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Friday, February 27, 2004
Do I know a John Smith? I got a piece of mail yesterday that was hand addressed to me. It had a hokey return address label that someone obviously ran through their inkjet printer. It said, "John Smith, Jr. New York, NY". And I thought... Well, maybe I know a John Smith. I mean it's a common enough name, right? As I walked up the stairs with it, my mind raced. What could it be? Maybe some random person I've met in my past was sending out a form letter to everyone in their address book to let them know he had married and moved to New York. Or maybe I'd been targeted as a potential participaint in some chain letter scheme... Worse... It was a fundraising letter from the 2004 Al Sharpton Presidential Campaign. How did I get on THAT list?! | private feedback | (0) public comments Wednesday, February 25, 2004 My Scar  I have a scar on my forehead. I've had it since I was a kid. It starts at my hairline and goes about an inch and a half up my scalp. You probably would never notice it on your own, while I still have my hair, its just a lighter-colored slit in my forehead. I can go months... even years probably, without thinking about it at all...
...until someone mentions Fraggle Rock. Last night at dinner, the topic of favorite childhood cartoons came up. Smurfs, Snorks, and Barbapapas (?)... and then someone asked, "Do you remember Fraggles?" "Oh yes," comes my response... "I have the scar to prove it." Undoubtedly, the answer is always returned by a stare. Do you remember the opening scene when Wembley bounces around the caves to the theme song? "Dance your cares away, worry's for another day. Let the music play, down at Fraggle Rock." Well one day when the show came on TV, I started bouncing around my house... down my long narrow hall... I got a little overzealous... bopped my head a little too much from side to side and... WHAP!... knocked my head right into a the sharp edge of a door. OUCH! My little "dance" opened a gash that required stitches. This morning, to see if I could still find the scar, I pulled my hair back. There it was, clear as day... only now the bottom of my scar actually fell about an eighth of an inch BELOW my hairline. I thought, "Fucking fantastic! Proof that my hairline is receding. And a built-in point of reference that will measure how bald I'm actually becoming and how fast." And what about when I go bald and have this scar on my forehead in plain sight? What am I going to tell people? I was in a knife fight? I got it working on a construction site? I'm going to have to come up with a reason that's more butch than "I got it dancing around my living room to the Fraggle Rock theme song." | private feedback | (0) public comments Tuesday, February 24, 2004 And the responses... I'm sure as you know by now... Dubbya has endorsed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. John Kerry's "Official Response" “I believe President Bush is wrong. All Americans should be concerned when a President who is in political trouble tries to tamper with the Constitution of the United States at the start of his reelection campaign. This President can’t talk about jobs. He can’t talk about health care. He can’t talk about a foreign policy, which has driven away allies and weakened the United States, so he is looking for a wedge issue to divide the American people. While I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, for 200 years, this has been a state issue. I oppose this election year effort to amend the Constitution in an area that each state can adequately address, and I will vote against such an amendment if it comes to the Senate floor. I believe the best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions. I believe the issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the President of the United States should be addressing the central challenges where he has failed – jobs, health care, and our leadership in the world rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes.” John Edwards' "Official Response" "I oppose gay marriage. I also oppose President Bush's attempt to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage. Washington has no business playing politics with this issue. Marriage is left to the states today, and should remain with the states. I'm not surprised that the day after he kicked off his campaign, the president is already talking about gay marriage. He can't talk about jobs, because he has no new ideas to create jobs. He can't talk about health care, because he has no new ideas to hold down costs or cover every child. He can't talk about education, because he has no new ideas to help young people pay for the soaring cost of college. If President Bush wants to stand up for marriage, he ought to help millions of married couples who are living paycheck to paycheck. If he wants to stand up for marriage, he should tackle the marriage penalty that punishes poor families when they marry. He should help middle-class families save and invest. But instead of offering new ideas to help the families who are actually married, President Bush wants to play politics with the Constitution. We have had our Constitution for more than 200 years. We amended it to abolish slavery and ensure women could vote. We should not amend it over politics." Log Cabin Republicans [Stop laughing!] "Writing discrimination into the Constitution is wrong. It is not conservative, it is not Republican, and it will not strengthen America. As conservative Republicans, we are outraged that any Republican—particularly the leader of our party and this nation—would support any effort to use our sacred United States Constitution as a way of scoring political points in an election year." * Candidate Bush promised in 2000 to be a “uniter, not a divider.” The effort to write discrimination into our Constitution with an anti-family amendment would divide America. * Candidate Bush ran as a compassionate conservative. There is nothing compassionate about discriminating against part of the American family. And there is nothing conservative about tinkering with our Constitution. * Candidate Bush ran as a governor who supported Federalism and states’ rights. This anti-family amendment runs counter to both those principles. And it runs counter to what Vice-President Cheney said during the 2000 campaign. Instead of allowing each state to decide this issue on its own, the President is pushing a purely political proposal to appease the radical right." Stonewall Democrats National Stonewall Democrats today strongly condemned President Bush for formally endorsing the federal anti-marriage amendment. The amendment would prevent states and the federal government from granting the legal incidents of marriage to same-sex couples. Such legal incidents include hospital visitation rights, child support, health care benefits, inheritance rights, and would prevent all forms of civil marriage and civil unions for such couples. "President Bush fails to understand that our families are more than political red meat that he can throw before his anti-gay base," said Dave Noble, NSD Executive Director. "The President has clearly demonstrated that it is no longer acceptable for our community to merely vote against this man. Each one of us now has the responsibility to actively work to deny him a second term." In past weeks, the Washington Post cited Republican officials who stated that the announcement of the President's support resulted from "his desire to start the general election campaign on a fresh issue, at a time when his credibility has been battered by questions about prewar warnings of unconventional weapons in Iraq, as well as doubts raised by Democrats about his National Guard service." The paper also cited Republican officials as stating that by announcing his support, the President hoped to distinguish himself from the Democratic presidential front-runner, Senator John Kerry. Focus On The Family [Rabidly Anti-Gay] "President Bush’s endorsement of a federal marriage amendment today is the lynchpin in efforts to protect marriage in our country,” founder of Focus On The Family, Dobson said. “The president clearly understands that families formed through the union of one man and one woman are best for America and America’s children. His comments should signal to Congress and the states that only an amendment to the U.S. Constitution can adequately address the inevitable showdown between the courts and the will of the American people as expressed through their elected representatives. “The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s tyrannical Goodridge ruling and the recent issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco and New Mexico has confirmed what we have long known — marriage as it as been understood throughout human history is under attack in this country. We applaud President Bush’s unequivocal support of a federal marriage amendment as the only solution to this constitutional crisis.” | private feedback | (0) public comments Sign The Petition Million For Marriage | private feedback | (0) public comments Monday, February 23, 2004 Quote of the Day "The only reason he's running is either he's an egomaniac or as a Bush contract." Rev. Al Sharpton about Ralph Nader's announcement that he's running for president. Strikes me as a little funny considering the source... | private feedback | (0) public comments Friday, February 20, 2004 Quote of the Day From Laura Bush, our "First Lady"... on gay marriage. "It's an issue that people want to talk about and not want the Massachusetts Supreme Court or the mayor of San Francisco to make their choice for them," Mrs. Bush said. "I know that's what the president thinks." Speak for yourself, hon. I'd much rather the Supreme Court of Massachusetts and the mayor of San Francisco make that choice for me than your hubby. | private feedback | (0) public comments Village Voice Cartoon ... about gay marriage and the gay agenda (be careful, there's sound). | private feedback | (0) public comments Thursday, February 19, 2004 A Fantastic Editorial ... about gay marriage in the Cornell Daily Sun. "Marry Me, I'm Straight" | private feedback | (0) public comments Wednesday, February 18, 2004 I didn't make it... But it's sure as hell funny... (all the credit goes to Wonkette)  I wouldn't even know where to begin... Web site feedback I got this morning: "Thank you for linking me to the NRA-ILA site. As a law abiding gun owner, I now know which organizations to boycott. I don't know if you gays realize that you are polarizing this country to the point where it will soon be ungovernable. If rich gay kids at Cornell are the future of this country, God help us." | private feedback | (0) public comments Maybe if they weren't $55 If anyone wants to buy me a present, check out the Hillary T-Shirts... | private feedback | (0) public comments Thursday, February 12, 2004 Are you scared of this? These two women were married today by the mayor of San Francisco in an act of political civil disobedience... This is what threatens to tear apart the fabric of our society? Give me a break. | private feedback | (0) public comments Forget his kiss If you wanna know if he loves you so its in his... Voice? Just in time for Valentine's day, you can connect your phone to a Windows PC running the Love Detector program (only $49.95), and the program will rate the amount of love in the voice of whomever you are talking to. (Oh yeah, you'll also need a special $14.95 phone connector, which only works with regular, non-cordless phones.) The program runs 8,000 mathematical formulas to divine 16 emotional parameters. 8,000 mathematical forumulas? If you thought love was complicated, there's your proof. | private feedback | (0) public comments Brazen Hypocrisy I am so sick and tired of hearing Dubbya and his band of republican thugs talk about "activist judges" who make rulings "without regard for the will of the people." At first I thought he HAD to be referring to the activist judges on the Supreme Court that installed him in the White House... I mean, that's the most obvious example that comes to mind, of activist judges... overtly flouting the will of voters and the people of the country and the state of Florida. But of course he wasn't... after all, activist judges who are CONSERVATIVE are just fine. He's talking about the LIBERAL activist judges in Mass. that ruled that gays and lesbians ought to have the same rights as everyone else. | private feedback | (0) public comments Quote of the Day Confirming my suspicions that Dubbya is going to announce the capture of Bin Laden at some convenient point right before the general election in November. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, a republican of course, said: "Obviously, he'll be caught between now and the election." As if one thing obviously had to do with the other... | private feedback | (0) public comments Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Take a Stand Against A Constitutional Amendment Send a fax through the ACLU's web site to your elected officials asking them to fight any attempt at amending our constitution to include discrimination. It only takes a few seconds, and it's free and easy! | private feedback | (0) public comments Tuesday, February 10, 2004 Too cute... Charlie Brown Hey Ya | private feedback | (0) public comments Scratch-Off Ticket I bought a "Bingo" scratch-off lottery ticket today. I get one about every six months or so, when the whim takes me. When I was 18, I bought a Bingo scratch-off ticket and won $15... And because there are tons of little spaces to scratch-off, it takes a little bit longer than the average scratch-off game to play. I feel like I'm getting more entertainment for my $2. I linger over uncovering every number one-by-one and then scratch off the spot on the corresponding game boards. I like the suspense and love when I get close to the end... when I have about five different chances to get a Bingo if I could only get that ONE number... and then... damnit, so close!! I didn't win anything today. Contrast that with the woman who came behind me in the convenience store line. She quickly bought five various scratch-off tickets and proceeded to reveal the secret spot that contains a "code" that will tell you if you won without even playing the game. I'll say it again, without even playing the game! Where's the fun in that? That's just plain wrong... and smacks of someone having a scratch-off gambling problem. That woman's lucky there are no casinos in Ithaca. | private feedback | (0) public comments Split the Southern Vote, Kerry'll Win With two southern states voting today (VA and TN)... Two southerners (Clark & Edwards) are hoping their home state proximity (Arkansas and North Carolina, respectively) will garner them support. John Kerry stands to win, however, since Edwards and Clark are splitting the pro-southern-candidate vote. If these exit polls end up being accurate, the race would be MUCH closer if there was only one Southerner in the fold. With Dean all but marginalized, is it time for Clark to fold up his tent and let Edwards get a shot at the two-person match-up with John Kerry? Somebody's gotta drop out tonight... As of noon today, exit polls have: TN Kerry 46 Edwards 28 Clark 15 Dean 7 VA Kerry 48 Edwards 25 Clark 11 Dean 8 | private feedback | (0) public comments Monday, February 09, 2004 The Worst Movie Since Serving Sarah  This shouldn't be a great surprise, but Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! was perhaps the second worst movie I've ever seen. It was my idea to go see it... after all, I LOVE cheesy romantic comedies. But even this was just too much to stand. BAD writing, BAD acting. It followed the typical "person secretly in love with their best friend but doesn't get the courage to tell them until said friend meets someone else who is not right for them" formula, albeit poorly.
There were "supporting" characters, such as the brunette female co-worker and the bartender, who had just plain rotten dialogue and seemed an awkward fit. If these characters had added ANY humor at all, that would have been one thing, but they just made me cringe for their poor acting skills. The only redeeming role in the entire movie was by Topher Grace, the above mentioned best friend with the crush. Previously, you've seen him in That 70's Show on FOX. He should be given another chance with better material. I won't shed a tear if I never see any of the rest of that cast again. Avoid this movie if you can, but if you must see it, rent it. Don't make the same mistake I made and waste $6.00 on it. (Thank god the clerk gave me a student discount without asking to see an I.D. or it would have been $8.25.) | private feedback | (0) public comments Saturday, February 07, 2004 Gettin' the information out... The Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence has launched a Web site that tracks the despicable positions the NRA takes and some really amazing, "Did they actually say THAT!?" quotes from NRA leadership... Just in time for the republicans' convention in NYC where the NRA hopes to play a big role. | private feedback | (0) public comments Thursday, February 05, 2004 A tale that may never be told... It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was... my trip to New Hampshire. The weekend before New Hampshire's primary, I boarded a bus with my friend Lauren to volunteer on John Kerry's presidential campaign. I haven't found the time to write down my reflections, which is too bad because it was a really funny trip, all told. I want my post to do it justice... and a superficial treatment just won't do. Also, the pictures from NH haven't been developed. In the breast pocket of my coat, I've been carrying around a one-time-use camera with 11 pictures left... Lauren and I bought disposable cameras for the purpose of taking pictures at rallies, and in front of campaign buses, and the headquarters, etc. But being so busy canvassing and avoiding certain people we travelled with, we didn't get to take many pictures. So, I've been taking pictures of random people and places whenever I think of it... all so I can develop that camera and put a picture of me standing in front of CNN's Election Coverage Bus on my Web site. Something that simple would make my week. And in another show of how I'm a political junkie, when the Ithaca Times's Inquiring Photographer asked me the question of the week, "What would Osama and Saddam have to talk about if they were locked in a cell together?"... My answer was, "Who they'd vote for in the presidential primary." I was shown up by someone else whose answer was "Janet Jackson, of course." Damn. Pick up this week's copy of the Ithaca Times for my mug shot in the Inquiring Photographer piece. | private feedback | (0) public comments A new blog to follow... The best new blog I've found in a while... electablog | private feedback | (0) public comments Wednesday, February 04, 2004 Good News From CNN.com: BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- The Massachusetts high court ruled [today] that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples -- rather than civil unions -- would be constitutional, erasing any doubts that the nation's first same-sex marriages could take place in the state beginning in mid-May. The court issued the opinion in response to a request from the state Senate about whether Vermont-style civil unions, which convey the state benefits of marriage -- but not the title -- would meet constitutional muster. "The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal," the four justices who ruled in favor of gay marriage wrote in the advisory opinion. A bill that would allow for civil unions, but falls short of marriage, makes for "unconstitutional, inferior, and discriminatory status for same-sex couples." Amen. | private feedback | (0) public comments Tuesday, February 03, 2004 When you look close at the numbers... If you go to New Hampshire's Secretary of State web site, you get to see some pretty interesting break-downs of votes in their recent Presidential Primary. For example, as we all know, John Kerry won the Presidential contest with 84,377 votes. (Carol Moseley Braun still got 81...) But the voters of New Hampshire also voted on their preference for Vice President. John Edwards took this one far and away with 16,641, Wesley Clark was second with 7,636. Carol Moseley Braun got 991 beating Dick Gephardt, Al Sharpton, and Dennis Kucinich. (Hillary Clinton, I assume as a write-in, got a little over 600 votes.) And, the republicans held a presidential primary as well. A cake walk for Bush, right? Well, of course, but there was also some interesting factoids there. Out of the republicans that cast ballots, 3,009 of them wrote in John Kerry as their choice as opposed to only a little over 250 Democrats who wrote in bush in the Democratic primary. Significant? Maybe... maybe not... but still neat. | private feedback | (0) public comments Big Brother Does it scare you that TiVo has the ability to track what we're watching, recording, rewinding, re-watching, and pausing? TiVo said that Janet's Super Bowl halftime stunt was the most replayed moment not only of the Super Bowl but of all TV moments that the company has ever measured. TiVo said it used its technology to measure audience behavior among 20,000 users during the Super Bowl which revealed a 180 percent spike in viewership at the time of the "wardrobe malfunction." Does it scare you that the head of the FCC chairman Michael Powell is so taken with TiVo that he once referred to it as "God's machine?" | private feedback | (0) public comments Monday, February 02, 2004 Good News John Kerry beats Dubbya in latest poll... | private feedback | (0) public comments TV Like most Americans, I watched the Super Bowl (and Janet Jackson's boob) last night. While I normally watch it for the commercials (the Super Bowl, not Janet's boob), I was pretty unimpressed by most of this year's ads. A bear trying to buy pepsi with a fake ID (who IDs for pepsi, anyway?), a horse that farts on a candle igniting a woman on a romantic late night carriage ride... I mean, really, give me a break. The only remotely creative ad was the super cute one where a donkey aspires to be a Budweiser clydesdale. You really felt this donkey's pain. The more I think about it, the more I like that commercial. And of course, CBS had rejected what was a really good ad, the winning anti-bush MoveOn.org ad. Apparently it was too edgy for the Conservative Broadcasting Service. Most surprising to me, though, was how much I actually liked the football game. I was genuinely impressed by how well these players did. And I was truly nonpartisan, cheering for BOTH sides. I realize that I could only do this because I was completely ignorant of anything football related. I wasn't attached geographically to either of the teams, and I avoid football like the plague despite my mother's frequent attempts to tell me how great the Miami Dolphins are. So, congrats to the Patriots. And better luck next year to the Panthers. And Janet Jackson... poor thing. Her tit popped out on national television and the head of the FCC is threatening an investigation into what happened. Imagine if one of your body parts sparked such an investigation. Perhaps she and Bill Clinton should do lunch to talk about damage control. | private feedback | (0) public comments |
Hey! I'm Shane... a proud gay progressive Democrat who has recently relocated to New York City from Ithaca, NY. As I am no longer in Ithaca, I haven't quite decided the fate of this blog. Drop me a line!
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