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 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 7/31/10

(Today in public domain wedding photography: Ron and Nancy Reagan slicin' up the nup' cake, Toluca Lake California, March 4th 1952.)

• Chelsea Clinton heterosexually marries a person of the opposite sex in Upstate New York. Madeleine Albright catches bouquet, squeals with glee. Congrats.

• Male Argentinian couple celebrates 27 years together by marrying under that nation's new equality law. Catholic Church still being a bunch of dicks about it.

• Speaking of dicks: Senator John Cornyn (who opposes marriage equality and the repeal of DADT) will speak at the next gathering of Log Cabin Republicans.

• Study shows gay teens in gay relationships experience higher self esteem and lower internalized homophobia. Isn't that nice?

• (PS to the screaming hordes who can't get enough of The Flaming Chef: Guess who's unemployed again? Sometimes you just can't stop people from flushing diamonds down the toilet. I prefer to look on the bright side: This means I have more time to write ...and drink heavily.)

Morning News 5/24/10

Great. BP top exec "frustrated" by the whole worst-ecological-disaster-in-history thing, as hundreds of miles of coastline, pelicans and oysters (among other things) are devastated. Just great.

"Do People Want Fire That Can Be Fitted Nasally?" Republicans concerned about messaging as midterm cycle approaches.

That's "Mr. Quack" if you don't mind. Dr. who first suggested link between autism and vaccines banned in UK for conducting research "dishonestly and irresponsibly."

How Many S's In Success? Patricia J. Williams over at NPR (and the Nation) discusses the Kagan nomination in a culture where "success itself is masculinized."

I never watched an episode of Lost. Ever.

(Rorschach blot number VIII. Ooh, spooky.)

Afternoon News 4/05/10

Republican Hilarity Special Edition

Joe My God Reports that right wing nutcases have been effective at scaring other right wingers into not cooperating with the census. So much so that the census is in danger of undercounting all the right wing nuts in the country. Way to go Michelle Bachman!

John McCain was never, ever, ever a maverick. Do you hear me?  Never!

The family values party is a bit embarrassed about paying for that whole lesbian, bondage club thing, leading to RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay's resignation

(This special edition of the afternoon news is brought to you with a mega grateful hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle.)

(Image of James Garner, the real Maverick from the fabulous TV show created by Roy Huggins and produced by Warner Brothers.)

An Open Letter to the Republican Party (from TPM)

(Thanks to Dan Savage at SLOG)

Russel King over at Talking Points Memo has a thoroughly footnoted catalogue of some recent problems with the Republican Party in this country.

Short version: nix the hatred and hypocrisy.

I am not a huge fan of the Democrats either, but I recommend King's piece and the discussion thread that follows it.

I appreciate that he presents this list as an admonishment, but he also presents it as plea to the Republicans to return to some of their philosophies that are good.

He ends with:

"We may or may not agree with your values and vision, but we'll certainly welcome you back to the American mainstream with open arms. We need you."