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Russia To Imprison Moes
2007-02-13 09:56:00
A new bill was introduced today in the lower house of Russia 's Parliament that would make homosexuality a crime that could carry up to five years in prison. Umm.... What? Wasn't Russia just a little bit ahead of Nigeria on human rights policy? Homo sex was decriminalized in Russia well over a decade ago after the fall of communism, but, apparently because some gays in Moscow want a parade and party every now and again, dick politicians want the laws criminalizing it back. The bills author is an independent but looks to have a lot of support from former communists and politicians loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church. I'm not eating Russian Beluga, Osetra or Sevruga Caviar for the next year out of protest.
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Shop Till You Drop, Literally
2007-02-13 09:27:00
Is it me, or has shopping suddenly become ridiculously dangerous? In the past 24 hours, or so, there have been two separate news reports that seem to support the idea that they have. First off, a mall in Spokane, Washington (a place I kind of thought was fictional, like Stepford) was evacuated after people inhaled "a possible chemical irritant." Apparently no one has an idea of what actually caused the fumes, but about 40 people ended up in area hospitals with eye, nose and throat irritations. Next up, just a few hours ago, a man in Salt Lake City opened fire in Trolly Square Mall in the downtown area. Six people are dead, including the gunman who was shot down by police. One person even got it while shopping at Pottery Barn Kids, IMAGINE! My favorite part of the coverage: "Brad Merrill was outside the Ol' Spaghetti Factory on the mezzanine when he heard a loud noise and the sound of glass breaking. 'All of a sudden, someone barged into the mall with a big shotgun,' ...
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Shut Up I Am Dreaming...
2007-02-12 05:31:00
Shut Up I am Dream ing of Places Where Lovers Die - Sunset Rubdown and Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade
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Friends of Dr. Laura Unite!
2007-02-10 00:39:00
Janice Shaw Crouse wrote an article for Townhall.com this week endorsing Dr. Laura Schlessinger's view that not only is it the responsibility of women to keep their husbands happy, but if there are problems in the home (i.e. domestic abuse) it is because they don't have the right attitude. This is the kind of shit that makes me feel crazy. Here are some excerpts: "For several years now, Dr. Laura has been arguing that it is up to women to keep their husbands happy. She took up this theme in earnest when she published a book, 'The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.' In her book, Dr. Laura stated that women have been 'indoctrinated and threatened into an anti-male bias.' It's not necessarily that some women hate men, she said; they simply disdain and dismiss them and their needs." "...feminists urge unmarried women (as early as high school) to find their independence by being sexually adventurous, defined by being eager, available, and aggressive as sex partners. At the s...
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Catholic Leader Finally Charged
2007-02-07 20:18:00
Finally... Police have charged Larry Cirignano, the former leader of Cat holic Citizenship, today, with assault and violating a pro-gay protester's civil rights . You might remember that just after finishing the pledge of allegiance he went into a VoteOnMarriage.org crowd of protesters and shoved Sarah Loy to the ground last December telling her "You need to get out of here, you need to get out of here right now," because she was holding a sign that read"No Discrimination In The Constitution." He is now required to appear before a Magistrate on February 20th who will determine if there is enough evidence for the charges to stick. Bay Windows in Boston has this story here.
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Endangered Animal Hunt
2007-02-05 03:05:00
I took these pictures while on a nature hike to Ka'ena Point. The first and last are of a Monk Seal and the center is a Black Footed Albatross. They are both endangered. Location: Oahu, Hawaii
More About: Animal , Anima , Anger , Danger , Endangered

Hawaii To Get Civil Unions?
2007-02-01 21:04:00
A new bill in the Hawai i an state legislature would make Hawaii the fourth state to grant civil unions to gay and lesbian couples if approved. As a preventative measure against a battle over redefining marriage, it seems to have popular support and will likely pass. Key democrats in both the house and senate are calling it a "top priority for this years session." "Committed couples, regardless of their sexual preference or orientation, should have the same rights. That's the bottom line — we should treat people equally," said Gary Hooser, the state senate majority leader. "There's broad support among Democratic party members." Governor Linda Lingle is refusing to take a position on the bill until it has been approved by the legislature. You can reach her office at (808) 586-0034 or governor.lingle@hawaii.gov to tell her why she should support it. Hawaii already grants gay and lesbian couples some rights as part of a compromise after a fight over marriage rights in 1998 when ...
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Nigeria My Least Favorite Place
2007-01-19 10:32:00
Just when you thought Niger ia could not get any scarier, a bill basically making it illegal to be outwardly gay is about to be voted on by the legislature there, and is expected to pass. Included in the long list of acts the bill would make illegal is the following: Two or more gay people gathering in the same place at the same time Knowingly renting an apartment to a gay or lesbian couple Writing a love letter to a person of the same sex Visiting a GLBT website Forming a GLBT group Giving information about HIV/AIDS to people known to be gay What would be the penalty for breaking any of these new laws? Try five years in a hard labor camp. "Nigeria seems certain to legislate one of the world's most sweeping and repressive anti-gay laws, unless international pressure is bought to bear on the Nigerian government," said Peter Tatchell of the London-based LGBT human rights group OutRage which has been monitoring the situation in Nigeria. "The bill outlaws a...
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The Playlist of 2006
2006-12-24 23:49:00
This is the short list of my top picks from 2006, in no particular order... "Scenic World" by Beirut on Lon Gisland EP "On a Neck, On a Spit" by Grizzly Bear on Yellow House "The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack" by Liars on Drums Not Dead "The Funeral" by Band of Horses on Everything All the Time "The Warning" by Hot Chip on The Warning "In The Morning" by Junior Boys on In the Morning/ The Equalizer EP "I Love Creedence" by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone on Etiquette "Long Distance Call" by Phoenix on It's Never Been Like That "European Oils" by Destroyer on Destroyer's Rubies "Elephant Gun" by Beirut on Lon Gisland EP "Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings" by Sunset Rubdown on Shut Up I Am Dreaming "Apple Orchard" by Beach House on Beach House "The Orchids" by Califone on Roots and Crowns "All Fires" by Swan Lake on Beast Moans "Carousels" by Beruit on Lon Gisland EP It's a little over an hour of good... MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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CA Gay Marriage Update
2006-12-21 02:04:00
The California State Supreme Court said today that it would hear a case charging that the law banning same sex marriage is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Lawyers representing gay couples wishing to marry, the City of San Francisco and others now have 30 days to file briefs challenging the law and supporters of the ban will have 30 days after that to respond. A decision is expected by late next year. "Marriage equality is the major civil rights issue of our time and the state's highest court clearly recognizes it should have the final word on the issue in California,'' said San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera in a statement. The six cases, now being heard together, started working their way through the courts last year after the State Supreme Court ruled that marriage licenses issued under the orders of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom were done in violation of California law, immediately nullifying the unions. The dissent in that case did read, however, that wea...
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Study: Americans Fornicating
2006-12-20 22:54:00
A new study was released yesterday by the Guttmacher Institute in New York that found 9 out of 10 America ns have had premarital sex. The study, which was conducted by interviewing around 40,000 people over a period of more than 20 years, concludes that by age 44, 99% of respondents had had sex, and 95% had done so before marriage. "This is reality-check research," said the study's author, Lawrence Finer. "Premarital sex is normal behavior for the vast majority of American s, and has been for decades. The data clearly show(s) that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government's funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds. It would be more effective to provide young people with the skills and information they need to be safe once they become sexually active... which nearly everyone eventually will." Amen. Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the ...
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Churches Do The Splits
2006-12-19 01:31:00
In my home state of Virginia two of the oldest Episcopal parishes in the country voted yesterday to join more conservative Anglicans being led by a homophobe in Nigeria. Why would they do such a thing? Apparently they REALLY don't like gay people, or women. The shit storm started in 2003 when the first gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, was consecrated then intensified when the church elected Katharine Jefferts Schori it's first woman bishop in June of this year. Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who now leads the two VA parishes, called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a "satanic attack" on the church and an estimated 115,000 parishoners have left during the past few years. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the international Anglican spiritual leader, has been trying to negotiate a solution between the branches of the church which collectively minister to 77 million-members worldwide, but has been having a difficult time, to say the least. The leader of...
More About: Church , Churches , Split

Death Penalty F'ed
2006-12-18 22:20:00
A Florida executioner missed the vein of death row inmate Angel Nieves Diaz last week and had to inject him a second time during a botched execution that caused chemical burns on the 55 year old man's arm and pain that some are comparing to torture. Witnesses reported seeing Diaz grimacing, blinking, licking his lips, blowing and attempting to mouth words for as long as 24 minutes after the first injection. "[Patients] describe this as being painful," Dr. Nik Gravenstein, professor and chairman of anesthesiology at the University of Florida , said of the same chemicals given to patients in much lower levels during treatments. "To have given somebody many times what is necessary and then to give them many more times again, it doesn't pass what one might call the 'red face test.' It just doesn't make sense. You have to be suspicious that something's not right," Dr. Gravenstein went on to say. It took Angel Diaz a total of 34 minutes to die in a process that usually leaves in...
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WWJD? Assault?
2006-12-18 21:17:00
Gay Marriage in Massachusetts has been making homophobes crazy for years but the true colors of the bigots in charge came out again yesterday when an anti-gay group leader threw a woman to the ground for disagreeing with his hate at a rally for religious activists outside Worcester City Hall. Larry Cirigano, who is the executive director of the Boston-based "Catholic Citizenship" group, went into the crowd of several hundred, grabbed 27 year old Sarah Loy, and after yelling in her ear "You need to get out, you need to get out of here right now," he forced her down onto the sidewalk where she hit her head on the concrete. Sarah Loy had gone to the rally with her husband to "be in that crowd and show them a different perspective." She was holding a MassEquality sign that read "No discrimination in the Constitution" while chanting "Shame, shame, shame, shame," with other gay-rights supporters. Larry Cirigano had opened the rally moments before with the Pledge of Allegiance before ...
More About: Assault , Saul

NJ Takes Low Road
2006-12-16 00:03:00
Under orders from the State Supreme Court, the New Jersey state legislature passed a bill Thursday that would make civil unions available to same-sex couples while denying them the more equal title of marriage. Governor Jon Corzine's signature is expected soon, after "[we] make sure that what we think we're getting is what we're getting." I'm too disappointed to write anything else about it. You can read more for yourself here.
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Livestock Gets Gassy
2006-12-13 21:18:00
According to a report released by the UN, livestock production is now one of the world’s greatest environmental threats. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization released the report that states the livestock industry is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, which is 4.5% more than all sources of transportation combined. Unfortunately, the lead author of the report, Henning Steinfeld, writes that encouraging the global population to become vegan is not a solution, because of the one billion people who rely on livestock production for their livelihood. The New Scientist reported on this story here.
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You Better Watch Out
2006-12-13 10:12:00
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
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City Hall For Sale?
2006-12-13 06:05:00
At a Chamber of Commerce breakfast this morning Boston Mayor Thomas Menino proposed selling City Hall to developers for what he believes could be up to $300 million. This bothers me. I like Mayor Menino. He has done a great job and is on the right side of about every issue I care about, but I also happen to like City Hall. I know I am probably alone on this, but I think Boston City Hall is a beautiful building. I love it's late 60's architecture, and think it adds depth and contrast to the downtown area. I will concede that the barren brick-covered desert that surrounds it is ugly, but I think the building itself is amazing. Call me crazy. "This sale will open up prime real estate for facilities and open space that will galvanize the vitality of our downtown and strengthen Boston's future," Menino said before calling the building inefficient and pointing out that it needs repairs. I hope he changes his mind. More here.
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Bush Hates The Blind
2006-12-13 05:32:00
Lawyers from the Justice Department filed papers on behalf of the Bush Administration today asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling that would require American currency to be redesigned so that people whose vision is impaired can be able to tell different denominations apart more easily. This request comes after a ruling last month by U.S. District Judge James Robertson that found in favor of the American Council of the Blind in a case claiming the Treasury was violating the Rehabilitation Act. The Council had been asking the department to change American currency since 1995, but was told such measures would be too costly although evidence of any studies studying the cost of suggested changes were not provided. The council suggested having bills embossed with dots, changing their texture, or simply resizing them but the department repeatedly declined. Christoper Gray, president of the council pointed out that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has, however, made ...
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NJ Marriage Update
2006-12-12 05:11:00
Earlier today the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would deny marriage to same-sex couples by offering them civil unions. This was the second step in advancing the bill, which was introduced only last week in response to the October State Supreme Court ruling that legislators pass a law that would provide gay and lesbian couples equal access to the protections and responsibilities of marriage. The bill is now scheduled for a vote in the Assembly on Thursday of this week, and could be passed by the Senate on the same day. As you can imagine, this just pisses me off. I could write a book about everything that is wrong with this legislation, but I'll spare you. I will say this, though, I was on the fence about New Jersey to begin with and this just seals the deal. I mean who can trust a place where you can't pump your own gas? Get the story here.
More About: Marriage , Update , Arri

Kitten Killer Back in Jail
2006-12-08 07:41:00
Robert Tomlin of Smithburg, MD was found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty last month after pleading guilty to throwing four of his girlfriends kittens into a burning fire at the end of a heated argument. The prosecutor of the case, Robert Veil, dropped other charges against him including assaulting his girlfriend and destroying property as part of the plea. Washington County Circuit Judge John McDowell sentenced him to a year and a half in jail, which he then suspended for time served and replaced with three years of probation. The sentence also included an order to have no contact with his girlfriend, her family, or any animals. Tonight he is back in jail for violating his probation by moving back in with his girlfriend and her cats. I think we can all get behind hating this guy, but there is more to it than that. I just can't seem to understand why it is this guy's girlfriend took him back after he torched her kittens. I guess they deserve each other. You can find t...
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Kids May Get Real Sex Ed
2006-12-08 05:05:00
According to a CBN News source (here), abstinence only programs in many schools may be coming to an end in the foreseeable future. Congressman Henry Waxman (D-California) is reportedly rewriting definitions in a re-authorization bill that may ultimately require federally funded sex education classes to include teaching students about condoms and safe sex practices. The current funding is set to expire in six months, when the new Democratic Congress will have the opportunity to offer rewritten definitions for the $170 million program. Lets hope those crazy christians are right.
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Seperate Is Not Equal
2006-12-08 00:49:00
The New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a bill this morning that grants civil unions to same-sex couples but denies them marriage. The new bill, which comes as a response to a court order that the legislature pass a bill granting equal rights to gays and lesbians wishing to marry, is now before lawmakers and is expected to pass before the new year. If passed, the bill would provide little more than the domestic partners law already offered in the state, according to Garden State Equal ity. "The discriminatory bill is 63 pages all to avoid the one word that does the job --- marriage," said David Buckel, Marriage Project Director at Lambda Legal and the lead attorney responsible for successfully pursuing the marriage case through New Jersey state courts. Read more here.
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Update: Abortion Bill Fails
2006-12-07 04:42:00
The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act failed to pass today with a vote of 250 to 162. The bill would have required doctors performing abortions at 20 weeks or more to give women a pamphlet underlining the potential pain a fetus could feel during the procedure but stops short of requiring doctors to warn women about the potential risks of different procedures. Democrats who opposed the bill pointed out that it was backed by little scientific fact. "If we really care about women's informed consent, we shouldn't force doctors to misinform them," California Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman said. Get the full story from the Washington Post here.
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Women Turn To Plan B
2006-12-07 04:22:00
The emergency contraceptive Plan B finally went on sale today, and is now available over the counter at pharmacies across the country. Planned Parenthood celebrated by handing out the drug for free at clinics across the country. "Emergency contraception is your second chance to prevent pregnancy if the condom breaks, you miss two or more birth control pills, have been raped or have unprotected sex," Planned Parenthood Vice President for Medical Affairs Vanessa Cullins, M.D said today, "Every woman deserves every chance to prevent unintended pregnancy." Plan B contains a high dose of a common birth control drug that, if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, lowers the risk of pregnancy by up to 89%. Pro-life advocates are pissed. "The battle is not over," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "There are more things we can do and will be doing." Read the Planned Parenthood release here.
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Abortion Scare Tactics
2006-12-06 00:39:00
A new bill scheduled to be voted on today would "require that women considering an abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization be informed of the pain their child would feel during the lethal procedure... [It] would, however, protect a doctor's right to inform the woman of any risks to her according to the doctor's own best medical judgment," writes the Agape Press, a christian news service. Pro-life Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey authored H.R. 6099, the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which goes on to require that women either refuse or request anesthesia for the fetus but, again, does not require doctors to inform women of the potential health risks. “Congressmen have denounced the use of torture against terrorists. They should now denounce the torture inflicted on innocent unborn babies through abortion. The first step is to ensure that mothers are provided with information on what their child will experience and given options,” said Concerned Women for America Pr...
More About: Tactics , Abortion , Care

NY Bans Fat
2006-12-05 21:43:00
The New York Board of Health voted unanimously yesterday to ban the use of trans fats in all New York City restaurants. Starting in July of next year every restaurant in the city must be using frying oils and ingredients free of the fat. Trans fats are made solid by adding hydrogen to liquid fat so that they keep longer. The FDA warns that foods high in these kinds of fat are doubly bad for you because they raise bad cholesterol while also lowering good cholesterol and your body has a difficult time processing them. This leads to clogged arteries and other health problems that can be fatal. The average American eats about 4.7 pounds of the trans fats each year according to current estimates. "We don't think that a municipal health agency has any business banning a product the Food and Drug Administration has already approved," Dan Fleshler, spokesman for the National Restaurant Association, said because someone had to. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the health nut who is held larg...

Marriage in CA, Take Two
2006-12-04 04:18:00
California Legislators are giving Gov. Schwarzenegger a second chance to get it right on gay marriage. Assemblymember Mark Leno plans to introduce a bill tomorrow that would legalize marriages between same-sex couples while recognizing the right of any church to refuse solemnization. This new bill is almost identical to one passed last year then vetoed by the Governor. In a statement released from the bills sponsor, Equality California, Assemblymember Leno says, "Each branch of government must rise up out of the shadows of inequality and be counted on this important civil rights issue by using their powers to put an end to discrimination against all people. It is more important now than ever that our legislative branch here in California reaffirms the belief that marriage is an institution only strengthened by inclusiveness. Our society is strengthened by stable and committed relationships, and our governmental bodies should be doing all they can to help these relationships flo...
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Tribes Stick It To Phelps
2006-12-04 00:26:00
Tribal leaders at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation have passed a resolution banning members belonging to Fred Phelps's Baptist Church from protesting at the funeral of National Guard Cpl. Nathan Goodiron taking place today. Cpl. Goodiron was killed by a hand grenade that was thrown by insurgents in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day. "We recognize and respect the right to free speech and the public's right to assemble, but we want everyone to know that the Three Affiliated Tribe s, as a sovereign tribal government, has the right to regulate any person or persons who harass and show disrespectful conduct towards our members, within our boundaries," said Marcus Wells Jr., the chairman of the Three Associated Tribes. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, have been protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in action because according to their leader, Fred Phelps, the deaths are god's punishment for a culture of tolerance towards gays in America. This past ...
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Bad.. Worse... Worst
2006-12-03 13:36:00
I sometimes read horrifying stories about gay people and usually I feel angry then ashamed and finally I try to pretend they don't exist at all. Today,though, I want to try something different. I'm going to share them with you in hopes we can admit these things happened and move on. Over the past four days I ran into these three stories that really made me cringe. I haven't been this upset since the Goodriches decided to get a divorce but I'm working through it. Here you go: 1. In July of last year Christopher Robertson came home from shopping with his boyfriend to find the words "Die Fag" spray painted on the front of his burning trailer in Lakeland, Florida. Investigators helped him fill out insurance forms and people from across the country sent their money and condolences. Yesterday he plead guilty to setting the fire himself. He is now awaiting sentencing on a slew of charges including arson, grand theft, making a fraudulent insurance claim and arson. Read the res...