An estimated 10,000 activists flooded the streets of Dublin on Saturday to protest Ireland’s stringent abortion policies. The predominantly Catholic country has a total ban on all abortion services, with a narrow exception in cases where a pregnancy may threaten a woman’s life. But the recent death of Savita Halappanavar — the 31-year-old Indian woman who died of blood poisoning after an Irish hospital refused to terminate her pregnancy — highlights the fact that women in Ireland struggle to access reproductive health services even when their lives may be at stake. Halappanavar’s tragic story is quickly becoming an international controversy, prompting the Irish government to promise to reexamine its abortion policy.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets today with signs and banners bearing Halappanavar’s image, vowing that the tragic events of her death will “never again” happen in their country (all images via Broadsheet)
6:23 PM
So, we lost…
BUT DID YOU SEE THAT FUCKING KOTTARAS HIT?!
Bank Of America Backlash of the Day: Score 1 for the 99: Backlash from consumers has forced Bank of America to ditch its plan to charge a $5 monthly fee on debit card usage.
“We have listened to our customers very closely over the last few weeks,” said Bank of America Co-Chief Operating Officer David Darnell, “and recognize their concern with our proposed debit usage fee.”
BoA’s shares dropped 6 percent in the wake of the announcement. Several banks recently decided to scrap similar test programs, while others canceled existing fees.
“It’s a sign of consumer power in action,” Norma Garcia of Consumers Union was quoted as saying. “This is a sign of the marketplace working.”
This is so important.
As a consumer, you have so much power.
USE IT.
BOOOM. FUCK YOU SCOTT. EVEN THE PACKERS ARE AGAINST YOU!
10:44 AM
![2011 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 13
“Relating to: declaring January 26 as Bob Uecker Day. Whereas, Robert George “Bob” Uecker was born in Milwaukee and has been calling play−by−play radio broadcasts for the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971, making this year his 40th anniversary; and Whereas, Bob Uecker has over the decades shown a love and passion for the Milwaukee Brewers, its players, and the game of baseball.”
[Click through to read more.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhsuimWNJF1qzirbvo1_500.jpg)
2011 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 13
“Relating to: declaring January 26 as Bob Uecker Day.
Whereas, Robert George “Bob” Uecker was born in Milwaukee and has been
calling play−by−play radio broadcasts for the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971,
making this year his 40th anniversary; and
Whereas, Bob Uecker has over the decades shown a love and passion for the
Milwaukee Brewers, its players, and the game of baseball.”
[Click through to read more.]
10:04 PM
This is my new icon! Thanks WI Democrats!
Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, one of the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-public employee union proposals, has just beaten the Republicans in one of their key efforts to force Dems back to the state - by collecting his legislative pay.
Senate Republicans last week passed a rule suspending the direct-deposit of absent legislators’ pay, requiring them to show up in person at the Capitol — in effect, to provide a quorum — in order to receive a check.
However, Erpenbach found a workaround: He granted power-of-attorney to two members of his staff, thus authorizing them to conduct many important personal decisions and financial actions on his behalf — such as picking up his paycheck.
Ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) put the check in the mail, instead of giving it to the staffers. Fitzgerald spokesman Andrew Welhouse told WisPolitics: “We confirmed with our attorneys and with the chief clerk that was proper.”
9:33 PM
