Quote of the Day

(And let me just say...I LOVE her!)


"It costs alot to look this cheap!" --- Dolly Parton

As Promised #1

My take on this Michael Jackson thing. I mean, beyond the expected statement that he's a fucking nutcase pervert who needs to be locked away forevah...

I'm wondering about this kid's mom. Supposedly this kid was with the Make A Wish Foundation and his dying wish was to go to Neverland and meet Chester, I mean, Michael. I think you have to be an idiot to not know of Michael's questionable past with boys, so what mom would say okay to their kid on that, even if he is dying? What mom would send her kid there? That having been said, one would think probably the mom is hoping for a big payoff in hush money. But she says she doesn't WANT money, she wants to prosecute. So here's what it looks like to me: that she used her kid as bait. Why else would she have let him go there in the first place???

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Check out Friday's Buffalo News

I may be in an article about gay marriage and the MASS ruling. I heard a reporter was doing an article about it and I sent him my blog posting on this subject. He thought the angle was interesting and different than the typical party-line homo stuff, so he interviewed me on the phone today. I happened to mention as well that I was releasing a new CD...

My two favorite girls...

Good Kitty!

Gone for the weekend!

See ya next week! Coming soon:

Posting about Grease, The Musical, in which the band drinks at intermission...again.
Posting about this weekend's gig.
Posting about Michael Jackson with my own unique perception...i.e. the irony of a mom who is fighting to protect her kid, yet let him go to never(tell)land in the first place...

AND MORE!!!!!

Am I the only homo who sees it this way???

The Massachusetts ruling was NOT a victory for gay people.

The most sensitive issue running around America today is the gay/marriage issue. In my opinion it has at this time replaced abortion in terms of the "current moral issue", ever since Hawaii and Vermont started making moves in this direction, and especially since Canada has made it legal.

Since gays are a tiny minority in this country, a humongous percentage of Americans will not support the idea of gays being able to get married. And the debate is a semantical one: i.e. the term "marriage" is what everyone is getting all weepy about. Many politicians and citizens support "civil unions", but want to maintain "Marriage" as a union between a man and a woman.

The Massachusetts judiciary did not legalize marriage for gays. All they did was say that the Mass. constitution does not specify that marriage is exclusively for straight people. All they did was READ the wording of the constitution literally, noticing that "marriage" is not defined as either het or homo. That's ALL.

So why do gay groups think this is big deal? Because we haven't been specifically excluded in this ruling? Well, thanks to the gay groups who are trying to move us forward, you can be sure we'll suffer a great setback when the Massachusetts (and 49 states after that) legislature decides to define marriage as a het institution. Because that is exactly what will happen. And gay constituents don't have the numbers to persuade our representatives to go against this concept. Gay groups have showed great lack of foresight in trying to pass this idea off on a hostile America, because this is one battle we will not win. Even our supposed hero Bill Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act.

So here's my suggestion to them all:

1) Get out of your Ivory Towers and fantasy worlds. You are not as powerful or legitimate as you think you are in the grand scheme of politics.

2) Forget the whole idea of legalizing "gay marriage".

3) Instead, focus on getting municipalities at grass roots levels to allow "civil unions".

4) Focus on getting municipalities to start passing laws that give gay couples the same benefits as het couples.

5) Remember that the whole marriage thing is about the church and god and religion which doesn't really mean shit. What matter are the civil laws which grant us the same rights that other Americans are granted, but we are not.

6) Remember to highlight the fact that gays are being DISCRIMINATED against.

7) Remember that just because women and blacks were able to get Federal legislation to end discrimination against them doesn't mean gays will. Keep in mind that being a woman and being black are not moral issues. Remember that the USA is a very emotional country and when it comes to moral issues, there will never be true acceptance because people will always be screaming about god and sin and morality and family values.

8) Spend all the ridiculous amounts of money you have funding local gay lobbies who will fight for these rights, because that's how we will be successful: one city at a time.

Today I'm bitter about....

Roadrunner. Which has been running sooooooooo slow this week that I've been unable to get on the computer and blog and check email and all that shizzle. And I find it's only MY computer. Everyone else's cable modem is just ducky.

Onward to Buffalo tonight. I'm going to be on some cable TV show tomorrow. Wearing black, of course, which should make me look like I only weigh 200 lbs, instead of 250. I hate being on TV.

Other than that had a lovely day with Kelly today. Slept in late then went to Applebees for really fattening ribs and fries and bloody marys and beer and watched the Bunglings Bills lose AGAIN!

See ya Tuesday!

Read this, then fasten your effing seat belts...


Illegal Immigrant Workers Sue Wal-Mart

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) -- Nine illegal immigrants who worked as janitors at Wal-Mart until they were arrested during federal raids last month have sued the company, accusing it of discrimination.

The nine say they were paid lower wages and offered fewer benefit because they are Mexicans, and they accuse Wal-Mart and its cleaning contractors of failing to pay for overtime, withhold taxes or make required workers' compensation contributions.

Their lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Superior Court in Freehold, seeks more than $200,000 in back pay.
******************

This is what the fuck is wrong with America today. People enter the country illegally, work illegally, don't pay taxes, enjoy the benefits that America has to offer, then turn around and somehow think they have any civil rights in this country, and take full advantage of our system to bite the hands that feed them because somehow it isn't enough, even though it's far more than their shithole little country ever gave them, otherwise they wouldn't be here. They think America is their ticket to winning the fucking lottery.

Then you get some piece of shit lawyer who says sure, let's sue. Then some dumbass judge will probably say these people have some sort of case, instead of deporting them immediately. ONLY IN AMERICA CAN AN ADMITTEDLAWBREAKER WALK INTO A COURT ROOM AND HAVE THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF UPHOLDING THE LAW IGNORE THAT FACT THAT HE'S A LAWBREAKER.

And these fuckheads will be all "poor immigrants, treated like shit. let's give them access to civil rights they shouldn't have as ILLEGAL non-citizens, and let's give them driver's licenses, and let's just show them how fabulous the USofA is", while tax-paying, law-abiding queer LEGAL CITIZENS can't even get the fuck married to our partners.

What are they gonna do with MINE AND YOUR 200K? Give 66K of it to that greasy slimeball lawyer, then they'll each take their 14K and what, use it to legally apply for citizenship here???? I somehow doubt that. Who the hell is in charge of the INS anyway? Like to see the house that asshole is living in, with all the kickbacks he's no doubt getting.

The inmates are running the asylum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a convert!

I feel accomplished, and I'm sure Julia does, too. We made one of my readers re-think her non-voting position. But she asked where she could find info, so I'm going to post some. I don't spend scads of time reading papers and following all the candidates out there. Here's how I find out who's running and what they stand for.

First, I go to either of these two sites:

DemocracyNet
Smart Voter

You type in your address and it will find out your voting district and tell you who's running for what position. On D-Net, you can click on the candidate's names and they'll tell you what party line the candidate is running on, and sometimes there will be links to their websites, as well as other info.

After that I search for the candidate's website. Depending on the party of the candidate and the level of office (county, state, federal...) I'll go to county's dem and gop websites, the state's dem and gop sites, and if necessary, the national dem and gop committee sites.

Usually the weekend before election day, the local paper will have a voter's guide with all the candidates, their platform, etc. etc. Sometimes I'll also watch debates on TV, but that's not always necessary.

And that's all I do. I don't have to spend months trying to read papers or watch news or pretend to be knowledgeable about every issue. I have specific issues dear to my heart, and I spend just a couple of hours on the computer, maybe watch a debate, maybe read a story in the paper if the headline interests me. Not a whole lot of time spent, but I can still make an informed decision. I don't vote like most people do: they saw a commercial and believed the bullshit it was saying. Never watch campaign commercials.

And sometimes you can't decide because you dislike both candidates. I've done "write-in" candidates before (I voted for Bugs Bunny), and once, I was so undecided that I went into the poll booth, flipped a coin, and voted accordingly. Really.

So that's all there is too it. It's not that daunting. I hope this helps!

Two Women's Passionate Pleas for Voting

Okay, so I have to go on a rant about voting. This is not a lecture, rather an attempt to persuade you all to go out, register, then actually show up at the polls. I've also asked Julia, who works in politics, to be a guest blogger on the same subject. I hope you'll indulge both of our posts.

Leah

It was Marjie's comment that motivated me.

"I totally do NOT do politics. People will do anything to keep power once they have it, including sell out their values. I hate to be cynical, but I have no choice in this case."

Mar, I'm not picking on you, but I chose your comment because it voices the opinion that so many people feel about politics.The reason people can keep that power and sell out their values is precisely because people who are pissed off at the system DO NOT go out and vote those power mongers out of office. And I beg you, you DO have a choice. Cubans don't have a choice. Iraqi's didn't have a choice under Saddam. South Africans didn't have a choice under Apartheid. Uprisings and wars have been fought to get that choice, that freedom: in Poland in the 80's; the tearing down of the Berlin Wall; Chechoslovakia; most of Russia; and how about the United States in 1775? How about Black Americans after the Civil War. Women at the turn of the century?

I think it's especially important that women, blacks and 18-21 year-olds vote. When this country was started, the entire premise for the Independence of this country was based on the vote - that each citizen had a say in the affairs of this country as it fought against the tyrannical rule of the governing body (the King). That is to say, each white, male citizen. Blacks did not have the right to vote until 1870 (after a war), who were then met by shotguns at the polling places. They had to fight and die. The Suffragettes fought for two decades to give women a fair say. We've only had that freedom since 1920, not even a hundred years. And 18 year-olds couldn't vote until 1971, even though they were old enough to fight in wars. Those of us who were not immediately granted this right upon Independence have even more of an obligation to exercise our votes, simply because we cannot take it for granted, ever.

This country becomes more fascist every day. Don't agree? Remember this when you want to light a cigarette and you can't. With this new law that passed, it is illegal to smoke in your own house for some people. Want to exercise your right to bear arms? See how many hoops you have to jump through in NYS to get a gun. Want an abortion but you're four months pregnant? That's gone, as of yesterday. Need to talk on your cell phone while driving? Do you own an SUV? You're 18 and can vote and fight in a war, but can't drink a beer?

Voting is the single most important freedom we have in this country. It is also the only time we have the most say in the political process. How do you feel about the war in Iraq? Find out where your representatives stand on it and if you disagree, vote them out. Or keep them in if you agree. Paying incredibly high school taxes? Go vote on the bond issue in your town the next time the school asks for more money. Property taxes too high? Vote for a new County Executive. Your city is turning into a salvage yard? How about a new mayor or city council members? Wanna have a say in who's going to oppose George Bush next term? Register as a Democrat and vote in the primaries next September.

Yes, this system is highly flawed. There are all kinds of backroom dealings going on all the time, and people sell out their values to play this game in order to get what ever funds they can appropriated back to their communities, because if they don't tow the party line, they'll get nothing at all. It's the hard truth. But this will never end until enough pissed off people start making their voices heard at the polls, like they just did in California by removing the governor.

And for those of you who don't register because you're afraid to be summoned to jury duty: They also get your name from the DMV. And if you're one who is always trying to avoid jury duty, then don't ever bitch about the O.J. verdict again. And if you don't vote at all, don't ever, ever bitch about the president, or the war, or your senator, or the latest freedom-restricting law. You gave up those rights when you gave up your right to pull the lever.

Julia

As someone who has a job that requires me to be active during the political/election season, I've heard just about every excuse for why someone hasn't voted or doesn't plan to vote. It's an incredible farce and sorry statement on the citizens of this country.

For those of you who claim, "My vote doesn't count." Consider some recent events: The 2000 Presidential Election was so close in Florida that we didn't know who was going to be our President for months. Media outlets who counted the ballots after the Courts made their decision on the matter concluded several times that Al Gore probably should have won the state, thus won the seat of President.

In Chautauqua County, the 2001 elections resulted in absentee ballots being counted for at least two County Legislative races. In one case, the person who had the lead on election night lost. In 2003, there is one race in the balance where the incumbent County Legislator is only ahead by 14 votes. Absentee ballots will have to be counted in this race as well and whoever wins that race will determine whether the Democrats or Republicans hold the majority in the County Legislature.

In the city of Jamestown, absentee ballots had to be counted for a Ward 2 and an At-Large seat in 2001 to determine the winner. In 2003, the Ward 1 seat race is still undetermined due to a close vote. Whoever wins that race will determine whether the Democrats or Republicans hold the majority on City Council.

Your vote does count. It matters very much to each candidate that is running and it matters when it comes to the final outcome of a race.

And that's just talking about pure numbers.

As a citizen of the United States of America, it is your duty, if you meet guidelines, to register to vote and then vote, whether by showing up at the polls on Election Day or by submitting an absentee ballot. Do not complain that you don't like the candidates. You can always write in a candidate you feel would do the better job. And you can get active
by supporting a candidate that you feel will do the better job. Or you can run yourself.

As a citizen of this country, take responsibility for your actions. Do not whine that the political system is corrupt, full of lies, full of people who are only in it for themselves, or whatever else you think is the case. There are honest, decent people with integrity out there who are working hard to do a good job for you. They deserve your support. Or maybe they just need to be convinced to run if they do not hold a political office. If you don't like who is in power and you don't vote, you only have yourself to blame. The elected officials who mislead our communities, or do it as a benefit for themselves and their friends, are essentially put in power by people who do not vote. If even a small
group of previous non-voters rallied around a more honest candidate and then actually voted, it would make a huge difference.

You only have to look to Presidential Candidate
Howard Dean to see how he has worked to get people involved. Maybe he won't reach his goal of becoming President, but he certainly gets high marks for getting people involved in a way where The People have the power to make change happen.

You have nearly a whole year to set yourself straight. There are usually village elections in the spring. If you're a New York State resident, there are school board elections and budget votes the second Tuesday of the month of May. In September, there may be primaries. In November, Election Day will fall on the first Tuesday of the month. It is a Presidential Election year. You have plenty of time to research the issues, the candidates, and to get involved. Do not fail your country, community, and yourself by not participating in this right.

Be STILL my heart!

She votes Republican. I think I'm in love!

My heroine!

Can we all please give a standing ovation to Cheryl, who fixed my friggin archives somehow! Props 'n shit to her!!! Now, in her honor, go look at her work:

Her web design site
Marc's site -she did the template
The It Zone -her best work, I think.
Her main site.

Cheryl, feel free to plug some more in the comments!

I finally took part in a castration.

Ya know, my friends and family always made jokes about me being a castrating dyke. "Cut their balls off!" my father used to say was my motto, laughing. But today, it became true.

My friends Katie and Char have a new cat that showed up at their door a few months ago. They ain't got a pot to piss in, and Kelly made the offer to them to neuter the cat. So they came in today with the kitty and guess who got to help???? Me. I did nothing really, except hold the mask over the cat's face. But I got to watch it, and it was cool.

My ex was a surgical tech. Occasionally she'd be on emergency call and get called to go in the middle of the night for emergency procedures, and she'd bring me with her. And we'd dress me all up in scrubs and she'd tell the doc I was a nursing student and he'd let me observe. I got to see three surgeries, all done laparoscopically, so I'd be able to stand back and watch it on video. I saw a D&C, a cholesystectomy (gall bladder removal), and an ectopic pregnancy removal. Very cool.

So, I love this shit. And when it was all over, I got to dissect the testicle. My apologies to my male readers. I did it truly out of scientific interest, not because I like to mangle balls. The whole thing took like 10 minutes, and it was really cool to see Kelly do her thing.

After, we went to lunch and caught up, then K&C came back to Kelly's and we hung out and had a beer, and Katie and I sang a bunch of songs. Noah, the kitty, decided that being under Kelly's bed was the cat's meow, and that's where he stayed, until they went home. The girls finally left, and I had a family event I HAD to go to, but I didn't want to! Whaaaa! And my grandmother gave me shit for coming late. And I said "Grandma, I'm here now!" Can never please a passive-agressive Italian matriarch!