Park 51: Mark 12:31

The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

This is in the Bible....at least until a Texas Bible Board takes it upon themselves to rewrite it.

I visited Park 51 or the "ground zero mosque" this weekend in New York. I had the opportunity to thank those who were there civilly promoting unity, tolerance, and religious freedom. I could not see Ground Zero from this location.

Unity is great, but there is the parking issue. Go to this wonderful article to hear a Muslim's consideration of the location:  Frank Talk in Taxi Over Planned  Muslim Center by Susan Dominus.

Weekend Cat Blogging #273

I captured Vincent on my iPhone during various stages of attack. See, that's the thing with those wooden blinds - you have to watch them all the time! I'm happy I have Vincent to monitor it for me.

Vincent and Jules will have a new sitter this weekend while I go to New York. What do you think? Waiting for me to return or resting up for the big party they're throwing later tonight?

This week's Weekend Cat Blogging is hosted by Nikita Cat and Mistress Elvira of Pussydom at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat.

Reminder: 
Jules and Vincent will be hosting Weekend Cat Blogging next weekend. We hope to see you here!

Feel Good Friday

To celebrate my upcoming trip to New York City, baby!

Scoring for the Alabama Crimson Tide

I've recently discovered and joined Alabama Bloggers.  I'm delighted, but not surprised, to find a little football competition going on at that site. It is the State of Alabama, after all.

My Saturdays begin with ESPN Game Day at 10 a.m. and I watch SEC games throughout the day, the Crimson Tide being the main event!  I am extremely nervous about this season, not because of our football team but because of the satellite service I have now. DirecTV, anyone? I have a package through my apartment complex and, sadly, I have been less than pleased! A service call is scheduled for Thursday when I will stress the importance of uninterrupted football coverage. I hope I can blog about a satisfactory service experience!

A few facts:
1) My brother and I graduated from UA, and we are both huge football fans.
2) I plan the majority, if not all, of what I do in the fall/winter around UA's football schedule.
3) I go to at least one game per year, but prefer to watch from home so that I can keep up with games from around the country, particularly the SEC.
4) I couldn't pick out a holding call if my life depended on it.
5) Even when I commit to trying, I can't seem to pull for Auburn or Tennessee for any reason.
6) I still get chill bumps when the team first runs out on the field.
7) I am simultaneously embarrassed and elated about our state's obsession with football.
8) I am terribly superstitious.

I posted a video recently on my blog. Watch it! If this doesn't get you ready for football season at UA, nothing will!  11 Days and Counting Until Kickoff! Roll Tide!

Comedic or Racist?

I ran across this photo posted on Facebook. I suppose some people might find this funny based of the viral video of Antoine Dodson who, sadly, became famous after an interview following his sister's attempted rape in my home state.

My vote: blatant racism

After Laura Schlessinger's offensive and aggressive radio response to a caller, Sarah Palin's use of the words shackles and reloading, and the divisive fear-mongering that has been led by the Right since the election of President Obama, there is no other way to look at this photo other than blatant racism.

Before posting, I went to CafePress to see what Anti-Obama merchandise was being sold (note: they sell all kinds of merchandise, including Pro-Obama merchandise). I haven't forgotten there were Anti-Bush bumper stickers too; yet, many of these were quite shocking in their vitriol.

Weekend Cat Blogging #272

Good morning! These photos were taken with my iPhone. It is wonderful to wake up to these two sweeties every morning. It is hard to imagine that these two once hid in the closet all day, isn't it?

Jules and Vincent are this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging, hosted by Samantha and Clementine at Life From A Cat's Perspective.

Cheesy is the Word...is the word....is the word....

We all have those songs we love, not because the song is so great but because of where/what/when/who we were doing at the time, right? When we hear it now, it takes us back to that same time and feeling.

Were there songs you liked until something happened that was kind of cheesy? Here's an example: I grew up with and liked the Righteous Brothers. I liked their song Unchained Melody until it showed up in the movie Ghost. Nice scene but now I see Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze when I hear that song and I really don't want to think of either of them separately or together.

Same thing with Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight. Nice song, right? I was at a Clapton concert and at the first recognizable chord all the guys pulled their dates in front of them, wrapped their arms around them, and began swaying back and forth in unison, like robots. That one memory completely ruins the song for me now.

Tom Cruise dancing to Bob Seger's Old Time Rock and Roll was another fun cinematic moment. While I personally had a great time dancing to that song at a Seger concert, I now think of Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear (and, oddly, the Ron Reagan, Jr. parody on SNL).

I was listening to a classic radio mix on Pandora today and found some songs just felt wrong. What happens when good songs turn cheesy through no fault of their own? Have you experienced this and, if so, what song turned cheesy for you?

Feel Good Friday

From my youth, listen to the The Young Rascals version here.

Let's Review This Week

Many of us were convinced of the less than discreet affair News Corp (i.e., FOX News) was having with the GOP. They made it official this week by donating $1 million to Republican governors. Smack!

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show:  "This is a travesty," Stewart said. "I really think, if anything, the Republicans should be paying FOX News millions and millions of dollars." Watch video here.


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More Americans believe President Obama is a Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center. The question: "Do you happen to know what Barack Obama's religion is? Is he Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, agnostic or something else?" According to Pew, "Only about one-third of adults (34%) say Obama is a Christian, down sharply from 48% in 2009. Fully 43% say they do not know what Obama’s religion is."

Let me just say two words about this: Hillary Clinton. If President Obama was a Muslim, Secretary of State Clinton or some of those working for her campaign would have uncovered that information, released it, and used it to win the presidency. It is that simple.


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What group is left for the GOP to alienate and/or offend? Women!

The Republican Party of Minnesota's fifty-sixth Senate district is out with a new web video firing an unusual line of attack: women affiliated with the GOP are hotter than their Democratic counterparts.

The nearly five-minute long spot is set to the tune of Tom Jones' "She's a Lady" and touts the physique of ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, along with that of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and other familiar female conservative faces.

Following a montage of images hyping the Republican looks, the music transitions to Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" before distorted snapshots of House Speaker Nancy Pelsoi, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Rosie O'Donnell's head photoshopped onto 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's body flash across the screen. Continue reading here.....

The GOP obviously isn't satisfied with just insulting based on race, ethnicity, religion, income, and intelligence, they have now gone after women.

"Why should you vote for me? Because I do not wear high heels." Remark from Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck, Colorado.  Hee-Haw!

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Sign seen on side of transfer truck: Jesus Christ is Lord, not a swear word

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Leaving Iraq

Breaking news tonight says the last of U.S. combat brigade are crossing into Kuwait, leaving Iraq. Yet, 50,000 U.S. troops remain for training and support. What is left to say about these seven-plus years?

Warning: A Slippery Slope

As I have posted in the past, I am not against prayer.  If someone cares enough to lift my name or another's name up in a positive way, I am grateful.  I am opposed to bringing religion into the workplace. And, here is an excellent example of why I am opposed to public prayer and/or prayer meetings being brought into the workplace and/or Christian Bible verses being posted on the wall and in the company newsletter. 

I chose to post the article in its entirety because I couldn't decide where to stop and link to the source at AolNews.

Russian Tycoon Orders Workers to Find God or Get Fired

(Aug. 17) -- A Russian tycoon has told 6,000 workers at his private dairy company that they'll be fired if they've ever had an abortion, or if those who are "living in sin" don't get married within two months.

Vasily Boiko, who officially changed his name to Boiko-Veliky, which means "Boiko the Great," has set a deadline of October 14 -- a Russian Orthodox Church holiday -- for any of his unmarried employees who live with a partner to get married, or get fired.

"We have about 6,000 employees, most of whom are Orthodox, and I expect them to be faithful and to repent," Boiko told Reuters last week. His order came in an internal memo to workers at Russkoye Moloko, which means "Russian milk" and whose products are sold in many Russian supermarkets.

Boiko told Ekho Moskvy radio that a woman who's had an abortion "can no longer be an employee of our company ... We don't want to work with killers," according to Reuters.

The ultimatum also comes amid Russia's worst drought and wildfires on record, in which suffocating heat and smog have doubled the normal summertime death rate in Moscow. More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed by fires, and a third of Russia's wheat crop has succumbed to the drought. The government has banned grain exports for the rest of the year, and promised subsidies to farmers and agriculture businesses like Boiko's.

The tycoon blames Russia's extreme weather this summer on what he called a lack of ample religious faith. "Such an extreme situation is punishment for the Russian people's sins," he told daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, according to The Daily Telegraph. "I need to take extreme measures including looking at the way my employees treat God."

But government officials say such extreme measures could violate Russia's labor laws.

About two-thirds of Russians belong at least nominally to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has seen a revival of popularity since the 1991 collapse of the secular Soviet Union.

But one of Boiko's former employees told the independent Moscow News that the tycoon hasn't always been so religious, and characterized some of his business practices as "certainly not Christian." The unnamed former worker said Boiko apparently had an epiphany while in jail for fraud allegations in 2007.

The Ultimate Response

Updated, 5:45 p.m.:  Or, from John Oliver at The Daily Show:

There's a difference between what you can do and what you should do. For instance, you can build a Catholic church next to a playground. Should you? 

Watch Jon Stewart: Mosque-Erade video (09:05)

11:10 a.m.:
As posted on sharoncobb.com today:

Here's A Question That Answers The Mosque Near Ground Zero Issue

My friend (and lawyer) Steve Fisher usually manages to put answers to questions in a succinct manner. Here is yet another one from Steve:

Should Christians be allowed to have a church near the Oklahoma Fed Bldg? Nicols and Mcveigh were conservative Christians and they bombed 100's of Americans to death. Wouldn't a church inflame and be a slap in the face of the families who lost their loved ones?

No marriages for you!

The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody can reach it. 

~ Belize

Angels in America

I thought of this play when I read, and not to my surprise, that marriages for gay and lesbian couples would not take place tomorrow in California because an appeal was filed as expected. It is my sense that gay and lesbian couples will continue living their lives together, working, and raising children just as they always have without it playing out on the public stage, while others jerk them around, vote on, and argue about their civil rights.

In this scene, Belize's lines in their entirety might be hard for some people to read/hear. Truth, reality, whatever you want to call it usually is hard.  He is speaking to Louis, a gay male friend, about Louis's ex, Prior. The "terminal, crazy, and mean" is Roy Cohn. These words, written by Tony Kushner, are worth reading and reflecting on as we make our way forward in the world.

Belize (nurse, male, gay, black, in NYC):  You know what your problem is, Louis? Your problem is that you are so full of piping hot crap that the mention of your name draws flies. Just to set the record straight: I love Prior but was never in love with him. I have a man, uptown, and have since long before I first laid my eyes on the sorry-ass sight of you. But you didn't know cause you never bothered to ask. Up in the air, just like that angel, too far off the earth to pick out the details. Louis and his big ideas. Big ideas are all you love. America is what Louis loves. Well I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. It's just big ideas, and stories, and people dying, and people like you. The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody can reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on earth sounds less like freedom to me. You come to room 1013 over at the hospital, I'll show you America. Terminal, crazy and mean. I live in America, Louis, that's hard enough, I don't have to love it. You do that. Everybody's got to love something.

Sunday Reflections: The Suburbs

Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes made of ticky tacky,

Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes all the same.

There's a green one and a pink one

And a blue one and a yellow one,

And they're all made out of ticky tacky

And they all look just the same.

 
I didn't grow up in the suburbs; in fact, most of the places I lived as a child hadn't heard of suburbs. As a teenager, I aspired to be there for what I believed would be a better life. As an adult, I feared they might destroy any sense of individuality I ever had. Both were correct.
 
I've been thinking about the suburbs a lot today, mainly because I have been listening to Arcade Fire's new CD, The Suburbs, nonstop. (Recommended! Two thumbs up.) When I first moved to the suburbs later in life, I described it as very white. Yes, at first it was 99.99% white people, but not so much by the time my ten years were up. Actually what I meant it was white as in bland, soulless, without uniqueness, a facade, clone-ish, conformist. I carried that belief with me daily like a big fat chip on my shoulder and, thus, I never fit in and didn't last very long.

And the people in the houses

All went to the university,

Where they were put in boxes

And they came out all the same,

And there's doctors and lawyers,

And business executives,

And they're all made out of ticky tacky

And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course

And drink their martinis dry,

And they all have pretty children

And the children go to school,

And the children go to summer camp

And then to the university,

Where they are put in boxes

And they come out all the same. (see *Notes below for credits)

I suppose there is a certain safeness that comes with the security of sameness. One can still experience the world through travel, just not daily. The security that comes with lack of change is not something I have ever experienced. I'm not saying it is bad or wrong; I'm saying it was everything I had feared it would be.

The lyrics of Arcade Fire's single, The Suburbs, suggest the writer has come to terms with early life growing up in the suburbs. I bring personal baggage to the lyrics so read my own experience into the song.

You always seemed so sure

That one day we'd fight

In a suburban world

your part of town gets minor

So you're standin' on the opposite shore

But by the time the first bombs fell

We were already bored

We were already, already bored

Sometimes I can't believe it

I'm movin' past the feeling

Sometimes I can't believe it

I'm movin' past the feeling again

If I could have it back

All the time that we wasted

I'd only waste it again

If I could have it back

You know I'd love to waste it again

Waste it again and again and again

~ Arcade Fire

*Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990. Malvina and her husband were on their way from where they lived in Berkeley, through San Francisco and down the peninsula to La Honda where she was to sing at a meeting of the Friends’ Committee on Legislation (not the PTA, as Pete Seeger says in the documentary about Malvina, “Love It Like a Fool”). As she drove through Daly City, she said “Bud, take the wheel. I feel a song coming on.”

This is now the opening song for Showtime's Weeds, season premier Monday night.

Photo by iStock

Call Me Tony Soprano

I'm obsessed with our ducks and ducklings. They haven't caused me to have a panic attack (yet), seek a therapist (yet), or whack anyone (yet), but I enjoy watching them wander around our apartment. My cat, Vincent, likes to watch them but my cat, Jules, isn't interested unless they want to get close enough so he can bathe them. 

A Word From A Semi-Professional Left Person

President Obama was more presidential yesterday than possibly any time in his presidency so far. It is a so-called defining moment, hopefully the first of many for him. He said:

As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are. The writ of the Founders must endure.

I so respect that he made this statement by supporting what is the very foundation of what is America. One would think Christians would understand this since NOTHING ever stops them from barging in to a country OR a workplace conference room.

I know in my bones that the GOP has just been waiting with bated breath for President Obama to comment on this debate. It might hurt President Obama in the long run,as many people can't see beyond that little noses. "Religious freedom must be unshakable", he said. I would add that freedom FROM religion should continue to be supported as well.

I am proud of you, President Obama.

Rain, Rain.. Don't Go Away

After a heat index yesterday of 110 degrees, the rain is a welcome sight. Despite having to cancel a few things and getting SOAKED running into Fresh Market, I got a lot done that I wanted to do. Speaking of that, a big thanks to my new bud, Aaron. I've looked at Clouds from both sides now and I like it! I really, really like it! Thanks, A!

Since I missed Pepper Place Market today, I'll share a restaurant review of Bettola, the chef scheduled for the cooking demonstration.  The review is from 2007.  I've read a few customer reviews criticizing the wait staff but, hey, if they can make a pizza that tastes as good as this picture looks then I'll serve myself.

Review: Bettola Brings Real Neopolitan Pizza to Birmingham by Deborah Lockridge; I hate being a total spelling geek but I think this should be Neapolitan pizza  or pizza napoletana. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It has rained pretty much all day today so the trees will be a little greener, the temperatures a little cooler, the creek behind my apartment a little fuller (which sounds great rushing over those rocks, BTW), and my satellite TV totally unavailable! Not happy so far with my satellite TV service but that is a post for another day. The service guy lives on this property and I know which building! He has 20 days, 23 hours, and 31 minutes to make sure this doesn't happen again, at least between September and February.

Every day is better in Birmingham.

Weekend Cat Blogging #271

I always feel like somebody's watching me

And I have no privacy, whoa-oa-oa

I always feel like somebody's watching me

Tell me, is it just a dream. ~Rockwell

Jules is welcome to watch me anytime! He is this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging hosted by Breadchick and LB at The Sour Dough.

TGIFMF

Ever have one of those weeks? This has been one of mine. You're going along happy and content and then POW! BIFF! THWACK! Holy, Batsh*t! Out of nowhere everything changes and your morale is in the basement.

It's the happy and content part that trips me up every time, isn't it? I like my job. I don't dread getting up in the mornings. I like the work. Yet, my co-workers must sit straight up in their beds at night with bells going off in their heads - ding! ding! ding! ding! - Judi is too satisfied and must be trying to get away with something. Tomorrow's goal: stop her and make her miserable.

Check.  Rest easy. Task accomplished.

I am ready for a weekend in the Magic City! What to do?

Pepper Place Market

Keep a promise that only true friends would agree to do

Alabama Theatre Double Feature: The Birds and Psycho OR Eat Pray Love

Redeem Urban Cookhouse complimentary meal tickets (thanks, KB)

After that, who knows? Birmingham is open to 1,000 opportunities.

Cartoons by T. McCracken.

Language by me.

Feel Good Friday

Ezra Klein: Bush Tax Cuts v Obama Tax Cuts

This chart is worth 1,000 words. Compiled by Ezra Klein in The Washington Post, this shows clearly who truly benefits from the Bush tax cuts. I personally know very few people who make over one million dollars; in fact, I don't think I know anyone who makes over a million dollars. Therefore, it amazes me at the number of people who parrot the GOP's talking points and who support extending the Bush tax cuts.

Source

David Boies on Face The Nation

Those of us who reject the politics of fear and particularly of junk science were delighted to watch Attorney David Boies on this morning's Face The Nation. Boies, together with Attorney Ted Olson, argued and won the overturn of Prop 8 in California this week. It continues to astound me why these Sunday morning 'serious' political shows give people like Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council a platform to spread his personal beliefs and fears and attempts to pass them off as fact.

As David Boies pointed out, it is only in a courtroom and under cross-examination where one has to prove under oath these junk science claims that they fall apart. Boies said recently that the plaintiffs won at the trial level because "religion does not have a place in American legislation, and that has been true since the First Amendment to the Constitution was passed." 

I've added one more saying to my growing list:
No atheists in a foxhole
No libertarians in a crisis
and now,
No strict constitutionalists when the constitution doesn't agree with their personal prejudices.

Finally, a word to Democrats and President Obama: Stop being afraid. Stand up. Speak out.

Happy World Cat Day 2010

Today is an important day for cats. Around the world we are celebrating just how wonderful cats are.

Do you own a cat or does your cat own you? (source)
I indicated my 'yes' with an asterisk, and I will admit I've probably done all of these things at some point in my life!

* Do you sleep without your pillow, because the cat wants to sleep on it?

* Do you stand at the computer because the cat is sleeping on the chair?

Do you always make sure there's plenty of kitty litter in the house, even though you may not notice that you have run out of toilet paper until it's too late?

* Do you stay in uncomfortable positions or continue to stay in one place because the cat is curled up on your lap asleep?

* Does it always take you longer than expected to read a magazine, because the cat keeps curling up on it while you're reading?

Do you frequently leave your dresser drawer open when you leave for the day, because the cat jumped into it and is now asleep?

* Do you have pictures of your cat in your wallet and of course bring them out when your friends share pictures of their children? (Don't lie, polls show that 40 percent of cat owners do carry their pet's pictures in their wallets)

Do you expect your friends and family to say a few words to your cat when they call you on the phone?

Do you keep old, empty boxes all over the house instead of throwing them away, because the cat likes to sleep in them?

At the store, do you pick up the cat food and kitty litter before you pick out anything for yourself?

Did you buy a video of fish swimming in an aquarium to entertain your cat?

Do your Christmas cards feature your cat sitting on Santa's lap? Does your cat sign the card? Is your cat's name on the answering machine!?

Will you confess to non-cat owners how many cats you really have?

Do you buy more than 50 pounds of cat litter a month?

* Do you climb out of bed like Spiderman to avoid disturbing your sleeping cat?

* Do you put off making the bed until the cat gets up?

Do you stand at the open door, patiently, in the freezing rain while your cat sniffs the door, deciding whether to go out or come in?

Do you cook a special turkey for your cat on holidays? On any day!?

Do you give your cat Christmas presents and stuff a stocking full of toys? Do you spend more for your cat than you do for your spouse?

Do you have more than four opened but rejected cans of cat food in the refrigerator?

Do you microwave your cat's food or better yet, prepare it from scratch?

* Will you sleep in the same position all night because it disturbs your cats when you move?

Do you watch bad TV because the cat is sleeping on the remote?

Does your cat "insist" on a fancy Sunday breakfast consisting of an omelet made from eggs, milk, and salmon, halibut, or trout? Do you make it every Sunday?

Does your cat eat out of cut crystal stemware because you both watched the same commercial on television?

Does your cat like to sleep on your head? Do you like it also?

* Do you introduce your cat when guests come to your house?

* Would you rather spend a night at home with your cat than go out on a bad date? What about a good date?


Cats are worth every little inconvenience!  For interesting facts about cats, check out The Cat's Meow!.

The Supremes

When I was a young adult, I had stacks and stacks of MS magazines. My first three semesters of college was at a women's college. I cried with pride when Geraldine Ferraro accepted the nomination for Vice President. I only had the courage...and brain....and heart to follow a traditional path, but I supported women more capable to achieve what I could only fantasize.

On Saturday, Elena Kagan was sworn in as the third female justice on the Supreme Court. That makes a total of only four women who have served on the Supreme Court. President Obama continues to make history.

AP photo

Sisters are doing it for themselves.

Sloss Furnaces: Giant Skillet with Egg

Sloss Furnaces is a national historic landmark and a constant in the Birmingham skyline. Recently, Alabama Public Television premiered a documentary about its history and the work of past and present artists.

I have blogged about the work of Joe McCreary here. He has worked at Sloss Furnaces for over 10 years. I had not seen this video until today and thought it was pretty cool.  What do you think?

Joe McCreary's website


Giant Skillet with Egg from Alabama Public Television on Vimeo.

Weekend Cat Blogging #270

Vincent is outside looking in, for a change - looking in and stalking that tiny moth.

Vincent is this week's entry for Weekend Cat Blogging hosted by Amar and Luna at Catsynth.

Family, Shopping, and Tex-Mex

My wonderful niece and two of her daughters were in Birmingham today for a visit, much to my delight. They have their masters' degrees in shopping!

Lunch was at Chuy's Restaurant, a new Tex-Mex chain located at The Summit. (Review here)

Nachos Bar

Seen in the bar

Coaches Overwhelming Vote Crimson Tide No. 1

Well, of course. But, let's not count our touchdowns until we make them. Saturday, August 7th, is Fan Day. This year, Bryant Denny Stadium will host 101,821 fans following its stadium expansion. (We actually built new seats; we didn't just draw skinny seats in to boost our numbers. Zinger.)

It is never too early to enjoy this fan-enhanced version of the intro video. I have been called out for our showing Tebow crying as being in poor taste by an Arkansas fan - I still love you, Glen. I think that one scene will lift the crowd off its feet, which will mean everything to the team when they come out on the field.

29 DAYS AND COUNTING!

turn it up.....

Friday Funny: Andy Borowitz

70% Of Existing Marriages May Already Be Gay

MINNEAPOLIS (The Borowitz Report) - Just hours after a federal judge struck down California's ban on gay marriage, a new study revealed that well over seventy percent of existing marriages may already be gay.

The study, conducted by Dr. Davis Logsdon of the Marital Behavior Institute at the University of Minnesota, confirmed what many social scientists have long suspected: that within the first five years of marriages, most men become, for all intents and purposes, gay.

"Soon after marrying, most men stop hitting on women and start shopping for furniture," Dr. Logsdon said. "Scientifically speaking, how gay is that?"

Within ten years of marriage, he added, a significant number of married men stop having sex with women altogether.

"There's only one way to describe someone who does not have sex with women, does not hit on women, and spends his free time shopping for furniture," he said. "That word, to be scientific about it, is gay."  ~ Andy Borowitz

Happy Friday!
Congratulations California and supporters across the country!

Feel Good Friday

Prop 8 Overturned!

My partner and I said we wouldn't get married until all couples had the right to marry. Unfortunately, we didn't last; we gave up the fight. Women and men supporting the right to marry and remain married did not give up the fight. Today, we celebrate a big victory for their efforts - Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional.

Equally important is what is contained in the 136-page decision by 9th Circuit District Court Judge Vaughn Walker:

•"Sexual orientation is commonly discussed as a characteristic of the individual. Sexual orientation is fundamental to a person's identity and is a distinguishing characteristic that defines gays and lesbians as a discrete group. Proponents' assertion that sexual orientation cannot be defined is contrary to the weight of the evidence."

•"Individuals do not generally choose their sexual orientation. No credible evidence supports a finding that an individual may, through conscious decision, therapeutic intervention or any other method, change his or her sexual orientation."

•"Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in the characteristics relevant to the ability to form successful marital unions. Like opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples have happy, satisfying relationships and form deep emotional bonds and strong commitments to their partners. Standardized measures of relationship satisfaction, relationship adjustment and love do not differ depending on whether a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex."

•"Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option for gay and lesbian individuals."

•"Same-sex couples receive the same tangible and intangible benefits from marriage that opposite-sex couples receive."

•"The availability of domestic partnership does not provide gays and lesbians with a status equivalent to marriage because the cultural meaning of marriage and its associated benefits are intentionally withheld from same-sex couples in domestic partnerships."

•"Permitting same-sex couples to marry will not affect the number of opposite-sex couples who marry, divorce, cohabit, have children outside of marriage or otherwise affect the stability of opposite-sex marriages."

Doing the right thing feels good. Justice. Equality. Civil Rights. The Right Thing To Do.

Photo source
Prop 8 ruling source

Go Bon Temps!

My brother, a true True Blood fan, sent me this T-shirt today. Bon Temps is not a real town in Louisiana; however, there is a club in New Orleans named Le Bon Temps Roule from the phrase "Laissez les bon temps rouler" = Let the good times roll. (source) Too bad a Jason Stackhouse didn't come in it!