politricks and other distractions

Going Against the Tide

First woman to head wrong way - British yachtswoman Dee Caffari holds a flare as she crosses the finish line aboard her craft Aviva, in southwestern England Thursday as she becomes the first woman to complete solo non-stop round the world voyage the 'wrong-way' against prevailing winds and currents in a west-about route. (AP photo by Chris Ison)
May 19, 2006

There are just so many good female stories this week. I think the caption tells the above story, but it's one that seems to exemplify the way I've been feeling lately. I may be facing into the wind. I'll remember to not spit into it. But I've got to believe I'm still going the right way.

Just like this lovely Peruvian woman recently discovered. Okay, so she's a mummy. Don't hold that against her. From the NY Times story:

"A mummy of mystery has come to light in Peru.

She was a woman who died some 1,600 years ago in the heyday of the Moche culture, well before the rise of the Incas. Her imposing tomb suggests someone of high status. Her desiccated remains are covered with red pigment and bear tattoos of patterns and mythological figures.

But the most striking aspect of the discovery, archaeologists said yesterday, is not the offerings of gold and semiprecious stones, or the elaborate wrapping of her body in fine textiles, but the other grave goods.

She was surrounded by weaving materials and needles, befitting a woman, and 2 ceremonial war clubs and 28 spear throwers — sticks that propel spears with far greater force — items never found before in the burial of a woman of the Moche (pronounced MOH-chay).

Was she a warrior princess, or perhaps a ruler? Possibly."She is elite, but somewhat of an enigma," said John Verano, a physical anthropologist at Tulane University, who worked with the Peruvian archaeologists who made the discovery last year...

"Perhaps she was a female warrior, or maybe the war clubs and spear throwers were symbols of power that were funeral gifts from men," Dr. Verano said."

And this 'un:

"Panel recommends FDA approval of cervical cancer vaccine

Merck says drug will slash global deaths by two-thirds

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A vaccine with the potential to slash worldwide deaths from cervical cancer, the No. 2 cancer killer in women, should be approved for sales in the United States, a federal panel said Thursday.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted 13-0 to endorse the safety and effectiveness of Merck and Co.'s Gardasil, which blocks viruses that cause cervical cancer. The company said the vaccine could cut worldwide deaths from the disease by two-thirds."

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I love those few times when the crazy right-wing nuts lose. I heard a good comment the other day that answers the argument: "but if you vaccinate them against STDs, kids'll just go out and have sex!" The response: "There's no evidence that if you give a kid a bike helmet, they're more likely to go out and have accidents."

This could be a banner week for female headlines. Gotta seize these moments of celebration when you find them.

Been down so long, it looks like up to me.

Go forth and have a great weekend! And since I'm volunteering for the Yearly Kos convention, here's a plug for that: go to www.yearlykos.org and register today. If I have to be there, so do you!!

Drinks and fervent idle chatter poolside at the Riviera for all progressives!!

-- DC Native

posted by dcnative @ 12:45 PM