Thursday, October 26, 2006

NJ Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage

A friend just asked me what I thought of the recent NJ Supreme Court ruling on the right of gays to marry.  I was disappointed. We have only to look at recent history in South Africa to see that "separate, but equal" doesn't work. In all honesty I don't care what they call it but from a legal standpoint I think it matters. I don't think African-Americans and Whites who were affected by anti-miscegenation laws would have been happy with anything less than marriage rights and I don't think Queers should be either. However, civil unions are a half-step forward. I think all unions sanctified/registered/whatever with the state should be called "civil unions." Then, if you want or can get your religion to sanctify your union you can call it a marriage. If your church wants to give you special rights because you have obtained a "marriage" they can. But in the eyes of the law there should only be "civil unions." The State doesn't currently make a distinction between people who are married in a church or by a judge or by a justice of the peace.  I think it would be an easy change for the State to make.

I think we should all be equal under the eyes of the law. Once again, it all goes back to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence upon which this Nation was founded.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.



Stealing Elections

If you have any interest in getting free and fair elections back in the United States, go read this Rolling Stone article by RFK Jr.  I am absolutely disgusted by my county's decision to use Diebold machines.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/11717105/robert_f_kennedy_jr__will_the_next_election_be_hacked/print

Friday, October 20, 2006

I don't get it

 
This morning on NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6352046  I heard the political correspondents discussing how the Republicans were going to start airing an ad on Sunday showing Osama bin Laden with his quotes about wanting to destroy the US.  I do not understand how this is beneficial to the Repubs.  For 5 years, this guy (who did, in fact, have something to do with 9/11/01) has been on the loose and we invade Iraq instead of putting all of our resources towards capturing him.  This is a reason why the Democrats can't "keep America safe?"  It just astounds me every time ObL is invoked that no one (especially the journalists) says "Hey, you've had 5 years to strategize and decide how to capture him and instead you've been busily invading Iraq and creating a civil war there and completely destabilizing the Middle East."  I couldn’t believe Mara Liason didn't bring it up.  What the hell am I missing? Do people really buy this bullshit? 

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Today is sponsored by the letter "C"


The Wife gave me a Handspring handheld planner as a wedding gift.  For 5 years it has functioned as my address book, calendar, and note pad.  Then in July I got a CrackBerry through work (and a new personal cell phone within the same month).  I have restocked the cell phone with phone numbers but it is taking me ages to move the stuff to the CB.  I have to be on my work computer, attached to the network, and logged in to email so I can access Contacts.  Granted, it is much easier to move stuff using Contacts and the full-size keyboard rather than giving myself CB thumb trying to key it all in that way.  Today I decided that I have to add a new letter each day.  I'm up to D now.  At this rate it is going to take me until Thanksgiving to get it all in.

Congress sucks

This article really pisses me off, especially the part where they imply that it was up to Gerry Studds to figure out how to provide his husband with his Congressional pension should said husband outlive him. If Gerry Studds husband was named Deanna instead of Dean, he would be automatically eligible even if they had gotten married last week and not 2 years ago (in MA where gay marriage is recognized.) FUCKERS.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Yes, I am wearing pants.

This morning, I walked over to The Wife's side of the bed to kiss her goodbye like I do every day and she gave me a very odd look.  Then she looked me up and down.  I realized that she thought I wasn't wearing pants (I'm wearing khaki-colored pants today).  I wished her a good day and, as I walked out the door I said "yes, I am wearing pants."


Friday, October 13, 2006

YUM! Prosciutto.

My favorite Italian deli has opened a branch in my town.  It used to be a 45 minute trip for fresh ricotta, fresh mozarella, and prosciutto, sweet capocolla, and Italian ham.  Now it is a quick jaunt and is practically next to my favorite bakery (don't like the bread from the Italian deli.)  If Trader Joe's would open a store in town I think I would never have to leave (except to go to work

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

National Coming Out Day

We're HERE, We're QUEER, Get USED TO IT!

Sorry, I was back in my Washington protest days. Ahhh, to be young and in graduate school again.

Today is National Coming Out Day. If you are gay, tell someone. If you are straight and supportive of gay rights, tell someone. If you are homophobic, try talking to someone who is gay (or straight and supportive) without judging.

I have a pretty good life. I have a wife of 10 years (Hi BooBoo), a good job where I am out and where my relationship is treated like any other (well mostly) and where domestic partner benefits are offered, and a family who tries very hard to accept me and The Wife. I have good friends who generally make up for any shortcomings in the relationship recognition department from the family. I also have the world's best poodle who provides more unconditional love than one person needs (in the form of copious doggie kisses.)

While my life is good, life for gay Americans is not always so rosy. You can still be fired from your job (or not hired in the first place), you can be discharged from the military, and general discrimination is legal and openly practiced against gays. Unless you are a Massachusetts resident you cannot marry in the US and foreign marriages are not recognized here. The state and federal government confer many benefits upon married couples and gyms, golf clubs, museum, insurance companies etc extend benefits to those who are "legally" married. In short, while I work full-time, pay taxes, vote, and obey the law, I am still a second-class citizen.

Work for equality. When one person is oppressed, no one is truly free.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

WHOOPS! Or How to Scare Yourself at 7 AM

This morning I discovered the perils of eating fresh vegetables. One of the things The Wife and I enjoy the most from our CSA farm share is the beets. We make a salad of fresh beets, cucumbers, chick peas, and feta cheese with vinaigrette. We had been using canned beets in the salad until the CSA beets were available. Now we know all about the effects of beets on poop (to the uninitiated, fresh beets make it appear that you are bleeding out your bum when you poop.) We've both managed to scare ourselves when we forgot that we had beets for dinner the night before. Now, we announce "Beet Poop" while we are eating the salad to remind ourselves of the beet effect.

This morning, I scared myself because I peed red. It was at 7 AM, I didn't have my glasses on, and it was the last thing I needed first thing in the morning. I was completely flipped out but felt fine so I didn't run for the phone to call the doctor. I finally had a chance to check online (after I peed for the second time today and it looked completely normal) and beets can do the same thing to pee as they do to poop. Giant sigh of relief. I would have felt really stupid calling my Rad/Onc to report "blood in my urine" only to discover it was beets.