Hey there fans!

(A terrifying dollop.  I think the artist's name is Nouav, but I am not sure.)

I just wanted to drop you all a note to let you know why I haven't been blogging for a while.

I am finishing up a narrative, non-fiction manuscript all about the Flaming Chef's glorious trip through cooking school way back at the turn of the century.  It's a story chock full of glamor, food, kitchen disasters and culinary triumphs and I'll keep you posted as soon as my editor thinks we're ready to find a publisher.

Wish me luck and all my best wishes to my billions of adoring fans.

Love,

The Flaming Chef

More Comfort Food

Well, the nasty, nasty cold hit me a few days after Dr. Snickerdoodle but I am on the mend.

I baked an apple pie yesterday with a streussel topping.

I still have a wracking cough, but I am feeling better.

Matzoh ball soup tonight...

Chicken and Pie!

 

(This photo of pumpkin pie is not my handy work. This is courtesy of Jonathunder.)

Dr. Snickerdoodle is under the weather so I made comfort food yesterday.

Plain braised chicken with herbs and whole garlic cloves and a side dish of yellow squash, Brussels sprouts and sun dried tomatoes.

Pumpkin pie for dessert.

My crust from scratch came out light, flaky and sweet.  I even made pie crust cookies for us to snack on while I prepared dinner.

I plan to make soup with the stock and turn the white meat into chicken salad.

My powers are limited, but I hope he's feeling better soon.

Braised Pork Shoulder

I rubbed a 3lb pork shoulder with salt and pepper, then seared it in olive oil and butter. Then I threw in a dozen whole, peeled garlic cloves, a sliced red bell pepper and three nectarines. I poured in enough beef and chicken stock to submerge the roast 3/4 of the way in liquid. Tossed in large pinches of oregano, thyme, rosemary and sage, a very tiny pinch of clove, a minuscule dusting of curry powder, two bay leaves and a generous splash of dry sake.

I brought the whole thing to a boil, covered it then set it in my preheated 350 degree oven for two hours.

It came out buttery, fragrant and ever so subtly spiced.

Accompanied by a puree of sweet potatoes, and a divine salad prepared by our dinner guest who also brought a lovely bottle of Edmunds St. John's Parmelee Hill 2005 Sonoma Valley Syrah.

Ooh! What a wonderful dinner...

9/23/10

I baked a lemon cake and made lemon curd to fill it with. I iced it with raspberry butter cream and the whole thing came out really pretty.

I might try to make chocolate mousse today, but I haven't decided.

Probably roast pork for dinner, but who knows what I'll find at the store today?

It's nice to be back in the kitchen.

Up Yours, News Cycle! 9/17/10

(These are not my scones. This is a photo of a pile of scones from Wikimedia Commons courtesy of OctopusHat. They look like my scones though.)

Following the advice of my editor, I'm going to work on my manuscript and get back into the kitchen for a while.

In fact rather than checking the news, I baked scones this morning.

Here's the recipe adapted from the Joy of Cooking:

Whisk together in a large bowl:

2 Cups all purpose flour
1/3 Cup granulated Sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder

Cut in 3/4 stick of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add 1/2 cup heavy cream, a single egg and a few drops of pure almond extract.  (I also like to take a half cup of currants and soak them in Amaretto for an hour. Drain the currents and add them instead of the almond extract.)

Stir everything together with a rubber spatula until it comes together, then knead it a few times against the side of the bowl.  Shape the ball into a six to seven inch wide disc (about 3/4 of an inch thick) and cut into six pie-shaped wedges.

Arrange the wedges on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with melted butter.  Sprinkle a little granulated sugar on each top and bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Let them cool on a rack for a few minutes before you pounce and devour the whole damn batch.  Great with butter, jam, clotted cream or just plain.

News 9/15/10

(Mr. T. and Nancy Reagan share a tender moment at the White House.

God I miss the 80's.)

• Christine O'Donnell who opposes gays and masturbation defeated Mike Castle in the Delaware GOP Senate primary. National Republican Senatorial Committee not interested in funding her general election fight against Democrat Chris Coons.

• Someone else who hates gays and masturbation, Pappa Ratzi XVI, visits the UK amid great annoyance over his international pedophilia ring. Via the Telegraph UK: “Saying sorry is easy, offensive and inadequate, what he needs to do is make amends.” 

• Senator Reid schedules vote on Defense Authorization Bill, assures everyone he doesn't take his marching orders from Lady Gaga.

• Billy Lucas's tragic suicide provides backdrop for discussion of how pervasive and destructive anti-gay bullying remains in schools.

• Sam Roberts over at the New York Times talks about increasing acceptance of gay families in American society. Inexplicably, Roberts quotes totally discredited, incompetent hatenozzle, David Blankenhorn.

News 9/14/10

("Good Penguin! Mommy's got a herring for you."

I grabbed this photo over at FFFFOUND! a great place to hunt for weird things. Check it out.)

• "Dude, you have no Koran." Amarillo skateboarder dude saves the Holy Koran from burning.

• Acting Governor of California does not file an appeal in the Prop 8 case as deadline passes.

• American hiker released from Iranian jail.

• Primary races in a bunch of places today.

• Castro set to fire half of all Cuban government employees and make the private sector less restrictive.

• US Federal Government takes incremental step towards extending some benefits to gay federal employees. This is a good thing and I'm very glad to see it. However, this represents only a fraction of the rights heterosexual families enjoy.

• Harry Reid schedules Senate vote on Defense Authorization Bill which contains language allowing consideration of possible repeal of DADT "some day." (Via Joe My God)

News 9/13/10

(Is my lipstick even?)

• Lady Gaga does some DADT related fierce advocacy at the MTV Music awards, wins eight of fifteen categories. Imagine what the President could do if he used his spotlight to highlight injustice? (Via Joe My God.)

• Meanwhile, ABC News wonders "if" DADT should be repealed, cites Obama's duty to defend existing law rather than his duty to defend the Constitution.

• NBC News Online has a summary sketch of upcoming races and primaries, including an interesting warning to Delaware Republican Mike Castle. The Tea Party is out for his blood.

• Bishop of Antwerp does not announce a new investigation into massive child sex abuse by priests. Belgian government taking the matter seriously, much to the chagrin of Pope Asshole XVI.

• Also, Pope Asshole XVI has gone out of his way to condemn equality for gays ahead of his visit to the UK. The man who enables pedophiles on a massive scale is simply furious that marriage rights for gays "cause confusion" about society's values. Wow. What an asshole.

• Gay Florida Governor Charlie Crist changes his tune on Gay rights. Now he supports ENDA, DADT repeal, UAFA, Civil Unions. He's still a scuzzy little closet case. (Via AmericaBlog Gay)

News 9/12/10

(17th Century Illustration of everyone's favorite extinct bird. The Dodo.)

• The New York Times highlights John Boehner's ties to big business ahead of midterms that could see him the next Speaker of the House.

• Turks vote to restructure their constitution, ostensibly to get out from under military rule. New Parliamentary power over judiciary causes some concern. The extremely close vote looks likely to increase the schism between secular and Islamic Turks.

• Japanese continue to detain Chinese captain, crew and vessel over tussle in disputed waters.

• Yvonne Addis has written a short and nifty letter to the editor over at the Mason City Globe Gazette about persecution of gays by the church. Says Addis: "ignorance from the pulpit is harming many of our young people by teaching them to hate themselves rather than to accept themselves for who they are." Thanks Yvonne, whoever you are.

• Lesbian couple from Vonroe, Tennessee have their house burned down with the word "Queer" spray painted on the side of their garage. Community rallies to provide safety, shelter and supplies to the women. Here's the PFLAG Marysville site where you can go to help the couple and their college age daughter.

• High ranking Saudi Diplomat seeks asylum in the US. He has criticized his government, is friends with a Jewish woman and he's gay.

News 9/11/10

(For no good reason: Here's a Rhinoceros!)

• People react to Judge's ruling striking down Don't Ask Don't Tell. But not the President.

• The Democrats hold the House, the Senate and the Presidency and repeal of DADT is favored by at least 75% of the public, including a majority of Republicans; and we now have a federal judge ruling that the ban is unconstitutional. But the Dems aren't sure they can pass such "controversial" legislation.

• It's Saturday and a little cloudy in Portland. I need to buy a new pair of jeans today and maybe some shoes. I may even have time to bake some bittersweet chocolate brownies with walnuts. I think it's going to be a good day.

News 9/10/10

(Earl Warren. Nice robe and nice ruling on that "separate but equal" thing.)

• Federal Judge rules Don't Ask Don't Tell unconstitutional violation of the rights of gay and lesbian service members. Obama's justice department continues to defend this disgusting and inexcusable stain on the ideals of equality and human dignity.

• GetEqual plans protest for Speaker Pelosi's appearance at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. Nancy won't do anything about ENDA until Don't Ask Don't Tell is taken care of, which leaves the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, the Uniting American Families Act and repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act way off on some future agenda that we all need to sit around and wait patiently for.

• Candace Chellew Hodge over at Religion Dispatches criticizes recently-out, phobe-for-pay Ken Mehlman who suggested that gays should share the republican value of hating Muslims. Right on Candace. Kenny may not be a professional homophobe any more, but it looks like hate for a living is a hard habit to break. As I said back when Kenny first came out: "No thanks."

• The Holy Month of Ramadan is coming to an end as that idiot pastor from Florida decides not to stage a mass burning of the Holy Q'uran. Unfortunately the hatewads from Westboro Baptist Church have offered to leap in and burn a big stack sacred books, just to make sure that the fires of hatred and anger stay stoked. It's what Jesus would have wanted.

News 9/09/10

(An Orangutan laughing. Photo by Malene Thyssen.)

Regarding the Pacific Justice Institute's attempt to force CA state officials to appeal judge Walker's decision overturning Prop 8:

• The California Supreme Court asked the Governator and AG to explain their positions in the matter:

• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to California Supreme Court: "Nothing in the California constitution...imposes a mandatory duty...to appeal decisions of any court, let alone a federal court."

• California Attorney General Jerry Brown to California Supreme Court: "I am not a potted plant." Brown went on to explain that part of his oath of office is to defend the US Constitution and that his refusal to defend an unconstitutional law honors that oath. (Are you listening President Obama?)

• The California Supremes have refused to order Schwarzy and Brownie to defend Prop 8.

Suck on that Pacific Justice Institute.

•  GetEqual to protest Nancy Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote on the Employment Non Discrimination Act. What are the Democrats waiting for?

• ...And it looks like we might be out of luck on passing the Defense Authorization Bill which includes the Don't Ask Don't Tell "compromise."

News 9/08/10

("If what I did helped gay people, then I'm glad."

Photo of Seymour Pine by Josh Weiner originally appeared in the New Jersey Jewish News July 28th, 2010 in an article on the Stonewall uprising. No copyright infringement intended.)

• The cop who lead the raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28th 1969 has died at 91. The New York Times reports at a 2004 talk at the New York Historical Society Seymour Pine apologized for the raids and said, "If what I did helped gay people, then I'm glad."

• Terminally ill Roi Whaley can't sponsor his partner Aurelio Tolentino for citizenship in the US. Their story is just one of over 36,000 gay binational couples whose problems would vanish if marriage equality was the law of the land.

• Giant space rocks will not smash into the Earth today. Whew!

• Sri Lankan Parliament passes law granting President a whole lot more power than he already has.

News 9/07/10

(Dame Anne Rankin's 1954 photograph of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, on their way to throw another shrimp on the barbie and perhaps hoist a few brewskies.)

• Australia has its first minority government in seventy years. Balance of power held by four independent MPs who are not in a formal coalition with Prime Minister Gillard's Government. This means she's going to have to get their backing for almost everything she wants to do.

• Former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater's legal counsel reportedly in talks about a plea deal.

• Twenty five year old documentary about gay parents, Choosing Children, to play in San Francisco. Madonna! Shoulder Pads! Turkey basters! Ronald Reagan!

• Democrats are having trouble articulating a "clear set of policy goals" as midterms loom. One example Nate Silver of 538 mentions is Don't Ask Don't Tell, which overwhelming majorities favor repealing. Democrats could use this as a popular rallying cry, "(b)ut perhaps hamstrung by Mr. Obama, who has taken a series of half-steps on the issue, few of these Democrats have chosen to do so." Nice analysis from Silver about the contrast in messaging between Democrats and GOP on a host of issues including health care reform, immigration and the economy.

News 9/03/10

(Wow. Just, wow...)

• Jan Brewer's disastrously awful debate performance sparks much tittering schadenfreude. Here's Rachel Maddow's take via Joe My God.

• Speaking of schadenfreude... The Pacific Justice Institute's attempt to force CA Governor Schwarzenegger to defend Prop 8 has been denied. Right wing hate-o-philes are simply livid as they tearfully stamp their little feet. Their next stop is the California Supreme Court where they hope to find relief for their painful itching and swelling. PS: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

• Michigan AG candidates get into some competitive gay-bashing.

• Leslie J. Gabel-Brett from Lambda legal offers a concise description over at Bloomberg of the terrible problem Obama has with the gay community. There's no such thing as "a little bit equal."

News 9/02/10

(Corrado Giaquinto's painting of God and the Devil having a little chat):

Satan: "Where do you want to eat tonight?"
The Lord: "Oh, I don't know..."
Satan: "We could go to that little Italian place near my house."
The Lord: "They've got a great wine list but the service sucks. Besides, we ate in Hell last night."
Satan: "Fine. Where do YOU want to eat?"

(And so on unto eternity...)

• Yet another reason Obama's opposition to marriage equality is so very galling: California GOP senate candidate Carly Fiorina explains that she opposes gay marriage, just like the President. Her opponent, senator Barbara Boxer supports marriage equality and narrowly leads in recent polling. Mr. President, your refusal to speak out for equal protection and due process gives comfort to the forces of evil. Shame on you.

• Guest blogger Adam Serwer over at Washington Post's Plum Line has an interesting summary of recent Republican movement towards greater acceptance of gay rights and what this means to the Democrats. In short the Dems. are falling behind at their peril.

• Via Joe My God: Australian homophobe MP caught watching forty nine billion hours worth of nasty, nasty porn on his government computer. Reverend Fred Nile claims that it was one of his assistants who viewed porn for a few seconds for "research purposes." Claims no one on his staff was "sitting there perving."

• Joe Miller needs a shave and thinks Obama is "bad for America." Miller defeated Senator Lisa Murkowski in the Alaska primary this week and opposes the "entitlement state." Um, how much money do Alaskans receive from their government each year?

News 9/01/10

(AP Photo of Lisa Murkowski by Rob Stapleton.)

• President Obama urges Americans to shift focus from two disastrous wars we've inherited and focus instead on the disastrous economy we've inherited.

• After a brutal self-assessment, Tony Blair has decided that all of his decisions were correct and that he's an extremely smart, handsome guy.

• Julia Gillard makes deal with Australian Green party, forms ruling coalition. Reality of climate change now on the table. Marriage equality still "too controversial" to discuss.

• Oddly-named Pacific Justice Institute sues to force Governor, AG to defend Prop 8. I think it is slowly dawning on the "defenders of traditional marriage" that they're totally screwed. Also, they're a bunch of assholes.

• Texas appeals court rules that legally married gay couple cannot get a divorce in Texas in keeping with that state's long tradition of ignoring due process and equal protection. Congratulations Lone Star State!

• Lisa Murkowski concedes Alaskan GOP primary to Teabagger Joe Miller. Sarah Palin deeply amused.

News 8/31/10

(Sweet and suckable: Fabulous photo of hard candy by Adam Zivner.)

• Iraq is now a sovereign nation as US combat mission comes to an end. Sort of.

• Focus on the Family clings to their God-given right to bully and harass sexual minority youth in schools. What a bunch of dicks.

• The Tasmanian Parliament has joined the ever growing list of governments that recognize valid gay marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Ted Olsen, Dick Cheney, Ken Mehlman, Stacey McCain, Laura Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the American Bar Association: Who else is to the left of President Obama on this issue? HEY DEMOCRATS, ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION?

News 8/30/10

(Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovski at the Frankfurt Airport in 1978. Photo by Herbert Rusche.)

• Gay Florida Governor Charlie Crist believes a "live and let live attitude" calls for the constitutional banning of gay marriage. This is what happens when closeted scumbags "speak from the heart" and seek power at any cost.

• indiemcemopants over at Firedoglake has written a marvelous open letter to President Obama, asking him to end his opposition to marriage equality. It's not just about money, but $$$ seems to get people's attention. Here's an example. Best case scenario: without access to social security, health care, employment protections & etc... being gay costs us an extra $41,196 over a life time. Worst case: $467,562. This according to the New York Times.

• A second day of eruptions for Mt. Sinabung sends 30,000 Indonesians fleeing. Sinabung hasn't blown its top since 1600.

• Hurricane Earl gaining strength as it ponders a visit to the US Eastern seaboard.

News 8/28/10

 ("Hi! Remember me? Let me tell you about Gay Bashing for Fun and Profit.")

I don't want to talk about the news today.

Brent and I are headed out on our bikes to some second hand stores and maybe Andy and Bax. Just for fun.  Just to get out in the nice weather and hang together.

PS: Dear Ken Mehlman:

My marriage was annulled at the voting booth on Tuesday, November 2nd 2004 and It was your hard work and professional gay bashing (for profit) that made it all possible.

Good luck on the whole coming out and making amends for the past thing. I'm totally pissed off at you and the damage you've done, but I am glad you are taking steps to make amends.

You've got a long way to go before I forgive you, but I hope that day comes.

News 8/27/10

(You'll be swell! You'll be great! Gonna have the whole world on a plate!

Mehlmania album cover via the ever fabulous Dr. Zaius. "Only 1,968 years until the reign of Zaius!")

• Kenya has a sparkly brand new constitution!

• Former President Peanut, the right honorable Jimmy Carter, has freed and American from captivity in North Korea.

• The Associated Press reports the trapped Chilean Miners have dominoes and playing cards way down in their hole. Whew!

• Towleroad has video of Keith Olberman and Dan Savage discussing the Karma of Ken Mehlman. Congratulations on coming out Mr. Mehlman (we all knew you were gay by the way) and good luck in the long hard fight you have ahead of you. You have done an enormous amount of evil in the world and I applaud you for setting yourself on the path to making things better.

News 8/26/10

(Your morning purgative: A big, ugly sack of Karl Rove.)

• Joe My God has an excellent refresher course on newly out, former chair of the Republican National Committee and manager of Dubya's homophobic 2004 reelection campaign: Ken Mehlman, who is trying to make amends for the 21 states that passed marriage amendments during his tenure. I'm really glad Mehlman wants to make amends, I'm just saying it's going to be a really heavy lift. Oh, and he still supports all sorts of anti-gay republican candidates.  Mehlman also thinks gays should unite with the GOP in a shared hatred of Muslims. I think I'll pass on that...

• In related news: NY cab driver Ahmed Sharif is recovering from the knife attack that left him with slashes across his neck and face.

• Sarah Palin and Tea Party favorite Joe Miller leads Lisa Murkowski as Alaska senate race comes down to the last few thousand votes.

• With Jimmy Carter knocking on the front door, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il slips out the back.

• Getting those Chilean miners out of the ground is going to be a long, slow, dangerous process. Good luck and best wishes to the whole team and the waiting families.

News 8/25/10

(Photo of all around kick ass singer and civil rights maven Nina Simone by Roland Godefroy)

• Homophobic Putz loses bid for Governor of Florida. Bill McCollum is the hatenozzle who paid George "long stroke" Rekers over $100,000 to testify in court to keep gay adoption illegal. (Via Joe My God.) McCollum's loss in the GOP primary means the Democratic candidate will go toe-to-toe with some other hate-filled scuzzwad.

• John "Where's my Gin!?" McCain defeats JD Hayworth in Arizona. Lisa Murkowski and Tea Party candidate Joe Miller still too close to call in Alaska. Nate Silver did some super live blogging last night covering the primaries. He will certainly have up-to-date coverage and analysis this morning.

• Carlos A. Ball over at Huffpo: "Without factual support for their arguments, it is becoming less and less tenable for opponents of same-sex marriage to argue that their positions are not influenced by a dislike of gay people and their intimate relationships." His whole essay is worth reading and, for the record, I still think Jonathan Rauch is wrongedy-wrong-wrong.

• Wyoming couple brings federal suit against that state's law barring marriage equality. Good luck guys.

• Ball Memorial hospital to begin training staff about how not to be a bunch of trans phobic dicks.

• Jimmy Carter arrives in North Korea to chat with the bat-shit crazy ruler of that desperate, starving, totally nuts nation.

News 8/24/10

("Get off of my lawn!" Won't you help the crustiest crank in the senate keep his seat? We're rootin' for ya Johnny!)

• California lawmakers pass bipartisan resolution asking Congress and the President to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.

• Chilean miners survived for seventeen days on rations meant for 48 hours. Rescuers are sending emergency nutrition, oxygen and toothbrushes.

• Pakistani flooding has destroyed over four million acres of crop land and only a tenth of those affected are receiving aid. Prime minister and legislators not doing so well in public opinion. Military getting some good press.

• Capitalism thrives in China, where they've invented the world's largest traffic jam. Villagers selling expensive food and water to stranded motorists.

• Establishment Republican John McCain may be righty-tighty enough to win primary fight against JD Hayworth. But is McCain teabaggy enough? Primary voting is today.

News 8/23/10

("What's so special about the cheese makers?"

"I can't hear a thing. C'mon, let's go to the stoning.")

• Richard Just, Executive Editor of the New Republic has written an excellent opinion piece about Obama's contradictory and disgraceful stance on Marriage Equality. He "is already leading on gay marriage; he is just leading in the wrong direction." (Via ABC News.)

• Archbishop Timothy Dolan wants you to know that some hate crimes make "God sad" while other hate crimes are just fine. (The Catholic Church is always good for a chuckle.)

• Protesters of Muslim community center: "Religious tolerance is all about tolerating the many different ways we have of worshiping Jesus Christ." Fear and hatred of Muslims is still a popular pass time.

• Australians try to figure out who will form new government. Financial markets wobble amidst uncertainty.

• Quarter of a million Chinese evacuated from area near border with North Korea as Yalu river swells past the friendly stage.

• Thirty-three Chilean miners trapped for seventeen days are alive and well. May be out by Christmas. (What are they doing to keep from going crazy down there?)

News 8/22/10

(Most of the clan is headed to Jin Wah restaurant in Beaverton this morning for dim sum. In the meantime here's a nifty picture of Niu za mian noodle soup courtesy of Jason545889.)

• Australians facing a hung parliament for the first time in 70 years. Green Party may be the key to a new distribution of power.

• Irish human rights activists march for full civil marriage equality. They explain the new Civil Partnership bill "fall(s) far short of providing full equality.”

• No plans for now to move proposed Islamic center further away from Ground Zero. Welcome to America where religious tolerance, due process and equal protection are "controversial."

• World Net Daily and Ann Coulter slashing away at each other over Ms. Coulter's appearance at GOProud.

News 8/21/10

(Chuck Colson: A man with a tiny heart wants you to hate all the right people.)

• Australian elections too close to call.

• While we're waiting: Here's an excellent essay about the struggle for marriage equality in Australia, describing their circumstances in the wake of Judge Walker's ruling from California. With the elections this close it seems certain that the major parties will have to compromise with one of the teeny parties. (Hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle who has requested pancakes this morning.)

• Support for equality is steadily increasing in the US. (Are you listening Maggie and Chris? Of course you are. Your desperate, sweaty hate-rallies are going to get thinner and more pathetic until you finally have to give up. Let me know if you need help with your resumes. We'll have to find a way to describe your malevolence in kinder, gentler terms. How about "hate stylist"? Give me a call. We'll do coffee. Cheap, lousy coffee.)

News 8/20/10

("Don't blame me," said the rooster to the hen. Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim.)

• 380 Million is a lot of eggs to recall. Lots of salmonella cases reported. Chickens angry.

• US combat mission in Iraq is over. Sort of.

• American public unhappy with war in Afghanistan. Didn't Alexander the Great give up on Afghanistan too?

• Australian elections look like a real nail-biter as we get down to the wire. Voters are grumpy.

• Dr. Laura has friends who are neither straight nor white. She also likes the Mary Tyler Moore show. Dr. Laura sucks.

News 8/19/10

("Your smile lights up the room." Pope Urbanus VI 1378 - 1389)

• Final combat troops removed from Iraq, leaving "only" 50,000 "advisers." I suppose that's progress.

• Ha ha. UK Commission rules Catholic adoption agency can't discriminate against the queers.

• Mexico City's mayor sues Catholic Bishop for claiming the Mayor bribed the Supreme Court in favor of Marriage Equality.

• France annexes the Sudatenland. I'm only kidding. However, the French seem to be staging a huge World War II reenactment by expelling Gypsies from their nation.

• I don't understand Australian politics, but I am happy that Julia Gillard is panicking ahead of her country's vote. Anyone who opposes marriage equality should spend more time sweating about their future. N'est pas?

News 8/18/10

(Today in Fabulous: Eartha Kitt. "My smile is brilliant, my glance is tender. But I'm noted most for my unspoiled gender." Hat tip to Lil Larry.)

• Obama visits Ohio, explains why everything doesn't suck as bad as you think it does.

• FOX News donates big wad of cash to GOP Governors Assn. Dems annoyed for obvious reasons. (What the F did you expect from FOX News?)

• Richard Socarides has written a nice piece about Obama's contradictory stance on Marriage Equality. (Let me say one more time: I only vote for people who support full marriage equality. That includes you Mr. President.)

• In related news: Imperial County's appeal to intervene in the Prop8 case has been bundled in with everything else in the Ninth Circuit Appeal of Judge Walker's ruling. (At least I think it has. I'm not a lawyer, but that's what it looks like to me.)

• Hey Target! Up yours and the horse you rode in on. Cordially, The Queers.

News 8/17/10

(I have an idea. Why don't we all just wait a little longer?)

• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has extended Judge Walker's stay to give a three-judge panel time to consider whether Prop8 proponents have Article III standing to appeal the case. The hearing is scheduled for December 6th.  CNN refers to California's marriage amendment as "controversial." Taking away people's civil rights is now "controversial." Whew!

• German High Court rules that country's tax laws should treat gay and straight couples the same.

• Teeny borough in Pennsylvania enacts LGBTQ protections.

• Zsa Zsa has had enough, intends to die at her Bel Air home.

News 8/16/10

(Today in hair: Wella Balsam.)

• Defenders of "Traditional Marriage" must submit their brief at 9AM PST to thwart the happiness of expectant couples across California. Will the 9th Circuit's three judge panel grant their motion to stay? or will Judge Walker's ruling striking down Prop 8 go into effect?

• New Jersey Supreme Court refuses to hear Marriage Equality case. Three judge panel may fear retribution from homophobic governor.

• Daniel Radcliffe thinks narrow-minded fear of LGBTs is gradually fading from society. Is he right? or does this prove the path to hell is paved with Harry Potter novels?

• Anti-equality Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard wants to keep her job by denying marriage rights to gays and pretending there's no such thing as global warming.

• ISS crew attempts another spacewalk to fix ailing station. One astronaut offers to walk to nearest gas station.

8/13/10

(Lady Bird Johnson could probably kick your ass if she wanted to.)

• Judge Walker has permanently enjoined enforcement of Prop 8 as an unconstitutional violation of equal protection and due process. But we still have to wait until at least August 18th to allow opposition time to appeal to the 9th Circuit.

• Eat, Pray, Love, Testify Before Congress. Elizabeth Gilbert heads to Washington to speak out for immigration reform on behalf of gay families. (via Huffpo) Says Gilbert:

"My citizenship is not a courtesy that is offered to me by my government," Gilbert said. "It is my birthright. It is my right as an American citizen. And my rights are not something that are offered to me out of politeness or friendliness by the United States government."

•  Terrible mudslides continue in China. 1,100 dead, more than 10,000 trapped.

• Pakistani flood survivors' lives at risk from water-born disease.

• Morality expert on leave from Harvard as problems with his research are uncovered.

• Dan Rostenkowski has died at age 82.

News 8/12/10

("Malaise forever." My favorite peanut-man. Who doesn't love Jimmy Carter?)

• Judge Walker's decision on Prop 8 stay due between 9AM and Noon PST. Should be interesting.

• Florida Attorney General and professional asshole Bill McCollum didn't mean to say that gay people should have our kids taken away from us.

• Racist serial-stabber suspect nabbed at airport. Co-worker describes suspect as "...a nice guy."

• Another Alaska plane crash, helicopter rolls over in rescue. Everyone saved. Whew!

• Lt. General Babakir Zebari didn't mean to say Iraq is a total mess and will be until at least 2020.

News 8/11/10

(Just because: Caramel pecan sticky bun. Photo by Stacy.)

• Mexican Supreme Court rules all states must recognize lawful marriages performed in the capitol. They sure leave us in the dust don't they?

• Costa Rica High Court rules you can't vote on whether minorities have rights, blocks civil union ballot.

• Analysis today of various primary elections: Nobody is really happy with incumbents, but Republicans seem unhappier than Democrats. ...and Sarah Palin can't pick a winner.

• Steven Slater's dramatic, dangerous and expensive departure from JetBlue flight begins its journey through the American legal system. Book deals, chat shows and folk-hero status notwithstanding.

• Here's wishing you all a solum and dignified Ramadan.

• Does your boss want you dead? (Hat tip to H.I.)

News From the American Bar Association

(Law is sexy. Today in Judicial garb: William Cushing wearing the latest in Supreme Court fashion sometime between 1789 and 1810.)

 I've had a link to Chris Geidner's Law Dork over on my side bar since soon after I started blogging, for those of you who love in-depth legal commentary on vital issues. I'd like to let you know that from now on you can find Chris Geidner's wisdom and insight over at Metro Weekly's blog Poliglot.

It is from Chris's new site I learned the American Bar Association has come out with the following policy:

"RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges state, territorial, and tribal governments to eliminate all of their legal barriers to civil marriage between two persons of the same sex who are otherwise eligible to marry."

I believe the President of the United States is a member of this organization. I wonder if he's interested in this new policy?

News 8/10/10

(Disco ball courtesy of Sarah from Brizzzzzle UK, and thecuriousgnome.)

• Today's Colorado primary not looking fabulous for incumbents.

• Jet Blue flight attendant mad as hell, not going to take it anymore. Veterans of customer service across the planet ponder canonization of Steven Slater.

• Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens believed aboard crashed flight. No relation to the Jet Blue incident.

• Rachel Maddow reveals just how scuzzy Target is. They never met a homophobe they didn't like.

• FOX hatenozzle Greg Gutfeld wants to open a Muslim-themed gay bar next to ground zero mosque. Um... good luck with that?

The End of Prop 8: What the Constitution is all About

• Much buzz yesterday (and today) about whether or not supporters of Prop 8 have standing to ask for a stay of Judge Walker's ruling. In a nutshell, opponents of marriage equality failed to prove any harm to themselves or anyone else at trial; and both the Governator and Attorney General of California want to resume issuing marriage licenses to everyone. The Gov. and AG are the ones who have standing, not Cooper, Thompson et al. Walker's decision on the stay could come at any moment.

• Margaret Hoover over at FOX News cautions fellow conservatives to respect Judge Walker's conservative street cred. and study his ruling on Prop 8. Hoover asserts knee-jerk, homophobic opposition to gay marriage "risk(s) undermining legitimate conservative gripes about the judiciary and putting conservatism once again, on the wrong side of the latest chapter in American civil rights."

If you haven't seen the footage yet, here's David Boies carving Tony Perkins into tiny pieces on Face the Nation:


And here's Ted Olsen schooling FOX News's Chris Wallace on what the constitution is all about:



The above videos are required viewing ladies and gentlemen. This is the path forward for justice.

News 8/09/10

(Klaatu, Barada, Nicto! Academy Award winning actress and former wife of Roald Dahl, Patricia Neal has died at 84.)

• Prop 8 proponents may not have standing to appeal Judge Walker's decision. Gov. Schwarzenegger and AG Brown (on behalf of the State of California) are the effected parties and they don't want a stay. (via Joe My God) Curiouser and curiouser...

• ...and the Los Angeles Times thinks we deserve strict scrutiny, thank you very much.

• Colorado: Republicans ditch moderate candidates. Should make the general elections interesting. (I'm pedaling my United Nations Bicycle downtown today, how about you?)

• BP's $20 billion compensation fund isn't a cap and doesn't prevent the oil giant from being sued for even more money.

• Dr. Snickerdoodle and I had fun at the beach this weekend. But now I'm back writing and job hunting. All glory to the hypno-toad!

News 8/06/10

(Today in Breakfast: Eggs Benedict. Photo by Paul Goyette.)

• Pakistani floods worsen, anger mounts as Prime Minister Zardari has tea with David Cameron in Britain.

• Mexico's Supreme Court upholds Mexico City marriage equality.

• Obama supports equality, unless we're talking about marriage equality. (Dear Mr. President: I only vote for people who support marriage equality. Got that?)

• Walker's ruling already changing the debate in places like New Jersey. Hey Bigots: Show us the evidence.

• "That's Ms. Supreme Court Justice to you." Elena Kagan confirmed. Swearing-in scheduled for Saturday. Girl Power!

Summer is Nice

 (Public domain picture of wine and Italian Salami by OneArmedMan.)

Just went on a really long bike ride today, but now I'm doing laundry.

Headed over to Vino Vixens tonight to toast Judge Walker's decision in the Prop 8 case.

A get-together with the family that taught me to drink means Champagne corks will pop and much food will be eaten.

La la la.

I love summer.

News 8/05/10

(Special thanks to Anita Bryant, Lon Mabon, Maggie Gallagher and others too numerous to mention. The battle isn't over, but we couldn't have done it without your tireless hatred. Thanks homophobes, wherever you are. PS Get a job.)

• National Public Radio frets over Prop 8 ruling. Describes Walker's judgment as bad news for Democrats. Excuse me? "Baltimore is not ready for integrated dancing!"

• MSNBC wonders whether the ruling will have an impact on the mid-terms. Gosh, I wonder too.

• Towleroad has a great media round-up of telly coverage for the Prop 8 ruling. I highly recommend the Rachel Maddow footage eviscerating the pathetic bigot "experts." Rachel also chats with Dahlia Lithwick. Give it a look-see.

• Looks like Elena Kagan will be confirmed to the US Supreme Court, possibly this week. Remember her?

Down With Homophobic Punctuation Marks!

(Wedding photo from 1907. Whatever she's wearing, I love it.)

Judge Walker's ruling will go down in history along side Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia. A couple of my favorite nuggets follow.

The simplest, truest statement I read:

"...(T)he Equal Protection Clause renders Proposition 8 unconstitutional under any standard of review."

Walker makes clear that Prop 8 was based on animus:

"Many of the purported interests identified by proponents are nothing more than a fear or unarticulated dislike of same-sex couples."

Walker also suggests that those little quote marks the bigots like to use (homosexual "marriage") are unconstitutional too:

"Plaintiffs do not seek recognition of a new right. To characterize plaintiffs’ objective as “the right to same-sex marriage” would suggest that plaintiffs seek something different from what opposite-sex couples across the state enjoy--namely, marriage. Rather, plaintiffs ask California to recognize their relationships for what they are: marriages."

Well, that about wraps it up for bigotry.

Or does it...?

What WILL the 9th circuit do?

Stay tuned for another exciting installment of "Up Yours Maggie Gallagher!"

"Prop 8 Is A Load Of Crap" says Walker

 ("To phooey with this bigotry..")

Lot's of sites are crashing because everyone wants to read the thing.

So here's a link (via SLOG) to Walkers ruling.

Prop 8 is nothing but a big pile of doody.

Prop 8 Unconstitutional

Judge Walker has struck down Prop 8.

The unconstitutional measure is no longer in effect as of now.

Dancing in the streets, cocktails...

Up yours Maggie Gallagher.

News 8/04/10

(Today in shoes: Dorothy's ruby slippers. Photo courtesy of dbking.)

• Judge Walker's Prop 8 decision due today. What do you think ladies and gentlemen? Is it going to be another Lawrence v. Texas... or are we in for another Bowers v. Hardwick?

• Republican senators use terror of LGBT equality as torpedo against Elena Kagan.

• Kenyans vote on new constitution.

• BP and White House energy adviser want everyone to know that the oil--leak thing is all fine now; and could we all please just stop talking about it?

News 8/03/10

(Today in cute: A kitten opens her eyes for the first time.)

• NOM Spokesdick Brian Brown paints himself into a rhetorical corner refusing to agree with Blankenhorn "expert testimony." (via Joe My God)

• Expensive Iraq war must end on schedule. President keen on keeping that promise. Oh yeah, and Afghanistan is a big drag too.

• List of gay-friendly universities includes two from Oregon. Slowly but surely, the climate improves.

• Michigan, Missouri and Kansas hold primaries this Tuesday over senate seats and governorships.

• Gay, anti-gay preacher back on the job preaching about how icky and awful gay people are.

News 8/02/10

(Today in receding hairlines and groovy ties: 6th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, Salmon Portland Chase.)

• Oh my God, it's August.

• We're on track to get out of Iraq says the Prez.

• Transgender woman refused treatment at Ball Memorial Hospital in Indiana. Here's that hospital's contact page, or you can call them at 765-747-3111 and tell them to treat all people with dignity.

• BP about to plug that damn hole.