I am watching a "16 & Pregnant" episode on MTV. I find the story interesting but when I was that age I would have thought of having a baby as the worst possible thing to happen to me. And, even though I found my life partner at a youngish age, we waited until our mid-late 30s to start our family (I'm pregnant now with our first). I was actually surprised when I started visiting pregnancy websites at the number of posters who are in their teens. In fact, most of the posters seem so young to be starting families (girls as young as 14). I definitely don't believe in ostracizing any girl for getting pregnant and I believe that every woman has the right to choose what she wants for her own body and when to start her family. It's just that at 16 my girlfriends and I were dreaming about college and would have taken all the necessary precautions to prevent a pregnancy. I just can't help but wonder if teen pregnancy has been glorified over the last years or become less of a big deal. Anyone else?

Yes, I know many, many people died, but she was from my high school and was there as a physical therapist with Friends of the Orphans. Her name was Molly Hightower, and she was only 22.

RIP, Molly and prayers for your family...

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2010/...

we make less than $20K a year but pay $15K a year for my husband's health insurance (he has a pre-existing condition). if it wasn't for his family (who helps us with the payments) he would be uninsured and possibly even dead today. please tell me how this bill will help us -- from what i've read, sure they can't deny him insurance, but the premiums will just continue to skyrocket.

My hubby and I are mid-thirties and have small 401Ks, several IRAs, investments, a little savings, etc. We are both students and are not working right now and we just don't know what any of this means (english and biology degrees did not prepare us for this)? What happens next? Are we supposed to move our money into bonds? Will everyone be calling their financial planners tomorrow? Do we need to get one?

I read the following quote on Huffington Post (In, Rome Burns: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/10/w... )

"You know who ends up losing at the end of the day?" Obama said about the latest dust-ups during a stop in Virginia. "It's not the Democratic candidate, it's not the Republican candidate. It's you, the American people, because then we go another year or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you. Enough."

I don't know what it will take - and I'm one of those who still trusts that Obama knows exactly what he is doing - but we need a b*tchslap in a major way. What is it gonna take for us to wake up and snap out of it? I believe that if the Republicans are allowed to steal this election like the last two, it is the end of our American experiment. Scientists (like me) and rational free thinkers really will not belong in this country anymore, as ignorance will have won. Well, for my part, I'm making calls for three hours tonight.

Here's to hope! (it's gotta be noon somewhere)

We were lucky enough to get tickets to Obama's acceptance speech to attend this great historical event tonight. Here's a little of our experiences:

Over the last week, we had been really worried that getting down there was going to be a nightmare and that maybe it was best to just give up our seats (we couldn't get out of work/school before 4pm and then I went and got myself on crutches!). Well, we decided to go for it anyway, time restraints and injuries and all. Some gods must have been smiling on us b/c we couldn't even get out of Fort Collins until ~430 - but somehow we got past the I25 closures just in the nick of time (515) and then, believe it or not, we found parking within limping walking distance. Security took about a half hour (cops were handing out water bottles and lanyards!) and we were in the stadium ~6pm! The only problem was food - we didn't have dinner and were told that we couldn't bring anything to eat into the stadium, and, of course, the concession stands were running out of everything but soda and water. I waited 45 minutes for 2 of the last brats (no healthy choices), and we got to our seats just when Gore was starting. All the speakers were on fire. The crowd around us was really enthusiastic except for some college-age kids sitting in front of us. We chatted with other supporters and clapped/hollered/booed at all the appropriate times. Obama's video came on and we were handed out signs that said "change" to wave. As you all know, Obama then kicked ass with his oral ninja skills - we all hollered some more, clapped, weeped a little, and then there were fireworks!!! (interesting aside - we were way, way up at the top and were sitting right under 2 agents that were scanning the periphery with the biggest binochs I have ever seen!) We left, had to circumvent a bunch of sideroads to get back on I25, and then made it home ~midnight.

One last personal note and then I will get lost for the night. When I heard Obama speak at the last convention, it was the first time in my life that I believed in the American dream. I know that it is corny to say - but it is true - Obama gave me hope that there could be something better for this country. However, despite canvassing and calling for campaign, I've had a difficult time describing why I support Obama besides that he is a democrat and I agree with him on most issues. Tonight, I think I realized why I feel a connection to this person. I was raised without a father and had a mother who gave everything - and I mean everything - for my education. In many ways, I, too, feel like I am more defined by the absence of my father. My mom pushed me and pushed me b/c she believed, rightly, that education was the only way to get out of our poverty. I was also raised to always care for those who have no voice, the oppressed, the forgotten. That's led me to animal medicine and I hope one day to be a conscientious and effective disease researcher. This is my American dream, to rise out of poverty, be the first in my family to go to college, let alone attain 2 doctoral degrees, to become a professional whose children will never have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and to, hopefully, make a difference in this world. I thank Obama for helping me believe that my American dream can also come true.

Thanks for your time, and Go Obama!!!

Is anyone here going to Invesco who is not going to the convention? If yes, how are you getting there?

We have to drive down from Fort Collins to Littleton/Mineral station and then take the C light rail up to Invesco. As we both have work/school we can't leave until 4pm and hope to make it past Invesco before they close I25 and will hopefully be at the stadium before 7pm. We can't seem to find even a private bus service that is going down there - and it seems all shuttles going from the convention are stopping at 2pm. What are your plans?

just left after a weekend visit. we don't talk politics cause i really don't know where he stands. he's midwestern guy who grew up in a rather crazy home who joined the army just before 911 to earn his education. we talk family, watch sports, and drink beer - which leads to no feuds and i like it that way.

well, we were watching the olympics this morning and a mccain ad came on - he was making fun of the "maverick" label and trashing mccain's age.

my friends, there is hope...

I just got this email from the Obama campaign and signed up for tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous because I haven't done any volunteering since the Dukakis campaign (when I was 13!). Even after my shifts, it's not guaranteed I'll get a ticket. Oh well, it's for a good cause and all - but I should probably do my hair and make-up.

Dear Obama Supporter,

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering to potentially receive an All-Star Seating Credential to Senator Obama’s nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field on August 28th.

By completing two, three-hour voter contact shifts (aka. volunteer activities) in the coming days, you may be eligible to receive All-Star Seating.

One shift requires either:
Knocking on 50 doors of voters
Making 80 phone calls to voters
Helping people register to vote

Now for a real issue. An email from Hillary (my first ever, actually!):

Dear (me),

Together, you and I are standing up for the health of American women, and we're making a difference.

For years, President Bush and the Republicans have done everything in their power to reverse decades of progress. Now, new rules are under consideration by the administration that would restrict access to birth control. They are the latest example and I am so glad that you joined the fight to help stop it.

Thank you so much for signing on to our letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. More than 55,000 of you have urged him not to move forward with these restrictive new regulations. That's an amazing start, and I urge you to ask your friends and family to get involved. Forward this message and tell them to sign on to the letter at:

http://www.hillpac.com/action/hhspetition /

Let me tell you more about the progress we're making. I have been working with my colleague Senator Patty Murray of Washington in the Senate and Congresswoman Nita Lowey of New York -- and many Senators and House Representatives who have joined in writing to Mike Leavitt, also demanding that he not move forward with these regulations. We are also working closely with women's rights and health organizations to put pressure on the administration and their Republican allies in Congress.

Secretary Leavitt stated on the HHS website just recently that he was still considering whether to go forward with these new rules and acknowledged concerns about limiting access to birth control. This means we are making a difference but we can't stop now! So long as these regulations are under consideration, there is a danger to women's health. I am going to continue to monitor this situation very closely and I need your continued support. Your help is vital, so be sure to tell your friends and family to join this fight.

Thank you so much for joining this important effort.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

edit - though i live in colorado now, washington is my home and i'm so proud of sen. murray.

Hi- This is my first time starting a post, so I'm not sure if this will work...

Here is a new ad from a group called 10,000 Catholics for Obama. Pass around to those who may be interested. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjtjeRO4Vrs