Friday, October 30, 2009
Update
I've been taking a break the past two weeks from email, news, internet, etc. Now working on a new feature for my Blog. I'll be posting information and links to free sweepstakes entries. I am reviewing the Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Web of Trust Rating for each site before listing it. Should be fun.
Monday, October 12, 2009
News: Reasons to Celebrate Columbus Day
One of my close friends posted a note on Facebook this morning, "Happy Columbus Day everyone." One humorous comment stood out: "How will you be celebrating Columbus Day this year? I tried to find anything other than a mattress sale but alas, no such luck!"
As today's news came in, I realized there are a couple of great reasons to celebrate today. Particularly for those in California, but the effects of these events will probably sweep across the country (as they usually do).
First, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein signed their names to a letter last Thursday insisting that the Senate include a strong public option in the merged health care bill. Previously, there was some doubt about Feinstein's resolve on the question. Courage Campaign is collecting signatures to a letter thanking the Senators for their action, and urging them to stand their ground when the matter reaches the floor.
Second, Governor Schwarzenegger today signed two historic LGBT rights bills into law. The Governor signed the Harvey Milk Day of Special Significance bill. A moment worth celebrating, as he vetoed similar legislation in the past. And more importantly, he signed the Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act. It provides that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8, must be recognized as married spouses in California. Moreover, the law applies to couples married in or outside the State. It requires that such couples must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law.
These may seem like small steps, but in the larger picture of the LGBT rights struggle, these are monumental steps. The long-term impact of both of these accomplishments is immeasurable. A reason to celebrate!
As today's news came in, I realized there are a couple of great reasons to celebrate today. Particularly for those in California, but the effects of these events will probably sweep across the country (as they usually do).
First, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein signed their names to a letter last Thursday insisting that the Senate include a strong public option in the merged health care bill. Previously, there was some doubt about Feinstein's resolve on the question. Courage Campaign is collecting signatures to a letter thanking the Senators for their action, and urging them to stand their ground when the matter reaches the floor.
Second, Governor Schwarzenegger today signed two historic LGBT rights bills into law. The Governor signed the Harvey Milk Day of Special Significance bill. A moment worth celebrating, as he vetoed similar legislation in the past. And more importantly, he signed the Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act. It provides that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8, must be recognized as married spouses in California. Moreover, the law applies to couples married in or outside the State. It requires that such couples must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law.
These may seem like small steps, but in the larger picture of the LGBT rights struggle, these are monumental steps. The long-term impact of both of these accomplishments is immeasurable. A reason to celebrate!
Quote of The Day: John Stewart
"Why can't they have gay people in the army? Personally, I think they are just afraid of a thousand guys with M16s going "Who'd you call a faggot?" ~John Stewart
Clip of the Day: 575 Castro Street
Those of you who live in San Francisco, probably recognized this address immediately. It is the address of Harvey Milk's Camera Shop.
Take a moment of solitude, to reflect on this moment recorded some thirty years ago. About how far we've come...and about how far we have to go, to realize Harvey's dream.
Take a moment of solitude, to reflect on this moment recorded some thirty years ago. About how far we've come...and about how far we have to go, to realize Harvey's dream.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
News: D.C. March Reminds Equality Elusive
Hundreds of thousands of citizens march today on the U.S. Capital to remind their American brothers and sisters that second class citizenship still exists in our great country. At the forefront of their agenda is the end of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for serving in the military. Basically, this law informs a substantial portion of the citizenship: "It's okay to die for your country, as long as you don't claim equal recognition." Similar policies allowed African Americans to die for their country.
Additionally, LGBT voters are seeking inclusion in the federal hate crimes law. This law makes it a federal offense to assault someone based solely on their race, color, or religion. Conservatives contend that including LGBT citizens in this protection, amounts to "special rights". Apparently protection from having your body disassembled with assorted tools, having your genitals mutilated, and other abhorrent violence based on your perceived sexual orientation, is not comparable to lynching.
"Perception" of sexual orientation is noted when referring to hate crimes, because often victims of LGBT violence are straight. They suffer violence, or even death, because of a false assumption about their identity. What many voters and legislators fail to grasp, is that as long as LGBT citizens are not afforded the right to serve openly the military, or equal civil marriage rights, they are defined by law as separate, and unequal...second-class citizens. This substandard existence justifies violence in the mind of the perpetrator.
This past June marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, when a group of gays stood up to police harassment in New York's Greenwich Village and took to the streets. That night is most often noted as the birth of the modern gay rights movement. Equal rights, and more importantly equal protection, for LGBT citizens is long overdue.
Write your congressperson, and your senators. Let them know that you support an end to Don't Ask Don't Tell, and inclusion of LGBT citizens in the federal hate crimes bill:
Additionally, LGBT voters are seeking inclusion in the federal hate crimes law. This law makes it a federal offense to assault someone based solely on their race, color, or religion. Conservatives contend that including LGBT citizens in this protection, amounts to "special rights". Apparently protection from having your body disassembled with assorted tools, having your genitals mutilated, and other abhorrent violence based on your perceived sexual orientation, is not comparable to lynching.
"Perception" of sexual orientation is noted when referring to hate crimes, because often victims of LGBT violence are straight. They suffer violence, or even death, because of a false assumption about their identity. What many voters and legislators fail to grasp, is that as long as LGBT citizens are not afforded the right to serve openly the military, or equal civil marriage rights, they are defined by law as separate, and unequal...second-class citizens. This substandard existence justifies violence in the mind of the perpetrator.
This past June marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, when a group of gays stood up to police harassment in New York's Greenwich Village and took to the streets. That night is most often noted as the birth of the modern gay rights movement. Equal rights, and more importantly equal protection, for LGBT citizens is long overdue.
Write your congressperson, and your senators. Let them know that you support an end to Don't Ask Don't Tell, and inclusion of LGBT citizens in the federal hate crimes bill:
Quotes of the Day: Van Buren, Goldwater & Matlovich
"You could move." ~Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby), in response to a reader who complained that a gay couple was moving in across the street and wanted to know what he could do to improve the quality of the neighborhood.
"You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight." ~Barry Goldwater
"When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one." ~Leonard P. Matlovich
"You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight." ~Barry Goldwater
"When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one." ~Leonard P. Matlovich
Clip of the Day: Boy George: Turn to Dust
This following song "Turn to Dust" is Boy George's best work in years. The video is from a YouTube member. FYI: "Chi Chi Man" is a derogatory Jamaican term for homosexual.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Quote of The Day: e. e. cummings
"The most wasted of all days...is one without laughter." -e. e. cummings
The Starter Wife: Fantasy Dream Sequences
I'm a huge fan of The Starter Wife, starring Debra Messing. I think it's the smartest, funniest comedy series to hit television in years. It costars Judy Davis, who I also really like. At the beginning of each episode Molly (Debra Messing), has a fantasy dream sequence, in which she portrays the character in a famous movie scene. The fantasy applies her current predicament to the situation in the movie scene. Really cool. You can occasionally catch reruns on the USA Network. I don't know if they're going to do a third season.
Here is The Tomb Raider Fantasy from one of the episodes. Molly and Rodney go searching for Molly's BFF Joan (Judy Davis). Joan and her husband Pappy disappeared on their cruise...
The USA website has a page with all of the fantasy scenes available for viewing. Each fantasy is only one or two minutes long. Just scroll down on any of these pages to find the thumbnails. A few of my favorites:
The Godfather (Molly Finds Ex-Husband Kenny)
Cinderella (Molly Meets New Boyfriend Zach)
Mission Impossible (Retrieving her Journal from Boyfriend's House)
Hello Dolly (Hollywood Outcast Molly, Gets a Movie Deal for her Book)
Here is The Tomb Raider Fantasy from one of the episodes. Molly and Rodney go searching for Molly's BFF Joan (Judy Davis). Joan and her husband Pappy disappeared on their cruise...
The USA website has a page with all of the fantasy scenes available for viewing. Each fantasy is only one or two minutes long. Just scroll down on any of these pages to find the thumbnails. A few of my favorites:
The Godfather (Molly Finds Ex-Husband Kenny)
Cinderella (Molly Meets New Boyfriend Zach)
Mission Impossible (Retrieving her Journal from Boyfriend's House)
Hello Dolly (Hollywood Outcast Molly, Gets a Movie Deal for her Book)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Quote of The Day: Playing For Change
"It became very clear that as a human race we need to transcend from the darkness to the light...and music is our weapon of the future." -Playing For Change
Playing For Change: War / No More Trouble
You may have heard of Playing For Change..."a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race." One of the goals of my blog is to help promote understanding...love...and peace. So, I'll be featuring selected episodes of their journey here over the next few weeks. You can view the all the episodes I've posted to date here.
The caption for this next performance reads:
"As we made our way around the world we encountered love, hate, rich and poor, black and white, and many different religious groups and ideologies. It became very clear that as a human race we need to transcend from the darkness to the light and music is our weapon of the future. This song around the world features musicians who have seen and overcome conflict and hatred with love and perseverance. We dont need more trouble, what we need is love. The spirit of Bob Marley always lives on."
Episode Two: A multinational performance of "War/No More Trouble". (5:09)
The caption for this next performance reads:
"As we made our way around the world we encountered love, hate, rich and poor, black and white, and many different religious groups and ideologies. It became very clear that as a human race we need to transcend from the darkness to the light and music is our weapon of the future. This song around the world features musicians who have seen and overcome conflict and hatred with love and perseverance. We dont need more trouble, what we need is love. The spirit of Bob Marley always lives on."
Episode Two: A multinational performance of "War/No More Trouble". (5:09)
Super Majority Proves Impotent
Despite a "Super Majority" in the Senate, and the fact that 65% of Americans support a public option in health care reform (New York Times/CBS poll), the Democrats just don't get it. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted down two different amendments that would have included a public option.
Experts continually point to a public option as the only viable hope for reigning in health care costs. Write your congressperson, and your senators. Let them know that you expect them to deliver what the American taxpayers want, in healthcare reform legislation: A Public Option.
Contact Your Representative Here
Contact Your Senators Here
Experts continually point to a public option as the only viable hope for reigning in health care costs. Write your congressperson, and your senators. Let them know that you expect them to deliver what the American taxpayers want, in healthcare reform legislation: A Public Option.
Contact Your Representative Here
Contact Your Senators Here
Quote of the Day: Dylan Ratigan
"...As we watch the senators debate a public option that most of us would never be able to use, and it seems, lawmakers in general shying away from a bill that would subject health insurance companies to anti-trust laws. Other than Major League Baseball, only health insurance has an exemption from the Sherman anti-trust laws.
Instead of improving our health care systems by creating and enforcing free and fair markets, our politicians continue to engage in back room deals with health insurance companies and big pharma...instead of seeking answers to the problem of paying for and providing medicine to us.
We are doing the exact opposite in fact. Taxpayer money continues to be played with by politicians who are desperately trying to protect the status quo, leaving patients and doctors as fodder for their money game." -Dylan Ratigan
Instead of improving our health care systems by creating and enforcing free and fair markets, our politicians continue to engage in back room deals with health insurance companies and big pharma...instead of seeking answers to the problem of paying for and providing medicine to us.
We are doing the exact opposite in fact. Taxpayer money continues to be played with by politicians who are desperately trying to protect the status quo, leaving patients and doctors as fodder for their money game." -Dylan Ratigan
Clip of The Day: The Daily Show on Dem Majority
The Daily Show's John Stewart gives us a rundown on how the Democratic supermajority fails to pass health care reform, but succeeds in funding abstinence-only education. (6:54)
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Democratic Super Majority | ||||
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Monday, October 5, 2009
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