More news flashes

Mark these dates

From the Detroit Free Press and U.S. News and World Report

Saturday, March 20: Michigan's governor, Jennifer Granholm, has declared Saturday, March 20 as Michigan Meat Out Day. In conjunction with the Great American Meatout, Michiganders are encouraged to go meatless, even if it's just for that day. VegMichigan -- the state's largest vegetarian advocacy group, applauds the declaration.

Saturday, March 27: Observe Earth Hour by turning off your lights between 8:30-9:30 p.m. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and has become a global movement to raise climate change awareness. Read more, pledge support, and make a virtual lantern at www.earthhour.org.


Follow-up: National Institutes of Health address high C-section rate

From the Detroit Free Press

With C-section rates at an all-time high across the country -- as well as in Michigan -- the National Institutes of Health are calling for a revision of hospital guidelines that will allow women to avoid repeat C-sections and instead opt for a vaginal birth.

Vaginal birth after a Cesarean is referred to as a VBAC.

Dr. F. Gary Cunningham, chair of the Institutes' consensus committee, says VBAC is "certainly a safe alternative for a majority of women," but more research is needed to determine how factors such as weight and age affect a woman's ability to undergo natural childbirth.

Author blames feminism for bad dates

From Newsweek magazine

Lori Gottlieb, author of the book, "Mary Him: The case for settling for Mr. Good Enough," can't find a date -- and she blames feminism.

Gottlieb is quoted by Newsweek columnist Julia Baird as saying,

"I know this is an unpopular thing to say, but feminism has completely f--ked up my love life."

To that, Baird retorts, "I know why it's unpopular, because it's completely unfair. Feminism is a centuries-old social movement, not a self-help book -- we can't blame it for bad decisions we make about men."

She goes on to say, "The problem, as Gottlieb sees it, is that women were told they could have it all, which meant not compromising in any aspect of life, including dating (which is odd because people who can't compromise aren't feminists -- they are just unpleasant people.)"

Baird says the presumption that women "got so fussy that they 'empowered themselves out of a mate' makes my head hurt. The only evidence offered to prove that women expect too much is anecdotal."

"Feminists fought for respect and equality, they never promised a perfect world," concludes Baird, "but it doesn't mean you have to settle or give up on love."

WWII women pilots honored for service -- finally

From the Detroit Free Press

Six surviving Michigan Women Airforce Service Pilots -- WASP -- received Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, in Washington this week.

When male pilots were sent overseas during World War II, the women stepped in to move material and flying training exercises in the U.S. More than 30 women died during exercises.

The honor was a long time coming, said Sylva Granader, 89, of Beverly Hills. "It's too long because, unfortunately, 1,074 of us graduated and there's just a very small percentage represented here."

There are about 300 surviving WASP.