News 6/11/10

(Today in hair: A couple of snoods.)

"2.5 %! Take It Or Leave It!" One-day nurse strike ends in Minnesota as systemic problems remain.

"Beware Rabbit-Boilers, Where Ever You Are!" Feds clarify that codes against domestic violence apply to gay couples too. Cue the outrage from from right-wing jackasses in Three, Two, One...

Candace Chellew-Hodge over at Religion Dispatches opines about overwhelming gay opposition to Arizona's horrible new law against brown people who don't talk good English:

"And yet, it is gays and lesbians who by and large have rejected religion, who are displaying some of the most Christian principles in this matter."

What do you think?

NYT* Editorial about Prop 8 closing arguments comes down decisively in favor of marriage equality.

*(This is the same NYT that refused to use the word "gay" or cover the AIDS crisis until 1987. Up yours A.M. Rosenthal. Oh right, you're dead. Good.)

Update: Larry Gross's full description of A.M. Rosenthal's shittyness can be found here. Hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle.

Morning News 4/08/10

Not Hilarious. Diplomat "jokes" that he was trying to set his shoes on fire on flight from DC to Denver, while he was really just sneaking a smoke in the can.

It's a Party! After seven year struggle, Phillippine Supreme Court recognizes Ang Ladlad that country's first gay political party.

Sign Here. Space Shuttle delivers a bunch of stuff to the International Space Station.

I'll Get Back to You on That. Ben Bernanke tells nation that we shouldn't put off dealing with the financial impact of all those boomers retiring. Nation promises to do something, unless there's something good on the TV.

Obsessive Compulsive Man with a Great Idea. NYT talks to Javier Garcia who continues to photograph every single thing he eats and post it on his website. He seems to eat a lot of power bars and bananas.

(The shoes up top, accompanying the first news item are from planet fabulon.com and are also in honor of gorgeous, glamorous, sensational Linda who danced last night at the Blue Monk. Wish I could have been there darling.)

Gay Animals? You Betcha!

The NYT's Sunday Magazine this weekend will feature an article by Jon Mooallem exploring the fact that many animals are gay, gay, gay!

For years biologists ignored the evidence of queerness in the animal world because it was too damn shocking. But it turns out that lots of animals (particularly mammals and birds) are a bit light in the loafers.

Call me biased if you must but there seems to be a strong correlation: the higher the intelligence of a species, the more same-sex hanky panky you'll find.

Homosexuality: Now 100% all-natural! (Thanks, but I've known THAT for years.)

More on this topic can be found over at a neato post at Wikipedia. I also recommend Dr. Bruce Bagemihl's comprehensive book, Biological Exuberance.

Go to your Local. Independent. Bookseller.

(Hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle.)

(Cover image of Dr. Bruce Bagemihl's book from Macmillan publishing.)

Prop 8 Update 3/22/10

Waah!

The defenders of bigotry and prop 8 now claim that there never should have been a trial in the first place.

The New York Times quotes plaintiff attorney, Ted Olsen:

“They’ve got to complain about something,” he said. “They think they’re going to lose.”

Check out the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, Firedoglake and the Marriage Trial re-enactment on Youtube for even more coverage.

(Hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle. Not sure where this baby picture came from.)