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A 35 year old woman, Pam Babcock, in western Kansas became stuck on her boyfriend’s toilet after sitting on it for two years. The woman’s skin had grown around the seat.

She initially refused emergency medical services but was finally convinced by responders and her boyfriend that she needed to be checked out at a hospital.

The police pried the toilet seat off with a pry bar and the seat went with her to the hospital, and doctors removed the seat.

A police officer said “She was not glued. She was not tied. She was just physically stuck by her body. It is hard to imagine. … I still have a hard time imagining it myself.”

The boyfriend called police on February 27 to report that there was something wrong with his girlfriend, adding that he never explained why it took him two years to call.

He told investigators he brought his girlfriend food and water, and asked her every day to come out of the bathroom and her reply would be, “Maybe tomorrow.” According to him, she did not want to leave the bathroom.

Police found the clothed woman sitting on the toilet, her sweat pants down to her mid-thigh. She was “somewhat disoriented,” and her legs looked like they had atrophied.

I am thrilled to have my book reproduced in this medium and thank Susanne and Stephan for the inspiration to do it and for all of their hard work and design. It is now twelve years since the book was written so there are many other IWDs to write about as well as many other stories to be told about the years depicted in “In Words and Images”

Hopefully this new project will inspire other authors to add to the herstory

Joyce Stevens has been an activist over many years in the left, union and feminist movements, starting with her membership in the Eureka Youth League in 1942 and in the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in 1945.

March 8 is International Women’s Day. What is the origin of this celebration? What have some organizations done to honor the date?

This chronology of International Women’s Day traces it back to the US in 1909, and links that event to the 1911 rallies in Europe. The tie to the Triangle Fire is also mentioned.

Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc).
In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother’s Day and St Valentine’s Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

The IWD is also celebrated as the first spring holiday, as in the listed countries the first day of March is considered the first day of the spring season.

History

The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it commemorates the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (New York, 1911), where over 140 women lost their lives. The idea of having an international women’s day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions. By urban legend,[1][2] women from clothing and textile factories staged one such protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City[citation needed].[3] The garment workers were protesting against very poor working conditions and low wages. The protesters were attacked and dispersed by police. These women established their first labor union in the same month two years later.

More protests followed on 8 March in subsequent years, most notably in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights[citation needed]. In 1910 the first international women’s conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset) by the Second International and an ‘International Women’s Day’ was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin. The following year, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. However, soon thereafter, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on 8 March 1913. In the West, International Women’s Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

Demonstrations marking International Women’s Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in Russia, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women’s Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR “in commemoration of outstanding merits of the Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in rear, and also marking the big contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and struggle for the peace.”

Women’s Day in modern culture

The day remains an official holiday in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, and is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts. In some countries it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother’s Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union celebrations of IWD were abandoned in Armenia. Instead April 7 was introduced as state holiday of ‘Beauty and Motherhood.’ The new holiday immediately got popular among Armenians, as it commemorates one of the main holidays of Armenian Church, Annunciation. However, people still kept celebrating IWD on March 8 as well. Public discussion held on the topic of two ‘Women’s Days’ in Armenia resulted in the recognition of the so called ‘Women’s Month’ which is the period between March 8 and April 7.

In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women.[4][5] Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedonia, the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women sometimes get gifts from their employers too. School children often bring gifts for their teachers as well.

In countries like Portugal, it is usual, at the night of 8 March, groups of women celebrate in “women-only” dinners and parties

In India, IWD holds a lot of significance. Many celebrations are held during the day. This portrays the power of women in the modern era and how vital their role is in the society.[citation needed]

In 1975, which had been designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to and began sponsoring International Women’s Day.

The 2005 Congress (conference) of the British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for IWD to be designated a public holiday in the United Kingdom.

Today many events are held by women’s groups around the world. The global women’s organization Aurora hosts a free worldwide register of IWD local events (www.internationalwomensday.com) so that women and the media can locate local activity. Many governments and organisations around the world support IWD. For example, HSBC hosts a range of IWD activity including co-hosting of the UK’s flagship IWD event with women’s group Aurora. Global interest in IWD shows a steady increase.

At the US Postal Service, celebrations typically include round-table discussions of celebrations around the world, especially in Belarus. This is widely attributed to a forward-thinking woman from that country who pushed (unsuccessfully) for the day to become a postal holiday.

The 1932 Soviet poster dedicated to the 8th of March holiday. The text reads: “8th of March is the day of the rebellion of the working women against the kitchen slavery” and “Down with the oppression and narrow-mindedness of the household work!”. Originally in the USSR the holiday had a clear political character, emphasizing the role of the Soviet state in liberation of women from the second-class citizens’ position…

 However, with time the meaning of the Holiday evolved to an apolitical celebration of women with an emphasis on their beauty and motherhood. Most late Soviet 8th of March postcards carried no political meaning.

Whenever I do a dating boot camp, guys are always amazed that I seem to know everybody. The first time one attendee, Yakub, did a boot camp with me, he kept marveling at this. He started calling me “The Mayor of New York City.”
It arises from the fact that everywhere I went, I knew somebody. I knew men. I knew women. I knew kids. I knew dogs. I knew shopkeepers. I knew everybody. By knowing all these people everywhere I went, I got to know more people.

The number one mistake that men make when they go out and try to meet women…
The number one mistake that men make when they go out and try to meet women… is that they go out and try to meet women. Think about that statement for a second.
You call your friend on a Saturday afternoon to go out and meet women. So what do you do? You go to a coffee shop, you stare at a good-looking woman, you try to remember the perfect opener… and you ignore everybody else in the place. Does this sound familiar? I used to do the same thing. It’s the reason why you do not meet women.
Become mayor of your own life
Now, let me teach you a technique that is far simpler and a thousand times more effective. It is not only more effective, but it will decrease your rejection rate by 100 percent.
Instead of going out and trying to “meet women,” go out and start meeting people. That’s right.
Start talking to everybody you know, and everybody you don’t know.
Start talking to everybody you know, and everybody you don’t know. By going out and communicating with everyone, you’ll start attracting women instead of having to chase them.
By talking to the little old lady who is walking her dog, that hot woman you want to meet will notice the good positive energy you’re displaying toward the old lady. This will cause her to become attracted to you. She will stop, and she will most likely approach YOU.
Five people you need to meet
Here are five key people in your life you need to get to know:
The checkout clerks who work at your local market
The person who serves you coffee every day
The person who works the counter at your dry cleaners
The person who makes your sandwich at lunch
The host at the local restaurant where you eat regularly
By getting to know these people, when someone you’re attracted to is behind you in line, you can break the ice by starting a conversation with the checkout person with whom you’re already comfortable. That eases the pressure of striking up a conversation with a new person.
No more routines

You should be talking and friendly to everybody you meet.
You should be talking and friendly to everybody you meet. By doing this, women are going to become attracted to you. Not only that, when you talk to everyone, you don’t look like one of those sleazy pickup artists who run lines and routines on women wherever they go.
I’m going to lose it if I hear one more guy walk up to a woman and say, “Can I ask you a question? Who lies more, men or women?” You know how I feel about routines.
You will never again need a routine if you naturally learn how to become mayor of your own life. Not only that, but women will start to approach YOU. So now, who would you rather be for the rest of your life — the pursuer or the pursued?

Novelist, daughter of a wine merchant at Retford, where she was b. She married a Captain Gore, with whom she resided mainly on the Continent, supporting her family by her voluminous writings. Between 1824 and 1862 she produced about 70 works, the most successful of which were novels of fashionable English life. Among these may be mentioned Manners of the Day (1830), Cecil, or the Adventures of a Coxcomb (1841), and The Banker’s Wife (1843). She also wrote for the stage, and composed music for songs.

Miss Tennessee 2007

Grace Gore, the Lexington resident currently wearing the tiara of Miss Tennessee, is one of 52 ladies competing tonight at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the title of Miss America.

The pageant begins at 7 p.m. local time on the TLC cable channel.

I watched all four episodes of “Miss America, Reality Check” as part of my duties at Ugly Betty News.  Michael Urie, one of the stars of UB, hosted the reality show on TLC.

The premise was simple: Miss America is hopelessly out of date, the whole pageant world does not represent real women, nobody cares anymore, and this show (MARC) was an attempt to change all that.  Instead of hair and makeup that made the girls look like they were 40, new, fresh, “it” looks would be crafted for each contestant.

Some of the makeovers were stunning.  Miss Alaska basically cut off 90% of her hair.  The short cut really fit her vibrant personality.  Miss New Mexico went from that plastic look to a kind of beauty a man can’t take his eyes off of.  What they did with her, and a few of the others, was a stark change, and for the better.

Apparently, the pageant is undergoing even more changes than to superficial things.  If the broadcast tonight follows the same pattern as the reality show, gone will be the “world peace” type Q&A.  For instance, in last night’s episode of MARC, they posed a surprise question to Miss Washington about gay marriage.  She then coolly revealed that she had two daddies herself.  (Being a reality show, of course it was pre-planned, IMHO).  But, can you imagine this kind of discussion in the Miss America pageant?  There might be fireworks!

Even the choosing of the contestants themselves seems to have changed. Miss Utah is a soldier, and to be honest, the least feminine of all the contestants.  Yet, I found myself cheering for her .

One disappointing thing, Miss Tennessee, Grace Gore, might be gorgeous, but the reality show made her come off as a jackass.  I have no idea if she’s really a jackass - reality shows have a tendency to distort reality through creative editing.  She really seemed to have a problem with the very outgoing, silly, and brash Miss Alaska.  But that was probably just editing.  You can read this profile and see she’s no idiot.  But, you never know;  she may still be a jackass.

Anyway, since they are apparently trashing all the old conventions and who knows what the heck is going to end up happening tonight, are you interested enough to watch the pageant on TLC tonight?  We’ll be watching, at least.

The Winner of Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund

Kirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.

Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America

Biography of Kirsten Haglund

HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills

AGE:
19

PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”

EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music

LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)

SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway

Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.

Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

Talent: Operatic Vocal

The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008

* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson

Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.

The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.

The Winner of Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund

Kirsten Haglund becomes the winner of 2008 Miss America beauty pageant. The winner of this prestigious contest was just now announced and the Miss America 2008 winner Kirsten Haglund, who is also Miss Michigan is happy and being congratulated as the most beautiful woman in America for the year 2008.

Kirsten Haglund Miss Michgan Wines Miss America

Biography of Kirsten Haglund

HOMETOWN:
Farmington Hills

AGE:
19

PLATFORM:
Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

TALENT:
Operetta Vocal, “Adele’s Laughing Song”

EDUCATION:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music

LOCAL PAGEANT:
Miss Oakland County (Francesca Tuzzolino - ED)

SCHOLASTIC AMBITION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater Performance
Pursue a career on Broadway

Kirsten Haglund (Miss Michigan 2007) was crowned Miss America 2008, by Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson.

Platform Issue: Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

Talent: Operatic Vocal

The 10 Finalists for Miss America 2008

* Miss Michigan, Kristen Haglund (Winner)
* Miss Iowa, Diana Reed
* Miss North Carolina, Jessica Marie Jacobs (Runner Up)
* Miss California, Melissa Chaty
* Miss Indiana, Nicole Elizabeth Rash (Runner Up)
* Miss Georgia, Leah Massee
* Miss Washington, Elyse Umemoto (Runner Up)
* Miss Virginia, Hannah Martine Kiefer (Runner Up)
* Miss Texas, Molly Leah Hazlett
* Miss Wisconsin, Christina Anna Thompson

Crowd favorite Miss Utah, Sgt. Jill Stevens (photos), an Army combat medic veteran from Afghanistan, finished in the Top 16 Finalists.

The judges for the pageant were Trace Ayala, Sarah Ivens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jason La Padura, Kim Lyons, Robin Meade, James Arthur Ray.

In true Matthew McConaughey fashion, the actor announced on his Web site that he and his Brazilian model girlfriend, Camila Alves, “made a baby together.”

Just weeks after Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban confirmed that they’re expecting, Australian media reports claim that Kidman’s parents may be the ones doing the delivering.

Courtney Thorne-Smith, who has starred in ‘Melrose Place,’ ‘According to Jim’ and other shows, gave birth to son Jacob Emerson Fishman on Friday. Her husband and Jacob’s proud father is media consultant Roger Fishman.

Christina Aguilera and her husband — music executive Jordan Bratman — welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on Jan. 12. While the pregnancy has been rumored since June, the singer didn’t confirm it publicly until early November.

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden and Nicole Richie welcomed daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 11.

Comedian David Alan Grier and his wife Christine Kim were “ecstatic” over the birth of their daughter, Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim, on Jan. 10.

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ actress Toni Collette and musician Dave Galafassi welcomed a baby girl, named Sage Florence Galafassi, on January 9. It is the first child for Collette, 35, who first rose to fame in 1994 with the Australian comedy ‘Muriel’s Wedding.’

Tim and Elisabeth Hasselbeck received something a bit unexpected for their 2-month-old son, Taylor Thomas — a baby gift from Rosie O’Donnell. O’Donnell also says she and Hasselbeck are communicating and that “peace prevails.”

Jack Black and wife Tanya Haden announced that they’re expecting their second child, but gave no due date. Their son Samuel Wyatt Black was born on June 10, 2006.

T.I. and girlfriend Tameka Cottle, formerly of the band Xscape, are expecting their second child together. Their son King Harris is 3.

Adam Kaufman and ‘Without a Trace’ star Poppy Montgomery welcomed their first child together on Dec. 23, a son named Jackson Phillip Kaufman.

Actress Teri Polo and musician Jamie Wollam welcomed seven-pound daughter Bayley on Dec. 20.

Jamie Lynn Spears, 16, told OK! magazine that she is pregnant and that the father is her longtime boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. “I was in complete and total shock and so was he,” she says.

Caroline Fentress and Chris O’Donnell welcome their fifth child, daugher Maeve Frances. The couple’s four kids are Lily, Chip, Charlie and Finley, ages 1 to 8.

The Sun reports that singer Lily Allen is expecting her first child with boyfriend Ed Simons, a member of the Chemical Brothers (and 15 years her senior).

CNN anchor Campbell Brown gave birth to a son, Eli James Senor, on Dec. 18. The father is her husband, Dan Senor.

Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter welcomed their second child on Dec. 15, just a week before the release of their other recent collaboration, ‘Sweeney Todd.’

‘Awake’ and ‘Sin City’ starlet Jessica Alba will have to take some time off of her busy schedule, as she and boyfriend Cash Warren announce they’re expecting a child in the spring or summer of 2008.

Paolo Mastropietro and ‘Crossing Jordan’ star Jill Hennessy, who already have a 4-year-old son together, added another boy to their family on Nov. 21.

‘Sopranos’ actress Drea de Matteo and boyfriend Shooter Jennings welcomed their first child, a daughter named Alabama Gypsy Rose.

‘La Bamba’ actor Lou Diamond Phillips and wife Yvonne, a makeup artist he wed in late summer, have welcomed their first child. Daughter Indigo Sanara was born on Oct. 9. Phillips has three daughters from a previous marriage.

Tameka Foster and Usher, who wed in a small civil ceremony this past August, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy. Foster has three children from her previous marriage.

Zac Hanson and his wife Kate are expecting their first child together. “I am utterly thrilled at the thought of becoming a father,” the singer says.

Boy band legend Joey McIntyre and his wife Barrett got a pre-Thanksgiving surprise when their 7-pound, 12-ounce baby boy was born on Nov. 20.

Dennis and Kimberly Quaid welcomed twins Thomas and Zoe on Nov. 8, via a surrogate mother. Now, the twins are in intensive care after being given an overdose of the anti-coagulant heparin.

Actress Tara Wilson and ‘Sex and the City’ star Chris Noth are expecting their first child together.

‘Headline News’ host Nancy Grace is home with her kids following complications stemming from the birth of her twins John David and Lucy Elizabeth, born on Nov. 4.

Giada De Laurentiis and her husband of four years, Todd Thompson, are expecting their first child together in April. “When I found out I was pregnant I was in complete shock,” the Food Network chef said.

Paul Anderson and ‘Resident Evil’ starlet Milla Jovovich have their first child together, as their daughter Ever Gabo Anderson is born on Nov. 3.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett and her writer-director husband Andrew Upton are expecting their third child in April. Sons Dashiell John and Roman Robert are 5 and 3, respectively.

Vincent D’Onofrio and wife Carin Van Der Bonk are expecting their second child this winter. The couple already have a seven-year-old boy, Elias.

Tracey Gold, who became a household name in the 1980s as Carol Seaver on ‘Growing Pains,’ is expecting her fourth boy with husband Roby Marshall.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart and husband Mark Wilkerson, seen here with their 2-year-old son Mason, are expecting their second child together.

While in Venice for the premiere of his new film, ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,’ Summer Phoenix and Casey Affleck revealed that they’re expecting their second child this winter.

Actress Jeri Ryan and Christophe Eme, who wed last June, are expecting their first child together. “They are beyond excited and are beaming from ear to ear,” her rep says.

Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry are expecting their first child. “Gabriel and I are beyond excited and I’ve waited a long time for this moment in my life,” the Oscar-winning actress says.

Actress Samantha Morton and fiance Harry Holm are expecting their first child in January. Morton’s 7-year-old daughter, Esme, is from a previous relationship with British actor Charlie Creed-Miles.

Julianna Margulies and Keith Lieberthal, here attending the Oct. 24, 2007 screening of ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,’ are expecting their first child this winter.