations cannot explain it because the Court has entertained the free enterprise claims of individuals who were attempting to make a profit as retail merchants… Business practices compelled or limited by the tenets of the “exercise of religion” that this Court set out in Employment Div., Dept. of Human Resources of Ore. v. Smith, 494 U. S. 872, 877. Any suggestion that for-profit corporations are incapable of exercising religion because their purpose is simply to make money flies in the face of modern corporate law. States, including those in which the plaintiff corporations were incorporated, authorize corporations to pursue any lawful purpose or business, including the pursuit of profit in conformity with the owner’s religious principles…. I’m not going to bother putting in the rest of the Court’s syllabus, because it just repeats itself over and over. Alito,J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C.J., and Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas, J.J., joined. Kennedy, J. filed a concurring opinion. Ginsburg, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Sotomayor J., joined and in which Bryer and Kagan JJ., joined as to all but Part III-C-i. Breyer and Kagan, JJ., filed a dissenting opinion. United States House of Representative vs. Sylvia Mathews Burwell This Complaint for this case was filed on November 21, 2014. The opinion was released on May 16, 2016. On July 10, 2014, The New York Times posted an article titled: “Suit Against Obama to Focus on Health Law, Boehner Says”. It was written by Jonathan Weisman. From the article: Speaker John A. Boehner’s lawsuit against President Obama will focus on changes to the health law that Mr. Boehner says should have been left to Congress, according to a statement issued Thursday by the speaker’s office.By narrowly focusing the legal action on the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Boehner will sidestep the more politically problematic issue involving Mr. Obama’s executive action offering work permits for some illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.Last month, Mr. Boehner announced his intention to seek legislation allowing the House to sue the president over his use of executive actions, a reflection of charges by congressional Republicans that the president has overreached his authority. On Thursday, Mr. Boehner said the lawsuit would specifically challenge the president’s decision to delay imposing penalties on employers who do not offer health insurance to employees in compliance with the Affordable Care Act.“The current president believes he has the power to make his own laws – at times even boasting about it,” Mr. Boehner said in his statement. “He hasn’t said that if Congress won’t make the laws he wants, he’ll go ahead and make them himself, and in the case of the employer mandate in his health care law, that’s exactly what he did.”“If this president can get away with making his own laws, future presidents will have the ability to as well,” the speaker added. “The House has an obligation to stand up for the legislative branch, and the Constitution, and that is exactly what we will do.”……Mr. Boehner sought to clarify that he was not challenging Mr. Obama’s right to issue executive orders, only his right to change legislation without congressional approval……The House Rules Committee has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday to consider the legislation that would authorize the lawsuit. On July 30, 2014, H.RES. 676 was presented to the House of Representatives for a vote. It was sponsored by Pete Sessions (Republican – Texas). From the resolution: RESOLUTIONThat the Speaker is authorized to initiate or intervene in one or more civil actions on behalf of the House of Representatives in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction to seek any appropriate relief regarding the failure of the President, the head of any department or agency, or any other officer or employee of the executive branch, to act in a manner consistent with that official’s duties under the Constitution and laws of the United States with respect to implementation of any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, title I or subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, including any amendment made by such provision, or any other related provision of law, including a failure to provide such provision.Sec. 2 The Speaker shall notify the House of Representatives of a decision to initiate any such provision.Sec. 3 (a) The Office of the General Counsel of the House of Representatives. at the direction of the Speaker, shall represent the House in any civil action initiated, or in which the House intervenes, pursuant to this resolution, and may employ the services of outside counsel and other experts for this purpose.(b) The chair of the Committee on House Administration shall cause to be printed in the Congressional Record a statement setting forth the aggregate amounts expended by the Office of General Counsel on outside counsel and other experts pursuant to subsection (a) on a quarterly basis. Such statement shall be submitted for printing not more than 30 days after the expiration of each such period. On July 30, 2014, The Hill posted an article titled: “House votes to sue Obama”. It was written by Christina Marcos. From the article: The House voted Wednesday to rebuke President Obama by passing a resolution authorizing a lawsuit against his use of executive power.The 225-201 vote fell along party lines, with five Republicans voting against the measure. No Democrats supported it.The lawsuit is a direct response to GOP frustration with Obama’s wide-ranging use of executive power.Republicans have been particularly angry over Obama’s decision to ignore several deadlines in the Affordable Care Act and his decision to defer the deportation of certain young people who illegally immigrated to the United States as children……Rather than seeking to impeach Obama, however, the GOP leaders in the House rallied around the lawsuit as a way of bottling up grassroots anger that would not backfire on Republicans in an election year….…Republicans argued the employer mandate delay was part of a pattern in which the Obama administration has selectively enforced the law……It is unclear how much the lawsuit will cost. House Administration Committee Chairwoman Candice Miller (R-Mich.) said during her floor debate that Republicans “don’t know yet” because contracts haven’t been finalized and the length of the litigation is unknown.Democrats called on the GOP to provide an estimate of how much taxpayer money will be spent on moving the lawsuit through the judicial system… On November 11, 2014, Politico posted an article titled: “House files Obamacare lawsuit”. It was written by Laruren French. From the article: The House of Representatives filed a long-awaited lawsuit Friday, alleging that the Obama administration ignored key aspects of its health care reform law when implementing the sweeping new government program.The litigation, authorized by the House in July, addresses only the Affordable Care Act and makes no mention of immigration. However, the filing of the suit the morning after Obama unveiled his major executive action on immigration was clearly intended to underscore GOP lawmakers’ desire to paint the president as a chief executive intent on overstepping his legal bounds…..President Barack Obama is not named as a defendant; the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, names as defendants Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and their departments……The new lawsuit claims that two specific aspects of implementation of the Obamacare law violated the terms of the legislation.First, the suit complains about repeated delays of the employer mandate, which was supposed to kick in in January of this year. The administration delayed the requirement until next year for some employers and until 2016 for others.Second, the litigation challenges payments to insurance companies under a cost-sharing provision that the suit argues was never authorized by law. Such “offset” payments amounted to $3 billion in 2014 and could total $175 billion over 10 years, the House claims……The suit was filed for the House by George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley. The liberal critic of Obama’s alleged executive overreach is the third attorney to handle the matter for the House. It was assigned to Judge Rosemary Collyer, who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush.Two conservative litigators, David Rivkin of BakerHostetler and Bill Burck of Quinn Emanuel, were retained to handle the case earlier in the year. However, aides say both backed out after being pressured by other clients to drop the litigation……Pelosi’s office posted Turley’s contract online Friday. The constitutional law expert is receiving $500 an hour to represent the House but the contract tops out a $350,000.The contract also bars Turley from discussing the case with the media, though law students from George Washington University can work on the lawsuit.The contract ends on Jan. 3, 2015, or when the District Court rules on the lawsuit. On November 21, 2014, The House of Representatives filed its complaint to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. From the complaint: The Plaintiff was: United States House of Representatives. The Defendants were: Sylvia Mathews Burwell – in her official capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.United States Department of Health and Human ServicesJacob J, Lew – in his official capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of TreasuryUnited States Department of Treasury This complaint is 28 pages long, so I’m only going to post the most important parts here. COMPLAINT – PRELIMINARY STATEMENTThis case arises out of unconstitutional and unlawful actions taken by the Administration of President Barack Obama (the “Administration”) in respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act…. (“ACA”). In challenging these actions, this case addresses fundamental issues regarding the limits of Executive power under our constitutional form of government, and the continued viability of the separation of powers doctrine upon which “the whole American fabric has been erected.”… This lawsuit thus raises issues of exceptional importance, not only to plaintiff United States House of Representatives, but also to the entire nation.One fundamental tenet of our divided-power system of government is that all legislative power is vested in Congress, and Congress alone. U.S. Const. art. I, § 1 (“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”) This legislative power may be exercised only through the “single, finely wrought, and exhaustively considered process,” … that is familiar to us all, namely, the passage of identical bills by the House of Representatives and the Senate (bicameralism), followed by delivery to the President for his signature or veto (presentment). … Beyond the President’s role in the presentment process, the Constitution does not permit the Executive Branch to enact laws, or to amend or repeal duly enacted laws, including by adopting rules or taking other unilateral actions that have such an effect.Equally fundamental is the constitutional ban on the expenditure of any public funds by any branch of the federal government, including the Executive Branch, absent enactment of a law appropriating such funds: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law… Congress thus has a necessary role – indeed, the defining role – in our system over any expenditure of public funds by virtue of the fact that it must first pass identical appropriations bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate – and such bills become law – before any public funds may be expended, and then only as directed in such duly enacted appropriation laws. The Executive Branch has no authority to expend public funds that have no been thus appropriated.The Administration has made no secret of its willingness, not withstanding Article I of the Constitution, to act without Congress when Congress declines to enact laws that the Administration desires. Not only is there no license for the Administration to “go it alone” in our system, but such unilateral action is directly barred by Article I. Despite such fundamental constitutional limitations, the Administration repeatedly has abused its power by using executive action as a substitute for legislation. This suit challenges two such abuses: A. Defendants Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Jacob J. Lew, Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, and the respective Executive Branch departments they head, have violated, and are continuing to violate, the Constitution by directing, paying, and continuing to pay, public funds to certain insurance companies to implement a program authorized by the ACA, but for which no funds have been appropriated. Such unconstitutional payments are estimated to exceed $3 billion in Fiscal Year 2014, and total approximately $175 billion over the next ten succeeding Fiscal Years. Defendants’ expenditure of taxpayer funds, absent a congressional appropriation, plainly is unconstitutional as it violates Article I of the Constitution; it also violates statutory law……Defendants Lew and the United States Department of the Treasury have also violated the Constitution by issuing a regulation that effectively amends ACA provisions that impose mandates on certain employers and establish a deadline by which such employers must comply with those mandates. These unconstitutional actions are estimated to cost federal taxpayers at least $12 billion.The House now brings this civil action for declaratory and injunctive relief to halt these unconstitutional and unlawful actions which usurp the House’s Article I legislative powers…. Here is a summary of the Allegations: The Constitution Vests the Congress, Not the Executive, with the Authority to Legislate, Including the Authority to Legislate to Appropriate Public FundsAuthorizing Legislation Is Distinct from Appropriation LegislationThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – the ACA – Becomes LawThe Administration Expends Public Funds That Congress Has Not AppropriatedThe Administration Unilaterally Amends Employer Mandate Provisions of the ACA Here is a summary of the Claims for Relief: COUNT 1: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, of the Constitution.…WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate Article I, section 9, clause 7, of the Constitution, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Department from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating funds for such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.COUNT II: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate Article I, Section I, and Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 of the Constitution)… The House has been injured, and will continue to be injured, by defendants’ unconstitutional actions which, among other things, usurp the House’s legislative authority.…WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate Article I, section I, and Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Department from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating funds for such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.COUNT III: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate 31 U.S.C. § 1324)…WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate section 1324 of title 31, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Department from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating funds for such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.COUNT IV: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate the ACA…In Section 1401 of the ACA, Congress established a new program – the Section 1401 Refundable Tax Credit Program – and elsewhere in the ACA, appropriated funds for that program by expressly linking the program to the permanent appropriation for refunds due under the IRC……In Section 1402 of the ACA, Congress established another new program – the Section 1402 Offset Program. However, in stark contrast to the Section 1401 Refundable Tax Credit Program, Congress did not provide any appropriation for the Section 1402 Offset Program, either by linking that program to the permanent appropriation for refunds due under the IRC… or otherwise.…Congress thereby manifested its intent that the Section 1402 Offset Program be funded by temporary appropriations, if at all, and that no Section 1402 Offset Program payments be made absent such a temporary appropriation.Congress has not enacted any temporary appropriation for the Section 1402 Offset Program, and defendants cannot imply from mere authorizing the language in ACA § 1402 the authority to expend funds. Moreover, defendants cannot convert ACA § 1402 into a permanent appropriation by executive fiat or unilateral action……WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate the ACA, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Program from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I.COUNT V: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate the Administrative Procedure Act…WHEREFORE, the HOUSE prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate the APA, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Department from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating funds for such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.COUNT V: Section 1402 Offset Program Payments to Insurers Violate the Administrative Procedure Act…The House has no adequate or available administrative remedy, and/or any effort to obtain an administrative remedy would be futile.WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court (i) declare that defendants’ Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers violate the APA, and (ii) enjoin defendants Lew and the Treasury Department from making any additional Section 1402 Offset Program payments to Insurers unless and until a law appropriating funds for such payments is enacted in accordance with Article I of the Constitution.Count VI: Treasury Rule pmbl. § XV.D.6.a(1)ViolatesArticle I, Section 1and Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 of the Constitution…Defendants Lew and the Treasury Department may not amend or repeal any provisions of the ACA.By virtue of Treasury Rule pmbl. § XV.D.6.a(1), defendants Lew and the Treasury Department effectively have amended section 1513(d) of the ACA, which provides that “he amendments made by this section shall apply to months beginning after December 31, 2013″……By thus effectively amending section 1513(d) of the ACA, defendants Lew and the Treasury Department have violated the Constitution, in particular, Article 1, section 1, which vests Congress “ll legislative Powers,” and Article I, section 7, clause 2, requiring passage by both the House and Senate, and then presentment to the President……WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court declare that Treasury Rule, pmbl. § XV.D.6.a(1) violates Article I, section 1, and Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution.COUNT VII: Treasury Rule, pmbl. § XV.D.7.a Violates Article I, Section 1and Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 of the Constitution…By effectively amending section of the IRC, defendants Lew and the Treasury Department have violated the Constitution, in particular, Article I, section 1, which vests in the Congress “ll legislative Powers,” and Article I, section 7, clause 2, requiring passage by both the House and the Senate and then presentment to the President……WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court declare that Treasury Rule, pmbl. § XV.D.7.aviolatesArticle I, section 1 and Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution.COUNT VIII: Treasury Rule, pt. 54, §§ 54.4980H-4(a), 54.4980H-5(a) Violate Article I, Section 1 and Article I, Section 7, Clause 2of the Constitution…By virtue of Treasury Rule, pt. 54, §§ 54.4980H-4(a), 54.4980H-5(a), defendants Lew and the Treasury Department effectively have amended section 4908H of the IRC, which mandates that applicable large employers offer affordable coverage to all of their FTEs to avoid the tax penalties imposed by 4908H(a)-(b).By effectively amending section 4908H of the IRC, defendants Lew and the Treasury Department have violated the Constitution, in particular, Article I, section 1, which vests in the Congress “ll legislative Powers,” and Article I, section 7, clause 2, requiring passage by both the House and the Senate, and then to the President……WHEREFORE, the House prays that the Court declare that Treasury Rule pt. 54, §§ 54.4980H-4(a), 54.4980H-5(a)violate Article I, section 1 and Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution… On September 9, 2015, United States District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, issued her ruling. The ruling is 43 pages long. I will be posting the most important parts here. MEMORANDUM OPINIONArticle I of the United States Constitution established Congress, which comprises a House of Representatives and a Senate. U.S. Const. art. I, § 1. Only these two bodies, acting together, can pass laws – including laws necessary to spend public money. In this respect, Article I is very clear: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law……Through this lawsuit, the House of Representatives complains that Sylvia Burwell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Jacob Lew, the Secretary of the Treasury, and their respective departments (collectively the Secretaries) have spend billions of unappropriated dollars to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The House further alleges that Secretary Lew and Treasury have, under the guise of implementing regulations, effectively amended the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate by delaying its effect and narrowing its scope.The Secretaries move to dismiss, arguing that the House lacks standing to sue. They argue that only the Executive has authority to implement the laws, and urge this Court to stay out of a quintessentially political fight in which the House is already well armed. They House opposes, adamant that it has been injured in several concrete ways, none of which can be ameliorated through the usual political processes.The only issue before the Court is whether the House can sue the Secretaries; the merits of this lawsuit await another day. Although no precedent dictates the outcome, the case implicates the constitutionality of another Branch’s actions and thus merits an “especially rigorous” standing analysis… The House sues, as an institutional plaintiff, to preserve its power of the purse and to maintain constitutional equilibrium between the Executive and the Legislature. If its non-appropriation claims have merit, which the Secretaries deny, the House has been injured in a concrete and particular way that is traceable to the Secretaries and redeemable in court. The Court concludes that the House has standing to pursue those constitutional claims.In contrast, the House’s claims that Secretary Lew improperly amended the Affordable Care Act concern only the implementation of a statute, not adherence to any specific constitutional requirement. The House does not have standing to pursue those claims. The Secretaries’ motion to dismiss will be denied as to the former and granted to the latter……Statutory OverviewThe 111th Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act… “to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and decrease the cost of health care”… No party disputes here whether the ACA was validly adopted by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the President……CONCLUSIONThe House of Representatives has standing to pursue its allegations that the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury violated Article I § 9, cl. 7 of the Constitution when they spent public monies that were not appropriated by the Congress. The Secretaries hotly disputed that any violation has occurred, maintaining that the Section 1402 “cost sharing reduction payments are being made as part of a mandatory payment program that Congress has fully appropriated.”… The Court stresses that the merits have not been briefed or decided; only the question of standing has been determined.The Secretaries’ motion to dismiss Dkt. 20, will be granted in part and denied in part. The following Counts of the Complaint will be dismissed: II, III, IV, V, in pat, VI, VII, and VIII. Count I remains, as does Count V (to the extent predicated on a constitutional violation). Furthermore, the House’s motion to strike, Dkt. 38, will be denied. The parties will be directed to meet, confer, and file a proposed schedule for briefing dispositive motions… On September 25, 2015, HuffPost posted an article titled: “With John Boehner Gone, It’s Time For The House To Drop Its Obamacare Lawsuit”. It was written by Cristian Farias. From the article: The seismic announcement that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will resign at the end of October brings a fresh focus on the House’s federal lawsuit against the Obama administration over certain funding provisions in the Affordable Care Act.Boehner scored a win earlier this month when U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer allowed the suit to move forward. At the time, he thanked the court for allowing him to challenge President Barack Obama’s “historic overreach” – arguing, essentially, that the government usurped Congress’ constitutional “power of the purse” by spending money lawmakers never approved of. That’s the bottom line of Boehner’s case, and its a serious charge that litigation could ultimately prove.But Collyer’s ruling had nothing to do with that. All it decided was whether the House had “standing” to sue another branch of government. Standing is a basic constitutional requirement every litigant must meet, but legal scholars are deeply skeptical that an “institutional plaintiff” like the House can do so. Therefore, the government is now seeking an expedited review of Collyer’s ruling by a higher court.In court papers this week, lawyers for the Obama administration called Collyer’s ruling ruling a “momentous step,” and argued that letting it go unchallenged would greatly damage the separation of powers, opening the door to a flurry of lawsuits between Congress and the president over political questions – with federal courts acting as referees……These signs point to a bruising loss for the House on the preliminary issue of standing, for which the Obama administration has a very strong claim on appeal. With Boehner on his way out, the House legal team would be wise to do early damage control and drop this ill-advised lawsuit once and for all. On October 24, 2014, Politico posted an article titled: “What happened to that GOP lawsuit?” It was written by Josh Gerstein. From the article: …House Speaker John Beohner came out swinging hard last June when he announced that his chamber would take President Barack Obama to court. The suit, charging that the president grossly exceeded his constitutional authority by failing to implement portions of the Obamacare law, was billed as an election-season rallying point for aggrieved Republicans. but days before the midterms, the House’s legal guns seem to have fallen silent. Lawyers close to the process said they originally expected the legal challenge to be filed in September, but now they don’t expect any action before the elections……Whatever the reason, the delay means the core of the suit could effectively be moot before the Obama administration even has to respond to it in court. The case was expected to center on an employer mandate provision that Obama twice delayed but is now set to kick in for many employers on Jan. 1……While early on Boehner said that the suit would focus on a delay Obama ordered in enforcement of the law’s employer mandate, sources say lawyers are now considering expanding the case beyond the originally announced subject because the mandate is likely to soon start to go into effect and because there might be more effective targets.The employer mandate requirement is set to kick in for large employers in January, although the administration says it won’t enforce the requirement for employers with 50 to 100 employees until 2016. The federal government ordinarily has 60 days to file a former answer to litigation, meaning that much of the mandate is likely to be in effect by the time anyone has to address the suit in court, let alone by the time the suit is resolved…. On May 12, 2016, United State District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer heard the case again in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This time, the plaintiff was the U.S. House of Representatives. The defendant was Sylvia Matthews Burwell in her official capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. This case was heard after King v.Burwell was decided. That’s how long it took this case to go through the Court system. As such, this opinion references King v. Burwell. The opinion of the Court is 38 pages long. I will post the most significant parts here. OPINIONThis Court previously held that the U.S. House of Representatives “has standing to pursue its allegations that the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and of the Treasury violated Article I, § 9, cl. 7 of the Constitution when they spent public monies that were not appropriated by the Congress”… The merits of that claim are now before the Court.The case involves two sections of the Affordable Care Act: 1401 and 1402. Section 1401 provides tax credits to make insurance premiums more affordable, while Section 1402 reduces deductibles, co-pays, and other means of “cost-sharing” by insurers. Section 1401 was funded by adding it to a preexisting list of permanently-appropriated tax credits and refunds. Section 1402 was not added to that list. The question is whether Section 1402 can nonetheless be funded through the same, permanent appropriation. It cannot.“If the statutory language is plain, we must enforce it according to its terms.” King v Burwell, 135 S. Ct. 2480, 2489 (2015). Although the “meaning – or ambiguity – of certain words or phrases may only become evident when placed in context,” id. the statutory provisions in this case are clear and in isolation and in context. The Affordable Care Act unambiguously appropriates money for Section 1401 premium tax credits but not for Section 1402 reimbursements to insurers. Such an appropriation cannot be inferred.None of Secretaries’ extra-textual arguments – whether based on economics, “unintended” results, or legislative history – is persuasive. The Court will enter judgement in favor of the House of Representatives and enjoin the use of unappropriated monies to fund reimbursements due to insurers under Section 1402. The Court will stay its injunction, however, pending appeal by either or both parties……StandingThe Secretaries invite the Court to revisit its standing analysis. … “Standing represents a jurisdictional requirement which remains open to review at all stages of the litigation” … …The Secretaries believe that they have proven this case to be only about statutory interpretation and implementation… This argument was raised in their motion to dismiss… (“In short, the House has described two relatively straight-forward differences of opinion between the Legislative and Executive Branches as to the interpretation of federal law.”) and addressed the Court’s prior opinion… (“The Secretaries’ primary defense will be that an appropriation has been made, which will require reading the statute. But that is an antecedent determination to a constitutional claim.”).The Court has not changed its mind. While it is true that the Secretaries’ defense in this case requires interpreting federal statues, the House of Representatives’ claim under the Appropriation’s Clause does not. … (“No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”) Instead, the interpretation of a federal statute only becomes necessary when a defendant raises a statute as a defense. Such a defense does not turn a constitutional claim into a statutory dispute. The House’s injury depends on the Constitutional and not on the U.S. Code. The Secretaries’ standing argument will be denied.CONCLUSION The Court will grant summary judgement to the House of Representatives and enter judgement in its favor. The Court will also enjoin any further reimbursements under Section 1402 until a valid appropriation is in place. However, the Court will stay its injunction pending any appeal by the parties… On May 16, 2016, SCOTUSblog posted an article titled: “Judge: Billions spent illegally on ACA benefits”. It was written by Lyle Denniston. From the article: The often-challenged Affordable Care Act suffered a potentially crippling constitutional blow in federal court on Thursday, when a trial judge in Washington D.C., ruled that the government had wrongly spent billions of dollars in the past two years to reimburse insurance companies for providing health coverage at lower costs to low- and moderate-income consumers.U.S. Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, in a thirty-eight page ruling upholding a constitutional challenge pursued by the U.S. House of Representatives, did not take any immediate action to stop that spending. Instead, she put her decision on hold to allow it to be challenged in an appeal – either to a federal court of appeals or directly to the Supreme Court.It seems quite unlikely that the dispute will be finally settled before President Barack Obama’s term ends in January. The near-term future and ultimate fate of the entire ACA program probably depends on the outcome of this year’s presidential election, in which it has already been a major issue……There is no doubt that the administration will pursue an appeal of Collyer’s new ruling because this particular controversy goes to the heart of whether the private insurance industry will remain willing to provide lower-cost health coverage through the ACA exchanges, or marketplaces, that have now enrolled millions of consumers.At issue in the case, as decided on Thursday, was part of the ACA program that required insurance companies to provide coverage to low- and moderate-income consumer, mainly through policies sold on the exchanges, with the costs to the consumers lowered by reduced co-pays and back-up or co-insurance, along with lower deductibles. The insurance companies, however, do not have to absorb those costs; the ACA mandated that the government directly reimburse such “cost-sharing” arrangements, with federal funds.Along with that part of the ACA, the law also provided tax credits to consumers at low or moderate income levels to help them afford the premiums charged for the insurance they obtained on the exchanges.Together, the two programs were estimated to cost the government about $5 billion a year. In her new ruling, Collyer decided that the cost-sharing program, as implemented since January 2014, has been spending money that Congress did not approve. It is unconstitutional, she ruled, because no money can be taken out of the federal treasury if it has not been specifically provided by act of Congress… King v. Burwell The full name of this case is: David King, et al, Petitioners, vs. Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. This case was argued on March 4, 2015. The Supreme Court released their decision on June 25, 2015. On March 4, 2015, Bustle posted an article titled: “Who is David King, The SCOUTS Obamacare Plaintiff?” It was written by Chris Tognotti. From the article: Right now, the health insurance plans of millions of American hang in the balance as the Supreme Court considers King v. Burwell, a challenge to the law’s system of federal subsidies. It’s the high court challenge that conservatives have eagerly awaiting, the first major threat to President Obama’s signature achievement since the Supreme Court upheld the law 5-4 back in 2012. With so much on the line, it makes sense that people want to know a little about the figures involved. So, who is the lead plaintiff in King v. Burwell? Why, it’s King, of course – David King, a 64-year-old Virginia man with anti-Obama views who wants to bring the whole Affordable Care Act down, if he can…….Here’s the basic idea: thanks to the subsidies built into the health care law, King was able to purchase health care at less than half the cost it would have been otherwise – the full cost would have been $648 per month, but $373 of that would have been subsidized. This is despite the fact that Virginia’s GOP-led state government refused to implement a health insurance exchange after the law’s passage – when that happens, the federal government’s insurance exchanges have filled the gap, and subsidized the plans.Ah, but here’s the rub. King didn’t want to have health insurance, but was forced to by virtue of Obamacare’s individual mandate. I know what you might be thinking – you sometimes hear about healthy, cavalier young people wanting to forgo coverage, but why is a man in his mid-60s so confident that he won’t need medical care? This is a question, I presume, that he himself must know the answer to……In any case, King was frustrated, especially by the fact that it the subsidies didn’t exist, he wouldn’t have to buy health insurance. Given that the full, adjusted cost of his plan would have been $648, and he earned $39,000 per year as a limo driver, he would’ve been granted an exemption from the mandate if the subsidies weren’t in effect. At the post-subsidy $275 per month cost, however, he was on the hook to get covered. So he and a handful of fellow plaintiffs decided to sue over the subsidy system itself, arguing for a woefully narrow interpretation of the law which says that only state-run exchanges can deliver subsidies… The Supreme Court heard the King v. Burwell case argued on March 4, 2015. They released their decision on the case on June 25, 2015. Here is the syllabus of the decision: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act grew out of a long history of failed health insurance reform. In the 1990s, several States sought to expand access to coverage by imposing a pair of insurance market regulations – a “guaranteed issue” requirement, which bars insurers from denying coverage to any person because of his health, and a “community rating” requirement, which bars insurers from charging a person higher premiums for the same reason. The reforms achieved the goal of expanding access to coverage, but they also encouraged people to wait until they got sick to buy insurance. The result was an economic “death spiral”: premiums rose, the number of people buying insurance declined, and insurers left the market entirely.In 2006, however, Massachusetts discovered a way to make the guaranteed issue and community rating requirements work – by requiring individuals to buy insurance and by providing tax credits to certain individuals to make insurance more affordable. The combination of these three reforms – insurance market regulations, a coverage mandate, and tax credits – enabled Massachusetts to drastically reduce its uninsured rate.The Affordable Care Act adopts a version of the three key reforms that made the Massachusetts system successful. First, the Act adopts the guaranteed issue and community rating requirements…. Second, the Act generally requires individuals to maintain health insurance coverage or make a payment to the IRS, unless the cost of buying insurance would exceed eight percent of that individual’s income… And third, the Act seeks to make insurance more affordable by giving refundable tax credits to individuals with household incomes between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line……In addition to those three reforms, the Act requires the creation of an “Exchange” in each State – basically, a marketplace that allows people to compare and purchase insurance plans. The Act gives each State the opportunity to establish its own Exchange, but provides that the Federal Government will establish “such Exchange” if the State does not… Relatedly, the Act provides that tax credits “shall be allowed” for any “applicable taxpayer”… but only if the taxpayer has enrolled in an insurance plan through “an Exchange established by the State under ”… An IRS regulation interprets that language as making tax credits available on “an Exchange”, … “regardless of whether the Exchange is established and operated by a State… or by HHS,”…Petitioner are four individuals who live in Virginia, which has a Federal Exchange. They do not wish to purchase health insurance. In their view, Virginia’s Exchange does not qualify as “an Exchange established by the State under ,” so they should not receive any tax credits. That would make the cost of buying insurance more than eight percent of the petitioners’ income, exempting them from the Act’s coverage requirement. As a result of the IRS Rule, however, petitioners would receive tax credits. That would make the cost of buying insurance less than eight percent of their income, and would subject them to the Act’s coverage requirement.Petitioners challenged the IRS Rule in Federal District Court. The District Court dismissed the suit, holding that the Act unambiguously made tax credits available to individuals enrolled through a Federal Exchange. The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed. The Fourth Circuit views the Act as ambiguous and deferred to the IRS’s interpretation under Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U. S. 837.Held: 36B’s tax credits are available to individuals in States that have a Federal Exchange…(a) When analyzing an agency’s interpretation of a statute, this Court often applies the two-step framework announced in Chevron, 467 U. S. 837. But Chevron does not provide the appropriate framework here. The tax credits are one of the Act’s key reforms and whether they are available on Federal Exchanges is a question of deep “economic and political significance”; had Congress wished to assign that question to an agency, it surely would have done so expressly. And it is especially unlikely that Congress would have delegated this decision to the IRS, which has no expertise in crafting health insurance policy of this sort.It is instead the Court’s task to determine the correct reading of Section 36B. If the statutory language is plain, the Court must enforce it according to its terms. But oftentimes the meaning – or ambiguity – of certain words or phrases may only become evident when placed in context. So when deciding whether the language is plain, the Court must read the words “in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme.”……(b) When read in context, the phrase “an Exchange established by the State under 42 U. S. C. §18031]” is properly viewed as ambiguous. The phrase may be limited in its reach to State Exchange. But if could also refer to all Exchanges – both State and Federal – for the purposes of the tax credits. If a State chooses not to follow the directive in Section 18031 to establish an Exchange, the Act tells the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish “such Exchange”… And by using the words “such Exchange,” the Act indicates that the State and Federal Exchanges should be the same. But State and Federal Exchanges differ in a fundamental way if tax credits were only on State Exchanges – one type of Exchange would help make insurance more affordable by providing billions of dollars to the State’s citizens; the other type of Exchange would not. Several other provisions of the Act – e.g., Section 18031(i)(3)(B)’s requirement that all Exchanges create outreach programs to “distribute fair and impartial information concerning … the availability of premium tax credits under section 36B” – would make little sense if tax credits were not available on Federal Exchanges.The argument that the phrase “established by the State” would be superfluous if Congress meant to extend tax credits to both State and Federal Exchanges is unpersuasive. This Court’s “preference for avoiding suplusage constructions is not absolute”…. And rigorous application of that canon does not seem to be a particularly useful guide to a fair construction of the Affordable Care Act, which contains more than a few examples of inartful drafting. The Court nevertheless must do its best, “bearing in mind the ‘fundamental canon of statutory construction that the words of a statute must be read in their context and with a view to their place in the overall statutory scheme”……(c) Given that the text is ambiguous, the Court must look to the broader structure of the Act to determine whether one of Section 3B;s “permissible meanings produces a substantive effect that is compatible with the rest of the law.”… Here, the statutory scheme compels the Court to reject petitioners’ interpretation because it would destabilize the individual insurance market in any State with a Federal Exchange, and likely create the very “death spirals” that Congress designed the Act to avoid. Under the petitioners’ reading, the Act would not work in a State with a Federal Exchange. As they see it, one of the Act’s three major reforms – the tax credits – would not apply. And a second major reform – the coverage requirement – would not apply in a meaningful way, because so many individuals would be exempt from the requirement without the tax credits. If petitioners are right, therefore, only one of the Act’s three major reforms would be available in States with a Federal Exchange.The combination of no tax credits and an ineffectual coverage requirement could well push a State’s individual insurance market into a death spiral. It is implausible that Congress meant the Act to operate in this manner. Congress made the guaranteed issue and community rating requirements applicable in every State in the Nation, but those requirements only work when combined with the coverage requirements and tax credits. It thus stands to reason that Congress meant for those provisions to apply in every State as well……(d) The structure of Section 36B itself also suggests that tax credits are not limited to State Exchanges. Together, Section 36B(a), which allows tax credits for any “applicable taxpayer,” and Section 36B(c)(1), which defines that term as someone with a household income between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line, appear to make anyone within the specified income range eligible for a tax credit.According to petitioners, however, those provisions are an empty promise in States with a Federal Exchange. In their view, an applicable taxpayer in such a State would be eligible for a tax credit, but the amount of that tax credit would always be zero because of two provisions buried deep within the Tax Code. That argument fails because Congress “does not alter the fundamental details of a regulatory scheme in vague terms or ancillary provisions”…(e) Petitioners’ plain-meaning arguments are strong, but the Act’s context and structure compel the conclusion that Section 36B allows tax credits for insurance purchased on any Exchange created under the Act. Those credits are necessary for the Federal Exchanges to function like their State Exchange counterparts, and to avoid the type of calamitous result that Congress plainly meant to avoid… Affirmed. Zubik v. Burwell SCOTUSblog states that this case was argued on March 23, 2016, and the opinion was given on May 16, 2016. David A. Zubik is the bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sylvia Mathews Burwell was the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). On April 18, 2016, USA Today posted an article titled “The Zubik v. Burwell case, explained”. It was written by Carter Barrett. From the article: …It centers on an exemption to the Affordable Care Act’s legal requirement that employers must cover contraception costs without charging copays. Certain employers… …can opt out, but to do so the employer must fill out a two-page form explaining why.The plaintiffs of Zubik v. Burwell argue they should not have to fill out forms because doing so makes them complicit in providing women with contraception which goes against their religious convictions……The case will ultimately affect the health of millions of women, including college-aged women.Students who are enrolled in health-care plans through their universities may be unable to get birth control if their school elects to opt-out for religious reasons. And graduates will have to consider how they’ll receive birth control coverage if their employer is opposed to offering ti for the accepted reasons.Ultimately, affected women would have to go through a more complicated process to secure birth control……Under the Affordable Care Act – commonly known as Obamacare – employers’ insurance plans are legally required to cover contraceptive costs without charging copays.But since some religions, like Catholicism, are morally opposed to the use of contraception, the Obama administration made two exceptions to the mandate:1 Churches and houses of worship are entirely exempt from offering contraceptive coverage.2 If non-profit religious organizations — such as hospitals, charities and higher education institutions – or for-profit organizations with a limited number of shareholders (i.e. “closely held”) do not want to pay for employees’ contraception for religious reasons, they can fill out a two page form explaining why it wants to opt out of doing so. From there, the organization’s insurer takes over. It can either work with employees directly to provide no-cost contraception coverage or locate a third-party to do so.The plaintiffs’ argument that they should not have to fill out forms is rooted in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prevents the government from placing a “substantial burden” — in this case, paperwork — on religious beliefs.Ultimately, the case will decide whether or not requiring such employers to complete the opt-out paperwork does, in fact, place a “substantial burden” on their religious beliefs… Zubik v. Burwell had the following, similar cases rolled into it: Priests for Life v. Burwell; Southern Nazarene University v. Burwell; Geneva College v Burwell; Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Burwell; East Texas Baptist University v Burwell; and Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell. Justia posted the Per Curiam opinion of the Supreme Court on Zubik v. Burwell: Per Curiam,Petitioners are primarily nonprofit organizations that provide health insurance to their employees. Federal regulations require petitioners to cover certain contraceptives as part of their health plans, unless petitioners submit a form either to their insurer or the Federal Government, stating that they object on religious grounds to providing contraceptive coverage. Petitioners allege that submitting this notice substantially burdens the exercise of their religion, in violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, 107Stat. 1488, 42 U. S. C. §2000bb et seq.Following oral argument, the Court requested supplemental briefing from the parties addressing “whether contraceptive coverage could be provided to petitioners’ employers through petitioners’ insurance companies, without any such notice from petitioners.” … Both petitioners and the Government now confirm that such an option is feasible. Petitioners have clarified that their religious exercise is not infringed where they “need to do nothing more than contract for a plan that does not include coverage of some or all forms of contraception,” even if their employees receive cost-free contraception from the same insurance company. Supplemental Brief for Petitioners 4. The Government has confirmed that the challenged procedures “for employers with insured plans could be modified to operate in the manner posited in the Court’s order while still ensuring that the affected women receive contraceptive coverage seamlessly, together with the rest of their health coverage.” Supplemental Brief for Respondents 14-15.In light of the positions asserted by the parties in their supplemental briefs, the Court vacates the judgements below and remands to respective United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, Tenth, and D.C. Circuits. Given the gravity of the dispute and the substantial clarification and refinement in the position of the parties, the parties on remand should be afforded an opportunity to arrive at an approach going forward that accommodates petitioners’ religious exercise while at the same time ensuring that women covered by petitioners’ health plans “receive full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage…. We anticipate that the Court of Appeals will allow the parties sufficient time to resolve any outstanding issues between them.The Court finds the foregoing approach more suitable than addressing the significantly clarified views of the parties in the first instance. Although there may still be areas of disagreement between the parties on issues of implementation, the importance of those areas of potential concern is uncertain, as is the necessity of this Court’s involvement at this point to resolve them. This Court has taken similar action in other cases in the past. See, e.g., Madison County v. Oneida Indian Nation of N. Y., 562 U. S. 42, 43 (2011) (per curiam) (vacating and remanding for the Second Circuit to “address, in the first instance, whether to revisit its ruling on sovereign immunity in light of new factual development, and—if necessary—proceed to address other questions in the case consistent with its sovereign immunity ruling”); Kiyemba v. Obama, 559 U. S. 131, 132 (2010) (per curiam) (vacating and remanding for the D. C. Circuit to “determine, in the first instance, what further proceedings in that court or in the District Court are necessary and appropriate for the full and prompt disposition of the case in light of the new developments”); Villarreal v. United States, 572 U. S. ___ (2014) (vacating and remanding to the Fifth Circuit “for further consideration in light of the position asserted by the Solicitor General in his brief for the United States”).The Court expresses no view on the merits of the cases. In particular, the Court does not decide whether petitioners’ religious exercise has been substantially burdened, whether the Government has a compelling interest, or whether the current regulations are at the least restrictive means of serving that interest.Nothing in this opinion, or in the opinions or orders of the courts below, is to affect the ability of the Government to ensure that women covered by petitioners’ health plans “obtain, without cost, the full range of FDA approved contraceptives.”… Through this litigation, petitioners have made the Government aware of their view that they meet “the requirements for exemption from the contraceptive coverage requirement on religious grounds.”… Nothing in this opinion, or in the opinions or orders of the courts below “precludes the Government from relying on this notice, to the extent it considers it necessary, to facilitate the provision of full contraceptive coverage” going forward. … Because the Government may rely on this notice, the Government may not impose taxes or penalties on petitioners for failure to provide the relevant notice.The judgements of the Courts of Appeals are vacated, and the cases are remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. It is so ordered. Justice Sotomayor, and Justice Ginsberg, joined in a concurring opinion. I join the Court’s per curiam opinion because it expresses no view on “the merits of the cases,” “whether petitioners’ religious exercise has been substantially burdened,” or “whether the current regulations are the least restrictive means of serving” a compelling governmental interest… Lower courts, therefore, should not construe either today’s per curium or our order of March 29, 2016, as signals of where this Court stands. We have included similarly explicit disclaimers in previous orders. See, e.g., Wheaton College v. Burwell, 573 U. S. ___ (2014) (“his order should not be construed as an expression of the Court’s views on the merits”). Yet some lower courts have ignored those instructions. See, e.g., Sharpe Holdings, Inc., v. Department of Health and Human Servs., 801 F. 3d 927, 944 (CA8 2015) (“n Wheaton College, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Zubik,the Supreme Court approved a method of notice to HHS that is arguably less onerous than yet permits the government to further its interests. Although the Court’s orders were not final rulings on the merits, they at the very least collectively constitute a signal that less restrictive means exist by which the government may further its interests”). On remand in these cases, the Courts of Appeals should not make the same mistake.I also join the Court’s opinion because it allows the lower courts to consider only whether existing or modified regulations could provide seamless contraceptive coverage “to petitioners’ employees, through petitioners’ insurance companies, without any … notice from petitioners.” … The opinion does not, by contrast, endorse the petitioners’ position that the existing regulations substantially burden their religious exercise or that their contraceptive coverage must be provided through a “separate policy, with a separate enrollment process.” … Such separate contraceptive-only policies do not currently exist, and the Government has laid out a number of legal and practical obstacles to their creation… Requiring standalone contraceptive-only coverage would leave in limbo all of the women now guaranteed seamless preventative-care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, And requiring that women affirmatively opt into such coverage would “impose precisely the kind of barrier to the delivery of preventative services that Congress sought to eliminate….…Today’s opinion does only what it says it does: “afford an opportunity” for the parties and Courts of Appeals to reconsider the parties’ arguments in light of petitioners’ new articulation of their religious objection and the Government’s clarification about what the existing regulations accomplish, how they might be amended, and what such an amendment would sacrifice…. As enlightened by the parties’ new submissions, the Courts of Appeals remain free to reach the same conclusion or a different one on each of the questions presented by these cases. Roberts, C.J., delivered the opinion of the court, which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, JJ,” joined. Scalia, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined. The ACA is Here to Stay! is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Alabama’s Anti-Trans Health Care Bill FailedJune 18, 2021Out of Spoons / Public Healthphoto by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels Alabama’s anti-trans bill that would have prevented young trans people from receiving necessary health care failed. This is excellent news for young people who are transgender. It means parents will be the ones to make decisions about the healthcare their transgender child or teen receives (not members of Alabama’s legislature). Alabama House Bill 303 (HB 303) was introduced on February 20, 2020. The summary of the bill was: “Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, prohibits gender change therapy for minors, prohibits withholding of certain related information from parents”. It was sponsored by Representative Wes Allen (Republican). HB 303 was read for the first time on February 20, 2020, and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Health. Synopsis: This bill would prohibit the performance of a medical procedure or the prescription or issuance of medication, upon a minor child, that is intended to alter the child’s gender or delay puberty, with certain exceptions. This bill would provide for the disclosure of certain information concerning students to parents by schools. This bill would also establish criminal penalties for violations... It is worth pointing out that whomever wrote the bill doesn’t understand what transgender means. According to Merriam-Webster, transgender means: of, or relating to, or being a person whose gender identity differs from the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth. Merriam-Webster continues: especially: of, relating to, being a person whose gender identity is opposite the sex the person has or was identified as having birth. If you’ve been paying attention, you likely noticed that the language in anti-trans bills is incredibly similar, regardless. It is not a coincidence. The New Republic posted an article titled: “The New Anti-Trans Culture War Hiding in Plain Sight” on February 11, 2020. It was written by Sydney Bauer. From the article: …The text from these anti-trans bills varies slightly from state to state, but it’s easy enough to spot the borrowed language when they are viewed together. Many of the bills define sex in familiar anti-trans terms as “the biological state of being female or male based on sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles.” They criminalize prescribing “puberty-blocking medication to stop normal puberty; supraphysiologic doses of testosterone to females; or supraphysiologic doses of estrogen to males.” There are “no mysteries” to how these bills move from well-funded conservative groups into the hands of lawmakers across the country, Heron Greenesmith, a researcher for Political Research Associates, told me. “That’s a direct route for introduction of legislation.”……The organizations behind the bills aren’t exactly trying to hid that, either: Stephanie Curry, policy manager at Family Policy Alliance, told me that the group “works with legislators all over the country” and confirmed the practice of model legislation, which she said was not a ‘unique practice in any sense’ across the political spectrum. (The Heritage Foundation did not return requests for comment). The Family Policy Alliance crafts legislation, she added, but “ultimately, it is up to individual legislatures” to decide what approach to take, “whether it is banning such procedures or penalizing doctors.”… The OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (OHSU) provides some really good information about puberty blockers. It is from their Gender Clinic, and it starts by explaining the changes that a young person’s body goes through during puberty. After that, it explains puberty blockers: What are puberty blockers?Puberty blockers are medications to stop changes from the puberty you were born with. These changes make you look physically male or female. For example, they can make your breasts, testicles and penis stop growing larger. Testicles might get smaller.Puberty blockers do not stop all the changes of puberty. For example, they do not help acne or stop armpit hair from growing. They also will not reverse changes that already happened. If you start taking them late in puberty, the earlier changes will not disappear. But the medications can keep further changes from happening.Puberty from gender affirming hormonesIf you take gender affirming hormone medications, you will receive hormones for the gender you identify with. You will go through puberty related to the gender you identify with. The puberty blockers only block changes that do not match your gender identity.Why take puberty blockers?Going though puberty that does not match your gender identity may cause stress and concern. This can be severe for some people. Taking puberty blockers can stop the process. This can give you time to think about making more permanent decisions about your body. We sometimes say that taking these medications is like ‘pushing the pause button on puberty’. If you use puberty blockers early in puberty, you may need less treatment or surgery later. For example, if puberty blockers keep your breasts from developing, you would not need surgery to remove them later….…Do puberty blockers cause permanent changes?Puberty blockers do not cause permanent changes to the body. And you can stop taking them at any time. If you decide to stop taking puberty blockers and did not take hormone therapy, your body will go back to the puberty that had already started… In other words, puberty blockers pause puberty. A young person who is taking puberty blockers can choose to stop taking them. If so, then their body will continue to go through puberty. The purpose of puberty blockers is to prevent a transgender child or teen from having to experience puberty that does not match their gender identity. It is that simple. Alabama’s anti-trans bill is intended to prevent a transgender child or teen from receiving “medication…that is intended to alter the child’s gender or delay puberty…” Ironically, the medication they are targeting – puberty blockers – does not change a child’s gender. Whoever wrote this bill is ignorant about puberty blockers and how they function. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of nonsense in Alabama’s HB303: “There are no rigorous studies that show that gender changing therapies performed on children, including the administration of puberty blocking medications, the administration of opposite sex hormones, or surgeries intended to approximate the appearance of the opposite sex have any long term beneficial effect, including a reduction in suicide risk. To the contrary, such interventions carry elevated risks for sterility, lost of sexual function, bone fractures, thromboembolic and cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and may even contribute to mental illness and suicide.” Fact: A study published on April 28, 2021, in JAMA titled “Association Between Gender-Affirming Surgeries and Mental Health Outcomes“. The question the study answered was: Are gender-affirming surgeries associated with better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people? The objective of the study was: To evaluate associations between gender-affirming surgeries and mental health outcomes, including psychological distress, substance use, and suicide risk. Yes, this study was published after Alabama’s HB303 was written. The study is still completely relevant because it was based on data from the 2015 US Transgender Survey, “the largest existing data set containing comprehensive information on the surgical and medical health experiences of TGD people”. The data was collected from adults who filled out a survey from April 19, 2015 to September 21, 2015. The data existed long before HB303 was written. The data from the 2015 survey was analyzed by the authors of the 2021 study between November 1, 2020 and January 3, 2021. The Conclusion of the study stated: “This study demonstrates an association between gender-affirming surgery and improved mental health outcomes. These results contribute new evidence to support the provision of gender-affirming surgical for TGD people.” On May 1, 2021, NBC News posted an article titled: “Gender-affirming surgery linked to better mental health, study finds.” It was written by Dan Avery. From the article: Transgender people who have access to gender-affirming surgery report better mental health outcomes, according to a new study. The report, published Wednesday in JAMA Surgery, compared the psychological distress levels, suicide risk, and substance use in trans and gender-diverse people who had undergone gender-affirming surgery with those who wanted such procedures but had not yet had them.The researchers found that subjects who had not received the surgical interventions they desired were nearly twice as likely to report severe psychological distress and suicidal thoughts, and reported higher incidences of binge drinking and tobacco use, as well……The new report, however, represents the first large-scale controlled study of the relationship between gender-affirming surgery and psychological well being. It uses data from nearly 200,000 participants in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality… You may have noticed that the study regarding gender-affirming surgery only included adults. Alabama’s HB303 focuses on children and teens who are transgender. There is no data on children or young teens who have had gender-affirming surgery because that type of medical care is not provided to children or young teens. Politifact provided clarification in a fact-checking article that was posted in 2019. The fact-check was in relation to a situation in Texas where one parent of a transgender girl affirmed her gender, while the other parent did not. From the fact-check: …There are absolutely no medical interventions or surgical interventions on any prepubertal child,” said Colt Keo-Meier, a Texas-based psychologist and author who specializes in gender and sexual health. “That is not happening.” The widely accepted “Standards of Care” maintained by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health also emphasize this point.“Before any physical interventions are considered for adolescents, extensive exploration of psychological, family, and social issues should be undertaken,” the standards read. “The duration of this exploration may vary considerably depending on the complexity of the situation.”……The World Professional Association for Transgender Health outline minimum criteria that must be met before a child can receive puberty-suppressing medication, including that the child has demonstrated a “long-lasting and intense pattern of gender nonconformity or gender dysphoria” and that it “emerged or worsened with the onset of puberty.”Other interventions like hormone therapy (partially reversible) or surgery (irreversible) won’t be considered until a patent reaches adolescence.Even then, the Standards of Care stress that certain procedures should not be preformed until a patient is old enough to consent on their own (typically 16-18 years old) and others should occur only once a person has received other treatments for a specific time period… It is worth noting that Alabama’s HB303 claims that there is evidence that children and teens who receive gender-affirming surgery does not reduce the risk of suicide. That claim has been debunked by the 2021 JAMA study. Alabama’s HB303 also claims: To the contrary, such interventions carry elevated risks for sterility, lost of sexual function, bone fractures, thromboembolic and cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and may even contribute to mental illness and suicide.” It is impossible for the writers of Alabama’s HB303 to make this claim because there is no evidence that any child or young teen has been given gender-affirming surgery. More nonsense from Alabama’s HB303: “The continued performing of these therapies upon children constitutes a public health risk“. As I’ve already made clear in this blog post, puberty blockers are not a public health risk. Gender-affirming surgery is not a public health risk either, and is irrelevant within the context of HB 303 because no children or young teens receive gender-affirming surgery. More nonsense from Alabama’s HB303: SEX. The biological state of being male or female, based on the individual’s sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles. The writers of Alabama’s HB303 are confused. They appear to believe that the word gender, and the word sex, are synonyms. That’s not so! Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, posted information titled: “Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents”. From the information: …Gender Identity is not synonymous with “sexual orientation,” which refers to a person’s identity in relation to the gender(s) to which they are sexually and romantically attracted. Gender identity and sexual orientation are distinct but interrelated constructs. Therefore, being transgender does not imply a sexual orientation, and people who identify as transgender still identify as straight, gay, bisexual, etc. on the basis of their attractions……Gonadotrophin-releasing hormones have been used to delay puberty since the 1980s for central precocious puberty. These reversible treatments can also be used in adolescents who experience gender dysphoria to prevent development of secondary sex characteristics and provide time up until 16 years of age for the individual and family to explore gender identity, access psychosocial supports, develop coping skills, and further define appropriate treatment goals. If pubertal suppression treatment is suspended, then endogenous puberty will resume… The next part of Alabama’s HB303 attacks doctors, for the purpose of preventing them from providing puberty blockers or gender-affirming care to patients. (NOTE: As I’ve already mentioned, children and young teens are not provided with gender-affirming surgeries.) Except as provided in subsection (b), no person shall engage in, counsel, or make a referral for any of the following practices upon a minor, and no person shall cause any of the practices in this subsection to be performed upon a minor if the practice is performed for the purpose of attempting to affirm the minor’s perception of his or her gender or sex, if that perception is inconsistent with the minor’s biological sex as defined in this act: 1 Prescribing, dispensing, administering, or otherwise supplying puberty blocking medication to stop or delay normal puberty. 2 Prescribing, dispensing, administrating, or otherwise supplying supraphysiologic doses of testosterone or other androgens to females. 3 Prescribing, dispensing, administering, or otherwise supplying supraphysiologic doses of estrogen to males. 4 Performing surgeries that sterilize, including castration, vasectomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orichiectomy and penectomy. 5 Performing surgeries that artificially construct tissue with the appearance of genitalia that differs from the individual’s biological sex, including metoidoplasty, phalloplasty, and vaginoplasty. In short, the writers of Alabama’s HB303 want to prevent children and teens from receiving puberty blockers. The writers are also trying to prohibit older teens and young adults from receiving hormones. There’s also a whole lot of surgical procedures that are being prohibited – which don’t typically happen to children or young teens. 6 Removing any healthy or non-diseased body part or tissue. Surgeons don’t remove healthy (or non-diseased) body parts or tissue. They remove parts that are unhealthy, severely damaged, or diseased. I suspect the reason that part was put into Alabama’s HB303 is to further emphasize how badly they want to prevent children and young teens from having gender-affirming surgery. Again, no one is preforming gender-affirming surgery on minors, so there is no point to that part of the bill. That said, Alabama’s HB303 does allow certain kinds of surgeries for children or teens who are not transgender. This is discrimination. From HB 303: Subsection (a) does not apply to a procedure undertaken to treat a minor born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, including either of the following: 1 An individual born with external biological sex characteristics that are irresolvably ambiguous, including an individual born with 46 XX chromosomes with virilization, 46 XY chromosomes with under virilization, or having both ovarian and testicular tissue. 2 An individual whom a physician has otherwise diagnosed with a disorder of sexual development, in which the physician has determined through genetic or biochemical testing that the person does not have normal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or sex steroid hormone action for a male or female. A violation of this section is a Class C felony. The next part of Alabama’s HB303 attacks transgender children and teens by requiring school personnel to tell a parent of a transgender student that their child is transgender. Doing so could, in at least some cases, cause harm to that child or teen. This part of the bill could cause teachers and other school personnel to have to choose between losing their jobs or putting a transgender student into possible danger from family members. Section 5. (a) No nurse, counselor, teacher, principal, or other administrative official at a public or private school attended by a minor shall do either of the following: 1 Encourage or coerce a minor to withhold from the minor’s parent or legal guardian the fact that the minor’s perception of his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with the minor’s sex. 2 Withhold from a minor’s parent or legal guardian information that is relevant to the physical or mental health of the minor, including information related to a minor’s perception that his or her gender is inconsistent with his or her sex. A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. The rest of Alabama’s HB303 bill puts in place disclaimer: “If any part, section, or subsection of this act or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect parts, sections, subsections, or applications of this at that can be given effect without the invalid part, section, subsection or application.” It also declares that this bill is excluded from further requirements from some other parts of Alabama law, and requires the bill to become effective 30 days following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law. On February 26, 2020, the Alabama House of Representatives Committee on Health amended HB 303. On page 7, lines 6 and 7, delete the following: “that is relevant to the physical or mental health of the minor, including information” On page 7, line 10 and 11, delete the following: “A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.” The first amendment changes this part: 2 Withhold from a minor’s parent or legal guardian information that is relevant to the physical or mental health of the minor, including information related to a minor’s perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex. The result of the change would be: 2 Withhold from a minor’s parent or legal guarding information related to a minor’s perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex. The second amendment changes this part: A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. It removes that part of the text entirely. On February 28, 2020, Alabama Political Reporter posted an article titled: “ACLU of Alabama condemns bill banning transgender treatment for minors”. It was written by Jessa Reid Bolling. From the article: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama has condemned a recently approved bill to prevent doctors from providing hormone replacement therapy or puberty suppressing drugs to people younger than 19 who identify as transgender……The Alabama House Health Committee and the Senate Health Committee approved the bill on Wednesday in separate hearings, both drawing overflow crowds. The committee approval moves the bill in line for consideration by the full House.The ACLU of Alabama said in a statement that the bill targets transgender youth and puts their academic success and health in danger.“Transgender girls are girls, and transgender boys are boys,” said Dillon Nettles, policy analyst at the ACLU of Alabama. “Alabama lawmakers are considering legislation that runs counter to medical science, prevailing standards for the treatment of transgender youth and basic human dignity.“The government shouldn’t threaten medical providers with jail for treating transgender kids and schools shouldn’t discriminate against them when it comes to participation in school sports. HB303 and HB35 are dangerous, discriminatory and put kids at risk.”Multiple women’s sports advocacy organizations, including The National Women’s Law Center, the Women’s Sports Foundation, and Women Leaders in College Sports, support trans-inclusive policies and oppose efforts to exclude transgender student from participating in sports… What happened to Alabama’s HB 303 bill? Ms Magazine provided information about that: …In 2020, Alabama legislators pre-filed their first house bill of the season – HB1 – which, if passed, would prohibit trans minors from receiving life-saving transition-related health care by making it a crime for doctors to provide it. The bill would also “provide for the disclosure of certain information concerning students to parents by schools” – essentially allowing schools to “out” young trans people to their parents… …The bill was previously introduced as HB303 in the 2020 regular session, where it died. The legislature is set to convene for its 2020 session in February. Alabama’s tireless lawmakers have also introduced a nearly identical bill in the state’s Senate – SB 10, also known as the “Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act” – which, if passed, would essentially have the same effects as HB1, prohibiting health care and allowing for trans kids to be outed. SB 10 is what I like to call a “zombie bill”. It had a life as HB303, died, and returned from the dead as a zombie. Alabama’s SB10 was sponsored by Senator Shay Shellnutt (Republican). The bill was first read in the Alabama Senate on February 2, 2021. The title of SB10 is: “Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act.” Here are some key points from SB10: …Relating to public health; to prohibit the performance of a medical procedure or the prescription or issuance of medication, upon or to a minor child, that is intended to alter the minor child’s gender or delay puberty; to provide for exceptions; to provide for disclosure of certain information concerning students to parents by schools; and to establish criminal penalties for violations… …Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act Section 2. For the purpose of this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1 MINOR. The same meaning as in Section 43-8-1, Code of Alabama 1975. 2 PERSON. Includes any of the following: a. Any individual. b. Any agent, employee, official, or contractor of any legal entity. c. Any agent, employee, official, or contractor of a school district or the state of any of its political subdivisions or agencies. 3 SEX. The biological state of being male or female, based on the individual’s sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles... Section 3 is a “copy – paste” of the portions of HB 303 that prevent doctors from providing puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries to transgender minors. It also includes the exceptions for minors who are not transgender (under certain circumstances). Again, this is discrimination. The part that reads: A violation of this section is a Class C felony remains in SB10. So does the part from HB 303 that requires school personnel to “out” a transgender child or teen to their parents. On March 2, 2021, the Alabama Senate held a roll call vote on SB10. The purpose of this vote was to read the bill a third time and pass adopted Roll Call 331. Here is how the Senators voted: Greg Albritton (R) – YEAGerald Allen (R) – YEAWill Barfoot (R) – YEAWilliam “Bill” M. Beasley (D) – NAYTom Butler (R) – P (either not voting or not present)Clyde Chambless (R) – YEADonnie Chesteen (R) – YEALinda Coleman-Madison (D) – P (either not voting or not present)Priscilla Dunn (D) – P (either not voting or not present)Chris Elliot (R) – YEAVivian Davis Figures (D) – NAYSam Givhan (R) – YEAGarlan Gudger (R) – YEAJimmy Holley (R) – YEADoug Jones (R) – YEASteve Livingston (R) – YEADel Marsh (R) – P (either not voting or not present)Jim McClendon (R) – YEATim Melson (R) – YEAArthur Orr (R) – YEARandy Price (R) – YEAGreg Reed (R) – YEADan Roberts (R) – YEAMalika Sanders-Fortier (D) – P (either not voting or not present)Clay Scofield (R) – YEADavid Sessions (R) – YEAShay Shelnutt (R) – YEABobby Singleton (D) – NAYRodger Smitherman (D) – NAYLarry Stutts (R) – YEAJ.T. Waggoner (R) – YEATom Whatley (R) – YEAJack Williams (R) – P (either not voting or not present) On March 2, 2021, the Associated Press posted an article titled: “Alabama Senate approves treatment ban for trans kids”. It was written by Kim Chandler. From the article: Transgender youth in Alabama would not be able to be treated with puberty-blockers, hormone treatment, or surgery under a bill approved Tuesday by the Alabama Senate, as parents and trans youth rallied outside the Statehouse in opposition.Senators voted 23-4 to approve the measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Shay Shelnutt of Trussville. The bill now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives where a committee has approved a nearly identical bill. The bills would make it a felony to use puberty-blocking drugs, hormonal therapy and surgery to treat transgender minors. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison……Dr. Monica Ladinsky, a pediatrician who has treated multiple transgender youths, told a Senate committee earlier that genital surgery is never performed on children, and puberty blockers and hormonal therapy are used only used after lengthy informed consent, mental health oversight and subspecialized medical care… Also on March 2, 2021, Montgomery Advertiser posted an article titled: “Alabama Senate approves bill banning transgender youth treatments amid protests at state Capitol”. It was written by Bryan Lyman. From the article: …”I currently am not comfortable in my own skin,” said Smith, a high school sophomore from Jacksonville who is a transgender teen. “But testosterone and hormone treatments and all of these gender-affirming surgeries, for some it means life or death.”It was a story repeated by about 40 protestors who traveled to Montgomery to protest two bills: one from Sen. Say Shelnutt, R-Trussville, that would ban transgender youth from receiving puberty blocking and hormone treatment, and a second from Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, that would ban transgender youth from playing public school sports for the gender with which they identify.Shelnutt’s bill passed the Senate 23-4 Tuesday afternoon. The bill moves to the House. A similar measure was sponsored by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, passed out of a House committee last week. The House adjourned on Tuesday evening before taking up Stadhagen’s bill……Parents of transgender children and doctors who work with transgender children say the treatments have positive psychological impacts. In testimony before several legislative committees, parents and doctor said genital surgery does not take place on minors…On March 2, 2021, Human Rights Campaign tweeted: “SB10 has passed the Alabama State Senate. The companion bill, HB1, has not yet passed the House. We need everyone to speak out before Alabama criminalizes gender-affirming care to trans kids. If you live in Alabama, please call your legislators and tell them to vote no on HB1”. On March 3, 2021, CBS News posted an article titled: “Alabama Senate votes to make hormone therapy and surgery for trans youth a felony”. It was written by Sophie Lewis. From the article: …The two bills would make it a felony for medical professionals to treat transgender minors under the age of 19 with gender-affirming care. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison or a $15,000 fine.The bill also requires school staff in the state to disclose to parents that “a minor’s perception that his or her gender is inconsistent with his or her sex.” Essentially, teachers would be required to “out” transgender students to their guardians – regardless of whether they are ready to do so……While similar measures have been considered across the country, Alabama would be the first state to pass such a bill. Parents, members of the transgender communities and medical experts opposed to the bills say it is dangerous, and that lawmakers do not understand the already difficult process to receive gender-affirming care… On May 18, 2021, Alabama Political Reporter posted an article titled: “Bill to ban treatments for transgender minors dies before coming to the House floor”. It was written by Eddie Burkhalter. From the article: A bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth didn’t make it to the floor of the Alabama House on Monday, the last day of the session. The bill’s quiet death surely saved young lives, opponents of the bill say.The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Shay Shelnutt, passed the Alabama Senate 21-4 on March 3, but did not make it to the House floor on Monday. The bill was the last of eleven on a special order calendar brought up late Monday night, but House Democrats just before 11 p.m. Monday ran the clock out, ensuring an end to the bill… On May 26, 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama posted information titled: “Our Summary of Alabama’s 2021 Legislative Session”. It was written by Dillion Nettles. From the information: …Meanwhile, we are always on the defensive when it comes to legislative attacks on our civil rights, whether abortion access, trans rights, voting restrictions, or free speech. This year was no different, with bills filed to ban healthcare access for trans youth, ban curbside voting, attack protester rights, and more.While the bills to ban cubside voting and to and to ban transgender youth from competing in student athletics both passed and were signed by Governor Ivey, we are relieved to report that HB 1/SB 10, the companion bills that would have criminalized healthcare for trans youth, died as the House adjourned before taking a vote. As we embarked on this session, we knew we would have to defend the rights of trans youth and their families, as we had already seen the “Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act” filed in 2020, and you know that it will likely reappear next year, too… Alabama’s terrible bills that would have prevented transgender youth from receiving appropriate health care did not become law. This means parents, in consultation with doctors, will be the ones to determine what kind of health care their child or teen receives. Parents of transgender children or teens in Alabama now have the same rights over health care choices for them as do parents of cis-gender children. Alabama’s Anti-Trans Health Care Bill Failed is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Utah Governor Wouldn’t Sign Anti-Trans BillsMay 29, 2021Out of Spoons / Public HealthPhoto by Liviu C. on Unsplash There has been a whole lot of anti-transgender bills going through the legislature of various states. These types of bills all have one thing in common: their entire purpose is to harm people who are transgender. Utah Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) refused to sign an anti-transgender bill that, if passed, would have prevented girls who are transgender from participating in girls K-12 sports. This is good news for not only transgender girls, but also their families. The Governor also signaled he would veto a bill that would prevent young transgender people from accessing appropriate medical care. Utah House Bill 302 was sponsored by Representative Kera Birkeland (Republican). The floor sponsor for this bill was Senator Curtis S. Bramble (Republican). Cosponsors included: Cheryl K. Acton, Melisa G. Ballard, Jefferson S. Burton, Steve R. Christiansen, Michael L. Kohler, Karianne Lisonbee, Steven J. Lund, Phil Lyman, Michael J. Peterson, Candice B. Pierucci, Susan Pulsipher, Adam Robertson, Jeffery D. Stenquist, Mark A. Strong, Jordan D. Teuscher, Norman K. Thurston, Christine F. Watkins, and Ryan D. Wilcox. House Bill 302 was first read in the House on February 3, 2021. The bill was titled: “Preserving Sports for Female Students”. The general description of the bill said: This bill addresses participation in athletic activities reserved for female students in public education. Right away, its clear that this is an anti-trans bill. The sponsors and co-sponsors of this bill have made the incorrect assumption that girls who are transgender are actually boys. This is discrimination against some students specifically because of their gender. The Biden-Harris administration issued an executive order on January 20, 2021, titled: “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sexual Orientation“. The purpose of the executive order is to ensure that people who are LGBTQA+ do not face discrimination based on who they are. The executive order gets its validity from two significant lawsuits. One is Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, in which Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch ruled that an employer who fires an individual for being gay or transgender violates Title VII. In short, Title VII “makes it unlawful… for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual… because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” The executive order also gets its validity from Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board. In short, the School Board at first allowed Gavin Grimm, a transgender boy, to use the boy’s bathroom – but then changed their policy after facing intense backlash from parents. The case was heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The opinion of the court was written by Circuit Judge Floyd, who stated: “At the heart of this appeal is whether equal protection and Title IX can protect transgender students from school bathroom policies that prohibit them from affirming their gender. We join a growing consensus of courts holding that the answer is a resounding yes…” The outcome of this case confirmed that Title IX can protect transgender students from school bathroom policies. If Title IX can do that (which the court said it can) then Title IX can also prevent schools from prohibiting transgender students from playing on the sports team that matches their gender identity. Psychology Today provides a clear answer about gender in a post titled: “How Many Genders Are There?” A person’s gender refers to characteristics that relate to the categories male, female, or some combination thereof. The words “gender” and “sex” are sometimes confused, but a persons sex refers to biological characteristics determined at conception or in utero; a person’s gender is understood by many researchers to be influenced by a range of societal and environmental factors as well as biological factors. A person can be biologically female and experience gender dysphoria or gender incongruence, because they do not identify with their assigned sex.A person might identify as transgender has a gender identity that does not correspond to their biological sex. The term “cisgender” refers to a gender identity that corresponds to one’s biological sex. People whose gender identity feels neither masculine nor feminine, may identify as non-binary… All of this is to say that it is incorrect to presume that a person is a specific gender based on either the person’s genitals or the gender that they were assigned at birth. Employers who discriminate against people who are LGBTQA+ because of their gender are breaking Title VII. Schools who discriminate against students because of their gender are breaking Title IX. Both of those actions are entirely illegal, not only because of the court decisions, but also because of the executive order from President Biden. Merriam-Webster describes the Supremacy Clause this way: a clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution declares the constitution, laws, and treaties of the federal government to be supreme law of the land to which judges in every state are bound regardless of state law to the contrary. The Free Legal Dictionary says that preemption is a doctrine based on the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution that holds that certain matters are of such a national, as opposed to local, character that federal laws preempt or take precedence over state laws. As such, a state may not pass a law inconsistent with the federal laws. In summary, it is good that Utah’s discriminatory House Bill 302 did not get signed into state law. Doing so would have resulted in legal action against Utah and caused harm to transgender students. Here are some pieces of Utah’s House Bill 302 General Description: This bill addresses participation in athletic activities reserved for female students in public education. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: defines terms; requires schools and local education agencies to designate athletic activities by sex; prohibits a student of the male sex from participating in an athletic activity designated for female students; prohibits certain complaints or investigations based on a school or local education agency maintaining separate athletic activities for female students; provides severability clauses; I want to pause here for a moment to clarify that this part of the bill is illegal because it chooses to discriminate against transgender girls by prohibiting them from participating in a girl’s sports team. The bill has nothing to say about transgender boys playing on the boy’s sports team. This is discrimination against trans girls because of their gender. Therefore, it breaks Title IX. The “provides severability clauses” part is significant. This language is placed in bills that the writer, sponsor, and cosponsors know is not legal and/or that it will cause controversy. The severability clause is there in case the state has to defend the bad bill in court. The purpose of the severability clause is to remove a portion of the bill that a court told them to – without having to throw out the rest of the bill. Other parts of the bill also are discriminatory against transgender girls, but use more words to get there: A public school or LEA, or a private school that competes against a public school or LEA shall expressly designate school athletic activities as one of the following, based on sex: “male” or “boys”; “female” or “girls”, or “coed” or “mixed”. A student of the male sex may not participate, and a public school or LEA may not allow a student of the male sex to participate, in a school athletic activity designated as “female” or “girls”; and A government entity or licensing accrediting organization may not entertain a complaint, open an investigation, or take any other adverse action against a school or LEA described in Subsection (1) for maintaining separate school athletic activities for students of the female sex. To summarize, the bill is written in a way that presumes that gender and sex are synonyms. That’s incorrect. This part of the bill is discriminatory because it is prohibiting transgender girls from participating in a girl’s sports team, while allowing cisgender girls to participate on a girl’s sports team. It does not, however, prevent transgender boys from playing on a boy’s sports team. This is discrimination, because it breaks Title IX. The writers of this bill (and its sponsor and cosponsors) are incorrectly identifying transgender girls as boys. This is discrimination – and just plain mean. It is also illegal, because the Courts ruling on the Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board case sets a precedent that clearly states that Title IX allows transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender. As such, Title IX also protects transgender girls from being prohibited from playing on the girl’s sports team. In addition, the bill claims that “a government entity or licensing accrediting organization” can’t make a complaint, open an investigation, or otherwise hold a school that discriminates against transgender students accountable for their bad (and illegal) actions. This is the writers, sponsors, and cosponsors attempt to absolve themselves from having to face the consequences of their harmful words and actions. On February 17, 2021, House Bill 302 “Preserving Sports for Female Students” was voted on. The vote was 50 Yeas and 23 Nays (and two Representatives not voting). Here is who voted YEA: Nelson T. Abbott (R)Carl R. Albrecht (R)Cheryl K. Acton (R)Melissa G. Ballard (R)Stewart E. Barlow (R)Kera Birkeland (R)Brady Brammer (R)Walt Brooks (R)Jefferson S. Burton (R)Scott H. Chew (R)Steve R. Christiansen (R)Kay J. Christofferson (R)Joel Ferry (R)Francis D. Gibson (R)Matthew Gwynn (R)Stephen G. Handy (R)Timothy D. Hawkes (R)Dan N. Johnson (R)Marsha Judkins (R)Mike L. Kohler (R)Bradley G. Last (R)Karianne Lisonbee (R)Stephen J. Lund (R)Phil Lyman (R)A. Cory Maloy (R)Jefferson Moss (R)Calvin R. Musselman (R)Merrill F. Nelson (R)Michael J. Petersen (R)Val J. Petersen (R)Candice B. Pierucci (R)Susan Pulsipher (R)Paul Ray (R)Adam Robertson (R)Douglas V. Sagers (R)Mike Schultz (R)Travis M. Seegmiller (R)Rex P. Shipp (R)Casey Snider (R)Lowry V. Snow (R)Keven J. Stratton (R)Jeffrey D. Stenquist (R)Mark A. Strong (R)Jordan D. Teuscher (R)Norman K. Thurston (R)Christine F. Watkins (R)Steve Waldrip (R)Douglas R. Welton (R)Brad R. Wilson (R)Ryan D. Wilcox (R) Here is who voted NAY: Gay Lynn Bennion (D)Joel K. Briscoe (D)Clare Collard (D)Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D)James A. Dunnigan (R)Craig Hall (R)Susanne Harrison (D)Sandra Hollins (D)Brian S. King (D)Karen Kwan (D)Rosemary T. Lesser (D)Ashlee Matthews (D)Kelly B. Miles (R)Carol Spackman Moss (D)Doug Owens (D)Stephanie Pitcher (D)Angela Romero (D)Robert M Spendlove (R)Andrew Stoddard (D)Raymond P. Ward (R)Elizabeth Weight (D)Mark A. Wheatley (D)Mike Winder (R) Here is who did not vote: Steve Eliason (R)Jon Hawkins (R) Why did Utah Governor Spencer Cox refuse to sign HB 302 On February 19, 2021, Deseret News posted an article titled: “Gov. Spencer Cox says he won’t sign transgender sports bill as now written”. It was written by Katie McKellar. From the article: An at-times emotional Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday he would not sign the current version of the bill making its way through the Utah Legislature to ban transgender girls from participating in girls K-12 sports.“I’m not in a place yet where I’m comfortable with the bill as it stands right now,” Cox told reporters during his monthly news conference with PBS Utah Thursday morning. “Those discussions are ongoing. We still have a lot of work to do.”Cox then paused and teared up.“These kids are… they’re just trying to stay alive,” Cox said. “There’s a reason none of them are playing sports… I just think there’s a better way. And I hope that there will be enough grace in our state to find a better solution.”……”I apologize for getting a little emotional,” Cox told reporters Thursday. “When you spend time with these kids, it changes your heart in important ways, and so I want to try and improve that message and see if we can’t find a better way to work together.”……Cox’s comments come the day after the House voted to approve Rep. Kera Birkeland’s bill following heated debate. It now goes to the Senate for consideration……HB302 is adamantly opposed by groups including Equality Utah and Democrats, who argue it’s “needlessly (targeting) youth who are already marginalized and vulnerable to mental anguish and suicide.”Cox also said he had “threatened to veto” another bill related to transgender issues: HB92 being sponsored by Rep. Rex Shipp R-Cedar City. Shipp’s bill would prohibit doctors from offering any gender reassignment treatment to minors. The original version of that bill, Cox said, had “many, many flaws.” But he said the latest iteration of Shipp’s bill “is closer to what medical standards are now.”……Cox’s comments mean if HB302 has a chance of becoming Utah law, it needs changes unless he decides to allow it to become law without signing it. However, it’s possible the bill might run into some trouble in the Senate, where legislative leaders have hinted it could be altered… According to KUER 90.1 (which appears to be part of the BBC), House Bill 302 – which would have banned transgender girls from competing on girls public school sports teams – passed the Utah house. A Senate committee killed the bill by declining to vote on the legislation. Governor Spencer Cox signaled he would veto the bill. What Did HB92 Say? HB0092 was introduced to on January 19, 2021. (It is also referred to as HB92). The summary of the bill was: “This bill prohibits a physician or surgeon from performing a transgender procedure on aminor “. This bill was absolutely terrible. It not only restricted people who are transgender from receiving the medical care they need, but also prohibited doctors from providing certain types of care to people who are transgender. The bill would make it unprofessional conduct to preform a medically unnecessary puberty inhibition procedure or a sex characteristic-altering procedure on a minor. I cannot help but be aware of the similarities between this discriminatory anti-trans bill and the bills that conservative Republicans create (over and over again) that are intended to prevent people who have a uterus from receiving an abortion. In some cases, those bills also prevent access to contraception. Those types of bills include unnecessary medical procedures and time limitations that a person must endure to get an abortion. HB92 is designed to prevent people who are transgender from accessing the medical care they need – care that conservative Republicans deem “unnecessary”. Put all that together, and it is abundantly clear that the real purpose of these types of bills is to exert control over marginalized people’s bodies and to take away their bodily autonomy. Both types of bills are also used to attack doctors by making them risk their licenses if they dare to provide appropriate medical care to patients. The majority of this bill is hurtful just to read. I’m going to summarize it here. Skip over this part if you need to. Definitions: “Ablative procedure” means a procedure that is expected to excise, vaporize, disintegrate, or remove living tissue, including the use of carbon dioxide lasers and erbium: YAG lasers, and excluding hair removal. In short, this part of the bill would prevent a transgender man from getting what is often referred to as “top surgery”. It would prevent transgender people from having surgery that would change their genitalia. I want to be clear about this – not all people who are transgender want to have those types of surgery. This part of the bill harms those who do want to have surgery. Also, to be clear, not all people who are transgender want to have these types of surgery – and that’s completely valid. The next part of the bill attacks physicians. “ACGME” means the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education of the American Medical Association. “Administrative penalty” means a monetary fine or citation imposed by the division for acts or omissions determined to constitute unprofessional or unlawful conduct, in accordance with a fine schedule established by the division in collaboration with the board, as a result of an adjudication proceeding conducted in accordance with 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act. “Associate physician” means an individual licensed under 58-67-302.8. Put that together, and this part of the bill is telling licensed physicians that will lose their license, will be investigated, and could have to pay a fine or citation if they provide what in reality is appropriate and necessary medical care to a patient who is transgender. This is discrimination based on gender, and that means this law is illegal. The next parts of the bill are underlined, for some reason. “Attempted sex change” means an attempt or effort to change an individual’s body to present that individual as being of a sex or gender that is different from the individual’s biological sex at birth. “Biological sex at birth” means an individual’s sex, as being male or female, according to distinct reproductive roles as manifested by sex and reproductive organ anatomy, chromosomal makeup, and endogenous hormone profiles. This part makes it clear that the writer of the bill fails to understand that sex and gender are not synonyms. I’ve already pointed that out in this blog post by including the information from Psychology Today. There is another part of this bill that would prevent transgender people under the age of 18 from obtaining puberty blockers. “Medically unnecessary puberty inhibition procedure” means administering or supplying to an individual younger than 18 years old, alone or in combination with aromatase inhibitors: gonadotropin-releasing hormone agnostics, progestins, or androgen receptor inhibitors. “Medically unnecessary puberty inhibition procedure” does not include administering or supplying a treatment described in Subsection (17)(a) to an individual younger than 18 years old if the treatment is medically necessary as a treatment for: precocious puberty, idiopathic short stature, endometriosis, or a sex hormone-stimulated cancer. It is obvious that this part of the bill discriminates against transgender young people who seek to prevent having their body develop in ways that do not match the person’s gender. This is discriminatory, because it targets transgender people – while allowing the same medication to be administered to cisgender young people. That part about “precocious puberty” makes it clear that cisgender girls or boys who start puberty early are allowed to have puberty blockers. The bill denies that exact same type of medication to transgender girls or boys. This is discrimination. Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, posted information titled: “Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents”. From the information: …Gender Identity is not synonymous with “sexual orientation,” which refers to a person’s identity in relation to the gender(s) to which they are sexually and romantically attracted. Gender identity and sexual orientation are distinct but interrelated constructs. Therefore, being transgender does not imply a sexual orientation, and people who identify as transgender still identify as straight, gay, bisexual, etc. on the basis of their attractions……Gonadotrophin-releasing hormones have been used to delay puberty since the 1980s for central precocious puberty. These reversible treatments can also be used in adolescents who experience gender dysphoria to prevent development of secondary sex characteristics and provide time up until 16 years of age for the individual and family to explore gender identity, access psychosocial supports, develop coping skills, and further define appropriate treatment goals. If pubertal suppression treatment is suspended, then endogenous puberty will resume… A vote was held on HB0092 (also called HB92) on February 19, 2021. There were 10 YEAS and 3 NAYS. This means the bill was marked as “passed”. According to KUER 90.1 (which appears to be part of the BBC), the other anti-trans bill that would prevent transgender minors from accessing gender affirming health care (hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgery) failed. During its first committee hearing, lawmakers sent it back to the Rules Committee after some changes had been made on it. The Rules Committee decided not to give the legislation another public hearing. Governor Spencer Cox said he would veto this legislation. Utah Governor Wouldn’t Sign Anti-Trans Bills is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi... Biden’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task ForceMay 3, 2021Out of Spoons / Public HealthPhoto by Glen Carrie on Unsplash On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order titled: “Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery.” The order called for an emphasis on ensuring the people who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 would receive the help they needed. It also called for the creation of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The “Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery” started with: “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of American, and in order to address the disproportionate and severe impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on communities of color and other underserved populations, it is hereby ordered as follows:” Section 1. Purpose This section starts by pointing out inequities on America’s health care system. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated severe and pervasive health and social inequities in America. For instance, people of color experience systemic structural racism in many facets of society and are more likely to become sick and die from COVID-19. The lack of complete data, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates, as well as underlying health and social vulnerabilities has further hampered efforts to ensure an equitable pandemic response…” The Mayo Clinic posted information on August 13, 2020, titled: “Why are people of color more at risk of coronavirus complications?” It was written by William F. Marshall, III M.D. From the information: Research increasingly shows that racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States.According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native people had an age-adjusted COVID-19 hospitalization rate at about 5.3 times that of non-Hispanic white people. COVID-19 hospitalization rates among non-Hispanic Black people and Hispanic or Latino people were both about 4.7 times the rate of non-Hispanic white people.While there’s no evidence that people of color have genetic or other biological factors that make them more likely to be affected by COVID-19, they are more likely to have underlying health conditions. Having certain conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, increases your risk of severe illness with COVID-19. But experts also know that where people live and work affects their health. Over time, these factors lead to different health risks among racial and ethnic minority groups… Here are some factors mentioned in the Mayo Clinic information: Racial and ethnic minority members might be more likely to live in multi-generational homes, crowded conditions and densely populated areas such as New York City. This can make social distancing difficult. Many people of color have jobs that are considered essential or can’t be done remotely and involve interacting with the public. In the U.S., according to the CDC, nearly 25% of employed Hispanic and Black or African Americans work in the service industry, compared with 16% of non-Hispanic white workers. Black or African Americans also account for 30% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Many people of color also depend on public transportation to get to work. These factors can result in exposure to the virus. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to encounter barriers to getting care, such as a lack of health insurance or not being paid when missing work to get care. In 2017, according to the CDC only about 6% of non-Hispanic white people were uninsured, while the rate was nearly 18% for Hispanics and 10% for non-Hispanic Black people. Racism also may play a role in health risks. The stress of dealing with racial discrimination can take a toll on your body, causing early aging. This has been linked to underlying conditions, which can increase the risk of severe illness with COVID-19. The executive order continues with: “…Other communities, often obscured in the data, are also disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including sexual and gender minority groups, those living with disabilities, and those living at the margins of our economy. Observed inequities in rural and Tribal communities, territories, and other geographically isolated communities require a place-based approach to data collection and the response. Despite increased State and local efforts to address these inequalities, COVID-19’s disparate impact on communities of color and other underserved populations remains unrelenting…” Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) published the results of a poll on March 11, 2021. The poll was titled: “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on LGBT People”. From the findings: There has been little data on how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals (LGBT) in the U.S. Drawing on previous research indicating that LGBT individuals are at greater risk of both COVID-19 health and economic outcomes, this analysis examines the reported experiences from self-identified LGBT individuals from two months of KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor and finds that LGBT people have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic differently than non-LGBT people, including being harder hit in some areas: Economic: A larger share of LGBT adults compared to non-LGBT adults report that they or someone in their household has experienced COVID-era job loss (56% v 44%). Mental Health: Three-fourths of LGBT people (74%) say worry and stress from the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health, compared to 49% of those who are not LGBT, and are more likely to say that negative impact has been major (49% v 23%). Views: One-third (34%) of LGBT adults say the news has generally underestimated the seriousness of the pandemic (compared to 23% of non-LGBT adults). Three-fourths of LGBT adults (74%) are either “very worried” or “somewhat worried” that they or someone in their family will get sick from the coronavirus, similar to responses from non-LGBT adults (67%). A large share of LGBT adults report being willing to take CDC recommended steps to avoid acquisition/transmission of the virus. …Limited early data available on how LGBT people have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (U.S.) has suggested that this group may be disproportionately impacted. The reasons are far-reaching and may include: LGBT individuals being at a greater risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes due to higher rates of comorbidities; working in highly affected industries such as health care and restaurants/food services; living on average on lower incomes than non-LGBT people; experiencing stigma and discrimination related to sexual orientation/gender identity, including in accessing health care and, for transgender individuals, being less likely to have health coverage… Johns Hopkins University posted a report on April 23, 2020, titled: “COVID-19 poses unique challenges for people with disabilities”. From the report: …For people with disabilities, all the general challenges that come with the pandemic certainly apply, but there are additional barriers. The first is communication – getting information can be more difficult for people with vision, hearing, and even cognitive disabilities, as popular news sources may not be accessible, especially when information is changing quickly… Keeping all of us informed is key to the COVID-19 public health response, but information is not accessible to the disability community……The second barrier involves adopting recommended public health strategies, such as social distancing and washing hands. For example, frequent hand-washing is not always feasible for people with certain types of physical disabilities… …public health policies often do not consider people with disabilities, leaving a gap in guidance. Those who have personal aides and caregivers also need to be considered, as they cannot participate in social distancing in the same way that others are……The third, equitable access to health care, is a long-standing barrier worsened by COVID-19. This ranges from getting a coronavirus test to being seen in an emergency room. For instance, drive-up testing may be impossible if you rely on state mobility services. There are also existing barriers in health care settings that are exacerbated as the industry aims to meet the surge of COVID-19 cases. For example, the use of personal protective equipment, including masks, can make communication more difficult for patients with hearing loss……There’s fear that medical resource allocation, including ventilators, may be discriminatory against patients with disabilities, and complaints have been filed in multiple states about these rationing policies… The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted information on August 19, 2020, titled: “CDC data show disproportionate COVID-19 impact in American Indian/Alaska Native populations”. From the information: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study that specifically examines how COVID-19 is affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) – one of the racial and ethnic minority groups at highest risk of the disease. CDC found that in 23 selected states, the cumulative incidence of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among AI/AN was 3.5 that of non-Hispanic whites.These data also showed that AI/AN who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 tended to be younger than white non-Hispanic individuals with COVID-19 infection. Compared to whites, a higher percentage of cases among AI/AN individuals were in people under 18 years of age (12.9 percent AI/AN; 4.3 percent white), and a smaller percentage of cases were among AI/AN 65 years or older (12.6 percent AI/AN; 28.6 percent white). Limited data were available to quantify the disparity in COVID-19 incidence, COVID-19 disease severity, and outcomes among AI/AN persons compared with those among other racial/ethnic groups, reinforcing the need to prioritize improved data collection as a key strategy to understand and improve health outcomes.Recent CDC studies have shown that AI/AN are among the racial and ethnic minority groups at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Persisting racial inequity and historical trauma have contributed to disparities in health and socioeconomic factors between AI/AN and white populations that have adversely affected tribal communities. The elevated incidence within this population might also reflect differences in reliance on shared transportation, limited access to running water, household size, and other factors that might facilitate community transmission… The last part of the Purpose section says: “Addressing this devastating toll is both a moral imperative and pragmatic policy. It is impossible to change the course of the pandemic without tackling it in the hardest-hit communities. In order to identify and eliminate health and social inequalities resulting in disproportionately higher rates of exposure, illness, and death, I am directing a Government-wide effort to address health equity. The Federal Government must take swift action to prevent and remedy differences in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved populations.” Section 2. COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force The second part of the executive order is about setting up a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. “There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force (Task Force).” On January 30, 2020, CBS News posted an article titled: “Trump creates task force to lead U.S. coronavirus response”. From the article: President Trump has created a new task force to lead the government’s response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, the White House announced Wednesday.Led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and coordinated through the National Security Council, the task force is made up of subject matter experts from across the federal government and has been meeting daily since Monday. Members of the 12-member group include National Security Adviser Robert O’Brian, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, and the National Institutes of Health’s Dr. Anthony Fauci.“The task force will lead the administration’s efforts to monitor, contain and mitigate the spread of the virus, while ensuring that the American people have the most accurate and up-to-date health and travel information,” the White House said… President Biden’s executive order describes who will be on his COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, what the group will do, and other information. “The task force shall consist of the Secretary of HHS; an individual designated by the Secretary of HHS to Chair the Task Force (COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair); the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, or offices (agencies) as the Chair may invite; and up to 20 members from sectors outside the Federal Government appointed by the President.” Xavier Becerra is the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to The New York Times, he is the first Latino to serve as health secretary. On March 18, 2021, the Senate confirmed him with a vote of 50-49. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was the only Republican to support his confirmation. Previously, he was California’s Attorney General. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will select someone to be the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair. Federal members may designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the member, a senior-level official who is a part of the member’s agency and a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government. Nonfederal members shall include individuals with expertise and lived experience relevant to groups suffering disproportionate rates of illness and death in the United States; individuals with expertise and lived experience relevant to equity in public health, health care, education, housing, and community-based services; and any other individuals with expertise the President deems relevant. Appointments shall be made without regard to political affiliation and shall reflect a diverse set of perspectives. Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation for their work on the Task Force, but members shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in Government service (5. U.S.C. 5701-5757). At the direction of the Chair, the Task Force may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Task Force members or their designees under this section, as appropriate. Mission and Work of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force: “Consistent with applicable law and as soon as practicable, the Task Force shall provide specific recommendations to the President, through the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President (COVID-19 Response Coordinator), for mitigating the health inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and for preventing such inequities in the future. The recommendations shall include:” Recommendations for how agencies and State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials can best allocate COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality in certain communities and disparities in COVID-19 outcomes by race, ethnicity, and other factors, to the extent permitted by law; Recommendations for agencies with responsibility for disbursing COVID-19 relief funding regarding how to disburse funds in a manner that advances equity; Recommendations for agencies regarding effective, culturally aligned communication, messaging, and outreach to communities of color and other underserved populations. “The Task Force shall submit a final report to the COVID-19 Response Coordinator addressing any ongoing health inequalities faced by COVID-19 survivors that may merit a public health response, describing the factors that contributed to disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, and recommending actions to combat such disparities in future pandemic responses.” What the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will do regarding data collection: “…To address the data shortfalls identified in section 1 of this order, and consistent with applicable law, the Task Force shall:” Collaborate with the heads of relevant agencies, consistent with the Executive Order entitled “Ensuring a Data-Driven Response to COVID-19 and Future High-Consequence Public Health Threats,” to develop recommendations for expediting data collection for communities of color and other underserved populations and identifying data sources, proxies, or indices that would enable development of short-term targets for pandemic-related actions for such communities and populations; Develop, in collaboration with the heads of relevant agencies a set of longer-term recommendations to address these data shortfalls and other foundational data challenges, including those relating to data intersectionality, that must be tackled in order to better prepare and respond to future pandemics; and Submit the recommendations described in this subsection to the President through the COVID-19 Response Coordinator. The next few paragraphs set up more about what the Task Force can do. They may seek the views of health professionals; policy experts; State, local, Tribal and territorial health officials; faith-based leaders; businesses; health providers; community organizations; those with lived experience with homelessness, incarceration, discrimination, and other relevant issues; and other stakeholders. The Federal Advisory Committee Act may apply to the Task Force, and any functions of the President under the Act, (except section 6) shall be performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. HHS will provide funding and administrative support for the Task Force (as permitted by law and within existing appropriations). The Chair shall convene regular meetings of the Task Force, determine its agenda, and direct its work. The Chair shall designate an Executive Director of the Task Force, who shall coordinate the work of the Task Force and head any staff assigned to the Task Force. The COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will terminate within 30 days of accomplishing the objectives set forth in this order, including the delivery of the report and recommendations specified in this section, or 2 years from the date of this order, whichever comes first. Section 3. Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response. “…The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the heads of all other agencies with authorities or responsibilities relating to the pandemic response and recovery shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law:” Consult with the Task Force to strengthen equity data collection, reporting, and use related to COVID-19; Assess pandemic response plans and policies to determine whether personal protective equipment, tests, vaccines, therapeutics, and other resources have been or will be allocated equitably, inducing by considering: The disproportionately high rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality in certain communities; and Any barriers that have restricted access to preventative measures, treatment, and other health services for high-risk population; Any barriers that have restricted access to preventive measures, treatment, and other health services for high-risk populations; The effect of proposed policy changes on agencies’ abilities to collect, analyze, and report data necessary to monitor and evaluate the impact of pandemic response plans and policies on communities of color and other underserved populations Policy priorities expressed by communities that have suffered disproportionate rates of illness and death as a result of the pandemic; Strengthen enforcement of anti-discrimination requirements pertaining to availability of, and access to, COVID-19 care and treatment; and Partner with States, localities, Tribes, and territories to explore mechanisms to provide greater assistance to individuals and families experiencing disproportionate economic or health effects from COVID-19, such as by expanding access to food, housing, child care, or income support. The next part instructs the Secretary of HHS to provide recommendations to State, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders on how to facilitate the placement of contact tracers and other workers in communities that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, recruit such workers from those communities, and connect such workers to existing health workforce training programs and other career advancement programs. The Secretary of HHS must also conduct an outreach campaign to promote vaccine trust and uptake among communities of color and other underserved populations with higher levels of vaccine mistrust due to discriminatory medical treatment and research and engage with leaders within those communities. Members of the Biden-Harris Administration COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force On February 10, 2021, President Biden announced who would be on the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The Task Force is chaired by Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith. She is an associate professor of internal medicine, public health, and management at Yale, and is one of the nation’s foremost experts on disparities in healthcare access. According to information posted by Yale, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith had called attention to the unequal burden borne by communities of color. She is also associate dean for health equity research, director for the Center for Community Engagement and Health Equity, and the founding director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the press briefing about the Task Force, it states: “As Chair, Dr. Nunez-Smith will also ask six additional Federal agencies to be represented on the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force as federal members. This includes the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice and Department of Labor. The twelve Task Force members represent a diversity of backgrounds and expertise, a range of racial and ethnic groups, and a number of important populations, including: children and youth, educators and students; health care providers, immigrants; individuals; public health experts; rural communities; state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, and unions. Mayra E. Alvarez, MPH is President of the Children’s Partnership, a California advocacy organization working to advance child health equity. Previously, she served in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama-Biden administration, including at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, the Office of Minority Health, and the Office of Health Reform. She also served as a Legislative Assistant in the US Senate and House of Representatives. She grew up in California, and graduated from the School of Public Health at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of California at Berkeley. James Hildreth, PhD, MD is president and chief executive officer of Meharry Medical College, the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center. Dr.Hildreth served previously as the dean of the College of Biological Sciences at University of California, Davis and as a professor and associate dean at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Hildreth is a member of the National Academy of Medicine an an internationally acclaimed immunologist whose work has focused on several human viruses including HIV. He currently serves on the advisory council for the NIH director and as a member of the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. Dr. Hildreth has led Meharry’s efforts to ensure that disadvantaged communities have access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines. He graduated from Harvard University as a Rhodes Scholar, from Oxford University with a PhD in immunology and obtained an MD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Andrew Imparato, JD Andy Imparato is a disability rights lawyer and Executive Director of Disability Rights California, where he has spearheaded advocacy on crisis standards of care and vaccine prioritization in the last year. Imparato joined DRC after a 26-year career in Washington DC, where he served as the chief executive of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and the American Association of People with Disabilities. From 2010-2013, Imparato served as Chairman Tom Harkin’s Disability Policy Director on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Imparato’s perspective is informed by his lived experience with bipolar disorder. Victor Joseph was elected by the 42 member tribes to the position of Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Chief/Chairman in March of 2014 and served through October of 2020. As the Chief Chairman he was the principle executive officer for the corporation and presided over all corporate meetings of the member tribes. Prior to being elected TCC’s Chief Chairman Victor was employed as TCC’s Health Director from 2007 to 2014. He worked for TCC a total of 28 years in a variety of leadership positions. He has also served as Alaska Representative on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee and on the Indian Health Services Budget Formulation Committee. Joseph is a tribal member of the Native Village of Tanana. He has extensive experience building strong working relationships with tribal leaders, colleagues, staff, and funding agencies and corporate beneficiaries. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH is the Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan and the Chief Deputy Director for Health in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). She is the lead strategist for Michigan’s COVID-19 response. Prior to her role in Michigan she was the Director of the Detroit Health Department, where she established a comprehensive reproductive health network and led Detroit’s response to the Hepatitis A outbreak. Dr. Khaldun has held former roles as the Baltimore City Health Department’s Chief Medical Officer and Fellow in the Obama-Biden Administration’s Office of Health Reform in the US Department of Health and Human Services. She obtained her BS from the University of Michigan, MD from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and MPH in health policy from George Washington University. She practices emergency medicine part-time at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr. MD, MBA, MPH is the Executive Director for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, Martinez is a Senior Associate Vice President within the university’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement; clinical professor in the university’s School of Social Work; and professor at Dell Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry. He grew up in Texas, and has a MPH from Harvard University’s School of Public Health, an MD from Baylor College of Medicine, and an MBA and BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. Tim Putnam, DHA, EMS is President and CEO of Margaret Mary Health, a community hospital in Batesville, Indiana and has over 30 years of healthcare experience. He received his Doctorate in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina where his dissertation was focused on acute stroke care in rural hospitals. He is a past president of the Indiana Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Association. In 2015 he was appointed by the Governor to the newly created Indiana Board of Graduate Medical Education and has chaired the Board since its inception. Dr. Putnam is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Vincent C. Toranzo is an active student from Broward County, Florida. Mr. Toranzo has experience with the inner workings of municipality functions. He serves as the State Secretary of the Florida Association of Student Councils advocating for the inclusion of student voices in their community, such as assistance to foster children and the assurance of students’ safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Toranzo was awarded the U.S. President’s Award for Educational Excellence and a Citizenship Award for School and Public Services from his local U.S. congresswoman. Mary Turner, RN is an ICU nurse at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and in her sixth year as President of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) union – the Minnesota affiliate of National Nurses United. She previously worked at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis for 10 years. Turner has been on the National Nurses United’s Joint Nursing Commission since 2011. She serves as the Chair of the Board for Isuroon, which provides empowerment, culturally sensitive health education, and advocacy for Somali women. Homer Venters, MD is a physician and epidemiologist working at the intersection of incarceration, health, and human rights. Dr. Venters is currently focused on addressing COVID-19 responses in jails, prisons, and immigration detention facilities. Dr. Venters is the former Chief Medical Officer of the NYC Correctional Health Services and author of Life and Death in Rikers Island. Dr. Venters has also worked in the nonprofit sector as the Director of Programs for Physicians for Human Rights and President of Community Oriented Correctional Health Service. Dr. Venters is a Clinical Associate Professor of the New York University College of Global Public Health. G. Robert (“Bobby”) Watts, MPH, MS is the CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, which supports 300 Health Care for the Homeless FQHC’s and 100 Medical Respite programs with training, research, and advocacy to end homelessness. Watts has 25 years’ experience in administration, direct service, and implementation of homeless health and shelter services. Watts served as Executive Director of Care for the Homeless in New York City for twelve years. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health from which he holds an MPH in health administration and an MS in epidemiology. Haeyoung Yoon, JD is Senior Policy Director at the National is Senior Policy at the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Over the course of her career, Yoon has worked on low-wage and immigrant workers rights issues. Prior to National Domestic Workers Alliance, Yoon was a Distinguished Taconic Fellow at Community Change. Yoon also has extensive litigation experience and taught at the New York University School of Law and Brooklyn Law School. She recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship regarding Immigrants as Essential Workers during COVID-19. Yoon received her JD from CUNY School of Law, her MA from Harvard University, and her BA from Barnard College. Biden’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... The Biden-Harris Covid-19 Vaccination PlanApril 18, 2021Out of Spoons / Public HealthPhoto by CDC on Unsplash Have you wondered about how the Biden-Harris administration managed to get so many COVID-19 “shots in arms” in such as short period of time? Were you surprised when pharmacies, stadiums, empty stores in dying malls, and pop-up vaccinations sites appeared? All of this is thanks to the Biden-Harris Covid-19 Vaccination plan. “Fact Sheet: President-elect Biden Outlines COVID-19 Vaccination Plan” was posted on January 15, 2021, on what was originally the Biden-Harris Transition website. After Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States, and Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice-President of the United States, that content moved to the White House website. The information posted by the Biden-Harris administration before Inauguration Day shows that they were thinking ahead about how to stop the spread of Covid-19. This contrasts strongly with the Trump Administration’s severe lack of planning. Fact Sheet: President-elect Biden Outlines COVID-19 Vaccination Plan starts with a brief paragraph about the need for effective and equitable vaccinations. It also provides some information about the spread of COVID-19, and the number of deaths. From the Plan: Effectively and equitably vaccinating the U.S. Population will happen through stronger partnerships with states and communities, increased supply, more vaccination sites, and more vaccinators. “The Covid-19 pandemic is getting worse by the day – more people are hospitalized with COVID-19 than ever before, the death rate is up almost 20 percent, and we’re nearing 400,000 deaths total. At the same time, there is a new, more contagious strain spreading across the country and we are woefully behind on vaccinating the U.S. population. “President-elect Biden will confront this historic challenge with the full strength of the federal government – working closely with local communities already in the trenches. He will lead an unprecedented, whole-of-society effort that mobilizes every resource available – across the public and private sectors. It will take every American doing their part. “As we move forward to get vaccines in arms as quickly as possible, we will not leave anyone behind. Communities across the country are counting on it. The health and economic security of our nation depend on it. “Today, the president-elect outlined key highlights of his plan to efficiently and equitably vaccinate the U.S. population. This includes taking action to: … The next portion of the Vaccination Plan is listed out very clearly. Get more people vaccinated Encourage states to allow more people to be vaccinated including individuals 65 and older as well as frontline workers. “The process of establishing priority groups was driven by science, but the implementation has been too rigid and confusing. We now see doses of vaccines sitting in freezers unused while people who want the vaccine cannot get it. President-elect Biden’s plan encourages states to open up eligibility beyond healthcare workers and long-term care facility workers like teachers, first responders, grocery store employees, and anyone who is 65 and older. “It won’t mean that everyone in these groups will get vaccinated immediately, as supply is not where it needs to be. But it will mean that as vaccines become available, they will reach more people who need them. For states with the capacity and supply to further expand, we encourage that as well. The federal government will continue to look to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) framework for an equitable, effective vaccination program.” Ensure equity throughout the vaccination process to reach those in hard-to-reach, marginalized communities. “We will ensure that there is equity in the vaccination process by using data to target resources to hard-hit communities, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for vaccinations, and equitable access to vaccines in marginalized and medically-underserved communities. Partnerships with state, local, and community-based organizations and trusted health care providers, like community health centers, will be central to this effort.” Create more vaccination sites Stand up new, federally-supported community vaccination centers across the country. “Getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible will require close coordination between the federal government and all states and territories. Knowing that not all states and jurisdictions have the resources to scale vaccinations at the pace this crisis demands, the Biden-Harris administration will leverage federal resources and emergency contracting authorities to launch new vaccination sites and to expand state and local efforts across the country. “With the support of Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), these sites will mobilize thousands of clinical and non-clinical staff and contractors who will work hand-in-glove with the National Guard and state and local teams. The program will be scaled based on what is working best on the ground for state and local partners, and the communities they serve.” Fully reimburse state deployment of the National Guard to support vaccinations and provide additional FEMA assistance. “President-elect Biden will deploy mobile vaccination clinics in the most hard-to-reach communities and to support those who face challenges accessing vaccination sites, including individuals who live in underseved urban and rural areas. The federal government will partner with states and local providers, including primary care providers, to ensure that they have the resources needed to help get vaccines to the communities they serve. “The federal government will launch targeted programs to engage community health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, and tribal health services to ensure that we can meet the needs of all communities.” Make vaccines available in pharmacies. “Millions of Americans turn to their local pharmacies every day for their medicines, flu shots, and much more. Nearly 90 percent of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. President-elect Biden will quickly jumpstart efforts to increase capacity at chain and independent pharmacies across the country to get Americans vaccinated.” Launch a new partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide. “Federally qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s) serve more than 30 million patients each year – one in 11 people nationwide. Many are people of color and many live in rural communities. FQHC patients are often individuals struggling to make ends meet. “Given the role that these providers play in their communities, President-elect Biden will launch a new program to ensure that FQHC’s can directly access vaccine supply where needed. At the same time, the administration will encourage jurisdictions to engage and work closely with health centers in their community vaccination planning. “And to ensure that health centers have the resources they need to successfully launch vaccination programs, President-elect Biden has called on Congress to provide additional funds to support community health centers, and HHS will launch a new program to provide guidance, technical assistance, and other resources to prepare and engage these providers nationwide.” Launch new models to serve high-risk individuals “The administration will make programs available for high-risk congregate settings, including homeless shelters, jails, and institutions that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Increase supply and get it out the door as quickly as possible Ensure a robust vaccine supply and spur manufacturing “To help people get vaccinated more quickly, the president-elect will maximize the manufacturer of vaccine and vaccine supplies for the country, including the Defense Production Act. This effort will prioritize supplies that could cause bottlenecks, including glass vials, stoppers, syringes, needles, and the “fill and finish” capacity to package vaccines into vials”. The Federal Emergency Management Program (FEMA) has an explanation of the Defense Production Act. The Defense Production Act is the primary source of presidential authorities to expedite and expand the supply of materials and services from the U.S. industrial base needed to promote the national defense. DPA authorities are available to support: emergency preparedness activities conducted pursuant to title VI of the Stafford Act; protection or restoration of critical infrastructure; and efforts to prevent, reduce vulnerability to, minimize damage from, and recover from acts of terrorism within the United States. DPA authorities may be used to: Require acceptance and preferential performance of contracts and orders under DPA Title I. (See Federal Priorities and Allocations System (FPAS)).Provide financial incentives and assistance (under DPA Title III) for U.S. industry to expand productive capacity and supply needed for national defense purposes;Provide antitrust protection (through DPA voluntary agreements in DPA Title VII) for businesses to cooperate in planning and operations for national defense purposes, including homeland security. FEMA also provides information about the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, PL 100-707, signed into law November 23, 1988; amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, PL 93-288. This Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs. Title IV of the Stafford Act is called “Major Disaster Assistance Programs”. Section 401 “Procedure for Declarations” provides the following explanation of this part of the Stafford Act. “IN GENERAL – All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State. Such a request shall be based on a finding that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that Federal assistance is necessary.“As part of such request, and as a prerequisite to major disaster assistance under this Act, the Governor shall take appropriate response action under State law and direct execution of the State’s emergency plan. The Governor shall furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local resources which have been or will be committed to alleviating the results of the disaster, and shall certify that, for the current disaster, State and local government obligations and expenditures (of which State commitments must be a significant proportion) will comply with all applicable cost-sharing requirements of this Act.“Based on the request of a Governor under this section, the President may declare under this Act that a major disaster or emergency exists.” The Defense Production Act, and the Stafford Act, are what gives a president the power to take action in emergency situations in order to provide states with what they need to survive it. The incoming Biden-Harris administration clearly saw that the COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency. There appears to be a potential problem, though. In order to receive emergency aid, a state’s governor would have to request it from the Biden-Harris Administration. My best guess is that the Biden-Harris administration believed that every state Governor would do so, but there was still the possibility that some state governors might decide not to accept the aid. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris would not be able to directly act on it until after the Inauguration and swearing in ceremonies were over. Planning ahead helped to make it possible for so many people, across the United States, to get vaccinated. Be a reliable partner for states by providing actionable data on vaccine allocation timelines and delivery. “To effectively plan and scale distribution, states and localities rely on both advanced understanding of their allocations and timely delivery of their ordered doses. Under President-elect Biden’s plan, the federal government will provide regular projections of the allocations states and localities will receive. “The federal government will build on the operational plans in place to ensure the effective distribution, storage, and transit of vaccines to states, including support for maintaining or augmenting the vaccine-specific required cold chain. The federal government will also fully leverage the Defense Production Act to fill any distribution gaps, including with respect to any needed refrigeration, transportation, or storage facilities.” Increase vaccine availability while maintaining a commitment to the two-dose schedule. “President-elect Biden’s plan will release the vast majority of the vaccines when they are available, so more people an get vaccinated quickly, while still retaining a small reserve for any unforeseen shortages or delays. To continue ensuring second-dose availability on the timeline recommended by the FDA, the Biden-Harris administration will closely monitor development, production and release of vaccines, and use the DPA as needed to ensure adequate supply for second doses on the timeline recommended by the FDA.” Mobilize more personnel to get shots in arms. Surge the public health workforce to support the vaccination effort. “A diverse, community-based public health workforce is essential to an effective vaccination program. President-elect Biden will address workforce needs by taking steps to allow additional qualified professionals to administer vaccines and strongly encourage states to use their flexibility fully to surge their workforce, including by expanding scope of practice laws and waiving licensing requirements as appropriate. “The federal government, in partnership with states, will provide appropriate training, including thorough use of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The president-elect will also act swiftly to amend the current COVID-19 Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration to permit certain qualified professionals, including retired medical professionals, that are not licensed under state law to administer vaccines to be able to do so with appropriate training in order to expand the number of qualified professionals able to administer the vaccine.” The Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) “is one of the nation’s uniformed services – a branch committed to the service of health. Officers advance our nation’s public health, serving in agencies across the government, as physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, scientists, engineers, and other professionals.” Their mission is: Protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation. They work at the CDC, FDA, Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense. The Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19 was placed on the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services on March 17, 2020, during the Trump Administration. It is also called the PREP Act. The Summary of the PREP Act (at that time) stated: “The Secretary is issuing this Declaration pursuant to section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act to provide liability immunity for activities related to countermeasures against COVID-19.” Part of the Supplementary Information included: The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to issue a Declaration to provide liability immunity to certain individuals and entities (Covered Persons) against any claim of loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the manufacture, distribution, administration, or use of medical countermeasures (Covered Countermeasures), except for claims involving “willful misconduct” as defined in the PREP Act. This Declaration is subject to amendment as circumstances warrant. Another part, Section IV. Limited Immunity, stated: The Secretary must also state that liability protections available under the PREP Act are in effect with respect to the Recommended Activities. These liability protections provide that, “ubject to other provisions of the , a covered person shall be immune from suit and liability under federal and state law with respect to all claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the administration to or use by an individual of a covered countermeasure if a Declaration has been issued with respect to the countermeasure.” In Section IV of the Declaration, the Secretary states that liability protections are in effect with respect to the Recommended Activities. In other words, the Trump Administration decided that the best way to handle the COVID-19 pandemic was to prevent people from being able to sue “those that manufacture, distribute, administer, prescribe or use Covered Countermeasures.” It wasn’t about protecting the health of the American people at all! On January 28, 2021, about a week after Inauguration Day, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted: “HHS Amends PREP Act Declaration to Increase Workforce Authorized to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines”. This is the amendment that President Biden mentioned in the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Plan. The Release stated the following: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today issued a fifth amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP ACT) to add additional categories of qualified persons authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.“To respond to the nationwide public health emergency caused by COVID-19, the Biden Administration is broadening use of the PREP Act to expand the vaccination workforce quickly with additional qualified healthcare professionals,” said HHS Acting Secretary Norris Cochran. “As vaccine supply is made more widely available over the coming months, having additional vaccinators at the ready will help providers and state health departments meet the demand for vaccine and protect their communities more quickly.” Among other things, the amendment: Authorizes any healthcare provider who is licensed or certified in a state to prescribe, dispense, and/or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any other state or U.S. territory.Authorizes any physician, registered nurse, or practical nurse whose license or certification expired within the past five years to prescribe, dispense, and/or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any state or U.S. territory so long as the license or certification was active and in good standing prior to the date it went inactive.Requires any healthcare professional described above to complete Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Training and, for healthcare providers who are not currently practicing or whose license or certification is expired, requires an on-site observation period by a currently practicing healthcare professional. “Under the PREP Act and the Declaration, a qualified person is a covered person. Subject to certain limitations, a covered person is immune from suit and liability under federal and state law with respect to all claims for loss resulting from the administration or use of a covered countermeasure if a declaration under the PREP Act has been issued with respect to such countermeasures.” As you can see, the Biden-Harris administration does include protection for health care practitioners who administer COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the manufactures of the vaccines, from being sued by a person who was harmed from it. The Trump-Pence administration made that the entire focus of the PREP Act. The Biden-Harris administration’s amendment makes it clear that the most important thing is to make it possible for more people to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine. It puts people first – not corporations. Mobilize a public health jobs program to support COVID-19 response. “President-elect Biden has asked Congress to make an historic investment in expanding the public health workforce, funding 100,000 public health workers to nearly triple the country’s community health roles. These individuals will be hired to work in their local communities to perform vital tasks like vaccine outreach and contact tracing in the near term, and to transition into community health roles to build our long-term public health capacity that will help improve quality of care and reduce hospitalization for low-income and underserved communities.” Ensure the American people have the information and confidence they need to get vaccinated. Launch a federally led, locally focused public education campaign. “The federal government will build public trust through increased transparency, communication around progress and setbacks, and a public education campaign that addresses vaccine hesitancy and is tailored to meet the needs of local communities. The campaign will work to elevate trusted local voices and outline the historic efforts to deliver a safe and effective vaccine as part of a national strategy for beating COVID-19.” The Biden-Harris COVID-19 Vaccination Plan worked! The White House COVID-19 Response Team posted regular updates about how many people have received a COVID-19 vaccination. On January 27, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “The President set an ambitious goal of administering 100 million shots in our first 100 days. To get there, we’ve got to average about a million shots per day. Just one week in, our trajectory is good and we are all well on our way to hitting that goal.” The tweet includes the following graphic: The graphic says: 7,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021. Below it are a series of dots where each dot equals 10,000 vaccine doses. On February 3, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse replied to its previous tweet with a new tweet: “Since last week’s update, we’ve administered another 9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The steps we’ve taken to increase supply & work directly with states to change the course of the pandemic make a difference in our goal to get 100 million shots in the first 100 days.” The tweet included the following graphic: The graphic says: 16,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021. Below it is a series of dots. The black dots are toward the bottom Each black dot equals 10,000 doses. A grouping of blue dots each equal 10,000 doses. All the blue dots equal new vaccine doses since January 27th, 2021. On February 10, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “We’ve been making steady progress over the past few weeks — getting more vaccine supply, getting more vaccinators on the ground, and creating more places to get vaccinated. We’re on track to meet our goal of delivering 100 million shots in our first 100 days in office.” The tweet included the following graphic: The graphic says: 26,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021. Below it is a series of dots. This time, the black dots are located starting at the left-hand side of the image. The black dots rise to the line of dots third from the top, and decrease in stair steps from there. Each black dot equal 10,000 vaccine doses. There is also a bunch of blue dots that start out on top of the black dots. The blue dots also decrease in stair steps on the right hand side. Each blue dot equals 10,000 vaccine doses, and new vaccine doses since February 3rd, 2021. On February 17, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “27 days ago, the President launched his comprehensive national strategy to beat this pandemic. We are working every day to execute that strategy and seeing results.” The tweet included the following graphic: The graphic says: 38,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021. Below it is a series of dots. The black dots start at the bottom of the graphic and continue up to the ninth line from the bottom. The black dots recede in stair steps as they get closer to the left-hand side of the graphic. There are blue dots on top of the black dots. They fill the top nine lines of the graphic, and recede in stair steps on the left-hand side of the graphic. The blue dots fill in gaps left by the black dots stair steps. Each black dot equals 10,000 vaccine doses. Each blue dot equals 10,000 vaccine doses. All the blue dots equal new vaccine doses since February 10, 2021. On February 26, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “In just five weeks, we’ve administered more shots than any other country, with among the highest percentage of the population fully vaccinated. That progress is because we’re working around the clock to increase vaccine supply, places to get vaccinated, and vaccinators.” The tweet contained a very large graphic: At the top of this graphic, there are a multitude of tiny blue dots. A bracket holds them up. The bracket leads to text that says “For context, 10,000 vaccination doses looks like this”. A line leads down to a circle that has one blue dot at the top of it. The circle has text that says “Just one of these dots holds 10,000 vaccination doses”. A line leads down from the circle into a rectangle that has a lot of black dots at the bottom. This time, they stair step as they reach the right hand side. Each black dot is equal to 10,000 vaccine doses. On top of the black dots are many blue dots. They fill in the stair step where the black dots left off, and continue to the top part of the rectangle that all of these dots are in. Each blue dot equals 10,000 vaccine doses. All of the blue dots together equal new vaccine doses since February 17, 2021. There is larger text in the middle of the graphic that says: 50,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021. On March 12, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “Last night the President said that we’re on track to reach his goal of administering 100 million shots in his first 100 days weeks ahead of schedule. While there’s still so much more work to do, this by-the-numbers breakdown of our COVID-19 response outlines how far we’ve come.” The tweet included the following graphic: The top of this graphic says: “An Update On The Biden-Harris COVID-19 Response”. There are no dots on this graphic. Under the heading, it says: “81M Shots Since January 20, 2021.” Drawings of eight syringes are in a line next to it. There is a line under that part. Below it, there is text that says “More than 70% of 75 Year Olds have their first dose”. Next to that is a drawing of a bottle of vaccine with a yellow label. Below that, there is text that says “More than 60% of 65 Year Olds have their first dose.” Next to that is another bottle of vaccine with a yellow label. Off to the side, there is a drawing of a small calendar. The calendar says: “2.2M per day” and there is an arrow pointing away from it, across the calendar page. Below the calendar it says: “7-Day Average of 2.2 Million Vaccinations Per Day.” On March 19, 2021, @WHCOVIDResponse tweeted: “Before President Biden took office, he set a goal of administering 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in his first 100 days, which meant increasing vaccine supply and then turning vaccines into vaccinations. Today, on his 58th day in office, we have reached that goal.” The tweet included the following graphic: The top of this graphic says: “100,000,000 Vaccine Doses Administered Since January 20, 2021.” Underneath that it shows that each black dot equals 25,000 vaccine doses. It also says each blue dot equals 25,000 doses. There is another blue dot next to text that says “New vaccine doses since March 10th.” Below the text, there are about eight lines of blue dots, stair stepping down as they reach the right hand side of the graphic. Below them are a multitude of black dots, slightly stepping up as they reach the right hand side of the graphic. After reaching this goal, President Biden decided to double the goal and attempt to reach 200 million vaccine shots administered in his first 100 days in office. I really like the transparency that the Biden-Harris administration is providing people in regards to the effort to protect people from COVID-19. The Biden-Harris Covid-19 Vaccination Plan is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... CockatielsBrand New Cage!August 9, 2021CockatielsMarvin, Pepper, and Pinky are enjoying their brand new cage! It might look kind of cramped from the outside, but that’s an illusion. This new cage has plenty of space for the birds to spread out. These photos were taken in December of 2020. You can tell that all three birds are really happy and excited about the new cage because their eyes are “smiling” and their head crests are up. Pepper is sitting comfortably on the top perch. Pinky decided to sit on the toy (instead of play with it). Marvin is off to the side, looking rather nervous. He tends to take a little while to adjust to new things. Pinky has moved to one of the dishes that are on the top of the cage. Both of those dishes were empty, which is probably a good thing. Pinky likes to sit inside them. He looks really happy to be on the dish. Eventually, Marvin was placed on top of the big perch that is the highest point on top of the cage. He sits next to his best buddy, Pepper. Both of their crests are up, which means Marvin feels better sitting next to a friend. Pinky has moved to the ladder – but has decided not to climb it. Pinky has fluffed up his feathers – indicating that he will, in fact, attempt to nap on the edge of this bowl. All of the excitement over having a brand new cage to explore made the cockatiels sleepy. Pepper is becoming a “borb” – his feathers are so fluffy that he becomes a rounded shape. Pinky is delicately perched on the edge of the dish and taking a nap. Marvin is still not so sure about this new cage. His crest is up, indicating he’s not as nervous as he was before. He is also turning into a “borb” and on the way to having a nice nap. #Blaugust2021 Photos by Shawn Thorpe Brand New Cage! is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me Ko-fi. Thank you!... LadderApril 19, 2021CockatielsPepper is sitting on a ladder. He usually sits near Marvin, but has been having trouble climbing up the cage. Today, Pepper decided that the ladder was a nice place to sit. Pepper is an older bird, and has lived long past the typical lifespan of a cockatiel. He can climb the bars that are horizontal, but not the vertical ones. The ladder was added to help him get onto the top perch. Pinky decided that he needed some attention. Pinky is on his way to bother Marvin. As you can see, Marvin is getting ready to take a nap. Pinky can be absolutely adorable when he wants to! Pepper decided to take a nap near the food dish on a red perch that has texture on it. He is in the process of turning into a “borb”. Photos taken on November 1, 2020. Ladder is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me Ko-fi. Thank you!... Pepper and Marvin on CouchApril 5, 2021CockatielsPepper and Marvin spent some time on the couch having fun. They really like each other! They were turning into borbs (bird + round orb shape) when they noticed the camera. Marvin got all excited and started flapping his wings! He’s not a good flyer – but he tries. Pepper and Marvin decided to chill out and sort of snuggle together. Photos by Shawn Thorpe, taken on September 11, 2020. Pepper and Marvin on Couch is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Pinky on the Couch AgainJanuary 26, 2021CockatielsPinky cannot get on top of the couch by himself. He’s not very good at flying. If a human puts him on the couch, he is quite happy to sit there. Look at how tall his crest is! Photo by Shawn Thorpe on September 11, 2020. Pinky on the Couch is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... FriendshipNovember 12, 2020CockatielsPepper and Marvin have been good buddies for a long time. In September of 2020, they started preening each other. When birds do this, it is a sign of affection. Photo by Shawn Thorpe Friendship is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Orange SkyOctober 2, 2020CockatielsEvery morning, Pinky, Marvin, and Pepper wake up on the long perch that is in the back of the cage. They were ready for fresh food and water. There have been a lot of fires in California. None are near us, but the smoke from the fires had been drifting here. Our cockatiels did not know what to think of the strangely colored sky. Orange Sky is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Hot BirdSeptember 22, 2020CockatielsCalifornia had a heat wave. Cockatiels are tropical birds, so they usually enjoy that kind of weather. But, then it got a bit too hot for them. Marvin is doing what we call “hot bird”. He is sticking out his folded wings, in an effort to cool his body. Technically, he’s doing “warm bird”. Birds that get too hot become very skinny and they push their folded wings out a lot farther. They also pant. Don’t worry. Our birds always have access to plenty of nice, clean, cool water. Marvin (and Pepper and Pinky) were not in any danger. Photo by Shawn Thorpe. Hot Bird is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me Ko-fi. Thank you!... Pinky Climbed to the TopSeptember 18, 2020CockatielsAfter sharing the top of the cage with Marvin the other day, Pinky decided to climb up to the top of the cage all by himself. Marvin and Pepper were not yet ready to start the day. Pinky Climbed to the Top is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Two Birds On Top of CageSeptember 16, 2020CockatielsThe cockatiels decided to be active. Pinky climbed up to the top of the cage for the first time. Marvin climbed up there, too. Pepper is looking out the window. Pinky and Marvin were happy to share the top of the cage together. Their very tall head crests show how they feel. Meanwhile, Pepper is inside the cage and picking at the blanket that covers it. Cockatiels find joy in destroying things when they think the humans aren’t looking. It’s ok. He can’t do much harm to the blanket. Two Birds On Top of Cage is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Marvin Climbed to the TopSeptember 11, 2020CockatielsMarvin figured out how to climb to the top of the cage. He spent a lot of time up there looking out the windows. His very tall crest and smiling eyes shows how happy he is! Marvin Climbed to the Top is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Diablo ImmortalDiablo Immortal Closed Alpha: Elder Rifts, Jewels, and a SoulstoneJune 29, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Crusader started at Level 29. I tried out an Elder Rift for the first time. It is possible to do an Elder Rift solo. Players can buy crests to add to the Elder Rift with currency obtained in the Elder Rift. Or, you can pay money for them. New players get a crest from a merchant as part of a quest. Naturally, I used that crest in the next Elder Rift. The Elder Rifts are fun, with or without a crest. It appears that using a crest gives you more loot. Of course, I cannot be sure of that, having only done two Elder Rift. Next, my Crusader did a quest that led her to the Jeweler’s shop. The helpers in there can sell the players some stuff. I didn’t have the right items to buy things yet. However, I was able to get the Apprentice Jeweler to socket some gems into my gear. By the end of the video, my Crusader was at Level 30. She found Deckard Cain… who talked about Soulstones. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Elder_Rifts_Jewels_and_a_Soulstone.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha: Beastiary and Dark WoodJune 29, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Crusader picks up where she left off in the previous video. I enjoyed the quests, and the scenery, in the Dark Wood area. Shortly after fighting some enemies, my Crusader got a notification about a Daily Reward. It turned out to be an item called Vicious Hero’s Companion of Fortitude. It was an upgrade to what my Crusader was currently using. Eventually, my Crusader got to meet Akara, someone who seems to be very important to the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. I also learned that the camp area gives the player the ability to access their stash. One of the interesting things in Diablo Immortal is that you can encounter other players who are working their way through the same quests that you are. It makes the game feel more populated than Diablo III does. The most interesting thing in the camp (other than the storyline) is the Horadric Beastiary. This was the first time I encountered it. To use it, a player must kill a certain kind of monster and pick up Monster Essence. Use the Monster Essence in the Beastiary to learn more about that type of monster. During the Closed Alpha, the Beastiary wasn’t entirely revealed to the player. Once this game is released, I intend to see how many of the beasts within in it I can unlock. My Crusader ended the video at Level 24. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Beastiary_and_Dark_Wood_Quests.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha: Dark WoodJune 28, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Crusader started off at Level 22. She entered a Challenge Rift for the first time. I start off by explaining how I accidentally misgendered the Blacksmith. When I record these videos, I cannot hear the sounds in the game. I figured Charsi was either a woman – if so, that would make her the first Blacksmith that was a woman. Or, perhaps the Blacksmith was nonbinary, based on the image. The answer to my questions about Charsi’s gender was revealed not long after I started playing. She sent me on a quest in Dark Wood. I started out looking at the Codex and claiming a reward called Westmarch. I also earned some Salvage related achievements. I will need to remember to keep looking at that. You have to click on each achievement that you earn before you can obtain the loot. My Crusader completed a Challenge Rift Level 1. There is a leaderboard connected to the Challenge Rifts. A player can do the Challenge Rift solo, or bring in some other players to help. It took me a little while to understand how to navigate my way through the Challenge Rift. It was fun, and there was lots of loot. Upon leaving the Challenge Rift, my Crusader followed a set of glowing footprints that led me back to Charsi. She sent me on some quests that take place in the Dark Woods area. One of the things I like about these quests is that the entire quest chain is (almost) all women. That’s not something I’ve seen very often in a video game. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Dark_Wood.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha: BlacksmithMay 11, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Crusader started off at Level 22. Part of this video is about figuring out where to find the Achievements and how to maneuver through the interface that shows Bounties, dungeons, and more. The main part of this video involves the Blacksmith. The first thing my Crusader did was talk to Xul. He sent her to go fight Lethes, who is in a location called Lord’s Rest. Upon entering, the screen said: “You have entered a solo Story Dungeon.” My initial impressions of Westmarch started forming while I played through this part of the game. I intend to wrote about that, but don’t want to squish it all into this post. Charsi is the Blacksmith of Westmarch. When I record these videos, I cannot hear the sound (due to the setup I have for recording my Diablo Immortal gameplay.) As such, I accidentally misgendered the Blacksmith. If I were able to hear Charsi speak, that would not have happened. I had the opportunity to start to figure out how to use the Blacksmith’s services. It is rather simple, once you understand how to move through the interface. I’m probably going to have to do that a lot before it will feel intuitive. This video also includes the most useful escort quest I’ve experienced in any of Blizzard’s games. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Blacksmith.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha: Mad King’s BreachMay 10, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Crusader started off at Level 20. She made a second attempt at completing the Mad King’s Breach dungeon (after failing it on the first try). In this attempt, I learned that it is possible to complete this Dungeon solo, despite the game’s recommendation that you bring 9 other players with you. I also learned that King Leoric has a “tell” that makes it very clear where he is about to charge. This gives the player a chance to get out of the way. By the end of the video, my Crusader was at Level 22. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Mad_King_s_Breach_Completed.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha – Early QuestsMay 9, 2021Diablo Immortal / Diablo VideosThis is my first video of the Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha. I decided to play a Crusader that looked like the one featured on the Diablo social media accounts. In this video, my Crusader started out at Level 11. I was mostly learning how to play the game. I play a lot of app games, so that made things easier. My biggest problem was that I kept getting stuck in the scenery, and had not yet worked out how to maneuver effectively in order to not be stuck. This video includes The Festering Woods area and Ashwold Cemetery. It also features some quests that involve Xul and Lethes. It ends with my Crusader standing outside Mad King’s Breach. By then, she was at Level 18. I’m not intending to record every little bit of my game play in the Diablo Immortal Closed Alpha, in order to avoid accidentally exposing people to “spoilers”. If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Diablo_Immortal_Closed_Alpha_Early_Quests.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... PodcastsLetter to my 12-Year-Old Self – Episode 068March 30, 2021Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read to you a short piece of writing that was inspired by a post on Autostraddle. It is a letter from me to my 12-year-old self, just as “past me” was beginning to try and figure themselves out. I read “Letter to My 12-Year-Old Self” on episode 068 of Words of Jen. If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj068.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Vicious Cycle – Episode 067November 30, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read to you a short poem I wrote in 2017 on a Tumblr blog that no longer exists. It is about what it is like to suffer from pollen allergies while trying to get some work done. I read “Vicious Cycle” on episode 067 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj067.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... We are in the Wrong Timeline – Episode 066November 27, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read to you a poem I wrote in 2017 on a Tumblr blog that no longer exists. It unexpectedly fits right into today’s world. I read “We are in the Wrong Timeline” on episode 066 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj066.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Ice Cream Delivery – Episode 065November 22, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read a piece of writing that was originally posted on social media. It is a true story about what happens when an order of ice cream is delivered to the wrong house during the COVID-19 pandemic. I read “Ice Cream Delivery” on episode 065 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj065.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... The Can of Tuna Rolled Away – Episode 064November 19, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read a piece of writing that was originally posted on a website that no longer exists. The story presents a problem. How were we going to get the can of tuna out from behind the stove? I read “The Can of Tuna Rolled Away” on episode 064 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj064.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our Lives – Episode 063November 15, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read a piece of my writing that was written in 2013. It is about some of the ways our lives changed after we got our own washing machine and dryer. I read “How a Washer and Dryer Changed our Lives” in episode 063 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj063.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our LivesNovember 15, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenI wrote this piece on February 2, 2013, on a blog that no longer exists. Shawn and I received a brand new washer and dryer as a gift from his mother. It surprised me how much having access to a washer and dryer changed our lives. I read “How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our Lives” in episode 063 of my Words of Jen podcast. Shawn’s mom was kind enough to buy us a brand new washer and dryer for Christmas. By “new”, I mean “purchased right from the store”. I don’t mean “replacements for our old ones” because there were no “old ones” to replace. This is the first time that Shawn and I have owned a washing machine and a dryer in our lives. Owning a washer and dryer changed our lives in ways that we did not anticipate. * No more weekly trips to the bank to purchase the roll of quarters we used to need to spend on the machines in the mobile home park “laundry hut”. Each roll cost $10.00. Obviously, this required us to have $10.00 on hand each time we needed to do laundry. That probably sounds easier than it actually was (especially since freelance writing can come with an erratic pay schedule at times). * Shawn no longer has to lug the laundry down to the “laundry hut”, and then return to put it into the dryer, and then return again to lug it all back home. * I no longer have to worry about what strange people he might encounter during these trips, or that a car will come around the corner and run him over. This was more of a worry at night, as Shawn tends to wear all black fairly often and drivers may not see him. * No more having to pick and choose which items get washed this week and which could wait until next week, (when we would be able to get more quarters). Now, everything that requires washing gets washed as needed. * No more being frustrated when the washing machines, or dryers, in the “laundry hut” would eat the quarters that Shawn fed them, and then refuse to do their jobs. No more having to decide if it is better to file a claim with the company that supplies the machines, or to simply give up on ever getting back those stolen quarters. * No more unhappy surprises when a trip to the “laundry hut” revealed that the company that owned the machines had raised the rates since the last time we tried to do laundry. * No more wondering just how expensive one load of laundry would cost next month, next year, or for the years that followed. No more worries that there would come a day when the company that supplied the machines would end their contract with the mobile home park and remove them (leaving us to have to use a laundromat that was farther away from home). * Zero chance of having items from our laundry stolen as they were washing or drying. We never had something go missing (except for the occasional sock). However, as we live near a homeless shelter, there was always the potential for someone to decide to help themselves to our clothing. No one is going to break in to steal a load of laundry from our new washer and dryer. * Things that take a long time to dry can go for another cycle through our dryer – no extra quarters required. Previous to this, we had been resorting to hanging up all the clothes that did not dry all the way on hangers across the bar for the shower curtain (sometimes in both bathrooms). * No more need to drape the bath mats over the railing on the back porch, in the hopes that they will finish drying. Also, no more need to be on the lookout for the various spiders and other insects that decided to hitch a ride inside on the bath mats. * I no longer have to worry that the person who used the washing machine before we did used a laundry soap that I am severely allergic to. This was always a gamble. I don’t have to worry about having freshly washed clothing cause me to break out in hives anymore. We have complete control over exactly what kind of laundry soap goes into our washing machine. We also can be certain that no floral scented dryer sheets are used in our dryer. * There is something about having our very own washing machine and dryer that makes the place we live in feel more like a home and less like a college dorm. I’m not sure how to explain that any better, other than to say it now feels like we are now living like grown-ups are supposed to. * The sounds that the washing machine and dryer make are quite soothing (once I got used to how they were supposed to sound). Unexpectedly, the sounds create a very calm, homelike, environment. It is nice to listen to while I am working on a batch of writing assignments. How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our Lives is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... That Demon Named Pain – Episode 062November 13, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenIn this episode, I read to you a poem I wrote in 2018. (It was temporarily posted on Medium.) The poem is about chronic pain caused by chronic illness. I recorded this on a high pain day because it seemed appropriate. I read “That Demon Named Pain” on episode 062 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj062.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... Mind Eraser – Episode 061November 11, 2020Podcasts / Words of JenMy dentist insisted that I take “sedation medication” before my root canal. I was told it would make me feel relaxed. I didn’t know it was a mind eraser. I read “Mind Eraser” on episode 061 of Words of Jen. #NaPodPoMo 2020 If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/woj061.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS... NaPodPoMo 2020November 9, 2020PodcastsSound wave from a podcast I recorded on Garageband in 2013 I am participating in NaPodPoMo 2020. It stands for “National Podcast Post Month” – but it has included international podcasters as well. The goal is to post a total of 30 podcasts during November. Here is a list of the podcast episodes I released during NaPodPoMo 2020: ONE: Words of Jen episode 057 – When the Piggy Bank is Empty TWO: Diablo Video: Season 21: To Level 70! THREE: Words of Jen episode 058 – Dreaming of Buffets FOUR: Diablo Video: Season 21: Master Nephalem Rift FIVE: Words of Jen episode 059 – The Outrage Machine SIX: Diablo Video: Season 21: Queen Araneae SEVEN: Words of Jen episode 060 – Spider is Recalculating EIGHT: Shattered Soulstone episode 282 – Shades of the Nephalem NINE: Diablo Video: Season 21: Lunatics and Bloodmaw TEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: More Paragon ELEVEN: Words of Jen episode 061 – Mind Eraser TWELVE: Diablo Video: Season 21: Torment I Nephalem Rift THIRTEEN: Words of Jen episode 062 – That Demon Named Pain FOURTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Running Greater Rifts Expert FIFTEEN: Words of Jen episode 063 – How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our Lives SIXTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Greater Rifts and Revelations SEVENTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Torment II EIGHTEEN: Words of Jen episode 064 – The Can of Tuna Rolled Away NINETEEN: Shattered Soulstone episode 283 – Ready for Season 22! TWENTY: Diablo Video: Season 21: Cow Level TWENTY-ONE: Words of Jen episode 065 – Ice Cream Delivery TWENTY-TWO: Diablo Video: Season 22: Barbarian Challenge Rift TWENTY-THREE: Diablo Video: Season 22: Nephalem Rift and Leveling Crafters TWENTY-FOUR: Diablo Video: Season 22: Cydaea and The Skeleton King TWENTY-FIVE: Words of Jen episode 066 – We are in the Wrong Timeline TWENTY-SIX: Diablo Video: Season 22: Adria and Vidian TWENTY-SEVEN: Shattered Soulstone episode 284 – MaxRoll TWENTY-EIGHT: Words of Jen episode 067 – Vicious Cycle TWENTY-NINE: Diablo Video: Season 22: Housekeeping THIRTY: Diablo Video: Season 22: Nephalem Rift on Hard Difficulty If you enjoyed these episodes, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... World of WarcraftSprite Darter’s WingsNovember 21, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft otherThe Sprite Darter’s Wings transmog was given for free to players who have a six-month World of Warcraft subscription. That’s how I got it. Players who don’t have a six-month WoW subscription can buy it for $20.00 from the Blizzard Shop. Enchant your friends and beguile your foes with this eight-piece transmogrification set inspired by the fey dragons of Azeroth. This appearance features cosmetic wings and a mesmerizing mask that make you a sprite to behold and will take the breath away from friend, foe, and dragonkin alike. This colorful transmog set was perfect for Meipo, my Gnome Mage. She is based on one of my Dungeons & Dragons characters named Meepo. (WoW wouldn’t let me have that spelling). Meepo is a Kobold Sorcerer who loves bright colors and shiny things. Each piece of the Sprite Darter set can be found in your Appearances tab. Splitting it up means you have to search around each piece in order to do the entire transmogrification. The advantage of splitting up this transmogrification set into pieces means that a player can pick and choose which parts to transmog. For example, maybe you just want to use the wings – but not the rest of the set. If I remember correctly, it cost one gold for each piece I chose to transmog. Here is the entire Sprite Darter transmogrification set on my Gnome. I honestly love it! The colors and goofiness of the set is perfect for Meipo. This is what the back of the Sprite Darter wings look like. The Sprite Darter set transmog doesn’t match the Steamscale Incinerator. The set matches quite well with the Squeakers, The Trickster mount. It makes Miepo look like a tiny fairy dragon who is riding a mouse. Sprite Darter’s Wings is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Steamscale IncineratorOctober 30, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft Pets and MountsThe Steamscale Incinerator was offered to players who had six-month World of Warcraft subscriptions. To me, it looks like a steampunk dragon. The World of Warcraft Steamscale Incinerator was presented to players who had six-month World of Warcraft subscriptions on July 9, 2020. It would be waiting for me where the rest of my mounts were located – but it wouldn’t wait forever. “Thanks for purchasing a 6-Month Subscription to WoW! Please, enjoy this majestic mount on us. Claim by January 31, 2021. Not usable in WoW Classic.” A mad gnomish inventor had a dream to ride a dragon, so he created this metal monstrosity. He powered it with a trapped demon, in order to create “an authentic dragon soul,” and did not survive its activation. Here’s what this mount looks like when walking on the ground. (Stormwind City Guard for scale). The Steamscale Incinerator looks awesome when flying at night. The underside of the dragon glows a bright red that seems to pulse. There are two large cogs spinning where the wings attach to the body. I took this screenshot on a whim while flying around Stormwind. Just for fun, I took this screenshot of the Steamscale Incinerator in Ironforge while the 2020 Hallow’s Eve event was taking place. Steamscale Incinerator is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... WoW Classic: EcheyakeeJuly 21, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicAt the start of today’s adventure, Vaca was at Level 15. She was ready to take her newly acquired Stonewood Hammer and use it on whatever the quest givers wanted her to kill. She was certain Neverlast was equally ready to go. These screenshots were taken on September 25, 2019. Serga Darkthorn: How goes your hunt, Vaca? Have you found the prowlers? Vaca and Neverlast started their day by turning in the Prowlers of the Barrens quest. It took longer than expected because some of the prowlers lacked claws. The Taurens assumed there was some kind of plague affecting the local wildlife. Serga Darkthorn: Whitemist, Echeyakee in the Tauren tongue, is the king of the savannah cats. He hunts with such stealth, they say he’s like a thin, white mist on the earth. And he kills so fast his prey have no time for fear, or pain. The Tauren say he is both mercy and death. You will learn if that’s true, for I now set you on the path to hunt Echeyakee. His lair is northeast of the Crossroads, among the bones of giant Kodo Go. Blow this horn when you reach his lair. Blow the horn, and he will come. The Taruen decided to take this quest. Did Echeyakee exist? Vaca was certain this would be an exciting battle. All Serga Darkthorn wanted from the kill was Echeyakee’s hide and a report on what the fight was like. The hunt for Echeyakee required Vaca and Neverlast to leave The Crossroads. On the way, they found some very obviously plagued antelope. Neverlast used his fancy Druid skills to heal the plagued antelope. It became healthy again, and appeared to be glowing as it ran off. When the Tauren arrived at what they thought might be the right place, they blew the horns that Serga Darkthorn gave them. After waiting a little while, Echeyakee appeared. He was real! Vaca, being a warrior, rushed into battle to fight this beautiful, dangerous, creature. It was the only way to get the hide that Serga Darkthorn wanted. The battle was difficult, and Vaca may not have survived it if it wasn’t for Neverlast’s ability to heal her with Druid magic. The Tauren were victorious. Echeyakee disappeared right after the Tauren collected its hide. All that was left to do was return to The Crossroads and turn in the quest. On the way back, Neverlast stopped to heal more plagued antelope. They always ran away after he healed them. It was as though they felt better and regained the strength required to run across The Barrens. They came across a herd of antelope. A few that looked fully grown were surrounded by smaller young ones. The Tauren took a moment to stand still and take in the beauty of this world. Vaca hit Level 16 while fighting two Ornery Plainstriders. She survived thanks to Neverlast healing her. The Tauren reluctantly decided to begin working on a quest from Darsok Swiftdagger (who was also at The Crossroads). He wanted Vaca and Neverlast to kill some Harpies and collect 6 Harpy Lieutenant Rings. The rings are only held by Witchling Slayer Harpies. Vaca and Neverlast struggled through their previous battle with harpies. And now, they had to fight the ones that were even tougher! There was a dead Tauren off to the side of where the harpies lived. That’s never a good sign! Neverlast and Vaca started fighting Witchwing Slayer Harpies, each very glad they did not have to do this quest alone. Some of the Harpies dropped Harpy Lieutenant rings. But, not all of them did. Darsok Swiftdagger didn’t mention that before sending the Tauren out on this quest. Neverlast used a Druid spell to hit a harpy from a distance. The harpy immediately flew over to them, where Vaca could fight it without ending up in a mob of Harpies. Neverlast called this technique “fishing for harpies”. Eventually, the Tauren ran out of harpies that were within range. Vaca jumped into a mob, and noticed that the harpies she and Neverlast fought before – that seemed tough at the time – were much easier to kill. Vaca had grown stronger. Meanwhile, Neverlast had gotten into some trouble. Vaca had just finished killing harpies, when she noticed the “parade” that Neverlast was leading. Vaca intercepted the harpies and tried to fight them off. It did not go well for the Tauren. After making a “corpse run”, the Tauren moved away from the harpies and took the high ground. They needed a place to safely rest and recover. When they were ready, the Tauren walked back down the hill and began “fishing for harpies” again. They had not yet obtained enough of the rings they were asked to collect. The Druid spell that Neverlast used was super effective at getting the attention of harpies that had isolated themselves. This was so much more efficient than having to fight a mob of harpies! Eventually, the Tauren decided to return to The Crossroads. First, they handed Darsok Swiftdagger the Harpy Lieutenant Rings he wanted. They were rewarded with some silver. Next, they returned to Serga Darkthorn so they could give her Echeyakee’s Hide. Serga was very interested in hearing about how that battle went. Serga Darkthorn: You’ve beaten Echeyakee, and though his days of hunting are over … his spirit is with you. He will show you the strength found in subtlety, and the honor in mercy. Your path is still long, warrior. Let’s hope you stride it well. Serga Darkthorn had another quest for Neverlast and Vaca. Serga Darkthorn: Now, Vaca, the hunt deepens. Now you must defeat your prey, and then find your way to its lair. Hunt the sunscale raptors to the south. Slay them and remove the feathers they wear. Place the feathers on the scytheclaw nests southwest of the Stagnant Oasis. Show their brethren you do not fear them! By now, after a long day of fighting, Vaca and Neverlast were tired. They decided to spend the night in The Crossroads. The sunscale raptors would still be out there tomorrow. WoW Classic: Echeyakee is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... WoW Classic: HarpiesApril 29, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicNeverlast and Vaca had traveled together, fighting a wide variety of creatures and turning in quests. They had no idea how difficult it would be to fight a flock of skinny bird people. These screenshots were taken on September 22, 2019. Today started with Vaca and Neverlast fighting a Lost Barrens Kodo. Vaca, being a Warrior, jumped right in and started swinging. Neverlast, a Druid, healed his impulsive friend. The Tauren would soon learn that fighting Kodos was much easier than fighting Harpies. They needed to collect a few more Prowler claws in order to complete a quest. Strangely, it turned out that many of the Prowlers lacked claws. Vaca and Neverlast assumed that the Prowlers were suffering from the same plague that caused the Zhevra’s to lack hooves. Fortunately, this particular Prowler had some claws. The Tauren would be able to turn in this quest when next they visited The Crossroads. Overall, the day was going pretty well, until they encountered Harpies. The Tauren were asked to collect 8 Witchwing Talons. Little did they know that these winged, annoying, creature would be so difficult to kill. “A fine trophy your head will make, Tauren,” the Harpy threatened. Vaca won this battle, thanks to Neverlast’s help and healing. But, it was a much tougher battle than Vaca was expecting against skinny bird people. “My talons will shred your puny body, Tauren,” the next Harpy yelled. Vaca knew she was much stronger and heavier than this little bird person. She wondered what the Harpies thought the word “puny” meant. Neverlast used a spell and trapped the Harpy in place. It was a good idea. This particular Harpy was tougher than the other ones, and both of The Tauren were getting really tired. Eventually, the last Harpy was down. Neverlast and Vaca finally had gathered up the necessary amounts of Witchwing Talons, and could turn them in to Darsock Swiftdagger at The Crossroads. It was time for a moment of celebration! The next thing to do was to hoof it back to The Crossroads. There was time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Vaca wondered what these big skeletons were. She kept finding them scattered across the land. Maybe they were kodos? On their way through The Forgotten Pools, another Lost Barrens Kodo picked a fight with Vaca. There was no choice but to fight back. You can’t talk a Kodo out of a course of action once they have chosen it. When the battle was over, Neverlast was able to pick up some Thin Kodo Leather. Apparently “thin” is a relative term in this case. Back at The Crossroads, The Tauren climbed a tower and spoke with Darsok Swiftdagger. He was the one who gave them the quest to fight Harpies. It would be great to turn that in and forget all about the horrible bird people. Darsok Swiftdagger: Cut up enough of them yet? Keep slicing and taking trophies. I want 8 Witchwing talons. Neverlast and Vaca happily handed over the Witchwing Talons they collected. They each received some silver coins in return. Harpies are tough to fight, but the pay was worth it. Before The Tauren could start their way back down the tower, Darsok Swiftdagger had something else to say to them. Darsok Swiftdagger: Hahaha. Vaca, Back for more? Good, I like to hear that. This time I want you to assassinate some of the harpy lieutenants in the Dry Hills. Only Witchwing Slayers can be lieutenants, and you can tell them apart by the rings they carry. They are a nasty bunch, but they lead some of the underlings in that area. Taking out 6 of them will be a decisive strike against their matriarchy. Make sure they die painfully, Vaca. We want those harpy wenches to know the idiocy of picking fights with the Horde. Vaca wondered why this tough-talking Orc didn’t go out and fight the harpies himself. But then, she thought about the words Darsok was using. He clearly was afraid of the Harpies, whom he hated in part because they were female. Darsok wanted their matriarchy destroyed. Vaca guessed he saw it as a threat to the Orc’s patriarchal system. It took Vaca a moment to realize that Darsok thought she was a small, male Tauren. The first batch of Harpies were exhausting, and this new group was going to be even tougher. Vaca and Neverlast turned to each other, shrugged, and accepted the quest. Neither were looking forward to it. They decided to rest up before taking on more awful Harpies. Hopefully, the money would be worth the effort. #Blapril2020 WoW Classic: Harpies is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Meipo the Mage – To Level 60!April 25, 2020Adventures of Meipo / World of WarcraftMeipo is the WoW version of one of my Dungeons & Dragon characters. I leveled her up to Level 50 in November of 2019, and eventually got her to Level 60 on February 17, 2020. My plan was to put together a blog about it shortly after that, but I wasn’t able to get around to it until now. Meipo hit Level 50 in Andorhal, so her adventure continues from there. She got in a fight with Darkmaster Gandling, and got pushed up into the air. Meipo was saved by Thassarian and Koltra Deathweaver. After that battle ended, Meipo was able to turn in the Scholomancer quest. Thassarian: Excellently done, Meipo. And now, with the leader of the Scourge forces eliminated from Andorhal, we bide our time. Gandling’s Gloves are a transmog item. Next, Meipo traveled to Chillwind Camp, to talk to Commander Ashlam Valorfist. An Achievement popped up when she arrived: The First Battle for Andorhal Commander Ashlam Valorfist: These farmers from the south wish to take these farms, but I can’t let them enter the plaguelands unprepared. Even with the Scourge gone, danger still looms in the form of the Forsaken. No, we must be ready to fight… and that includes our new visitors. Before doing anything else, however, I would recommend that you travel to Uther’s Tomb, to the east, and place this tribute before his statue to ask for his blessing. Speak with the priest that tends to the tomb when you are finished. She intended to do exactly that…. but got distracted by food instead. Now We’re Cookin’: Cook up one of every Pilgrim’s Bounty dish. Candied Sweet Potato, Cranberry Chutney, Pumpkin Pie, Slow-Roasted Turkey, Spice Bread Stuffing Pilgrim’s Progress: Complete each of the Pilgrim’s Bounty dailies. Can’t Get Enough Turkey, Don’t Forget The Stuffing, Easy As Pie, She Says Potato, We’re Out of Cranberry Chutney Again? Meipo put on all the Pilgrim’s clothing, and used this magic gun to turn some Rogues into turkeys. Short Order Cook: Learn 50 cooking recipes. Issac Allerton gave Meipo a Turkey Caller. It makes a noise like a turkey! It didn’t take long for Meipo to portal back to Stormwind, use the Turkey Caller, and catch all the turkeys she needed. She learned that some of her fire spells would not only stop a turkey from running, but also prepared it for cooking. Meipo also learned that the teleportation spell was extremely useful for getting things done during holiday festivals. Expert Cook: Obtain 225 skill points in the “Classic” category of cooking. Meipo learned the Candied Sweet Potato recipe. Meipo found herself surrounded by turkeys outside Ironforge. Meipo learned the Slow-Roasted Turkey recipe. Meipo hit Level 51 after turning in a cooking quest to Robby Flay. Getting back on track, Meipo flew past Aerie Peak. She noticed, for the first time, that there was a giant stone Gryphon standing on top of it. Meipo arrived at Uther’s Tomb and was greeted by High Priest Thel’danis. Uther the Lightbringer Here lies Uther the Lightbringer First Paladin – Founder of the Order of the Silver Hand Uther lived and died to defend the kingdom of Lordaeron. Though he was betrayed by his most beloved student, we believe that his spirit lives on. He continues to watch over us, even as the shadows close in around our ruined land. His light is the light of all humanity – and so long as we honor his example, it shall never fade. Anonymous Meipo received Uther’s Blessing. High Priest Thel’danis: You and the humans at Chillwind Camp wish to re-take Andorhal? I wish you luck. High Priest Thel’danis: If you truly intend to move forward in this battle for Andorhal… well, perhaps I can help. To the east lies a large crypt. The bottom level of the crypt was once used for storage of weapons and armor…until the Scourge came. Now that the undead have left, the weapons are free for the taking. Most of the weapons are probably rusted and rotten by now, but they will serve better than tunics and pitchforks. Meipo set out to find the Weapons Crate at the bottom of the Crypt in Western Plaguelands. She got temporarily distracted by this sculpture of Uther’s Hammer. Meipo found the Abandoned Crypt and a broken box of weapons. The Abandoned Crypt: Scattered all over the bottom level of the crypt, you find shattered crates that once held weapons and armor. It appears that somebody got here before you did. Meipo got ambushed by skeletons! She fought them with fire. After killing off the skeletons inside the Abandoned Crypt, Meipo gathered up the weapons she could find. Outside, there were more skeletons to fight. The Cryptkeeper’s Belt is a transmog item. Meipo took her collection of weapons, such as they were, to Thurman Grant. She remembered that he was leading a group of farmers who wanted to take back some farmland. But, he didn’t need the weapons. Thurman Grant: I told Commander Valorfist that we could hold our own, and we intend to. I had a little conversation with the death knight general, Thassarian, on my way over here. We farmers plan to help in our own way. We will take control of this farm, begin to cultivate the land… and then when the battle for Andorhal commences, we will attack the Forsaken from the rear. They’ll never expect it. First, we need to get rid of these Forsaken outsiders. Kill some. Then return to me. Meipo found that killing Forsaken with fire was pretty easy – especially if you had a group of farmers helping. The farmers worked surprisingly well as a team. Thurman Grant: In fact, you might still be able to help train some of my men. You probably noticed the abomination outside. We initially tried to fight him, but he didn’t fight back. He seems to want to help out on the farm. Take a group of four settlers and challenge this abomination to combat. He seems to be pretty tough, but with one of him and five of you, I think you’ll have a chance at beating him. Meipo gathered up four settlers and led them to the abomination. There was another group ahead of them, trying to fight the abomination. His name was Gory, and he wasn’t fighting back. Meipo decided to talk to Gory, and learned that he really does want to help out on the farm. He also enjoys standing in the warm sun. Meipo made a friend! She convinced the farmers to stop fighting Gory. Thurman Grant: We can handle things from here. I thank you for your help, Meipo. I assume that when we next meet, it will be in battle. Take care of yourself until then. We’ll get all the help we can get. Meipo earned the A Temporary Peace Achievement. Thurman Grant gave Training Leggings to Meipo. It is a transmog item. Meipo went to the Menders Stead and met Field Agent Kaartish. Field Agent Kaartish: Welcome, mage. As you can see, our camp is a joint expedition between Argent Crusade members and the Cenarion Circle druids, but we welcome all who wish to help heal the land. Miepo met Durnt Brightfalcon. She waved hello, but he didn’t wave back. Durnt Brightfalcon: Word is in from Andorhal, Meipo. The battle has resumed. It has become somewhat well-known among the Alliance forces that you’re a hero of the first battle of Andorhal. Thassarian has requested your presence immediately. Meipo was asked to report to Thassarian at Andorhal in Western Plaguelands. She started going there, but as usual, got a bit distracted on the way. She picked up a Plague Lurker Sample for…. someone. She forgot who. Meipo hit Level 52 while mining for shiny things. Meipo gave all the plague samples she found to Field Agent Kaartish. He was very happy to have them. Field Agent Kaartish: I will need some time to study these samples, Meipo. I will speak to you again when I have completed my analysis. Field Agent Kaartish: We are not the only Argent Crusaders here in the plaguelands. Our headquarters, Hearthglen, lies to the north. Even nearer to the north is a small lumber mill which we also control. Nathaniel Dumah is my main contact at the lumber mill. I encourage you to speak with him, should you find yourself in that part of the woods. Meipo intended to go to the Northridge Lumber Camp. But first… she decided to make more Spiced Bread Stuffing for Caitrin Ironkettle. In doing so, Meipo earned the 50 Daily Quests CompletedAchievement. Meipo made a friend! A Dun Morogh Chicken came up to sit by her campfire while Meipo was cooking. Got My Mind On My Money: Loot 100 Gold. Meipo watched a Dwarf fight a bunch of Goblin Brawlers at Booty Bay. Meipo stopped by the Ruins of Lordaeron to eat some Sweet Potatoes. The Forsaken didn’t seem to mind sharing with her. When Meipo finally made it to the Northridge Lumber Camp, she saw huge spiders everywhere! She decided to use teleport to “nope” on out of there. Meipo hit Level 53 while trying to reach the Pie Chair at Stillwater Pond. These elves were not as friendly as the Forsaken were! Meipo is wearing some combination of the holiday apparel. She also has on a Stormwind Tabard, gloves, and shoulders that are not part of the outfit. The Fine Pilgrim’s Hat is a transmog item. Meipo got lost and ended up in Thousand Needles, where she fought Needlespine Cobras. Meipo ended up in New Thalanaar fighting in a battle that she didn’t understand. These elves wanted help – so she threw fire at their enemies. Meipo fought Snarler in the Lower Wilds. She wasn’t intending to, but he jumped out and snarled at her. Snarler dropped a belt called Captain’s Waistguard of the Quickblade. It was not something Meipo could use. Archaeology involves digging – and that sounded like fun to Meipo. She went to the Ruins of Eldre’thar to see what she could find. Unfortunately, there were angry ghost elves there who tried to attack her. Meipo deployed an ice shield to protect herself. Eventually, she learned how to stay a safe distance away from them, and was able to dig up some interesting artifacts. Meipo learned that the Undead Ravagers in Desolace didn’t like fire! Professional Journeyman: Obtain 150 skill points in a “Classic” category of a profession. Meipo went to Shok’Thokar and fought some Doomguard Invaders. A fishing quest sent Meipo to go find Baby Octopus. They are as big as her! Meipo met Officer Jankie in Tehtris Aran. She stopped Meipo and directed her to Nijel’s Point. It wasn’t a choice. Officer Jankie: Halt! On behalf of the Nijel’s Point Guard, I am under orders to send all able-bodied allies to report directly to Corporal Melkins. I am not authorized to offer any other information. What I can offer is transportation. You are free to use my mount. It will deliver you directly. Dismissed. Shortly after arriving at Nijel’s Point, Meipo met Corporal Melkins. Corporal Melkins: Pentigast! Bring the new gnome up to speed, would you? Captain Pentigast: Yes, yes. Welcome to Desolace, gnome. Sorry we had to be so insistent, but we’re a small outpost, and there are big problems in this region – most of them quite urgent. Bottom line: We need all the help we can muster. To start with, our friend Vahlarriel over there has been getting pretty antsy, insisting that we send a contingent to visit the ruins in the east. Why don’t you go introduce yourself… Vahlarriel Demonslayer was nice to Meipo. “A pleasure to meet you, mage,” he said. Vahlarriel Demonslayer: Simply intolerable! Satyrs of all things, desecrating our sacred lands… Their days are numbered, gnome. I can assure you of that. As soon as we have the numbers, I shall lead a charge that will rid this land of the wicked creatures. For now, though, perhaps you could put my mind at ease? Travel just east of here to Sargeron and scour the ruins. Find the relics of Elune and ensure that they are in good condition. I’ll pay you well for the favor. Meipo hit Level 55 outside of Nijel’s Point. Meipo earned the Thistlefur Cap from finishing a quest. She tried it on, but couldn’t decide if it was better than what she was using before. So, she switched back and forth between them for a while. The Thistlefur Cap is a transmog item. The quests that Meipo was sent to do in Sargeron are a bit strange. First, she visited the Cup of Elune, which wants her to bring it 8 melons. The quest is called: “Nothing a Couple of Melons Won’t Fix.” The markings on the ruins here make one thing clear: There is something special about the old fountain in the Sanctuary of Elune. It would seem that one could expect special power from washing their face in the fountain. First, of course, there would need to be something in the ancient fountain with which to wash. Pondering this problem, you spot a melonfruit at the base of a nearby tree… After filling it with liquid from the melons, you proceed to wash your eyes from the ancient font. Upon opening your eyes, you are able to see the spirits of ancient elves, still faithfully carrying out rituals to their goddess. Spirits of ancient elves appeared. Three were close by the Cup of Elune, and more were wandering around the Sanctuary of Elune. There were spirits of ancient elves around Elune’s Brazier, too. What did the Brazier of Elune want Meipo to get for it? Ten pounds of flesh. Yes, really. According to ancient legend, this ancient brazier was placed her for the performing of sacrifices. From what little you remember of the history, a blessing is bestowed upon the being who places the flesh of Elune’s enemies on the brazier’s burning embers. Looking around, you determine that the satyrs who now possess this reagion would likely qualify. Meipo had no trouble finding Saytrs to fight. Gathering up a total of 10 pounds of Satyr Flesh was kind of icky. One of the Satyr’s dropped Hawkeye’s Cloak. It is a transmog item. Eventually, Meipo was able to gather up the Ten Pound of Flesh that Elune’s Brazier wanted. The divine brazier graciously endows you with a blessing. You feel a deep connection to the distant past having partaken of the ancient blessing granted by this relic. You determine to make as much as you can of this divine gift. Meipo found a statue of Elune’s Handmaiden. She had a quest called: To the Hilt! The handmaiden of Elune! It’s even more glorious than the stories tell. The legends surrounding this relic come to your mind as you draw near it. In ancient time, after battle, the enemies’ weapons were to be cast upon the basin in exchange for a divine gift of some sort. As you ponder this ritual, the glint of steel catches your eye from a nearby weapon rack… After collecting 20 Saytr Sabers from the weapon racks and various Satyrs in the region, Meipo brought them to the statue of Elune’s Handmaiden. With the ritual completed, you are awarded a divine gift. You can’t help but to feel a great sense of honor as you receive one of Elune’s boons. Sandals of Ritual are a transmog item. Meipo received Gloves of Nurture from Vahlarriel Demonslayer. The gloves are a transmog item. Meipo hit Level 56 at Firestone Point. Meipo earned the Pilgrim’s Peril Achievement at Thunder Bluff, will sitting in the Turkey Chair. Pilgrim’s Peril: While wearing either a Pilgrim’s Dress, Robe, or Attire, take a seat at each enemy capital’s Bountiful Table. Orgrimmar, Silvermoon City, Thunder Bluff, Undercity Meipo earned Pilgrim’s Paunch in Exodar while sitting in the Turkey Chair. Pilgrim’s Paunch: Acquire the Spirit of Sharing from a complete Bountiful Table feast at every Alliance capital. Darnassus, The Exodar, Ironforge, Stormwind Meipo earned the “FOOD FIGHT” Achievement outside of Stormwind. “FOOD FIGHT”: Bounce food off a fellow feaster’s head at a Bountiful Table. Meipo earned the Turkey Lurkey Achievement outside of Orgrimmar. There is a story that goes with that screenshot. Meipo was standing outside of Orgrimmar, hoping to turn a Goblin Rogue into a turkey so she could earn the Achievement. She started talking to a fellow Gnome, who just so happened to have a friend who was a Goblin Rogue. The Gnome convinced the Goblin to come by, and the Goblin agreed to be temporarily be turned into a Turkey. Turkey Lurkey: Blast those dirty sneaking Rogues with your Turkey Shooter! Blood Elf Rogue, Dwarf Rogue, Gnome Rogue, Goblin Rogue, Human Rogue, Night Elf Rogue, Orc Rogue, Troll Rogue, Undead Rogue, Worgen Rogue Meipo is riding the Squeakers, the Trickster mount. Together, they look like they fell out of a children’s story or a fairy tale. Meipo earned the Dangerous Love Achievement. Dangerous Love: Assist the Steamwheedle Cartel in stopping the sinister Crown Chemical Co. plot. Meipo hit Level 57 right after completing The Crown Chemical Co. dungeon. Meipo earned the Tough Love Achievement. Tough Love: Defeat the Crown Chemical Co. apothecaries in Shadowfang Keep. Meipo earned the Be Mine! Achievement by eating lots of candy hearts. Be Mine!: Eat the right “Bag of Candies” heart candies listed below: Be Mine!, I’ll follow you all around Azeroth, All yours, I’m all yours, Hot Lips, You’re Mine!, You’re the best!, I LOVE YOU! Meipo earned the Sweet Tooth Achievement by eating a lot of chocolate. Sweet Tooth: Sample the Love is in the Air candies listed below: Buttermilk Delight, Dark Desire, Sweet Surprise, Very Berry Cream It Might Just Save Your Life: Unleash the power of love contained within a holiday necklace. Meipo discovered Ban’ethil Hollow and hit Level 58. Meipo fought Agal (and one of Agal’s friends). Agal dropped the Imbued Pioneer Cloak. It is a transmog item. Meipo helped Oben Rageclaw in the Ban’ethil Barrow Den. Oben Rageclaw: I am finally free of the control of the Gnarlpine. Thank you, Meipo. My spirit may now rest peacefully forever in the Emerald Dream. Perhaps one day we may meet again, young mage. But for now, please accept this reward as a symbol of my gratitude. The Sleeping Robes are a transmog item. Meipo hit Level 59 after she completed The Crown Chemical Co. Dungeon. Meipo fought Ursal the Mauler. She also fought Lord Melenas. His head is a quest item. Meipo brought the quest item to Tallonkai Swiftroot. He gave her boots called Viny Wrappings. I don’t know if they are a transmog item. Meipo earned the Nation of Adoration Achievement. Nation of Adoration: Complete the Lovely Charm Bracelet daily quest for each Alliance capital. A Gift for the High Priestess of Elune, A Gift for the Prophet, A Gift for the Lord of Ironforge, A Gift for the King of Stormwind. Meipo hit Level 60 after she completed The Crown Chemical Co. Dungeon. #Blapril2020 Meipo the Mage – To Level 60! is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Deleting WoW ScreenshotsApril 20, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft otherOver the years, I have gathered up an abundance of screenshots from several games – including World of Warcraft. My goal is to use up as many of them as I can, since that was the point of taking them in the first place. The WoW screenshots in this blog post are from 2010. I no longer remember the quests, lore, or story line that goes with them. For context, I was using a Mac Mini in 2010. I don’t remember what type of monitor that was. Yes, my keyboard had stickers on it to look like a pirate flag. The mouse pad is of The Scream by Edvard Munch. My Tauren completed some kind of quest. I liked the contrast between the darkness of the cave and the bright light in front of my Tauren. This is Zoeie, a Dranei Shaman. She was my main for a long time. Zoeie is wearing a tabard with a spider web design. The design was changed often, but I liked this one the best. I took this screenshot because Zoeie had been cursed and I thought the glowing skulls, in a cloud of green poison, looked cool. The curse effect is more interesting when in a dark room. While I cannot remember what type of creature this one is, I do recall that it would run towards me and then suddenly stop. It sits and it stares. I’m fairly certain that this thing has undergone several aesthetic changes since 2010. Which one of my characters is looking at the green goo that is pouring down from somewhere? I have absolutely no idea. My shaman got lost in here. I took this screenshot because of the pattern of intertwined branches in the sky. The limited color palette in this screenshot was what caught my attention. Nearly everything is a variety of green. Zoeie is flying somewhere on a griffin. The background of this screenshot uses a very limited gray color palette. I like the way the brightly colored griffin stands out. Zoeie is riding a Striped Frostsaber through Westfall. Both of them look completely out of place. I’ve no idea why I bought her this mount. She’s definitely not a Night Elf, and this was long before mounts were automatically shared across characters. Once again, I’ve taken a screenshot where the subject matter pops out against the background. It was not intentional. Maybe this is just something that happens with people who have a degree in Art Education. Here is what Menethil Harbor looked like before it became flooded. In this one, Zoeie is flying over some ruins. This screenshot feels like something mystical is about to happen. In the center, there is a large stone with a mysterious rune carved on it. Below it, in a circle, is a row of candles (or something similar). A glowing creature is walking towards it. Floating rocks are in the air. This statue of an archer was located in the area where the Night Elves were at. I don’t think it exists in-game today. Or, if it does, it is probably in pieces. My very serious Death Knight, Riglee, is riding Gnome mount that is bouncy. I’ll end this blog post with a screenshot of Bessimu, my Tauren Warrior, riding a bat. Bessimu is wearing a hat from Brewfest. #Blapril2020 Deleting WoW Screenshots is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... WoW Classic: TeamworkApril 12, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicThe adventures of Vaca and Neverlast continue! This time, they set out to collect Raptor Heads and Centaur Bracers. If they were lucky, one of the Centaurs would drop a key that would open a chest. These screenshots were taken on September 19, 2019. Vaca started her day by learning how to cook Brilliant Smallfish. Warriors need a lot of food, so it seemed like a good idea to learn the Cooking Skill. Neverlast and Vaca took a flight to where they needed to be in order to complete a few quests they had started. It was much faster than walking there! They fought some Kolkars at The Forgotten Pools. It’s a lovely background to fight a battle in! Neverlast and Vaca make a good team. There’s just something about paring up a Warrior and a Druid that makes battles go well. The Tauren had the opportunity to explore The Forgotten Pools while working on a quest. The Tauren decided to find another area that had Centaurs, hoping that a different group would have more Bracers. There were plenty of Kolkar to fight in the Barrens, but they were too strong. The Tauren were able to separate out a few Kolkar from the crowd, and that almost worked. The disadvantage was that the battles lasted longer, and The Tauren had to take the time to heal up afterwards. They decided to return to The Forgotten Pools, where the Kolkar were easier to fight. This one didn’t have any Bracers, but did drop a Kolkar Booty Key. It was exactly what they needed to open a chest…. that they hadn’t found yet. Neverlast and Vaca celebrated their good luck and took a moment to enjoy the scenery. It’s easy to forget, while the fighting is going on, that there is still beauty in this world. The Tauren had managed to collect six out of the fifteen Centaur Bracers they needed in order to complete a quest. Vaca charged the next two Kolkar they saw, in an effort to speed things up. She knew that Neverlast was right behind her, and that he was very good at healing. The Kolkar Chest was located on top of a structure in the Barrens, near the area where the tougher Kolkar had gathered. Neverlast received 2 Mageroyal and 2 Briarthorn from the chest. It was a Druid quest, and Vaca was happy to help Neverlast complete it. Back to collecting Centaur Bracers. The Tauren now had eight out of the fifteen required for the quest. It was taking longer than expected, but for a Warrior, that just meant more opportunities to practice fighting skills. One would think that two Kolkar (who might have Cenatur Bracers) with two dinosaurs (who had parts needed for a separate quest) would be a lucrative battle. But, no. They didn’t drop anything useful. Vaca was Level 14, and Neverlast was Level 15. The aftermath of this battle was impressive, and worthy of taking a moment to remember it. Back to The Forgotten Pools! After slaying yet another Kolkar (that did not have Centaur Bracers), a small herd of graceful animals ran past Vaca and Neverlast. To Vaca, it looked like a mother deer, leading her babies to safety. Perhaps Neverlast, as a Druid, knew the proper names of these graceful creatures. The Tauren stood still and allowed them to pass by. To switch things up for a while, the Tauren changed targets and went after Sunscale Screechers. They needed to finish a quest that required them to collect the heads of these loud, fast, creatures. All of the Screechers clearly had heads at the start of the battle. Unfortunately, Vaca’s two-handed Goblin Smasher sometimes turned those heads into a pile of goo by the end of the battle, making them unusable. At least, that’s what she figured must have happened, since so many of the Screechers didn’t have a head anymore when The Tauren tried to loot their corpses. These two Kolkar dropped just enough Centaur Bracers for The Tauren to finish the quest. It was a big relief to not have to fight these angry people anymore. The Tauren returned to Rethgar Deathgate, an Orc who stood at the top of a tower in The Barrens. “How goes your hunting?”, he asked. Vaca and Neverlast handed a pile of Centaur Bracers to Rethgar Deathgate. Vaca hit Level 15 and obtained a Stonewood Hammer. It was two-handed, which she preferred, and more powerful than the Goblin Smasher. Next, Vaca followed Neverlast up Dreadmist Peak, so he could complete some kind of Druid quest. It wasn’t something Vaca understood, though he tried to explain it to her. The air grew thick with red colored dust, making it hard to see – and breathe. Vaca wasn’t sure how she would see their enemies before they were right on top of them. The Burning Blade Orcs at the top of this awful place used magic that glowed brightly. That made it much easier for Vaca to see – and hit – them. Together, The Tauren slayed them all so Neverlast could finish his Druid quest – whatever it was. Back to The Crossroads, where Neverlast and Vaca turned in the Raptor Heads to Garzog. He saw the raptors as “thieves”. Vaca didn’t much care what Garzog thought of them – she just wanted to turn in the raptor heads she and Neverlast collected. Bag space is scarce! The Tauren ran into Mankrik at the Crossroads. He gave them two quests to work on: Consumed by Hatred, and Lost in Battle. Mankrik had a lot to say: Mankrik: I came to the Crossroads from the south seeking help, warrior, but I find only cowards who turn their backs on me — even the mighty Thork insults me so. He is a good leader, but his dismissal of my plea causes me great anger. He claims my rage makes me hasty — that it clouds my judgement — but I will not rest until I have vengeance! The Tauren decided to help him out, as soon as they were able to. The Tauren ended their day at Thunder Bluff. Vaca decided to give the pile of wool she collected to Rumstag Proudstrider, who was seeking donations of wool. The Tauren had a shortage of cloth, and Vaca was willing to share what she had found. WoW Classic: Teamwork is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... WoW Classic: Questing for CashApril 5, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicVaca is a Tauren Warrior who recently hit Level 13. She, and her friend Neverlast, a Tauren Druid, have been adventuring together through WoW Classic. Today, they traveled around, turned in some quests that they were able to finish, and picked up some new quests they could work on next time. These screenshots were taken on September 17, 2019 Vaca’s day started where she stopped, in Hunter’s Rise near the Warrior Trainer and the Hunter Trainer. It was time to try out some of the new skills she learned. She flew to Thunder Bluff to meet up with her friend Neverlast. Zhevra made good targets for Vaca to test her new skills on. Neverlast and Vaca needed to kill off some Razormane in order to complete a quest. They ran into some helpful players who had the same quest, including a Troll named Zarakhan. It was surprisingly easy to find players who understand the value of joining up with others who are on the same quest as they are. Typically, this group lasts until everyone kills enough of the required enemy to finish their quest. An Orc Warlock named Brynni helped Vaca and Neverlast fight Kreening Snarlsnout. Neverlast marked him with a skull (possibly to help Vaca focus.) Together, they successfully killed Kreening Snarlsnout. Before leaving this area, our group needed to obtain a Supply Box and then take it to Crossroads. Thork: Welcome to the Crossroads, warrior. My name is Thork — I lead the defenses here in the name of the Warchief. Please feel free to make yourself at home. As long as you mind your business, no one should have any problem with you taking up some space. There are many threats to our safety here. If you’ve already become familiar with the lay of the land, speak to the others here — perhaps they have tasks for you to do. Thork is the questgiver who gave us The Disruption Ends quest and the Supplies for the Crossroads quest. Neverlast, Vaca, and Brynni were able to turn in two quests to Thork. Thonk: Cut off the head of their leader, and chaos ensues, Vaca. Learn this lesson well. It will aid you in the future. The boars will flounder without direction, and we will be able to take back the Barrens. He didn’t seem to care how many adventurers banded together to complete this quest. Vaca was rewarded with a Cinched Belt. Thork: How goes your search for the supplies, Vaca? I trust the quillboar fall under your strength easily. It was nice to unload a heavy box of Supplies on to Thork, and to get back some bag space. Our small party ventured out to collect Fungal Spores. The spores weren’t difficult to find. The Kolkars around the spores, however, were dangerous. All three party members died. The Lushwater Oasis was actually sort of pretty. It was nice to look at while taking a short rest after finally gathering up the required number of spores. Vaca hit Level 14 after right after kiling yet another Zhevra. We had a quest to collect Zevhra hooves. Many of them didn’t have hooves, which Vaca and Neverlast found both perplexing and disturbing. Back to The Crossroads to speak with Serga Darkthorn. Serga Darkthorn: How may zhevra have you slain? The Tauren looked at her, and decided not to directly answer that question. Was Serga Darkthorn aware of how difficult it was to find zhevra that actually had hooves? Unsure whether or not she was joking, The Tauren simply handed over the Zhevra hooves they had painstakingly collected. Serga Darkthorn: Not bad, Vaca. Those zhevra hold a lot of strength in their legs. A sharp kick from them on its haunches! It looks like you have some strength in you too. Are you ready for a real challenge? Serga Darkthorn gave us the Prowlers of the Barrens quest. She asked the Tauren to collect 7 Prowler Claws from Savannah Prowlers. The Tauren wondered if the prowlers would all actually have claws, or if they were experiencing the same mysterious plague as the zehvra were. Eventually, they shrugged, accepted the quest, and figured that the effort would at least give them some money. Next, Vaca and Neverlast spoke with Apothecary Helbrim. He was the one who sent them out to get Fungal Spores. Apothecary Helbrim: Do you have the spores, Vaca? There is a concoction I must send to my associate in Thunder Bluff, which requires the spores… Apothecary Helbrim: Ah, good. These spores have rendered nicely. Thank you, Vaca. Neverlast was already making arrangements for the flight to Thunder Bluff. Flying across the Barrens to Thunder Bluff is faster than walking there The Tauren needed to go to The Pools of Vision, which is a small cave system underneath Spirit Rise in Thunder Bluff. There are several Forsaken in there, which seemed very strange to Vaca. She wondered why they weren’t living in their own city. Were these Forsaken outcasts? On her way through the cave, Vaca was stopped by Clarice Foster, who was a higher level than she was. Clarice Foster: Filthy scum! Leaves me for his damn crusade. Because “the Light is the most important thing we have against the threats the undead pose.” Well, what about his children?! What about ME?! Night after night I sat patiently waiting for him… always second to his blasted duty! Well, witness what “justice” brings you, Vaca! He’s dead and I’m bearing the very thing he was trying to stop! Take this piece of junk and put it on his tomb at the Sepulcher. I want nothing to do with it anymore… or him! Clarice pressed a pendant into Vaca’s hand, and told her to look for Yuriv’s Tomb in Silverpine. Vaca didn’t entirely understand what Clarice Forster meant by “the Light”. Maybe these pale people can’t go out in the sun? Neverlast and Vaca found eventually found Apothecary Zamah in the Pools of Vision. They handed off the rendered spores from Apothecary Helbrim, and didn’t ask any questions about what those spores would be used for. Vaca’s day started, and ended, in Thunder Bluff. It was time for a rest. #Blapril2020 WoW Classic: Questing for Cash is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Squeakers, The TricksterApril 2, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft Pets and MountsSqueakers, the Trickster, is a mount that was released in January of 2020. It was made available to players who had an existing 6-month subscription with a future renewal date. Those who do not have a 6-month subscription to World of Warcraft can purchase Squeakers, the Trickster for $25.00 in the Blizzard Shop. I found Squeakers the Trickster in the Mounts tab. It is wrapped up in a gift box that the player gets to open. The flavor text on this mount says: The locals in Halfhill swear that whenever a batch of grain is missing, a farmworking instrument is misplaced, or a bushel of berries can’t be found, you can hear a mischievous squeaking, and are reminded to slow down and accept what life gives you. Inside is a highly decorated white rat that all of my World of Warcraft characters can use. It even has a saddle! And yes, it does make little squeaking sounds. Here is my Death Knight Gnome, Riglee, riding Squeakers. This mount automatically scales to the fastest riding skill known by each of your characters. It can be used as either a ground mount, or a flying mount, or both. If your character has the flying mount ability, Squeakers can launch itself into the air, while doing a graceful spin. It then stays in the air and you can direct it to where you want to go – just like with any other flying mount. Squeakers will do the graceful spin even if your character doesn’t have flying unlocked. The difference is that Squeakers will land back on the ground after spinning. Here is my Death Knight Gnome, Riglee, flying away on a rat mount with shiny wings! In this screenshot, you can see Squeakers’ adorable little hands and feet! Off they go, seeking adventure! #Blapril2020 Squeakers, The Trickster is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... WoW Classic: Flight PlansJanuary 27, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicVaca has acquired a weapon called Goblin Smasher, and is ready to put it to use! She was Level 12, and prepared to go finish some quests. These screenshots were taken on September 12, 2019. The day started with a flight over The Barrens. The goal for Vaca, and her friend Neverlast, was to turn in a quest at Thunder Bluff. Shortly after arriving, Vaca fell right off the ramp. She sat at the bottom, waiting for Neverlast to catch up with her. They turned in the Ride to Thunder Bluff quest to Ahana the Leather Armor Merchant. As you can see, Vaca and Neverlast had matching, fancy, purple cloaks. Ahanu: Ah, a new bundle of hides. I will get to work on these immediately! Thank you, sister. You have done me a great service. Here are some coins to pay for your time and travel costs. Ahanu quickly crafted some leather goods. He put them into a bag (one for each of us to carry) and sent us to to Tal the Wind Rider Master. Tal the Wind Rider Master: Greetings, warrior! What can I do for you? The answer to that question was obvious. Now leaving Thunder Bluff – destination Crossroads. Somewhere along the way, our Wind Riders synced up and became one. After landing on solid ground, Vaca and Neverlast spoke with Jahan Hawkwing at the Crossroads. He is the Leather & Mail Armor Merchant. We gave him Ahanu’s Leather Goods. Jahan Hawkwing: Vaca, you are back from Thunder Bluff? Did you deliver the hides to Ahanu? Eventually, the Tauren found their way to Ratchet. Neverlast and Vaca found the dock, and spoke with Wharfmaster Dizzywig. Wharfmaster Dizzywig: You seek passage on the next ship, or have some item you wish to send aboard it? I honestly cannot remember who we got this quest from, or where we obtained the Secure Crate that Wharfmaster Dizzywig wanted. It didn’t take long to walk from the dock to the Flight Master. Neverlast and Vaca discovered a new flight path! They immediately made use of it! It was easy to see why this place was called Thorn Hill. Neverlast and Vaca make a good team. But, sometimes Warriors get the idea that they can take on more than they actually are capable of fighting. Both of the Tauren ended up here. The Tauren needed to collect a few more body parts from plainstriders in order to finish a quest. Vaca was very close to hitting Level 13. Killing plainstriders for experience points will do! Vaca hit Level 13 after killing a plainstrider. Neverlast was already at Level 13, and had been for a little while. The Tauren spoke with Serga Darkthorn at the Crossroads. She was the one who sent Neverlast and Vaca out to obtain plainstrider parts. Serga Darkthorn: Have you collected the plainstrider beaks? The Tauren handed over the beaks, and completed the Plainstrider Menace quest. What was Serga Darkthorn doing with the plainstrider beaks? It was a mystery. Serga Darkthorn: How many zhevra have you slain? This was a quest that the Tauren hadn’t gotten around to working on yet. Serga Darkthorn wants Vaca and Neverlast to collect zhevra hooves. It wasn’t clear what Serga was going to do with those. The Tauren decided it was better not to ask her about it. Before leaving the Crossroads, Neverlast and Vaca stopped to talk with Thork. He was the one who gave them a quest called Disrupt the Attacks and sent them out to kill Razormane. Thork gave them a new quest called The Disruption Ends. Thork: One of my scouts witnessed an attack on a caravan from Durotar, Vaca. The culprits are indeed from the Razormane tribe of quilboars. One of the quilboars in particular is leading the raids: Kreenig Snarlsnout. He was seen northeast of here, just south of the road from Durotar. If the threat is to be ended, then Kreenig must die. To be sure the attacks cease, though, I say we add insult to injury. Kill Kreenig along with more of their tribe, and return to me when you have his tusk. Before slaughtering more Razormane, Neverlast and Vaca returned to Thunder Bluff. Hunter’s Rise had class trainers that could give them access to new and improved skills. The Hunter Trainer and the Warrior Trainer share this space. Vaca spent some time – and money – getting new skills and upgrading some of the skills she already had. She would have to return here again after leveling up some more and unlocking new skills. This seemed like a good place to stop and take a rest. Much progress was made, and Neverlast and Vaca needed to gather energy to fight the Razormane when next they set out. WoW Classic: Flight Plans is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... TV & Movie ReviewsMy Favorite Star Wars AntagonistsAugust 29, 2020TV and Movie ReviewsIn a galaxy far, far, away, there are two paths that force-sensitive people can choose from: the light side, or the dark side. While there are many wonderful reasons for fans to favor the protagonists, I find that the antagonists can also be very complex and interesting. I am participating in Promptapalooza, this year’s version of Blaugust. Each blogger is assigned one prompt to respond to – and an additional one to pass on to the next blogger. Participating bloggers can also write about any or all of the other prompts. The prompt I’m responding to in this post is: “Tell us about some of your favorite antagonists and explain why.” It was originally assigned to Naithin on the Time to Loot blog. Thrawn The most impressive thing about Thrawn is his ability to carefully calculate every step in his plans. He is a brilliant strategist who is able to make quick changes as the situation allows. Thrawn is the type of person who has the ability to always be several steps ahead of his opponents. Thrawn finds the art and culture of other species interesting. The more he learns about them, the more he can use that information to his advantage. He is the rare Star Wars antagonist who not only understands why that knowledge is useful, but also appears to enjoy the scholarly aspect of learning such things. Unlike several other Star Wars antagonists, Thrawn is able to keep his cool when a situation goes differently than he had planned. This gives him the ability to seem very reasonable to whomever he is trying to persuade. An example of Thrawn’s ability to change tactics and adopt an alternate strategy are in what has been called “The Thrawn Trilogy” by Timothy Zahn. This trilogy is no longer considered to be canon, so I’m thrilled that Timothy Zahn has written new Thrawn books that are canon. In the first book in the original “Thrawn Trilogy”, Grand Admiral Thrawn seeks out the strange and powerful Jedi Master Joruus C’baoth. It becomes clear that C’baoth believes he is the last Jedi (until Thrawn mentions Luke and Leia). Thrawn convinces C’baoth to work with him by striking a bargain. Thrawn makes C’baoth believe that he would be in charge of a quest that C’baoth is intensely interested in. C’baoth insists that Thrawn is the one who should be in charge, and agrees to go with him. This relationship eventually unravels, as it becomes clear that C’baoth has lost his mind. Thrawn switches tactics to make things go in his favor. Timothy Zahn puts the reader inside many of the character’s heads in this trilogy, and that allows the reader to experience what Thrawn is thinking. Ben Solo / Kylo Ren I am well aware that Ben Solo / Kylo Ren is a character that has evoked a lot of emotion from Star Wars fans. Some dislike him because he throws tantrums. Others seem to have fallen in love with Kylo Ren for reasons I do not understand. Both groups are missing the complexity of this character. Adam Driver did a fantastic job of bringing out both sides of this broken, force-sensitive, person. Ben Solo is the child of Han Solo and Leia Skywalker Organa Solo. Two parents with strong personalities and plenty of resources with which to raise a child. Things should have gone well. Unfortunately, it was not enough. Something was very wrong with Ben Solo. After learning who his grandfather was, Ben Solo became obsessed with him. There are scenes in the movies where he is talking to the crushed and burned helmet that Darth Vader used to wear. Han and Leia decided that the best thing to do would be to send Ben to train with Luke, who had begun training Jedi. The hope was that the experience would move Ben Solo towards the light side of the force. While training, Luke realizes that he could feel the darkness within Ben Solo, and feared that Snoke had already corrupted him. He decided to speak with Ben about it, but found him sleeping. Using the force, Luke reached out and saw the death and destruction that Ben Solo would eventually bring to everything Luke loved. He learned that his nephew had already been turned by Snoke. It was too late. On instinct, Luke drew his lightsaber, briefly intending to kill his nephew, but stopping himself from doing so. Ben woke up, saw his uncle with his lightsaber raised, and believed Luke was about to kill him. In short, Ben Solo used the force to drop the ceiling on his uncle. He then killed the rest of Luke Skywalker’s students. After Han Solo and Leia Skywalker Organa Solo learned what happened, they decided to separate. Each blamed themselves for what their son had done. Eventually, Ben Solo realizes that Snoke had been “the voices in his head” since early childhood. Snoke saw Ben as “a focal point between the light side and the dark side” and wanted him for an apprentice. Ben Solo eventually decided to drop his name in favor of a new one that didn’t connect him to his parents. He was now Kylo Ren, and became part of the Knights of Ren. Later, he moved up the ranks of the Empire. And through all of this is a very confused young man who feels torn between the light and the dark. He feels betrayed by his uncle Luke, and has become convinced that his parents don’t love him anymore. All that is left is Snoke. In other words, Ben Solo / Kylo Ren never really had the opportunity to make his own decisions. He doesn’t understand why he behaves the way he does. There is a scene in one of the movies where Han Solo confronts his son. He calls him by name, Ben Solo, and asks him to remove his mask so he could see his son’s face. Ben takes off the mask, but insists that he “destroyed Ben.” Han insists that his son, Ben, was very much alive. He pleads with his son to come home to his true family, and insists that Snoke is only using him. Ben starts crying. “I’m being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain. And I know what I have to do, but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?” Ben asks his father. Han replies, “Yes. anything.” In that moment, Han Solo may have believed that he was about to get his son back. Instead, Ben Solo / Kylo Ren murders his father. He probably thought that killing his father would make him stronger. It did not. Instead, it made him weaker and more unbalanced. So, why do I like Ben Solo / Kylo Ren? Part of it is the “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” aspect of this character. He has a split personality, with dueling motivations and interests. The viewer cannot know, for certain, what he will do next and that makes the story more intense and exciting. Ben Solo / Kylo Ren is a character who believes that he is doing the right thing. He doesn’t see himself as the “bad guy”. He is able to find reasons to justify the things he has done. Kylo Ren identifies as the protagonist in his own story – which makes him a complex and interesting character. My Favorite Star Wars Antagonists is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... They Started Out FriendsAugust 10, 2020TV and Movie ReviewsI recently watched Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace for the second time. The first time was in the theater when it was released. There’s a lot going on in this movie that I missed the first time around. What I want to focus on in this blog post (and the upcoming ones) is the relationship between Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. They started out as friends, despite their age difference and the imbalance of power between them. Anakin Skywaker lives with his mother, Shmi Skywalker. Both of them are slaves on Tatooine. They are owned by Watto, a cantankerous Toydarian junk dealer with a gambling problem. When Anakin and Padmé first meet, he asks her if she is an angel. He tells her she is one of the most beautiful beings he has ever seen. This question immediately catches Padmé’s attention, and the two have a conversation. Anakin reveals that he and his mother are slaves. Padmé is shocked by this. “I can’t believe there is slavery out here! The Republic banned slavery some time ago.” She learns that the Republic pretty much doesn’t exist on Tatooine. Anakin vehemently responds that he is not a slave. “I’m a person!”, he shouts. It is a show of defiance and refusal to accept his current status and reality. From there, Anakin tells Padmé that he is a Pod Racer, something he obviously is excited about. His thought process is pretty typical for a nine-year-old, quickly changing subjects in an effort to talk about something he is intensely interested in. Padmé asks Anakin how long he has lived there. He thinks about it for a minute, trying to remember, then says he was “just a little kid” when his mom brought him here. About three-years-old, he figures. Anakin has lived the majority of his life as a slave. Anakin tells Padmé that he had a dream that he was a Jedi who came back to free the slaves. This moment of vulnerability is not unusual for kids his age who believe they are talking with a friend. It also shows that Anakin is very innocent, and genuinely wants to make life better for those who are in bad situations. Padmé arrived on Tatooine under a false persona. She is actually Queen Amidala, but has been disguised as one of her handmaidens. In her place, pretending to be Queen, is Padmé’s bodyguard. Padmé is fourteen-years-old and one of the youngest queens Naboo has elected. When Qui-Gon Gin and Obi-Won Kenobi are preparing to leave Naboo, they are told that the Queen insists that her handmaiden accompany them. The two Jedi are not at all interested in taking her along, but eventually give in to the Queen’s demands. They have no idea who she really is, and neither does Anakin. I think the reason why Padmé finds this nine-year-old interesting is because he is someone she can be herself with. When she talks with Anakin, she doesn’t have to be super careful about what she says – for fear of starting a war. I’m not sure how Naboo elects its queens, but it says something that Padmé is one of the youngest. I suspect that those who want to become queen must go through some kind of instruction and training before they run for that office. She is only fourteen-years-old as queen, which means she likely spent years of her childhood practicing the skills she would need to use if she is elected. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the daughters of the elite and wealthy who are considered eligible to become queen, because that’s how it goes in the real world. Padmé has a group of handmaidens, and a bodyguard, who surround her. They appear to be about the same age as she is. But, they cannot truly be friends because a queen has more power than her handmaidens do. There is no room for any of them to paint each other’s nails while talking about whomever they have a crush on. Anakin, however, doesn’t know he is talking to the Queen of Naboo. He starts a conversation with her as though she’s just a regular person. This must be refreshing for Padmé, who doesn’t have to carefully calculate her responses to Anakin. She can simply be herself. Right before the Pod Race, Anakin and Padmé ride in on a large lizard, alongside Shmi and a friend of Anakin’s who are riding another lizard. Anakin and Padmé are laughing and having fun. They get a moment to be kids – despite their age difference. Qui-Gon Gin made a bet with Watto before the race started. Under the pretense that the Pod Racer Anakin had been building belonged to Qui-Gon, he makes a deal. If Anakin wins the race, Watto gets the profits – minus the cost of the parts that Qui-Gon needs to fix his ship. If Anakin loses the race, Watto gets to keep both the Pod Racer and Qui-Gon’s ship. Watto accepts. Shortly before the race begins, a second bet is made. If Anakin wins, Qui-Gon wants the boy and his mother. Watto refuses, saying he won’t give both of them. Watto throws a chance dice that has red and blue sides. If it lands on blue, its the boy. If it lands on red, its his mother. Qui-Gon uses the force to make sure the chance dies lands on blue. Anakin wins the Pod Race, in part because of Qui-Gon Gin’s instructions to use his emotions to solve problems while racing. By this point, Qui-Gon is aware that Anakin doesn’t have a father and that he is unusually strong with the force. The bets are settled, and Anakin happily returns home to his mother, with Qui-Gon accompanying him. Anakin thought that both he and his mother were now free, and becomes upset when he learns that he has been freed – but she is still a slave. This entire scene is heartbreaking. Anakin wants to become a Jedi, and Qui-Gon Gin is willing train him (if the Jedi Council allows it). But, Anakin also doesn’t want things to change. His mother gently talks him into following his heart. Anakin leaves, with his mother standing in the doorway of their home. All of a sudden, he rushes back to her arms. “I can’t do it,” he says. He asks if he will ever see her again. “What does your heart tell you?”, Shmi asks. Anakin focuses for a moment, and responds, “I hope so. Yes. I guess so”. He promises to come back to Tatooine to free his mother. This scene emphasizes that Anakin is still just a little boy. He still needs his mother. He is about to embark upon a journey with people he doesn’t know very well to places he’s never been. It makes sense that he is scared. Qui-Gon Gin’s ship takes off, and Anakin becomes uncomfortably cold. He sits in a corner, shivering and looking miserable. Padmé doesn’t notice him at first because she is making a call to Naboo to learn about what is happening there. “You seem sad,” Anakin says after she finishes her call. Padmé walks over to Anakin and covers him with the cloak she had been wearing, as if it was a blanket. She explains that space is cold, and that he is used to being on a very warm planet. “The Queen is worried because people are dying. Suffering.” Padmé explains. “She must convince the Senate to intervene. I’m not sure what will happen.” Padmé intentionally does not tell Anakin that she is Queen Amidala. Anakin hands her a bead he carved, to remember him by. She accepts the bead, smiles, and tells him she doesn’t need a bead to remember him. Padmé tries to prepare Anakin for what might be coming. She tells him that a lot of things are going to change, but her caring about him is not one of them. Anakin says, “I care about you, too. It’s just…” “You miss your mother,” Padmé responds. He nods. To me, it looks like the two of them have begun seeing each other as siblings. She is mothering him, making sure he stays warm, and trying to prepare him for things to come. He lets her know that he sees that she seems sad, and hands her something he made by hand so she won’t forget about him. Their age difference, and differences in power, prevent them from truly becoming friends. Instead, they sort of adopt each other as family. Upon landing, Padmé returns to her handmaidens. Anakin is questioned by the Jedi Council, who think he is too old to start training as a Jedi. Typically, Jedi are taken from their families (hopefully with the parent’s permission) when they are toddlers. Eventually, the council allows Qui-Gon Gin to train Anakin. Anakin tries to visit Padmé to let her know he is going away to become a Jedi. He asks Queen Amidala where Padmé is. Queen Amidala tells Anakin that Padmé is not there now, and pretty much implies that she will be given his message when she comes back. It is unclear if the Queen Amidala Anakin was speaking to was Padmé or her bodyguard. Based on later events in the movie, I suspect it was the bodyguard, who did not seem prepared to have a nine-year-old come by and ask for the real Queen Amidala by her first name. Anakin simply trusts that his message will be sent to Padmé. He leaves the room and walks away, presumably to begin training. There are a lot of other plot points weaving through The Phantom Menace, and an entire blog post could be written about several of them. I’ve left out large pieces of the story specifically so I could focus on this part of it. They Started Out Friends is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Grace and Frankie – Season OneJune 2, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsGrace and Frankie is a show on Netflix. It is a Netflix Original. Grace (Jane Fonda) is married to Robert (Martin Sheen). Frankie (Lilly Tomlin) is married to Sol (Sam Waterson). In the very first episode, right at the start, the husbands announce they want to divorce their wives. The reasons why the men want divorces is because they have fallen in love… with each other. And they want to get married. Warning: There are tons of spoilers. Episode 1: The husbands announce they want to divorce their wives because they have fallen in love with each other and want to get married. Robert: “We can do that now.” When Robert married Grace, and Sol married Frankie, same-sex marriage wasn’t legal anywhere in the United States. Robert and Sol have been having a secret love affair for the past 20 years. Later, Sol and Frankie are alone back at their home. Frankie asks Sol if that is why he got Cialis. Sol answers: “Everyone gets Cialis at my age.” Robert and Grace are alone at their home. She is sad. Robert tries to console her. “Were you ever really happy with me?” he asks. Grace thinks about it. She says they didn’t have the most romantic life. “But I thought we were normal”. This indicates that Grace and Robert hadn’t had a sex life together in a very long time. Grace thought the end of their sex life was a normal part of being a couple, or maybe because of their age. Now, she discovers that wasn’t so. She DOES NOT say she was happy with Robert. Robert says that he “wanted more.” The implication is that he wasn’t happy in his marriage with Grace, and found what he needed with Sol. * Both couples have children who are now adults. Sol and Frankie’s sons (Coyote and Nwabudike) try and console their mother. They repeat a lot of the positive encouraging phrases she must have told them. She tells them all that is “bullshit”. Grace and Robert’s daughters, (Brianna and Mallory) are angry about what happened. They immediately take their mother’s side, and don’t want to talk to their father right then. Mallory has kids. She asks “How am I going to explain this to my kids?” I don’t think this question is entirely about her father’s relationship with Sol. It’s also about the sudden divorce. * A chair is delivered to Robert and Grace’s house. She opens the box, and finds a chair that has a photo of Ryan Gosling’s face on the seat. Robert is delighted that the chair arrived so quickly and explains it is a joke between him and Sol. * For the first time, Grace notices that Robert’s office has a framed drawing of a nude man. She notices a small frame on the shelf that contains a old photo of two men, one of whom has taken the arm of the other (as a man might do with a woman). She sees books on the shelf, one of which is called “The Male Member”. And suddenly, she realizes she’s missed all these signs. * Grace and Frankie get into an argument over which one of them is more upset. Frankie says “I lost my best friend. You never liked Robert.” * Robert says he can finally breathe again – now that he’s divorcing Grace to be with Sol. Sol says he feels really guilty because he devastated someone he loves very much. It’s clear that Sol and Frankie were not just spouses, but also good friends. Grace and Robert were not friends. * Grace freaks out about the divorce. “I did everything right. I played by the rules.” She is angry. Grace asks Frankie why she isn’t angry. Frankie says she is heartbroken. * Later, Frankie acknowledges that there were times she “knew” but ignored it. She says Sol once asked her to wear a dildo. She and Grace think that could only mean that Sol was gay. Episode 2: * Sol and Robert spent the night together and are still snuggling in bed. Sol says he wants to go up on the roof and shout: “I am a homosexual and I am in love with Robert Hanson, who is also a homosexual.” Robert smiles, and jokingly talks him out of it. * As the men are getting ready to go to work, Robert says “Just because we’re out now doesn’t mean we’re gonna be gay with a vengeance.” * Two of Frankie’s friends come over to console her and take her to lunch. One of the friends is gay. Sol and Robert aren’t the only gay men in Frankie’s life. Sol sent the two friends over because Frankie won’t answer her phone when he calls her and he was worried about her. * Robert cuts off Grace’s credit card (which she discovers while trying to pay for lunch). It turns out Sol cut off Frankie’s credit card, too. Robert feels absolutely nothing about doing this to Grace – citing that he and Sol are divorce lawyers and that’s what people who are divorcing are supposed to do. Sol feels terrible about it and is upset that he knows Frankie will be upset when she finds out. * Robert asks Sol, “Which is better, feeling terrible with me, or without me.” Sal says “with you.” * Grace sends her daughters to her (and Robert’s) home to get some of her things. (She’s staying at the beach house). The daughters notice the remains of breakfast on the table and realize that Sol spent the night there. They look sad. * Frankie has a fight with Sol and kicks him out of their house. She tells him to go live with Robert. Sol says they weren’t ready to move in together yet. * Later, Frankie asks: “Was any of it real?” That’s a normal question people ask after a breakup. But, Frankie is also asking if her marriage to Sol, who had been having an affair with Robert for 20 years, was ever real. Episode 3: * Robert and Sol are having their children over for dinner. Sol is nervous. Robert tries to calm him by saying they’ve already had lots of dinners together. Sol responds: “That was before I became their new stepmother.” * Mallory and Brianna arrive together for dinner. They wait at the door of the house they grew up in. Brianna wants to just walk in. Mallory stops her and says they can’t do that because it’s not their house anymore. Brianna responds “I’ve lost both of my virginities in that house” and proceeds to just walk right in. * During dinner, Robert and Sol hold hands for a brief moment. Robert’s daughters and Sol’s sons stare at them – not really knowing how to feel about that. * Coyote tells Mallory (who is mad at him) “We’re step people now.” * Brianna and Bud have a conversation in the kitchen. Bud is preparing a cake. Brianna mentions something about how Bud seems fine with what their dad’s are doing. She asks “Would you be cool with it if they had cheated with women?” * After returning to the table, after everyone starts eating cake, an argument ensues where the kids let out some of their anger and frustration. Bud says he is “not allowed to be mad”. When Sol asks why not, Bud answers “because you’re gay.” Episode 4: * Someone who worked with Robert and Sol has died. They are going to the funeral. Sol says that this will be the first time people see him without his wife by his side. Robert says the funeral “is not our coming out party.” * Meanwhile, Grace is pushing Frankie to get ready to go to the funeral early – so they can leave before it becomes Robert and Sol’s coming out party. * Grace and Frankie see Robert and Sol – as a couple – for the first time at the funeral reception. It makes Grace and Frankie sad. * Grace notices that Sol is wearing a tie that she gave to Robert as a Father’s Day present. This makes her angry. Frankie is angry too. “They can’t leave us AND share clothes!” * Robert and Sol haven’t decided what to call each other. Robert think’s they’re too old for boyfriend. “Soulmate?” Sol asks. Robert responds, “No! I don’t even like that one with straight people.” At the funeral reception, Sol tries to use the word partner, but then awkwardly explains that they are business partners at the law firm, but also partners with each other. He confuses the people he was speaking to. * A very old man who must have worked at the same company as the deceased tells Robert and Sol that he knows they are a couple – and that they are brave. He then asks: “When did you know you were attracted to men?” He goes on to say that he had “an experience” when he was in Korea. Sol kindly walks away with him and answers the man’s question. * Robert’s sister tells Grace that she had no idea that her brother was gay. * Later, Robert’s sister accidentally mentions that her daughter is having a baby shower. It becomes clear that Grace was not invited. Robert’s sister explains that the aunties would be there (Robert’s family is Irish) and that there would be drama and it was the daughter’s day. She asks if Grace understands. Grace says of course she understands, it’s for family. After Robert’s sister walks away, Grace looks sad. * Robert gets frustrated with Sol and yells at him for talking to the widow for too long. He yells at Sol about his shoes (that Robert doesn’t like). Robert yells “You’re just not doing anything right.” Sol responds: “Oh my god. You’re angry that I’m not Grace.” Robert sits down and starts to sob. It’s probably the first time he’s cried about the divorce. Sol consoles him, saying something like he “has one, too”. Robert apologizes, and they start using the word “boyfriend”. * Frankie speaks with the widow. The widow says to her: “Oh, I think your situation is much worse than mine.” The widow points out that Frankie might live another 20 years. The implication is that Frankie will be spending those 20 years alone. * As they are leaving the funeral reception, Grace tells Robert she is so mad at him. “I’ve lost everything,” she says. She lost her husband, her house, her family… * Frankie, upset by what the widow said, and by an unfortunate comment Grace said to Robert about Frankie when Grace was expressing her anger at Robert, leaves the funeral with Grace trailing behind her. Sol drives up in his car – to pick up Robert. Frankie gets into the passenger seat out of habit. She quickly realizes what she has done, gets out, and tells Robert “I think this is for you.” Episode 5: * Brianna tells her mother, Grace, that Grace needs a boyfriend. Grace tells her daughter, Brianna “I’m sending that sentence right back to you.” Brianna is single. Her sister, Mallory, is married with two kids. * Brianna shows Grace a profile of a handsome doctor on a dating website, in an effort to convince Grace to make a profile there. Brianna says she has used dating websites and has met some “passable” guys. Brianna mentions that one of the guys had a micropenis. Apparently, Brianna still considered him “passable”. * Grace tries to make a profile on the dating site. She struggles to describe herself. Brianna sees that Grace listed her age as 70 – which is her age. Brianna argues that Grace should say she is 65, because she looks 65. Grace says that wouldn’t be honest. Brianna says it is honest because that’s the age Grace looks. * Grace doesn’t know what to put in the section of the profile marked “turn-ons”. Frankie walks past the couch Grace and Brianna are sitting on and suggests: “That he’s NOT gay!” Brianna tells her mother to say she is “open minded”. Grace hesitates, concerned that it might mean some “weird sex thing”. * Later in the episode, Grace apologizes for saying something unkind about Frankie at the funeral. Frankie accepts her apology, but wants Grace to treat her better. Frankie points out that she is Grace’s friend. Frankie also says “I’m the other person this happened to” – meaning both she and Grace are going through divorces because their husbands are gay and their husbands want to marry each other. * Grace eventually finished filling out her dating profile and posting it. * During the episode, Grace drives Brianna and Frankie to the frozen yogurt shop (at their request). Both Brianna and Frankie are high. Brianna notices that the cashier is named Brian, and that he and her have the same name – except for the “na”. Later, Brianna tells Grace and Frankie that Brian sent her friend request on Facebook. She says “That must have taken a lot of stalking,” followed by “That was sweet.” She smiles. Episode 6: * Someone on the dating website wants to have lunch with Grace. The two of them have been briefly talking on the website for a while. The man wants to have lunch with Grace today – and she doesn’t want to go because she thinks she isn’t ready for that yet. She tells Frankie she likes the attention she gets on the dating website – and likes that she can get that attention and stay home. Frankie encourages her to go to lunch with the man from the dating website. Grace says she doesn’t know him. Frankie informs her that this is what going to lunch is for – to get to know him and to get laid. * Grace realizes that this will be her first date in 40 years. * Frankie gives Grace some condoms. Grace says she doesn’t need them because she’s well past being able to get pregnant. Frankie tells Grace that because of the “penis drugs”, older people are having sex and aren’t using condoms – and are spreading STDs. Frankie says she read that in an AARP article. There is, in fact, an AARP article from 2010 that explains why older people should use condoms. The article is written by Dr. Pepper Schwartz. * An earthquake happens, and Frankie freaks out. Robert and Sol had just made plans for dinner. (They plan to order paella from a restaurant). Immediately after the earthquake is over, Sol tells Robert that Frankie is terrified of earthquakes and that he needs to go help her calm down. Sol says: “It’s her first quake alone, and she only has Grace to comfort her.” Robert immediately responds: “Go!” * Coyote rides his bike over to Mallory’s house to deliver a children’s book called And Tango Makes Three. The book was written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and was published in 2005. The story is about three Chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo, and is based on something that really happened. Roy and Silo were two male penguins in the zoo’s penguin exhibit. Roy and Silo liked to do everything together. A zookeeper noticed that they built a nest together, just like the other penguins couples do. But, Roy and Silo could not lay an egg. One day, the zoo had an extra Chinstrap penguin egg that was produced by another penguin couple who could not care for it. The zookeeper gave the egg to Roy and Silo, who took turns keeping it warm until the egg hatched. The zookeeper named the baby penguin Tango because “it takes two to tango”. Tango is a girl. Coyote takes the book to Mallory because he remembered that Mallory said that her kids were having a difficult time understanding what was happening with their grandfather and Sol. Coyote is working as a substitute teacher, so it makes sense that he had heard of this children’s book. * Grace’s date does not go well. After they are seated, she asks Charles if he’s “done it a lot”. He gives her a funny look. She clarifies that she means “this” and gestures at the table. She wanted to know if he goes to lunch with women he met on the dating website a lot. He obviously thought she was asking him if he had a lot of sex. * Charles tells Grace to watch out for liars on the dating website. It’s an odd comment to start out a new (potential) relationship with. He gives the example of someone who said she loved to play tennis – but he later learned that she was in a wheelchair. It’s hard to know if Charles was making up that example, or if he met someone like that. As the lunch date goes on, Charles gets stranger and stranger. He doesn’t seem to understand the subtle social cues Grace gives him indicating she doesn’t think he’s funny. He tells her if he’s too much to say: “Charlie it’s too much.” Grace immediate responds: “Charlie, it’s too much.” Charlie laughs and doesn’t take her seriously. Not long after that, Charlie starts making inappropriate, and gross, comments about Grace’s mouth and the steak she is eating, and this makes Grace so uncomfortable that she quickly ends the lunch date. * After helping Frankie calm down, Sol asks if she would like to get a bite to eat. They go to lunch. Sol texts Robert that he is going to be late (which leads to a misunderstanding – more on that in a bit). During lunch, Frankie asks Sol how it started with Robert. Sol is a bit taken aback. He didn’t expect to be sharing that today. Frankie honestly wants to know, so Sol tells her. Robert and Sol were at a law conference together, and later got drunk together at the hotel bar. They rode the elevator together. Sol says Robert gave him this look that scared him. The look gave him a feeling. Robert kissed Sol. Frankie asked if it was a big kiss. Sol says they kept kissing until the elevator stopped at their floor – the 26th floor. Sol says his whole body became alive. Frankie asks if that’s when their relationship started. Sol says no, that he and Robert didn’t talk about what happened. Frankie asks: “Why not?” Sol says they couldn’t talk about it – they didn’t know how to talk about it. The relationship between Robert and Sol evolved from sex to love. Sol didn’t want to tell Frankie about it because he loved her, and he loved their family, and he didn’t want to hurt them or lose them. * Grace returns home after the awful lunch date and finds one of Frankie’s art students in the kitchen, eating a ham sandwich. Grace has seen all three of Frankie’s students once before, the day she was trying to rush Frankie to get ready for the funeral. Grace knows the men in Frankie’s art class are all “ex-cons.” Grace is surprised and asks how he got in there. She tells him Frankie wasn’t home. The man says he found the studio empty so he went inside the house to make sure Frankie was ok. The man starts flirting with Grace. She is so surprised, she drops her purse. The condoms Frankie gave her fall out, and the man sees them. He makes a comment, and Grace clarifies that Frankie put those into her purse. It is clear that Grace is attracted to the man. She is a bit flustered. He tells her that he knows about her husband and Frankie’s husband. He says: “Please tell me that if he wasn’t fucking you somebody else was.” Another earthquake tremor happens, and Grace and the man end up passionately kissing in the kitchen (which leads to them making out for a little while before Grace stops it). The man leaves. Grace is smiling. * Later, Grace tells Frankie that one of her students was in the kitchen, eating a ham sandwich. Frankie says “That must be Byron. He loves ham.” Grace doesn’t mention the kissing. * Sol comes home to Robert three hours late. Robert invited some friends over (Al and Eddie, who are a couple). They are eating Paella. Robert and Sol start bickering, and Al and Eddie run away. Robert and Sol have an argument. Robert asks “Why did we blow up our lives if you are just going to go running back to her?” Sol said he texted Robert that he would be late, and thought Robert said it was ok. It turned out there was a miscommunication. The two make up. Robert goes to get some food for Sol. While he isn’t looking, Sol texts Frankie “goodnight”. Episode 7: * Grace comes home from an awful date. Grace tells Frankie that she took her anecdote (about saving a little bird). Frankie isn’t thrilled with that. Grace goes on to say that her date’s anecdote was about his fatty lipoma. He had a tumor that he named Farley – and it had teeth. A lipoma is a slow-growing fatty lump that’s most often situated between your skin and the underlying muscle tissue. It can feel doughy. It is not cancer. * Grace says she has another date tomorrow. Frankie points out that would be three dates in one week. * Brianna is cooking because she has a date coming over. She calls Bud to help her. Bud points out that she destroyed the Brisket, so he’s going to help her make stew out if it. Brianna says stew isn’t a second date food. Bud infers her date is with “Racist Dave”. Brianna corrects Bud – “Border Patrol Dave”. Dave sends Brianna a text, in which he cancels the date. Brianna now calls him “Racist Dave”. Brianna says that she doesn’t know what she wants (meaning in a relationship). Bud says she wants what everyone wants “Someone you can come home to at the end of the day who is happy to see you.” Brianna says she is getting a dog. * A big part of this episode focuses on the Spelling Bee, which is televised. Frankie and Sol watch it every year (it’s one of their rituals). Frankie can’t get Grace interested in the Spelling Bee, and Sol can’t get Robert interested in it. Sol unexpectedly brings Frankie a bread maker and some laser discs. Frankie sees that as an excuse to come over. Sol asks her to come over and watch the Spelling Bee with him. Frankie hesitates, unsure if that’s a good idea now that they are getting a divorce. Sol wants to continue their rituals, like watching the Spelling Bee together. Frankie says that she will be strong and say “no”. * Brianna adopts a foster dog she saw on the internet. The man who is fostering the dog brings him over. The man is cute and near Brianna’s age. She flirts with him – badly. He doesn’t appear to be interested in her, but is excited to give this great dog a forever home. Brianna is not so enthused about the dog. The dog is shy, at first. Brianna says the dog is ugly, and asks if it is the dog she saw on the internet. The foster dog “dad” gives Brianna the food the dog has been eating, and his toys. He makes a joke (about the dog leaving his patio furniture and grill so the other dogs could use it) – which Brianna doesn’t get. Foster dog man says she can call him if she has any trouble. Brianna spends hours trying to get the dog to love her. She fails at it. So, she calls the Foster dog guy, who comes over. He doesn’t see any problem with the dog (who is happily waltzing down the hallway and checking out other rooms.). The Foster dog guy makes a comment implying he thinks Brianna called to get HIM to come over. She basically agrees. They have sex. He leaves right after. Brianna is sad – until the dog leaps into her arms and starts loving her. * Frankie ends up going over to Sol and Robert’s to watch the Spelling Bee with Sol. She brought popcorn and tea. He is thrilled! They have a great time until Robert comes home and looks upset. Frankie leaves. Robert is miffed about Sol hanging out with Frankie.Robert admits that he is scared about Sol’s relationship with Frankie. He didn’t like that Sol didn’t tell him Frankie was coming over. Sol said he didn’t know she was coming over. Sol tells Robert that Frankie will always be part of his life, and that Robert has nothing to worry about. Robert agrees to watch the Spelling Bee with Sol – and they both have fun! * Grace goes on date three (of the week). It is with a man who owns a yacht and is an architect. His “name” on the dating website is “yachtcatect”. Grace thinks that is clever. She gets a table where they are supposed to meet. Unexpectedly, she sees a friend whom she hasn’t seen in years. His name is Guy, and he is a world traveler. But now, he wants to settle down. The yacht guy shows up, but hasn’t seen Grace yet. He is dressed like a television captain – hat, coat, and all. Guy asks Grace if she wants to meet that man. She doesn’t. Guy offers to sneak her out of the restaurant if she will have ice cream with him. They have ice cream together. Guy says he thinks there has always been a spark between them. They slowly start a relationship. He takes Grace to her door, and Grace kisses him. Neither expected that. Frankie sees Grace kiss Guy through the window. She leaves the television on – and the Spelling Bee – and goes upstairs. Episode 8: * Grace lets Frankie know that Guy is coming over for dinner (and she wants Frankie to either leave or stay in her room). Frankie says that Grace and Guy are gonna have sex. Frankie asks Grace if she is worried “because it’s the first time a straight man has seen you naked in 40 years.” Grace says she isn’t worried because she will turn the lights out (and he won’t see her naked). Frankie asks Grace if she is worried about vaginal dryness. Grace responds: “I am now.” * Frankie gives Grace something Frankie refers to as her “secret weapon”. It is a jar of “Frankie’s homemade yam lube.” Frankie calls it “Vag-a-kadabra.” She keeps it in the refrigerator. Grace is disturbed because she’s been eating the yam lube on toast. Frankie reassures Grace that that is good, and that her gynecologist says “You shouldn’t put anything in your vagina that you wouldn’t put in your mouth.” Overall, this advice is not a bad idea. * Grace doesn’t want to hear about the yam lube. Frankie says “It’s not a dildo. It’s a facilitator!” Frankie also says that she makes dildos. * Grace tells Frankie that men and women cannot be friends. Frankie disagrees. She is friends with Sol, and several other men, including Jacob (who grows the yams Frankie uses in her lube). Grace later informs Frankie that Jacob was flirting with Frankie. This takes Frankie by surprise. * Guy comes over for dinner with Grace. They sit on the couch afterward making boring small talk. Eventually, Grace asks: “Do you want to have sex?” Guy responds: “Oh boy yes.” Grace does, in fact, keep the lights out and does not let Guy see her naked. * The next day, Frankie asks Grace how the sex was, and wants to hear details. Grace says Guy “was no slouch in the boudoir.” Cut scenes make it clear that Grace and Guy had sex, but it was far from being good sex. Frankie asks if the sex was bad. Grace doesn’t really answer. Frankie asks Grace if she had an orgasm. Grace angrily responds: “You’re a child!” Frankie concludes, “So, that’s a no.” * Later, Frankie tries to encourage Grace to tell Guy what she likes in bed. She asks if he knows that clitoral stimulation is important. Grace is mortified – and it’s only her and Frankie who can hear this conversation. Grace says she has never talked about her clitoris. * The next day, Grace gets off the phone and tells Frankie “Well, Guy and I made plans for him to have another orgasm tonight.” * Frankie realizes that Jacob is flirting with her. She tells Grace, who gives Frankie some advice – but Frankie isn’t skilled at flirting. Eventually, she let’s Jacob know that Grace thought he was flirting with her, and so she tried to flirt with him – but is bad at it. Jacob says he thought Frankie was having a heart attack. The two of them smoke pot together. Right before Jacob leaves, he tells Frankie that he WAS flirting with her. * Guy comes over. He says he brought a flashlight. (He injured himself trying to find the bed in the dark the other night). He wants to take Grace upstairs. She stops, plays some music, and guides Guy through dancing with her. This is the closest Grace has probably ever gotten to telling a sexual partner what she likes. The dance becomes a metaphor for sex. Episode 9: * Grace got an invite to Robert and Sol’s wedding. She and Frankie make fun of the script (which is florid and loopy and overdone). Frankie asks: “I wonder how they decided whose name goes on top.” That conversation quickly ends. Typically, wedding invitations go one of two ways: (1) The parents who are hosting the wedding are listed, followed by the parents who are not hosting the wedding – and then it states that the parents are inviting people to the wedding. (2) If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the name of the bride always appears first (or “on top”). Neither Grace nor Frankie want to consider which of their husbands is “on top” in the bedroom, or to wonder if the order of names on the invitation match that situation. * Frankie, after seeing the wedding invitation, asks Grace to pull her finger, which Grace refuses. Frankie was asking for help – because she tried to remove her wedding ring the day of the funeral but it was stuck on her hand. Grace helps Frankie take off the wedding ring. * Frankie is making another batch of her “Vag-a-kadabra” homemade yam lube. Brianna comes over (to pick up her dog that Frankie was babysitting). Brianna asks what Frankie is making, and Frankie tells her. Brianna responds: “Mom, Frankie verbally molested me!” Surprisingly, it is Grace who explains the virtues of the lube that Frankie is making. The reason is because Brianna took over Grace’s company when she retired. Grace thinks Brianna could sell the lube because it works, and cites a statistic of how many women have dry vaginas (especially older women). This, of course, grosses out Brianna. Grace says: “It’s all natural – from farm to vagina.” Frankie says: “Personal lubricant is for everyone.” Grace makes Brianna take a jar of the lube with her to work. * Frankie calls out Grace for lying. Guy likes golf, and hoagies, and Grace is pretending to like those things too – but she really doesn’t like those things. Frankie keeps insisting that Grace needs to tell Guy the truth. Eventually, Grace says that when you are in a new relationship you lie and pretend to like things that you don’t like. Grace is worried that Guy will break up with her if he learns that they don’t like the same things. Grace is afraid of losing Guy if she is honest with him. Frankie encourages her to be honest with Guy, anyway. * Grace takes a small revenge on Robert by asking him to come over while Guy is there. Robert is coming over to borrow Grace’s wedding book – a huge binder that apparently has tons of information that is useful for people who are planning huge weddings. Grace wants Robert to know that she has a boyfriend. Robert comes over to get the wedding book and sees that Guy is there – and is overjoyed! They are friends. They are happy to see one another. Grace makes it clear that she and Guy are in a relationship. Robert is surprised, but seems ok with that. Guy says that he and Robert should get together – and Robert agrees and says he will call Guy. Grace says the she will attend Robert’s wedding – with Guy as her date. Later, Grace goes golfing with Guy, and Robert shows up. Guy says he invited Robert. The three go golfing, with Grace trying to quietly tell Robert that she doesn’t want him there. She accuses him of trying to flirt with Guy. Guy hits the ball very far, and Robert congratulates him. The two men put their arms around each other, and Guy recites part of a poem (written by Rumi) It turns out that Robert said he had no one to officiate the wedding, and Guy, who is an officiant, volunteered. He hoped Robert liked the poem so he could use it at the wedding. Robert later tells Grace that he thought having Guy officiate was perfect because Sol wanted a multicultural wedding and Guy has been around the world. * Brianna takes the yam lube to work and repeats what Grace said about it, and the “personal lubricant is for everyone” statement that Frankie told her. She puts some yam lube into small containers and asks her team to try it for themselves, and then come back the next day to talk about it how it made them feel. Brianna wants to move the company in a new direction with this product. Brianna mentions dry vaginas a lot – grossing out one of her team members. The team is made up of a woman (who just broke up with her boyfriend) a guy who is straight and may or may not be single, and a guy who is gay. The guy who is gay does not want to hear about vaginas. Brianna ends up using the yam lube with a co-worker – Barry, who is an accountant. She has sex with someone she not only works with but also is one of her employees. The next day, when the team is sharing their experiences with the yam lube, Brianna insists she used the lube “with herself”. * Frankie gets upset because Grace got an invitation to Robert and Sol’s wedding, but she did not. She makes an unexpected visit to Sol, who is living with Robert. Frankie brings him a chip and dip plate shaped like a sombrero. She also used the bread maker Sol brought her to make bread – which she brought to Sol – along with “better” (a non-dairy form of butter she hand made.) Sol asks why she brought him those things. She said she was there to remind him to get a flu shot – and that this is the last time she will remind him – because they need to have boundaries. He agrees, and the two try and work on that. Before she leaves, she tells Sol she is upset that Grace got an invite and she did not. Sol insists that Robert mailed Frankie an invite. This leads to a big, confusing, fight between Sol and Robert about why Frankie’s invite didn’t arrive. (Which gets resolved later.) Later, Sol visits Frankie (who is still living at the beach house with Grace). Frankie is in her studio, working on some art. Sol hands Frankie her invitation. She sets it aside – with a pile of mail, which has Frankie’s invitation. She made some art on the envelope, and forgot about it. Sol and Frankie get serious and ask their subconsciouses (which they have given names to) if Frankie really wants to go to Sol’s wedding. She discovers that she doesn’t want to go because it would be too painful. Sol is sad, but understands. They start acknowledging that they need to work on “divorce stuff”. * Frankie got so caught up with Sol that she accidentally blows off Jacob (the yam man). She stands him up on a lunch date, and he sends her a text. They reschedule, and she stands him up again (before rushing over to meet with him.) Jacob gently breaks up with her. She’s not ready to date yet. * Eventually, Grace starts being honest. She tells Guy that she doesn’t like golf, or hoagies (and adds some other things she doesn’t like). He accepts it. She tells him she was afraid that he would walk away if she told him, and that was scary, especially since she really likes him. Being honest solidified their relationship. Grace them goes over to Robert’s to tell him that Guy can’t be his officiant because Guy is her boyfriend. Robert shrugs that off and accepts. He tells Grace that he and Sol are getting into big fights about planning the wedding and maybe they should just elope like Sol wanted. Sol didn’t want a big wedding. Grace asks Robert what he wants. Robert wants the big wedding. He wants to tell the world that he loves Sol. Grace encourages Robert to keep planning the wedding, and points out that wedding planning is stressful. Grace says Robert would know that if he helped plan their wedding or the wedding of his daughter. There is a moment where they wonder if things would have gone differently if they had both been honest with each other about how they were feeling years ago. They decide that things would have gone the way they did anyway, but might have been less bad. Episode 10: * The episode starts with Robert and Sol, and Grace, and Frankie, and Bud in an elevator. They had just signed divorce papers. The elevator gets stuck, and Grace freaks out because she is claustrophobic. The episode is a “flashback” episode to events that took place long before the events in Episode 1 did. * The “flashback” takes place at the beach house where Grace and Robert, and Frankie and Sol, are spending the Labor Day weekend. Bud, Coyote, and Brianna are also there. Robert and Sol planned to tell their wives that they had become a couple and wanted a divorce. * Robert and Sol start trying to tell Grace and Frankie – when Mallory walks in with her husband. Mallory is super pregnant, and therefore, was not expected to arrive at all. This interrupts what Robert and Sol were trying to say – so it doesn’t get said. * Frankie is over the moon about Mallory’s pregnancy. Mallory’s husband says he sees pregnant women at work all the time, but none of them are as excited as Frankie is. Sol explains that Frankie “never got to do it herself.” Both Coyote and Bud are adopted. It has been established before this episode that Sol and Frankie are both Jewish. This makes me wonder if they chose not have biological children because they both carry a recessive gene for Tay-Sachs. * Mallory spends a lot of time in the pool. She asks Coyote to come over so she could talk to him. She asks Coyote how much cocaine he is on. He says he is naturally energetic. (Shortly before that, Coyote and Mallory’s husband smoked pot together, and Coyote snorted cocaine.) They talk a little about her pregnancy. Coyote starts to say something, that Mallory stops him from saying. She says something about “the thing we agreed never to talk about.” Coyote says “Imagine me with a 9 year old.” I think this means that Mallory and Coyote were a couple nine years ago and they either had a pregnancy scare (that turned out not to be a pregnancy) or Mallory had an abortion. Based on the timeline – Coyote and Mallory probably were in high school when the pregnancy (or pregnancy scare) happened. * Grace makes a mean comment about Frankie not knowing anything about pregnancy because she hasn’t been pregnant. Later, after Mallory unexpectedly gives birth at the beach house, fully clothed, while the family watches, Grace apologizes. She tells Frankie something like that she didn’t feel like a mother until she held her baby in her arms. Frankie says “Me too.” * Grace, who has been on the phone handling work related things for most of the day, later tells Robert that she wants to retire and give the business to Brianna. Grace says she hopes that her retiring will rekindle the relationship between her and Robert. * Fast forward to them all stuck in the elevator, and Robert explains why he stayed with Grace. “My heart broke for you, and I had to give you what you wanted.” * Bud reveals something he feels guilty about. That weekend in the beach house, he was sleeping on the couch. Robert and Sol were on the porch outside that room. Bud woke up and saw Robert and Sol kissing. Bud felt guilty about not telling his mom about that. Frankie and Grace reassure Bud that even if he had told – they wouldn’t have believed him. Frankie says “You gave me five more years with your father.” Episode 11: * Guy has been spending a lot of time at the beach house. Today, he admits that he “ambien eats” after Frankie notices more food missing from the refrigerator. Guy goes shopping to replace what he ate while he was asleep. He also says he “ambian orders” on Amazon, and has purchased the same pair of shoes, while sleeping, four times. * Frankie tells Grace she thinks Grace is going too fast with Guy. Grace says she is lucky to have him. She points out most men their age date younger women “who don’t have sagging breasts and chin hair.” * Frankie’s art student, (the one that kissed Grace during the earthquake), comes in the house to say goodbye. He is going to Mexico. (All of Frankie’s art students are ex-cons and all are adults.) Grace is flustered. He kisses her. Frankie comes in with the student’s painting – and sees them kiss. Grace says it was a goodbye kiss, to which Frankie points out that means there was a hello. Grace ends up telling Frankie about the day of the earthquake when the student first kissed Grace. * Robert and Sol are tasting food so they can pick a caterer for their wedding. The caterers have come over and are preparing food. Frankie calls Sol and tells him “Grace kissed a convict”. When Sol gets off the phone, he tells Robert about Grace kissing a convict. Robert smiles and says: “Good. She deserves some fun.” Sol is surprised by that response, and points out “but Grace is dating your friend Guy.” Robert says something like “but they aren’t married”. Long story short, Sol asks Robert if he kissed anyone else while they were together. Robert does not immediately respond – and Sol gets very upset. Later, Robert admits he slept with someone. Sol demands to know who. This conversation is happening while the caterers (who are a gay couple) are there. Sol says “We know five gay people in the world and two are in the kitchen.” It turns out Robert slept with one of the caterers, 12 years ago, when Robert and Sol were broken up. The caterer tries to console Sol by saying that he and Robert were incompatible. This does not make Sol feel any better. The caterer mentions something about how gay couples don’t have to fit into heterosexual norms. Later, Sol asks Robert “Are we doing this wrong?” He is referring to their upcoming wedding. He is worried they are getting out of one box and going into another. Eventually, Robert and Sol make up after talking things out. They end up choosing these caterers because their food is delicious. * Grace discovers that Frankie told Sol about her “kissing a convict” – and that Sol told Robert. She is absolutely livid! She tells Frankie that she is a private person and expected her to keep what she shared a secret. They argue, and Frankie tries to apologize. At this moment, Guy returns with the food he bought for Frankie. He overhears that Grace kissed a convict – that day – shortly after he left. Guy leaves, but comes back hours later. When Guy returns, he tells Grace that he is in love with her. Grace gives him a hug, but doesn’t say anything. She looks troubled by this news. * Later, Frankie tries to make amends by giving Grace one of her most embarrassing secrets. It is a VHS tape. The tape is a sex tape that she and Sol recorded in the 80′s, while wearing gladiator costumes. Frankie tells Grace she can watch it, laugh at it, tell the kids, put it on the six-o’clock news, do whatever she wants with it. Grace asks: “Can I burn it?” Frankie responds: “Please do.” Frankie says that the idea of watching yourself have sex is much better than actually watching yourself have sex. Frankie offers to give Grace $50 and another one of her secrets. Grace accepts. Frankie says: “I once made out with a monkey.” It turns out she made out with Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees. Episode 12: * Frankie makes a video on her phone saying she is moving on from Sol. She takes off her wedding ring (forever) and puts it into a box. * Bud and Coyote are tasked with throwing their father, and Brianna and Mallory’s father, a bachelor party. Bud and Coyote don’t know what to do. Mallory quickly puts together ideas for food and drinks, gets supplies, etc. Brianna thinks the Dads need to have a tacky bachelor party with jokes about balls. Bud and Coyote think the Dads want a classy party. Coyote sent invitations that had a cowboy in “assless chaps” on them. A friend of the Dads, named Nelson, arrives unexpectedly. Nelson is from Utah and doesn’t really approve of same-sex marriage. This makes the Dads feel like they HAVE TO keep the party very classy. The party is boring, so Bud and Coyote call Brianna for help. She orders a huge, pink, penis – that functions like a mechanical bull – and has it placed on the front lawn of the Dad’s home. Robert and Sol freak out. Nelson gets mean – telling Robert and Sol he doesn’t mind that they are homosexuals, but doesn’t want them to “throw it” into his face. Robert nearly punches Nelson, but Sol stops him. Meanwhile, the rest of the guests – all men (most of whom are heterosexual) are lined up around the penis/mechanical bull, waiting for their turn. Brianna’s idea made the party fun. Robert and Sol choose to stay inside – and do not want to ride the mechanical penis that is on their front lawn. * Frankie is sad – and Grace tries to cheer her up. They end up doing a “Say Yes” night. It is something that Frankie and Sol used to do. You have to say “yes” to everything that is offered the whole night – until you go home or get arrested. Frankie and Grace end up having fun. The fun includes accepting whiskey flights from two men at the bar Frankie selected. The two men are around the same age as Frankie and Grace. Frankie and Grace end up dancing on the bar and get kicked out. Meanwhile, Frankie’s car got towed. Frankie decides that, for those reasons, this “Say Yes” night is at least in “the top five”. * Grace admits to Frankie that when Guy told her that he was falling in love with her, Grace didn’t say it back. Episode 13: * Inside Frankie’s studio, near the door, there is a bumper sticker that has been posted sideways. It says “Viva Gore Lieberman 2000”. It is a political bumper sticker that was promoting Al Gore for President and Joe Lieberman for Vice President. The bumper sticker was for the 2000 election. * Grace wants to break up with Guy, but has been avoiding it. She says she is afraid that if she breaks up with him she might be alone forever. Frankie says that Grace needs to vlog about it. That evening, Grace had dinner with Guy and they watched two movies together. Grace didn’t break up with Guy, but still wants to. Guy comes downstairs and starts eating lasagna. Grace breaks up with him, and he takes it quite well. He offers to leave, but Grace insists that he stay because it was the middle of the night. She sleeps on the couch. The next morning, Frankie finds Grace on the couch and asks about Guy. Grace says she broke up with him. Guy comes downstairs and, based on his mood and words, doesn’t seem to be aware that Grace broke up with him. Frankie figures out the problem. “It was an Ambien breakup”. Guy was sleep-eating when Grace broke up with him. Grace eventually takes Frankie’s advice and vlogs (using FaceTime). She mentions Guy, and Robert, and then unexpectedly mentions a man named Phil whom she was in a relationship with. She discovers what she wants in a relationship, and that she isn’t getting it with Guy. Later, Grace tells Frankie that she has broken up with Guy (for real this time). * Robert is trying to write his vows but is having difficulty. It is important to Sol that they both write their own vows. Sol has already written his. Robert’s daughters find them and feel all kinds of emotions – so what Sol wrote must have been really good. Robert eventually writes a ridiculously long thing that was supposed to be vows but sounds like something written for a court case. Brianna asks her dad “Are you suing Sol for his love?” Brianna and Mallory take away the legal brief and edit it into something beautiful (and very appropriate as wedding vows). * Frankie goes to the home she and Sol once shared because it is moving day. They sold the house and need to pack up things and take them away. Frankie, Sol, Coyote, and Bud are going through boxes and sharing memories. They have a big, family hug. Sol says they should light the Shabbat candles one more time. The family agrees. Sol lights the candles and begins a prayer, but then gets too emotional and starts crying. Frankie sends their sons to go do the plans they had that night, and consoles Sol. Sol says “I have so much love for all of you my heart….” Frankie finishes “Hurts?” Sol nods. Frankie and Sol kiss, and they end up having sex. Both of them look quite distressed about that afterwards. * Grace comes home and finds Sol in the beach house. Frankie is not there. Sol looks extremely upset, and he’s not making a lot of sense. He says he wanted to make sure Frankie was ok. Grace eventually figures out that they slept together. She yells at Sol and tells him to go away, and that she will take care of Frankie. Sol is afraid to go home. To summarize, Grace convinces Sol that he has to tell Robert about what happened between him and Frankie, “or live the rest of your life the way you spent the past 20 years.” Sol goes home, still visibly upset. The viewer can hear Robert practicing his vows by reading them out loud as Sol stands at the front door, gathering courage to go inside. It doesn’t appear that Sol can hear Robert. Frankie was out on the beach. Frankie says something about not realizing it was over until now, and that Grace figured out it was over right away. Frankie says that sleeping with Sol “didn’t feel right”. She explains, “It felt like we don’t go together anymore.” This review of Grace and Frankie – Season One is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Notes About Things in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 1April 24, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a Netflix Original TV series that is about a woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult. Kimmy is trying to make a new life. The show is goofy and weird. I put together some notes about things that stuck in my mind after watching each episode. Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: * Kimmy and her “sisters” were taken into a bunker by the Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. He told the girls that the world had ended at Y2K (2000) and that nothing was left outside. People really did believe that something would end at Y2K, but it wasn’t the end of the world – it was the end of computer networks. Computer analysts speculated that the all the computer networks would crash at midnight on January 1, 2000. This would, they said, cause mass dysfunction because of how many things relied on those computer networks (including banking, satellites, etc). Way back in the 1970s, computer programs included a date code that started with 1900. Every year, the computers would automatically go up one year. By 1999, people started realizing that the computers would not be able to go to 2000, because they hadn’t been programmed that way. One speculation was that the computers would just roll the year over to 1900 – which would obviously screw up a lot of things. Of course, the world didn’t end at Y2K, and the computers somehow managed not to revert back to 1900. So, it makes sense that Kimmy and her “sisters” would believe that the world ended at Y2K. * Bunkers exist. President Kennedy urged Americans to build bomb shelters to protect them from nuclear fallout in the event of a nuclear war. A year later, the Cuban Missile Crisis happened, and some people built bomb shelters – just in case. Today, people who call themselves “Preppers” build or purchase bunkers (or bomb shelters) for their families to live in – just in case the world ends or anarchy happens. So, what I’m trying to say is it would be plausible that Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne had a bunker. * Doomsday cults also exist, but I couldn’t find any that held people in an underground bunker. * Kimmy had a Baby-Sitter’s Club book when she was in the bunker. That series was published in 1986. It was a series designed for middle-school aged girls to read. That fits the timeframe of when Kimmy would have been kidnapped and taken to the bunker. * Kimmy and her “sisters” were on TV (as “the mole women”). Her “sister” Gretchen says that she met Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne after he bought some of her hair on Craigslist. Apparently, it is possible to buy human hair on Craigslist. Episode 2: * Titus mentions something about needing to pay Columbia House or his tapes wouldn’t be sent to him. Columbia House would let people buy 11 cassette tapes for a penny. Then, they would sign you up for membership in a club or service, and you would start getting monthly shipments of cassette tapes – which you would be billed for. The process is called “negative billing” and (may not be legal anymore). Columbia House originally sold record albums, and later sold compact discs. * Kimmy realizes that Xanthippe, the bratty stepdaughter of Jacqueline (the woman who hired Kimmy) has been telling her friends a lie. Xanthippe said she had a boyfriend who was a surfer and that they had sex on the beach, and they only meet at night. Kimmy figures out that the story that Xanthippe is telling matches the story in The Baby-Sitter’s club Mystery #12. She threatens to tell Xanthippe’s friends. This would, of course, embarrass the stepdaughter who was trying to look cool to her friends. Those books are made for middle schoolers, and the stepdaughter is a high schooler. * The Baby-Sitter’s Club Mystery #12 includes a surfer named Thrash, who meets Dawn (one of the Baby-Sitters Club girls who has moved to California). Thrash calls Dawn “kelea” (after a Hawaiian goddess). Thrash is about 20, and Dawn thinks he’s too old for her (but she has a crush on him.) Thrash fakes his death and disguises himself, but Dawn figures that out. He then tampers with another surfer’s board (because that guy tampered with his) – and there’s some kind of surfing competition going on. The book does not involve any characters having sex on the beach. Episode 3: * Titus shows Kimmy an old photo of himself. He is wearing a t-shirt that says Dole – Kemp – ‘96. Bob Dole (Republican) was running for president. His running mate was Jack Kemp. They lost to Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore. * In the same photo, Titus had a “flat top” haircut, that was really tall. It was probably inspired by the “flat top” worn by Kid (of Kid ‘n Play). * Kimmy is given a smartphone to use. She flips it over and asks: “Is that a Macintosh?” People used to call computers made by Apple “Macintosh” computers, or “a Macintosh”. That changed to “Mac” later – but Kimmy would have been in the bunker when that happened. Episode 4: * Kimmy drags a huge tube television into the apartment. She says she can’t believe people throw away good TVs. Titus insists the TV must be broken and won’t work. Somehow, when Kimmy plugs it in – the TV works. * Jacqueline (whom Kimmy calls Mrs. Voorhees) tells Kimmy she needs to send a photo of herself to Buckley’s school. One of Kimmy’s jobs is to pick him up from school. Kimmy asks where there is a Sears Portrait Studio. The last of the Sears Portrait Studios closed in 2013. Jacqueline teaches Kimmy how to take a selfie (after explaining what a selfie was.) * Titus and Kimmy go to a video arcade because Titus needs to use the photo booth to make headshots for his audition. Kimmy comes back from the arcade and says she didn’t like how she looked in the selfie, and wants to use a different photo. The photo she wants to use is a “Baby-o-matic” photo that shows what Kimmy and Titus’s baby would look like. It is hideous. Today, there are several apps for that. Episode 5: * Kimmy invites her mole woman “sister” Cyndee to visit her in New York. Cyndee brings with her a boyfriend that Titus is convinced is gay. Later, it turns out that Cyndee knows Brandon is gay, but doesn’t care. He was her middle school crush and after leaving the bunker, she set out to achieve all of the plans she made when she was in the bunker. The reason I put this into this post is because I’m also watching Grace and Frankie (another Netflix original series) at the same time. Two completely different shows that handle the concept of a woman dating/married to a gay man in very different ways. Episode 6: * Kimmy is trying to get her GED. She is attending an adult education class in a public school. The teacher has totally given up and plays VHS movies instead of teaching math. The teacher has tenure, which he believes means he can never be fired no matter what he does. In reality, tenure gives a teacher the right to due process. It means that a tenured teacher cannot be fired without a school presenting evidence that the teacher is incompetent or behaves unprofessionally. Or, they have to prove that there is no funding for whatever class, course, or subject the teacher teaches. In this case, Kimmy’s teacher could be fired because he is clearly incompetent. Kimmy talks to the school secretary, who makes it clear that this teacher has been incompetent for years. Teachers do not automatically get tenure. There is a probationary period of three or four years before a teacher can get tenure. Once they have tenure, it is possible for a teacher to be laid off (which happened to a lot of teachers in 2008-2009 during the recession.). A union cannot prevent an incompetent teacher from being fired or competent one from being laid off. In short, the room that Kimmy’s teacher showed her, that looked like a teacher’s lounge where all the teachers were sitting and reading magazines – and getting paid to do it – doesn’t exist. * Somewhere in this episode, The Expos baseball team is mentioned. This team started as the Montreal Expos. They moved to Washington D.C. in 2005. Kimmy is surprised to hear that the Expos moved. She would have been in the bunker by the time the Expos played their first game as the Washington Nationals. The Washington Nationals used a red cap that had a curly W on it – which was originally used by the Washington Senators. Episode 7: * Jacqueline went to China and returned with her husband. Kimmy asks “Was everything there upside down?” This is an another example of Kimmy’s limited education before she was kidnapped and put in the bunker. In an earlier episode, it is revealed she never finished eight grade. In the previous episode, Kimmy tries to enroll in a Middle School, but is told she cannot do that – and that she should get her GED instead. * Jacqueline tells Kimmy that she thinks her husband is having an affair. She says that he is on the phone, and laughing, and she wants to know who he is talking to. Kimmy suggests “Maybe Gallagher?” Gallagher is a comedian best known for his Sledge-O-Matic sketch (in which he smashes a watermelon with a sledgehammer). He is still touring today. * Jacqueline decides to hold a fancy party and invite the person she thinks her husband is having an affair with. She has a plan to catch him cheating on her. Kimmy is working at the party, and needs to look fancy (which Titus helps her with). Kimmy was able to hire Titus to sing at the party. Before the party starts, Kimmy tells Jacqueline that she feels like she’s on Bravo. “They still show operas, right?”, Kimmy asks. Bravo is an American basic cable and satellite television network and flagship channel. It launched on December 1, 1980. Bravo originally focused on programming related to the fine arts and film. In the early 2000s, Bravo changed its format and started focusing on reality shows, fashion and makeover shows, and celebrities. Kimmy would have been in the bunker when Bravo changed its format. * At the party, an attractive man with an accent starts talking to Kimmy. He is a guest, and he makes an excuse about why he ended up arriving to the party early. The man assumes that Kimmy is also a guest, so she decides to pretend that she is a guest. The man notes that Kimmy has arrived early, too. Kimmy tells him that her assistant put the wrong time into her PalmPilot. The PalmPilot 1000 was introduced by U.S. Robotics in 1996. It cost $299, had 128k of memory and a monochrome, touch-screen display. 3Com acquired U.S. Robotics in 1997. In 1998, 3Com had to stop using the name “Pilot” because of a legal dispute with the Pilot Pen company. The PalmPilot became the Palm. The Palm III organizer was based on the Palm 3.0 OS. It cost $399. By 1999, more than five million PalmPilots had been sold. 3Com started selling the first Palm device with a wireless antenna, the Palm VII, for $599. Today, Palm and the PalmPilot are no longer used because people use smartphones instead. Kimmy has a iPhone (which Jacqueline gave to her earlier in this season). It seems that Kimmy doesn’t quite understand that the status of having an iPhone would be much greater than having a PalmPilot. When Kimmy was a kid, having a PalmPilot meant you were rich and important. This is likely why she told the man that she had a PalmPilot when she was pretending to be a guest. Episode 8: * Kimmy uses Titus’s Walkman. It plays cassette tapes. It runs out of batteries while she was using it. Kimmy was singing “Unbelievable” by EMF. When the batteries die, she says “Unbelievable!” The song topped the Hot 100 Chart in 1991. * Kimmy tried to have her GED classmates meet together as a study group in the library. Almost all of them stopped coming. Kimmy goes down the list of classmates, noting what happened to them. “Fatima got deported,” Kimmy says. * Jacqueline tells Kimmy that she is getting a divorce. She tells Kimmy about friends of hers who got divorced. One friend’s ex-husband “died on top of his girlfriend”. Kimmy asks, “You mean… like bunk beds?” * Titus starts his new job at a themed bar and grill. To make a long story short, he is dressed as a werewolf. Kimmy is excited. “You’re a werewolf! Just like in the Bible!” * Kimmy finally tells Jacqueline that she was a “mole woman”. Kimmy tells her this because she is trying to show Jacqueline that women can be strong (so Jacqueline will go through with her divorce). To paraphrase, Kimmy tells Jacqueline that she and her “sisters” ate bags of dirt and passed it into a kiddy pool to survive. Jacqueline says she hopes that was a metaphor. Kimmy says it wasn’t a metaphor – they needed the iron. Scientific American posted an article in 2012 about geophagia (people and animals eating dirt and/or clay). The article noted that dirt can contain iron. it also noted that dirt can also contain parasites. Episode 9: * Kimmy has turned 30. She says she hit the big 30-oh. She probably meant the big three-oh. * Kimmy throws herself a birthday party and invites friends. Somehow, the detective that found her (when she was in the bunker) arrives at her apartment with his teenage daughter. He wants to give Kimmy her birthday present. Kimmy is not happy to see them. The detective (Randy) married her mother while Kimmy was in the bunker. Her mom and the detective had a baby girl (the teenager that the detective has brought with him). Then, her mom disappeared. Kimmy tells them to leave. (They do, but then appear at the party later.) The daughter (who is named Kymmi “Kee- Me”) is played by Kiernan Shipka – who played Sally Draper on Mad Men. I find this interesting because I finished watching all seven seasons of Mad Men right before I started watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. * Kimmy asks Titus to select the playlist for her birthday party. She says “I haven’t been to a Sam Goody since 1988.” The last Sam Goody store closed in 2012. It was in San Diego. Kimmy is in New York City. * During the party, the detective (Kimmy’s stepfather) gives Kimmy a necklace that has a locket on it. Later, she takes it off and her stepsister, Kymmi, grabs it, saying it is hers and that it belonged to her mother. Kimmy points out that they have the same mother. The heart shaped locket on the necklace holds a photo of Kimmy and a photo of Kymmi. * Kymmi says she wants to go to the Olive Garden in New York City that has three floors. It exists. Episode 10: * Kimmy’s boyfriend, Logan (who she met at Jacqueline’s party) wants Kimmy to stop being friends with Dong (who she met at the GED class). Logan and Dong got into a physical fight at Kimmy’s birthday party. * Logan apologizes to Kimmy for the fight, and says he overreacted because he is not used to obstacles. Kimmy asks “What would the Care Bears say” about how Logan has been acting. He responds: “It would depend on the Care Bear.” Kimmy accepts this response. * Kimmy tells Titus that she decided to stay with Logan, and that she will have to say goodbye to Dong. Titus responds: “Oh no! Am I gonna teach you about birth control?” He seems appalled by the idea. Kimmy says “not yet.” In another scene, it becomes clear that Kimmy understands kissing but doesn’t have a clue what making out or sex is supposed to be like. * Xanthippe calls Kimmy a bitch. Kimmy responds: “You mean, the thing that makes puppies? Thanks!” * Kimmy goes to the restaurant that Dong delivers food from to say she can’t see him anymore. She discovers that immigration came and took almost everyone who worked there away while Dong was out making deliveries. Now, he needs to find someplace else to live because immigration is after him. Season One of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was released in 2015. I’m watching it in 2017. What may have been an uncomfortable joke in 2015 has become reality for undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2017. Kimmy brings Dong to her apartment (which she shares with Titus) and tells Dong he can sleep on her couch. After they get there, she tells Dong that Logan is her boyfriend and she can only be friends with Dong. * Long story short, Xanthippe creates this ridiculous scene in an effort to encourage her mother to decide to let Xanthippe live with her father. Kimmy ends up kissing Dong. He leaves, saying he will find a new place to live. There is chemistry between them. * Logan later tells Kimmy that he was the one that called immigration. He thinks he’s hilarious. Kimmy breaks up with him, and rushes to find Dong before he gets on a bus. They become a couple. Dong says that he is still worried about immigration coming for him – and says it would be safer if he and Kimmy got married. Again, what was a dramatic moment in the 2015 TV show is something that has become reality for some people in the United States in 2017. That being said, the rules have changed, and American citizens who were married to undocumented immigrants have actually had their spouse deported (or prevented from entering the country.) Episode 11: * Kimmy gets summoned to testify at a trial against Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. She doesn’t want to go. * Kimmy talks to Jacqueline about all the things she’s worried about. Kimmy worries about getting Jacqueline through her divorce. She is worried about maybe marrying Dong. And now, she’s worried about the trial. Jacqueline takes Kimmy to a spin class called “Spiritual Spinning.” Jacqueline says it gets her mind off of everything except herself. * This is the episode where it is revealed that Jon Hamm is playing Reverend Wayne Gary Wayne. Jon Hamm played Don Draper on Mad Men. So, that’s two people from Mad Men (which I finished watching before I started watching this) who have appeared in Season 1 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. * The trial is a farce. Kimmy’s “sister” Cyndee keeps calling Kimmy, leaving messages and texts, in the hopes that she will come to the trial. Kimmy and Cyndee have smartphones and know how to use them. Gretchen arrives at the trial still dressed like she was in the bunker. * Titus helps Kimmy see that the Spiritual Spinning class is basically a cult. It’s run by an (apparently) charismatic man, who tells them what to think (and what NOT to think about) and who rewards some of them with extra attention. Kimmy eventually gets what Titus is saying. She agrees it is a cult, and asks “Why does this keep happening?” This realization makes Kimmy decide to go to the trial and testify against the Reverend. But first, Kimmy shows the entire spin class that the guy running it is a fraud. Episode 12: * Kimmy and Titus ride a bus to Indiana so Kimmy can testify at the trial against Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. Titus is reading a magazine called “Land Mall”. It appears to be the bus version of Sky Mall, a magazine that people find on airplanes. Sky Mall is filled with stuff for people to buy (most of which are things that no one really needs). Land Mall doesn’t exist. * Later in the episode, Titus is wearing a t-shirt that has Z 101 FM on it. He got the t-shirt because he was on the air (probably talking about the trial Kimmy is testifying at). The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt aired in 2015. I am watching it in 2017. Right now, Z 101 FM is a Spanish language radio station from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. * This episode reveals what the real purpose of the “Mystery Crank” in the bunker was. Episode 13: * Part of this episode, and the previous one, mentions viral videos. The man who sings in the intro of the show warns Titus that having a video go viral isn’t necessarily a good thing. The viewer can assume that the intro of the show was a remixed viral video that included an interview he gave to a TV crew as the “mole women” were being rescued from the bunker. Titus, who gave a hysterically bad interview on TV in the previous episode, had become the star of a viral video (when someone else remixed it). He is certain that the video will make him famous – and that being famous will solve all his problems. The first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt takes place on 2015. If I remember correctly, at that time, videos that went viral made the news (and made it onto multiple news channels and websites). That doesn’t really happen anymore. * The trial against Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne takes an unexpected turn when Kimmy introduces a video tape that … oddly enough… is sort of a remix of its own. Each clip had the date and time it was taken right there on the screen. * The first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt wraps up the main storyline of the show. It also starts some new storylines that will probably be picked up in the next Season. Notes About Things in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Season 1 is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Where did the Children Come From in “The Lobster”?April 13, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsThe Lobster is a bizarre dystopia where everyone must be part of a couple. Those who become single are sent to The Hotel where they have 45 days to “fall in love” with a new partner (who, ideally, also falls in love with them.) Those who do not manage to pair up with someone are turned into animals. It’s a very dark and disturbing film, and you probably shouldn’t watch this one if you have recently had a romantic relationship come to an end. Warning: There are spoilers in this post. I’m not revealing why the movie is called “The Lobster.” And, I’m leaving out a whole lot of things that happen in the movie. The movie focuses on David (played by Colin Farrell), who has come to The Hotel. His wife of 11 years left him, which means he is now single. There is no indication that they had children. The check-in process at The Hotel is depressing. David arrives with his brother, who has been turned into a dog. He is allowed to keep his-brother-the-dog, but must keep him in the hotel room. People who arrive at The Hotel have almost all of their belongings taken from them, including their clothing. The Hotel gives everyone identical outfits to wear. The men are given some slacks (of two different colors) and some shirts. Women are given multiple, identical, blue dresses and multiple flowered dresses. Everyone is given just enough clothes to get through their stay (including socks and underwear.) My guess is the purpose of this is to make everyone look as much like everyone else as possible. There is a moment when the camera focuses on a group of the saddest looking people, most of whom look depressed and unattractive, sitting in their underwear, waiting to be assigned a room. At first glance, I found it difficult to believe that any of these people had a good chance of finding a new partner. David is asked the same question all guests are asked: Are you heterosexual or homosexual? At first, he answers: “heterosexual”. But then, he recalls that there was a man… so he declares himself “bisexual”. The Hotel does not allow that. If I remember correctly, the person checking David in says that he is not allowed to be bisexual. They tried that, and it messed up their system. So, David thinks about it a little while, and decides to declare himself heterosexual. I thought it was interesting that The Hotel placed no stigma at all upon a person’s sexual orientation. Being heterosexual was accepted. Being homosexual was accepted. Being bisexual was acceptable, too (and would still be if The Hotel could work that orientation into their system.) Later, David finds himself as part of a group that includes both men and women. Presumably, there are other groups: one made up entirely of men, and the other made up entirely of women. We never see those groups in the movie. Each person is asked by The Manager what animal they want to be turned into if they are unable to find a partner. The idea is that a person who cannot find a human partner might have better luck finding a partner after they have been turned into an animal. The Hotel doesn’t place any sigma upon a person’s sexual orientation – but they do have some very strange rules regarding sex and masturbation. No one is allowed to masturbate while they are at The Hotel. There is a scene that involves David and The Maid. She is kind of grinding on him, but in a way that seems very mechanical and unappealing. It’s a service that is being provided. The Maid stops before David reaches orgasm. It appears that the purpose of this is to… encourage the male guests to find a woman to become a couple with? There is a severe punishment for the men who masturbate in The Hotel. It is disturbing, but not as disturbing as the punishments that The Loners have for those who kiss or have sex. The Loners are a group of people who escaped from The Hotel and are living in the forest. The point I’m trying to make is that the people who are in The Hotel aren’t allowed to have sex with anyone else – until after they have become a couple. The Loners are not allowed to have sex with anyone, ever (but they are allowed to masturbate – so long as they are doing it alone.) So, where are the children in “The Lobster” coming from? There is a point in the movie where two people have officially declared that they are in love. The new couple is removed from the group and given a hotel room to share. If that works out, the couple will spend some time together on one of the small yachts that is owned by the hotel. The new relationship is closely monitored by the staff of The Hotel, as well as by the Hotel Manager and her husband. They want to make sure the couple is really a couple before releasing them from The Hotel. The Manager tells the new couple that if they have any tensions, any arguing, that they cannot resolve themselves, they will be assigned children. She says that usually helps a lot. People don’t want to argue around children. Things do not go super smoothly with this couple, and we see them later with a daughter that looks to be about eight years old. Where did this child come from? The couple could not be the child’s biological parents because not enough time has passed for them to have an eight-year-old daughter. Without giving too much away, there are scenes from The City. It seems to be the place where couples live. Everyone there is a couple. The police stop a few single people and basically ask for their papers. There aren’t any children present. Now, I suppose it’s possible that The City is a place that is only for adults, and that children aren’t allowed there. Maybe the kids are in school (or daycare) when the parents go to The City. It’s also possible that all of these couples have relationships that are smooth enough that they didn’t end up being assigned children. Later in the movie, there is a part where one of The Loners introduces a few other Loners to her parents. She doesn’t look anything like her parents, so one can assume she was an assigned child. “The Lobster” is a movie that gives the viewer just enough story, and leaves them to imagine the parts that aren’t specifically laid out for them. The movie didn’t give me any answers about where the assigned children come from. Here are my best guesses about that: 1. The children are “orphans”. A couple that has been assigned a child (or more than one child) breaks up. The parents become singles. In this world, people cannot be single. So, someone – maybe The Hotel – takes the children away from both parents. This allows each parent to find a new partner, or to be turned into an animal if they are unable to find a new partner. The former parent can focus all of their attention on finding a new partner without worrying about what happened to their assigned children. There must be a large orphanage somewhere (and it probably isn’t located in The City). The children become “orphans”. They might get assigned to new parents one day. 2. The children are from accidental pregnancies. Two people at The Hotel become a couple. They have lots of sex. They are either not using any kind of birth control, or their birth control of choice fails. The woman gets pregnant. There are no examples in the movie of a couple that is raising their biological child together. Maybe this accidentally produced child is automatically sent to the orphanage after he or she is born. This child would one day be assigned to another couple (who need a child because they cannot resolve their differences and are arguing too much.) It is possible that all of the adults in the movie were raised in an orphanage (until they were assigned parents). If so, then the couple with the accidental pregnancy would consider it quite normal to send their newborn to the orphanage. This society highly values couples, and places a huge stigma on single people. The society doesn’t seem to give much thought to children (or who raises them). 3. The children are “test tube babies” or clones or are produced in some way that doesn’t involve a typical pregnancy. Viewers must accept the premise that The Hotel is quite capable of turning a person into an animal. From there, it doesn’t seem too difficult to imagine that The Hotel collects DNA from the guests, and sends that DNA to a lab for the purpose of making babies. 4. The children are coming from an entirely different society that has an abundance of children and not nearly enough parents to raise them. Maybe the other society doesn’t care if people are single, or part of a couple, and also doesn’t care who decides to have sex with whom. Sometimes, a pregnancy occurs. Parents can decide for themselves if they want to raise the child or send it away for someone else to raise. 5. The children are coming from a situation that I haven’t thought of. Where did the Children Come From in “The Lobster”? is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me Ko-fi. Thank you!... Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season SevenApril 8, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsSeason Seven was the final season of Mad Men. I was kind of sad to have reached the end of the story, but I liked how it ended. I can always re-watch it if I want to. My husband and I watched the entire series of Mad Men on Netflix. I took notes on the things in Mad Men that are different from today. Before you read this post, you might want to read what I wrote about previous Seasons: Mad Men Season One Mad Men Season Two Mad Men Season Three Mad Men Season Four Mad Men Season Five Mad Men Season Six Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: Don flies to California where his wife, Megan, is living. She has a tiny black and white television. He buys her a huge console television. The thing is so heavy that it requires two big men to carry it inside. It looks like a cabinet with the television embedded in it, and I think it had built in speakers on either side of the TV. This was a top-of-the-line, expensive, color television…. that Megan didn’t want. Episode 2: * Don wakes up to a buzzing noise. It is coming from his alarm clock, which can be described as an analog electric alarm clock. The numbers flip over. * Don and his daughter, Sally, are at a diner. She wants to call her friends. Don put two quarters on the table. Sally takes the quarters, gets up, walks across the diner, and puts the quarters into the payphone that is on the wall. Today, Sally would have picked up her smartphone and made the call (or would have borrowed her dad’s smartphone to make the call). Episode 3: * Harry finally tells one of the other partners that he’s been lying – for a long time – about there being a computer that he uses to figure out the best ad placement for television ads. He’s been lying to the customers about it, too. There is no computer. This revelation sparks a conversation about the company needing to invest in a computer. Today, its hard to imagine an entire office without computers. * Betty goes on a field trip with her son, Bobby. She is a chaperone. Betty and Bobby ride on the school bus with his classmates, teacher, and a few other moms. Betty smokes a cigarette on the way, and ashes out the window. Episode 4: * The creative’s lounge is taken away from them because the office is going to put a computer there. It takes up that entire space. The only thing this computer could do was “crunch numbers” – literally computing. * The computer is an IBM 360. It is a mainframe computer that was accessed by remote terminals. It had 8,000,000 characters in bulk core storage. Monthly rentals ranged from $27,000 for a basic configuration to $115,000 for a typical large multi system configuration. * The “System/360″ became available for delivery in 1965. The office in Mad Men is getting it installed in 1969. Today, most offices do not invest in computers that are four years old. * Harry asks the IBM guy who is overseeing the computer installation to tell him where to find a keypunch service. The IBM 360 ran on punch cards. A keypunch service had people (often women) whose job it was to put a deck of blank cards into a hopper. The worker would type an operator command, and the hopper machine would feed one card at a time into a punch station. A series of dies punched holes into an individual card. Harry needed a service to make those cards for the office’s computer. * In order to operate the mainframe, a person needed to – by hand – put the stack of punchcards, in a specific order, into the mainframe one by one. * I have personally done that a few times when I was a little kid (because my dad sometimes took me to work with him.). Dropping the punch cards on the floor was a complete disaster. It meant you had to stop entering the cards, stop the computer, take the time to put the cards back in order, and start putting them into the computer again. If you accidentally put one card into the computer in the wrong order – the computer wouldn’t work. Once all the punchcards were correctly entered, you had to wait around for the mainframe to process them before you could start working from a terminal. * Don uses a typewriter at his desk to get some work done. He has a piece of white paper, then a sheet of carbon, then another piece of white paper sandwiched together. The purpose of this was so Don could make two copies of what he was typing at the same time. Episode 5: * There is now a secretary who sits at the terminal inside the room the giant computer is in. She appears to be typing something into the terminal. Behind her is a computer with a magnetic reel tape drive. * The giant mainframe computer makes a constant humming noise. The computer room always has the doors closed because it needs to be in an air conditioned room. Episode 6: * Peggy is working on an ad campaign for Burger Chef. She and Don decide to come up with a new idea rather than what they originally planned. Peggy mentions something about the ad including a mother who is picking up Burger Chef for her family on the way home from work. Don says “Mothers who work is too sad for an ad.” Peggy points out that he is surrounded by mothers who work. This doesn’t change Don’s mind. They end up going with a completely different idea. Episode 7: * This episode focuses on the Moon Landing. Everyone watches the rocket lifting off on television. Then, they watched the first space walk on television. * Peggy is in Indiana with Don, Pete, and Harry because they are pitching to Burger Chef the next day. Peggy went out to get alcohol, but Indiana was dry on Sundays – meaning stores could not sell alcohol. She ends up having to buy two cans of beer from the hotel clerk. Indiana was dry on Sundays until July 1, 2016. The laws changed on that date to allow distilleries, breweries, and wineries to sell alcohol on Sundays. The laws still did not allow people to buy alcohol and bring it home with them on a Sunday. Episode 8: * Don has an answering service. He calls and a female worker answers and tells him who called him and when. The service is not work related – it is taking calls from women in Don’s social life. * Joan and Peggy are talking to their client, Topaz pantyhose, about a problem. L’Eggs pantyhose – a competitor – is a lower price and is selling more than Topaz. L’Eggs pantyhose came in a plastic egg shaped container. Episode 9: * I didn’t see anything new in this episode, that you don’t see today (that hadn’t already been mentioned in this post or in posts about previous seasons.) Episode 10: * Sally’s friend Glenn comes to visit. He is now 18 years old. Glenn, and a female friend he brought with, ask Sally to go to Playland with them. Glenn reveals that he has joined the military and will be going to Vietnam. Sally gets very upset about this and rushes to her room. Later, Glenn returns, knowing that Sally is not there. (She was on a class trip.). Glenn came to see Betty. Betty gives Glenn a beer. The legal drinking age in New York was 18 until 1982 – when it went up to 19. On December 1, 1985, the legal drinking age in New York moved up to age 21. * Don was running late for work, so he shaves at his desk in his office while his secretary fills him in about what is scheduled for the day. He uses a battery powered electric razor. Those types of razors increased in popularity in the 1960s. * The office has a darkroom which Stan (one of the creatives) uses to develop film – usually for ad campaigns. People have to knock on the door before coming in because opening the door lets light into the room. Doing that at the wrong time can completely destroy film. Episode 11: * Peggy and Stan are working with children for an ad campaign. There is a table of toys in front of the kids. One of the toys is a metal slinky. Episode 12: * The office gets absorbed by McCann. They lose the computer that took over the creative’s lounge. Harry says that McCann has a team of people who do statistics – so they don’t need the computer. * McCann has an informal “ladies club”. The women who work there get together to complain about work (and drink). * Peggy’s last remaining creative guy chooses not to go to McCann. He is still at the old office. He says he is still being paid, so he thought he’d “make some long distance calls”. Long distance calls were very expensive at the time. Episode 13: * Don has gone on an impromptu road trip. He doesn’t carry luggage. Instead, he has a large paper bag with a change of clothes in it. The bag says Sears. Today, a lot of Sears stores are closing. Episode 14: * Don’s road trip continues. This time he is carrying a bag from Penney’s. The bag probably came from JC Penney’s (which, today, is also closing a lot of stores.) Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season Seven is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season SixApril 7, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsAs my husband and I watched our way through Mad Men, I took notes about things that are in the show that are different from today. This post is about Mad Men Season Six. We watched the entire series on Netflix. Before you read this, you might want to read what I wrote about previous Seasons: Mad Men Season One Mad Men Season Two Mad Men Season Three Mad Men Season Four Mad Men Season Five Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: * Megan uses a Kodak Instamatic camera to take a photo of Don while they are on a work/vacation in Hawaii. The Kodak Instamatic was launched in 1963. It used a 126 film cartridge. The Kodak Instamatic 104 was released in 1968. It had a holder for a single flashbulb on the top of the camera. Take a photo with the flashcube, and cock the camera for the next exposure (meaning – roll the film for the next photo). The flashcube would turn 90 degrees to bring the next flashbulb into position automatically. * The maid was vacuuming while Don was watching TV. The television had two squiggly lines of interference across it – one near the top of the screen and one near the bottom. It was not a common problem, and the TV went back to normal when after the vacuum was shut off. Episode 2: I did not see anything in this episode that was different from today (and that wasn’t already mentioned in this list or the lists about previous seasons.) Episode 3: * The news in the background on televisions in various scenes discuss the Vietnam War. It has been said that Vietnam was the first “television war”, or the first “living-room war” (the room people watched television in.) Being able to sit in your home, in front of your TV, and watch what was happening in a war far away had an effect on people. At first, TV stations were trying to be upbeat – providing wire reports or a battlefield roundup. Later, things got darker and some “horror of war” was televised. The ability to watch the war on TV had an effect on people’s opinion about the war. In 1968, the Tet Offensive happened. It appears that this is what the television news is talking about in this episode of Mad Men. Episode 4: * Joan and her friend Kate go to a restaurant where there is a telephone at every table. The name of the restaurant is “Ma Bells”. The name is a play on The Bell Telephone Company. Ma Bells was the creation of Restaurant Associates. The restaurant actually existed. Every table had a telephone on it. People called their order into the kitchen. The telephones could also be used to call someone who was sitting at another table. * Megan and Don go out to dinner with Megan’s coworker and boss (who are a married couple.). During the dinner, it is revealed that the couple are “Swingers” who are interested in swinging with Megan and Don. Swingers were people who had open relationships. Some were heterosexual, and some were bisexual. Being a swinger became popular in the late 1960s, when the “free love” movement was taking place and casual sex was becoming an accepted thing among some people. Swingers felt it was natural to have sexual desires outside of your relationship, and to act on those desires (if the desired person was consenting.) Episode 5: * This episode focused on when Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed. * Someone (I forgot who) turns on a black and white television. A bright dot appears in the center of the screen, which becomes a horizontal line, that eventually spread out over the screen. This was how televisions at the time warmed up if they had not been turned on in a while. * Don takes Bobby to watch a movie. They see “The Planet of the Apes.” At the end of the movie, it’s clear that Bobby liked it. Don asked “Do you want to see it again?” Bobby does, so they stay in their seats and watch the movie again. This wasn’t unusual and was allowed at the time. Episode 6: * I didn’t see anything in this episode that hasn’t already been mentioned in this list (or the lists I put together about previous episode) Episode 7: * Pete’s mother comes to his apartment. The handyman calls Pete to let him know she is there. Pete tells the handyman to fix his mother a drink. The ice cube tray is made out of aluminum. It has a quick release handle on it that you pull up to crack the ice cubes. Today, ice cube trays are plastic and you twist them to crack the ice. Episode 8: * The office is visited by a “doctor” (brought in by one of the partners of the company that Don’s company merged with). The man is not really a doctor. He was brought to “fix everyone up.” Don agrees to see the “doctor” because he is suffering from a bad cough. The “doctor” injects several of the men in the office with an unknown concoction. Based on the actions of the men who took this injection – it appears that at least some of it is amphetamine. The “doctor” appears to be somewhat based on a real person named Max Jacobson who was known as “Dr. Feelgood”. Jacobson did have a background as a doctor – but was known for mixing up unknown ingredients (along with amphetamine) and injecting that into the (often famous) people who came to him for help. Jacobson “treated” JFK, Marylin Monroe, Eddie Fisher, and others. Episode 9: * Don stops at a gas station and tries to get the gas station attendant’s attention. It was a full service gas station (which was standard at the time). People did not pump their own gas – the attendant did it for them. The gas station attendant would fill the tank, check the tire pressure, check the oil, and wash the cars windows. People paid for the gas, but the other services were provided for free. Gas stations used to hand out trinkets as well – for travelers to collect. (drinking glasses, key chains, calendars, road maps, etc). There are some places in the United States today where people are required by law to allow a gas station attendant to pump their gas for them. It is no longer a common practice – and does not come with the extra services. Episode 10: * Joan tells a potential client that Harry works on figuring out where to place television ads “with a computer as big as this room”. The first personal computer wasn’t introduced until 1975 – and they were kits that people had to put together themselves. * This episode focused on the 1968 Democratic National Convention that took place in Chicago. * Megan watches the violence that took place outside the DNC. She calls Don, who is watching it, too, (while away on business). Megan says she can’t vote – but still cares about what’s going on. Megan is Canadian. She was from Quebec. * There is a lava lamp on the desk in the Creatives Office. The lava lamp was created by Edward Craven Walker (who was a British accountant). He sold the U.S. manufacturing rights in 1965 to a company named Lava Lite. In 1968, lava lamps were marketed to executives. Episode 11: * The office, which is in New York, receives fresh oranges from California from Sunkist (who is a client). In a previous episode, Roger’s daughter told him that her husband had this great idea about investing in refrigerated trucks that ship produce. This indicates that it was not easy to obtain fresh oranges from California if you lived in New York. Those oranges were a big deal. * Sylvia and Arnold (Don’s neighbors) have a son, Mitchell, who is 18. He returned his draft card as a form of protest of the Vietnam War. After Mitchell dropped out of school, the military re-classified him 1-A. This designation meant that it was extremely likely that Mitchell would be drafted and sent to Vietnam. Mitchell tells his problem to Megan (who relays the problem to Don). Megan said that Mitchell was “going to run”. This meant that Mitchell was going to leave the United States and go to Canada in order to avoid being drafted. Megan considers helping Mitchell because she has family in Canada. Much of this episode is about how to solve Mitchell’s problem. Episode 12: * I didn’t notice anything new in this episode (that wasn’t already mentioned in this post or in posts from previous seasons.) Episode 13: * Sally get suspended from boarding school because she used a fake ID with her mother’s name on it and bought alcohol for herself and the other girls. Betty calls Don, all upset. Betty tells Don that the reason why “nothing is working” and “the bad is beating the good” is because Sally is “from a broken home.” That’s not a phrase people use today in regards to a child from a family where the parents got divorced and remarried. Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season Six is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season FiveApril 3, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsMy husband and I watched the entire Mad Men series together, one season after the other. I decided to make a list of the things that were in Mad Men that are different today. This post is about Mad Men Season Five. Before you read this, you might want to read what I wrote about previous Seasons: Mad Men Season One Mad Men Season Two Mad Men Season Three Mad Men Season Four Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: * The Campbells have a fancy stove/oven in the kitchen of their new home. It has a range that can be pushed into a drawer when not in use, a cabinet under the range for pots and pans, and on oven at the top (behind the range). It was called the Frigidaire Flare and was a luxury item in the 1960s. The oven was at eye level of the woman who was using the range and oven to cook dinner. Glass doors on the oven made it easy for her to check on the food. Episode 2: * The telephones now have push buttons instead of rotary dials. They still have a handset that is attached to the base by a long, curly, cord. * Don and Megan have a color television. * Betty has gained weight. Her mother-in-law suggests that Betty start taking diet pills. Betty asks her doctor for diet pills, and he refuses to prescribe them without doing a checkup to rule out other causes for weight gain. * Betty and Henry have two separate phone lines – with two separate telephone numbers – in their home. Episode 3: * Craig comes home from Vietnam and wants a bologna sandwich instead of a steak dinner. He had steak in Vietnam – but missed bologna sandwiches. * Joan’s mom goes out to get the afternoon paper. * Sally watches television and sees an ad for the Mystery Date board game. The game was first released in 1965. * The Francis’s have a remote control for their television. Episode 4: * Lane and Pete get into a fist fight (called for by Lane). It’s clear that Lane has had some training – and he “knocked the crap out of Pete.” (To borrow a phrase from Peggy). No one calls for security. No one calls the police. No one is fired and escorted from the office. No one sues. Episode 5: Don asks for change so he can use the payphone. There is a telephone booth outside of the restaurant he got the change from. Each call costs a dime. He needed to make several calls, and used the payphone for all of them. Episode 6: * Sally pulls the phone into her room and stretches the phone cord across the hallway. Her grandmother trips over the phone cord and breaks her ankle. Episode 7: * Pete rides the train with a man who sells life insurance. Later in the episode, we see that this man has a car with power windows. It’s the first example of that in the show. Previous to power windows, people had to use a crank to manually make their window go up or down. Episode 8: * I didn’t notice anything in this episode that you don’t see today that wasn’t already mentioned in this list (or in the lists for previous Seasons). Episode 9: * Don buys a brand new, top of the line, fancy Jaguar car. He hands the salesman a check for $6,000. The salesman accepts it – without even bothering to ask for any identification. Don tells the salesman that if he doesn’t bring it back – consider the car sold. He later brings the car back (and presumably picks up his check.) Episode 10: * I didn’t notice anything in this episode that you don’t see today that wasn’t already mentioned in this list (or in the lists for previous Seasons). Episode 11: * Sally goes with Megan, and Megan’s friend from her acting class, to a restaurant. Megan orders coffee. Sally, who is about 12 years old, tells the waiter that she will have coffee, too. Megan informs Sally that the waiter won’t bring her a coffee. The waiter brings Sally a coffee, and Sally immediately dumps a ton of sugar into it. Today, a 12 year old can go into Starbucks and order a drink that contains coffee and society sees that as normal. * Sally is staying with her father, Don, and Megan, for the weekend. It was a surprise visit. Sally has school on Monday, and neither Megan nor Don can drive her to school because both have work (meetings/auditions). Don decides to let Sally stay in the apartment by herself, and says he will drive her home (to Betty and Henry’s home) later that day. Sally is watching television when Megan is about to leave Sally there by herself. Megan says “The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is feel that TV.” She was letting Sally know that she isn’t allowed to watch TV all day long. The TV is a color TV, something only 3.1 percent of households had in 1964. Televisions at that time had used three picture tubes – red, green, and blue – and filters and mirrors to project one color image. The TV was inside a cabinet housing and had a glass, tube-like, screen. Televisions that were on for several hours in a row would heat up. So, Megan would be able to tell if Sally had been watching TV all day just by feeling the TV and determining how hot it was. Episode 12: * Peggy’s new boss asks her: “Do you smoke?” She says she doesn’t really smoke. New boss throws a carton of cigarettes at her that are in a blank, white, box, and basically tells her it is her job to smoke them and think of a name for them. Their client is the company that made the cigarettes, which they want to market to women. Episode 13: * I didn’t notice anything in this episode that you don’t see today that wasn’t already mentioned in this list (or in the lists for previous Seasons). Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season Five is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season FourMarch 19, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsThis post is a continuation of the posts I made listing the things that are seen in Mad Men that are different from today. My husband and I watched the entire series on Netflix, one season after the other. You might want to start with my lists from Mad Men Season One, Mad Men Season Two, and Mad Men Season Three before reading this one, which is about Mad Men Season Four. Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: * A reporter interviews Don. The reporter takes notes on a pad of paper with a pen and writes in shorthand. * A television in the background of one scene shows a football game. The commentator says something about a particular football player who weighs 200 pounds – as if this is significant. The NFL website has a photo of two football players. One is Hall of Fame Wilber “Pete” Henry, a.k.a. “Fats” who weighed 245 pounds in 1920. The other photo is of New Orleans guard Jahri Evans who weighs 318 pounds. Episode 2: * The office has a Christmas party. People are selecting what music to play by sorting through 45″ records and putting their selection on a record player. * Joan leads a long conga line through the office. She clearly knows how to do this dance – and so do several of the people in the conga line behind her. Episode 3: I didn’t notice anything in this episode that was different from today (and that had not already been mentioned in this list or in the lists I wrote about previous Sessions.) Episode 4: Don and Roger are having a conference call with someone from Lucky Strike. Don is using one of of the rotary phones, holding the handset (that is attached to the phone with a long, curly, cord) to his head. Roger and Don’s secretary are using the other rotary phone – which has two handsets (each attached to the phone with a long, curly, cord). The secretary is whispering, and is informed by Roger that she doesn’t need to whisper because the Lucky Strike guy can’t hear her. The second handset apparently has the ability to be muted. Episode 5: * The office has the opportunity to work with Honda. Roger Sterling freaks out and nearly ruins the opportunity. Roger was in World War II and refuses to work with the Japanese. Roger isn’t over what happened when he was in the war and, decades later, still sees Japanese people as the enemy. * The creative team is fascinated by a “Dippy Bird” toy. Episode 6: I didn’t notice anything in this episode that was different from today (and that had not already been mentioned in this list or in the lists I wrote about previous Seasons.) Episode 7: * Several of the people from the office are going to see the boxing match between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston. (Clay later changed his name to Muhammad Ali). They went to a theater to watch it. Peggy doesn’t go, but tells her boyfriend over the phone that he could watch the fight on closed circuit tv. The fight was not broadcast on over-the-air television. It was on the radio. Episode 8: * In this episode, it is revealed that Don never finished high school. And yet, he’s got a well-paying job in advertising – which was considered to be glamorous at the time. * The office has a malfunctioning candy machine. It looks a lot like the cigarette machines from then. To use it, you put in change and then pull a lever beneath the candy you wanted to buy. The candy drops into a bin in the lower part of the machine. * Betty was at a fancy restaurant and went into the lady’s room. The stall she is in has an ashtray attached to the inside wall of the stall. Episode 9: * Don tells Sally that he will take her to see The Beatles. Sally screams and keeps screaming, confusing her mother, Betty. * Price takes his father and Don to dinner at a Playboy Club. Price is a key holder. Episode 10: * Roger was sent to speak with Lucky Strike (who was taking their business elsewhere – long story short). Instead of going to speak with Lucky Strike – by getting on a plane and flying to where their offices were – Roger goes to a nearby hotel. He calls the office from the hotel and says he is calling from Lucky Strike (and using their receptionist’s phone). The rotary phones, with handsets that connect to the base with a curly cord, were a few years away from having the earliest form of Caller ID. Episode 11: I didn’t notice anything in this episode that was different from today (and that had not already been mentioned in this list or in the lists I wrote about previous Seasons.) Episode 12: I didn’t notice anything in this episode that was different from today (and that had not already been mentioned in this list or in the lists I wrote about previous Seasons.) Episode 13: I didn’t notice anything in this episode that was different from today (and that had not already been mentioned in this list or in the lists I wrote about previous Seasons.) Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season Four is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Patreon or at PayPal.me. Thank you!... Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season ThreeMarch 10, 2017TV and Movie ReviewsMy husband and I watched the entire Mad Men series together, one season after the next. In nearly every episode, I noticed some things that were very different from today. This list covers the things there were different in Season Three. You might want to start with the list I made for Season One of Mad Men and the list I made for Season Two of Mad Men before reading the Season Three list. Warning: There are spoilers. Episode 1: * Roger brings Don a box of Cuban cigars and a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka. Roger said these items “came through Greece”. In 1960, the United States had an embargo on Cuba. Today, Americans can visit Cuba (under certain circumstances). * Joan puts the British male secretary into an office. The office has a large ant farm on display. There are ants in it, digging tunnels. Episode 2: * Don comes home late at night. Someone left the black and white console tube television on. The TV stations had stopped broadcasting for the night, so the screen was filled with static – and a scratchy sound – often referred to as “snow”. Episode 3: * Roger has a big party. He sings to his wife while wearing blackface. Most of the people at the party think this is acceptable and amusing. * Don meets a man at the party who says he was from New Mexico “before it was a state.” Episode 4: * Don breaks the ant farm that was in one of the offices. Joan covers her mouth and nose with a thin scarf that she held with one hand while spraying the ant farm, the table it was on, and everything else near it with an aerosol can of RAID. The windows in the office do not open. Episode 5: * Betty gives birth to their third baby at the hospital. The nurse injected her with something referred to as “twilight”. It was a mixture of morphine and scopolamine. This drug combination did not prevent pain. Instead, it created retroactive memory loss – so a woman wouldn’t remember the pain involved in childbirth. Many of the women who had the drug combination administered had to be physically restrained. Some would try to hurt themselves or leave. This was part of the reason why husbands were not allowed to be present during the birth of their child. Previous to using an injectable combination of morphine and scopolamine, the nurses would use chloroform on women who were going into labor. The drugs were considered to be a better alternative. Betty ends up hallucinating while under the influence of the drugs, and fighting the nurses because she doesn’t know what is happening to her. * Don drives Betty home from the hospital when she and their new son are ready to come home. Betty sits in the front seat and holds the baby in her arms all the way home. There were no seat belts in the cars, and there was no such thing as a baby rear-facing carseat at the time. Episode 6: * The soda vending machine in the emergency room waiting room at the hospital dispensed glass bottles of Dr. Pepper soda. Episode 7: * Betty calls the office of a man who is an advisor to the Governor. He’s not available, so she gives his secretary her phone number. Her phone number starts with Wilson. In the middle of the 20th century, phone numbers started with a letter that was then pronounced as a specific word. A few numbers followed that letter. When a person wanted to make a call, they actually had to call the operator and tell her what phone number they wanted to be connected to. They called a telephone exchange. Each telephone exchange could facilitate about 10,000 subscribers. Full words were used in order to help customers remember the telephone exchange name, and to help switchboard operators connect calls. Episode 8: * I didn’t see anything in this episode that you wouldn’t see today (that wasn’t already mentioned in this list or on the lists I put together about previous Seasons.) Episode 9: * Betty brings the laundry downstairs in an actual laundry basket – not the kind made of plastic that we use today. Episode 10: * Peggy and Paul are asked to work on an ad campaign for Western Union’s telegram. It is no longer possible to send a Western Union telegram. The company stopped offering telegrams as part of its services in 2006. Episode 11: * Betty speaks with her family’s lawyer about selling her father’s house. Betty privately asks the lawyer about if she should get a divorce. The lawyer basically says she can’t because she wouldn’t be able to prove to the court that Don had an affair. * Halloween is coming, and Betty and Don’s kids want their parents to buy them costumes from the store. Don says no because those costumes are plastic. He thinks they are garbage. * Betty sews hand-made costumes for her two oldest kids. (The baby is too young to trick-or-treat.). Sally was a gypsy. Bobby was a hobo. Episode 12: * This episode was focused on the Kennedy Assassination. Episode 13: * Don, Roger Sterling, and Bertram Cooper stage a coop and start their own business (with a few select others). They have to locate the paperwork connected with the accounts they are taking with them. They go through rolodexes to find phone numbers. Today, all of that would be digital. * Betty wants to divorce Don. She can’t do it in New York state because she can’t prove Don committed adultery. The only way to get the divorce is for her to move to Reno, Nevada, for six weeks to establish residency, and then file for divorce there. Don agrees not to contest the divorce. Things from Mad Men that are Different from Today – Season Three is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Patreon or at PayPal.me. Thank you!... ColoringMarquee Sports Javi Baez Coloring SheetMay 5, 2021ColoringThis is a coloring sheet from Marquee Sports Network. It features Javi Baez. I colored it while listening to the Cubs game against the Dodgers. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – DecemberJanuary 17, 2020ColoringI was able to complete all of the December coloring pages in the Johanna Basford 2019 coloring calendar. The last few were finished in January of 2020, but I’m ok with that. The world moves too fast for me, due to my chronic illnesses. In general, I’m not a big fan of Christmas. That said, I had fun coloring these pages. Some were extremely detailed, and I enjoyed the challenge. As you may have noticed, I was unable to finish coloring some of the months in 2019. I did start all of them… and then either got too busy with work or too sick to care. My plan is to get back to them when I can. November 30 and December 1 December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 December 7 and 8 December 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 14 and 15 December 16 December 17 December 18 December 19 December 20 December 21 and 22 December 23 December 24 December 25 December 26 December 27 December 28 and 29 December 30 December 31 A friend of mine gave me the Johanna Basford 2020 coloring calendar as a Christmas gift. I have started coloring its pages, and hope to be able to create a blog post of the finished month of January 2020 as soon as I can. Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – December is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – SeptemberNovember 21, 2019ColoringI have learned that my chronic illnesses make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to complete a “do one every day” project. I end up finishing some, but not all, of the pages in a month before the calendar flips. As such, I have fallen behind. That said, I did manage to complete all of the coloring pages for September 2019, so here they are! August 31 and September 1 September 2 September 3 September 4 September 5 September 6 September 7 and 8 September 9 September 10 September 11 September 12 September 13 September 14 and 15 September 16 September 17 September 18 September 19 September 20 September 21 and 22 September 23 September 24 September 25 September 26 September 27 September 28 and 29 September 30 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – September is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – MayJune 27, 2019ColoringI’ve been coloring through the 2019 Johanna Basford coloring calendar. It is fun and relaxing. I fell a little bit behind in May because it was a busy month. Still got it done, though. May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 and 5 May 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 and 12 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 and 19 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 and 26 May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – May is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – AprilMay 2, 2019ColoringColoring is relaxing, and good for my rheumatoid arthritis (which is in my hands). A friend gave me the Johanna Basford 2019 coloring calendar as a gift. I’ve been having a great time coloring the pages! April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 and 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 and 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 20 and 21 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 and 28 April 29 April 30 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – April is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford Coloring Calendar – MayApril 23, 2019ColoringI’ve been slowly working my way through the Johanna Basford 2018 coloring calendar. It has been a very relaxing experience, and good for my rheumatoid arthritis (which is in my hands, among other places). My chronic health issues make it difficult for me to keep up with the “do one of these every day” type of projects. I will be done whenever I get there. In this blog, I have the coloring pages from the May 2018 part of the calendar. May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 and 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 and 13 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 May 19 and 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26 and 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 Johanna Basford Coloring Calendar – May is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – MarchApril 17, 2019ColoringI’m working my way through the 2019 Johanna Basford coloring calendar. A friend gave it to me as a Christmas gift. My goal is to try not to fall too far behind. Coloring is a good for my health. It reduces stress (which is bad for my fibromyalgia). I also color to keep my hands active, which is good for my rheumatoid arthritis. March 1 March 2 and 3 March 4 March 5 March 6 March 7 March 8 March 9 and 10 March 11 March 12 March 13 March 14 March 15 March 16 and 17 March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 March 23 and 24 March 25 March 26 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 30 and 31 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – March is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – FebruaryMarch 1, 2019ColoringColoring is relaxing. A friend gave me the Johanna Basford 2019 coloring calendar as a Christmas present. I am really enjoying it! I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands (among other places). I’ve heard it is good to keep my hands and fingers active. Coloring is a good way to do that. February 1 February 2 and 3 February 4 February 5 February 6 February 7 February 8 February 9 and 10 February 11 February 12 February 13 February 14 February 15 February 16 and 17 February 18 February 19 February 20 February 21 February 22 February 23 and 24 February 25 February 26 February 27 February 28 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – February is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – JanuaryFebruary 9, 2019ColoringA friend gave me the Johanna Basford 2019 coloring calendar as a Christmas present. My goal this year is to try and keep up with it as best I can. Coloring is relaxing and fun. It is also good for my rheumatoid arthritis (which is in my hands). January 1 January 2 January 3 January 4 January 5 and 6 January 7 January 8 January 9 January 10 January 11 January 12 and 13 January 14 January 15 January 16 January 17 January 18 January 19 and 20 January 21 January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 26 and 27 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 31 Johanna Basford 2019 Coloring Calendar – January is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Johanna Basford Coloring Calendar – DecemberDecember 31, 2018ColoringI’ve been having a fun time coloring all the pages in the Johanna Basford 2018 coloring calendar. Unfortunately, due to my chronic illnesses, I was entirely unable to keep up with it. As such, I stopped somewhere in the middle of May, and skipped ahead to the December pages. My hope was that I would get through those before 2018 ended. After that, I will go back and color the pages I missed because, as I said, coloring is fun. December 1 and 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 December 7 December 8 and 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 14 December 15 and 16 December 17 December 18 December 19 December 20 December 21 December 22 and 23 December 24 December 25 December 26 December 27 December 28 December 29 and 30 December 31 Johanna Basford Coloring Calendar – December is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.Thank you!... MediumPeople Are Fighting Against The Texas Abortion LawSeptember 6, 2021MediumPhoto of the Dome of the Texas Capitol by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash The conservative members of the United States Supreme Court chose to do absolutely nothing about a Texas abortion law. As a result, the law was allowed to go into effect. The Texas abortion law prohibits abortions after six weeks, which is before anyone with a uterus will have any idea that they are pregnant. People are fighting against the Texas abortion law in some very creative and legally interesting ways. UPDATE: Previously, this blog post said: In addition, Texas will give at least $10,000 to anyone who successfully sues a person who helps someone to obtain an abortion. I have since learned that it is incorrect. The state of Texas is not paying $10,000 (or more) to people. It is the defendants of the misguided lawsuits who will have to come up with that money (if they lose their case). I want to take a moment to point out the Texas six-week abortion ban not only affects women, but also affects transgender men (who may still have a uterus). It also affects children who start menstruation at the average age of 11 and who could, unfortunately, become pregnant. Most of the quotes I’ve included only mention women – so I felt the need to clarify. Flooding the Whistleblower Website On September 3, 2021, NBC News reported that “a handful of TikTokers” decided to flood the Texas Right to Life website with completely unrelated information in an effort to prevent “whistleblowers” from being able to use it. According to NBC News: Many TikTock users … have deliberately sent fake information to the website including tips with titles like “Greg Abbott farts” or “calls to abort Ted Cruz”. Some have sent graphic images of Shrek, while others have reported excerpts from the 2007 “Bee Movie,” or Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” series.NBC News A person who gave NBC News an anonymous name (for his safety) coded a bot that would spam the Texas Right to Life website with fake submissions. The person said, “Once the bot is downloaded, it will automatically open the website and fill out the form with fake data that makes it look like you’re in Texas, submit it, and then re-submit it, again and again.” On September 3, 2021, The New York Times reported that another coder created an app called Pro-Life Buster, which allowed people to automatically spam the Texas website with “bogus tips.” According to The New York Times, the app showed that 1,000 new reports had been shared. The New York Times published a quote from Kim Schwartz, a spokeswoman for Texas Right to Life, who denied that the group’s website had been overwhelmed with false reports. “We knew this would happen, and we were prepared,” she said. “Activists have been trying to spam and take down the site for a week and failed.” Even so, the group’s website appeared to periodically buckle on Thursday and drop under the load of reports, according to screenshots posted to Reddit and other sites… …To stem the flood of automated reports to its website, Texas Right to Life’s administrators have added a new version of Captcha, a program that tries to filter real human responses from automated computer reports.The New York Times Taking Away the Whistleblower Website’s Hosting On September 1, 2021, Gizmodo reported that the Texas Right to Life website was hosted by GoDaddy. According to Gizmodo, GoDaddy has a terms of service for users that mandates that its site owners cannot use a GoDaddy-hosted site to: …collect or harvest (or permit anyone else to collect or harvest) any User Content (as defined below) on any non-public or personally identifiable information about another User or any other person or entity without their express prior written consent GoDaddy According to a Gizmodo analysis of the webpage for submitting tips to the Texas Right to Life website found that when people “anonymously” submitted something to that website, the site covertly harvested the IP address of whomever submits the tip via a hidden field. On September 3, 2021, GoDaddy tweeted: “We informed the website owner yesterday that they have violated GoDaddy’s terms of service and have 24 hours to move to a different provider.” That tweet was used in response to people who posted articles about the Texas Right to Life website, and who mentioned GoDaddy. On September 3, 2021, Ars Technica reported that GoDaddy gave the Texas Right to Life’s new website 24 hours to find a new hosting provider. Ars Technica received a statement from GoDaddy which said “Last night we informed prolifewhistleblower.com they have violated GoDaddy’s terms of service and have 24 hours to move to a different provider.” In addition, GoDaddy told Ars Technica that “the site violated multiple provisions, including, but not limited to, Section 5.2 of our terms of service”. Ars Technica clarified that the section is the one that prohibits sites from using GoDaddy to “collect or harvest… non-public or personally identifiable information” without people’s prior written consent. Ars Technica also received a quote from Texas Right to Life. Part of that statement said that its “IT team is already in process of transferring our assets to another provider and we’ll have the site restored within 24-48 hours.” In an update, Ars Technica reported that the Texas Right to Life website found a new hosting partner – Digital Ocean. The domain registrar has rules against violating people’s privacy. Jon Brodkin (Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica) tweeted: “Digital Ocean apparently cut off hosting as the abortion whistleblower site is now using Epik (of Gab, Parlor, and 8chan fame) for both name servers and as its registrar. The site switched its registrar from GoDaddy to Epik a few hours ago and briefly used Digital Ocean for hosting. On September 4, 2021, The Verge reported that it appeared that Texas Right to Life found a new hosting company. By late Friday, it appears that it found a new home, Epik, the provider that also helped save controversial sites Gab, social media platform Parler, and internet hate forum 8chan when other web service providers wouldn’t take them, is now listed as the registrar for prolifewhistleblower.com as well. The site is having some trouble staying online though; as of 4AM ET Saturday, we saw HTTP 503 error codes when trying to access it.The Verge Protecting Lyft and Uber Drivers from Being Sued There are many reasons why someone would use Lyft or Uber to get to a doctor’s appointment. The person might not have a car. They may need someone to drive them home after a procedure that would leave them unable to drive themselves. People who have disabilities (like me) and can no longer be a safe driver would also benefit from using Uber or Lyft. On September 3, 2021, The Verge reported that the law empowers private citizens across the country to sue anyone for “aiding and abetting” abortions past the six-week mark, including clinics, anyone who pays for the abortion, or even people who drive someone to the procedure. Also on September 3, 2021, Lyft posted an blog post titled: “Defending drivers and women’s access to healthcare”. It was written by Lyft Co-founders Logan and John, and by Lyft General Counsel Kristin Sverchek. Here is what they wrote: Dear Lyft Riders and Drivers, A new Texas law, SB8, threatens to punish drivers for getting people to where they need to go – specifically, women exercising their right to choose and to access the healthcare they need. We want to be clear: Drivers are never responsible for monitoring where their riders go or why. Imagine being a driver and not knowing if you are breaking the law by giving someone a ride. Similarly, riders never have to justify, or even share, where they are going and why. Imagine being a pregnant woman trying to get to a healthcare appointment and not knowing if your driver will cancel on you for fear of breaking a law. Both are completely unacceptable. This law is incompatible with people’s basic rights to privacy, our community guidelines, the spirit of rideshare, and our values as a company… Lyft stated that they would be taking action on two fronts. One: Lyft created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on Lyft’s platform. Two: TX SB8 is an attack on women’s right to choose. Lyft is donating $1 million to Planned Parenthood to help ensure that transportation is never a barrier to healthcare access. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted: “Right on @logangreen – drivers shouldn’t be put at risk for getting people where they want to go. Team @Uber is in too and will cover legal fees in the same way. Thanks for the push.” The tweet was in response to @logangreen, who pointed out what Lyft was doing to protect their drivers. Using RFRA to Exempt People from the Texas Abortion Law The Freedom From Religion Foundation has a good explanation of The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). It describes RFRA this way: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a law that allows religious people, businesses, and/or corporations to violate generally applicable laws by claiming that the laws conflict with their religious beliefs. The federal version is written “Government may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person – (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.” Many states have RFRA’s too, but those three concepts – burden, compelling governmental interest, and least restrictive means – appear in every RFRA. Freedom From Religion Foundation When I think of RFRA, I think of the debacle caused when Hobby Lobby used it to take away access to birth control coverage from its female workers. However, RFRA can actually be used for good. On September 1, 2021, The Satanic Temple tweeted: “Lawyers for The Satanic Temple (TST) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request that TST be able to access abortifacients without being subjected to the agency’s regulations. We still have Religious Liberty, and we believe in bodily autonomy. #roevswade” The tweet included screenshots that provide more details in the form of a Major Announcement titled: “The Satanic Temple Demands that FDA Grants Unrestricted Access to Abortion Drugs”. Lawyers for TST sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request that TST be able to access abortifacients without being subjected to the agency’s regulations. Normally, access to Misoprostol (a first-trimester abortifacient) requires a prescription, and Mifepristone can only be obtained through an approved prescriber and can only be dispensed in accordance with specific guidelines. However, TST has requested that we can directly supply Satanists who wish to undergo an abortion in a religious context with these abortifacients. Another part describes how this will work. …TST’s ritual requires a medical examination to determine whether there are “contraindications” to obtaining an abortion as defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the American Academy of Family Physicians. A Satanist then returns to TST with a physician’s certification that there are no contraindications. TST will directly supply the member with the abortifacients so that they may participate in the ritual. It is a very interesting use of RFRA, and I hope it will be accepted by courts. RFRA was never meant to only provide Christians with exemptions to laws. It was supposed to provide protections for people so they can engage in the practices and rituals of their religious beliefs. Pushing Back Against Texas’ Abortion Law Through the Courts Planned Parenthood obtained a temporary restraining order against Texas Right to Life, its legislative director John Seago, and anyone acting in concert with them. The temporary restraining order prevents them from suing abortion providers and health care workers at Planned Parenthood health centers in Texas under what Planned Parenthood describes as the “sue thy neighbor” part of the law. The temporary restraining order was filed by Planned Parenthood South Texas Surgical Center, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Surgical Health Services, Planned Parenthood Center for Choice, and Planned Parenthood Center for Choice abortion provider Dr. Bhavik Kumar. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, in the District Court of Travis County Texas, issued the temporary restraining order. Here is some of what the temporary restraining order said: …The Court finds that S.B. 8 creates a probable, irreparable, and imminent injury in the interim for which Plaintiffs and their physicians, staff, and patients throughout Texas have no adequate remedy at law if Plaintiffs, their physicians, and staff are subjected to private enforcement lawsuits against them under S.B. 8. Money damages are insufficient to undo the injury to Plaintiffs, their physicians, and staff if the Defendants are not enjoined from instituting private enforcement lawsuits against Plaintiff under SB8. Further, money damages would be less complete, less practical, and less efficient than injunctive relief. Conversely, the Defendants will not be harmed if the Court restrains them and anyone in concert with them from instituting private enforcement lawsuits under S.B. 8 against Plaintiffs, their physicians, and staff.Temporary Restraining Order The judge has scheduled a hearing about this on September 13, 2021. It will be done via Zoom. The temporary restraining order shall expire on September 17, 2021. Fighting by Use of Existing Legislation Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – California) posted a statement titled: “Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Shadow Ruling on Texas Reproductive Rights Case”. Here is a small portion of what she wrote: …”The Supreme Court’s cowardly, dark-of-night decision to uphold a flagrantly unconstitutional assault on women’s rights and health is staggering. That this radically partisan Court chose to do so without a full briefing, oral arguments, or providing a full, signed opinion is shameful.”……”Upon our return, the House will bring up Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine into law reproductive health for all women across America…Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi What did Speaker Pelosi mean when she wrote “Upon our return?” She was referring to the fact that the Supreme Court allowed the Texas abortion law to go into effect not only in the “dark-of-night”, but also right before Labor Day weekend. For those outside of the United States, Labor Day is a federal holiday and it is common for public officials to take that weekend off. Government offices will be closed the entire three-day weekend. The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) has already been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It can be brought to the House again. There appears to be good reason to believe this bill will pass, considering the huge amount of co-sponsors of this bill. If this bill becomes law, it would officially make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. Part of the writing in the bill states: “This Act shall take effect immediately upon the date of enactment of this Act. This Act shall apply to all restrictions of the provision of, or access to, abortion services whether the restriction are enacted or imposed prior to or after the date of enactment of this Act, except as otherwise provided in this Act”. According to Ballotpedia, the 117th Congress has 220 Democrats, 212 Republicans, and 3 vacancies. If every Democrat votes for this bill – it will pass. There’s even a bit of room in case a few Democrats decline to vote. My assumption is that every Republican will vote no. Republican legislators have a long history of trying to prevent people who have a uterus from having bodily autonomy. If it passes, it moves to the Senate. There are 48 Democrats in the Senate, 50 Republicans, and 2 Independents (who typically vote with the Democrats). Now is a good time to contact your Representatives and Senator(s) and encourage them to vote to ensure that Roe v. Wade is legally the law of the land. What if the vote comes up 50-50? TIME reported that the Constitution designates the vice president as President of the Senate. If there is a tie vote, it is the President of the Senate who will cast their vote and break the tie. At the time I am writing this blog, the Vice President of the United States is Kamala Harris (a Democrat). Vice President Kamala Harris posted a Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling on Texas Law SB8. It was posted on September 2, 2021. From the statement: Last night, the Supreme Court threatened nearly 50 years of legal precedent, dealing a significant blow to Roe v. Wade and the right of women to make decisions about their own bodies. Without a hearing or due consideration, the majority of justices effectively allowed a bounty law to go into effect in Texas and an abortion ban after about six weeks of pregnancy even in cases of rape or incest.This decision is not the last word on Roe v. Wade, and we will not stand by and allow our nation to go back to the days of back-alley abortions. We will not abide by cash incentives for virtual vigilantes and intimidation for patients. We will use every lever of our Administration to defend the right to safe and legal abortion – and to strengthen that right.Vice President Kamala Harris I put her statement in this blog to make it clear how the Vice President will decide a tie-vote. On September 2, 2021, President Joe Biden also made a statement about Texas SB8 and the Supreme Court’s overnight ruling. His statement is a bit longer than that of his Vice President’s. I’m going to include the last paragraph of President Biden’s statement because it provides a call to action. …While the Chief Justice was clear to stress that the action by the Supreme Court is not a final ruling on the future of Roe, the impact of last night’s decision will be immediate and requires an immediate response. One reason I became the first president in history to create a Gender Policy Council was to be prepared to react to such assaults on women’s rights. Hence, I am directing that Council and the Office of the White House Counsel to launch a whole-of-government effort to respond to this decision, looking specifically to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to see what steps the Federal Government can take to ensure women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions as protected by Roe, and what legal tools we have to insulate women and providers from the impact of Texas’ bizarre scheme of outsourced enforcement to private parties.President Joe Biden Texas decided to fuck around with the health of people who have a uterus. It is about time for Texas to find out. People Are Fighting Against The Texas Abortion Law is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... How to Curate Twitter To Make it BetterJuly 5, 2021MediumImage by Dsndrn-Videolar from Pixabay Have you become frustrated with Twitter? There are plenty of valid reasons to feel that way. Fortunately, there are ways to curate Twitter to make it better for you. My first experience with Twitter was back when your tweets were limited to 140 characters, and it was easy to find a group of real people who shared your interests. If I remember correctly, this was sometime in 2007-ish. At the time, I was easily able to follow and have conversations with other podcasters who used Twitter. It was nice to be part of a community who were excited by the same hobby that I was. Those days are gone. As such, I tend to find Twitter frustrating and annoying at times. What I liked best about Twitter was being able to easily interact with Tweets from my friends, but Twitter’s algorithms make me feel like I’m missing stuff I wanted to see. Content from the lists I’ve made can show up in my timeline. The entire purpose of making lists was to be able to see what those accounts post from time to time – without having it clutter up my timeline every day. In addition, I now have a personal Twitter account, and a Twitter account for one of my podcasts. Trying to retweet one into the other is complicated if I do it directly through Twitter. And… there are other reasons Twitter can be awful. In short, it seems to me that Twitter enjoys putting things that are likely to evoke strong, negative, emotion from certain groups of people, into its “What’s happening” section. This is simply not healthy because it influences people to retweet, quote tweet, like, or make a thread about the thing that made them angry. Here is how to curate Twitter to make it better Use TweetDeck TweetDeck is owned by Twitter. You can access TweetDeck through tweetdeck.com, or the Mac App Store. Twitter describes TweetDeck this way: TweetDeck offers a more convenient Twitter experience by letting you view multiple timelines in one easy interface. It includes a host of advanced features to help you get the most from Twitter: Manage multiple Twitter accounts, schedule Tweets for posting in the future, build Tweet collections, and more. I use TweetDeck because I strongly prefer its interface to that of “regular” Twitter. I love that you can modify TweetDeck to suit your needs. Here are some advantages that it offers: Everything is put into its own column: My personal account shows me Tweets from everyone I follow in chronological order. A second column shows all notifications to my personal account. Excellent tool for gathering show notes for a podcast: I can use TweetDeck to scroll through my podcast account’s feed and retweet (or comment on) the Tweets that match the topic of my podcast. Those who follow my podcast account – most if not all of whom are listeners – get an updated stream of information about the main topic of my podcast. When it is time to record a show, I can pull the relevant information I curated in the past week and talk about it on my show.Feedback from fans: My podcast account has a second column that shows likes, retweets, quote tweets, and even threads about the stuff I tweeted or retweeted. This helps fans to discuss things together, and to retweet things they found to be very interesting. It gives me clues about what to include in the show.Retweeting: from my personal account – to my podcast account (and vice-versa) is super easy if I do it through TweetDeck. All lists have their own columns: As an example, I have created a list called “Cute”. It has photos and videos of adorable cats, dogs, birds, and farm animals. Twitter accounts that I placed into that list don’t clutter up the timeline of my personal account. Putting the “Cute” list into its own column means I can stare at cute animals when I’m having a rough day. I also have a list for my favorite baseball team.No ads: TweetDeck does not include any ads. (So far, anyway). My best guess is that the interface only recognizes the accounts you chose to follow – or the ones you have put into a list. The ads on Twitter are put into people’s feed – but are not something that a person has chosen to follow. The lovely result is that using TweetDeck means you won’t see any of those ads. TweetDeck lets you add – or remove – columns whenever you want. As such, you can entirely avoid seeing the “What’s happening” selections on Twitter. Or, you can add what TweetDeck calls “Trending” as a column, quickly glance at the topics, and decide if any seem interesting to you. Be warned! Opening up one of those topics on TweetDeck will produce a “firehose” effect as the tweets added to it quickly scroll by! Those of you who use Mastodon will intuitively understand how to use Tweetdeck. Block the Twitter accounts that you don’t want to see People are diverse in their opinions. Most of the time, this is perfectly fine. For example, I have a favorite baseball team. You might also have a favorite baseball team, which is not the same as mine. That’s great! I feel no need to get into an argument over whose team is better. It isn’t that important to me. That said, there are things that I just don’t want to see on Twitter. Reporting the most vile of Tweets does not result in Twitter making any changes (at least, in my experience). We are left to curate what we see on Twitter ourselves. Here are some examples of the types of accounts I block on Twitter: “Empty” accounts: No avatar, no banner, no bio, few tweets that are often repetitive, zero followers. I assume that these are fake accounts, only there to prop up the worst possible viewpoints.Bio full of Trump hashtags: I have no interest in people who only identify themselves through a series of hashtags created by (the team of) a former President who has been permanently banned from Twitter. What happened to all the other interests they had before 2015?Guns, guns, guns: I’m not against all gun owners. Taking your gun to a place where you can shoot at a target is fine. People who hunt in order to feed their families are fine (assuming the animal targeted is in season and the hunter has all the proper permits). Those who post a pile of guns in their Twitter banner, or images of guns pointed at the viewer are troubling. It makes me think the account holder is just itching to use their gun to murder someone.Accounts of companies that sell guns: See above.QAnon: I’m not comfortable with anyone involved with this conspiracy-theory laden cult.Bullies: I don’t want to read another word (or watch any video) from people who attack marginalized people (LGBTQA+, Black people, people of color, unhoused people, immigrants, people who are disabled, or minors). Cryptocurrency accounts: I used to ignore these accounts, until cryptocurrency users started stealing other people’s artwork and putting it on the blockchain (in the hopes of making the thief rich).Misinformation about COVID: Spreading misinformation about a highly infectious virus that has killed 3,980,409 people (according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center the day I posted this blog) is dangerous. I block these types of accounts in the hopes that it will shorten their reach. Unfortunately, properly weeding all of this garbage out takes some time. The main reason I put in that time is because I absolutely do not want any of the people in those categories to be able to follow me or view my personal Twitter account. How to Curate Twitter To Make it Better is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Why I Closed My PayPal AccountJune 30, 2021MediumImage by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay PayPal allowed a scammer to fill up my email account with demands, harassment, and death threats. PayPal then decided the disputed case in favor of the scammer. As a freelance writer, I don’t need to check my email more than once a day. I am incredibly lucky to have found stable clients who are very clear about the topics and number of blog posts they want from me each month. My husband and I have a small business and we use a business PayPal account to send out invoices and receive payment for completed work. For reasons I don’t remember, I set up a personal PayPal.me account. At the time, it seemed like something I could attach to my personal blog and link to on my social media. There have been a couple of times when someone I knew sent me some money (and I am very grateful that they did). Unfortunately, the majority of the people who have sent me money through my PayPal.me have been problematic. All of them were strangers to me, and some of them gave me no indication about why they sent me money. In November of 2020, a stranger sent me $45.00. PayPal charged me $1.61 cents, and put $43.39 into my PayPal account. The stranger then tried to get a refund on the $45.00, but could not, because PayPal didn’t actually give me $45.00. The only way to resolve this problem was to put just enough money into my PayPal account so PayPal could give $45.00 to the stranger. At the time, I thought this was very suspicious. There was nothing I could do to change what happened. Maybe this was just a mistake on the stranger’s part? In December of 2020, a woman (who was also a stranger) sent me $0.01 in PayPal. I got an email notification from PayPal stating that someone sent me $0.01. PayPal, of course, took the $0.01 as its fee. Why would someone send me one cent? The woman left me a note on PayPal. In short, she previously sent me $90, but that was a mistake. She was trying to pay for a class, and confused me with the woman who would be teaching the class. The woman who sent me $90 said she tried to find a way to contact me on my blog or through email, but couldn’t find a way to do that. So, she asked PayPay to refund this payment. So far, the woman said, PayPal had denied the refund. The $0.01 donation appeared to be her way of trying to reach me and explain herself. I was somewhat suspicious about this. PayPal described the woman as “confirmed”, and that was enough to make me believe that she wasn’t trying to scam me. The reason why PayPal didn’t immediately refund the $90 she sent was because I no longer had $90 in my account. PayPal took a fee from it before giving me the rest. Once again, I had to put additional money into my PayPal account to fix a PayPal problem. After making sure I had $90 in my account, I figured PayPal would be able to refund the woman’s money. Instead, PayPal charged me a dispute fee of $15.00 – which meant I had to put an additional $15.00 into my PayPal account so PayPal could send the full $90 to the woman. You can probably see why I was becoming frustrated with PayPal. I was not the person who caused these problems, and PayPal didn’t seem to feel the need to prevent this sort of thing from happening over and over again. Recently, I checked my email only to find it filled with angry posts from yet another stranger. There were several unique things about this man’s behavior that made it clear he was trouble. The first email came from PayPal, telling me that that someone sent me $740. (For the purpose of this blog post, I’m going to refer to this person as “Juan”). There was a brief message from “Juan”, in Spanish, letting me know that this was from “Juan”. The email from PayPal noted that it took $21.76 as a fee, leaving me with $718.24. PayPal posted “Juan’s” shipping address at the bottom of that email. It said he lived somewhere in Puerto Rico. Personally, I think it is kind of gross that PayPal sent me his address. I certainly don’t need it or want it! My hope is that PayPal didn’t give “Juan” my address. (Honestly, I’m not sure I ever gave PayPal my address.) Shortly after that, PayPal sent me another email titled: “$740.00 USD from “Juan” is temporarily on hold”. The email included a brief description of what happened: “We’ve placed the money on hold because this transaction is inconsistent with your previous selling activity. The money has been added to your on hold balance. It’ll be available once we can confirm that your customer has received the goods or services.” This caught my attention because I don’t sell anything through my PayPal account. I mainly use it to send money to friends that need help with medical bills, or to websites that I enjoy and want to support. There are no goods or services connected to my PayPal account, so why did PayPal think I failed to send “the goods or services” to “Juan”? Naturally, I logged into my PayPal account (in a separate browser, just in case the PayPal emails were a phishing attempt). PayPal was, in fact, holding the $740.00 that “Juan” sent. The money never made it into my account. PayPal sent me another email titled: “There’s an issue with a recent transaction”. PayPal wrote “We recently notified you that a payment you received was made without the account holder’s permission or was the result of a transaction error”. In short, PayPal wanted me to log in and sort this out for them. PayPal sent a second email (on the same day as the previous ones). This one was about a case PayPal had opened against me. Apparently, PayPal needed me to immediately resolve this problem for them. Here is part of what the email said: “Your buyer filed a claim. The buyer stated that they did not make this purchase. Please help us to resolve this issue by logging into your Resolution Center and providing us with any information that can assist us with our investigation. “Your participation is essential to the claims process. If we don’t receive a response from you before June 4, 2021, this case will be closed and decided in your buyer’s favor. “Please understand that until our review is complete, we will hold any funds associated with this transaction.” The email also said that “Juan” has requested a refund of $740.00 USD. “If you agree to this request, the case will be closed once the refund has been processed.” The next day, PayPal sent me a copy of the previous email they sent. Within less then 24 hours, I suddenly had PayPal bothering me about something that I had nothing to do with. My husband helped me out by logging into my PayPal for me and writing PayPal a note on my behalf. By this point, I was way too frustrated with PayPal to be nice about it. I have absolutely no idea who “Juan” is, and neither does PayPal – and yet, PayPal wants me to solve this problem by paying the scammer. I’ve no intention of doing so for two reasons. One, I did not cause this problem, “Juan” did (and PayPal apparently has already decided that this is my problem to solve, when it is really their problem to solve.) Two, PayPal already took a fee from the $740.00 “Juan” the scammer sent me – and then withheld the funding from my account. This makes it impossible for me to simply refund the money (which, again, I am not inclined to do). “I’ve made no agreement with this buyer. I’ve received no money from this buyer. I don’t know anything else about this transaction,” my husband wrote on my behalf. Immediately after sending that (and with my permission) my husband pulled the $1.94 cents that was in my PayPal account out of there. What follows is a summary of the multitude of emails that I got from “Juan”: Email 1: (May 25) Hello Email 2: (May 25) Hey please send me money back! Email 3: (May 25) Hello I need my money!!, dammmm Email 4: (May 25) I send money I sent money by mistake, you give it back please Email 5: (May 25) (attached to Email 4) Omg Where is my money!! Email 6: (May 25) (also attached to Email 4) Send my money back jesus !! Email 7: (May 25) Woowww Email 8: (May 25) Dam send me money!! Email 9: (May 25) Me money please Email 10: (May 25): me dinero !! Email 11: (May 25): This was written in Spansh, and translates to “You must burn alive and suffer motherfucker” Email 12: (May 25) This was also written in Spanish and translates to “I your whole family burned to death !! For the drone to suffer a lot of burns !!” Email 13 : (May 26) An email was sent to me by Wayra Peru Travel EIRL. The tone has changed significantly from the previous emails from “Juan”. My best guess is he sent these two emails from his work account, and didn’t want to be fired for making death threats. Dear Jean! Here Imma from Peru! Iam tour guide! So I don’t have job. Now I have My passenger from Puerto Rico They Make the transference today Please!!! My money was transferred to you because of the mistake of Pay Pal, they transferred it to the wrong person, to you, instead of me. the total 740$ Please can You Make back this transference to PayPal one of the guys writed You to please Email 14: (May 26) (attached to email 13) please iam weiting news from you. After my husband responded, in my behalf, to PayPal, I got another email from PayPal. This one as titled: “We’ve sent your response”. Thank you for providing a response to the case “Juan” filed against you. “We are reviewing the facts of the case and will carefully consider all the material before making a decision. We will let you know if we need additional information from you, and will contact you when a decision has been reached. “Please understand that until our review is complete, we will hold any funds associated with this transaction.” In frustration, I posted a little bit about what had happened on a social media account where I have a private account. I also made a small post on a social media account that is not private, asking people who use Ko-fi if they like it better than PayPal. There is no doubt in my mind that it’s time for me to leave PayPal. One of the things that helped keep me sane as I tried to sort out this PayPal problem that “Juan” created was the ability to talk to my best friend about the situation. She reached out to me, and helped me to understand that “Juan” was very likely a scammer. She pointed out that he was trying to push me into sending him the $740.00 as fast as possible – before the owner of whatever stolen credit card “Juan” used figured out what happened and closed that card’s account. At the time I started writing this blog post, it had been approximately 24 hours since PayPal has sent me an email. “Juan” stopped sending me email about nineteen hours ago (from what I figure is his work account.) I noticed that the work email had links to Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr. Just for fun, I did a search on Instagram (in a different browser window) for the name of the travel company. It exists, and is a private account. Typically, travel business accounts want to be as open as possible in order to attract customers. But, this one is private, which makes me very suspicious of “Juan”, especially since the Instagram account is supposedly a travel company. There is also a second Instagram account with a similar name – and zero posts. My hope was that PayPal would resolve this issue, based on all the information it had access to and the information my husband and I gave it. This is the first time PayPal held money from me – which I think is a good indication that they know “Juan” is a scammer. On May 27, I got an email from PayPal. It was titled: “You’ve got a money request”. This was a legitimate email from PayPal, which “Juan” was abusing. The money request was titled: “Juan” sent you a money request.” Note from “Juan”: Me dinero. He is again demanding that I sent him $740, which I have absolutely no means of doing. PayPal never gave me access to that money. PayPal took a fee anyway, so even if PayPal decided this mess “Juan’s” favor, I still wouldn’t have $740 to send to “Juan”. On May 30, PayPal sent me an email titled: “Status Update”. The most relevant part said: “We’re in the process of reviewing this case and have requested additional information from your buyer. We’ll let you know if we need any additional information.” When I logged into PayPal, it showed that I have “1 bill that needs to be paid”. But, PayPay told me they would let me know if they needed any additional information. As such, I’m not going to do anything at all. On June 2, I got another email from PayPal. It was titled: “You’ve got money”. My first thought was “Oh, no, not again!” I have reached the point where a PayPal email – announcing someone sent me money – causes me anxiety. Was this another email from “Juan”? With reluctance, I opened the email from PayPal. It wasn’t from “Juan”. This was a new stranger. I will call him “Fred” (which is not his name.) “Fred” sent me $80.00. PayPal took a fee of $2.62. There was a second email from PayPal waiting for me. This one was titled: “You’ve received a new case.” This has become a pattern. PayPal wrote that “Fred” sent me a message regarding the following issue with this order: “The buyer stated that they never received the item. Here is the buyer’s message to you:” “I sent the payment to the wrong person by mistake”. My husband logged into my PayPal on my behalf to fix this problem. When “Fred” asked for their money back, PayPal put the money on hold. My husband sent “Fred” a refund that was less than $80.00 (because PayPal took a fee of $2.62). In short, we had to let PayPal take the $2.62 from our bank account. In addition, my husband canceled “Juan’s” most recent money request. As a result, “Juan” immediately sent another money request. Half of the message from “Juan” was in Spanish, and half in English. The Spanish part translates to: “My money thief !! Scammer !!” The English part said: “Back my money !! Thief” My husband, on my behalf, logged into PayPal Customer Service. He sent them the following message (with unintentional typos in it). “I need to close my account to income payments permanently. I have received a number of payments recently where the buyer claims they sent me the money by accident. When I refund them, I wind up having to pay the refund fees, which means I’m losing money. I can’t currently close my PayPal account because one of these transactions is outstanding. I DO NOT want to be able to receive PayPal payments any longer, starting today.” While my husband was sending that message, I was posting things about this PayPal fiasco on social media. Overall, I was wondering how many other people had endured the same problems I had been having. On Twitter, I posted: “Out of curiosity… have any of you accidentally sent the wrong person money on PayPal? I keep getting money sent to me by strangers who claim that the money was sent to the wrong person. I think it is a scam – that @PayPal isn’t doing anything about.” I got a response from PayPal support: “Hi there, thank you for reaching out to PayPal. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. We understand that you have concerns regarding the payments you’re receiving to your PayPal account. Please send us a Direct Message with your details.” My husband had already sent PayPal a message – so I decided not to send a duplicate one to the PayPal Support Twitter account. My best friend added to this conversation on Twitter, tagging both me and PayPal. In short, she posted links that clarified that the “I sent you money by accident” thing is a scam. One link was from the Better Business Bureau and about this scam happening on Venmo. The other link was to PayPal itself, where PayPal listed explanations of several common scams. One is called “Overpayment Scam“. It isn’t exactly what I’ve been experiencing – but has some similarities to it. The “Overpayment Scam” is when a customer sends a PayPal payment that is more than the purchase price of the order and then asks you to wire them the difference. They may tell you that they accidentally overpaid you, the extra money is for the shipping costs, they’re giving you a bonus for your service, or the money is for the stress they’ve caused you. They may ask you to wire the shipping fees to their shipper. This scammer may have paid with a stolen credit card, bank account number, or checking account. PayPay states: Just because a payment has been deposited into your account, doesn’t mean the money is yours to keep. If the legitimate account holder reports unauthorized activity, the money can be withdrawn from your account. If that happens, you’ll lose the money you wired to the fraudster, the product you shipped, shipping costs, and your payment. On another social media site, I created a poll for people to answer. The question was: “Have you ever accidentally sent money to the wrong person on PayPal?” The choices were: Yes, I have done thatNo, I have never done thatwant to see results Almost immediately, the majority of responders selected “No, I have never done that”. Very few people selected “Yes, I have done that”. One person who picked “Yes” explained that they accidentally sent money to a PayPal account that had a very similar name to the person they were trying to send money to. Luckily, it turned out that the account was a second account of the person they were trying to send money to. On June 3, 2021, I got another email from PayPal. It was titled: “New Messages are waiting for you”. It directed me to find the messages in PayPal’s Message Center. At this point, my husband was logging in for me while I was standing next to him so I could see the PayPal message on his computer. It was less time consuming than if I logged in and tried to explain it to him. The message said: “We will start closing your account for as long as the dispute is already closed. Thank you for providing us information to help resolve your claim. I’ve added notes to the claim and it’s been escalated for final review. We will work as quickly as possible to resolve your claim and once resolved, we will notify you via email to provide you with an update regarding the status of your case – Michael” A little while later, PayPal sent me a second email. This one was titled: “There’s an issue with a recent transaction.” “We recently notified you that a payment you received was made without the account holder’s permission or was the result of a transaction error.” “This transaction is eligible for Seller Protection. To help resolve this issue, log into your PayPal account within the next 10 days and respond to our request for information in your Resolution Center. If you’ve already shipped the merchandise, let us know which shipping company you used, and provide the tracking number. We’ve placed a temporary hold on this transaction while we review it. We’re reviewing this case and will contact you if we need more information.” I was immediately sent a third email from PayPal. “We’ve received new information on the case from your buyer”. The information was from, of course, “Juan”. “Your buyer has changed the reason for this case. The buyer stated that they did not make this purchase. If you have any supporting documentation to help us resolve this case, please log in to your PayPal account and send it to us through our Resolution Center within 10 days. Thank you for your patience during this process. We appreciate your business.” Here are the options that PayPal offers “sellers” after a “buyer” opens a case: The first option is: “I’ve already shipped the product or provided the service.” I cannot pick that one because I never sold “Juan” anything at all whatsoever. He just randomly appeared one day and started harassing me. The second option is: “I’ve already issued a refund.” That is simply not true. PayPal has held the majority of the $740 that “Juan” sent me – after charging me a fee. The third option is: “I’ll issue a refund to my customer and close this case.” This really isn’t a reasonable option at all. Clearly, PayPal values the word of random scammers over the people the scammer targeted. My husband and I are stuck paying $740 to “Juan”. Not sure how that’s going to work, since PayPal has been holding the money – minus PayPal’s fee – since this whole mess started. My husband and I decided to take the third option. It’s not a good option at all for people like me who have been targeted by a scammer. We clicked the button, and a new pop-up appeared: It says: “Refund the sender”. “This amount will be refunded to the buyer and the case will be closed. The item will be retained by the buyer. Total refund: $740.00 USD.” Between “Juan” and “Fred”, we now owe PayPal a total of $2.62 to “Fred” and $21.76 to “Juan”. PayPal earned $24.38 off of me so far, for two problems that I did not create or cause. My best guess is that PayPal is waiting for my bank to hand $21.76 to PayPal – even though PayPal already took it as fees. It feels like we just helped a scammer launder money through PayPal. Shortly after that, I got another email from PayPal, titled: “You’ve got a money request.” It was yet another note from “Juan”. He wrote: “My money back !! Please !! Is my 740!!”. Five minutes later, PayPal sent me another email. This one was titled: “Reminder: You’ve still got a money request.” It was the exact same message from “Juan”. Hours later, I got yet another email from PayPal titled: “You’ve got money”. There was a time, long ago, when seeing this title on a PayPal email would bring me joy. Now, it makes me extremely anxious. A stranger sent me $1.00. PayPay took a fee of $0.33. PayPal is garbage. While waiting for PayPal to release me from my torment – I decided to get on Instagram for the purpose of downloading my content. I’d done this before, but lost it. My goal was to make sure I had a copy of everything I put on Instagram so I could close my account. To its credit, Instagram made it very easy for me to download what I needed. Instagram pointed out that I had a follow request (or whatever Insta calls that.) It just so happened to be from one of the two very questionable travel accounts that claim to be located in Peru. One of those accounts is private. The other has no photos. I think it was the second one that tried to friend me. It could not immediately do so because my account is private. It’s been private for years. Fortunately, the decision to make my Instagram account private prevented what might very well be “Juan” from harassing me on Insta. In the meantime, I started ripping out all the PayPal links on my blog and replacing them with Ko-fi links. On June 4, 2021, two brand new emails from PayPal appeared. In short, “Juan”, once again, abused PayPal’s automated system in order make a new claim. Previously, PayPal informed me: “Your buyer has changed the reason for this case. The buyer stated that they did not make this purchase.” Today, “Juan” has filed a new claim. The email from PayPal states: “Your buyer has changed the reason for this case. The buyer stated that they never received the item.” “Juan” is now claiming that he did not make this purchase and that he never received the item. I’m beginning to think that Schrödinger’s cat has stolen “Juan’s” nonexistent item that he did not purchase but still expected to receive. Oh, and let’s not forget that I never sold anything at all to “Juan”. Perhaps the cat has taken up work at PayPal. My husband and I have already used PayPal’s automated forms to tell the company to pay “Juan” – which apparently we cannot do, because PayPal is holding the majority of the money “Juan” sent (minus PayPal’s fee). This entire situation is enraging, and exhausting. I cannot decide if I want to cry, or just start drinking. I am Schrödinger’s cat’s ennui. On June 4, 2021, My husband responded to PayPal on my behalf. This was a good decision, as I am far beyond having any kind words for PayPal. He used the PayPal message center to attempt to contact a human. Unfortunately, the entire thing appears to be automated. PayPal automated bot: Hi, I’m the PayPal Assistant. How can I help? Choose one of these options or add your question below. My husband: I need to close my account to income payments permanently. I have received a number of payments recently where the buyer hen claims they sent me money by accident. When I refund them, I wind up having to pay the refund fees, which means I’m losing money. I can’t currently close my PayPal account because one of these transactions is outstanding. I DO NOT want to be able to receive PayPal payments any longer, starting today. PayPal automated bot: Do you need help with a pending payment? My husband: No PayPal automated bot: I found some articles in our Help Center that might help you. Check them out! If you need more help, please rephrase your question or type “need more help”. How do I send money?How do I issue a full or partial refund?How do I issue a refund using PayPal Here? My husband: these links are not helpful. PayPal automated bot: Would you like to send this conversation to a customer support agent? We typically respond within a few hours. My husband: Yes PayPal automated bot: If you haven’t already, let us know why you’re contacting us. Feel free to step away and we’ll notify you by email or push notification when we’ve responded. My husband: I need to close my account to income payments permanently. I have received a number of payments recently where the buyer hen claims they sent me money by accident. When I refund them I wind up having to pay the refund fees, which means I’m losing money. I can’t currently close my PayPal account because one of these transactions is outstanding. I DO NOT want to be able to receive PayPal payments any longer, starting today. Michael: We will start closing your account for as long as the dispute is already closed. Thank you for providing us information to help resolve your claim. I’ve added notes to the claim and it’s been escalated for final review. We will work as quickly as possible to resolve your claim and once resolved, we will notify you via email to provide you an update regarding the status of your case. On June 5, PayPal sent me another email. “New messages are waiting for you.” It directed me to find the messages in PayPal’s Message Center. There was a second email from PayPal. This was was titled: “Congrats!” You’ve received a $5.00 USD Reward. This reward will automatically be applied to your next eligible purchase when you checkout with PayPal. Once redeemed, your Reward will be reflected on your PayPal receipt or in your PayPal transaction details. Thanks again for being a great PayPal customer. My first thought was that this was a phishing email. There was absolutely no way that I was going to click on anything in that email! Instead, I logged into the PayPal website and looked at the Message Center. There was a banner at the top of the outward-facing PayPal website – advertising $5.00 for PayPal users. It was real! The timing of this was absolutely terrible. I absolutely did not want any money from PayPal. I chose to ignore this offer. On June 6, 2021, PayPal sent me another email. This one was titled: “We’ve sent your response”. Thank you for providing a response to the case “Juan” filed against you. We are reviewing the facts of the case and will carefully consider all the material before making a decision. We will let you know if we need additional information from you, and will contact you when a decision has been made. On June 7, 2021, my husband, on my behalf, once again had to log into my PayPal account (with my permission) to try and get this issue resolved. As before, he got stuck trying to sort this out with an automated bot. PayPal automated bot: Hi, I’m the PayPal Assistant. How can I help? Choose one of these options or add your question below.” My husband: Dispute Status PayPal automated bot: Great! Please select your dispute from the list below: My husband: PayPal automated bot: We are waiting on additional information from you to proceed with the review of this claim. Please respond by. To respond: Go to the Resolution CenterClick Respond in the Action column next to your claim.Select how you would like to respond PayPal automated bot: Are you looking to upload additional information to support your case? My husband: Yes PayPal automated bot: Sure. Please click on this link to upload additional documents. PayPal automated bot: Did this help resolve the issue or question you had? My husband: No, I need more help PayPal automated bot: Would you like to send this conversation to a customer support agent? We typically respond within a few hours. My husband: Yes PayPal automated bot: If you haven’t already, let us know why you’re contacting us. Feel free to step away and we’ll notify you by email or push notification when we’ve responded. My husband: PayPal has asked me to provide a response but I’m unsure what to do. Note: I am putting “buyer” within quote marks in this message because “buyer” is the term PayPal prefers to use for someone who sends me. I never agreed to actual sell the “buyer” anything. If PayPal has an actual payment from the “buyer,” then please just refund that payment. If PayPal doesn’t have a payment from the “buyer,” then the transaction should be canceled. I never entered into an agreement with the “buyer.” The “buyer” claims they sent a payment to me and then immediately disputed the payment with PayPal. Is the “buyer” attempting to run some sort of scam? Again, I never made an agreement with them. I never even heard of them before they allegedly sent a payment to me. If PayPal is releasing an actual payment from the “buyer,” it’s fine to just refund that to them. But this payment was sent to me in error. I do not want to have to pay refund or other fees on this transaction. If PayPal never actually received funds from the “buyer,” they are likely committing fraud and trying to get me to “refund” them money they are not owed. Again: I never agreed to any transaction with this “buyer.” If they did in fact send me a payment before disputing it, that was their mistake. Since the original dispute was filed, I have received numerous abusive/harassing e-mails from the “buyer.” The “buyer” has also sent multiple payment requests outside of the original disputed transaction. Each time I have canceled these fraudulent requests, the “buyer” just sends another one. Once again, to be abundantly clear: if PayPal is holding an actual payment from the “buyer,” please just give it back to them. If no actual funds were received from the “buyer,” then PayPal should cancel the transaction and investigate it as fraud. I NEVER ENTERED INTO ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH THE “BUYER.” Please resolve this issue as quickly as possible. The constant stream of abuse from the “buyer” is very stressful to deal with, especially when NONE OF THIS IS MY FAULT. I received a random payment from someone who made a mistake or is actively committing fraud. Please take care of this as soon as possible. That message was sent by my husband at 12:32 PM. We got a message from a customer support agent at 5:43 AM on June 8, 2021. It was sent by Manuelito. Hi Jennifer you’ve reach Jay from PayPal Messaging and I will be assisting you today. I was able to check your case here on our system and in order for us to help you win this case you can upload a tracking number or send it here on this conversation also the proof of shipment will use as your supporting document. If you’re still communicating with the seller and have not escalated your dispute to a claim, go to the Resolution Center and check for any new dispute messages: Go to the Resolution Center.Select Open Cases from the list and choose the claim you want to check.Click View in the Action column. You’ll see the next steps for your case under “What happens next.” If we’re already reviewing your claim, you’ll see an estimated resolution date. “If you can’t find your claim: Select All Closed Cases from the View list.Click the Case ID to check its status. As I can see here that you’ve been with PayPal since 2004 and as a Loyal customer I can give you a credit voucher amounting of $5 so you can use it for online purchase and it will show up automatically while you on the checkout page and this voucher is for with all the details. Feel free to visit us to our web page at www.paypal.com/smarthelp and don’t hesitate to ask any information that you need. I am glad that I was able to resolve your concern and we appreciate doing business with you. Rest assured your account is safe and secured in PayPal. Again, my name is Jay. You may now click the “end message” or if you are able to see the “X” button please click the button. So far, we have heard from Michael, and Jay (via Manuelito). Obviously the request for a tracking number, and proof of shipment, for an item “Juan” NEVER purchased from me – an item that does not exist – is impossible. There is no item. There was never an agreement for me to send any item to “Juan”. Clearly, PayPal values the word of scammers over innocent people like me (whom PayPal described as a “Loyal customer”.) On June 9, 2021, my husband took the remaining money out of my PayPal account. There is a “friends and family” thing on PayPal which enables someone to send money to a friend or family member without incurring a fee from PayPal. This seemed the safest option. PayPal sent me an email notifying me about this transaction. Several hours later, I got a second email from PayPal informing me that my eCheck payment cleared. On June 10, 2021, there was another message in my PayPal Message Center. It was from a customer service person named Monica. She was responding to a question my husband sent on my behalf. The question was: “How do I close my PayPal account?” Here is part of her message to me: It was great talking to you today. As mentioned during our conversation, here is the additional information we discussed. If there’s a chance that you might want to use PayPal in the future, it’s a good idea to keep your account open. There’s no fee to keep your account open. What followed was a list of instructions about the steps one should take if they want to close their PayPal account. I would like to point out that Monica’s statement: “There’s no fee to keep your account open.” is a lie. I’ve been getting hit with fee, after fee, after fee. I’m trying to close my account before I get hit with more random fees. Later on June 10, 2021, I got a terrible email from PayPal. This one was titled: “Case Decided”. It said: We’ve completed our review of this case and decided in favor of your buyer. The buyer stated they never received the item, and the proof of delivery details could not be verified…. We refunded $740.00 USD to the buyer We have charged you a Dispute Fee of $15.00 USD, since your account was categorized into Standard Dispute Fee tier when it was filed. For more details about the Dispute Fee, please see our User Agreement. My interpretation of this is that PayPal intentionally makes it impossible for the “seller” – whose “buyer” didn’t actually purchase anything at all – to win a case. All the options PayPal gave me to fight “Juan’s” scammy claims were impossible. There was never an option for me (or my husband on my behalf) to connect with a real person at PayPal. The automated options are all in favor of buyers – and scammers like “Juan” have learned how to use it to their benefit. As such, he will probably repeat this con over and over again. PayPal enables scammers. I honestly feel like I’ve been used by this scammer to launder his stolen money through PayPal. On June 10, 2021, my husband put $36.76 back into my PayPal account. It covered the $15.00 Dispute fee that PayPal imposed upon us. It also covered the $21.72 cut that PayPal took from “Juan’s” $740.00 – preventing us from just sending it back to him ourselves. Two fees on the same transaction. The phrase “double dipping” comes to mind. Also on June 10, 2021, PayPal sent me an email titled: “How to avoid cases”. I had absolutely no need for this email, considering that I had already decided I wanted to close my PayPal account. Doing so will entirely avoid all possible cases! Here is some of the information from that email: Tips for fewer cases and smoother business. Help keep customers happy and your business running smoothly. Try these methods to help prevent cases from being filed in the first place. Communicate openlyBe detailed and accurateStay proactive There a short paragraph underneath each of those headers, but none of it applied to me. For whatever reason, PayPal has decided that I was a “Seller”. I’ve never sold anything through PayPal. At most, I was attempting to use PayPal the way most people would use Ko-fi – as a “Tip Jar”. I’ve never sold anything through PayPal, and I don’t make any physical products that could be shipped out. On June 11, 2021. I got a series of emails from PayPal. What spawned this set of emails was my husband, who on my behalf, attempted once again to get PayPal to close my account. PayPal automated bot: Hi, I’m the PayPal Assistant. How can I help? Choose one of these options or add your question below. My husband: Close Account. PayPal automated bot: We’re sorry to hear that you’re thinking about closing your account. There’s no fee to keep your account open so if there’s a chance that you might want to use our service in the future, it’s a good idea to keep your account open. PayPal automated bot: If you’ve considered the above and still wish to close your account, please choose one of the options below: My husband: I’m having trouble closing my account. PayPal automated bot: You have 1 issue prevent you from closing your account. PayPal automated bot: The account cannot be closed at this time due to one or more open cases on your account. This can be due to a dispute claim, chargeback or other type of investigation currently open on a transaction. Once all open cases are resolved, you may attempt closing your account again. PayPal automated bot: Did this help resolve the issue or question you had? My husband: No, I need more help. PayPal automated bot: Would you like to send this conversation to a customer support agent? We typically respond within a few hours. My husband: Yes PayPal automated bot: If you haven’t already, let us know why you’re contacting us. Feel free to step away and we’ll notify you by email or push notification when we’ve responded. My husband: I would like to permanently close my PayPal account. I’m being told I can’t close the account due to an open case. Ther are no open cases on the account. Please just close the account as soon as possible. At 10:26 PM on June 11, 2021, a customer support agent name Monica responded: Welcome to PayPal messaging! My name is Monica and I’ll be assisting you with account closure. We’re sorry to hear your thinking about closing your PayPal account. There is one case that is preventing us to close the account. No worries I will closely monitor the account and manually close it for you after 10 days. Please note that once we closed the account we cannot undone the account closure. If you have no further questions, please close this conversation. You can close the conversation by selecting End Conversation or by clicking the “X”. If you respond to this message, another agent will follow up with you. My husband: Hi Monica, During the 10 day period before the account can be closed, is it possible to block my account from receiving incoming payments? The problem I have with PayPal is I keep getting “accidental” payments from people who then dispute the payments and I get charged fees. I don’t want to deal with that again, which is why I want to close the account. At 8:12 AM on June 11, 2021, Annaliza responded: To assist you further, I’m transferring this message to our Dispute and Claims Department, so please do not end this session yet. They’ll review our previous conversation and get back to you. The response may not be immediate, but you’ll get a notification via email, App and within your PayPal account as soon as they reply. If you have further questions or concern, you can always visit our resolution center at and help center at . It’s my pleasure helping you out today. Again, my name is Anna Thank you for contacting PayPal and for being a valued customer. If you have no further questions, please close this conversation. You can close the conversation by selecting End Conversation or by clicking the “X. Maybe I was right, PayPal has been taken over by Schrödinger’s cat after all! The case has been settled – and has not been settled -at the same time. Annaliza told us “please do not end this session yet” – and then gave us instructions on how to End Conversation. At 11:39 AM on June 11, 2021, Wilma responded: I apologize for the inconvenience caused. That’s certainly not the type of experience we would like you to have. No worries. I’d be glad to check into your account. As I review on the dispute case, the seller responded as the seller said that your query is resolve. This is very confusing. So far, PayPal has been identifying me as the seller. What exactly was Wilma looking at? Did she somehow confuse who was the buyer and who was the seller? It is possible that Wilma,and the other PayPal customer support agents, do not have English as a first language? This might explain why PayPal entirely prevents people from connecting with a real human being. It also explains some of the confusing word choices made by the customer support agents. Was Wilma trying to tell me that I – the seller – had responded to “Juan’s” dispute? I didn’t have the option of responding directly to “Juan”. Maybe she thinks that by paying “Juan” – under duress from PayPal – was my “the seller’s” response? Wilma also said something that kind of sounds like the case is resolved. Does this mean I can close my PayPal account now? I have absolutely no idea. Wilma gave us instructions on how to close a dispute: On the top right, click Resolution Center.Click View next to the dispute you want to close.Click Close this dispute. A dispute will automatically close if it is not resolved or escalated within 20 calendar days.Let the seller know why you’re closing the dispute, then click Close dispute. Tips: Remember that once you close a dispute, it can’t be re-opened or escalated to a claim.If the seller agrees to refund your money or ships your item, don’t close the dispute until the money is in your PayPal account or you’ve received the item because you cannot re-open a dispute. Once the case is close, you can now closed your account. Wilma then repeated pretty much the same information that Annaliza mentioned about selecting End Message or clicking the “X”. All that was left to do was wait. My assumption was that PayPal would close “Juan’s” case – and perhaps notify me that this awful experience was finally over. But, that didn’t happen. PayPal, which has sent me frequent (and unwanted) emails …. was suddenly silent. I logged into PayPal a few times just to check on things. My husband had already removed all the money from the account. No scammers had found me since the “Juan” problem got resolved. My hope was to kill my PayPal account before any new nefarious people found it – and attempted to launder money through it. In the meantime, as I mentioned, I continued to rip out more PayPal links from my blog and replaced them with Ko-fi links. My thought was that scammers would no longer be able to cause me harm through PayPal if they couldn’t find a link that would lead them to it. On June 30, 2021, I asked my husband to log into my PayPal account in the hopes that we could close it. I am absolutely delighted to report that PayPal allowed us to close my account! I will never have to deal with a PayPal scammer ever again! You might think that when a person closes a PayPal account it means PayPal simply closes the account. Not so! It turns out that if you have money in your account, PayPal will take a check processing fee of $1.50. PayPal pointed out: “If your balance is the equivalent of $1.50 or less, you will not receive a check.” It was smart of us to remove all the money from my PayPal account before closing it. No money? No fee! PayPal makes people fill out a “Reason for closing account” survey. You can choose up to three reasons why you wanted to close your account. We only needed one: “Fees are too high.” Filling out the survey spawns another thing that must be filled out. PayPal asks for a comment. Please enter thoughts or concerns about the PayPal service. A box was provided for that information. My husband posted (on my behalf) “Tired of having to pay refund and dispute fees on payments that were sent to me accidentally.” It’s not over yet! PayPal starts what I consider to be an automated version of gaslighting. The automated system tries to make you reconsider closing your PayPal account. Do you want to close your account? It’s free to send money with PayPal personal accounts. For business and premier accounts, fees are applied when you accept a payment. If you don’t receive money, you don’t pay a penny. There is a link to a “fees calculator”. I noticed that it says fees – plural – not fee – singular. This might be the only time PayPal has been somewhat honest about its intent to charge people fee, after fee, after fee! There are two options at the bottom of this section: “Continue” or “Cancel”. Of course, my husband (on my behalf) chose “Continue”. Doing so, of course, resulted in more gaslighting from PayPal’s automated process. Contact us. Your satisfaction and continued use of our service is important to us. Please contact us to discuss and resolve any account concerns that you may have. If you wish, you can still choose to close your account by clicking Confirm. It dawns on me that PayPal acts like an abusive partner. It allowed strangers to harass me, and did nothing to stop it. PayPal blames me for the stranger’s action – knowing I did nothing to cause it. PayPal takes a fee from the amount of money the stranger sent – before I ever see it. Then, when the stranger asks for the money back – I have to give PayPal more money to make up for what PayPal grabbed away without my permission. After all of that frustration, PayPal has the audacity to make me pay dispute fees every time this problem happens. When PayPal finally understood that I was going to leave it – right now – and never come back… It suddenly attempts to cajole me back in. It asks why I want to leave. Then, it makes me explain why I want to leave. It tries to convince me that its repetitive abuse (fee after fee) is acceptable, in the hopes I won’t leave. Finally, it posts a response that is a lie. “Please contact us to discuss and resolve any account concerns you may have.” My husband and I have tried to do that – several times – only to be given the runaround or ignored. But, it wants me to believe that this time will be different. “If you wish, you can still choose to close your account by clicking confirm“. Again, this is a form of gaslighting. PayPal is trying to make me think that I am the one who did something wrong, and trying to guilt me into staying. This is abuse. My husband, (on my behalf) clicked the Confirm button, closing my account, and ending connection to PayPal. Unfortunately, things weren’t entirely over. My account was closed, but PayPal, like a jilted ex-lover, decided to immediately send me email. This email had three parts, each connected to the previous one. Oddly enough, there was no specific mention in the email that stated that my account had been closed. Instead, the three-emails-in-one informed me that I would no longer have access to three things that I apparently had connected my PayPal to in the past. One was to a Patreon account I closed a long time ago. The other two seemed random. If there is a “takeaway” from this long, frustrating, experience, it is this: Don’t use PayPal. Why I Closed My PayPal Account is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... NRA Drops Lawsuit Against Attorney General JamesJune 13, 2021MediumPhoto by Richard Dykes on Unsplash There has been an ongoing struggle between the National Rifle Association (NRA) and New York’s Attorney General Leticia James. Recently, the NRA dropped their lawsuit against her. According to The Hill, the NRA said in a court filing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York that it is “voluntarily” withdrawing its lawsuit against Attorney General James. The court filing (dated June 4, 2021) is titled: “National Rifle Association of America’s Notice of Voluntary Dismissal”. It says very little. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i), Plaintiff the National Rifle Association gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to the NRA’s voluntary dismissal in a press release titled “Attorney General James Responds to NRA Dropping Countersuit”. From the press release: The NRA dropping its countersuit today in federal court is an implicit admission that their strategy would never prevail. The truth is that Wayne LaPierre and his lieutenants used the NRA as a breeding ground for personal gain and a lavish lifestyle. We were victorious against the organization’s attempt to declare bankruptcy, and our fight for transparency and accountability will continue because no one is above the law. Unfortunately, this probably will not be the end of the NRA’s attempts to file questionable cases in an effort to avoid facing the consequences of its actions. A Little Background On May 11, 2021, Federal Judge Harlin Hale, a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the United States Court Northern District of Texas Dallas Division wrote a decision on the NRA’s bankruptcy case. CNBC provided a quote from the judge: The Court believes the NRA’s purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgement that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme. The case Judge Harlin Hale heard was titled: National Rifle Association of America and Sea Girt LLC. It was heard in the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern Division of Texas Dallas Division. The NRA had the audacity to ask the Judge to dismiss Attorney General Letitia James’s investigation against them. Here is another piece from the Judge’s decision: …The question the Court is faced with is whether the existential threat facing the NRA is the type of threat the Bankruptcy Code is meant to protect against. The Court believes it is not. For the reasons stated herein, the Court finds there is cause to dismiss this bankruptcy case as not having been filed in good faith both because it was filed to gain an unfair litigation advantage and because it was filed to avoid a state regulatory scheme. The Court further finds the appointment of a trustee or examiner would, at this time, not be in the best interest of creditors and the estate… That same day, Attorney General Letitia James posted a press release titled: “Attorney General James Wins Dismissal of NRA’s Fraudulent Bankruptcy, Fight for Dissolution to Continue in New York. From the press release: …”Weeks of testimony have demonstrated that the NRA and Wayne LaPierre simply filed chapter 11 bankruptcy to avoid accountability,” said Attorney General James. “The trial underscored that the NRA’s fraud and abuse continued long after we filed our lawsuit. Without a doubt, the board was deceived when bankruptcy language was hidden in Mr. LaPierre’s contract earlier this year. Today’s order reaffirms that the NRA does not get to dictate if and where it will answer for its actions. The rot runs deep, which is why we will now refocus and continue on our case in New York court. No one is above the law, not even one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the country…” The dismissal of the NRA’s bankruptcy case means that New York Attorney General Letitia James could now move forward on dissolving the National Rifle Association. CNN reported that the NRA’s decision to drop its case against Attorney General Letitia James means the NRA cannot reorganize in the state of Texas without approval from the New York Attorney General’s office. NRA Drops Lawsuit Against Attorney General James is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Thank you!... Judge Dismissed NRA Bankruptcy CaseMay 24, 2021MediumPhoto by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash The NRA tried to run away from the legal consequences of its actions. It didn’t work. A federal judge has dismissed the National Rifle Association’s bankruptcy case on May 11, 2021. This is bad news for the NRA, who hoped that the judge would allow them to leave the state of New York and flee to Texas to avoid facing legal consequences. This is a victory for New York Attorney General Leticia James, who can now pursue the state’s enforcement action against the NRA. Judge Harlin Hale, a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Texas Dallas Division, wrote the decision on the case. CNBC provided a quote from the judge: The Court believes the NRA’s purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgement that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme. A Little Background In February of 2020, The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) charged that the NRA acted as an unlicensed insurance producer and deceived its members with misleading marketing practices. DFS sought civil monetary injunctive relief. DFS also alleged that the NRA’s Carry Guard program “was primarily offered to firearms owners, in particular those with concealed carry permits, to provide insurance coverage that is unlawful in New York State. Carry Guard offered coverage for losses and costs associated with the aftermath of the purposeful use of a firearm, including defense costs in a criminal prosecution. Under New York law, such intentional acts cannot be insured.” On April 3, 2020, Bloomberg reported that the NRA sued New York State Governor Cuomo for closing gun shops during the coronavirus pandemic. On April 14, 2021, Bloomberg reported that a federal judge threw out a National Rifle Association lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for refusing to label gun shops as essential businesses allowed to stay open during the coronavirus lockdown he ordered in March. On August 6, 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association (NRA). The lawsuit was about the inappropriate uses of money the NRA received as donations. In short, the NRA registered as a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit charitable organization. The lawsuit alleged mismanagement led to the waste and loss of millions of assets and contributed to the NRA reaching a deteriorated financial state. The lawsuit also alleged that the NRA’s board’s audit committee was negligent in its duty to ensure appropriate, competent and judicious stewardship of assets by the NRA leadership. Part of the lawsuit alleged that four men “overrode and evaded internal controls to allow themselves, favored board members, employees, and vendors to benefit through reimbursed expenses, related to party transactions, excess compensation, side deals, and waste of charitable assets without regard to the NRA’s best interests.” The four men named in the lawsuit were: Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, Former Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips, Former Chief of Staff and Executive Director of General Operations Joshua Powell, and Corporate Secretary and General Counsel John Frazer. The NRA’s Public Relations and Advertising Firm Ackerman McQueen was also named. New York Attorney General Letitia James sought to dissolve the NRA and asked the court to order LaPierre, Phillips, Powell, and Frazer to make full restitution for funds they unlawfully profited and salaries earned while employees; recover illegal and unauthorized payments from the four individuals, and remove LaPierre from the NRA’s leadership. In addition, Attorney General Letitia James wanted the court “to ensure that the four defendants can never again serve on the board of a charity in New York.” Also on August 6, 2020, Fox News reported that (then) President Trump called Attorney General Letitia James’s lawsuit against the NRA “a very terrible thing.” Fox News reported this quote from (then) President Trump: “I think the NRA should move to Texas and lead a very good and beautiful life. And I’ve told them that for a long time. I think they should move to Texas – Texas would be a great state or to another state of their choosing – but I would say that Texas would be a great place and an appropriate place for the NRA.” On August 14, 2020, Bloomberg reported that U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino in Albany, New York, ruled that the NRA did not have legal standing to sue on behalf of its members. The judge also denied the NRA’s request to once again amend its complaint to try to show it had been injured by Cuomo’s actions because it had to answer phone calls about the closure of gun shops in the state. On November 18, 2020, DFS Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell announced that the New York State Department of Financial Services had entered into a consent order with the NRA. The NRA’s case was resolved by a consent order that included a monetary penalty of $2.5 million for violations of New York Laws. In addition, the NRA was banned from marketing insurance in the state of New York or receiving compensation in connection with any newly issued New York insurance policies for five years – irrespective of if the NRA obtains a license. DFS Superintendent Linda A. Lacewell noted that this brought to a close a three year investigation. On November 25, 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that the NRA disclosed that current and former top executives received at least $1.4 million in improper or excessive benefits from the organization in violation of its nonprofit rules, the first time the group has publicly admitted the lapses. The Wall Street Journal also reported: “…Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s chief executive, repaid the NRA $300,000 related to travel expenses from 2015 to 2019 that the nonprofit group originally paid for him but now has determined to be an ‘excess benefit” under tax rules, according to the filing.” Mr. LaPierre is estimated to owe a special excise tax of about $75,000 on the extra income, the NRA said. On December 22, 2020, The Hill (and other news sites) reported that a coalition of 16 Republican attorneys general were backing the NRA in its legal challenge against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The group of attorneys general was led by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. He filed an amicus brief supporting the NRA in the District Court for the Northern District of New York. Republican attorneys general from Alaska, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia joined the amicus brief. The group of attorneys general also asked the court to dismiss New York Attorney General James’s lawsuit against the NRA. On January 15, 2021, the Associated Press reported that the National Rifle Association announced that it had filed for bankruptcy protection and would seek to incorporate in Texas. The Associated Press also reported that the NRA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Dallas and said it planned to incorporate in Texas, where records show it formed a limited liability corporation, Sea Girt LLC, in November of 2020. Sea Girt LLC made a separate bankruptcy filing, listing a few assets and fewer than $100,000 in liabilities. Also on January 15, 2021, the NRA posted a press release titled: “NRA Leaves New York To Reincorporate in Texas, Announces New Strategic Plan”. The NRA website has since taken down that press release. Some of it said: “The National Rifle Association of America (“NRA”) today announced it will restructure the Association as a Texas nonprofit to exit what it believes is a corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York. The move will enable long-term, sustainable growth and ensure the NRA’s continued success as the nation’s leading advocate for constitutional freedom – free from the toxic political environment of New York. “The NRA plan, which involves the protection of the bankruptcy court, has the Association dumping New York and organizing its legal and regulatory matters in an efficient forum. The move comes at a time when the NRA is in its strongest financial condition in years…” In response, on January 15, 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James posted a press release titled: “NRA’s Financial Status Finally Matches Moral Status: Bankrupt”. From the press release: “New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the National Rifle Association (NRA) declared it would seek bankruptcy protections in federal court, as well as to reincorporate its nonprofit status in the state of Texas: “The NRA’s claimed financial status has finally met its moral status; bankrupt. While we review this filing, we will not allow the NRA to use this or any other tactic to evade accountability and my office’s oversight.” Key Points From Judge Harlin Hale’s Ruling Judge Harlin Hale heard the National Rifle Association of America and Sea Girt LLC case in the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern Division of Texas Dallas Division on May 11, 2021. The NRA asked the judge to dismiss New York Attorney General James’s investigation against them. Here are some key parts of Judge Harlin Hale’s ruling: ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO DISMISS “The National Rifle Association of America (the “NRA”) is a 150-year-old organization with approximately five million members that is dedicated to the rights of Americans to own and safely use firearms for their personal protection and recreational use. The mission and function of the NRA is focused on gun safety, and the NRA asserts it is “the nations foremost defender” of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that the NRA was suffering from inadequate governance and internal controls. “The attorney general for the state of New York conducted a fifteen-month-long investigation of the NRA that revealed, the New York attorney general claims, widespread misuse of assets by the NRA’s executive vice president and his circle of insiders for their personal benefit. Nine months ago, the New York attorney general filed a lawsuit seeking dissolution of the NRA based on allegations that (1) the NRA has exceeded the authority conferred upon it by New York law and has conducted its business in a persistently illegal manner and abused its powers contrary to the public policy of the state of New York by operating without effective oversight or control by its officers and directors, and (2) the directors or members in control of the NRA have looted or wasted the corporate assets, have perpetuated the corporation solely for their personal benefit, or have otherwise acted in an illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent manner. “The NRA filed this case seeking the protection of the Bankruptcy Code to preserve itself as a going concern in the face of litigation that, it argues, poses an existential threat. Debtors commonly file bankruptcy when faced with a judgment that has, or will, render them insolvent, but the threat against the NRA differs from the classic scenario in that dissolution would not be a collateral effect of litigation but rather the intended relief sought in a state’s regulatory action. And in this instance, dissolution could only occur after judicial consideration of whether dissolution is in the best interest of the public. “The question the Court is faced with is whether the existential threat facing the NRA is the type of threat that the Bankruptcy Code is meant to protect against. The Court believes it is not. For the reasons stated herein, the Court finds there is cause to dismiss this bankruptcy case as not having been filed in good faith both because it was filed to gain an unfair litigation advantage and because it was filed to avoid a state regulatory scheme. The Court further finds the appointment of a trustee or examiner would, at this time, not be in the best interests of creditors and the estate.” The Court continues with a history of what happened that caused the NRA to, in short, file for bankruptcy. The judge then took the time to explain a little bit about how bankruptcy cases are supposed to work. I will briefly describe the key points from that here: Those who file for bankruptcy generally seek three forms of relief: dismissal of the bankruptcy case, the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee, or the appointment of an examiner.The Court shall dismiss a bankruptcy case for cause unless the court determines that the appointment of a trustee or an examiner is in the best interests of creditors and the estate.The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the term “cause” affords flexibility to the bankruptcy courts and can include a finding that the debtor’s filing for relief is not in good cause.If so, the burden of showing good faith shifts to the debtor.If the Court finds cause for dismissal, it must dismiss the case unless the court determines that the appointment of a trustee or an examiner is in the best interest of the creditors and the estate. At any time after the commencement of the case but before the confirmation of a plan, on request of a party in interest or the United States Trustee, and after notice and a hearing, the court shall order the appointment of a trustee (1) for cause, including fraud, dishonesty, incompetence, or gross mismanagement of the affairs of the debtor by current management, either before or after the commencement of the case, or similar cause, but not including the number of holders of securities of the debtor or the amount of assets of liabilities of the debtor… The Court provided information about the NRA’s stated reasons for filing bankruptcy: “…The evidence does not support a finding that the purpose of the NRA’s bankruptcy filing was to reduce operating costs, to address burdensome executory contracts and unexpired leases, to modernize the NRA’s charter and organization structure, or to obtain a breathing spell. While some of these could be added benefits of going through a bankruptcy process, they do not appear to have been significant considerations for the NRA. “There was some evidence that the NRA wants to streamline litigation and control litigation costs, but this does not appear to have been the real purpose behind filing bankruptcy. Ms. Rowling testified that she believes the NRA is in bankruptcy because of potential litigation losses, but this concern did not appear to be shared by Mr. LaPierre or supported by other evidence. The testimony regarding the cost of litigation was that the NRA is currently able to afford to pay its legal fees and that there has not been an analysis of the cost of proceeding with litigation outside of bankruptcy versus the cost of bankruptcy and proceeding with the litigation in the bankruptcy case. Furthermore, Mr. LaPierre testified that but for the NYAG Enforcement Action, it would not have been necessary to file for bankruptcy. “Whether the NRA’s desire to leave New York and reincorporate in Texas was a true reason for filing bankruptcy is a closer call, but the evidence weighs in favor of a finding that it was not the real purpose for filing for bankruptcy. Several witnesses testified that New York is a hostile environment for the NRA, but the testimony was that individuals within the organization had been interested in leaving New York and reincorporating in Texas for a long time. The choice to attempt to do so now – and to do so through a bankruptcy reorganization – appears to have been a means of achieving the more specific purpose of avoiding dissolution in the NYAG Enforcement Action…
