This note is from a 23 year old nephew of a friend of mine. He just moved to San Francisco from Maine to allow him to find himself. He is gay and out and as you will see from this note, very outspoken. I reprint this here because it reminds me of myself when I was a lot younger. I believe youth can teach us a lot. In this case, I am reminded that I have grown accustomed to being bland (”balanced and fair”) about the issue of marriage rights for our gay population. Marriage must be allowed between ANY ...

I love finding blogs that are witty, funny, and that I can relate to.  This latest blog on my list, The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks, pokes fun at the overuse of quotation marks, which I had no idea was so prolific.  I've been reading it for a few weeks now, and noticed the following at a gas station.  In honor of "The "Blog,"" I present you with: You shouldn't really pay attention... ...

It occurred to many after the debate that Palin didn't answer some of the questions posed to her.  As a matter of fact, she even claimed that she would occasionally not answer the question.  Ironically, this is probably one of the most honest things a politician has said in a debate.  But, when others don't answer questions I notice it and deduct mental points for that so same standard for her.  You don't get to not answer questions in a debate - answering questions is rather the point of a debate isn't it?You know it bothers me when normal ...

When we lack control over our lives, we seek out some form of structure to grasp. Apparently, this applies to beliefs in the supernatural.Studies conducted at Illinois' Northwestern University have discovered a correlation between the level of stress someone feels and their beliefs in superstitious thoughts.The findings were recently published in Science. Yet given the current state of affairs, some statements are hardly shocking: "On a national level, when times are economically uncertain, superstitions increase."Half of the participants were asked to recall situations where they had no control over the outcome and reflect on the experience. ...

Hundreds of Thai citizens are lining up outside the Wat Prommanee temple every day. Not for any traditional Buddhist services, but for a chance to spend a short while in a pink coffin.How trendy.For the nominal fee of 180 baht (approximately US$5.63), anyone wishing to cleanse themselves of their past can climb into one of the coffins, have a monk chant a dirge over their body, and reemerge born again from the "death" of their old self a minute and a half later. Nine coffins have been lined up in the great hall in an effort to streamline ...

I'm really frustrated at the moment about my work schedule.  I'm always very flexible with my schedule, being that it's retail and all, it's bound to change occasionally.  But my brother is coming in from out of state as of tomorrow - I see him about once every five years - and my schedule has changed from its regular hours to one where I will not be able to see him much while he is here.  Instead of my day off, I'm working this crazy half closing/half overnight shift.  Instead of just closing my usual night, I'm closing an additional night.  Instead of working early one day to where ...

You who knowsLocations between Dillingham and BethelAnd Juneau and rushes for gold.You, who talks on script!You, who talks down to people!You, in your sharp glasses and sharp suit!You, with your evasiveness,Your Alyeska accent andYour Caribou eyes in the headlights look!"Doggonnit!"Answer the questions!Don't Condescend!Don't use scare tactics! "Doggonnit!"Give us your permafrost smile. Read your cards!Oh, you pretty little thing! I want to pinch your cheek!Tell us about your huge energy producing state!Oh, please, North to the Future! ...

It's officially October! You know what that means: Halloween is around the corner and everyone starts thinking about ghosts. Things for me become a nightmare. Not in the terrifying dream sort of way. More like everything happening all at once.Last night was a presentation at the Sandy Valley Branch of the Stark County Public Library here in northeastern Ohio. For such a small, rural area, it was quite a turnout (over 30 people). I had an opportunity to see a few old faces I truly have missed and meet quite an interesting group of people. Technology wasn't on my ...

I received some news today that, while expected, upset me a great deal. To be blunt, I was very uncharacteristically pissed off and defensive.In the parking lot while waiting for rehearsal to begin, I posted a rather negative comment on facebook. Suddenly, I looked at my iPhone 3G and the name of my lovely aunt called me. I hadn't heard from her in a long time. I told her about my foul mood and she empathized. Seeming to sense things, she had some very reassuring words.We talked some time, then we both realized it was past 8:00. We had been ...

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Jason had planned for several weeks to see an engagement of RENT. Not at a theatre, but in a movie theatre, to see a taped version of the final performance of RENT. Steve had no plans and joined us. Before going to the theatre, we stopped at one of my favorite bar&grills, in Covington, Kentcuky. We sat outside.It was such a beautiful day! There were a lot of people roaming about in Benglas attire getting ready for the game and getting their drunk on. (In retrospect, it probably wasn't a bad idea, as they lost to their rivals, the Cleveland ...

Yes -- Post From My iPhone ...

Originally, I had hoped to watch it all straight through.  I had planned on making comments here as the debate progressed.  But it's so hard to do that when vomiting.  I think this whole campaign/election process is just making me ill at this point.  Can we fast-forward to November?I think that the post-analysis was right (there is an ad out there already) that McCain's camp would seize on Obama's words, "he's right."  God forbid someone try to offer up something that is agreed upon.  What they left out was the stinging "but" after the agreeable comment.Seriously, it was like ...

""The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the senator will travel to the debate this afternoon," the statement said. McCain, an Arizona senator, will head back to Washington after the debate and return to the negotiations."What?  Didn't he just suspend his campaign?  Hello, can we make a decision here?  Seriously, if what he did was not for political reasons, would he not still have a suspended campaign? Every other day it's something different out of the campaign, whether it's the soundness of the economy to the suspension of the race to the White House.(source: With McCain in fold, ...

Gary and Anne Henry of Coronation, County Durham, were just scraping by financially. They ran a small sandwich shop out of a converted shipping container. It was just another dreadfully rainy day two weeks ago on Tuesday when a ragged woman approached the stand. She was soaked, so Anne offered her a cup of hot tea and an egg sandwich.The woman went on to tell Mrs. Henry that she was a gypsy, capable of predicting the future. Anne was accustomed to odd people making odd claims, so she politely brushed off the notion."You're going to win on the lottery," ...

Since I missed last week's celebration of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought I'd take the time to write a better-late-than-never bit about those interesting pirates of yore, Anne Bonny and Pierre Bouspeut: tales of a different sort of romance on the high seas.Anne Bonny was a fierce Irishwoman who turned to a life of piracy while living in New Providence (now known as Nassau). It was there where she befriended many other pirates, and a man named Pierre, who operated a few businesses on the island, including a dressmaker's shop.Pierre Bouspeut was known ...

Suffering from bad dreams? Don't just dream of better sleep. Get yourself some roses.Scientists in Germany have discovered a correlation between dreams and scent. While pleasing smells seem to result in positive dreams, offensive odors can lead to nightmares. Studies lead by Professor Boris Stuck at the University Hospital Mannheim involved 15 sleeping volunteers exposed to various scents during REM sleep. They were soon awakened and interrogated regarding the content of their dreams.“The emotional coloration of dreams," stated the researchers at a Chicago meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, "can be significantly influenced in accordance ...

I often wonder how it is that many people don't pay attention to things that are changing our world on a daily basis.  We have a presidential election, economic issues from foreclosures to Wall St. practically caving in, and a myriad of issues throughout the world.  Want to know what people are wondering about?Check Google Trends.  I discovered this in the Google Labs section, and apparently it tracks what people are searching for the most.  As I check it right now, it looks like anal fissures are a hot topic.  Right up there with Clay Aiken and the ...

Cows in Tennessee are feeling a sense of unease.Union County residents along Hickory Valley Road noticed vultures circling a pasture near their property last week. Upon closer inspection, the bodies of eleven cows were found scattered across the property belonging to E. G. McCoy of Knoxville. Assuming the animals had been shot, police were notified. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture disagreed with the verdict.According to their workers, and those at the University of Tennessee's Animal Clinic, there were no signs of bullet wounds. In fact, no cause of death could immediately be determined. Sergeant Mike Butcher (aptly ...

"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book." -- John McCain, Boston Globe Quote, December 17, 2007. ...