ps
I don't always write at coffee shops. But we don't have breakfast foods or coffee at the house, and I was hungry.
montana
Hey there, I am writing from Wild Joe's, a rather large coffee shop on Main street of Bozeman, Montana. This is my third time at this coffee shop, because it is one of the only place I can get free internet that is relatively close to where I am staying. But more on that later.
I landed Friday at 8:00pm, to freezing weather and a cozy airport. The airport had a fireplace in it. It was like landing at a log cabin. I would have landed four hours earlier had I not completely missed my flight. I got dropped off in front of LAX departures at 7:45am for a 8:39 flight. Yeah, what? The line was enormous, and the lack of communication from the airline was, uhm, made me want to rip my eye balls out with an ice pick. My flight was departing before I even got inside. Good thing it really didn't matter if I was late. It actually kind of worked out that I was running behind. Sure I missed out on the bachelorette activities, like sticking a toilet paper tube on the end of a plunger, and sharing embarrassing stories about the bride. Oh yeah, and then the whole thing about actually seeing the bride. But more of that to come later. Because I was running behind I got to enjoy a wonderful bowl of chili and the absolutely most delicious sweet potato fries that have ever been stuffed into my mouth. Seriously, incredible. I was at the Denver airport for a three hour layover. Everyone in Denver was really nice. It made me consider moving there. That was before I landed in Montana, where the city of Bozeman has the nicest people, the town was cute, and the snow covered mountain surrounding the fields and farms made me never want to leave. Working in the morning, and skiing in the afternoon. That sounds like the life! Except when you realize very few flights actually ever go directly out of Bozeman, and that might eventually get annoying, plus the knowing the name of everyone you pass on the street might be a double edged sword. After thinking this thought I then came to realize I pass the same people in San Francisco all the time. I guess it's just nice to be back in a place so fueled by the outdoors. It's refreshing. It's nice being away from the hustle and bustle. I have been to Montana twice before. Once when my mom and I drove all through the night in our Toyota van that looked like a space ship and a mouse combined, when I was considering going to school at the University of Montana. Missoula was a cool town. The second time my friend Matt and I took a road trip in the middle of summer. We stayed with Megan, went wakeboarding, and saw the movie Lara Craft. I remember that because we were waiting around for Megan to finish something up and that was the only movie playing at that time. She took us to Mackenzie River Pizza Company (which is more or less a block from where I am sitting at this moment). She took us floating down the river, which was my first experience of river floating, and on our way back got stopped in the middle of the road by a bunch of cattle that decided to stay put. That was a good trip.
This has been a great few days as well. My very dear friend was getting married. I bought my ticket without thinking twice, I wouldn't miss this for the world. A few other people from Washington came over. We were lucky enough to have people take care of us. Let us stay in a house all on our own. A great house actually, that despite the kitty who I swear was on coke, was in a perfect location. Close to downtown, close to the college campus, close to Safeway. And a giant food co op I have yet to go to, but I think I might before I leave. Because we didn't rent a car, and therefore had no form of transportation except for out feet, we got a very good view of the neighborhood. We walked up and down almost every block near us. Saw beautiful houses, beautiful dogs, a cool park, big icicles, and churches of every denomination. Also because we didn't have a car we visited Main street A LOT. We went to the same breakfast place twice. Nova Cafe. It's bad ass and delicious. Our hostess was from Santa Cruz, and was up here for the winter helping her sister who owns the place with her partner. It was pretty cool.
The bride was busy all week, so I understand not actually seeing her until the wedding, and even then she was busy visiting with everyone. That is ok though, because we will eventually get to hang out Im sure. It was nice seeing some people from school, and meeting new people. It was a great wedding, with a down home "country" "blue grass" band, and an open bar. Can't go wrong with that.
Overall I have loved my Montana adventure, but I a ready to not just be sitting around and shopping. Also, Im getting sick, waking up with green boogers and headaches. Ewe.
until next time!
I landed Friday at 8:00pm, to freezing weather and a cozy airport. The airport had a fireplace in it. It was like landing at a log cabin. I would have landed four hours earlier had I not completely missed my flight. I got dropped off in front of LAX departures at 7:45am for a 8:39 flight. Yeah, what? The line was enormous, and the lack of communication from the airline was, uhm, made me want to rip my eye balls out with an ice pick. My flight was departing before I even got inside. Good thing it really didn't matter if I was late. It actually kind of worked out that I was running behind. Sure I missed out on the bachelorette activities, like sticking a toilet paper tube on the end of a plunger, and sharing embarrassing stories about the bride. Oh yeah, and then the whole thing about actually seeing the bride. But more of that to come later. Because I was running behind I got to enjoy a wonderful bowl of chili and the absolutely most delicious sweet potato fries that have ever been stuffed into my mouth. Seriously, incredible. I was at the Denver airport for a three hour layover. Everyone in Denver was really nice. It made me consider moving there. That was before I landed in Montana, where the city of Bozeman has the nicest people, the town was cute, and the snow covered mountain surrounding the fields and farms made me never want to leave. Working in the morning, and skiing in the afternoon. That sounds like the life! Except when you realize very few flights actually ever go directly out of Bozeman, and that might eventually get annoying, plus the knowing the name of everyone you pass on the street might be a double edged sword. After thinking this thought I then came to realize I pass the same people in San Francisco all the time. I guess it's just nice to be back in a place so fueled by the outdoors. It's refreshing. It's nice being away from the hustle and bustle. I have been to Montana twice before. Once when my mom and I drove all through the night in our Toyota van that looked like a space ship and a mouse combined, when I was considering going to school at the University of Montana. Missoula was a cool town. The second time my friend Matt and I took a road trip in the middle of summer. We stayed with Megan, went wakeboarding, and saw the movie Lara Craft. I remember that because we were waiting around for Megan to finish something up and that was the only movie playing at that time. She took us to Mackenzie River Pizza Company (which is more or less a block from where I am sitting at this moment). She took us floating down the river, which was my first experience of river floating, and on our way back got stopped in the middle of the road by a bunch of cattle that decided to stay put. That was a good trip.
This has been a great few days as well. My very dear friend was getting married. I bought my ticket without thinking twice, I wouldn't miss this for the world. A few other people from Washington came over. We were lucky enough to have people take care of us. Let us stay in a house all on our own. A great house actually, that despite the kitty who I swear was on coke, was in a perfect location. Close to downtown, close to the college campus, close to Safeway. And a giant food co op I have yet to go to, but I think I might before I leave. Because we didn't rent a car, and therefore had no form of transportation except for out feet, we got a very good view of the neighborhood. We walked up and down almost every block near us. Saw beautiful houses, beautiful dogs, a cool park, big icicles, and churches of every denomination. Also because we didn't have a car we visited Main street A LOT. We went to the same breakfast place twice. Nova Cafe. It's bad ass and delicious. Our hostess was from Santa Cruz, and was up here for the winter helping her sister who owns the place with her partner. It was pretty cool.
The bride was busy all week, so I understand not actually seeing her until the wedding, and even then she was busy visiting with everyone. That is ok though, because we will eventually get to hang out Im sure. It was nice seeing some people from school, and meeting new people. It was a great wedding, with a down home "country" "blue grass" band, and an open bar. Can't go wrong with that.
Overall I have loved my Montana adventure, but I a ready to not just be sitting around and shopping. Also, Im getting sick, waking up with green boogers and headaches. Ewe.
until next time!
when do i get to vote on our marriage?
When you are done reading this article, here is another one.
The US does not sign decriminalization of homosexuality in UN declaration.
Prop 8 Inquisitors "Command" Court To "Bow"
By Jeffery Feldman
With arrogance worthy of the Spanish Inquisition, leaders of the anti-civil rights "Proposition 8" group filed a brief 'commanding' the California Supreme Court to 'bow' to their will and nullify 18,000 marriages. In other words, "Happy Holidays, California! And here's your gift: a great big shiny box of lives destroyed." Ah, good times.
Luckily, California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, filed his own brief asking that the court nullify Proposition 8 on the grounds that it extinguishes civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The first report comes from Lisa Leff at the Sacramento Bee:
SAN FRANCISCO -- The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions. The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions..."For this court to rule otherwise would be to tear asunder a lavish body of jurisprudence," the court papers state. "That body of decisional law commands judges - as servants of the people - to bow to the will of those whom they serve - even if the substantive result of what people have wrought in constitution-amending is deemed unenlightened." (link)
I am no constitutional expert, but I am pretty sure that the the only time a legal brief counts as a commandment is when God writes it--on stone (see, e.g., The Bible).
The Los Angeles Times sums up the Attorney General's brief to the court and the subsequent rattling chains of the "Yes To 8" inquisitors:
In a surprise move, state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to invalidate Proposition 8. He said the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage "deprives people of the right to marry, an aspect of liberty that the Supreme Court has concluded is guaranteed by the California Constitution."
It is the attorney general's duty to defend the state's laws, and after gay rights activists filed legal challenges to Proposition 8, which amended the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, Brown said he planned to defend the proposition as enacted by the people of California.
But after studying the matter, Brown concluded that "Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."
Backers of Proposition 8 expressed anger at Brown's decision not to honor the will of voters, who approved the measure in November. "It's outrageous,"said Frank Schubert, campaign manager for Proposition 8. (link)
What is sad in this exchange--or maybe frightening--is the total ignorance of U.S. constitutional democracy exhibited by the Prop 8 backers.
The idea that civil rights can be stripped by a simple majority plebescite is not just unethical, but actually violates the principles on which our system of government is based. First off, it is unconstitutional to pass laws that deprite citizens of rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution (e.g., equal protection), a basic point the Prop 8 folks do not seem to get. Second, the purpose of the judiciary is to uphold the Constitution as form of systemic balance to the other two branches of government--not to bow down to them.
The language of the 'Yes To 8' brief suggests that group see itself in a moral struggle not just to strip gay people of rights, but to mobilize public against the California judiciary.
Time will tell which effort will hold the day. However, I suspect there are few judges in California (or anywhere else) who respond well when lawyers 'command' them to 'bow' down. Come to think of it, nobody responds well. And when you think about it, that really is the point of this whole Prop 8 nonsense, is it not? Try to strip American citizens of their equal rights, and when that does not work: raise a bloody stink about the supposed despotic decline of the United States judicial system.
The US does not sign decriminalization of homosexuality in UN declaration.
Prop 8 Inquisitors "Command" Court To "Bow"
By Jeffery Feldman
With arrogance worthy of the Spanish Inquisition, leaders of the anti-civil rights "Proposition 8" group filed a brief 'commanding' the California Supreme Court to 'bow' to their will and nullify 18,000 marriages. In other words, "Happy Holidays, California! And here's your gift: a great big shiny box of lives destroyed." Ah, good times.
Luckily, California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, filed his own brief asking that the court nullify Proposition 8 on the grounds that it extinguishes civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The first report comes from Lisa Leff at the Sacramento Bee:
SAN FRANCISCO -- The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions. The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions..."For this court to rule otherwise would be to tear asunder a lavish body of jurisprudence," the court papers state. "That body of decisional law commands judges - as servants of the people - to bow to the will of those whom they serve - even if the substantive result of what people have wrought in constitution-amending is deemed unenlightened." (link)
I am no constitutional expert, but I am pretty sure that the the only time a legal brief counts as a commandment is when God writes it--on stone (see, e.g., The Bible).
The Los Angeles Times sums up the Attorney General's brief to the court and the subsequent rattling chains of the "Yes To 8" inquisitors:
In a surprise move, state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to invalidate Proposition 8. He said the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage "deprives people of the right to marry, an aspect of liberty that the Supreme Court has concluded is guaranteed by the California Constitution."
It is the attorney general's duty to defend the state's laws, and after gay rights activists filed legal challenges to Proposition 8, which amended the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, Brown said he planned to defend the proposition as enacted by the people of California.
But after studying the matter, Brown concluded that "Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."
Backers of Proposition 8 expressed anger at Brown's decision not to honor the will of voters, who approved the measure in November. "It's outrageous,"said Frank Schubert, campaign manager for Proposition 8. (link)
What is sad in this exchange--or maybe frightening--is the total ignorance of U.S. constitutional democracy exhibited by the Prop 8 backers.
The idea that civil rights can be stripped by a simple majority plebescite is not just unethical, but actually violates the principles on which our system of government is based. First off, it is unconstitutional to pass laws that deprite citizens of rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution (e.g., equal protection), a basic point the Prop 8 folks do not seem to get. Second, the purpose of the judiciary is to uphold the Constitution as form of systemic balance to the other two branches of government--not to bow down to them.
The language of the 'Yes To 8' brief suggests that group see itself in a moral struggle not just to strip gay people of rights, but to mobilize public against the California judiciary.
Time will tell which effort will hold the day. However, I suspect there are few judges in California (or anywhere else) who respond well when lawyers 'command' them to 'bow' down. Come to think of it, nobody responds well. And when you think about it, that really is the point of this whole Prop 8 nonsense, is it not? Try to strip American citizens of their equal rights, and when that does not work: raise a bloody stink about the supposed despotic decline of the United States judicial system.
so, Im at this cafe - 2
Different cafe, same title. So, what do you do when you know some sort of support group is meeting, but you can't figure out what the group is for? I've been sitting here for over an hour overhearing...ok, listening intently (they're lives are obviously more interesting than what's going on in mine), to four people. Two women to men. A thin blonde women, whine about how her mother didn't make her a baby book, how her older brothers picked on her, and how she used to be 200 lbs. At this moment Im thinking, well, maybe its a weight loss group. But the beautiful dark haired younger women across the table opens up something about a psych ward. Hmm? The blonde woman then continues to ask the cute white boy of his three temptations. Of what though, of what??? I couldn't hear hear the actual subject of the said temptations. At this point Im feeling a little sneaky. Maybe I should put my headphones in. But I don't. I consider alcoholism, but two of them are drinking wine. Crap, Im still confused. They are comparing first borns to babies, to middle children. Maybe birth order has something to do with the reason they all are in this support group. As I get ready to pack up my stuff the begin talking about a book the blonde one had received for Christmas from a relative. The one by Carrie Fisher. Funny, I actually read a review about that book a few weeks ago. Anyway, they then go on to talk about other books they have gotten regarding bi-polar disorder. Shit, now I feel like an ass.
And the answer to the question I posed earlier. ... You stop listening. It's none of your damn business.
And the answer to the question I posed earlier. ... You stop listening. It's none of your damn business.
left or right
I went for a hike this weekend. Weather.com called for rain, and they were right, but only for about ten minutes. After that, the clouds opened up and it was sunny and crisp all day. Perfect hiking weather. We headed out from Berkeley, towards Stinson Beach. It really was beautiful. We drove for what seemed like miles and miles before we finally found the unmarked junction turn off. At this point in the adventure I would like to pause and wonder aloud, what exactly makes a road, a junction? This is odd because to me at some point this meant that this totally small little gravelly (yes I said gravelly) road was bigger, or used more than it is now. Because why isn't it just called a road, or a street, or court, or lane? Nope, its a junction. An unmarked junction actually. Anyway, we turned left and past the most quaint, cutest, and marvelous town. With one elementary school, one fire station, and one skate park. We also passed lots of cows, and horses, and weird huge tall wire tipi looking things used by the US coast guard. Don't ask don't tell?
We finally got to the trailhead. The trail we were planning on hiking was, The Coast Trail from Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls. Yeah, waterfalls, going into the ocean. Mmm, pertty. Not too long after we began the hike we came to a T. We could go left, to follow the Coast Trail. Or go Right to follow some other trail. For some reason at that very moment, we all agreed to go right. The trail name (I forget what it was), sounded more correct than the actual trail we were supposed to be on. We had obviously forgotten the name of the correct trail. Also, we why thought it was a good idea to go away from the ocean is beyond me.
So we continued on. Hiked and hiked and hiked. A lot of uphill, no lakes or waterfalls. As it was getting late we began to get suspicious. So under this beautiful canopy of trees we pulled out the map. ... Fuck ... We were supposed to take a left. For some reason this was funnier than normal, considering we only had to make ONE decision the entire hike. Left or right? And we chose the wrong one.
It was a great day of fresh air, and beautiful views. Hopefully I will hike to those falls at some point. Below are photos. Woohoo!
We could actually see the city, and Sutro tower from here. Sweet.
We finally got to the trailhead. The trail we were planning on hiking was, The Coast Trail from Palomarin Trailhead to Alamere Falls. Yeah, waterfalls, going into the ocean. Mmm, pertty. Not too long after we began the hike we came to a T. We could go left, to follow the Coast Trail. Or go Right to follow some other trail. For some reason at that very moment, we all agreed to go right. The trail name (I forget what it was), sounded more correct than the actual trail we were supposed to be on. We had obviously forgotten the name of the correct trail. Also, we why thought it was a good idea to go away from the ocean is beyond me.
So we continued on. Hiked and hiked and hiked. A lot of uphill, no lakes or waterfalls. As it was getting late we began to get suspicious. So under this beautiful canopy of trees we pulled out the map. ... Fuck ... We were supposed to take a left. For some reason this was funnier than normal, considering we only had to make ONE decision the entire hike. Left or right? And we chose the wrong one.
It was a great day of fresh air, and beautiful views. Hopefully I will hike to those falls at some point. Below are photos. Woohoo!
We could actually see the city, and Sutro tower from here. Sweet. 
so Im at this cafe
There is a cafe about two blocks from my house. I like it because it is close. It has beer. It has wine. It has coffee. It has food. I like it because half is indoors, half is outdoors. That's nice on a cool but not cold evening. They have live music. They have cool art. This sucks because his type of place attracts a certain type of person. ----> It is not uncommon to see people holding a joint and passing around to the 70 year old sitting next to them. Because of all these things it also attracts people, who I wonder do anything else in life besides smoke cigarettes, roll joints, drink beer, and tie the laces of their couture shoes they really can't afford, but they are filing bankruptcy in a few years anyway, so why does it matter. Woah, that was really harsh and judgmental. And they could be saying the same thing about me, and my collared shirt, Chrome bag, and choice of beer selection (speakeasy). Yes, true. Maybe it is me making me feel better about myself, but I would like to think that I will do something more than act like an artist. Yeah, I said it. I am bringing up this issue. I am hesitant to people who are "artists". People, who in my experience, mean well, but when you get down to the knitty gritty of it are nothing more than what you see. Beer and piercings.
Im sure this is a lie, and my neighbor who all I ever see doing (drinking and drugs) is just a cover up for the successful driven artist she says she is going to be. Ok, there is me being judgmental again. Every person, lives the life they want to live, more or less, because they see things appropriate or not, what makes them happy or not. All of this makes the world go round. If everyone were the same this world would be a pretty boring place. How about instead of being judgmental I call it observant.
I do respect artists, and talented creatives. Those of which who seem to drive to be more than what they are, and are willing to work hard to get where they want to be. I find these people tend to have balance.
Anyway, I guess my point is everything in moderation. And as far as the cafe, I will continue to come because it is close to my house. Even though when I arrive home at night my clothes smell of Camels and Marlboro.
Oh, and they have free internet. Word.
Im sure this is a lie, and my neighbor who all I ever see doing (drinking and drugs) is just a cover up for the successful driven artist she says she is going to be. Ok, there is me being judgmental again. Every person, lives the life they want to live, more or less, because they see things appropriate or not, what makes them happy or not. All of this makes the world go round. If everyone were the same this world would be a pretty boring place. How about instead of being judgmental I call it observant.
I do respect artists, and talented creatives. Those of which who seem to drive to be more than what they are, and are willing to work hard to get where they want to be. I find these people tend to have balance.
Anyway, I guess my point is everything in moderation. And as far as the cafe, I will continue to come because it is close to my house. Even though when I arrive home at night my clothes smell of Camels and Marlboro.
Oh, and they have free internet. Word.
ugly sweater parties
Too bad I had no energy and was a complete downer. I did discover however, that my phone has a flash. Sweet.
The music was awesome. I want to hire the dj.
Ugly Sweaters
This box was in the corner. Do you think they meant to spell it like this?
The party was more crowded than this at some point. For some reason I was obsessed with the mirror and green lights.
The music was awesome. I want to hire the dj.
Ugly Sweaters
This box was in the corner. Do you think they meant to spell it like this?
The party was more crowded than this at some point. For some reason I was obsessed with the mirror and green lights.
i went photo crazy
My friend and I visited the Marina this past Saturday. It was pretty outside. Wintery, but pretty. Like always, it was nice to get out of the mission. Besides the pricey shopping the Marina offered up a few surprises this particular Saturday. It was the first weekend in December, so holiday festivities were abound. Some unucky fellow was walking around in an enormous Jelly Belly outfit handing our free candy. There was a pony giving children rides. There was free popcorn. Pirate holiday clowns face painting. There was even an ice princess. And, when I thought it couldn't get any better, there was some old guy pushing around what looked like a toy shopping cart (because it was all plastic), with a 3 foot tall toy santa in the basket. He walked into a radio shack. What? Im sure these events really aren't much for the reader, but in a day that was just supposed to be a nice fresh air day out of the Mission, turned into a very unexpected but pleasant day of events.
I guess the randomness was also supported by the fact that I ran into three different people that afternoon that I knew. Three people that are in complete separate circles, we just happened to be at the right places at the right time. It was cool.
I guess the randomness was also supported by the fact that I ran into three different people that afternoon that I knew. Three people that are in complete separate circles, we just happened to be at the right places at the right time. It was cool.
i bought a paper this morning
It took me to the end of the day to actually read the entire paper. Between the person moving very very slowly through the BART gates, to the multiple red stop hands stopping me from continuing across the street, I read the damn thing. Ok, I skimmed some. Like the praising of the 49ers for actually winning a game. And of course, for their opportunity to gush sake, it had to be Farve and his Jets. Whatever. Hey red and gold, you suck. You do. No amount of cheering and hooraying for this one particular fluke is going to change the fact that you are weak. So, stop picking up the stones and kicking the dirt in the face of the future hall of famer. You got lucky.
Continuing on to one of the articles I actually did read. Ok, opinion piece, but still. It was about EHarmony.com and how they settled. I completely agree with Mr. Lakely here, and with someone that commented on his piece saying, "I'm just waiting for heterosexuals and Christians to file lawsuits against gay match-making services so that they will have their own categories. According to this precedence, they will have every right to do so because you cannot discriminate on the basis of sexual or religious orientation. Pretty soon, everyone will be filing lawsuits against everyone else." And another comment. "And if none of this idiot's matches work out, let me guess, he'll sue."
Seriously though, as much as Mr. McKinley maybe wanted to prove a point (which Im not saying that was his actual motive, but may have something to do with the fact that eHarmony was founded by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, who had ties with the conservative group Focus on the Family, just a guess. ), this is not the way to do it.
Read opinion piece below.
EHarmony settlement erodes everyone's freedom
James G. Lakely
Monday, December 8, 2008
The decision by EHarmony to settle a sexual discrimination lawsuit last month by creating a same-sex matchmaking service is no victory for justice. It did nothing less than allow government to take away the freedom of entrepreneurs to establish and stick to their own business plans.
In 2005, Eric McKinley logged onto EHarmony's matchmaking service, and was troubled to learn that the Web site did not offer him the option of "male seeking male." McKinley promptly filed a complaint with the New Jersey Attorney General's Civil Rights Division, which picked up the case, accusing EHarmony of discriminating based on sexual orientation.
Instead of continuing to fight the government - which enjoys limitless public resources and can afford to litigate indefinitely - EHarmony decided to submit. That result should trouble anyone who values liberty, no matter where one stands on gay rights.
Simply put, EHarmony did not discriminate against McKinley - if the definition of "discrimination" is to have a meaning tethered to a modicum of common sense.
McKinley was not barred from signing up for the dating service as, for instance, blacks were barred from sitting down at whites-only lunch counters in the Jim Crow South. EHarmony simply didn't provide the service McKinley wanted: male-male matchmaking.
EHarmony's business plan was focused on what it spent enormous sums of money to research - the key components of male-female partnerships. Demanding that EHarmony accommodate same-sex clients is akin to walking into an Asian grocery store, discovering they don't have kosher meat, and suing for religious discrimination.
The issue here is freedom - specifically, economic freedom and the freedom of association. EHarmony, like any private entity or individual, has the fundamental right to associate with whomever they choose so long as no one else's rights are violated.
The Web-based matchmaking marketplace is virtually limitless, providing many online options to suit all kinds of people's needs. In fact, in the wake of a similar suit filed in California in 2007, a competing dating service (chemistry.com) started running ads criticizing EHarmony for not matching up same-sex couples.
That's how these things should be settled - in a free-market forum that protects the liberty of EHarmony to retain its business plan and different dating sites to retain theirs. The disturbing precedent set in this case logically opens up same-sex matchmaking services to frivolous but expensive lawsuits from troublemaking heterosexual clients.
That destructive road was opened because government gets very little push-back when it erodes, little by little, our constitutional freedoms.
James G. Lakely is managing editor of Infotech & Telecom News, a publication of the Heartland Institute in Chicago, Ill. To comment, e-mail him at jlakely@heartland.org.
This article appeared on page B - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Continuing on to one of the articles I actually did read. Ok, opinion piece, but still. It was about EHarmony.com and how they settled. I completely agree with Mr. Lakely here, and with someone that commented on his piece saying, "I'm just waiting for heterosexuals and Christians to file lawsuits against gay match-making services so that they will have their own categories. According to this precedence, they will have every right to do so because you cannot discriminate on the basis of sexual or religious orientation. Pretty soon, everyone will be filing lawsuits against everyone else." And another comment. "And if none of this idiot's matches work out, let me guess, he'll sue."
Seriously though, as much as Mr. McKinley maybe wanted to prove a point (which Im not saying that was his actual motive, but may have something to do with the fact that eHarmony was founded by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, who had ties with the conservative group Focus on the Family, just a guess. ), this is not the way to do it.
Read opinion piece below.
EHarmony settlement erodes everyone's freedom
James G. Lakely
Monday, December 8, 2008
The decision by EHarmony to settle a sexual discrimination lawsuit last month by creating a same-sex matchmaking service is no victory for justice. It did nothing less than allow government to take away the freedom of entrepreneurs to establish and stick to their own business plans.
In 2005, Eric McKinley logged onto EHarmony's matchmaking service, and was troubled to learn that the Web site did not offer him the option of "male seeking male." McKinley promptly filed a complaint with the New Jersey Attorney General's Civil Rights Division, which picked up the case, accusing EHarmony of discriminating based on sexual orientation.
Instead of continuing to fight the government - which enjoys limitless public resources and can afford to litigate indefinitely - EHarmony decided to submit. That result should trouble anyone who values liberty, no matter where one stands on gay rights.
Simply put, EHarmony did not discriminate against McKinley - if the definition of "discrimination" is to have a meaning tethered to a modicum of common sense.
McKinley was not barred from signing up for the dating service as, for instance, blacks were barred from sitting down at whites-only lunch counters in the Jim Crow South. EHarmony simply didn't provide the service McKinley wanted: male-male matchmaking.
EHarmony's business plan was focused on what it spent enormous sums of money to research - the key components of male-female partnerships. Demanding that EHarmony accommodate same-sex clients is akin to walking into an Asian grocery store, discovering they don't have kosher meat, and suing for religious discrimination.
The issue here is freedom - specifically, economic freedom and the freedom of association. EHarmony, like any private entity or individual, has the fundamental right to associate with whomever they choose so long as no one else's rights are violated.
The Web-based matchmaking marketplace is virtually limitless, providing many online options to suit all kinds of people's needs. In fact, in the wake of a similar suit filed in California in 2007, a competing dating service (chemistry.com) started running ads criticizing EHarmony for not matching up same-sex couples.
That's how these things should be settled - in a free-market forum that protects the liberty of EHarmony to retain its business plan and different dating sites to retain theirs. The disturbing precedent set in this case logically opens up same-sex matchmaking services to frivolous but expensive lawsuits from troublemaking heterosexual clients.
That destructive road was opened because government gets very little push-back when it erodes, little by little, our constitutional freedoms.
James G. Lakely is managing editor of Infotech & Telecom News, a publication of the Heartland Institute in Chicago, Ill. To comment, e-mail him at jlakely@heartland.org.
This article appeared on page B - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle
please, insert foot in mouth, now
I wrote a post about my opinion on the current Starbucks situation a few days ago. I went there this morning, to a different shop than I spoke about (there are four in close proximity to my work). After I told him my drink he said, "Hey, what's your name again?" I told him, and he said, "Oh, that's right. You go to the other shop as well right?" I said yes. He replied, "Hi, I'm Jerome, nice to meet you. I am the manager for both stores."
He was so nice, and made me smile so much. Im not going to stick my foot in my mouth too far, but he did make me choke a little bit. Nice work Jerome.
He was so nice, and made me smile so much. Im not going to stick my foot in my mouth too far, but he did make me choke a little bit. Nice work Jerome.
watch this
Besides practically making me pee my pants, this couldn't be closer to the truth.
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
a good Sunday afternoon
One of the reasons I love San Francisco. The awesome view from Medjool. An overpriced gem, but a gem none the less, in the middle of the mission. I suppose you are paying for the view. Which is fine with me. I had no idea there was a hostel in the same building. When I move away and don't know anyone in this city anymore I wouldn't mind staying there.
want to sit down?
I was riding BART home the other day. It wasn't a particularly crowded day, but all the seats were taken. I was sitting near the doors, which I usually do, not sure why, I just always have. A women got on, who I thought was pregnant. Not super preggo, but had a little baby bump. I took out my head phones and said, "Hi, would you like to sit down?" As I stood up. She gave me a look and said, "No thanks." Yeah, pretty sure she was not pregnant. Oops. I felt like and ass.
skinny?
I've basically come to the end of my rope with Starbucks. What used to be the Cadillac of coffee, is now the McDonalds of convenience. With any store or service you will run into great employees, and horrible ones. People that always have a smile on their face, to people who frown at every sunny day. This consistent inconsistency of employee attitudes is not my problem with the bucks, that's the person not the company. My issue with the coffee shop is with how "non-bucks" it has become.
The hand-crafted drinks they promise to remake until they are exactly how YOU ordered it, are now just any other thing that can be mass manufactured from an assembly line. I blame this on two things. One being that us as customers can sometimes be way too impatient, and way too needy. Less compromising, less kind to the person in front or behind us, and easy to jump on any drink that hops on the counter, even though it is obvious to everyone else that yours is up about ten drinks later. The one with no foam, not extra foam. Perhaps us customers should really slow down and listen. The second thing is that I feel the philosophy of the entire company has changed. This may be a totally jaded opinion, but it feel it none the less. Starbucks almost used to be like a get away. Like a special treat. Not mass manufactured. I have used that saying twice now because to me it feels like the drinks come with no love, no care, no uniqueness, just the name. Perhaps this view is partly because we as a whole have just become an entire coffee nation. With any ol shop popping up on any open corner. Not just Starbucks. Maybe the entire coffee culture has become too regular, too much of our everyday. But then again I don't think this is entirely true because people have been drinking coffee forever, and they are still drinking it. What Starbucks did was create an atmosphere, and thing about it. They created a culture for better coffee, for the elite of coffee. They taught us to expect the best, and not settle for less with our espresso. So, because of this I feel like my complete disappointment is warranted. If they had not made a to do about it in the first place I would have no reason to be disappointed, but when you teach your customers something, then start to not believe in it or deliver it yourself, you can expect to be dropped.
I am not bashing Starbucks by any means, but this comes from trends I have seen with them in the past few years. They have closed shops for barista training. Offered incentives for customers. Tried to bump up their customer service. Closed shops for good and fired employees. I feel like they are trying to get back to their roots, but are failing. For one it starts with hiring the right people. Not just any joe blow that walks off the street. I appreciate that they are an equal opportunity employer, and that they provide benefits for part time employees, but that does not mean management should settle for less than best service. Be fair, but be right. I have ran into really great baristas and really frustrated baristas. Baristas who almost make you feel as though they are doing you a favor by getting you what you ask for. Then baristas who are so very sweet they will go over and above to make sure you have a great experience. There are people on either ends of the spectrum in every industry, everywhere. But, to a company that seems to pride itself on being the best, I would expect that they keep a better handle on who they hire to represent them.
For a long time it was hard for me to go to any place else besides Starbucks, but now I almost never want to go there. I guess it is all up to preference. And since exploring other coffee shops around I have found many other great places to get my morning kick. What sparked me in writing this was the other morning I went into Starbucks. I wanted a Grande, NF, Sugar-free Vanilla Latte. Not that hard of a request compared to others i've overheard. The girl behind the counter in the forrest green apron said, a skinny? I said, a NF, SF Vanilla Latte. She said, we call them skinny here. Uhm, excuse me? First of all, I have been coming to this particular shop forever now, and since when do they call this drink that I get everytime a skinny? And even so, I don't care. You know what I want, write it on the cup, punch it in, and make it. It doesn't matter to me what you call it behind the bar to make it easier to make, call it skinny, call it fat, I don't care, but do not try and correct me. If they want people to know the new lingo then they should print an enormous billboard over the shop that says, please order like this, other wise we will not serve you, we will make you feel stupid that you don't know how to order our insanely difficult beverages. Whatever happened to the customer is always right. It's not like I said, "Hey, coffee, now, in one of those medium sized cups, with half hazelnut, 3 packets sugar, and one teaspoon non-fat milk." I was nice, said please and thank you, and would expect the same from you.
This had never happened to me before, so Im assuming they had a meeting and got talked to by their manager saying they really wanted everyone to try and use the "correct" ordering lingo. This is all fine and well, but there is no need to be an ass about it. Just in case you find yourself in this same predicament google "Starbucks Lingo" and you will be overwhelmed with what you find.
I admit anything can get old after awhile, especially if you have it a lot. Change is good. Maybe I am being to harsh. Or, maybe not.
The hand-crafted drinks they promise to remake until they are exactly how YOU ordered it, are now just any other thing that can be mass manufactured from an assembly line. I blame this on two things. One being that us as customers can sometimes be way too impatient, and way too needy. Less compromising, less kind to the person in front or behind us, and easy to jump on any drink that hops on the counter, even though it is obvious to everyone else that yours is up about ten drinks later. The one with no foam, not extra foam. Perhaps us customers should really slow down and listen. The second thing is that I feel the philosophy of the entire company has changed. This may be a totally jaded opinion, but it feel it none the less. Starbucks almost used to be like a get away. Like a special treat. Not mass manufactured. I have used that saying twice now because to me it feels like the drinks come with no love, no care, no uniqueness, just the name. Perhaps this view is partly because we as a whole have just become an entire coffee nation. With any ol shop popping up on any open corner. Not just Starbucks. Maybe the entire coffee culture has become too regular, too much of our everyday. But then again I don't think this is entirely true because people have been drinking coffee forever, and they are still drinking it. What Starbucks did was create an atmosphere, and thing about it. They created a culture for better coffee, for the elite of coffee. They taught us to expect the best, and not settle for less with our espresso. So, because of this I feel like my complete disappointment is warranted. If they had not made a to do about it in the first place I would have no reason to be disappointed, but when you teach your customers something, then start to not believe in it or deliver it yourself, you can expect to be dropped.
I am not bashing Starbucks by any means, but this comes from trends I have seen with them in the past few years. They have closed shops for barista training. Offered incentives for customers. Tried to bump up their customer service. Closed shops for good and fired employees. I feel like they are trying to get back to their roots, but are failing. For one it starts with hiring the right people. Not just any joe blow that walks off the street. I appreciate that they are an equal opportunity employer, and that they provide benefits for part time employees, but that does not mean management should settle for less than best service. Be fair, but be right. I have ran into really great baristas and really frustrated baristas. Baristas who almost make you feel as though they are doing you a favor by getting you what you ask for. Then baristas who are so very sweet they will go over and above to make sure you have a great experience. There are people on either ends of the spectrum in every industry, everywhere. But, to a company that seems to pride itself on being the best, I would expect that they keep a better handle on who they hire to represent them.
For a long time it was hard for me to go to any place else besides Starbucks, but now I almost never want to go there. I guess it is all up to preference. And since exploring other coffee shops around I have found many other great places to get my morning kick. What sparked me in writing this was the other morning I went into Starbucks. I wanted a Grande, NF, Sugar-free Vanilla Latte. Not that hard of a request compared to others i've overheard. The girl behind the counter in the forrest green apron said, a skinny? I said, a NF, SF Vanilla Latte. She said, we call them skinny here. Uhm, excuse me? First of all, I have been coming to this particular shop forever now, and since when do they call this drink that I get everytime a skinny? And even so, I don't care. You know what I want, write it on the cup, punch it in, and make it. It doesn't matter to me what you call it behind the bar to make it easier to make, call it skinny, call it fat, I don't care, but do not try and correct me. If they want people to know the new lingo then they should print an enormous billboard over the shop that says, please order like this, other wise we will not serve you, we will make you feel stupid that you don't know how to order our insanely difficult beverages. Whatever happened to the customer is always right. It's not like I said, "Hey, coffee, now, in one of those medium sized cups, with half hazelnut, 3 packets sugar, and one teaspoon non-fat milk." I was nice, said please and thank you, and would expect the same from you.
This had never happened to me before, so Im assuming they had a meeting and got talked to by their manager saying they really wanted everyone to try and use the "correct" ordering lingo. This is all fine and well, but there is no need to be an ass about it. Just in case you find yourself in this same predicament google "Starbucks Lingo" and you will be overwhelmed with what you find.
I admit anything can get old after awhile, especially if you have it a lot. Change is good. Maybe I am being to harsh. Or, maybe not.
guess who I saw this weekend
In my post about Kansas I talked about my friend Matt. He had is going away party this weekend. It was a nice party. Throughout the evening there were probably about ten to twenty-five people there. There was homemade pesto pasta, grilled chicken, and an enormous chocolate cake. After about an hour or so of wine and beer consumption people started to break the ice and talk to people they didn't know. I met K, D, A, and R, and some guy with spiked hair named Cory (pretty sure he couldn't have been named anything else).
After meeting a few people and talking to them about The Big Three, and about gas prices (now $2.07 a gallon), and about the how they met Matt (all stories contained something about how sweet he is), I wondered into the kitchen where I fell into an open forum on whether or not K should continue to go after a guy she has a crush on. After a few stories, for and against this fellow, who we had then nicknamed Brad, we were all in agreement that he was lame and she deserved more.
In the middle of this a few more people arrived. Some guy that had taken a look at our open house a week before walked right by and did the head nod to me. This was funny to me because he was probably one of the rudest people we have ever had at an open house. And we have head a lot of them. So that was odd. Some girl that hangs out at Stray Bar said she recognized me and came up and said hi. We chatted for awhile, she was super nice, and brought delicious shrimp and scallops. Which pretty much moved her up to number one in my book. At this point I wondered if this is just a really small world, or the odds that people who do similar things tend to hang out at similar places. Stray Bar girl met Matt at the climbing gym. I like to climb, but don't go much, Matt brought me climbing. My girlfriend works at Stray Bar. I play soccer with the owner of Stray Bar. Matt volunteers at an organization called Full Circle Fund. My company made a video for Full Circle fund last winter. Anyone, odds, statistics? Just weird. Anyway, as I am pondering this the back door opens and who walks in, but Roy from The Office. Yeah, swear to it. He walked right through the kitchen and no one else knew who he was. How can you not know who Roy is?! It's The Office!
Supposedly one of Matt's roommates went to Juilliard with said actor (I could be wrong). Small world? Yeah, it was a very good Saturday. Earlier that day some damn good friends of mine got their asses up, travelled downtown, and helped me shoot a video for Coldplay's video contest for their song Lost. I will give you my opinion about that later when and if I ever post the finish product.
ps- Roy has really pretty eyes.
After meeting a few people and talking to them about The Big Three, and about gas prices (now $2.07 a gallon), and about the how they met Matt (all stories contained something about how sweet he is), I wondered into the kitchen where I fell into an open forum on whether or not K should continue to go after a guy she has a crush on. After a few stories, for and against this fellow, who we had then nicknamed Brad, we were all in agreement that he was lame and she deserved more.
In the middle of this a few more people arrived. Some guy that had taken a look at our open house a week before walked right by and did the head nod to me. This was funny to me because he was probably one of the rudest people we have ever had at an open house. And we have head a lot of them. So that was odd. Some girl that hangs out at Stray Bar said she recognized me and came up and said hi. We chatted for awhile, she was super nice, and brought delicious shrimp and scallops. Which pretty much moved her up to number one in my book. At this point I wondered if this is just a really small world, or the odds that people who do similar things tend to hang out at similar places. Stray Bar girl met Matt at the climbing gym. I like to climb, but don't go much, Matt brought me climbing. My girlfriend works at Stray Bar. I play soccer with the owner of Stray Bar. Matt volunteers at an organization called Full Circle Fund. My company made a video for Full Circle fund last winter. Anyone, odds, statistics? Just weird. Anyway, as I am pondering this the back door opens and who walks in, but Roy from The Office. Yeah, swear to it. He walked right through the kitchen and no one else knew who he was. How can you not know who Roy is?! It's The Office!
Supposedly one of Matt's roommates went to Juilliard with said actor (I could be wrong). Small world? Yeah, it was a very good Saturday. Earlier that day some damn good friends of mine got their asses up, travelled downtown, and helped me shoot a video for Coldplay's video contest for their song Lost. I will give you my opinion about that later when and if I ever post the finish product.
ps- Roy has really pretty eyes.
does kansas really need more sun
My friend Matt is moving back to Kansas. If you knew Matt then knowing the way I met him is really not odd at all. He is probably the most uplifting, cheerful, friendly people I have ever met. He is all of those things without being cheesy, or fake, or ditzy. I think that's sometimes hard to do. We don't live near one another, and we haven't hung out as much as some of my other friends, but he probably knows me better than most.
He listens, and is understanding, and is realistic about expectations. He's driven and an entrepreneur, and is one hell of a catch. We met on a thing called the Presidigo. A bus / shuttle that hauls the people that live in the Presidio (essentially a park) to the Financial District. I had my headphones in as I hopped off the bus downtown, but he didn't care. He tapped me on the shoulder and said hello. He said I seemed like a nice person. Now, that's not something you get every morning. Especially when you spend that morning on the small bus like van thing crammed with 20 other people.
Thank you Matt for making me feel better than I ever could. For putting forth the effort to hang out and get together even when we were both busy. You are the best. Miss you buddy!
its magically delicious
Frozen Yogurt. It seems like about a thousand of these places popped up magically over night. Perhaps it was the sudden burst of the sweltering heat waves. Or, the push for people to have a sweet treat alternative to Oreos. Is this jump in frozen yogurt a national trend, or just another one of those San Francisco treats?
Go Eat Some:
yoCup
Icebee
Penguino's
Cefoire
I will admit, I have a punch card to yoCup at 685 Market St. They have yummy toppings.
Go Eat Some:
yoCup
Icebee
Penguino's
Cefoire
I will admit, I have a punch card to yoCup at 685 Market St. They have yummy toppings.
a joke i heard the other day
person 1 - "What's so cool about being a hipster?"
person 2 - "What?"
Person 1 -"Ha, you don't know?"
Thank you Mr. Matt.
person 2 - "What?"
Person 1 -"Ha, you don't know?"
Thank you Mr. Matt.
football and a kid in a crate
Some interesting things happened this weekend in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers (a team I really don't like because they beat the Seahawks in the Superbowl a few years back, in a game that really only ended up the way it did because some ref must have gotten paid a mighty sum), played the San Diego Chargers. It is the only game in NFL history to end with a score of 11 to 10. Really, ever.
The Philadelphia Eagles played the Cincinnati Bengals, with their game ending in a tie, which hasn't happened since 2002. This is the Eagles fourth game tie since 1974.
The rest of my weekend was spent in the Eastbay. A few hours at the most, oh shall I say, non traditional Farmers Market I have ever been too. It felt like I was in another country. Or just in the Mission on a particularly busy sunny day. Except the store's of one dollar package of socks and stolen radio's isn't limited to just one street. It's an entire parking lot. Really, it was like an enormous Garage sale, with stands of corn on a stick, and icees. It was an experience to say the least, and well worth the five dollar sun glasses I bought.
As we were leaving the Market a guy walked pass us. In his hand he had a rope. The rope was connected to a milk crate. Inside the milk rate was a child, about three years old. The guy, I presume the dad, was dragging the kid around in the crate, through the parking lot, over speed bumps, and around cars. It was quite possibly the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. - sorry, no photo.
The Philadelphia Eagles played the Cincinnati Bengals, with their game ending in a tie, which hasn't happened since 2002. This is the Eagles fourth game tie since 1974.
The rest of my weekend was spent in the Eastbay. A few hours at the most, oh shall I say, non traditional Farmers Market I have ever been too. It felt like I was in another country. Or just in the Mission on a particularly busy sunny day. Except the store's of one dollar package of socks and stolen radio's isn't limited to just one street. It's an entire parking lot. Really, it was like an enormous Garage sale, with stands of corn on a stick, and icees. It was an experience to say the least, and well worth the five dollar sun glasses I bought.
As we were leaving the Market a guy walked pass us. In his hand he had a rope. The rope was connected to a milk crate. Inside the milk rate was a child, about three years old. The guy, I presume the dad, was dragging the kid around in the crate, through the parking lot, over speed bumps, and around cars. It was quite possibly the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. - sorry, no photo.
concerts are fun
Don't you love it when you're plans magically coincide with you're friends plans? Example - last night. I was going to see Bishop Allen, my friend was going to see An Horse. Both playing at The Independent, both awesome. I had never been to that venue before, so that in itself was a nice experience. I had heard An Horse before at a Tegan and Sara show, but for some reason I felt like they were better this time. Maybe it was because we were like 5 feet away from them, and seeing a girl rock out that hard o a guitar is awesome.
Besides their music I didn't know much about Bishop Allen. They are made up of four guys and one girl. The girl was set up on the side of the stage with a huge Xylophone. I don't think I have seen anyone play an instrument so serene before. During the last song of the finale she got center stage and sang a beautiful song. It was cool to see the band members in different positions. The show was great though. I felt like I was at an intimate college show.
An Horse
Bishop Allen
Besides their music I didn't know much about Bishop Allen. They are made up of four guys and one girl. The girl was set up on the side of the stage with a huge Xylophone. I don't think I have seen anyone play an instrument so serene before. During the last song of the finale she got center stage and sang a beautiful song. It was cool to see the band members in different positions. The show was great though. I felt like I was at an intimate college show.
An Horse
Bishop Allen
z-strap superhero
I was waiting for the bus last night right in front of a Sketchers store. The poster below caught my eye because it was so lame. Look at the girl. She's holding a shoe, trying to look seductive, or something. It's just an odd ad. Who holds a shoe like that? And really, is this going to make 14 year old girls want to purchase this shoe? Hardly.
Then I saw this cardboard cutout right next to the girl poster. Now this was kick ass. A super hero type figure for shoes, specifically the Z-Strap. Awesome.
Then I saw this cardboard cutout right next to the girl poster. Now this was kick ass. A super hero type figure for shoes, specifically the Z-Strap. Awesome.
tell me its not true
There is a reason I don't have cable. Skimming channels at my mom's house this weekend I somehow got sucked into watching championship racquetball. Yeah, racquetball. I didn't even know championship racquetball existed. Or that there were announcers who get paid to comment on this. A really not exciting of a sport, that should be exciting because it involves two grown men incased in an enormous glass box, smacking around a hard ass tiny ball. On paper, the makings of wonderful entertainment. But no. I really shouldn't be talking smack. I really like Ultimate Frisbee, and some people hearing about the sport probably assume it doesn't have a much of a following, including world championships. Anyway, after I snapped out of this crazy 3rd universe I was in I was flipping channels trying to find my religious Sunday football games, and there popped up a commercial for, wait for it... High School Musical Barbie Dolls. Oh yeah. I just about crapped myself. Isn't it enough that these kids are barely out of there teens, making hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of dollars, and now, they get their own Barbie dolls? Tell me it's not true. Jumping from that commercial real fast, all of a sudden before I knew it I was entranced by Dora the Explorer. Waving, oh you guessed it, a full on Gay Pride flag. Not just a nice little Rainbow, but THE flag. The brightly colored layers of the rainbow. Im sure it means nothing, and some animator just thought all those colors looked pretty. it just made me laugh. .... Where is my football?
Speaking of football. Australians, and all the other people around the world that play Rugby must think us Americans are big babies for playing with so many pads on.
The rest of the day was spent with the bestest, mst wonderful dog ever, puppy Raider (named b/c he was picked up from a Raiders cheerleader). I now understand how people can become attached to their pets. I have never actually been completely responsible for an animal before, it was nice. But, it also scared me because jeez, imagine having a child. I ran into a group of people who get together every Sunday at 9 am to play soccer. The only woman there actually knew Raider. Weird. Small community.
Speaking of football. Australians, and all the other people around the world that play Rugby must think us Americans are big babies for playing with so many pads on.
The rest of the day was spent with the bestest, mst wonderful dog ever, puppy Raider (named b/c he was picked up from a Raiders cheerleader). I now understand how people can become attached to their pets. I have never actually been completely responsible for an animal before, it was nice. But, it also scared me because jeez, imagine having a child. I ran into a group of people who get together every Sunday at 9 am to play soccer. The only woman there actually knew Raider. Weird. Small community.
tonight
I wasn't meaning to go because it was f-ing freezing outside, but on my bike ride home from work I passed the City Hall building, and I couldn't help but join. Although a candlelight vigil I feel is a bit dramatic, perhaps that's that people need to see. I don't know. Here's a snap shot from my phone. A woman was up on the steps speaking and said something comparing the wait of seeing slavery abolished to the wait for gay marriage to become legal. She's not going to wait 400 years and she's not going to wait 100. The fight over it is all so silly. Wake up people.
the election and me
Im not sure if this election really felt different than others, better than others, or more significant than others to anyone else, but to me, it felt powerful. Im not sure of the difference because I never really payed attention to any other election. I remember being eighteen and my dad took me to the polling place closest to our house. It was the fire station across the street from my elementary school. It was a little grey outside, misty, but not raining. I was wear tennis shoes and jeans. I didn't really know what the voting was for, or who was running, I just did what my dad said, "Vote for any and everything Republican." And as much as I probably agreed with my dad then, because I agreed with my dad about most things, I didn't really care.
This year I took the day off work. I've worked on days when I had fevers, and bronchitis, and pounding headaches, I can take a day off for something that should be a holiday anyway (what's the point of democracy if people can't get an hour off work to participate in it?). It was nice-ish weather. Nice compared to the rain lately (although I do admit I like the rain). I got my coffee, walked into the Army Salvation building, and with only 3 other people in line, cast my vote. When it came down to it I felt a little anxious and nervous that I would accidentally connect the arrow wrong.
I spent half the day at the beach. I haven't been to Ocean beach in quite some time, what keeps bringing me back to this particular beach is the awesome little coffee shop on Judah. I love it. My girlfriend and started talking to this 56 year old woman. This exchange probably never would have happened had both of us not had dogs in tote. I think ours was cuter, but anyway. She commented on how happy everyone seemed, everywhere. And it was true.
After a few mimosas and hours of poll watching later, a bunch of us made our way up to a bar where more poll watching ensued, and just after we filled Ohio in blue on our election maps, Obama was named President Elect. It was pretty damn awesome. I cheered, I teared up, I hugged everyone I saw, and everyone did the same. McCain came on, and really, I felt bad for the guy. I think he is actually a good guy, and has experienced a lot many of us have not. But that does not mean he should run this country, it was not his time, not his year. I think he means well, but his narrowmindedness is outdated. Compared to recent elections I feel like the Obama win was kind of a landslide. He took Nevada for pete's sake. Colorado, Virginia, Ohio. And by the way, no president has ever won an election without winning Ohio.
There were people everywhere. Blocking intersections. Honking, cheering, together. On this same night the people decided to elect a black man for president, of the entire country, the people of California decided that there are still some human beings that don't deserve the rights of others. People are still spending money, and time, and gray hair to discriminate PEOPLE on other fronts. A friend had a post up today that said, "Chickens have more rights than people".
In some counties prop 8 only won 50.4% to 49.6%. To all that 50.4% when do I get to vote on your marriage?
result map and article
This year I took the day off work. I've worked on days when I had fevers, and bronchitis, and pounding headaches, I can take a day off for something that should be a holiday anyway (what's the point of democracy if people can't get an hour off work to participate in it?). It was nice-ish weather. Nice compared to the rain lately (although I do admit I like the rain). I got my coffee, walked into the Army Salvation building, and with only 3 other people in line, cast my vote. When it came down to it I felt a little anxious and nervous that I would accidentally connect the arrow wrong.
I spent half the day at the beach. I haven't been to Ocean beach in quite some time, what keeps bringing me back to this particular beach is the awesome little coffee shop on Judah. I love it. My girlfriend and started talking to this 56 year old woman. This exchange probably never would have happened had both of us not had dogs in tote. I think ours was cuter, but anyway. She commented on how happy everyone seemed, everywhere. And it was true.
After a few mimosas and hours of poll watching later, a bunch of us made our way up to a bar where more poll watching ensued, and just after we filled Ohio in blue on our election maps, Obama was named President Elect. It was pretty damn awesome. I cheered, I teared up, I hugged everyone I saw, and everyone did the same. McCain came on, and really, I felt bad for the guy. I think he is actually a good guy, and has experienced a lot many of us have not. But that does not mean he should run this country, it was not his time, not his year. I think he means well, but his narrowmindedness is outdated. Compared to recent elections I feel like the Obama win was kind of a landslide. He took Nevada for pete's sake. Colorado, Virginia, Ohio. And by the way, no president has ever won an election without winning Ohio.
There were people everywhere. Blocking intersections. Honking, cheering, together. On this same night the people decided to elect a black man for president, of the entire country, the people of California decided that there are still some human beings that don't deserve the rights of others. People are still spending money, and time, and gray hair to discriminate PEOPLE on other fronts. A friend had a post up today that said, "Chickens have more rights than people".
In some counties prop 8 only won 50.4% to 49.6%. To all that 50.4% when do I get to vote on your marriage?
result map and article
am i going crazy
Or is _____________ new song/video kind of amazing. No, I can't say her name, or post a link to the video, that would be wrong. And I don't care if post might have stretched the screen to make her look thinner. Or composed out minor cellulite and stretch marks from popping out two children back to back. And I don't care that the lighting is just really awesome, and the frosted steamy glass behind her is kind of awesome too. It's a damn catchy song.
the ballet
Dress was business casual, which is something I hardly throw on for actual business. For me it's more fancy dinner type wear. It was fun nonetheless. Who doesn't like to get dressed up? It's especially nice when you see your friends get dressed up and see how pretty and shiny they all can look. The ballet is a tricky thing. Because you can see some people go above and beyond the call of dressing appropriately. Like actual fur coats and bow ties. And some people didn't get the memo to dress up at all. Like jeans and a hoodie. Oh so unfortunate. Dress appropriateness is also determined, in my opinion, depending on what type of ballet and what season. For instance, The Nutcracker. A typical holiday ballet. Which has some weight and tradition behind it. I feel in this instance its a little more appropriate to be a bit more polished. On the complete other spectrum, I saw Avenue Q in New York last spring. If you know anything about Avenue Q, then you know that even though it may play on Broadway, it does not have the feel of a 1950's dashing evening out associated with it. It is puppets singing about Asian landlords and closeted gays. Hardly an event for stilettos and a little black dress.
The actual show was very good. I don't go to many ballets, and haven't been to a play in awhile, so maybe it as just me being happy that I actual got some culture in this year. Or the fact that I got free tickets. Either way, I was entertained. It only took me about 45 minutes to stop gushing over their firm, toned bodies. That was until, halfway through the last performance, a dancer came out to the song of "Georgia's on My Mind" (or whatever it's titled), in a black bra and cut off jean shorts. Uhm, wow.
From these descriptions Im sure you can tell, it was more of a modernized ballet. Some of it more narrative than others. I liked it all except the second one was a bit long. Two intermissions. Neither of which I stood up for. What does that say about me? Am I used to sitting on my ass all day?
The company is called The Smuin Ballet. Ive been told they are a very small company. They just came back from a tour in Montana, and right now have been learning and rehearsing three different performances. Not just pieces, but entire perormances. Pretty amazing.
Ok, that is it for now..... and Happy Halloween.
I was supposed to go as Peter Pan, and my girlfriend going as Rufio. You know, "Rufi, Rufi, Rufi-ooooooo!" From Hook? We really would fit these costumes quite well, but planning got behind us and now we might just have to settle as a chicken and a butcher purchased form Target. Guess whos the butcher? Does she really think I'm that cruel, or does she just know I wouldn't go as a chicken?
The actual show was very good. I don't go to many ballets, and haven't been to a play in awhile, so maybe it as just me being happy that I actual got some culture in this year. Or the fact that I got free tickets. Either way, I was entertained. It only took me about 45 minutes to stop gushing over their firm, toned bodies. That was until, halfway through the last performance, a dancer came out to the song of "Georgia's on My Mind" (or whatever it's titled), in a black bra and cut off jean shorts. Uhm, wow.
From these descriptions Im sure you can tell, it was more of a modernized ballet. Some of it more narrative than others. I liked it all except the second one was a bit long. Two intermissions. Neither of which I stood up for. What does that say about me? Am I used to sitting on my ass all day?
The company is called The Smuin Ballet. Ive been told they are a very small company. They just came back from a tour in Montana, and right now have been learning and rehearsing three different performances. Not just pieces, but entire perormances. Pretty amazing.
Ok, that is it for now..... and Happy Halloween.
I was supposed to go as Peter Pan, and my girlfriend going as Rufio. You know, "Rufi, Rufi, Rufi-ooooooo!" From Hook? We really would fit these costumes quite well, but planning got behind us and now we might just have to settle as a chicken and a butcher purchased form Target. Guess whos the butcher? Does she really think I'm that cruel, or does she just know I wouldn't go as a chicken?
I would have a beer with him
I hope he can do all he says he can do, and wants to do, and knows needs to be done.
thanks apple!
Apple donates $100,000 to save gay marriage
Steve Jobs and co. publicly oppose Proposition 8
Oct 24, 2008
Apple has made a donation of $100,000 to the 'No on 8' campaign which is fighting a constitutional amendment that could see gay marriage banned in California.
Same sex marriage was legalised in the state this year, but Proposition 8 could see the new law overturned.
In a statement on their website, Apple said:
"Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
(seen on the Apple website and taken from http://www.nme.com)
Steve Jobs and co. publicly oppose Proposition 8
Oct 24, 2008
Apple has made a donation of $100,000 to the 'No on 8' campaign which is fighting a constitutional amendment that could see gay marriage banned in California.
Same sex marriage was legalised in the state this year, but Proposition 8 could see the new law overturned.
In a statement on their website, Apple said:
"Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
(seen on the Apple website and taken from http://www.nme.com)
"all the gin joints in all the world"
All The Gin Joints in All The World. The title of a song by the catchy, the poppy, the teen heartthrob rock band, Fall Out Boy. I wonder if they wrote this song when they were in the depths of Vegas. A place full of either entrepreneurs or pure laziness. A place where enjoying a beer at 7:00am is completely acceptable (as witnessed when I stopped over for a greasy breakfast at Buffalo Bills), as long as it's not the same beer you passed out with in your hand at 3am.
I got to see Vegas differently than I had seen it before, and differently than all my pre disposed assumptions I had built up in my brain. Yes it was still brown, and hot, and expansive. It's pretty cheap. It's a good hub for flights, anywhere. It was, just like another suburban town. Except instead of going to the nearest bowling alley after prom the kids hop in a limo and visit the strip.
All in all tt was a fun little vaycay.
I got to see Vegas differently than I had seen it before, and differently than all my pre disposed assumptions I had built up in my brain. Yes it was still brown, and hot, and expansive. It's pretty cheap. It's a good hub for flights, anywhere. It was, just like another suburban town. Except instead of going to the nearest bowling alley after prom the kids hop in a limo and visit the strip.
All in all tt was a fun little vaycay.
daily meanderings
Ive gotten into a routine recently. As any routine, similar things tends to happen, similar people tend to cross your path, just like you tend to cross theres.
Ive began taking either bus #12 or #27 home on some evenings. I have seen the same two Latino kids get on around 16th street. One kid is thin and has shoulder length hair. The other kid is a bit larger with a buzz cut. they are probably about 13. The stop where I get on at there is a woman that gets off at the same stop. She is in a wheel chair. Every time I am waiting to get on, and she is getting off (which takes longer than normal because the bus has to lower) the other people in line are so rude about the whole thing. They either crowd around barely being able to let her by. Or they rush on the sides of the ramp, before it even has time to fully lower and let her off completely. This last time it really frustrated me, because there was only me and this other woman, my same age, there waiting. The driver started to lower the ramp, and before it was even all the way on the ground, the girl goes around me and hops on. What is the rush? The bus isn't going to go anywhere. And can't you see, Im waiting too! Hello?!!!! I was really frustrated.
That shitty stranger to stranger interaction was made up this morning when I was on BART riding to work. A scraggly looking man, could be homeless, was sitting next to a man who was dressed very nice. They were having, what seemed to be a good conversation. When the homeless man went to get up to leave the business man gave him $5. It was a cool thing to see.
Ive began taking either bus #12 or #27 home on some evenings. I have seen the same two Latino kids get on around 16th street. One kid is thin and has shoulder length hair. The other kid is a bit larger with a buzz cut. they are probably about 13. The stop where I get on at there is a woman that gets off at the same stop. She is in a wheel chair. Every time I am waiting to get on, and she is getting off (which takes longer than normal because the bus has to lower) the other people in line are so rude about the whole thing. They either crowd around barely being able to let her by. Or they rush on the sides of the ramp, before it even has time to fully lower and let her off completely. This last time it really frustrated me, because there was only me and this other woman, my same age, there waiting. The driver started to lower the ramp, and before it was even all the way on the ground, the girl goes around me and hops on. What is the rush? The bus isn't going to go anywhere. And can't you see, Im waiting too! Hello?!!!! I was really frustrated.
That shitty stranger to stranger interaction was made up this morning when I was on BART riding to work. A scraggly looking man, could be homeless, was sitting next to a man who was dressed very nice. They were having, what seemed to be a good conversation. When the homeless man went to get up to leave the business man gave him $5. It was a cool thing to see.
watch out, gay on staff
ARTICLE
The above is a link to an article about McCain's Chief of Staff who is apparently gay. You can make of the article what you will. For me whether this is true or not (and I pretty much agree that it is) isn't really the issue. What I thought kind of interesting was that the author was calling John McCain a hypocrite.
I don't agree with McCain on a lot of issues. Particularly his views on gay marriage. And not even gay marriage, but gay rights in general. But, just because he has a gay chief of staff does not make him a hypocrite. I think it makes him an ignorant, unethical, immoral, diluted, insensible, bottom feeder. But I don't think it makes him a hypocrite.
If the country woke up to headlines of "McCain found in gay affair" all over the New York Times, I would shout hypocrisy all the way. But in this case, I truly think he believes what he spouts and votes regarding gay rights. I don't think he's saying one thing in that regard and doing another just to get votes. I think he truly believes what he says. In this case, he also happens to be joined by a, what seems like, very educated and skilled staff member. A staff member who obviously thinks McCain stands for something right, and has stood by and supported him and his message.
But forget all that. It is possible for two people to be so completely opposite on so many ends of the spectrum, and for them to come together in certain instances. For this I look to my own life, where I may not have agreed exactly with someone about who they are, or everything they stand for, but we came together for a common goal/purpose. I would not want this one instance to be the be all end all of a picture painted of me, and yes, it is true, that for most instances, people are like the people they surround themselves with. They are similar to the friends they keep. But, just because me and so and so may have united for an event, that does not mean we stand for ALL of the same things.
So, I ask. Are Mr. Mark Buse and John McCain friends? Do they enjoy each others company on Thanksgiving, and do they golf together on Sundays? Yes, Buse has continually supported McCain and his message for years now (so the article says), but just because they may support many of the same values on a political ballot, it doesn't mean they are in agreement on EVERYTHING.
For these reasons, as much as it sucks not to point a finger at McCain, I don't think it's necessarily fair to do so. Just a thought, if you are going to call anyone a hypocrite, should it be Mr. Mark Buse? Just sayin. ?
I may be totally off my rocker, but I'm kind of annoyed with how much dirt people/media is spewing. People make mistakes. People change their minds. People vote for things without being able to foresee the future. It happens. If someone held a magnifying glass to your every move, how would the transcript of that play out? Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.
Happy Wednesday.
The above is a link to an article about McCain's Chief of Staff who is apparently gay. You can make of the article what you will. For me whether this is true or not (and I pretty much agree that it is) isn't really the issue. What I thought kind of interesting was that the author was calling John McCain a hypocrite.
I don't agree with McCain on a lot of issues. Particularly his views on gay marriage. And not even gay marriage, but gay rights in general. But, just because he has a gay chief of staff does not make him a hypocrite. I think it makes him an ignorant, unethical, immoral, diluted, insensible, bottom feeder. But I don't think it makes him a hypocrite.
If the country woke up to headlines of "McCain found in gay affair" all over the New York Times, I would shout hypocrisy all the way. But in this case, I truly think he believes what he spouts and votes regarding gay rights. I don't think he's saying one thing in that regard and doing another just to get votes. I think he truly believes what he says. In this case, he also happens to be joined by a, what seems like, very educated and skilled staff member. A staff member who obviously thinks McCain stands for something right, and has stood by and supported him and his message.
But forget all that. It is possible for two people to be so completely opposite on so many ends of the spectrum, and for them to come together in certain instances. For this I look to my own life, where I may not have agreed exactly with someone about who they are, or everything they stand for, but we came together for a common goal/purpose. I would not want this one instance to be the be all end all of a picture painted of me, and yes, it is true, that for most instances, people are like the people they surround themselves with. They are similar to the friends they keep. But, just because me and so and so may have united for an event, that does not mean we stand for ALL of the same things.
So, I ask. Are Mr. Mark Buse and John McCain friends? Do they enjoy each others company on Thanksgiving, and do they golf together on Sundays? Yes, Buse has continually supported McCain and his message for years now (so the article says), but just because they may support many of the same values on a political ballot, it doesn't mean they are in agreement on EVERYTHING.
For these reasons, as much as it sucks not to point a finger at McCain, I don't think it's necessarily fair to do so. Just a thought, if you are going to call anyone a hypocrite, should it be Mr. Mark Buse? Just sayin. ?
I may be totally off my rocker, but I'm kind of annoyed with how much dirt people/media is spewing. People make mistakes. People change their minds. People vote for things without being able to foresee the future. It happens. If someone held a magnifying glass to your every move, how would the transcript of that play out? Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.
Happy Wednesday.
"A better beginning for World's babies"
Some excerpts from a CNN article. Read the entirety here.
"Last year, 9.2 million children didn't make it to their fifth birthday. Of these, roughly 4 million children died within the first 28 days of life -- the newborn period.
Many of these newborns die for reasons that are easily treatable or preventable. Their lives could be saved with very simple and low-cost interventions. For example, birth attendants can wash their hands before helping with a delivery, and use a clean blade to cut the umbilical cord. "
"Last year, 9.2 million children didn't make it to their fifth birthday. Of these, roughly 4 million children died within the first 28 days of life -- the newborn period.
Many of these newborns die for reasons that are easily treatable or preventable. Their lives could be saved with very simple and low-cost interventions. For example, birth attendants can wash their hands before helping with a delivery, and use a clean blade to cut the umbilical cord. "
yankee stadium
I actually never went to a game in Yankees stadium. And im kinda bummed about that. I was supposed to go a few different times, and it just never worked out. It's kind of like never seeing New Orleans before Katrina.
Article - Babe Ruths Daughter
Article - Babe Ruths Daughter
the mission
I love the mission. I love the colors, and the people, and the randomness, and openness, and friendliness, cheap mexican food, and hotdogs wrapped in bacon. I also love how I can hop off the bart on a particularly nice warm evening and there is a poetry / spoken word / art show / free wheeling say whatever you want session right on the walkway.
I was walking down Bartlett and an African American and a Latino man, both young, were sitting on a stoop. The black guy yells out to me, "Hey, who you voting for?" I kept walking and yelled back, "Not sure yet, you?" and the black guy, pointing to a button on his shirt says, "Who do you think?" And the Latino guy then says, "You can't tell from his skin?" - This story may not be awesome to anyone else, but I really appreciated the fact that these two young guys, who probably never cared about Politics before, have the gusto to randomly start a dialog, despite how elementary or whatever it may be, with me. It made me smile.
I love that people (either in the mission, or because of this election) want to be engaged.
This makes me want to go to Belfast:
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was walking down Bartlett and an African American and a Latino man, both young, were sitting on a stoop. The black guy yells out to me, "Hey, who you voting for?" I kept walking and yelled back, "Not sure yet, you?" and the black guy, pointing to a button on his shirt says, "Who do you think?" And the Latino guy then says, "You can't tell from his skin?" - This story may not be awesome to anyone else, but I really appreciated the fact that these two young guys, who probably never cared about Politics before, have the gusto to randomly start a dialog, despite how elementary or whatever it may be, with me. It made me smile.
I love that people (either in the mission, or because of this election) want to be engaged.
This makes me want to go to Belfast:
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so...wanna shoot a music video?
Yeah, not as easy as it sounds. After about four months of concepting, storyboards, the whole bit, my "muse" (meaning friend who plays music and is willing to let me go crazy creative on her music and not care) and I still haven't found a location, done wardrobe, or props. Mainly because neither of us have a car to find a location. Never mind renting a zipcar is still pretty damn expensive just to drive around for hours. Anyone know of a long grassy field, with a house, and patch of trees nearby? ...
So we decided fuck it. We need to shoot something, regardless of how cheesy, shitty quality, or unplanned it is. We are both getting this itch. Anyone who has ever shot anything before knows going out w/o a plan is probably the worst thing one could possibly do. Are we doing it anyway? Yes.
We are getting up before the sun comes up on our precious Saturday to try and catch some beautiful sunrise color and some silhouettes. We don't have a concept. We don't have props. We don't have lenses or filters. We do have the location. Which rocks.
Updates to come.
Let's hope it's not foggy.
Below are videos that have inspired me as of late. Some of them upset me b/c it makes me feel like I'm lagging behind the rest of em...
One Question
New Orleans
Simon
So we decided fuck it. We need to shoot something, regardless of how cheesy, shitty quality, or unplanned it is. We are both getting this itch. Anyone who has ever shot anything before knows going out w/o a plan is probably the worst thing one could possibly do. Are we doing it anyway? Yes.
We are getting up before the sun comes up on our precious Saturday to try and catch some beautiful sunrise color and some silhouettes. We don't have a concept. We don't have props. We don't have lenses or filters. We do have the location. Which rocks.
Updates to come.
Let's hope it's not foggy.
Below are videos that have inspired me as of late. Some of them upset me b/c it makes me feel like I'm lagging behind the rest of em...
One Question
New Orleans
Simon
been awhile
It has been quite awhile since I have posted. In the past weeks I got really sick, puked a bit of blood and a bit of bright yellow muckus stuff (yum), ate lot's of Dick's, got whipped in the face by a woman w/ long hair in the BART (I honestly hate it when that happens), found a new appreciation for PBR, realized there aren't enough hours in the day for SumbleUpon, and is hoping people vote NO on prop 8.
Under the Sea
I went to Little Mermain Sing A Long the other day. It was pretty much the coolest thing I have done in awhile. A bunch of adults dressed up in crowns, pearls, interacting with the film, blowing bubbles, waving glow sticks, singing...singing! It was awesome. AWESOME! They had a contest. Kids dressed up. Adults dressed up. King Triton, the dinglehopper, and Scully (?) the bird. Let me repeat. It was amazing.
not sure what i think about this
Human life is an interesting thing. Sometimes wasted, sometimes short, sometimes way too long, sometimes overly strange and sometimes just as it should be. Attending the Giants game last night (yeah they actually won, 5-4) looking around at the very sparse crowd the thought that every single person there was created, has a mother, father, they were either planned or accidents, and that they didn't just appear. Its obvious yeah I know, but to sit and think about that for a moment is a strange thing. Strange because through technology anyone can really decide to have a baby, or not. We can stop reproduction or aide it. Essentially we are cheating nature. One might argue we are cheating nature when we get vaccinations, immunizations, and surgery when we have heart problems. That people allergic to bees should just suffer the consequences without having shots in a hands reach to make sure they don't die. This thought of course can then be brought into medicine in general, and how far should we go to assist ourselves in living longer? The next question would then be the debate between whether taking steps to live longer and healthier is the equivalent to controlling the reproduction of other human beings? Probably not.
Technology has made it possible for Ricky Martin to create children. Why he decided to have children, not sure. Why he didn't wait to have children with a woman he was married to? Maybe he's gay. Why he didn't adopt? I don't know. I just have this weird thought, like how much can we actually fuck with nature, and when is it going to backfire? Or, this just is nature, and this just is the evolutionary way its going. ???
anyway, see said article:
"Ricky Martin Has Twins Via A Surrogate
NEW YORK — There won't be much "livin' la vida loca" for Ricky Martin these days _ he's now the father of twin boys. The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement from his representatives.
"The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky's full-time care," said the statement. "Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children."
A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children's birth.
Martin, 36, is a multiplatinum singer who is best known for English-language hits like "She Bangs!" and "Livin' la Vida Loca." In recent years, the Puerto Rican star has been active in charitable efforts, including the prevention of sexual exploitation of children."
On the other end of the spectrum, there are people who are perfectly content to never spawn. My friend had a vasectomy at the age of 18 quoting, "I don't need to pass on my family's genes to anyone!" Valid point. Read Article about Married Couple. Titled, Children, Who Needs Them?
Technology has made it possible for Ricky Martin to create children. Why he decided to have children, not sure. Why he didn't wait to have children with a woman he was married to? Maybe he's gay. Why he didn't adopt? I don't know. I just have this weird thought, like how much can we actually fuck with nature, and when is it going to backfire? Or, this just is nature, and this just is the evolutionary way its going. ???
anyway, see said article:
"Ricky Martin Has Twins Via A Surrogate
NEW YORK — There won't be much "livin' la vida loca" for Ricky Martin these days _ he's now the father of twin boys. The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement from his representatives.
"The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky's full-time care," said the statement. "Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children."
A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children's birth.
Martin, 36, is a multiplatinum singer who is best known for English-language hits like "She Bangs!" and "Livin' la Vida Loca." In recent years, the Puerto Rican star has been active in charitable efforts, including the prevention of sexual exploitation of children."
On the other end of the spectrum, there are people who are perfectly content to never spawn. My friend had a vasectomy at the age of 18 quoting, "I don't need to pass on my family's genes to anyone!" Valid point. Read Article about Married Couple. Titled, Children, Who Needs Them?
little things - inner thoughts and wonderings
Do you think our communication, and relationships, and romanticism has gone downhill since text messages came into the picture? It has definitely changed. Things people might talk about in person or have to say in person, they can get away with doing through a text. For some things this can be a bit impersonal, and inappropriate. But at the same time, it can kind of be exciting. Opening up a surprisingly good text is like opening up that surprise piece of mail when you were ten from your pen pal in Russia. I guess I'm just curious to see how more of our communication changes in the next few years.
_________________________________
It's impossible to be everyones friend. Its impossible to be what you would like to be and strive to be to everyone. Its impossible to be to everyone what exactly each person needs. It's impossible. At somepoint you must give and take from certain relationships certain things. That doesn't mean you don't like certain people more or less, but for you to have some sort of energy at the end of the day, at somepoint, you have to be selfish. You have to be selfish with how you spend your time and where you spend your time. One cannot be all things to all people, that is why we are all here. We give certain things to certain people that others cannot. It's important to surround yourself with people who love you, and cheer for you, and challenge you, and make you question, and who will not be scared to question you, who can hug you, who will tell you about the enormous booger in your nose, who will laugh with you and sometimes at you when its deserved, who will make you calm, who you can be yourself around.
_________________________________
I heard awhile back that people are pretty much who they are going to be, forever, by the time they reach 25. There is some give and take in that theory obviously, but its making the case that personalities, beliefs, values, are all pretty much set in stone by that age. People do change and priorities change, but for the most part I completely agree and see what it's saying. There are all these things I thought how I wanted my life to be like, or what I thought it would be like, or what I thought it would be cool to be like when I was younger. Ive come to the conclusion now that I will never be a vegetarian, that although Ive relaxed more than when I was in high school that I will probably always be a bit hyper, loud, and often times annoying, I will probably always be a bit controlling, that I like, if not feel like I need to take the lead in many things. Ive come to the conclusion I will never be that amazing athlete I always thought I could be, that I push myself only so far and that I often stop short, that discipline has always been a problem for me unless certain things are involved. That I will never be any good at the guitar, or the piano, and that I will probably never be fluent in any other language than English. That I am even horrible at English, that I will always be horrible at math. There are all these things I wish I was, or thought I would be, and so many, so many things I admire about so many people, but, I am just me. That I have always been me, as much as I thought I would eventually grow to have certain traits, they will always just be things that aren't a part of me. It's pointless to wish to be like this, or be like that, because I'm not going to be. I'm most certainly not changing. I can strive to be better. One specific thing that comes to mind is patience, and understanding. As open as I think I am, its hard for me to step back and accept where someone else is coming from. I can try and become fluent in Italian. I can learn to juggle. I could even learn the piano. I can learn skills. I can improve things. But I will never be someone else.
_________________________________
It's impossible to be everyones friend. Its impossible to be what you would like to be and strive to be to everyone. Its impossible to be to everyone what exactly each person needs. It's impossible. At somepoint you must give and take from certain relationships certain things. That doesn't mean you don't like certain people more or less, but for you to have some sort of energy at the end of the day, at somepoint, you have to be selfish. You have to be selfish with how you spend your time and where you spend your time. One cannot be all things to all people, that is why we are all here. We give certain things to certain people that others cannot. It's important to surround yourself with people who love you, and cheer for you, and challenge you, and make you question, and who will not be scared to question you, who can hug you, who will tell you about the enormous booger in your nose, who will laugh with you and sometimes at you when its deserved, who will make you calm, who you can be yourself around.
_________________________________
I heard awhile back that people are pretty much who they are going to be, forever, by the time they reach 25. There is some give and take in that theory obviously, but its making the case that personalities, beliefs, values, are all pretty much set in stone by that age. People do change and priorities change, but for the most part I completely agree and see what it's saying. There are all these things I thought how I wanted my life to be like, or what I thought it would be like, or what I thought it would be cool to be like when I was younger. Ive come to the conclusion now that I will never be a vegetarian, that although Ive relaxed more than when I was in high school that I will probably always be a bit hyper, loud, and often times annoying, I will probably always be a bit controlling, that I like, if not feel like I need to take the lead in many things. Ive come to the conclusion I will never be that amazing athlete I always thought I could be, that I push myself only so far and that I often stop short, that discipline has always been a problem for me unless certain things are involved. That I will never be any good at the guitar, or the piano, and that I will probably never be fluent in any other language than English. That I am even horrible at English, that I will always be horrible at math. There are all these things I wish I was, or thought I would be, and so many, so many things I admire about so many people, but, I am just me. That I have always been me, as much as I thought I would eventually grow to have certain traits, they will always just be things that aren't a part of me. It's pointless to wish to be like this, or be like that, because I'm not going to be. I'm most certainly not changing. I can strive to be better. One specific thing that comes to mind is patience, and understanding. As open as I think I am, its hard for me to step back and accept where someone else is coming from. I can try and become fluent in Italian. I can learn to juggle. I could even learn the piano. I can learn skills. I can improve things. But I will never be someone else.
superhero - comic book
Has anyone else noticed that there have been a whole hell of a lot of superhero, comic book based films out in the recent years. Spiderman, Batman, Sin City, The Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men. Most recently on apple.com/trailers, The Spirit, and Punisher. It's a whole lot of themes about the underdog coming back to avenge the bad guy. Which is fine and makes for a story we all can cheer for. I just feel like that is quite a bit of superhero flicks....
Here is a trailer that is somewhat scary. Somewhat intriguing. Somewhat unbelievable.
Here is a trailer that is somewhat scary. Somewhat intriguing. Somewhat unbelievable.
is this a new fashion?
Anyone who knows me pretty well knows I absolutely love and adore my family. So maybe that is the reason why I find most things they do hilarious. I'm sure we are not funny to anyone else but ourselves, but whatever. On a recent visit with my momma my sister told me the following story.
Sis: I walked into the kitchen the other day, momma was washing a dish or something and she looks all excited. She goes, "Marci Marci, look at my new shorts! Do you think this is the new fashion or something?"
Mom: Well, I picked up a pair of new running shorts the other day. I usually try them on...I usually try everything on, but I picked them up, held them out, and they looked fine. So, I brought em home.
I went to go put them on, they looked fine but they felt funny. So I turned them around.
Sis: So I'm looking at mom in these shorts and they are blatently backwards. No doubt about it, backwards.
Mom: Yeah so I had been running all over town in these shorts. Shopping, ... (sister interruption)
Sis: Like the back was shorter than the front.
Mom: I thought it was a new style.
Sis: The drawstring was even in the back. (laughing hysterically now)
Mom: Yeah, I brought them home, tried them on with the drawstring in the front, the logo in the front, and the pocket in the back. But it didn't feel right. So I turned them around and just went running. I though it might be a new style or something.
Well, what actually happened was that I had them on right the first time, but the underwear was sewn in wrong. ... so of course I turned them around because they were uncomfortable. I mean, who sews the underwear in wrong?!
So we go to the store and explained that I needed new shorts. The store lady said she had a bunch in the back, but Im thinking if one of the liners is sewn in wrong, they all have got to be. It's an assembly line ya know?
So sure enough, they were all fine, and I just picked up the only backwards pair.
End Story
Maybe this isn't as hilarious as when they were telling it, but think about that. I mean, that would really f* with your head! You know you're right when you put them on, but something doesn't feel right and you know it. I mean, what a great April fools joke. Plus that fact that my mom just went with it, like, yeah, this must be a new fashion. Agh, I love it.
Sis: I walked into the kitchen the other day, momma was washing a dish or something and she looks all excited. She goes, "Marci Marci, look at my new shorts! Do you think this is the new fashion or something?"
Mom: Well, I picked up a pair of new running shorts the other day. I usually try them on...I usually try everything on, but I picked them up, held them out, and they looked fine. So, I brought em home.
I went to go put them on, they looked fine but they felt funny. So I turned them around.
Sis: So I'm looking at mom in these shorts and they are blatently backwards. No doubt about it, backwards.
Mom: Yeah so I had been running all over town in these shorts. Shopping, ... (sister interruption)
Sis: Like the back was shorter than the front.
Mom: I thought it was a new style.
Sis: The drawstring was even in the back. (laughing hysterically now)
Mom: Yeah, I brought them home, tried them on with the drawstring in the front, the logo in the front, and the pocket in the back. But it didn't feel right. So I turned them around and just went running. I though it might be a new style or something.
Well, what actually happened was that I had them on right the first time, but the underwear was sewn in wrong. ... so of course I turned them around because they were uncomfortable. I mean, who sews the underwear in wrong?!
So we go to the store and explained that I needed new shorts. The store lady said she had a bunch in the back, but Im thinking if one of the liners is sewn in wrong, they all have got to be. It's an assembly line ya know?
So sure enough, they were all fine, and I just picked up the only backwards pair.
End Story
Maybe this isn't as hilarious as when they were telling it, but think about that. I mean, that would really f* with your head! You know you're right when you put them on, but something doesn't feel right and you know it. I mean, what a great April fools joke. Plus that fact that my mom just went with it, like, yeah, this must be a new fashion. Agh, I love it.
made in brazil - hotties
Not sure how I ran across this site. But I feel like it needs to be shared.
BRAZILIAN HOTTIES
(scroll down it gets better)
BRAZILIAN HOTTIES
(scroll down it gets better)
john mayer is a rock star
Went to his show last night, at the Shoreline. Which looks almost identical to the White River Amphitheater back home. Weird. It was one of the best nights we've had this summer. Which doesn't say much because it's been completely shitty this summer. I guess thats how the summers always are in San Francisco. Windy. Gray. Foggy. I don't remember last year being like this at all actually. I remember tank tops, and shorts, and flip flops, and endless days at the park, and on the roof, and in back porch bars. But this summer has been ok too. In it's own way. More calm. More stationary. More creative.
Going back to mr. mayer. He really puts on a great show. He's hilarious. He has a very very sexy voice. And is a fantastic musician.
And here is nothing to do with the show, but I found it ridiculous.
Shop 4 Guys -
Going back to mr. mayer. He really puts on a great show. He's hilarious. He has a very very sexy voice. And is a fantastic musician.
And here is nothing to do with the show, but I found it ridiculous.
Shop 4 Guys -
craig - ur list
I'm pretty sure Craig, when creating craigslist, didn't imagine his internet space to be used as a public forum, dating stories, and for scroungers of all things free.
neighbor
pretty sure this one takes the cake
neighbor
pretty sure this one takes the cake
"create a life you will love living"
An excerpt from Huffington Post, written by Roger Fransecky.
Read the entirety here.
"Here's several questions to begin your own happiness audit: "Am I living a life I love, and one that allows me to be happy?" Listen to the wisdom of your heart, and tell yourself the truth. Ask yourself:
• What brings vitality to my life? When do I feel most alive?
• What is my proudest achievement?
• What is my greatest gift? My legacy?
• For what are you most grateful?
These questions invite you to ponder the symphony of your experience, the missed notes, the flourishes and the coda. I don't deny that life can be rough, that you can (and will) experience mistakes, excesses, lies and lessons, and on occasional loss, grief and sadness. Even Charles Schultz, the creator of "Peanuts," the cartoon strip that brought us minor wisdom and wide smiles for decades, suffered his entire life with serious depression, a melancholy temperament and insecurities.
Happiness can become your default state and not some elaborate life lie by acknowledging your gifts, your lessons, the people in your "cast" who love and teach, tolerate and celebrate you. You can choose between the ambiguity and clarity."
Read the entirety here.
"Here's several questions to begin your own happiness audit: "Am I living a life I love, and one that allows me to be happy?" Listen to the wisdom of your heart, and tell yourself the truth. Ask yourself:
• What brings vitality to my life? When do I feel most alive?
• What is my proudest achievement?
• What is my greatest gift? My legacy?
• For what are you most grateful?
These questions invite you to ponder the symphony of your experience, the missed notes, the flourishes and the coda. I don't deny that life can be rough, that you can (and will) experience mistakes, excesses, lies and lessons, and on occasional loss, grief and sadness. Even Charles Schultz, the creator of "Peanuts," the cartoon strip that brought us minor wisdom and wide smiles for decades, suffered his entire life with serious depression, a melancholy temperament and insecurities.
Happiness can become your default state and not some elaborate life lie by acknowledging your gifts, your lessons, the people in your "cast" who love and teach, tolerate and celebrate you. You can choose between the ambiguity and clarity."
holy balls
112 year old man - art WOW.
Call Me's had a beer bust tonight. We raised $850. Not sure how that's possible, but its awesome. Maybe now we can buy those mint green jumpsuits we've always wanted. Or not.
Have I mentioned I love football.
Call Me's had a beer bust tonight. We raised $850. Not sure how that's possible, but its awesome. Maybe now we can buy those mint green jumpsuits we've always wanted. Or not.
Have I mentioned I love football.
poop
A bird pooped on me this morning. As I was riding my bike down Market, I got shit on. I guess once in 24 years isn't bad.
In other news if you checked out my recent playlist's one would think I just crawled out of a hole and missed the whole "music i was supposed to be into in high school thing". The most played, Pink. Yeah. Im pretty sure it has nothing to do with her music, and everything to do with her toned body.
In other news if you checked out my recent playlist's one would think I just crawled out of a hole and missed the whole "music i was supposed to be into in high school thing". The most played, Pink. Yeah. Im pretty sure it has nothing to do with her music, and everything to do with her toned body.
yelp it
Im pretty sure you can YELP anything. Heres a convo I just came across randomly. Dead Rock Star.
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