I love seeing my folks, I really do. They are both Republican and single issue voters with regard to abortion. Which makes me sad.
John McCain isn't a bad guy. At least he wasn't before this campaign. In 2000 my plan was to vote for him if he got the nomination, but he was a different guy back then. He very well could have turned into the same guy we see now, but who knows.
The deal breaker has been Palin. Someone who is so grossly under-qualified, incompetent, and has no grasp of real issues has no place on a ticket like this. It is blatant pandering and it diminishes the ticket. And so, I have no respect for anyone who defends her position on that ticket or John McCain for selecting her.
But, for the love of my parents, my tongue is bleeding from biting it so much. Only 29 more days.
kisses.
P.S. I also love them because it brings me back to old dramas to play out with them. Like now. It is so silly that I can laugh at myself for falling into them and being so angry at the same time.
James's Journal
My Podcast Link
10/05/2008 16:41 #45946
GHA!10/04/2008 23:38 #45935
I love my mom....... but if she introduces (e:jim) as my "friend" one more time so her Catholic buddies wont think I have committed the sin of sodomy I am going to sodomize a reliquary.
For someone who just went through chemo she looks fantastic though! go mom go!
For someone who just went through chemo she looks fantastic though! go mom go!
james - 10/06/08 11:22
and you looked ravishing in your PJs. ^_^
and you looked ravishing in your PJs. ^_^
lauren - 10/06/08 11:18
haha, word to that...Felly is always my "friend" and at best my "roommate"...if by roommate my mom means bedmate, then hey...sure ;)
and jeez, I always go outside in my pjs to take Ralphie out cause I think, who the hell will see me? And of course, there you are this morning :)
haha, word to that...Felly is always my "friend" and at best my "roommate"...if by roommate my mom means bedmate, then hey...sure ;)
and jeez, I always go outside in my pjs to take Ralphie out cause I think, who the hell will see me? And of course, there you are this morning :)
jim - 10/05/08 16:03
Nope, no quotes.
Nope, no quotes.
metalpeter - 10/05/08 11:02
I didn't think about the finger quote thing that would so change the meaning of what she says or even a little wink, might say it with out saying it. I can see why you would be upset, it would be so much better for her to tell the truth, that way she doesn't have to lie about other things as well. But I do get why she does lie to them.
I didn't think about the finger quote thing that would so change the meaning of what she says or even a little wink, might say it with out saying it. I can see why you would be upset, it would be so much better for her to tell the truth, that way she doesn't have to lie about other things as well. But I do get why she does lie to them.
drew - 10/05/08 07:46
Does she make "finger quotes?"
Does she make "finger quotes?"
tinypliny - 10/05/08 00:53
Good luck to your mum!
Good luck to your mum!
10/03/2008 21:32 #45924
West Virginia?I am meeting my parents at my youngest brother's college in that part of the world where Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia all cluster fuck. I am really excited to see my brother, as he is in the middle of his first semester at school. But this trip also makes me a little sad.
It is outside of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh has an Ikea
Pittsburgh has a Trader Joe's
Pittsburgh is more economically viable to have these things. And Buffalo does not.
Man...
It is outside of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh has an Ikea
Pittsburgh has a Trader Joe's
Pittsburgh is more economically viable to have these things. And Buffalo does not.
Man...
vincent - 10/03/08 23:39
I actually like it down there. It is beautiful country and I would love to get down there on some mountain bike trek.
You have to be able to love the fact that once you cross that PA line you see "ADULT" on the side of a mountain like the Hollywood sign. The billboards of "The Lowest Beer and Cigagette prices allowed by Law!!!" as well. I guess those mountaineers know their A,B,C's I suppose ;-)
I actually like it down there. It is beautiful country and I would love to get down there on some mountain bike trek.
You have to be able to love the fact that once you cross that PA line you see "ADULT" on the side of a mountain like the Hollywood sign. The billboards of "The Lowest Beer and Cigagette prices allowed by Law!!!" as well. I guess those mountaineers know their A,B,C's I suppose ;-)
tinypliny - 10/03/08 21:45
Not to mention, The Stillers! ;-D
PS: Yeah, I am heavily influenced by the Yinz love the Stillers video and crappy karaoke that (e:Drew) has been posting.
Not to mention, The Stillers! ;-D
PS: Yeah, I am heavily influenced by the Yinz love the Stillers video and crappy karaoke that (e:Drew) has been posting.
tinypliny - 10/03/08 21:44
Yeah, but how cool that you are going there and can bring back stuff from TJ's and "The Big I" :D
Yeah, but how cool that you are going there and can bring back stuff from TJ's and "The Big I" :D
10/03/2008 09:04 #45913
VP Debate NoteJohn Edwards always seemed like he was doing a preacher impression. Last VP debate I saw I clearly remember John looking into the camera with that dura-flame fire in his eyes and said marriage is between a man and a woman and that is that so there end of discussion. Preachers, when saying things like that, bug the shit out of me.
Last night was a different story. Joe Biden got the question about same-sex couple rights. He knocked it out of the park for me. No difference between a het couple and a homo-awesome couple.
Sarah skirted the question by talking about marriage and god and stuff, ignoring the issue entirely. But since she changed the topic to marriage, the next question was "Do you support same-sex marriage". And that is when things got interesting.
Joe said no, he and Obama do not support it. But the way he framed it was so different from what Edwards had said four years ago and he said it in a way that fixes the biggest problem with the discourse of same-sex marriage. He framed it was the government must make the two equal in terms of rights. Gay marriage is a religious thing and the government wont force a church to do anything.
Many people, including many homosexuals, do not understand that the marriage debate has two components: civil marriage and religious marriage. We only care about civil marriage, as churches can perform marriages if they are so enlightened. The other side only talk about the sanctity of their religious marriage. Joe Biden isn't even talking about that and the differences between civil unions and gay marriage are inconsequential in terms of a first step towards marriage equality.
How the discourse has changed in four years. While it is far from perfect (perfection would be no marriage at all. Am I right guys? Am I right?) it dismantles the GOP argument pretty well from a rhetorical stand point.
kisses,
-James
Last night was a different story. Joe Biden got the question about same-sex couple rights. He knocked it out of the park for me. No difference between a het couple and a homo-awesome couple.
Sarah skirted the question by talking about marriage and god and stuff, ignoring the issue entirely. But since she changed the topic to marriage, the next question was "Do you support same-sex marriage". And that is when things got interesting.
Joe said no, he and Obama do not support it. But the way he framed it was so different from what Edwards had said four years ago and he said it in a way that fixes the biggest problem with the discourse of same-sex marriage. He framed it was the government must make the two equal in terms of rights. Gay marriage is a religious thing and the government wont force a church to do anything.
Many people, including many homosexuals, do not understand that the marriage debate has two components: civil marriage and religious marriage. We only care about civil marriage, as churches can perform marriages if they are so enlightened. The other side only talk about the sanctity of their religious marriage. Joe Biden isn't even talking about that and the differences between civil unions and gay marriage are inconsequential in terms of a first step towards marriage equality.
How the discourse has changed in four years. While it is far from perfect (perfection would be no marriage at all. Am I right guys? Am I right?) it dismantles the GOP argument pretty well from a rhetorical stand point.
kisses,
-James
tinypliny - 10/03/08 21:35
Extending that concept further, I would avoid saying "couples" as well. This is not a flippant comment. For me, death is so real and life feels so short that any man-made ridiculous impediment toward achieving happiness seems like an inhumane thing to do - as bad or even worse than racism and other societal evils. If people want to live as a family, there can be no greater joy than allowing them to achieve that harmony in their lives.
Religious and/or short-sighted legal arguments forcibly erecting barriers towards happiness seem so cruel, hypocritical and petty to me. :/
Extending that concept further, I would avoid saying "couples" as well. This is not a flippant comment. For me, death is so real and life feels so short that any man-made ridiculous impediment toward achieving happiness seems like an inhumane thing to do - as bad or even worse than racism and other societal evils. If people want to live as a family, there can be no greater joy than allowing them to achieve that harmony in their lives.
Religious and/or short-sighted legal arguments forcibly erecting barriers towards happiness seem so cruel, hypocritical and petty to me. :/
metalpeter - 10/03/08 19:38
I wish I could have stayed awake for that part. Hey it was could and I need a blanket so out I went. So since I didn't hear what they said I can't comment on that. But there is a difference between state marriages and ones done in a church. If I have heard correctly Canada legaly says there is a difference and because of that if someone in a church won't Marry you they don't have to and they can't be forced or sued for it. I also don't think it should be called "Gay Marriage" . This is going to sound like a joke but I'm serious. Why can't two life mates get married. There are often times when friends are like family where two people are like brothers or cousins and are really tight or when one old person takes care of someone who is less old. If these two people got hitched they would get rights that they normaly wouldn't get. Currently it is a state issue but I think it needs to be a national issue really and here is why. What if two people are in love and they get married in Boston well then one of the couples company closes or movies to Chicago so they both move, Well in that state the Marriage isn't recognized but then would they have rights and legal protection for things they took care of in boston. See how confussing it gets. But see if there was some federal law that said States had to recognize marriage rights given in other states then that would really help. The other issue is, is same sex divorce legal where marriage is? Not everyone stays together for ever.
I wish I could have stayed awake for that part. Hey it was could and I need a blanket so out I went. So since I didn't hear what they said I can't comment on that. But there is a difference between state marriages and ones done in a church. If I have heard correctly Canada legaly says there is a difference and because of that if someone in a church won't Marry you they don't have to and they can't be forced or sued for it. I also don't think it should be called "Gay Marriage" . This is going to sound like a joke but I'm serious. Why can't two life mates get married. There are often times when friends are like family where two people are like brothers or cousins and are really tight or when one old person takes care of someone who is less old. If these two people got hitched they would get rights that they normaly wouldn't get. Currently it is a state issue but I think it needs to be a national issue really and here is why. What if two people are in love and they get married in Boston well then one of the couples company closes or movies to Chicago so they both move, Well in that state the Marriage isn't recognized but then would they have rights and legal protection for things they took care of in boston. See how confussing it gets. But see if there was some federal law that said States had to recognize marriage rights given in other states then that would really help. The other issue is, is same sex divorce legal where marriage is? Not everyone stays together for ever.
tinypliny - 10/03/08 18:36
"I don't know how you can separate the civil right from the civil benefits! I don't know how you can be for one, against the other, and still be thought of as friendly to the cause. Someone please help me with this."
You cannot. I agree. I don't interpret what Biden said as being any favourable to gay-rights that what Palin babbled about. See below.
"I don't know how you can separate the civil right from the civil benefits! I don't know how you can be for one, against the other, and still be thought of as friendly to the cause. Someone please help me with this."
You cannot. I agree. I don't interpret what Biden said as being any favourable to gay-rights that what Palin babbled about. See below.
jason - 10/03/08 17:28
I have a feeling I'm going to regret the effort, but I'd like to add a few things.
I've actually tried to make an argument similar to Biden's before to some people, and it was summarily rejected. Why? Because "separate but equal" is a relic from a time gone by, and we need not look to the past for an answer. I am sympathetic to that idea. I wonder how prevalent that view is. Maybe some of you can fill in the blanks for me?
Then again, politicians can say whatever they want, especially if they don't actually have to take action that has any effect on the problem, and they don't have to answer for themselves. Biden voted YES on the DOMA, so presumably he's deferring to the states. He can say whatever the hell he wants when he won't have to deliver, and he doesn't strike me as a states rights kind of guy.
In fact, I'm more libereal than Biden is on this. I don't know how you can separate the civil right from the civil benefits! I don't know how you can be for one, against the other, and still be thought of as friendly to the cause. Someone please help me with this. I know that when I made the argument before I was made to feel like I was definitely anti-gay. It actually made me more liberal on the topic.
I have a feeling I'm going to regret the effort, but I'd like to add a few things.
I've actually tried to make an argument similar to Biden's before to some people, and it was summarily rejected. Why? Because "separate but equal" is a relic from a time gone by, and we need not look to the past for an answer. I am sympathetic to that idea. I wonder how prevalent that view is. Maybe some of you can fill in the blanks for me?
Then again, politicians can say whatever they want, especially if they don't actually have to take action that has any effect on the problem, and they don't have to answer for themselves. Biden voted YES on the DOMA, so presumably he's deferring to the states. He can say whatever the hell he wants when he won't have to deliver, and he doesn't strike me as a states rights kind of guy.
In fact, I'm more libereal than Biden is on this. I don't know how you can separate the civil right from the civil benefits! I don't know how you can be for one, against the other, and still be thought of as friendly to the cause. Someone please help me with this. I know that when I made the argument before I was made to feel like I was definitely anti-gay. It actually made me more liberal on the topic.
tinypliny - 10/03/08 13:22
Alright, I don't see why its so tough to be clear on this issue. I don't like both their answers.
Biden first: You support equal rights for all couples but won't support marriage because it has a religious edge? So religiously, you are uncomfortable with giving all couples equal rights? Or as you phrased it, you won't be forcing the church to reconsider their stuffy position.
Don't you think religion and spiritual beliefs are a right in themselves? If you cannot guarantee them, don't go about saying that you will give all couples equal rights. That is a white lie.
(e:James), you bring up the two faces of marriage - civil and religious. But marriage is an artificial construct. We were not born to marry, we were born to reproduce. So marriage is an artificial non-biological construct with its roots in law and religion. I think the essence of marriage is to allow couples to have legal rights AS WELL AS the spiritual well-being in the knowledge that their partnership is recognized and celebrated by the society as a whole. If one or the other facet of this construct is missing for some couples, in my opinion, they are being given a raw deal. The church-state non-involvement is a perfect excuse for clothing your real hypocritical opinions.
An ideal situation would be to take away all and any significance attached to the church/temple performed facet of marriage. Make it mandatory that every couple need to have a legal registered marriage in a court such as the lease for your flat or the deed for your house. If you are rich and can afford to spend the money or simply want to get your family together for the event, by all means, have your wedding ceremony at the Church/temple/wherever, in addition to the legal registration. With time, this practice will ensure that the "religious" component gradually loses any significance whatsoever and marriage will simply be a legal contract (which it is, right now but not many are comfortable accepting the idea).
Palin second: You are confused PR-driven soul. If you believe that religiously you can't agree to Gay marriage let alone rights, just say so. No one is going to be surprised (as many have already pointed out) or even care.
Alright, I don't see why its so tough to be clear on this issue. I don't like both their answers.
Biden first: You support equal rights for all couples but won't support marriage because it has a religious edge? So religiously, you are uncomfortable with giving all couples equal rights? Or as you phrased it, you won't be forcing the church to reconsider their stuffy position.
Don't you think religion and spiritual beliefs are a right in themselves? If you cannot guarantee them, don't go about saying that you will give all couples equal rights. That is a white lie.
(e:James), you bring up the two faces of marriage - civil and religious. But marriage is an artificial construct. We were not born to marry, we were born to reproduce. So marriage is an artificial non-biological construct with its roots in law and religion. I think the essence of marriage is to allow couples to have legal rights AS WELL AS the spiritual well-being in the knowledge that their partnership is recognized and celebrated by the society as a whole. If one or the other facet of this construct is missing for some couples, in my opinion, they are being given a raw deal. The church-state non-involvement is a perfect excuse for clothing your real hypocritical opinions.
An ideal situation would be to take away all and any significance attached to the church/temple performed facet of marriage. Make it mandatory that every couple need to have a legal registered marriage in a court such as the lease for your flat or the deed for your house. If you are rich and can afford to spend the money or simply want to get your family together for the event, by all means, have your wedding ceremony at the Church/temple/wherever, in addition to the legal registration. With time, this practice will ensure that the "religious" component gradually loses any significance whatsoever and marriage will simply be a legal contract (which it is, right now but not many are comfortable accepting the idea).
Palin second: You are confused PR-driven soul. If you believe that religiously you can't agree to Gay marriage let alone rights, just say so. No one is going to be surprised (as many have already pointed out) or even care.
joshua - 10/03/08 10:56
To be honest both of them creeped me out last night.
To be honest both of them creeped me out last night.
james - 10/03/08 10:52
Yes. There were no real surprises in terms of policy last night. Even though there was half a team of mavericks on stage.
Yes. There were no real surprises in terms of policy last night. Even though there was half a team of mavericks on stage.
joshua - 10/03/08 10:50
Right, but what I'm saying is that I'm pretty sure you knew that before the debate anyway.
Right, but what I'm saying is that I'm pretty sure you knew that before the debate anyway.
james - 10/03/08 10:47
Despite her rambling answer I figured it out. ^_^
Despite her rambling answer I figured it out. ^_^
joshua - 10/03/08 10:41
She doesn't support gay marriage. I'm pretty sure y'all knew that.
She doesn't support gay marriage. I'm pretty sure y'all knew that.
james - 10/03/08 10:15
Ya, Palin avoided the question. She tried to talk about religious marriage and rights. She was trying to have it both ways. Yes, I think everyone has rights, how tolerant of me. But don't worry guys, I don't think they deserve rights or anything. So when she was done puking buzz words Gwen Ifill said "good, so you both agree".
And that was magic.
Ya, Palin avoided the question. She tried to talk about religious marriage and rights. She was trying to have it both ways. Yes, I think everyone has rights, how tolerant of me. But don't worry guys, I don't think they deserve rights or anything. So when she was done puking buzz words Gwen Ifill said "good, so you both agree".
And that was magic.
dcoffee - 10/03/08 10:08
Biden was unequivocal about the civil rights guarantees of the constitution. I didn't even understand what Palin was talking about. She has a gay friend or something. I'm glad Biden was so direct about everything.
Biden was unequivocal about the civil rights guarantees of the constitution. I didn't even understand what Palin was talking about. She has a gay friend or something. I'm glad Biden was so direct about everything.
10/02/2008 12:56 #45893
Dina MartiniaIt is October and I am listening to the Dina Martina Christmas album. It is the funniest album of holiday music since Motorheads.
And who is this Dina Martina you may ask?
Why, only the finest drag performer.
Merry Christmas everyone!
And who is this Dina Martina you may ask?
Why, only the finest drag performer.
Merry Christmas everyone!
tinypliny - 10/02/08 15:24
OMG, I love Christmas music. S/he is next on my to-listen playlist!! Thanks. :)
OMG, I love Christmas music. S/he is next on my to-listen playlist!! Thanks. :)
I have two uncles on my dad's side who send me horrible pro republican crap in my e-mail all the time - my dad used to say he didn't know what the hell happened to them. Also, most of my husband's family is republican, and born-again - I don't ever discuss and/or comment on politics or religion in that house. Talk about a bleeding tongue! Ouch!
Your parents and my parents could hang out.
Of all things, Abortion? :(