Mike's Journal
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06/26/2011 08:18 #54575
black walnut cottage06/15/2011 00:25 #54496
Marriage EqualitySo the marriage equality bill coming up in the NYS Senate is getting really close to passing. I have not really been vocal about marriage equality and honestly I've been pretty like not involved at all. For some reason even though it affects me so directly I never got really involved in the cause and I have always said that when voting for someone it wasn't always my number one concern and I could vote for someone knowing they will likely vote against marriage equality if I agreed with them on lots of other things. I guess I always felt there are many issues that are really relevant to my life and that is just one of many....I felt this way up until even a few days ago and up until this afternoon even. But then as it got so close to being a reality I really started to feel like this is something that could really happen, it could really become a reality, and with NY being such a big and important state it really could start some momentum going in the right direction!
Talking to someone who I am not sure if they want me to put their feelings on here, they said that they really feel bad about voting for Mark Grisanti now that Mark Grisanti is not planning on voting yes. And I thought before that , you know, its still just one issue and I really did not like Antoine Thompson and so I thought it still was a better vote. The more I thought about it and heard them talk about it, I started to realize that really it is prolly one of the biggest issues that affects mine and thousands of others lives. It encompasses so many things and now I have started to realize how important it really is. HOw can Mark Grisanti represent the district he represents and not vote YES> He has switched from No to on the fence which I think is a good sign but whose to know how it will go in the end. Last I heard they only needed 1 more Senator to say yes for it to pass b/c 2 republicans have recently said they switched to yes. How can the person who represents the highly LGBT area in the second largest city in this state vote against it. I e-mailed and called my senator though he is a not anywhere near the fence republican no vote but I felt it still couldn't hurt.
If you live in Grisanti's district or anyone who is voting No's district but particularly Grisanti's, make sure your voice is heard and that no is not an option. If this thing doesn't pass this time I plan on getting much more involved next year when it comes up again. It's something that should and needs to pass now!I don't know why I never really thought about it before but talking to people, reading about it and seeing the people on the street tonight getting people to write and phone their Senator in support of marriage equality really got me thinking about it! I kinda regret my lackadaisical attitude about it before.
How can anyone deny this...
Talking to someone who I am not sure if they want me to put their feelings on here, they said that they really feel bad about voting for Mark Grisanti now that Mark Grisanti is not planning on voting yes. And I thought before that , you know, its still just one issue and I really did not like Antoine Thompson and so I thought it still was a better vote. The more I thought about it and heard them talk about it, I started to realize that really it is prolly one of the biggest issues that affects mine and thousands of others lives. It encompasses so many things and now I have started to realize how important it really is. HOw can Mark Grisanti represent the district he represents and not vote YES> He has switched from No to on the fence which I think is a good sign but whose to know how it will go in the end. Last I heard they only needed 1 more Senator to say yes for it to pass b/c 2 republicans have recently said they switched to yes. How can the person who represents the highly LGBT area in the second largest city in this state vote against it. I e-mailed and called my senator though he is a not anywhere near the fence republican no vote but I felt it still couldn't hurt.
If you live in Grisanti's district or anyone who is voting No's district but particularly Grisanti's, make sure your voice is heard and that no is not an option. If this thing doesn't pass this time I plan on getting much more involved next year when it comes up again. It's something that should and needs to pass now!I don't know why I never really thought about it before but talking to people, reading about it and seeing the people on the street tonight getting people to write and phone their Senator in support of marriage equality really got me thinking about it! I kinda regret my lackadaisical attitude about it before.
How can anyone deny this...
uncutsaniflush - 06/16/11 11:49
A couple of years ago, before the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, I wrote here that I was amazed that NYS hadn't legalized gay marriage. :::link:::
I wonder if on June 28th, I will even more amazed that 42 years have gone by since Stonewall and still no marriage equality in NYS.
A couple of years ago, before the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, I wrote here that I was amazed that NYS hadn't legalized gay marriage. :::link:::
I wonder if on June 28th, I will even more amazed that 42 years have gone by since Stonewall and still no marriage equality in NYS.
libertad - 06/16/11 06:23
I prefer bastard children.
I prefer bastard children.
heidi - 06/16/11 00:38
Such cuteness!
Such cuteness!
paul - 06/15/11 23:39
You said you aren't engaged but you didn't deny the pregnancy!
You said you aren't engaged but you didn't deny the pregnancy!
libertad - 06/15/11 20:55
We aren't engaged. We want the right to marry should we decide that is what we want to do. A couple of 5 years should have that right.
We aren't engaged. We want the right to marry should we decide that is what we want to do. A couple of 5 years should have that right.
leetee - 06/15/11 18:21
I wish i could vote. I don't have the same voice as others and I think it would be my number one reason to officially become a US citizen.
Will you get married in the yard @ the 24? :o)
I wish i could vote. I don't have the same voice as others and I think it would be my number one reason to officially become a US citizen.
Will you get married in the yard @ the 24? :o)
metalpeter - 06/15/11 17:03
The Article in today's Paper pretty much said he started as a strong no but could vote yes... The Guys is conflicted and if what I understand is correct is that one side of him thinks that gays should be treated equally but he is conflicted because of his Christian upbringing.... No one really knows how the vote will go cause what people say publicly isn't all ways how they vote...... From what I read in this same article I really like this bill and hope it passes. That being said if it does pass I'm sure that won't be the end of the legal battle.... I'm sure someone will try to pass some prop to stop it somewhere like out in CA...... But maybe not......
The Article in today's Paper pretty much said he started as a strong no but could vote yes... The Guys is conflicted and if what I understand is correct is that one side of him thinks that gays should be treated equally but he is conflicted because of his Christian upbringing.... No one really knows how the vote will go cause what people say publicly isn't all ways how they vote...... From what I read in this same article I really like this bill and hope it passes. That being said if it does pass I'm sure that won't be the end of the legal battle.... I'm sure someone will try to pass some prop to stop it somewhere like out in CA...... But maybe not......
libertad - 06/15/11 11:12
That was me that voted for Grisanti and was feeling like I made one of the bigggest voting mistakes of my life. It's good to know that he might now vote in favor of marriage equality.
I like this picture and don't remember it at all. Where was that?
(e:tinypliny), you can find out who your NYS Senator is by locating your polling place it will provide you with a list of all of your elected officials. :::link:::
That was me that voted for Grisanti and was feeling like I made one of the bigggest voting mistakes of my life. It's good to know that he might now vote in favor of marriage equality.
I like this picture and don't remember it at all. Where was that?
(e:tinypliny), you can find out who your NYS Senator is by locating your polling place it will provide you with a list of all of your elected officials. :::link:::
tinypliny - 06/15/11 04:23
It's really annoying when a representative doesn't represent you! Does Linwood fall in the Grisanti constituency?
It's really annoying when a representative doesn't represent you! Does Linwood fall in the Grisanti constituency?
paul - 06/15/11 02:29
Next you will be adopting asian babies.
Next you will be adopting asian babies.
06/03/2011 22:24 #54419
the voiceI love the singing competition the Voice so far. I like how different it is and the duels. buuut who the heck is the cracked out whack-a-do that is Christina aguileras coaching partner? she looks and seems crazy
05/27/2011 20:12 #54360
what would you do ? gaysso I'm watching what would you do? the show where they like see if people will step in in different situations. they always tape in ny or nj but today they were in Texas . one of the scenarios was a gay couple with kids and the waitress either refused to serve them or was really rude and telling them they were horrible people.
so a couple of surprising things...
1. in 29 states businesses can refuse to serve gays ...astonishing
2. only 6 states restrict gay adoption
anywho back to the show. in Texas like 60 % or something of the people stepped up to support the gay couple but when they did it in ny only like15 % did. i know its totally not a scientific experiment but I was still surprised.
I love this show
so a couple of surprising things...
1. in 29 states businesses can refuse to serve gays ...astonishing
2. only 6 states restrict gay adoption
anywho back to the show. in Texas like 60 % or something of the people stepped up to support the gay couple but when they did it in ny only like15 % did. i know its totally not a scientific experiment but I was still surprised.
I love this show
metalpeter - 05/28/11 16:02
I wonder were in Texas.... To Be honest % doesn't mean anything in this case the sampling for this show is way to small.... Now if you toss that out I think more people in "The South" if you count Texas in that are more curteious (spell checker can't find the right smelling argh)... What I mean is that they have a history of kids growing up with slaves, black Maids and thinking that these people are not equal but you still treat them with respect... Think of it this way you love your dog or your cat but it isn't equal to you.... Is that history sometime and Generations away yeah sure... But it isn't really being polite but everyone gets talked to the same.... Or maybe they knew there was a camera crew who knows.....
I wonder were in Texas.... To Be honest % doesn't mean anything in this case the sampling for this show is way to small.... Now if you toss that out I think more people in "The South" if you count Texas in that are more curteious (spell checker can't find the right smelling argh)... What I mean is that they have a history of kids growing up with slaves, black Maids and thinking that these people are not equal but you still treat them with respect... Think of it this way you love your dog or your cat but it isn't equal to you.... Is that history sometime and Generations away yeah sure... But it isn't really being polite but everyone gets talked to the same.... Or maybe they knew there was a camera crew who knows.....
paul - 05/27/11 21:56
That is crazy, maybe people are just nicer/nosier in Texas.
That is crazy, maybe people are just nicer/nosier in Texas.
tinypliny - 05/27/11 20:24
maybe people in NY dislike confrontation more than they dislike discrimination?
maybe people in NY dislike confrontation more than they dislike discrimination?
05/24/2011 23:36 #54343
Movie Theaters and BridesmaidsMe and (e:mk) went to see Bridesmaids tonight at the MapleRidge AMC theater. I have not been to that theater in years I think and wow it is way cheaper than Regal. It is only 6.75 versus 10 at Regal. But it is not stadium seating and thus is much less comfortable for someone of my height. I think the 10 is prolly worth it for the comfort but still I was shocked it was so much cheaper. I don't like that there is not bucket size popcorn at AMC either. It is insane. Why not? Who doesn't prefer to eat out of a bucket? I swear popcorn does not taste even half as good out of a bag as out of a troughlike bucket! I guess it is back to Regal or Dipson for me and their huge size buckets!
Despite the lack of a bucket, Bridesmaids was hilarious. I seriously loved it! I love Kristen Wiig though but honestly I laughed a lot. Like a lot lot. I would totally see it again! It was so funny!
Despite the lack of a bucket, Bridesmaids was hilarious. I seriously loved it! I love Kristen Wiig though but honestly I laughed a lot. Like a lot lot. I would totally see it again! It was so funny!
tinypliny - 05/26/11 21:51
I think the real question is what do you do with the bucket later? I think you should return it to the counter for a refund of 10.00 - 6.75 = $3.25 I am surprised you didn't know about this.
I think the real question is what do you do with the bucket later? I think you should return it to the counter for a refund of 10.00 - 6.75 = $3.25 I am surprised you didn't know about this.
tinypliny - 05/26/11 21:48
LOL @ (e:matthew)'s gaffe below.
I didn't realize who Kirsten Wiig was till I saw the trailer. I like her as well! I thought you were talking about that singer, Whigfield.
LOL @ (e:matthew)'s gaffe below.
I didn't realize who Kirsten Wiig was till I saw the trailer. I like her as well! I thought you were talking about that singer, Whigfield.
matthew - 05/25/11 11:44
I wanted to see this. I also love Kristen Woof.
I wanted to see this. I also love Kristen Woof.
Nice pics (e:mike). The river is still so high, I wish you saw it how it usually looks in the summer.