What lies beyond conscience? by Michael Cook – “Respect for conscience and conscientious objection is being eroded in the medical profession.”
A beastly double standard by Clive Hamilton – “An Australian Senator is reviled for a slippery slope argument while a philosopher is honoured for celebrating it.”
“Pro-Choice” Penny Marshall glad there was “no choice” when she was carrying her first child by Dave Andrusko
Look Out for Eroding of Parental Authority by Marybeth Hicks
Politics: The Sleeper Issue by Quin Hillyer – Barack Obama and the Infants Born Alive Protection Act.
Russian Surrogate Moms Attract Foreigners – A report from the Moscow Times.
Orphans Killed in Deadly Crash Buried in Moscow Cemetery
From Russia – When Hopelessness Becomes a Deadly Tyrant by Marilyn Murray
Syria through the eyes of children by Rebecca Barber
Burnout – “Do you ever despair that being a youth worker is simply incompatible with a healthy work-life balance? CEO of urban youth charity XLP, Patrick Regan, shares his own experience of ‘running on empty’ and suggests ways to protect yourself – and those around you – from burning out.”
The new etiquette by Sam de Brito
Dad behind amazing father-daughter photo series shares his secrets by Rebecca Dube
Video: This 12-year-old singer will amaze you with her level of talent
Video: The importance of sleep – “Sleep deprivation, it turns out, can affect many other parts of your day and body negatively. Rebecca Jarvis and Anthony Mason spoke with sleep specialist Michael Breus about the importance of shut-eye.”
Video: Need a laugh? Check out this clip of Laurel and Hardy in Way Out West!
Last, but certainly not least, the following was received from the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association. This tax credit has been a HUGE help an incentive for those who have adopted children.
Save the Adoption Tax Credit
If Congress does not act, the tax credit as we know it will expire on December 31, 2012. And as the law currently stands, the adoption credit is not refundable for 2012 as it was in 2010 and 2011.
On Friday, September 21, Senators Landrieu (D-LA), Blunt (R-MO), Hutchison (R-TX) and Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 3616 – Making Adoptions Affordable Act (the companion to House bill H.R. 4373). There are now bills in both the House and the Senate that would accomplish the goal of an adoption tax credit that is inclusive of all adoption types, flat for special needs adoptions, refundable, and permanent.
When will this be considered in Congress?
The adoption tax credit is likely to be included in a package of other tax credits to be considered by Congress sometime after the November election. At this time, it is uncertain whether Congress will make the adoption credit refundable in any end-of-year extension. The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) is working hard to get refundability included and need your help to show members of Congress that refundability helps foster care adoption and lower to middle income tax filers. One of the most effective ways is for families to tell their members of Congress personal stories of how refundability affects their adoption story.
Action:
Please e-mail or call your two U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 3616. If you need to find your Senators, visit the following link: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
If you are planning to call, you can call the Capitol Operator at 202-224-3121. Once you reach the Senator’s office, ask to talk with the legislative assistant who deals with adoption or tax issues. (You’ll have to call back to reach the second Senator.)
NACAC has prepared advocacy resources for families: http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/advocate/.
If you have not already contacted your member of the House of Representatives to ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 4373, a similar bill on the House side, you can also do that now. Find your Representative at the following link: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. You can use the contact information you find at that link or call Capitol Operator number above to reach your Representative.