News 7/24/10

(My favorite Man of Steel: 1985 photo of Christopher Reeve by Jbfrankel.)

• Judge stops Arizona's skanky governor from taking away domestic partnership rights.

• Catholic church in Rome upset about revelations that some priests are gay. Duh.

• Everyone's all aflutter over Casey Donovan's posthumous claim to have bagged Superman. Reeve will always be my favorite man of steel and I think it is a charming idea. But I think the story is a little flimsy.

• Sonoma County California pays $600,000 to gay man kept from his dying partner's bedside.

News 7/23/10

(Your daily nerd: John Glenn. PS Nerds Rule!)

• Dan Choi fired from military under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. You remember DADT, Bill Clinton's wonderful legislative compromise/victory for gay rights?

• Environmental protection effort defeated because the Democrats only have a 59 seat majority. If only the Democrats had real power, they could do what they promised.

• President calls Shirley Sherrod on the phone, which is just like an apology so now, everyone's happy.

• Westboro Baptist church counter protested by Comic-Con nerds bearing signs explaining "Superman loves Fags," and "God hates Jedi." (Via JoeMyGod)

News 7/22/10

(Today in mustaches and Edwardian attire: David Lloyd George in 1908, Chancellor of the Exchequer and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.)

• Kosovo independence upheld by International Court of Justice. Russia, China and Spain not happy.

• All--around fabulous guy Desmond Tutu announces retirement. I'll drink a toast to Tutu tonight, won't you do the same?

• House votes today on Senate unemployment extension. President expected to sign. Christian Science Monitor answers some frequently asked questions, or FAQ's to you young 'uns.

• Queers get consultative status at United Nations. President Obama describes the victory as bringing "the United Nations (...) closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed." Isn't that nice?

News 7/21/10

(The brown suit. The paternal gaze. Everybody love Dwight D. Eisenhower.)

• Constance McMillen wins the suit against her stupid Mississippi school board. A hug and a kiss to Ms. McMillen. Some days the bigots lose.

• Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack reconsidering the firing of Shirley Sherrod after White House intervenes. Trumped up charges of racism may not be enough for her to lose her job.

• Chinese oil spill not as big and impressive as BP oil spill. Do we win a prize?

• Roy Ashburn apologizes for his past bigotry and urges the Republican party to stand up for what it claims to believe in: minimal government intervention in the private lives of people and the American ideal of equality for all people. Good luck in your noble effort senator. Seems like a pretty heavy lift for today's GOP.

News 7/19/10

 (Today for no good reason: Dancing Cowboys of unknown origin.)

• Tea Party Express guy turns out to be a racist dimwit. National Tea Party representative "correctly identifies" racist "satire" as "clearly offensive."

• John Marcotte cleared to gather signatures for his California ballot measure banning divorce. I am really excited for all those "sanctity of marriage" folks to throw their support behind his noble efforts.

• BP's victory over leaking well may be in jeopardy. Something to do with seepage.

• Don't Ask, Don't Tell announced 17 years ago today. Thanks a lot Bill Clinton! Oh yeah, and for DOMA too! Towleroad has posted some original TV coverage.

News 7/18/10

(Zsa Zsa "cop slapper" Gabor in 1954 with international playboy and glamorous man of mystery Porfirio Rubirosa Ariza. I love public domain photographs.)

• Veep Biden thinks the Dems are going to surprise us all in the mid - terms by not getting their asses kicked as badly as everyone predicts.

• I just killed a mosquito. They've been unusually aggressive here in Portland this year.
  

• Nate Silver over at fivethirtyeight.com has some great statistical analysis and commentary regarding the upcoming elections and how 2010 is and is not like 1994.

• 93 year - old Zsa Zsa Gabor has fallen and broken her hip. Ouch.