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Referendum 71
Referendum 71 (allowing civil unions for same-sex couples that are legally equivalent to marriage) appears to be heading towards victory. And I believe it is the first time that civil unions have won in a popular vote in the U.S., so that's good news.
I am, however, quite annoyed by the opponents of Ref. 71. The anti-marriage folks have long used the, pardon my French, stupid argument that marriage laws aren't discriminatory towards LGBT people since 'they can get married to someone of the opposite sex.'
So now, we have civil unions... a 'seperate but equal' (except not really) version of marriage, and what are they arguing now? 'Wahh! It's not fair! I should be able to have a civil union with someone of the opposite sex! It's discriminatory!' Absolutely shameless.
So an analogy occurred to me. Marriage is like major league baseball in the 1940's. Any talented ballplayer is allowed in, as long as he's white.
Slowly, the Negro leagues evolve. It's a sort of a separate-but-equal situation, except not really: the major leagues have much more money, nicer ballparks, media exposure, and of course, Cooperstown and the World Series. So just imagine, a ballplayer loudly decrying how unfair it is... that as a white man, he is not welcome in the Negro leagues.
The anti-marriage zealots truly are those who can see a mote in another's eye, but do not notice the beam in their own.
I'm sorry about Maine, but the forces in favor of same-sex marriage are growing, while the opposition is weakening and getting more desperate.
I am, however, quite annoyed by the opponents of Ref. 71. The anti-marriage folks have long used the, pardon my French, stupid argument that marriage laws aren't discriminatory towards LGBT people since 'they can get married to someone of the opposite sex.'
So now, we have civil unions... a 'seperate but equal' (except not really) version of marriage, and what are they arguing now? 'Wahh! It's not fair! I should be able to have a civil union with someone of the opposite sex! It's discriminatory!' Absolutely shameless.
So an analogy occurred to me. Marriage is like major league baseball in the 1940's. Any talented ballplayer is allowed in, as long as he's white.
Slowly, the Negro leagues evolve. It's a sort of a separate-but-equal situation, except not really: the major leagues have much more money, nicer ballparks, media exposure, and of course, Cooperstown and the World Series. So just imagine, a ballplayer loudly decrying how unfair it is... that as a white man, he is not welcome in the Negro leagues.
The anti-marriage zealots truly are those who can see a mote in another's eye, but do not notice the beam in their own.
I'm sorry about Maine, but the forces in favor of same-sex marriage are growing, while the opposition is weakening and getting more desperate.
(no subject)
While driving yesterday, I ran into some terrible traffic in Tacoma. Worst traffic I've ever seen in that fair(?) city, in fact: it ended taking me a full hour to get from just south of the Tacoma Mall to the Puyallup river (for those of you not from Western Washington... that's bad.)
Anyway, while caught in the congestion, I drove as I usually do: I keep a little distance between myself and the car in front of me, and drive at as steady a speed as I can. When you do that, of course, you run the risk of people taking advantage of the room in front of you, and pulling ahead. And that happened a number of times: maybe 10 cars during the course of the traffic jam.
No big deal, right? Because, after all, a traffic jam is not like waiting in line at the post office, where ever one of those 10 people ahead of you might take 5 minutes each to get past. No, it was clear to me that once the congestion ended, me and the ten cars ahead of me would be out of the traffic jam pretty much simultaneously.
Well, apparently, that fact never occurred to the driver behind me (a shrimpy little middle-aged guy driving a huge white Cadillac Escalade with California license plates), because I noticed a few times that he seemed to be simmering in barely-controlled rage. I thought at first it was just irritation in being caught in traffic, but eventually it became clear that it was my driving style that was causing his slow burn.
So once the traffic finally clears out, he takes the first opportunity to pass me (on the right) and flip me the bird.
At this point, I will note that I dislike getting angry. I also dislike getting publicly insulted.
And I also know the perfect way to treat wankers like Mr. Escalade. I make them think I'm dangerously insane.
So, seeing several gaps in traffic, I maneuver around, step on the gas a bit, pass a few cars, switching lanes here and there until... I've passed Mr. Escalade and pull into the lane directly in front of him.
I don't give him an insulting gesture in return. I don't yell at him. I don't even look at him directly. I just drive along... and notice that he's dropped his speed and is staying a long way behind me.
Funny how people will give you a wide berth when they think you might be dangerously insane. It's the only way to drive. *heart*
Anyway, while caught in the congestion, I drove as I usually do: I keep a little distance between myself and the car in front of me, and drive at as steady a speed as I can. When you do that, of course, you run the risk of people taking advantage of the room in front of you, and pulling ahead. And that happened a number of times: maybe 10 cars during the course of the traffic jam.
No big deal, right? Because, after all, a traffic jam is not like waiting in line at the post office, where ever one of those 10 people ahead of you might take 5 minutes each to get past. No, it was clear to me that once the congestion ended, me and the ten cars ahead of me would be out of the traffic jam pretty much simultaneously.
Well, apparently, that fact never occurred to the driver behind me (a shrimpy little middle-aged guy driving a huge white Cadillac Escalade with California license plates), because I noticed a few times that he seemed to be simmering in barely-controlled rage. I thought at first it was just irritation in being caught in traffic, but eventually it became clear that it was my driving style that was causing his slow burn.
So once the traffic finally clears out, he takes the first opportunity to pass me (on the right) and flip me the bird.
At this point, I will note that I dislike getting angry. I also dislike getting publicly insulted.
And I also know the perfect way to treat wankers like Mr. Escalade. I make them think I'm dangerously insane.
So, seeing several gaps in traffic, I maneuver around, step on the gas a bit, pass a few cars, switching lanes here and there until... I've passed Mr. Escalade and pull into the lane directly in front of him.
I don't give him an insulting gesture in return. I don't yell at him. I don't even look at him directly. I just drive along... and notice that he's dropped his speed and is staying a long way behind me.
Funny how people will give you a wide berth when they think you might be dangerously insane. It's the only way to drive. *heart*
(no subject)
What's going on in Iran is one of those rare things that makes me drop my cynicism and skepticism and wonder at the fundamental goodness, decency, and courage of humanity.
I am proud to have been part of the grassroots movement to convince Twitter not to close for maintenance purposes right in the middle of Tehran's morning hours. Because there's little else I can do but watch, and hope, and pray.
If democracy can prevail in Iran, then anything can happen. Even peace.
I am proud to have been part of the grassroots movement to convince Twitter not to close for maintenance purposes right in the middle of Tehran's morning hours. Because there's little else I can do but watch, and hope, and pray.
If democracy can prevail in Iran, then anything can happen. Even peace.
(no subject)
FORBIDDEN WORDS
The following expressions are now forbidden. Use of them will result in me laughing at you.
ZOMG
Oh noes
*cough*InsertPhraseHere*cough*
FTW (or alternatively 4TW)
QFT
Teh
The following expressions are now forbidden. Use of them will result in me laughing at you.
ZOMG
Oh noes
*cough*InsertPhraseHere*cough*
FTW (or alternatively 4TW)
QFT
Teh
(no subject)
Thought you'd heard everything after the Jerry Springer opera?
Get ready for the Bill O'Reilly oratorio.
I give you... Macris v. O'Reilly, an oratorio written in baroque style.
It receives its premiere performances at Meany Hall on the U. of Washington campus on January 12 & 13.
I will find this difficult to miss.
Get ready for the Bill O'Reilly oratorio.
I give you... Macris v. O'Reilly, an oratorio written in baroque style.
The piece is a setting of the sexual harassment complaint lodged against Fox News pundit, Bill O’Reilly, by staff producer, Andrea Mackris, in October 2004. It includes all memorable moments from the original complaint and more – paranoid rants, clumsy sexual innuendo, and the famous falafel fantasy. Composer Igor Keller has produced this 31-part, concert-length work in the form of a baroque oratorio, in the style of an updated Handel’s Messiah, for 31-piece chamber orchestra, 32-voice chorus and three soloists. It’s an oratorio for the 21st century!
It receives its premiere performances at Meany Hall on the U. of Washington campus on January 12 & 13.
I will find this difficult to miss.
Your obituary for today.
Wow... we lost Ruth Brown and Ferenc Puskás today. A couple of the great ones.
Oh, and Milton Friedman died yesterday, but him I won't miss at all.
Oh, and Milton Friedman died yesterday, but him I won't miss at all.
(no subject)
We've got a storm. My house has no power, so I'm forced to hang out at my parents'. I don't mind hanging out there, but I hate being forced to.
I think I'll be late to work tomorrow.
Edit: Back home, power's back on, feeling less depressed.
And I'm listening to the Reverend Horton Heat singing about bales of cocaine.
I think I'll be late to work tomorrow.
Edit: Back home, power's back on, feeling less depressed.
And I'm listening to the Reverend Horton Heat singing about bales of cocaine.
(no subject)
Aargh. I can't stand watching Iron Chef America when the spectacularly unfunny Mo Rocca is one of the judges.
Well, I did clean my garage this weekend, so it wasn't a total loss.
Well, I did clean my garage this weekend, so it wasn't a total loss.
(no subject)
I'm almost ready to shut up about the election, but I do have one more interesting thing to add:
Up until recently, the most politically prominent Mormon in history has been the late Ezra Taft Benson, Secretary of Agriculture to President Eisenhower. Benson was a John Birch Republican, later became the leader of the Church, and quite incidentally, was a second cousin of mine. Most of the other politically prominent Mormons (Reed Smoot, Jake Garn, Orrin Hatch, Brent Scowcroft, George Romney, Mitt Romney) were/are also heavily on the right side of the aisle. (Mo Udall being the major, major exception).
And now, the new titleholder as the most politically prominent Mormon in history: Senate soon-to-be-Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat (admittedly, not a particularly liberal one).
Cousin Ezra must be spinning in his grave.
Up until recently, the most politically prominent Mormon in history has been the late Ezra Taft Benson, Secretary of Agriculture to President Eisenhower. Benson was a John Birch Republican, later became the leader of the Church, and quite incidentally, was a second cousin of mine. Most of the other politically prominent Mormons (Reed Smoot, Jake Garn, Orrin Hatch, Brent Scowcroft, George Romney, Mitt Romney) were/are also heavily on the right side of the aisle. (Mo Udall being the major, major exception).
And now, the new titleholder as the most politically prominent Mormon in history: Senate soon-to-be-Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat (admittedly, not a particularly liberal one).
Cousin Ezra must be spinning in his grave.