Same-sex marriage

On November 7th Wisconsin voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. According to an article written by Jim Slattery:

Same-sex marriage is already against the law in Wisconsin. State statute 765.001(2) clearly defines marriage as a union between a husband and wife. But the proposed constitutional amendment is much broader. Its second sentence also prohibits "a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals." So anything "substantially similar" to marriage would be banned or subject to legal challenge - things like civil unions, domestic partner benefits, health care benefits, pensions, hospital visitation and medical decision-making. These and more legal protections would be denied or seriously jeopardized for all unmarried couples - gay or straight.

What is the big deal people??? Fine. If you don't want to let gay people use the religious term of marriage to define their relationship, no problem. That's what the current law states. What is wrong with civil unions or domestic partner benefits? Are you saying a man who has been in a monogomous relationship for 35 years, who would have legally bound himself to his partner if he could, does not have the legal right to visit his loved one in the hospital? Does not have the legal right to authorize an organ donation to save other lives? Does not have the legal right to make decisions about the funeral? Only because he is gay? That is so completely rediculous. Gay people have been around for hundreds of years. Only recently have they been more open about their true feelings.

Some argue the acceptance of gay people into society hurts traditional family values. Umm... I think we straight people have done enough harm in that area. Look at the spolied rich kid who gets ignored by his parents because they are too busy with their own lives to notice their son is planning on going on a killing spree at school - I don't think gay people are behind that one. Look at the 16 year old who has to drop out of school to take care of his two younger sisters because his mother's a crack whore and his dad was never in the picture - I don't see the gay connection there either.

Nazi Rally

The National Socialist Movement held a Nazi rally on the capitol steps Saturday. About 800 anti-nazi protestors showed up to protest the rally. One man came with his wife and 3 children explaining this was an opportunity to teach his kids about the 1st amendment and prejudice. Looking back I would have liked to have gone down to witness the days events. To see in person a group of people filled with so much hatred and ignorance. Many religions throughout the world practice, in my mind, doctrines of hate. Their God is the true God who loves only their followers. Anyone else does not matter and is viewed as less than human. So who is right? Whose God is the true God? Who will be saved and who will perish? The only certainty is this: we are all humans sharing this beautiful planet. No one group better or worse than another. Sometimes I wish there were aliens living on Mars. Only then do I think we would stand together as human beings and live in peace.

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher regard those who think alike than those who think differently."--Nietzsche

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."--Mother Teresa

In the beginning...

So I have been meaning to post this topic for quite some time now. Let me know what you think...

When does life begin?

Your answer may very well define your views on contraception, stem cell research and abortion so decide wisely...

Many people view the joining of one egg and one sperm as the beginning of human life. Their belief is that the destiny of this embryo is to divide, grow and become a living, breathing human being. What many people don't realize is that the destiny of any zygote (a fertilized egg) is to become nothing - to simply dissolve and disappear. Only in very rare and perfect circumstances can a zygote develop into a human being. If that's your current belief then perhaps you need to take one more step backwards. If you truely believe that the begninning of human life starts when an egg becomes fertilized because of destiny then wouldn't the same hold true for a separate egg and sperm? Should a man and woman decide to "procreate" isn't it destiny that their individual haploid cells meet? Many people choose to believe this line of reasoning and therefore view the use of contraceptives as destroying human life. I'm totally down with this line of reasoning. What I'm not so understanding of are people who have decided human life begins when an egg and sperm join and view the morning after pill or first trimester abortion as murder, while they themselves have used contraceptives. Huh? Isn't that being a little hypocritical? Are you still with me?

Personally I believe that human life begins at the beginning of the second trimester. After this point the developing embryo's destiny is to continue growing into a human. It has all the human parts (organs, limbs, etc) it just needs to become a little more self-sufficient.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Make it a great Thursday!

Poor Pluto

Well, after after decades of hanging out with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, my favorite planet (sorry, ex-planet) Pluto will have to start hanging out with Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Snow White will have her hands full with 10 dwarfs (the seven original plus Pluto, Xena and Ceres). What's a girl to do.

Badger basketball

A few sports journalists have picked the Badgers to make it all the way to the final four this year. I agree they should be good (with 90% of their scorers and Alando Tucker returning) but will they be that good? Here's what I think - the badgers will finish 3rd in the big ten and make it to the sweet 16. If they finish any better I will be totally pumped rather than totally disappointed.

BB Update

OK, I will be so happy to see James leave the house this week. His constant whining and pouting is so annoying. Can chill town be trusted or will chicken george leave? This will undoubtedly be their biggest test of trustworthiness to date. I can't wait patiently enough for thursday!!!

Big Brother

I was so happy to see that CG put up Erika and James for eviction. Unfortunately James won the POV. I am so sick of his whining. One minute he is saying how Janelle has to go but the next minute he is hurt that she and Howie didn't give him a hug after he was nominated. He is such a complete jerk and has a major anger management problem. Somebody please remind me why I watch this show...

Funny work story of the day...

I began seeing a new kid at work and I was warned by everyone that he bites, kicks and hits if made to do anything - great. The child is almost three. The first visit goes exceptionally well. He finishes all of his activities with little re-direction. He helps clean up. And never once did he get frustrated or out of control. Even mom comments on how well he behaved. Visit number two goes without any tantrums either. At this point I'm thinking I have a super natural gift for keeping wild children under control - I rock. Unfortunately visit number three does not go as well. Within the first 10 minutes of my being at the family's home I was kicked 10 times, scratched twice, hit 5 times, pinched 3 times and almost punched in the face (good thing he is just a kid and has short arms). Unless I physically restrained the kid or make him sit in a chair (which defeats the purpose of my being there) he ran down the hallway and climbed under the bed with the cat. Let's hope next week is a little better.

Why is this still an issue?

Why is it so hard to understand the whole warrantless wire-tap issue? The righties want you to believe it's a matter of national security - which it is. The lefties want you to think it's a matter of your right to privacy - which it is. Here is the current law: if the administration deems it necessary to put a tap on your phone it is within their legal right to do so - even without a warrant. The catch... they have 72 hours to get a warrant to make it stay legal. My question then is - what's the big deal?!?! Get the stupid warrant after the fact if placing the tap is so urgent. Even Colin Powell (my third favorite republican after joey and stegall) agrees stating "[there is] absolutely nothing wrong with the president authorizing these kinds of actions to protect the nation. My own judgment is that it didn’t seem to me, anyway, that it would have been that hard to go get the warrants. And even in the case of an emergency, you go and do it.” End of story.

Restaurant Review: Serendipity

We finally made it to "Serendipity". The head chef broke off from Restaurant Magnus (my favorite) and relocated to Cambridge. The cuisine is classifed as "french fusion". I had the salmon baked in phyto dough and served over a bed of vegetables with creme fraiche sauce and walnuts. The vegetables and sauce were amazing. The creme fraiche had a hint of lemon. This, combined with the carmelized walnuts was incredible. Also, the vegetables ( a mix of summer squash, zuccini and green beans) were cooked to perfection. The phylo dough was light a flaky - very scrumptous. The only disappointment was the salmon. My one-inch thick piece was overcooked and a little on the mushy side. A total bummer considering the rest was super tasty. Thumbs up were given for the sirloin, mushroom crepes (minus the chewy mushrooms) and filet mignon salad. I sampled the chocolate souffle - oh my. They also had lavender creme brulee on the menu but I was too full to get it. Guess I'll have to go back!

The atmosphere was nice - a mix of old stone, brick and exposed beams. The red light in the stone basement tempted you to explore but we didn't want another blue moon incident.

After dinner we enjoyed cocktails out on the main street patio. The weather could not have been better. A blues/jazz band was playing though the members had to take a little break to replace an amp and reapply bug juice (on several occasions the guitarist and drummer had to slap away the bloodsucking mosquitos).

Overall a great time. The hostess Julia was very knowledgeable, inviting and fun. We'll definately go back - perhaps for breakfast.

Big Brother Update

You might be asking yourself how I can go from writing about the middle east to Big Brother. The answer - I have no idea. If anyone can offer some insight I would really appreciate it. Anyway... Here is my 2-cents on the remaining players:
Dr. Delicious and Boogie (ie. chill town) - love em. They're evil and play everybody. At least they don't try to act self-righteous, unlike...
James - hate em. He's evil and plays everybody. The difference - he gets all mad and vindictive when the game doesn't go his way. What a cry baby. Please send him home now!
Janelle - Hmm... some days I like her, other days I'm not so sure. some days she seems to have a clue, other days I'm not so sure.
Howie - wow, where did this guy come from? let's tone it down a bit.
CG - love em. what more can you say.
Danievil - takes the whole thing way too seriously.
Erika - what's up with her and boogie???
Marcellas - I initially liked him but have you ever noticed they only show him lounging in his robe. He can't win anything and has been reduced to an annoyance.

For the record - I was really sad to see Kaysar leave. He totally rocked.

So, the question for the day - how will Boogie use his power from the coup d' etat? Will he put up Janelle and Howie, or will my dreams come true and James goes up?

What's next?

Where do I begin? It seems every day a new story or spin causes me to yell at my XM. Here's what caused a few choice words today... We all know that the US invaded Iraq due to the "imminent" threat of WMDs (at least that's what we were told. For the record I didn't believe them then either). After no WMDs were found we began focusing on how aweful SH was. Afterall he massacred his own people (then use that as your main point to begin with, not after the fact - I might have been more supportive). Now all focus has moved to Iran, Syria and of course Lebanon and Israel. The crazy notion I heard today was this: if the US had not invaded Iraq, Iran would have moved in, taken over their country and converted even more Iraqi's into American-hating extremists. What? Are you kidding me? Is this the excuse of the day? While I agree that Iran may have many reasons for wanting to have more of a foothold in Iraq, I can't imagine they would have taken over the entire country! Wow, where do people get this stuff?

I'm back!!!

OK, too much has gone on in the world the last few months for me to keep silent. Gas prices, the middle east conflict, big brother, halloween, king street... How can one person thik about so many different things? I don't know but I need to vent and this is the perfect place!

Unity '08

This is almost as good as my "Purple Party". I would love to see a presidential ticket with both a republican and a democrat (which would not be the first time in history). For a while now I've been pushing for a Powell-Feingold ticket. What do you think Dave S.? Perhaps you and I can run, only I'll be the president.

Madison Mallards

Today is opening day for the Mallards! I went to 3 or 4 games last year and they were a blast. The between-inning contests were hilarious as were the beef stick chants (a guy from chicago bought our entire bleacher section beef sticks - does anybody eat them?). We also visited the Great Dane duck blind which was a fun way to watch a game. I'm hoping to get to a handful of games this year - perhaps even talk my way into announcing an inning or two. We'll see. Check out their website for more details!

Quack, quack!

Work Stories

I thought it would be kind of fun to share some of my work adventures with you periodically. When you travel to people's homes to provide therapy there is never a dull moment...
A few years ago I arrived at a family's home and had to park down the street because there were no spots closer to their house. It was around 2pm. I got my bag of toys out of my car, locked it up and proceeded to their house. As I was walking I noticed a white van with a bunch of people inside (did I mention this was one of the worst neighborhoods in the city?). I interlocked my keys in my fingers as I walked by. A gentleman (I use the term very loosely) got out of the van and asked what I had in my bag. With a smile on my face (so as to not show fear) I explained they were toys. He asked "sex toys" and I said (with a nervous laugh) "oh, no... They're for the kids next door". To which he replied "oh, well next time you come and have some sex toys, just knock on the van". I had no response to this and just kept walking. Don't worry, I never really felt threatened, just a little creeped out.

Are you kidding me?

I can't believe these pedophiles have sued the city of Indianapolis to have access to public parks and pools where children hang out. Their argument is "that the law is unconstitutionally vague, violates their rights to vote and attend church, and prevents them from freely traveling on roads that may pass within 1,000 feet of the affected sites". Too bad.