Archive for the ‘local stuff’ Category

Just back from the City Counsel meeting…

Posted: February 2, 2010 by datechguy in local stuff, opinion/news
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it went on VERY late. I will have some photos and longer posts up in a bit but to sum it up quickly:

It reminded me of the Battle of Kasserine Pass. One side was professional and prepared and had laid the groundwork for the battle.

The other side more numerous, less organized and had a presentation that was not as strong.

And like the German army at Kasserine the well organized forces of Planned Parenthood won an early victory against the passionate but less professional forces of the working class residents of Fitchburg playing the role of the American G.I.

More details to come but the Zoning vote will take place in two weeks. It will remain to be seen if the Pro Life forces like the American army after Kasserine can recover from their loss in the first battle and learn lessons by their second.

Off to the meeting of the City Counsel

Posted: February 2, 2010 by datechguy in local stuff
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Will blog and post on return. No idea how long it will be.

Yet another coincidence prior to tonight’s meeting…

Posted: February 2, 2010 by datechguy in local stuff, opinion/news
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Planned Parenthood often argues that kids are going to have sex anyways so their services are required. I expect to hear that argument made tonight. I’ll wager they didn’t count on us rednecks in Fitchburg looking at the Washington post.

Headline: Abstinence-only programs might work, study says

What a coincidence, let’s take a look inside:

Only about a third of sixth- and seventh-graders who completed an abstinence-focused program started having sex within the next two years, researchers found. Nearly half of the students who attended other classes, including ones that combined information about abstinence and contraception, became sexually active.

The findings are the first clear evidence that an abstinence program could work. (emphasis mine)

“I think we’ve written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence,” said John B. Jemmott III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study. “Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used.”

How about that! It will be an interesting article to have tonight. Exit question: If the study was about sex education do you think the post would have used the word “might” in conjunction with the results?

Planned Parenthood, stimulating the underground economy

Posted: February 2, 2010 by datechguy in local stuff, opinion/news
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A long time ago Fitchburg was a manufacturing hub. The Italian and French communities here came for the jobs in the mills and the factories.

Today not so much is made in Fitchburg anymore (Although the Hersey Custom Shoe Company does make shoes here) however we have become a hub for two things in the area…drugs and the social services that the drug trade brings.

People don’t like to talk about this. It has happened pretty fast 1 to 1 1/2 generations. It makes it pretty hard to attract business when you have these social problems on your plate.

Which brings us to Planned Parenthood…

…maybe it’s because I’m just too sheltered but when I mentioned it casually to someone he talked about what he seen in Worcester for years.

In his experience the birth control pills and condoms distributed do not solely end up in the hands of the people who get them. They get re-sold. There are plenty of kids who don’t want to be seen going into Planned Parenthood, those kids will pay a premium for what Planned Parenthood offers.

The person who gets this stuff is going to make some good money, that can be spent on everything from shoes to drugs. She also gains status among her peers. She become the “cool” kid.

I have to confess I felt like an idiot when I was told this story. It never occurred to me, that’s embarrassing. He wasn’t surprised: “The obvious never occurs to people.”

What will be end result be? Another layer made between kids and their parents. If you think that the teenage girl who gets her pills from PP might not take them as given, how much less will the teenage girl who gets her pills from another teenage girl or from her boyfriend buying them from another teen.

And remember it’s not like someone stealing your prescription that you might notice. This will all be done under the cloak of anonymity to protect your child from your opprobrium.

There are some on the city counsel who argue that we should welcome any business that comes to Fitchburg and contributes to our economy. They just might not be aware that the economy they stimulate is an underground one.

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