Florida will be decidiing on Amendment 2 which would place a state constitutional ban on gay marriage. Of course it is going to pass and some would say well that is OK because the voters decided. I say though that it should not be put to the majority. For exmaple, if Florida decided that they wanted to make a constitutional amendment baring interacial marriages it may very well pass but nonetheless would be an infringment of rights.
Really, I believe that the only reason these "Amendments" come up on the voting block is to encourage the social conservatives to vote. We (homosexuals) become pawns used for political gain. Meanwhile they get to publicly bash gays via the media and compare us to pedophiles and rapists.
I wrote this post becuase for some reason I duplicated my last post and I wanted to delete it without lowering the numbers.
Libertad's Journal
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10/20/2008 09:47 #46207
Tyranny of the majority10/19/2008 19:30 #46196
Somber beach dayToday we went to Fort Desoto to go to the beach with my Grandma from NY. My mom's cousin Erin or my Grandma's sisters' daughter was supposed to come and meet us there. Mike and I were swimming and when we were done I could see something was wrong with my Grandma. My sister then told me that Erin's sister had died and Erin had just found her body in her house. This is right before she was supposed to come to the beach. Her death was alcohol related. I'm really glad that my Grandmother just happened to be there about 20 minutes away from Erin at the time because Erin and her sister's parents both died a few years ago. My Grandma is really sad of course. Her and my mom left the beach to go be with Erin and Mike and I got a ride home with my sister.
metalpeter - 10/20/08 18:00
Sorry for the loss
Sorry for the loss
jim - 10/20/08 12:43
I'm sorry, Dave.
I'm sorry, Dave.
matthew - 10/20/08 11:31
I'm sorry for your family's loss.
I'm sorry for your family's loss.
gardenmama - 10/19/08 23:00
How sad, but at least you're there for your mom and grandma. I'm sorry for your family's loss.
How sad, but at least you're there for your mom and grandma. I'm sorry for your family's loss.
paul - 10/19/08 21:22
Sorry to hear that. See you tomorrow night.
Sorry to hear that. See you tomorrow night.
james - 10/19/08 21:07
I hope you and yours are well.
I hope you and yours are well.
tinypliny - 10/19/08 20:20
I am sorry. :(
I am sorry. :(
10/12/2008 01:06 #46072
Explosive gasTomorrow is my last Sunday I have to work before my hours are cut. I really should be in bed right now, but i don't really feel like it. It is so great to have Sundays again and to be able to go my Buddhist monthly meeting at our community center they have once a month.
My gas is completely shut off right now because their was a gas leak coming from the fireplace. This is before I installed the gas logs I just bought. Now I may have to return them because the piping that needs to be replaced is accessed through the downstairs neighbors ceiling! I really don't know if my landlord will decide to restore the gas to my fireplace or just cap the fuel lines from the basement preventing me from ever using the gas logs and thus being freezing cold all season. The pipes are original so it is no surprise that they were leaking. Of course this happens on a 3 day weekend and the landlord is away at a wedding. Coincidentally, my landlord and his girlfriend moved out from downstairs and we have new neighbors. They are really awesome and I hate that one of the options that can be done is making a hole into their ceiling to access the piping that needs to be replaced to get our gas back on. My new neighbors were nice enough to let me use their dryer today which was so great cause then I didn't have to go to the laundromat.
Another weird thing about my apartment is the high humidity. I don't understand why it is like that in here because downstairs downstairs apartment is not like that at all. Every morning there is fog on all the windows especially in my bedroom. I don't really know what I can do to correct this problem so if anyone has experience dealing with this let me know. Now it seems that I will just have to get used to being damp. It may just be something that corrects itself over the winter. I did make an appointment to have my furnace serviced and it was $40 which is much cheaper than Remier and also I was told not to use Remier from a good friend who had used them and had a pretty bad experience and at least heard of others who had other problems with them. Remier wouldn't install my gas logs and the other one would but I'm not sure for how much. I really hope I don't have to return them because they would be so awesome to have! The National Fuel man that came today really seemed to think so to and I think he felt pretty bad turning all of our gas off.
My gas is completely shut off right now because their was a gas leak coming from the fireplace. This is before I installed the gas logs I just bought. Now I may have to return them because the piping that needs to be replaced is accessed through the downstairs neighbors ceiling! I really don't know if my landlord will decide to restore the gas to my fireplace or just cap the fuel lines from the basement preventing me from ever using the gas logs and thus being freezing cold all season. The pipes are original so it is no surprise that they were leaking. Of course this happens on a 3 day weekend and the landlord is away at a wedding. Coincidentally, my landlord and his girlfriend moved out from downstairs and we have new neighbors. They are really awesome and I hate that one of the options that can be done is making a hole into their ceiling to access the piping that needs to be replaced to get our gas back on. My new neighbors were nice enough to let me use their dryer today which was so great cause then I didn't have to go to the laundromat.
Another weird thing about my apartment is the high humidity. I don't understand why it is like that in here because downstairs downstairs apartment is not like that at all. Every morning there is fog on all the windows especially in my bedroom. I don't really know what I can do to correct this problem so if anyone has experience dealing with this let me know. Now it seems that I will just have to get used to being damp. It may just be something that corrects itself over the winter. I did make an appointment to have my furnace serviced and it was $40 which is much cheaper than Remier and also I was told not to use Remier from a good friend who had used them and had a pretty bad experience and at least heard of others who had other problems with them. Remier wouldn't install my gas logs and the other one would but I'm not sure for how much. I really hope I don't have to return them because they would be so awesome to have! The National Fuel man that came today really seemed to think so to and I think he felt pretty bad turning all of our gas off.
gardenmama - 10/17/08 20:34
Good deal on the furnace tune-up. If you don't mind, who did you use? I need to have mine done too.
Good deal on the furnace tune-up. If you don't mind, who did you use? I need to have mine done too.
10/09/2008 20:53 #46031
Here we goI have already been touched by the "economic crisis". My hours at work have been cut 8 hours a week. While this won't put me under because I have a diversification of income, it is certainly an indication that our futures are looking darker. As an employee of the state, my position did not look good but since the fall of the stock market it looks much bleaker. I *believe* that I will have a job and health insurance for at least a year.
One good thing is that my private student loan's rate will go down even further as result of knee jerk rate cuts. I have been paying more than my minimum payment and will do my best to continue as I am afraid of the rate going back up. I'm wishing that somehow the government might come and bail me out but I'm not holding my breath. I think that the "bailout" is really not going to help me at all. The news blames all of this on irresponsible lenders and irresponsible borrowers but I blame the entire system. I blame our war spending and allowing capitalism to rage out of control. I also blame our country for this crisis. This whole problem is that we never think of the future only of the moment and what will make us most comfortable in that moment. I guess I do it too, I am just as much a part of the problem.
Well here we go. The fall in services to our country is almost certainly going to snowball this into a full-blown depression. We seriously need drastic change to help pull us out of this. The change we needed was not to give those greedy bastards a bailout. It is not going to work! We needed that money they gave to bail them out to apply to services to put people to work. Recession my ass.
One good thing is that my private student loan's rate will go down even further as result of knee jerk rate cuts. I have been paying more than my minimum payment and will do my best to continue as I am afraid of the rate going back up. I'm wishing that somehow the government might come and bail me out but I'm not holding my breath. I think that the "bailout" is really not going to help me at all. The news blames all of this on irresponsible lenders and irresponsible borrowers but I blame the entire system. I blame our war spending and allowing capitalism to rage out of control. I also blame our country for this crisis. This whole problem is that we never think of the future only of the moment and what will make us most comfortable in that moment. I guess I do it too, I am just as much a part of the problem.
Well here we go. The fall in services to our country is almost certainly going to snowball this into a full-blown depression. We seriously need drastic change to help pull us out of this. The change we needed was not to give those greedy bastards a bailout. It is not going to work! We needed that money they gave to bail them out to apply to services to put people to work. Recession my ass.
metalpeter - 10/10/08 18:18
I'm not saying Bill Maher says everything I agree with, but two points he does bring up is that if we weren't in this war we would have money to spend on other things. Yes that is true but we wouldn't have as much as people think. We are spending more on the war then would get spent on other things that are not a war, and some of that money goes into the military anyways that is counted. His other point (this is kinda true and kinda not true) is that America Doesn't make anything anymore. I think there is a lot of truth to that. The reason for this is the same reason for the crash...............................
Greed. What Happens is companies out source, or have parts of what they made produced in other countries where it is cheaper. Yes profit is the goal but in the words of Steven Segal "how much is enough" (if you know the movie then you know what I mean). In other words Profit should be balanced what is good for the company, the workers and the country. Maybe the United States should close itself off like China Did in the past. The problem with the global economy is if a slave in a South African Jail can make 1,000 for the price it costs to make one some place else the prison label will get used by the greedy. So what happens is some country with low standards brings everyone else down them, I know it isn't that simple but I think it is very true.
I'm not saying Bill Maher says everything I agree with, but two points he does bring up is that if we weren't in this war we would have money to spend on other things. Yes that is true but we wouldn't have as much as people think. We are spending more on the war then would get spent on other things that are not a war, and some of that money goes into the military anyways that is counted. His other point (this is kinda true and kinda not true) is that America Doesn't make anything anymore. I think there is a lot of truth to that. The reason for this is the same reason for the crash...............................
Greed. What Happens is companies out source, or have parts of what they made produced in other countries where it is cheaper. Yes profit is the goal but in the words of Steven Segal "how much is enough" (if you know the movie then you know what I mean). In other words Profit should be balanced what is good for the company, the workers and the country. Maybe the United States should close itself off like China Did in the past. The problem with the global economy is if a slave in a South African Jail can make 1,000 for the price it costs to make one some place else the prison label will get used by the greedy. So what happens is some country with low standards brings everyone else down them, I know it isn't that simple but I think it is very true.
vincent - 10/10/08 09:40
I'm sorry to hear about you losing a good amount of hours. The problem is that this state is a one trick pony economically speaking, living and dying with what Wall St makes or loses. It was fine when things were flying, but in lean times we're scrambling.
I'm sorry to hear about you losing a good amount of hours. The problem is that this state is a one trick pony economically speaking, living and dying with what Wall St makes or loses. It was fine when things were flying, but in lean times we're scrambling.
gardenmama - 10/10/08 09:09
Sorry to hear about your work - unfortunately, they almost always go after the part-timers first. I think sometimes that's a union issue - not sure though. I'm a city (Board of Ed) employee and they operate the same way. I imagine with the way things are going in the financial and political arenas, once the budget cutting starts to trickle down further, the District will likely start to have some fall-out from this too.
Job uncertainty sucks, at best. Good luck.
Sorry to hear about your work - unfortunately, they almost always go after the part-timers first. I think sometimes that's a union issue - not sure though. I'm a city (Board of Ed) employee and they operate the same way. I imagine with the way things are going in the financial and political arenas, once the budget cutting starts to trickle down further, the District will likely start to have some fall-out from this too.
Job uncertainty sucks, at best. Good luck.
libertad - 10/10/08 08:56
tiny, no it wasn't just me. They cut all part-timers who were working more than 20 hours a week down to 20 (minimum number of hours). I'm pretty sure they are cutting down some team lead hours too, but I'm not really sure as they all are full-time.
tiny, no it wasn't just me. They cut all part-timers who were working more than 20 hours a week down to 20 (minimum number of hours). I'm pretty sure they are cutting down some team lead hours too, but I'm not really sure as they all are full-time.
imk2 - 10/09/08 21:56
wow, i should have gone out there and been even more irresponsible than i am right now. i could have gotten a nice house that i couldnt really afford paid for by the government. what a way to teach greedy, glutonous, wannabe's that they shouldn't behave that way.
(i know, i know, they're not paying for people's homes, but you know what i mean)
wow, i should have gone out there and been even more irresponsible than i am right now. i could have gotten a nice house that i couldnt really afford paid for by the government. what a way to teach greedy, glutonous, wannabe's that they shouldn't behave that way.
(i know, i know, they're not paying for people's homes, but you know what i mean)
tinypliny - 10/09/08 21:42
:( Did they cut hours from everyone's shift?
:( Did they cut hours from everyone's shift?
jason - 10/09/08 21:09
PS - The "are you shitting me" was just a general outburst, and not aimed at you personally. Ehehe. You know how internet context goes sometimes...
PS - The "are you shitting me" was just a general outburst, and not aimed at you personally. Ehehe. You know how internet context goes sometimes...
jason - 10/09/08 21:08
First off, I'm really sorry to hear about your hours cut at work. I hope you can replace that income with something else in the meantime. With our state having such a deficit I'm sure this isn't the first time people are going to feel the pain, and on top of that, like a sledgehammer we have this crisis to deal with.
I don't know if the bailout is going to help us or not. Certainly I think the system has failed, no doubt, after all what is the point of regulation if it isn't enforced? I totally agree, the system has failed us, and to make matters worse the people in charge are the most self centered generation in American history.
So you and I are going to have to, and I'm sorry I have to use this phrase again, wipe their asses. We have to clean up this mess in the long run. You're damned right I'm angry. And you are a million percent on point with your observation about how we don't plan for the future. Our parents are flipping us the bird, and I hope we don't make the same mistake with our kids.
I know one thing, my confidence isn't high right now. I don't think the war spending is to blame, although we should be pissed we have to shoulder that burden as well, but how can we trust the government when they are in cahoots with the crooks?!? Are you shitting me??!
First off, I'm really sorry to hear about your hours cut at work. I hope you can replace that income with something else in the meantime. With our state having such a deficit I'm sure this isn't the first time people are going to feel the pain, and on top of that, like a sledgehammer we have this crisis to deal with.
I don't know if the bailout is going to help us or not. Certainly I think the system has failed, no doubt, after all what is the point of regulation if it isn't enforced? I totally agree, the system has failed us, and to make matters worse the people in charge are the most self centered generation in American history.
So you and I are going to have to, and I'm sorry I have to use this phrase again, wipe their asses. We have to clean up this mess in the long run. You're damned right I'm angry. And you are a million percent on point with your observation about how we don't plan for the future. Our parents are flipping us the bird, and I hope we don't make the same mistake with our kids.
I know one thing, my confidence isn't high right now. I don't think the war spending is to blame, although we should be pissed we have to shoulder that burden as well, but how can we trust the government when they are in cahoots with the crooks?!? Are you shitting me??!
10/03/2008 09:36 #45914
58 Degrees58 Degrees is the temperature in my house right now and I am freezing. I have known this was coming all summer and have been thinking about how to make my home more efficient.
I want to have my furnace serviced. Does anyone know of a good service person to do this? Is this something I should ask the landlord to pay for? If not I would rather just pay it myself because I'm sure it hasn't been done in years and I want it to be safe and efficient. I did have a carbon monoxide issue in my last house!
I also want to have vent-less gas fireplace logs installed in the fireplace. There is a gas hook up already. Do you think this is something that the service person could also connect or should I just do it myself? The gas key is kind of old and when I put my nose down to it you can sometimes smell a tint of gas coming from the key.
I have three large windows I want to cover with plastic. The window sills are wood so I don't want to ruin them. I'm thinking of making wood frames and covering those with plastic and inserting them into the window frame. I don't have a saw and am not so handy but am usually willing to try new things so I might give it a shot. I'm just wondering if this will be much more of a task than I can handle. I don't know what would be the best wood for making such a frame. I'm also wondering if making these inserts would be cost effective. Of course a saw would be an investment. I don't need a power saw of anything.
I'm also looking to buy at least one other electric space heater. I saw one at Lowes that uses radiant heat.
Not sure how I feel about that. They also have electric fireplaces. I saw one for about $80.
So hopefully it will be warmer in here soon. For now I refuse to turn on the heat!
I want to have my furnace serviced. Does anyone know of a good service person to do this? Is this something I should ask the landlord to pay for? If not I would rather just pay it myself because I'm sure it hasn't been done in years and I want it to be safe and efficient. I did have a carbon monoxide issue in my last house!
I also want to have vent-less gas fireplace logs installed in the fireplace. There is a gas hook up already. Do you think this is something that the service person could also connect or should I just do it myself? The gas key is kind of old and when I put my nose down to it you can sometimes smell a tint of gas coming from the key.
I have three large windows I want to cover with plastic. The window sills are wood so I don't want to ruin them. I'm thinking of making wood frames and covering those with plastic and inserting them into the window frame. I don't have a saw and am not so handy but am usually willing to try new things so I might give it a shot. I'm just wondering if this will be much more of a task than I can handle. I don't know what would be the best wood for making such a frame. I'm also wondering if making these inserts would be cost effective. Of course a saw would be an investment. I don't need a power saw of anything.
I'm also looking to buy at least one other electric space heater. I saw one at Lowes that uses radiant heat.
Not sure how I feel about that. They also have electric fireplaces. I saw one for about $80.
So hopefully it will be warmer in here soon. For now I refuse to turn on the heat!
metalpeter - 10/03/08 19:44
The only thing I can say is I wouldn't do the gas thing your self, some stuff is fine but you don't want to make a tiny mistake with gas that could be deadly or if there is even just a small leak get you sick.
The only thing I can say is I wouldn't do the gas thing your self, some stuff is fine but you don't want to make a tiny mistake with gas that could be deadly or if there is even just a small leak get you sick.
libertad - 10/03/08 18:52
Thanks for the recommendation guys. I checked out their website and they do seem to be a decent operation. They even have pictures of the workers. I'm going to contact them.
dcoffee, that thing that Paul has is a ventless gas stove which is more or less like the logs. These ventless systems have some device on it so they don't emit dangerous amounts of co2. They actually use up oxygen in your home and at the same time produce moisture. They say it is best to crack a window slightly while using them. Teh benefit of ventless systems is that they are very efficient. I'll have to check out that Am 1520, I usually listen to 970.
Thanks for the recommendation guys. I checked out their website and they do seem to be a decent operation. They even have pictures of the workers. I'm going to contact them.
dcoffee, that thing that Paul has is a ventless gas stove which is more or less like the logs. These ventless systems have some device on it so they don't emit dangerous amounts of co2. They actually use up oxygen in your home and at the same time produce moisture. They say it is best to crack a window slightly while using them. Teh benefit of ventless systems is that they are very efficient. I'll have to check out that Am 1520, I usually listen to 970.
joshua - 10/03/08 17:07
If it helps, since for a lot of people this means a lot - the guy that came up to the office to speak to my boss looked clean and seemed experienced and professional. They have nice, fully equipped trucks they ride around in as well so it is no cracker jack operation.
If it helps, since for a lot of people this means a lot - the guy that came up to the office to speak to my boss looked clean and seemed experienced and professional. They have nice, fully equipped trucks they ride around in as well so it is no cracker jack operation.
joshua - 10/03/08 17:00
My boss just had a Reimer guy in this week. I heard about a $79 furnace tune-up deal on the radio also - maybe that is up your alley?
My boss just had a Reimer guy in this week. I heard about a $79 furnace tune-up deal on the radio also - maybe that is up your alley?
dcoffee - 10/03/08 15:00
I always hear about this Wizard of comfort guy, Reimer Heating and Air Conditioning, not sure if that is spelled right. They always advertise on am1520. But I'm going on advertising, not personal knowledge, so I don't know. But they claim to be inexpensive and professional. Change the filter too, that improves the efficiency, apparently you should do it every year. We have one of those radiant electric heaters, it works well. You can turn it on high to warm it up, then lower it just to keep it hot. Not sure about the efficiency since electric is included in our current apartment. About plasticing the windows, sometimes there is a draft that comes from the outside of the window frame. Check it on a breezy day to see if you need to tape the plastic to the wall and cover the whole window frame. I wanna know what Paul has in that one fireplace. I was there last Halloween and that heater was nice and warm. Is that the zero emissions Natural gas heater? We may be buying a house soon, so I'm keenly interested in this topic too.
I always hear about this Wizard of comfort guy, Reimer Heating and Air Conditioning, not sure if that is spelled right. They always advertise on am1520. But I'm going on advertising, not personal knowledge, so I don't know. But they claim to be inexpensive and professional. Change the filter too, that improves the efficiency, apparently you should do it every year. We have one of those radiant electric heaters, it works well. You can turn it on high to warm it up, then lower it just to keep it hot. Not sure about the efficiency since electric is included in our current apartment. About plasticing the windows, sometimes there is a draft that comes from the outside of the window frame. Check it on a breezy day to see if you need to tape the plastic to the wall and cover the whole window frame. I wanna know what Paul has in that one fireplace. I was there last Halloween and that heater was nice and warm. Is that the zero emissions Natural gas heater? We may be buying a house soon, so I'm keenly interested in this topic too.
libertad - 10/03/08 14:19
I actually haven't ever turned on the furnace. I'm definitely changing the filter it is gross, but from what I have been reading you should have your furnace serviced every year. They clean out the parts and adjust the flames to make it more efficient. They say this alone can save you 10%.
I actually haven't ever turned on the furnace. I'm definitely changing the filter it is gross, but from what I have been reading you should have your furnace serviced every year. They clean out the parts and adjust the flames to make it more efficient. They say this alone can save you 10%.
paul - 10/03/08 10:03
Did you try changing the furnice filter. That usually makes a difference.
Did you try changing the furnice filter. That usually makes a difference.
I will admit that I'm not sure about how amendments be decided state wide. What I can say is that the other problem is that it isn't really a majority thing. See you have to be registered to vote and than really vote. It isn't like Some government person has a list of everyone in the state and once everyone in the state votes they make a decision. The other thing that seems weird is that It seems like one part of Florida fighting the other part. I know there is some (sorry not sure what it is) Some huge like gay festival some place in florida maybe the Keys or Fort Lauderdale. Then even though everyone is South Beach isn't gay, I have heard there is a big scene there.
I'd just like to add - I'm no lawyer, but I don't see how a 14th Amendment argument wouldn't work with the right judges.
I don't think a ban on interracial marriages would work. There is already case law on this, Loving v. Virginia, which effectively ended race-based marriage bans.
On the Loving wiki page there is interesting commentary on how the ruling may affect future cases as it applies to same sex marriage. Check out the NY Court of Appeals opinions listed regarding Hernandez v. Robles.
:::link:::
In the end, I prefer the democratic process over judicial fiat when there are gray areas. The judges will always have their say anyway. This isn't just a "fairness" fight, it is a tangible legal fight that has to be resolved, the sooner the better, for people to start getting married properly.