Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Berkeley Public Library



Yes, I know these people. And the video? ‘Tis rather droll. I might’ve even popped up in the video if I still worked at Central. But Central seems so far away these days.

Friday, March 07, 2008

gay marriage is for the kids

So the California Supreme Court had oral arguments (which, unlike oral sex, involves no bodily contact) in a case that will determine whether gay marrieds get to be "marrieds" under the law. The three hours of backnforth boiled down to, according to the articles I saw, a few whiny bits from the judges like this: "Why now! Why not in ten years! Then my mom'll be dead & my grandkids will be old enough to contribute to my reelection fund!" Don't forget, folks, California Supreme Courtiers have to face the voters! Rose Bird got tossed just for deciding against killing people. Naughty girl.

In his column at SFGate Jon Carroll makes the Duh argument that seems to be missed most the time: "The state can and does compel the people who did the procreating to support the upbringing of the children. Sometimes [the parents] can't or won't, but still, it's a system and a legitimate function of government. The marriage license is a way of saying 'These people are responsible for that kid.' Not perfect, but extremely useful all the same.

"Which means, of course, that formal marriages between gay people are necessary. Not just desirable; necessary. Gay people have kids too, increasingly so, and those kids require equal protection under the law. To create two classes of marriage is to create two classes of children, and that is both morally and legally unacceptable."

Restricting marriage does not protect children, it actively harms them. Little things didn't ask to be born and the state oughtn't go around swatting them according to whether the state likes their parents.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

dinner

tofu in lettuce roll

chicken with green bean

kung pao fish fillet

vegetable chow fun

Monday, March 03, 2008

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Game for a Sunday Morning

Here’s a game. How long a train of celebrity/prominent persons’ names can you make?

The one I came up with this morning lying in bed:

Eddie Albert Gore Vidal Sassoon

That’s from Eddie Albert / Albert Gore / Gore Vidal / Vidal Sassoon

Kent came up with this one:

Olivia Newton-John Dean Martin Landau

That’s from Olivia Newton-John / John Dean / Dean Martin / Martin Landau

OK, I provided Olivia Newton-John. Was Kent going to produce Olivia Newton-John? What’s a celebrity with the last name John? he said.

Saturday, March 01, 2008