August 2004 Archives

     One of my neighbors told me today that he has a very large zucchini. Hmm...

   A story caught my attention tonight on our local Akron news about an ongoing struggle between electric giant FirstEnergy and local home owners. This particular story involves Mary Martha Corrigan who has a silver maple that FirstEnergy wants to cut down because they say it is too close to power lines. In the past they simply trimmed the tree, but after the blackout last year they are taking no chances.
   I haven't seen this tree myself so I can't reliably comment on who is exactly right here. From what I've read and seen, simply trimming the tree would seem to be a compromise for both sides. The interesting thing was the interview with Ms. Corrigan who is taking First Energy to court over the matter. Even though she is fighting an uphill battle against a huge company, she says that she needs to stand up against what she feels is wrong-doing by a corporation. She spoke very intelligently about the issue, and has courage and conviction to stand up for her beliefs. More power to her, and I wish her the best of luck. Whether she wins or not, she is making a statement that not everyone will simply lie down when corporate giants want their way. Good for her! I wish more people were willing and able to do what she's doing.
(sources: Akron, Ohio, residents fight utility FirstEnergy over trees, PAX 23 10pm newscast, August 30, 2004)

   Wish I could have been there. (source: AP Photo/Greg Bull)

   Although spoken in jest, this line speaks to the general mood of many of my customers today. The first one of the day yelled that we could all laugh at her but she wasn't going to take this shit. This was odd because no one was speaking to her, nor was it her turn in line. No one was laughing. I turned and said to her, "I feel like I've missed something. Can I help you?" Indeed I could not. The psychosis was too great for a 5 minute session.
   I met my first Christmas shopper of the season today. Yes, some people are officially Christmas shopping. You know this makes me ill. Especially when they're as crabby as she was. I hope her mood picks up as we get closer to the big day. Otherwise she may as well dress as the Grinch and get it over with.
   The guy who said he was going to "be looking for me" hasn't come in yet. Idle threats - they make the day more interesting.
   Highlight of the night - the closing annoucement made with a British accent. Very classy!

   The other night I was listening to CNN in the car on XM radio, and there was an interview with someone by someone. Yeah, I was listening that closely, but the people aren't the point. What caught my ear was when the reporter asked something, the guy would totally dodge the question. So at the end of the interview I hear, "and this was so-and-so ducking the question." Yay! She pointed it out.
   I wish that all reporters would do something like that. Whenever the politician dodges the question by answering another question, or says something repeatedly without getting to a point, or simply can't make an intelligible comment, the reporter should just announce that the person has dodged the question. I think this would be helpful so that we can point out when our representatives can't answer questions. I'm not talking about national security here. I'm talking about the ones who can't seem to make up their minds about social, economic, policy issues etc. It would also alert those who aren't listening critically that the politician has taken the fifth, usually associated with some criminal or self-incriminating statement.
   I know that politicians are just people, they're only human, etc. But these are the people who are supposed to be the best of the best, the ones that represent us in our democracy and to the rest of the world. This is no small order, and I certainly don't want to make life more difficult for them. But perhaps they should be held to a higher standard, not the lowest common denominator.

Just an Observation...

   Of all the latest innovations, the "control grip" on the toothbrush is an amusing one. On the back of the package it reads, "Control Grip handle ensures complete control and comfort." I must wonder why one needs this comfort factor when brushing teeth? I suppose if you brushed for an hour a comfortable grip would be helpful. And then why is it that my toothbrush has this ultra-comfortable grip when my lawnmower causes callouses? I also wonder at what point did someone lose control of their toothbrush? Was there a terrific accident and someone ended up with a toothbrush stuck up their nose? I certainly am relieved that I won't be visited with such horror!
   I am glad that my dental cleaning device will be both comfortable as well as controllable.

STLtoday - California hybrid plan is unfair to Escape SUV, Ford complains
   FORD is complaining that new legislation in California allowing persons driving by themselves in gas/electric hybrid cars that get over 45mpg may use the "high occupancy vehicle" lanes. At the moment the only cars that get that milage are Japanese cars, so Ford contends this amounts to a "Buy Japanese" law.
   That's a crock of crap as I see it. The fact is that right now American auto makers lag behind in fuel conservation technology and that's their own fault. More power to the folks in Japan who took the initiative to create more fuel efficient vehicles.

   Apples are red, but they are blue. Skunks smell bad, but they smell like flowers. Toilet paper should be soft, and we should make it from steel wool. Statements like these are what's coming out of Dick Cheney's mouth. I'm sure they will be taken as acceptable statements by the media, and we'll all just move on.
   He made some comments today about gay marriage which I find intriguing. Bush/Cheney have tried not to even say the word "gay" recently as they try to play off their compassionate conservatism. Cheney said today that his "general view is freedom means freedom for everyone" and that "The states have made that fundamental decision of what constitutes a marriage." Interesting then how he continues to back President Bush on the Federal Marriage Amendment which would ban gay marriage nationwide, regardless of what individual states want to do.
   "I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area," said Cheney. But he supports federal policy in that area specifically. I know he's a politician and double-speak is what they do, but dear god! Are we supposed to be so stupid?
   He said that "The courts were making the judgment for the entire country." Actually, I thought they were legally making the judgement for their individual states, just as Cheney said they should. Am I in the twilight zone? I'm really not mad at this development; I'm finding myself more amused as I think about it. (while another part of me is thinking of 1984.) We're supposed to take these people seriously as the best and brightest to be our leaders, but they talk like they haven't mastered basic grade school concepts of the English language. (or logic for that matter)
  If I weren't so intrinsically involved I'd be so amused that I think I'd throw up.
(source: Dick Cheney speaks in favor of gay couples)

   Lucy turns seven years old today. We met when she was just 1 month and 1 day old on September 25, 1997. My boyfriend at the time was a big fan of Lucille Ball and so our new cat was named after her. Lucy is the sweetest, most affectionate cat I've ever known. She tries to make me happy when I'm sad, she purrs when I enter the room, and we keep each other company when no one else wants to. She's a pet of course, but (silly as this may sound) she's also a wonderful friend. Heck, she's been my friend longer than many people have, and she's been around longer than any relationship has lasted. So here's a birthday wish for my cat, and I hope for many more to come.

   The photo assignment on the Mavica Information Exchange is "Trees". This is a shot I took near Toronto, Kansas. If you've ever seen the intro for the HBO series Six Feet Under you'd recognize this tree. It's not really the tree, but maybe a cousin.

   Apparently some Ohioans want to challenge Virginia as the state with the worst laws regarding gay and lesbian people and relationships. The group supporting the new amendment to the Ohio constitution have collected 391,000 signatures which is enough to get it on the ballot in November. This makes me sick to my stomach. The language is broad enough that it could render legal arrangements between two same-sex adults null and void if it was something that looks like a benefit of marriage if it were challenged. Not only that, but it would seem to make it illegal for a city or county to recognize even civil unions. These people are out for the jugular. Thank goodness the methods for the petition are being challenged in court. Take a look at what they've proposed:

Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effect of marriage.

   Is there any doubt that the people who are doing this are writing discrimination into the law? Not only do they want us to not get married, but they want to prevent us from creating contractual, legal relationships that protect us. And what's with all the fluff there at the end? They can't just say marriage. They have to cover all the bases to ensure that gay relationships have no similarity at all to marriage. So what will be next? Will the next law target single queer folks?
   I have to wonder because these laws are not designed to protect marriage. If they really wanted to protect their precious institution they would other, much more effective ways to strengthen it. Things like making it harder to get a divorce or making it easier to be a family in America. So they're out for the gay folks, and I'm afraid they're not going to stop with the "protection" of marriage. Besides, after they denigrate an entire group of people to second class, why not just take it another step?
And there's the law in Virginia:

A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited. Any such civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created thereby shall be void and unenforceable.

   Now some gay people are leaving Virginia because of that law. One couple wanted to have kids, but since their family wouldn't have any legal status under the law they're busting out of that backwards place. My advice, don't move to Ohio just yet.

If you live in Ohio and want to make a difference in the campaign against the proposed state constitutional amendment, there's a website on which you can find information. It's not complete yet, but check it out. It's Ohioans Protecting the Constitution.

(sources: Proposed gay marriage ban one step closer to ballot in Ohio; Ohio Gay Marriage Amendment Faces Court Challenge; Virginia House of Delegates: [HB 751]; Virginia Gays Packing Up & Leaving)

   Fun times at work the past few days.
   This morning an older woman (say 70s) approached me asking about a product that we had been giving out for the past week. Unfortunately I had to tell her that we were all out. She got up in my face and said "WRONG DJ!" I was like excuse me? She explained that she had been earlier that morning and got one then. (So why was she being greedy wanting two of them??) I told her that when we opened we had about 20 left and unfortunately that was all we had. This was a while quantities last, and trust me we gave out hundreds of these things throughout the week. In the end she told me that she was going to contect corporate. Then she poked me in the chest with her finger and told me, "You better get your act together!" I told her to go ahead and call corporate and "don't touch me!" There's no need for physical contact.
   The other day a different woman was buying some fertilizer. When the cashier picked up the bag, the air that was inside came out in a little puff at the top. The woman claimed that it went into her eye yelling at the cashier, "You poisoned my eye!" Good grief. Go over to McDonald's and spill some coffee in your lap.
   Good times... don't try this at home (or your local retailer).

   A few more photos of Ellie can be seen in her own little album. Also took a few shots of the frogs (we count 4 now) that live in our pond.

   You may think it's easier to be gay than straight, but this clip from Six Feet Under would seem to suggest otherwise.

   This man says I shouldn't be allowed to get married.

(source: AFP/POOL/Alessandro Bianchi)

This is a slap at the gay community if you ask me, suggesting that he's resigning because he's gay. . . I felt sorry for the guy. Because he's been living a lie. . . He's not been who Jim McGreevey really is. He's been living two lives and he's been lying. . . to somebody about who he is, and it's stressful. It's probably oriented in trying to make as many people happy as he could. That was probably his objective, and instead of doing that, he was denying who he really is . . . And whatever political intrigue is involved here, the thing I know is that Jim McGreevey personally as a human being has a real tough road to hoe. . . Whoever you are, you have to be who you are. . . You know, for all of the political ramifications, for all of his career, the personal life aspects of this cannot be easy, but he's, for whatever reason, is here taking the first step toward setting it all straight. And I want to be one to wish him well in his personal quest here to make this a positive and liberating an event as it can be.

   Now who do you think said this? Al Franken? Somone from the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign? Or perhaps someone from Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)? No, this was said by Rush Limbaugh on his Friday radio show.
   My friend Dan brought this to my attention. He was driving along wondering who, in fact, he was listening to yesterday. Checking Rush's website, indeed he said these words. In addition, I agree with most everything he said about the situation. Normally I do not agree with what Mr. Limbaugh says. So even more shocking to me than the Governor of New Jersey coming out is the fact that Dan and I both agree with Rush Limbaugh on this one. Just goes to show that because you do not agree with most of what someone believes in doesn't mean that there's never any common ground. That and, as Dan says, maybe he's mellowing out.

   A quick review of Jay Allen's MT-Blacklist from a novice user's point of view. Thank goodness for MT-Blacklist! If you have a Movable Type blog, you may well know the horrors of comment spam. If you don't know about it, comment spam is when someone leaves unrelated comments on your blog advertising their own website or services. Sometimes people (or computers) will leave multiple comment spams resulting in a lot of wasted time removing and rebuilding entries. IP banning does very little as people switch IP addresses like The Fab Five changes outfits.
    I've had MT-Blacklist installed for a few months now, and rarely do I get spam comments coming through. When I do Blacklist makes it very easy to add the spammer's info and "de-spam" my blog. In just the past 12 days, Blacklist has kept over 30 spam comments from reaching your eyes. Every few weeks it's a good idea to get a copy of the master blacklist and import new entries, but it's very simple and takes little time especially when compared to the time it would take to manually despam a blog. There is a newer version due out soon which will be compatible with the new Movable Type 3.1x. Overall a great product - extremely useful, easy to use and implement, and it is also free. (although Mr. Allen appreciates donations for the use of his program)
Check out MT-Blacklist

   I was watching a bit of news this morning about Hurricane Charley. The news anchor kept referring to the damage as "unbelievable." Actually, I think a 100 ton purple elephant strolling across southern Florida would be unbelievable. A class 4 hurricane causing damage is terrible, but I can certainly believe and expect that would happen.

   There are many blogs that have covered the gay news over the past few days - the gay governor and the 4000 invalidated marriages. So I won't go into depth here. But now who are the activist judges? The first liberal that uses that term regarding the recent decision in California should be subjected to a full week of Limbaugh, 24 hours a day every day. As for the Gov., will he be an activist governor now that he's out?
   Check out Bush's latest flip flop regarding gay marriage.

   There are two things I don't want to mix up today. I made lemon bars for a potluck we're having at work today, and I had to get a fecal sample from Ellie to take to the vet before I get to work.

   From a billboard in Austrailia promoting sunblock. Would this get past the US indecency standards? (source: (AFP/File/Torsten Blackwood))

   I just read two articles. I read them in sequence, but not on purpose. A web search led from one thing to another, and I find the juxtaposition of these two readings in time to be of interest.
   The first was about Scotty Joe Weaver who was killed a few weeks ago in what apparently was a hate crime. He was "tied up, robbed, beaten, strangled and cut" and then "set afire in the woods along a dirt road." God have mercy on his soul - he certainly didn't get it from his attackers. Why do people kill gays? Why was Matthew Sheppard killed? It must be all that tolerance they're learning from the liberal media, right?
   The second thing I read was a response to a letter by Dr. James Dobson. The inquiry was about why groups like Focus on the Family (FOTF) promote hate and rhetoric. Dr. Dobson's response seemed sincere, and I took several points from reading it. But he claims that conservative christians have done nothing wrong while the gay community has committed several crimes against his group such as broken windows and arson. He forgets that his group is trying to restrict our rights to legal protections of relationships, and removing our right to judicial redress. He asks, "Who is endeavoring to hurt whom?"
   I realize that there is hurt and anger on both sides of the issue, and I'm not going to pick someone apart personally right now. But another young gay man was murdered. Another bill was passed that removes our rights as Americans. I'm not saying FOTF went and did it themselves, but promoting laws that restrict our rights and insult our dignity doesn't exactly promote acceptance. And to answer the question posed by Dr. Dobson, I think the gay community would be perfectly willing to settle quietly into everyday life, get rid of HRC, Lambda Legal, etc, if we simply had the rights and equality that we deserve as human beings and were left alone. The religious right is on a jihad against us. We're not attacking anyone else's rights or lives, we're defending our own.

   I just finished my four closing shifts in a row. I think I'm now officially nocturnal. I mean when you eat dinner at midnight 4 nights in a row you start to mess yourself up. It's been a very busy few nights - busy weekend. Friday night a woman came in whose husband had died just last week. She was a sweet woman who was sitting on a bench crying. I spoke with her for a few minutes, but I felt bad that there wasn't much I could do for her. Afterwards she hugged me, and on the way out patted my face. I hope she's doing ok.
   The same night a customer came up to the service desk and wanted to exchange a pair of pants. No problem right? Well, he didn't know what size pants he needed so he asked me to look down his pants to see if I could read the tag. I told him I'm sorry but I couldn't see it. Now mind you, this man was not attractive. And even if he had been, I don't typically look down my customers' pants. So he pulls the tag out a bit and asks again if I can see it. I said, "All I can tell you is that you need to wash those in cold water." I wasn't going to get any closer...
   Saturday my service desk cashier was getting very irritated with a number of her customers. She called me over at one point and said she had a fool on the phone for me. I don't think the customers heard, but I about peed myself. She was so crazed that at the end of the night she adjusted the closing time by an hour when she announced it. Whoops...
   A woman came in tonight wanting to return a home theater system and an air conditioner - no receipt. And she had the gall to roll her eyes at me. Especially when she told me how she was going to come back and rip us off.
   Tomorrow is my day off, and I already have a list of things I need to do. We'll see how much brainpower I have left for my day off.

   I used to read the Sunday comics faithfully every Sunday morning. I had my favorites - some are still there while others have disappeared. I don't read the comics in the paper much anymore, but there is one comic I have read each and every Sunday morning for the past few years - Adam and Andy. It is a web-based comic written by James Asal. Adam and Andy are two guys living in a committed relationship, dealing with everyday dilemmas and relationship issues that we all face. It's a realistic and light hearted look at life, with humor and artistic talent. Strangely when the Sunday strip comes out it often parallels Jon and I's relationship, and I think for many people that would be the case.
   Take a look at James Asal's website for Adam and Andy. Perhaps you'll make them a part of your Sunday mornings as well.

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce you to our new kitten, Ellie. She is a very lucky little girl. My sister, Laura, found her on the side of a street near her rural home. Ellie was very sick with a severe upper respiratory infection, worms, and fleas. Her eyes were so bad that her left eye was actually fused shut. Laura then began nursing her to health, of course all the while talking to me about this sweet little cat she was helping. As soon as Jon and I saw her our minds were made up - we wanted to adopt her! Her name comes from the fact that she's the eleventh animal my sister has rescued. (Laura has a very big heart when it comes to animals!) Now she's doing very well healthwise, and we're integrating her into the family. My other cat, Lucy, is still getting used to having another cat around, but I know they'll get along just fine. We're so happy to have her with us, and if her purring when we're around is any indication she's pretty happy too.
(click the picture for Ellie's photos)

Bush bitten by own soundbite

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. - President George W. Bush

   I saw this on Leno last night. Jay swore that it wasn't edited, and once I watched it I knew it was a classic Bushism. Freudian slip? I don't know. But funny, ironic and scary all at once. Listen to it here.

Kerry Edwards 'No Objection' To Missouri Gay Marriage Ban
   I'm supposed to want to vote for these guys? It's become the lesser of two evils again. How sad that this is our choice in this country. I think the John Kerry sticker is coming out of my car window. I'd be ashamed to have it there now. It's like getting beat up by the second biggest class bully or something. I wonder how HRC will respond to this...

[further thoughts (posted 8/7/04 @ 1:30am) I got an email from democrats.org entitled "Pride at the Polls" this evening. It went on about all the GLBT-related things from the Democratic Convention. Funny, it didn't mention Kerry or Edwards as saying anything supportive.]

   I had to deal with more grouchy people today at work than I have in probably the past two months combined. One man grumbled at me when I tried to help him. Another told me to get a life. A woman wanted us to rering her entire transaction because she missed some of the prices as they came up. Another man complained about the age of my employees. Another complained about a clothes hanger she had for a year was broken. Another complained that the lines were too long. Another complained that we were too fast. Another complained that we don't explicitly tell everyone the return policy as they check out. We were understaffed and overworked.
   I had a migraine by the time I left today...

   Washington state may be the next to allow gay couples to legally marry. Oh the civilization will fall!
Gay Couples Must Be Allowed To Marry Washington Court Rules
   My home state of Missouri, the "show me" state, has shown just how far their heads are up their asses. Today I thank goodness I live there no more.
Focus Turns To Louisiana After Missouri Votes To Ban Gay Marriage

   It's probably a good thing I didn't have to work today - I had a stupid day. You know, it's the kind where you just do stupid stuff. Nothing fatal or extremely detrimental, just dumb. Like this morning when I put the Noxema Face Wash in my hair. Or telling my sister that I've been giving the new kitty oxycotin (instead of amoxycillin). Or repeatedly trying to start the lawn mower while in the "off" position. Sometimes I scare myself...

   Sometimes you know it's going to be a rough/strange day the moment you walk into work. Today I walked into a small nightmare given away by the look on my coworker's face. Not good stuff happening before I got to work today. Later a man came through and made a sound that I can only describe as a cross between Satan and a dog throwing up. Another man claimed that our rudeness sent his wife into labor (or labor pains - one of the two). A woman shoped for seven hours - yep, she was the last one to leave the store after we closed. A person called from Chicago for a guy who had left his bag of paid merchandise at our store over the weekend. I took care of it for him. She said the abandoner was talking about it on his radio show. I listened to an archive of it this evening - he wants us to send him a bag of jelly beans.

     I keep seeing these TV spots for ReMax Realtors that seem kinda backwards. They're trying to say that their realtors are so committed that they go the extra mile to help you and add that personal touch. I'm sure they do and are in reality very nice, but I find the ads amusing. One I saw this morning was the realtor showing up in a hot air balloon in the middle of the night scaring a homeowner and his son half to death. The other one that I've seen a number of times is when the realtor (again in a hot air balloon) shows up on a film set to tell the actress about her house in the middle of her dramtic scene. She sold her house, but then lost her job...
     So if you use ReMax, the ads are telling you that they realtor is going to do something obnoxious at an inopportune time. Just amusing to me, that's all.
     [I'm sure ReMax realtors are very nice and professional people in real life.]

   I've never really used a "real" telescope until tonight. Once I started I got hooked very quickly. I have a pretty simple Bushnell telescope that my mom let me borrow. Jon and I have tried using it a few times, but this was the first night I really saw anything. Of course the moon is full this evening, and came up over the trees in my backyard around 11pm. I think I was out there until about 12:30am - just looking in amazement. I could see such clear detail - the craters, valleys and ridges. I've never actually seen the moon live and in person so close that it seemed mere centimeters away. I tracked it across the sky as it moved up and southward. I wish I could show you pictures from the telescope - you know I tried. :) If you've never looked through a telescope at the night sky, it's definitely a unique and wonderful view.

   The season premiere of Real Time with Bill Maher was on HBO this past Friday. I just watched it on TiVo last night, and I can't say that I'm all that impressed. Granted I don't always agree with Maher's sense of humor - sometimes he says things that are just not funny, and occasionally he wanders about in his dialogue. But he is willing to say things that others won't, and his humorous political commentary makes watching all the idiocy we call politics more bearable. Last Friday's episode, however, had a Jerry Springer undertone which was surprising to me.
   First, they need to get over the FCC "humor" and stop using the word "fuck" like it's funnier than Bush falling from his bike (again). I understand punctuating one's diatribe with a few colorful metaphors for emphasis, but after the fifth one it sounds like one has nothing intelligent to say. Speaking of nothing to say, Andre 3000 didn't have much to say or comment on either. Michael Moore was a guest, as was the former Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell (who I admire) and republican Bill Owens from California. The two men spent way too much time talking over one another and arguing about stupid stuff, so much that it became less of a talk show than a waste of time. After awhile it seemed like they were just trading personal jabs. You can listen to how it happened here (MP3). Thank goodness for Ms. Campbell.
   Maher made an interesting comment about how the religious right views gays and gay marriage. You can listen to that clip here (MP3) if you feel so inclined. Of course there was no response to that comment. Owens went from there to comment on Moore's comments about hate. Overall, I just felt it just wasn't a really great episode. Of course having two very strong willed and vocal guests on must have been difficult. It's generally a good, funny show.