August 2003 Archives

Great place to listen to dance/high energy music.

I just have to say that I've finished reading Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars that tell them and I think it sheds a whole new light on the "right wing" and their rhetoric. I also just watched a clip from a book expo where Al told a story about Bill O'Reily's lies with Bill right there. Bill proved everything Al said about him with his ridiculous remarks. You can see it for yourself here. If you want some reading over the weekend that is informative, entertaining, and motivating take a look at Al's new book.

P.S. Thanks to FOX News for making such a stink about it! That's how I heard about the book in the first place!

This is the "Letter to the Editor" of PlanetOut.com. Another reader had written about how she thinks the Harvey Milk school is a bad idea because we need to work on acceptance, not avoidance. Here's my response:

Regarding the Harvey Milk School - I've heard numerous debates both online and recently on NPR and there's one thing that people who oppose the school are forgetting. Physical and emotional violence - the kind that makes getting an education a secondary thing to survival. Another reader, Natasha, wrote that "I [would] never feel down or unaccepted" or "What if I could go to a high school where no one would look at me distastefully in the halls." That is not the issue when it comes to H.M. The kids that are going there are ones who can't make it to school because they get beat up on the way there, or the continuous taunting and teasing makes it too tough to concentrate on school and their grades are suffering. These kids aren't getting the chance at an education, and therefore are subject to living life after 18 without a high school diploma.
I had to deal with the name calling and strange looks in high school, but I made it through OK. The Harvey Milk school is for those who don't have the time for us to create acceptance in the world. It's for those who wouldn't make it through otherwise.

   I think I've been quite cynical lately, and I'm sure that's read into my blog. After thinking about it quite a bit over the past few days, I think I've become too cynical and lost something of myself. I've always been very transcendentalist believing in people's inherant good. Lately, not through any one incident, I've seen the bad side of people a little to much.
   It's the customer at work who yells at me for ridiculous stuff. It's the people that lie and preach hate in our society. It's the corporations that devalue what it is to be human. It's the fact that I and my community are second class citizens. It's the fact that progress moves like a turtle going uphill. It's the fact that I seemingly can do little to change things.
   I need to get back to the mentality where my optimism reigns over my doubts. It is a strength I rely on to channel energy to the things I am most passionate about instead of wasting my time worrying. I'm sure I will get back to that as I feel it's part of my nature, but in the meantime I'm quite frustrated.

My comments in bold

From the President
“Every day across America, faith-based andcommunity groups are touching people's lives in profound ways [like preaching hate to help deny gay people equal rights] …Government has no business endorsing a religious creed, or directly funding religious worship. [thank GOD!]But for too long, government treated people of faith like second-class citizens in the grant making process. [who are the 2nd class citizens we're talking about here? the ones that don't have equal rights?]Government can and should support effective social services provided by religious people, as long as those services go to anyone in need. [did he say anyone?] And when government gives that support, faith-based institutions should not be forced to change the character of their service or compromise their principles.” [of course! they should be allowed to preach hate and discriminate at will]
- President George W. Bush,
Remarks to the National Urban League,
Pittsburgh, PA, July 28, 2003

OK, can I just say that I was almost duped. www.whitehouse.org --> parody of whitehouse.gov I was thinking, geez, I know Dubya sometimes says things that are a little odd, but what the hell? I'm reading about his vaction plans and was about fuming when I thought, this can't be right.....

We're Fighting Terror, But Killing Freedom

I read this article in Newsweek, and I must say it's refreshing to see this point of view put so succinctly. Mr. Hamud makes the point that:
   The government arrested Jose Padilla—an American citizen—in Chicago, labeled him an “enemy combatant” and contends that he can be held in military prison indefinitely without access to an attorney. Since when does the Constitution allow citizens arrested on U.S. soil to be held beyond the reach of the courts?

I wonder if people realize that these rights we've given up don't just apply to those other people, but they apply to US! What will the next step be? WIll someone search your house? Would that be enough to make you think twice about the Patriot Act? Will you be labeled an "enemy combatant?" Is this turning into the former USSR or Argentina?

I wonder if the hijackers had been white males if the same laws would still have been put into effect, and if they would be applied without thought to civil liberties... doesn't take much wondering to come up with an answer does it?

I see the Dean Team made the goal of $1,000,000! Congratulations! It's wonderful to know that people are so energized and willing to support someone who stands up for Americans and believes in the people who want our country back from the right. Thousands have signed up to help the campaign and to stand up for Howard Dean. He stands for equality under the law, and he stands for the power of the people. If you feel like America is not going in the direction you think will be best for its future, take the power into your own hands.

If you want to know more about Howard Dean go to deanforamerica.com.

"In the sermon, Endrei called Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism “sick faiths,” and railed against former president Bill Clinton, the U.S. Supreme Court, Canada, “Adam and Steve” and public school teachers with “liberal tendencies.”

This was the case where the janitor was beat up by several men wanting to deliver a message to the Pastor for his hate filled sermon. They say it was certainly gay men who did this - but from the quote above, I'd believe it could be just about anyone...

"The most recent poll, commissioned by the Associated Press, shows that more than half of Americans now favor a law banning lesbian and gay marriage."
This just says that half of Americans are ignorant. (see picture of woman standing below)

Referring to the anti-gay, anti-states' rights, pro-hate, pro-ignorance proposed constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to a man and a woman only.

"Of the co-sponsors of the measure in the House, only one is from Ohio: Rep. John A Boehner of the eighth district, near the Indiana border."

Now I'm ashamed to be an Ohioan. Glad he's not my representative. I think it's time to oust that one next election.

Gays Accused of Hijacking King Memorial
Here goes the Family Research Council (FRC) on yet another senseless claim. This time we're hijackers! This just keeps getting better and better. I really think they've gone a bit far though in saying that the LGBT community wasn't supposed to be there, especially when "The NGLTF was invited to participate in the memorial by Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King." Isn't that kinda a slap in the face to her and her husband's legacy? Doesn't sound like they're out to make any friends.

Moron of the day moment: In retail people don't like waiting in lines. The moron of the day yelled at me because the lines were moving too quickly. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I was just outside looking up at Mars and trying to get a photo, but I need a tripod which hasn't been unpacked yet. If I get anything tomorrow night I'll post the pictures here. It's very hazy here tonight anyway.

And I'm thinking of changing the name of my blog... I'm not sure the name I picked years ago is the one that reflects the nature of this writing. I'm just not sure that things are so random anymore. We'll see...

Tonight I downloaded my email from the past 2 days and (thank goodness) Norton Anti-Virus caught 38 instances of the SoBig.F virus. Good grief! I certainly hope I didn't get it accidentally or anything - I don't think I did. But I did see a few email addresses of people I know whose computers got turned into SPAM machines. I wonder what happens to people who write viruses...

Went to my sister's graduation yesterday. I'm so proud of her - she graduated college. She's worked very hard and earned her graduation Summa Cum Laude. I think that was a moment I'll never forget. But if I may digress - and I can because it's my Blog - what is with the crazy people at graduations? First let's discuss the people who scream and shout so much that you can't hardly hear the next person's name being called. How rude! I mean, a quick holler and clapping I can understand, but keep it brief people. I would be so embarrassed if my family did that. Then there's the people who feel the need to stand up and move around in their chairs with no regard to the persons behind them. ESPECIALLY the man who decided to walk right in front of my family as my sister was walking across the stage. Here is a photo of the rude woman who kept standing and moving in front of me. Keep in mind I am sitting in a normal position behind her.

This is the mentality of the people I have problems with.

I've been following the news about the judge in Alabama who put the 10 commandments up in the rotunda of the Alabama Supreme Court building... this seems just insane to me. Why on earth doesn't that man see that what he is doing is wrong? Not only does it suggest establishment of religion which is unconstitutional, it just shows that as you walk into the building, the bias is from a Judeo-Christian point of view. I'm not saying that it's all bad, but imagine if you were a gay man walking in there hoping for justice. I don't think so. Someone on NPR the other day tried to argue that it was purely a historical piece. In my view, that seems like putting a picture of a woman barefoot and pregnant in the rotunda during suffrage. Or like putting a depiction of a black man at a white man's feet during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This country hasn't yet reached a point where we are all comfortable with religion or Christianity specifically, and having the 10 commandments as the basis for justice just isn't just. Christianity was used to say that women shouldn't vote, that black should be slaves, and now that gay people should be second class citizens. It even spreads hate, misinformation, and contempt for gays and lesbians. I think we have a ways to go before we can all fondly look back and say that's an interesting piece of history. Maybe it's just me...

So Mr. Ashcroft is going on tour with The Patriot Act... This is certainly a scary thing. As if the Patriot Act on it's own isnt' scary enough. Who knows, maybe someone reads my blog and decides I'm not patriotic or that I must be a dissident of some sort. Are they watching me? Then by all means, watch me exercise my patriotism! But if I dissappear in the middle of the night, we'll know what happened eh? Shit, I'm still pissed off about the ability of our government to label US citizens "enemy combatants" which effectively strips them of all their rights. But I guess that's how Argentina took care of people right? If you want to know more about The Patriot Act, go to theACLU's site.

On to other things.... I had a conversation the other evening with a few friends and had reason to think about people and their state of being. Do you ever wonder what makes some people seem to inherantly care about other human beings while others do not? Some people are so conscientious and others seem to be off in their own personal world. And sometimes people don't understand what is put right in front of them, even when it the most obvious thing in the world. Seems to be the difference between the guy who cuts you off on the highway about killing you, and the one who waves you on to make a turn before him. Or the difference between those who accept responsibility for their actions, and those who don't. Or the people who want to control you, and the ones who want you to be happy and reach your potential. The power hungry, and those hungry for knowledge and enlightenment. Someone once told me that they believed in reincarnation, and that there are old souls and young ones. Those old souls have been there, done that, and learned lessons in life. The young ones are still learning. I wonder if that's really the difference.... maybe, maybe not. Either way, we need to find a way to live together.

So everything seems to be returning to normal after the massive power outage, or should we just use a Microsoftism and say that the power grid was having an "issue." Here we were only without power for about 6 hours, although it was somewhat unnerving to hear that power might not be restored for days. Truely, you take it for granted until it's taken away. So what did I notice? It seperated those idiot/a**hole drivers from the considerate ones. Funny how it was the people in the Lexuses and SUVs that kept blowing through the 4-way stops that had previously been traffic lights.

Well another weekend of retail right upon me. Speaking of which, I think I have to go to work now. Can't wait to see what kind of antics people pull tonight. Really I should either write a book or a psychological paper. See ya later!

"San Francisco--The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 29 upheld a San Francisco ordinance that requires contractors doing business with the city to give the same benefits to domestic partners that they give to married spouses.

The court rejected an argument by S.D. Myers Inc. of Akron that the ordinance conflicts with a 1999 statewide domestic partner law.

Other challenges against the ordinance by Myers and the airline industry were ruled on in 2001, with all decisions upholding the ordinance. Myers had also argued that it violated the company’s moral and religious beliefs." - from the Gay People's Chronicle

I hearby protest the company S.D. Myers of Akron and resolve to never to business with them or any company that utilizes their services to the best of my knowledge.

"My guess is most of us use someone else's homosexuality as a convenient way not to look at what Jesus describes as our own real sins."

- Don Hudson
Commentary - The Charlotte Observer

Doesn't anyone ever get tired of this? If you can't say something worthwhile, just keep your uneducated mouth shut.
"Devout Christians Gwen and Lorne Vanderwoude said they believe in accepting gays and lesbians, but not their lifestyle. After all, Ms. Vanderwoude said, God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."
- from The Globe and Mail - same sex marriages.

I just found out about another hate crime that took place on May 11 of this year. I'm upset that I didn't find out about this until today. Matt Shepard was an immediate story whereas this one was not. I think there are many reasons for this, including racism. This saddens me very much. Instead of focusing on that though, I simply wish to pay my respects to Sakia Gunn and take a moment to think of her and her family and friends.

If you want to know more, go here.

Another fun evening in retail. So I guess people think they can take porno pictures with their cameras and bring them in to one hour photos for development. Just so everyone here knows, they won't give them back to you. And the one I was priviledged enough to see was a picture of a guy like if you put the camera in the toilet and took the photo facing upwards. UGH! Why even bother with that one. And I had to be the one they came to to pick up their pictures. It was all I could do not to burst into laughter.

Beyond that, not too much else was funny. It's amazing how moronic people are. Hey let's park our car in the fire lane when there's a parking space less than 25 feet away. Then let's get pissed when they make us move our car. And the price says $34.99. Why can't I have it for $5?

Getting a little stressed out because this weekend I'm leading a workshop, and I'm nowhere near done. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. I think Sunday I'm going to sit on my butt all day to recover from the next few days.

Kudos to Bravo for the latest addition to its gay programming, Boy Meets Boy. I've hated reality TV shows ever since they first came out, but this one has changed me. Maybe it's because I can relate to it. Not to mention there are some cute guys on there. The second episode was tonight and it's really fun to watch.

Not that if the leading man found true love he could marry him if he wanted. I'm still not sure what to say about the topic as I'm still reacting to all the BS I've heard recently such as from the ever ignorant Sen. Santorum and the wonderful outright liars over there at the Family Research Council. I have so much to say that I need to organize it in my head before I start writing. I'm sure it will be soon, and it should be a terrible rant. :)

In the meantime, if you feel strongly enough about this issue or the effect it will have on Americans, head over to Million for Marriage and sign the petition. At this time they are just short of 100,000 signatures. Help tell the theocrats that they are wrong.

Added my current Blog Must-Read list. This really isn't a glorified advertising system where someone links me and I link them. Great if they want to link to me as well, but these are blogs I really do read and like. If you send me a link to post I'll read your blog, and if I start reading it often I'll link to you.

Before I begin my rampage about current political events...

It rained a heck of a lot here today. (again) It really needs to stop raining like this every Monday before we all have to build boats to get around. Below is the view from my driveway this evening.

I have all kinds of comments about the crap that Sen. Santorum said today on FOX Sunday, but I'm not going there tonight. I've calmed down and I'll go there later with ya. Trust me, I have much to say.

Went to church for the first time in ages. Went back to my UU church and apparently the minister is on leave for a week. So we had a guest speaker from The Salvation Army. Now if you don't know about Unitarian Universalism, one of the main tenents is dignity and respect for all people - including GLBT folks. UU has long championed equal rights for gays and lesbians, even before it was fashionable. So imagine my shock at coming back after 3 years to see a group speaking that pulled out of San Francisco for a time because they wouldn't treat their gay and lesbian employees as they did their heterosexual couterparts. They actually left the people in need because they had/have issues with homosexuality. I saw several people get up and leave, and I considered doing so myself. But I bridled my temptation and anger and sat through it. Afterall, SA as an organization does good and much needed work, and I had no disrespect for the woman speaking. Besides, I though maybe she might adress the issue. No such luck. I think I'll wait until the minister comes back before I go back again.

GOP urges unity against gay marriage

OK, I'm sorry to use this blog as a pulpit for my venting, but I'm sorry. How much further does this bullshit have to go before someone goes psychotic? Now we're going to use the Constitution of The United States of America to officially discriminate against Americans??? This has not been done before, and this treads on VERY dangerous ground. Are we going to start concentration camps again or should we just skip to the gas chambers? Dear GOD do people not learn from history? Is this the twillight zone and I'm now in Nazi Germany? I've never been more ashamed of my government than I am now. The Republican party is a disgrace to America. </vent>