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Published On: May 21, 2008 05:02 PM
Published On: May 21, 2008 05:02 PM
Wed - May 21, 2008
Oh yes please...
Oh please Oh please Oh please Oh please Oh please
Oh please Oh please Oh please Oh please Oh please Oh
please!!!!!
Puh-leeeeeeease! Pretty please? With sugar on top?
McCain is scheduled to meet with Republican governors Charlie Crist (Florida) and Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) on Friday. There is speculation that these may be VP talks.
PLEASE Lord let it be Charlie Crist. How great would it be to have our first gay Vice-President (allegedly)? Rumors have been circulating around Crist for years. OK, it wouldn't actually be great in this case because he appears to be one of those hypocritical gay Uncle Toms (Uncle Thomases?) opposing both gay marriage and gay adoption.
There is part of this that would indeed be great: On a scale of 1 to 10 -- one being the deafening silence possible only in the vacuum of space, and 10 being Ethel Merman stepping on a thumb tack -- just how loud would the right wing fundie whining be? "You mean I have to vote either for a black, a woman, or a fag VP?!!?!?" I'm wondering if you could even hear the whining over the sound of all their heads exploding at once. James Dobson might actually turn completely inside out. Heck, just how much whining would there be if the right wing religious political extremists even realized McCain had been considering Crist for the VP slot? Is there any chance at all that the media would pick this story up? After all, flag pins, hair cuts, crazy preachers, and pant suits really can't hold a candle to Gay VP stories, can they?
Puh-leeeeeeease! Pretty please? With sugar on top?
McCain is scheduled to meet with Republican governors Charlie Crist (Florida) and Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) on Friday. There is speculation that these may be VP talks.
PLEASE Lord let it be Charlie Crist. How great would it be to have our first gay Vice-President (allegedly)? Rumors have been circulating around Crist for years. OK, it wouldn't actually be great in this case because he appears to be one of those hypocritical gay Uncle Toms (Uncle Thomases?) opposing both gay marriage and gay adoption.
There is part of this that would indeed be great: On a scale of 1 to 10 -- one being the deafening silence possible only in the vacuum of space, and 10 being Ethel Merman stepping on a thumb tack -- just how loud would the right wing fundie whining be? "You mean I have to vote either for a black, a woman, or a fag VP?!!?!?" I'm wondering if you could even hear the whining over the sound of all their heads exploding at once. James Dobson might actually turn completely inside out. Heck, just how much whining would there be if the right wing religious political extremists even realized McCain had been considering Crist for the VP slot? Is there any chance at all that the media would pick this story up? After all, flag pins, hair cuts, crazy preachers, and pant suits really can't hold a candle to Gay VP stories, can they?
Posted at 04:59 PM
Mon - May 19, 2008
BSG
If you missed Friday's BSG, you missed this and
you are to be pitied. (Obviously it's spoilerific, if you haven't seen the show
yet.)
Posted at 09:07 AM
Thu - May 15, 2008
California...
"Ain't it a shame that all the world can't enjoy
your mad traditions?"
The California Supreme Court just legalized same-sex marriage. It was a 4-3 decision, with 3 Republicans and one Democrat in the majority. Republican Governor Schwarzenegger said, "I respect the court's decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." (There is a ballot drive underway to put the issue on the November ballot.)
And lest this be spun as a decision by activist judges, remember that the State Assembly already voted to allow same-sex marriage but the measure was vetoed by Schwarzenegger. So, California's elected representatives have already come to the same conclusion as the Court came to today.
California already had strong domestic partnership statutes, which the court today said were separate and not equal.
Nice news, especially after the disappointing news here in Michigan last week.
The California Supreme Court just legalized same-sex marriage. It was a 4-3 decision, with 3 Republicans and one Democrat in the majority. Republican Governor Schwarzenegger said, "I respect the court's decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." (There is a ballot drive underway to put the issue on the November ballot.)
And lest this be spun as a decision by activist judges, remember that the State Assembly already voted to allow same-sex marriage but the measure was vetoed by Schwarzenegger. So, California's elected representatives have already come to the same conclusion as the Court came to today.
California already had strong domestic partnership statutes, which the court today said were separate and not equal.
Nice news, especially after the disappointing news here in Michigan last week.
Posted at 01:52 PM
Wed - May 14, 2008
Randomness...
1) We watched one of the original Star Trek
episodes last night for the first time in forever. The episode was The Lights
of Zetar, in which Scotty falls in love with some space-tart who gets
possessed by a string of blinking Christmas tree lights. If you don't have a
crucifix or holy water around, apparently a pressure chamber is also good for an
exorcism. Does anyone know how many atmospheres of pressure it would take to
squish someone? Because it seems to me that it's a lot less than 30 atm, which
is what they put that poor woman through at the end of the show. Then they
start dropping the pressure immediately. I wager in the real world she'd have
actually fizzed like an Alka-Selzer tablet, once all those dissolved gases start
bubbling out of her bloodstream. However, even that isn't nearly the level of
torture that they put the audience through. (Geeky trivia note, this episode
was written by Shari Lewis, of Shari Lewis and Lambchop
fame.)
2) Finally they've figured it out! What causes homosexuality? Nature? Nurture? Nope, it's a person's name. (Warning, link is NSFSP: Not Safe For Sane People. Srsly.) Apparently Bishop Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal Bishop is gay because of his name. Gandhi once said about the fight for justice, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." I guess he forgot the part about them going absolutely stark-raving crazy. So, if you know any men with the obviously gay names Laverne or Jamie, or the potentially bisexual Chris or Pat, please urge them to change their name to something more butch before it's too late! Alas, if only all those gay men with names like Mark, Rick, or Steve had known about this, they could have changed their names to something straighter. Clearly I was doomed from the start: Alan is, after all, an anagram.
3) Michigan may actually join the rest of the civilized world (and New York) by enacting a smoking ban in bars and restaurants. Probably the biggest stumbling block is that the Senate version includes the 3 Detroit casinos. I think the casinos have a point. It makes no sense to allow people to pursue several of the 7 deadly sins in a casino, yet ban smoking. Why not make it one stop shopping?
If Ireland can do a smoking ban, anyone can do a smoking ban. I remember the first time I was over there in the late 80's, I swear I saw three year olds puffing away on Marlboros. Then when we went in 2002 it was nearly as bad. In fact we have some pictures taken at the George in Dublin of some friends sitting across the table from us, and they're nearly invisible through the smoke. So if they can do it, anyone can!
4) Eliot Spitzer was such an amateur compared to Kwame Kilpatrick. New Yorkers think they're better than anyone else, but if you want a real scandal, everyone knows you've got to come to Motown.
5) I rented a lawn aerator this weekend to, well ... aerate our lawn, natch. It was getting patchy and I thought the problem might be that it was too compacted. Now our lawn looks like tiny Shai Hulud have been burrowing and pooping all over our lawn. If you've never used one of these infernal machines, I strongly recommend it; the fun goes to eleven.
6) And for Brian (another obviously gay name) who thinks that the news is always bad, prepare for a Super-Sized helping of aaawwwwww. A mommy dog with 6 newborn pups is also foster-mothering 6 newborn kittens.
2) Finally they've figured it out! What causes homosexuality? Nature? Nurture? Nope, it's a person's name. (Warning, link is NSFSP: Not Safe For Sane People. Srsly.) Apparently Bishop Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal Bishop is gay because of his name. Gandhi once said about the fight for justice, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." I guess he forgot the part about them going absolutely stark-raving crazy. So, if you know any men with the obviously gay names Laverne or Jamie, or the potentially bisexual Chris or Pat, please urge them to change their name to something more butch before it's too late! Alas, if only all those gay men with names like Mark, Rick, or Steve had known about this, they could have changed their names to something straighter. Clearly I was doomed from the start: Alan is, after all, an anagram.
3) Michigan may actually join the rest of the civilized world (and New York) by enacting a smoking ban in bars and restaurants. Probably the biggest stumbling block is that the Senate version includes the 3 Detroit casinos. I think the casinos have a point. It makes no sense to allow people to pursue several of the 7 deadly sins in a casino, yet ban smoking. Why not make it one stop shopping?
If Ireland can do a smoking ban, anyone can do a smoking ban. I remember the first time I was over there in the late 80's, I swear I saw three year olds puffing away on Marlboros. Then when we went in 2002 it was nearly as bad. In fact we have some pictures taken at the George in Dublin of some friends sitting across the table from us, and they're nearly invisible through the smoke. So if they can do it, anyone can!
4) Eliot Spitzer was such an amateur compared to Kwame Kilpatrick. New Yorkers think they're better than anyone else, but if you want a real scandal, everyone knows you've got to come to Motown.
5) I rented a lawn aerator this weekend to, well ... aerate our lawn, natch. It was getting patchy and I thought the problem might be that it was too compacted. Now our lawn looks like tiny Shai Hulud have been burrowing and pooping all over our lawn. If you've never used one of these infernal machines, I strongly recommend it; the fun goes to eleven.
6) And for Brian (another obviously gay name) who thinks that the news is always bad, prepare for a Super-Sized helping of aaawwwwww. A mommy dog with 6 newborn pups is also foster-mothering 6 newborn kittens.
Posted at 09:13 AM
Tue - May 13, 2008
I eat my peas with honey...
I've done so all my
life.
It makes my peas taste funny,
But it sticks them to my knife.
-- A. Nonymous
Today in 1637, Cardinal Richelieu, who served in the court of Louis XIII, decreed that the blades of knives at the dinner table be ground down and rounded off, thus inventing the modern dinner knife. (Which, as we all know, is unfortunately not sharp enough to effectively dispatch annoying dinner guests.)
Who says the Church never does anything good?
The good Cardinal is also known for saying, "If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him." OK, maybe that's not so good. But at least the poor man wouldn't accidentally cut himself with an overly sharp knife while eating his last meal.
It makes my peas taste funny,
But it sticks them to my knife.
-- A. Nonymous
Today in 1637, Cardinal Richelieu, who served in the court of Louis XIII, decreed that the blades of knives at the dinner table be ground down and rounded off, thus inventing the modern dinner knife. (Which, as we all know, is unfortunately not sharp enough to effectively dispatch annoying dinner guests.)
Who says the Church never does anything good?
The good Cardinal is also known for saying, "If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him." OK, maybe that's not so good. But at least the poor man wouldn't accidentally cut himself with an overly sharp knife while eating his last meal.
Posted at 09:18 AM
Thu - May 8, 2008
America's Top Idol Chef on a Runway Who Can Dance...
Who
cares?
I had to admit to someone the other day that I've never ever seen a single episode ever of America's Idol. I think that's a badge of honor, frankly, but they were stunned and horrified.
Meanwhile, on the only reality TV show that matters, that annoying punk Jeremy May got clobbered by the animal that is Matt Brown. Excellent. Nothing sucks more than watching an hour of television featuring someone who is so genuinely annoying, who is so annoying that the annoyingness actually has the ability to leak out through the TV, so that by the end of the episode you're truly and completely annoyed -- and then they go and win their fight. Hate that, it's so annoying. It's much, much more satisfying to see them get their butts handed to them on a plate, like in this case. After the fight, Brown said that he hurt his foot kicking May's jaw. Heh. Then whiner May complained that he lost because of his bum knee. That was the same bum knee that before the fight he said wasn't really hurting and that he was just faking. Twit.
And the second fight, the one between two nice-guys, Dan Cramer and Luke Zachrich? What I thought was going to be a snoozer was pretty amazing.
And the best part? No stupid rule changes every week by someone like oh, say, for example, Tom Colicchio, "Blah blah blah, you didn't follow the rules closely enough so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, you followed the rules too closely so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah you were mostly responsible for the dish so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah you didn't participate enough so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, this is about the food so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, we're kicking you off but it isn't about the food, blah blah blah" What a tool. I'd like to see Matt Brown take him down too.
I had to admit to someone the other day that I've never ever seen a single episode ever of America's Idol. I think that's a badge of honor, frankly, but they were stunned and horrified.
Meanwhile, on the only reality TV show that matters, that annoying punk Jeremy May got clobbered by the animal that is Matt Brown. Excellent. Nothing sucks more than watching an hour of television featuring someone who is so genuinely annoying, who is so annoying that the annoyingness actually has the ability to leak out through the TV, so that by the end of the episode you're truly and completely annoyed -- and then they go and win their fight. Hate that, it's so annoying. It's much, much more satisfying to see them get their butts handed to them on a plate, like in this case. After the fight, Brown said that he hurt his foot kicking May's jaw. Heh. Then whiner May complained that he lost because of his bum knee. That was the same bum knee that before the fight he said wasn't really hurting and that he was just faking. Twit.
And the second fight, the one between two nice-guys, Dan Cramer and Luke Zachrich? What I thought was going to be a snoozer was pretty amazing.
And the best part? No stupid rule changes every week by someone like oh, say, for example, Tom Colicchio, "Blah blah blah, you didn't follow the rules closely enough so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, you followed the rules too closely so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah you were mostly responsible for the dish so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah you didn't participate enough so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, this is about the food so we're kicking you off, blah blah blah, we're kicking you off but it isn't about the food, blah blah blah" What a tool. I'd like to see Matt Brown take him down too.
Posted at 11:37 AM
Wed - May 7, 2008
Well, that's that...
If you live in a state where they're trying to
pass an anti-gay marriage amendment to your state's constitution, take
note.
As I've written before here, here, here, here, and here, it ain't about marriage, folks.
Oh sure, the supporters of such an amendment will say it's about "defending" marriage (whatever that means.) That's a lie. They'll say it isn't about hate either. That's a lie, too. Now I know it's chic these days to call people you don't like liars. But in this case it isn't just an ad hominem attack, there's plenty of evidence: Though the voters of our state were repeatedly told that the anti-gay marriage amendment that was put on the ballot in 2004 was only about marriage, it took the supporters of that amendment just weeks after its passage to go after domestic partnership benefits too.
The case has been winding it's way through the Michigan courts, and now the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled: No domestic partnership benefits. As you're talking to your friends in your own state, remind them that these measures steal health care from good, hardworking straight people too.
Fortunately places like the University of Michigan saw this coming a mile away and altered their benefits plan so they could continue benefits. These benefits are not based on a domestic partnership arrangement, but are instead based on two people having a significant financial entanglement of some sort. Pretty clever, though it's sad that we have to do be that disingenuous just to get a little health care coverage for our partners (coverage that we have to pay taxes on, but everyone else gets for free, I might add.)
As I've written before here, here, here, here, and here, it ain't about marriage, folks.
Oh sure, the supporters of such an amendment will say it's about "defending" marriage (whatever that means.) That's a lie. They'll say it isn't about hate either. That's a lie, too. Now I know it's chic these days to call people you don't like liars. But in this case it isn't just an ad hominem attack, there's plenty of evidence: Though the voters of our state were repeatedly told that the anti-gay marriage amendment that was put on the ballot in 2004 was only about marriage, it took the supporters of that amendment just weeks after its passage to go after domestic partnership benefits too.
The case has been winding it's way through the Michigan courts, and now the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled: No domestic partnership benefits. As you're talking to your friends in your own state, remind them that these measures steal health care from good, hardworking straight people too.
Fortunately places like the University of Michigan saw this coming a mile away and altered their benefits plan so they could continue benefits. These benefits are not based on a domestic partnership arrangement, but are instead based on two people having a significant financial entanglement of some sort. Pretty clever, though it's sad that we have to do be that disingenuous just to get a little health care coverage for our partners (coverage that we have to pay taxes on, but everyone else gets for free, I might add.)
Posted at 02:06 PM
Tue - May 6, 2008
Crisis Averted...
A conversation that Brian had with his mother
caused a minor crisis in our household for a day or so. The crisis? We weren't
sure that he'd ever been baptized.
*le gasp!*
So, for about a day I was convinced that I was living with an unregenerate heathen with whom I would not spend eternity in Heaven once we both take the big dirt nap. That really bummed me out because I've already planned to spend at least the first 10,000 years of eternity with him dishing the robes (White? After Labor Day?!) and the harp playing of the various cherubim and seraphim, trying to instigate a Pat Benatar-eque dance fight between the two groups, and discussing the deeper meanings of LOST and BSG. In addition, he's a member of our church and subsequently an elder and also a God Father, all of which were done assuming that he'd already been baptized. If you think it's bad to inflate your job experience on a resume, imagine what God thinks about that kind of thing! *Ka-Pow!*
For almost a whole day I pondered my options: 1) Divorce him because the Bible says we Christians shouldn't be married to unregenerate heathens. But that's a problem because as it turns out, we're not supposed to get divorced either. Who knew? Plus, he's a great cook and he knows exactly how to make a brilliant dirty martini. And, he cleans the kitty litter. Or 2) I could stay with him and try to figure out a way to do some sort of Mormon retro-active baptism. But I don't own any magic Mormon underwear. So, it was looking like he was damned if I do, damned if I don't.
Fortunately the church where his parents attended when he was a baby kept good records (duh, they are Presbyterian, after all) and it turns out that he has indeed been baptized, so he's not bound for the eternal damnation and unremitting torture of perdition's flames.
So, that's good.
*le gasp!*
So, for about a day I was convinced that I was living with an unregenerate heathen with whom I would not spend eternity in Heaven once we both take the big dirt nap. That really bummed me out because I've already planned to spend at least the first 10,000 years of eternity with him dishing the robes (White? After Labor Day?!) and the harp playing of the various cherubim and seraphim, trying to instigate a Pat Benatar-eque dance fight between the two groups, and discussing the deeper meanings of LOST and BSG. In addition, he's a member of our church and subsequently an elder and also a God Father, all of which were done assuming that he'd already been baptized. If you think it's bad to inflate your job experience on a resume, imagine what God thinks about that kind of thing! *Ka-Pow!*
For almost a whole day I pondered my options: 1) Divorce him because the Bible says we Christians shouldn't be married to unregenerate heathens. But that's a problem because as it turns out, we're not supposed to get divorced either. Who knew? Plus, he's a great cook and he knows exactly how to make a brilliant dirty martini. And, he cleans the kitty litter. Or 2) I could stay with him and try to figure out a way to do some sort of Mormon retro-active baptism. But I don't own any magic Mormon underwear. So, it was looking like he was damned if I do, damned if I don't.
Fortunately the church where his parents attended when he was a baby kept good records (duh, they are Presbyterian, after all) and it turns out that he has indeed been baptized, so he's not bound for the eternal damnation and unremitting torture of perdition's flames.
So, that's good.
Posted at 02:18 PM
Mon - May 5, 2008
Mother's Day...
While you're planning for Mother's Day (yes,
you're welcome for the reminder, you shlub) and trying to decide what to do for
your Mom, consider what you can do for other Moms in the
world.
Every year at Mother's Day, our church collects items and money to make baby kits for Church World Service. This is, I think, a wonderful way to care for other Mothers out there. Given the cyclone in Myanmar, there are lots of Moms (and their babies) in need this Mother's Day.
So, send a check to CWS, or start a baby kit collection at work, or at your place of worship, or throw a baby kit party and require each attendee to bring an item for a kit or make a donation. (Even the most jaded old queen loves to buy baby clothes.) Ply them with liquor. Make it a competition. Whatever works.
And, should you need some additional inspiration, don't forget why Mother's Day was invented in the first place ...
It's not what you think.
Every year at Mother's Day, our church collects items and money to make baby kits for Church World Service. This is, I think, a wonderful way to care for other Mothers out there. Given the cyclone in Myanmar, there are lots of Moms (and their babies) in need this Mother's Day.
So, send a check to CWS, or start a baby kit collection at work, or at your place of worship, or throw a baby kit party and require each attendee to bring an item for a kit or make a donation. (Even the most jaded old queen loves to buy baby clothes.) Ply them with liquor. Make it a competition. Whatever works.
And, should you need some additional inspiration, don't forget why Mother's Day was invented in the first place ...
It's not what you think.
Posted at 11:46 AM
We've been watching...
1. We saw Iron Man on Friday night and I
was surprised at how good it was. It turned out to be one of the better comic
book adaptations I've seen. I'd say it rates below Batman Begins and the
original Superman, but way above the Fantastic Four movies. Like most of
these movies, the action set pieces were good, and the special effects were
excellent. Unlike most of them, the acting was also good, and the humor wasn't
stupid and cheesy.
2. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those so-so movies with outstanding performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman can do no wrong in my book, and Albert Finny is always good. The woman who plays Aunt May in the Spiderman movies was in it. I have a feeling she won't take a role unless she gets to spend most of her screen time in a hospital bed.
3. LOST. I don't want to give away spoilers, but things are definitely getting more and more interesting. People are reappearing we thought were dead, and people who were alive seem to be disappearing. They're clearly setting up some interesting stuff for the season finale.
4. BSG. Two character driven shows in a row. I think they're setting stuff up for some big episodes later one as well. Looks to me like they're setting up splits in both the Ragtag Fleet and the Cylon fleet. Will that enable some sort of detente between one half of each fleet as an alliance against the rest? The Sci-Fi Channel continues to be cagy about when the rest of the season will be shown. They're still only saying during the 2008-2009 season, but they don't specify whether it'll be back in the fall or whether we'll have to wait until January. Jerks.
2. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those so-so movies with outstanding performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman can do no wrong in my book, and Albert Finny is always good. The woman who plays Aunt May in the Spiderman movies was in it. I have a feeling she won't take a role unless she gets to spend most of her screen time in a hospital bed.
3. LOST. I don't want to give away spoilers, but things are definitely getting more and more interesting. People are reappearing we thought were dead, and people who were alive seem to be disappearing. They're clearly setting up some interesting stuff for the season finale.
4. BSG. Two character driven shows in a row. I think they're setting stuff up for some big episodes later one as well. Looks to me like they're setting up splits in both the Ragtag Fleet and the Cylon fleet. Will that enable some sort of detente between one half of each fleet as an alliance against the rest? The Sci-Fi Channel continues to be cagy about when the rest of the season will be shown. They're still only saying during the 2008-2009 season, but they don't specify whether it'll be back in the fall or whether we'll have to wait until January. Jerks.
Posted at 08:43 AM
Tue - April 29, 2008
Isn't that ironic?
There's been an interesting new development the
continuing saga that is the argument over gay marriage in the Presbyterian
Church (USA).
The short version of the story is that a minister in the PCUSA was brought up on charges for officiating at a same-sex weddings in 2004 and 2005. Her Presbytery (the group of churches in a small geographical area) found her not guilty. That decision was reversed on appeal to the Synod (a group of Presbyteries in a geographical area) and she was given very lightest discipline possible, a rebuke.
Well, today the Synod decision was overturned and the original Presbytery decision was upheld at the General Assembly level by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, our version of a Supreme Court. The decision itself should make the right wing fundies' heads explode.
See the fundies have been working so hard for so long to make sure we all know that "marriage is defined as one man and one woman". Heck, it's even in our denomination's Book of Order (one half of our denomination's "constitution"): "Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. "
See where this is heading yet?
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission ruled that Rev. Spahr can't have violated the Book of Order by conducting same-sex marriages, because according to the denomination, anything that isn't between a man and a woman isn't a marriage. Hilarious.
Of course, that section of the Book of Order needs to be changed, and plenty of people are already working on it. But as it stands now, this is a brilliantly subversive decision that relies on the fundies' own silly arguments to work. Gotta love the irony.
UPDATE: Been thinking more about this, and the irony just keeps on coming...
The ruling itself is simply a very strictly literal reading of the Book of Order. So, those fundies who require a very strictly literal reading of the Bible should be thrilled! Ironic, no?
Also, the previous standard in the PCUSA regarding same-sex marriage was that a Minister couldn't perform a ceremony they thought was the same as a heterosexual wedding. But now it no longer matters what anyone thinks. Everyone can think that gay and straight marriages are equal, because they are. Don't get me wrong, all of this is still pathetic, wrong, idiotic and bigoted, but the ruling these people are enforcing on themselves is actually much more expansive than the previous rulings, and makes it impossible to discipline ministers for these ceremonies. Will the irony never stop?
Nope there's more...
Gotta love the circular reasoning: A minister can't be disciplined violating the Book of Order on marriage because the Book of Order says he can't do anything that would violate the Book of Order on marriage.
Want to marry 2 pigs? Well, that's not against the Book of Order now either. Yes, after years of warning us about teh gays, it is in fact the fundies have led the PCUSA to incest, bestiality, and polygamy. (Or if not bestiality yet, then at the very least, the baptism of dogs. But we all know that's just a slippery slope to actual fundie sanctioned bestiality.)
... drowning in irony.
The short version of the story is that a minister in the PCUSA was brought up on charges for officiating at a same-sex weddings in 2004 and 2005. Her Presbytery (the group of churches in a small geographical area) found her not guilty. That decision was reversed on appeal to the Synod (a group of Presbyteries in a geographical area) and she was given very lightest discipline possible, a rebuke.
Well, today the Synod decision was overturned and the original Presbytery decision was upheld at the General Assembly level by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, our version of a Supreme Court. The decision itself should make the right wing fundies' heads explode.
See the fundies have been working so hard for so long to make sure we all know that "marriage is defined as one man and one woman". Heck, it's even in our denomination's Book of Order (one half of our denomination's "constitution"): "Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. "
See where this is heading yet?
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission ruled that Rev. Spahr can't have violated the Book of Order by conducting same-sex marriages, because according to the denomination, anything that isn't between a man and a woman isn't a marriage. Hilarious.
Of course, that section of the Book of Order needs to be changed, and plenty of people are already working on it. But as it stands now, this is a brilliantly subversive decision that relies on the fundies' own silly arguments to work. Gotta love the irony.
UPDATE: Been thinking more about this, and the irony just keeps on coming...
The ruling itself is simply a very strictly literal reading of the Book of Order. So, those fundies who require a very strictly literal reading of the Bible should be thrilled! Ironic, no?
Also, the previous standard in the PCUSA regarding same-sex marriage was that a Minister couldn't perform a ceremony they thought was the same as a heterosexual wedding. But now it no longer matters what anyone thinks. Everyone can think that gay and straight marriages are equal, because they are. Don't get me wrong, all of this is still pathetic, wrong, idiotic and bigoted, but the ruling these people are enforcing on themselves is actually much more expansive than the previous rulings, and makes it impossible to discipline ministers for these ceremonies. Will the irony never stop?
Nope there's more...
Gotta love the circular reasoning: A minister can't be disciplined violating the Book of Order on marriage because the Book of Order says he can't do anything that would violate the Book of Order on marriage.
Want to marry 2 pigs? Well, that's not against the Book of Order now either. Yes, after years of warning us about teh gays, it is in fact the fundies have led the PCUSA to incest, bestiality, and polygamy. (Or if not bestiality yet, then at the very least, the baptism of dogs. But we all know that's just a slippery slope to actual fundie sanctioned bestiality.)
... drowning in irony.
Posted at 04:59 PM
6 Reasons Star Trek Should Stay Dead...
Excellent
list. My favorite:
"2. We're tired of the clueless wanker with Aspergers who teaches us what it means to be human. Spock was sort of cute, so nu-Trek served up Data, Odo, that holographic doctor, Seven of Nine and T'Pol. It's not Trek without Rain Man trying to understand our human ways. We prefer the Cylons, who school us about humanity by screwing and killing us."
Gotta love the fact that even a Trek article can't get written without a BSG reference these days.
"2. We're tired of the clueless wanker with Aspergers who teaches us what it means to be human. Spock was sort of cute, so nu-Trek served up Data, Odo, that holographic doctor, Seven of Nine and T'Pol. It's not Trek without Rain Man trying to understand our human ways. We prefer the Cylons, who school us about humanity by screwing and killing us."
Gotta love the fact that even a Trek article can't get written without a BSG reference these days.
Posted at 02:26 PM
Mon - April 28, 2008
Cloverfield...
Netflixed* us some Cloverfield last night
and it was actually way better than I expected. The advantage of watching it at
home vs. watching it in the theater is that the shaky camerawork wasn't nearly
as vomit inducing.
Silly monster movie? Blair Witch rip-off? Simply a vehicle for ballsy New York City destruction? All three?
BTW, it's still alive.
* Verbing weirds language.
Silly monster movie? Blair Witch rip-off? Simply a vehicle for ballsy New York City destruction? All three?
BTW, it's still alive.
* Verbing weirds language.
Posted at 09:17 AM
Fri - April 25, 2008
A couple random items...
1. Today is the National Day of Silence, which
promotes safer schools, tolerance, and brings attention to anti-LGBT
name-calling, bullying, and
harassment.
2. This is fraking awesome. This one is also pretty funny. But I think I like this one the best.
3. Dele-gate continues. Remember how we were all told that the Michigan Democratic Primary wouldn't count? Well, that's probably going to end up being a lie. Remember how we were told that, just in case you wanted to vote for Obama, even though he wasn't on the ballot, which wouldn't count anyway, you should vote "Uncommitted"? 'Member that? Yeah, well, that may turn out to be a lie too. Hillary is trying to steal the uncommitted delegates. I used to not get why some people hated her so much. Used to. Do we really need another President to steal an election? That didn't work out so well the last two times now did it?
2. This is fraking awesome. This one is also pretty funny. But I think I like this one the best.
3. Dele-gate continues. Remember how we were all told that the Michigan Democratic Primary wouldn't count? Well, that's probably going to end up being a lie. Remember how we were told that, just in case you wanted to vote for Obama, even though he wasn't on the ballot, which wouldn't count anyway, you should vote "Uncommitted"? 'Member that? Yeah, well, that may turn out to be a lie too. Hillary is trying to steal the uncommitted delegates. I used to not get why some people hated her so much. Used to. Do we really need another President to steal an election? That didn't work out so well the last two times now did it?
Posted at 09:54 AM
Thu - April 24, 2008
Goin' to the chapel...
You know how teh gays are totally going to destroy
marriage and family? Yeah, well ... not so much, according to a new survey.
From the survey:
The researchers interviewed 133 young people from the New York City area who said they were "almost totally" or "totally" lesbian or gay. The participants were age 16 to 22, and they were asked about their future relationship and parenting plans. ...
Ninety-two percent of females and 82 percent of males expected to be monogamously partnered after age 30, and 79 percent of females and 73 percent of males expected to live with their partner.
Sixty-four percent of females and 37 percent of males said it was "extremely likely" they would marry if allowed by law.
When asked about expectations of child-raising, 36 percent of females and 20 percent of males said it was "extremely likely" they will raise children. Overall, 67 percent of males and 55 percent of females expressed some degree of likelihood that they would raise children.
That kind of optimism is encouraging. Even more encouraging is that kind of optimism from New Yorkers!
From the survey:
The researchers interviewed 133 young people from the New York City area who said they were "almost totally" or "totally" lesbian or gay. The participants were age 16 to 22, and they were asked about their future relationship and parenting plans. ...
Ninety-two percent of females and 82 percent of males expected to be monogamously partnered after age 30, and 79 percent of females and 73 percent of males expected to live with their partner.
Sixty-four percent of females and 37 percent of males said it was "extremely likely" they would marry if allowed by law.
When asked about expectations of child-raising, 36 percent of females and 20 percent of males said it was "extremely likely" they will raise children. Overall, 67 percent of males and 55 percent of females expressed some degree of likelihood that they would raise children.
That kind of optimism is encouraging. Even more encouraging is that kind of optimism from New Yorkers!
Posted at 11:50 AM