In an attempt to be socially relevant, I asked my Facebook friends to write me what they thought about the gay marriage decision. I was hoping more would write, but the responses I did get were really great (Thanks guys!):
From Scott:
1) Thoughts on Gay Marriage
Every person should have the same rights as every other person. These rights should not be denied based upon religious or cultural traditions. Makes sense, right?
2) Prop 8
People should not be able to vote on eliminating the rights of a minority population. That makes sense too, no?
3) Interpretation of the ruling
Did what was asked of them. I didn't read the ruling, but I'm sure there was nothing controversial. Upheld that CA voter's votes count and legally married couples can't be unmarried overnight. Pretty easy. Hopefully the issue will move on to a higher court and the ball will keep rolling.
4) What should be done now?
a) Wait on putting an initiative on the ballot until 2012. More younger voters will come into play by then. Plus you'll get a little time between initiatives so the public won't feel as if the issue is just going back and forth and nothing is permanent. Plus it will allow 3 more years for other states to change their policies and show CA as one of the backward states. And it will allow time for this issue to run through other courts, as opposed to voting on something that is concurrently being decided upon.
b) Get the effort out there in areas like the Inland Empire, the Central Valley and the suburbs everywhere to inform the public. The big cities are covered, voters outside the big cities are the ones that need to be informed and that will swing the vote. But give the effort enough time to make this progress.
Peace! And equality!
From Kevin:
"I am anti-marriage discrimination. If gays want to get married who does it really hurt? Does it change the definition of marriage? Sure. Do definitions change over time? Yes. Dork used to be a slang for penis. Will allowing gay marriage make people who are morally opposed look like bigots? Yes, but that is the price of the belief. Surprise! People also believe the KKK are unreasonable. Will allowing gay marriage open the door for relationships between humans and animals? Is that argument even serious? How can you marry something that can't sign a marriage license (insert amputee joke here)...or pay alimony. I can't see who it really hurts or impacts other than gay people so why not let gays get married?"
From Anonymous:
As a mother of two children who is celebrating her 10th anniversary today, my opinion on same sex marriage is very strong. I'd love to hear from someone who can prove how their marriage has been harmed or hurt by the few months that same sex marriage was "legal." Here's what can be proved: marriage can be destroyed by anyone, male or female and you can't tell me that a gay or lesbian couple has any less chance of harming the "sanctity" of marriage than a straight couple. Really. I've seen some VERY screwed up straight marriages and this is from people who get on their high horse about how same sex marriage is so morally wrong. They are the immoral ones if you ask me.
I think people should just mind their own business and focus on their "marriage" before telling someone they shouldn't have the right to marriage like them.
It breaks my heart to see close family friends not be able to be married, have children and the same life I love. They would make far better parents than half these idiots we have as parents these days.
I voted No on Prop 8 and quadruple checked it to be sure it went through properly.
From Jaime:
From a legal perspective, the minute that government decided to make marriage a legal contract rather than a purely religious institution, they took on the responsibility to give all citizens equal access to that right. There's no way to determine "love" (nor should they try), people get married for convenience/benefits all the time, and the last time I checked the Bible wasn't a legal text....there should be absolutely zero distinction between same-sex marriage and opposite marriage (to quote Miss California). Marriage for all or none.
From a personal perspective, any small-minded asshole that tries to block two people that love each other from sharing in a lifetime commitment of that love, without affecting them negatively in any way, needs a slap upside his pea-sized brain. I think if more people equated Prop 8 to a law preventing interracial marriage, since that's the moral equivalent, there would be a better understanding of the situation. Homophobia and ignorance are not excuses...they're handicaps.
From Rebecca:
What always comes to mind for me are two quotes. First from Jane Adams: "The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life." And the second from MLK: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
The right to marry, while created to secure an orderly society, should nonetheless be granted fairly and equally: why should I be allowed to do something that my friends are not allowed to do simply because I would prefer to do it with a member of the opposite sex? There is no rational basis for the decision to create separate classifications and prohibitions based on whom we love.
--
So there you go. Some strong opinions out there. If you have something to add, let me know!
Friday, June 05, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
What do to about H8.
I meant to post this yesterday, but it was a busy day!
As you are all aware, the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8, the measure passed by California voters last November by a slim majority...the one that wrote into the California Constitution "Only marriages between one man and one woman will be recognized by the state of California." It passed by a slim 52% margin, thanks to efforts by religious groups and right wing groups, and money from the Mormon churches in Utah.
Let me say this now: I don't think the Supreme Court made the right decision. They could have said that equality is more important than majority rule. They could have put California on the forefront of the marriage fight and they could have made us once again a state people look towards for guidance. But they didn't. I don't agree with their choice at all.
But after reading most of their argument, I understand why they came to the decision they did.
The job of the Supreme Court is to uphold the law, not choose what is morally right. We want judges that will look at situations objectively and apply the law as it exists to those situations. It is not the judicial branch's role to make law - that is what the legislature is for, or in the case of California, the people.
The case presented to the court was whether the Proposition was an amendment or a revision to the constitution. A revision requires a much more thorough process involving the legislature (and based on how California's government is being run lately, we all know a revision wouldn't happen). An amendment is simply added to the constitution as long as it falls in line with the rest of the document.
Though the logic might be flawed and the cases cited in the opinion not the best examples, they were very specific that this proposition dealt with one thing: the word "marriage." They were very clear to point out that all rights that gays and lesbians have right now are not affected, they simply are not able to use the word "marriage" to describe their unions, and that Prop 8 did not fundamentally alter the constitution.
However they let 18,000 gay marriages stand, allowing a hollow victory for the GLBT community. So if you got married, congratulations, you're still married! If you didn't, sucks to be you.
The court was in a difficult position. They could either choose to say equal rights above all, or that Californians votes don't matter. A choice of the latter would have set a potentially harmful precedent for future court cases, something that they had to keep in mind. This is not Iowa and our constitution is different and works differently than theirs, so it is not necessarily fair to compare the two.
However we cannot blame the court for their decision. Nor can we say the court is against us. The fact is, the court already gave us the right to marry last year. We celebrated. We rejoiced. We hailed it as a victory. And then WE lost it. The campaign was weak. The opponents were strong. Gays and lesbians were content with the thought that California would never vote for such a discriminatory proposition, so many didn't do anything to act. And look where that got us.
So the question is what now? Where do we go from here? There are already plans to put another proposition to repeal Prop 8 on the ballot in 2010 or 2012, and a federal case has been filed. Are these the right things to do? The only way to undo a voter initiative is with another initiative. Is 2010 or 2012 better? Personally I think 2012 is better. It gives us more time to do what we need to do - talk to and educate people. Show them who we are. Give them our side of the story. Explain to them it's not religion that we are against, it's using religion to influence public policy that we are against.
My main worry about putting "Proposition X - Repeal Ban on Gay Marriage" on the 2010 ballot is the fact that voter turnout will not be as high as in 2012 when we have a presidential election. In 2010 the main race will be for Governor - the problem with that is that if someone like Gavin Newsom (who I'm a fan of, by the way) is running, you can be sure that the right wing will come out in force to defeat him - and us. Again. We'll have to work twice as hard and three times as fast to change people's minds and make sure make sure those who support us get out and vote. I'm not convinced we can do that in 17 months.
The energy at the protest the other night was different than it was in November. Back then it was rage and anger and frustration. Tuesday night it was subdued anger and disappointment and shock, but people were there to show their support for the cause and show that it's not over.
Marching through the streets is not something I think is productive anymore. What we need at these rallies are not just celebrities and mayors telling us that they are supportive and will fight with us, but for people to actually get the crowd involved. Out of the thousands of people who were at the rally that night, 95% of them will go back to their daily lives and not get involved with anything else. There has to be a way to harness that population to get more of them involved (I openly admit I'm generally one of those 95%, but I'm trying to be better).
We can be mad at the Mormons, mad at religions, mad at intolerant people, and all the other people who have wronged us in the past year, but the fact is we need to stop looking back. Proposition 8 is done. It's law. The battle is over and we lost.
It's time to look forward and let the real fight for equality begin.
As you are all aware, the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8, the measure passed by California voters last November by a slim majority...the one that wrote into the California Constitution "Only marriages between one man and one woman will be recognized by the state of California." It passed by a slim 52% margin, thanks to efforts by religious groups and right wing groups, and money from the Mormon churches in Utah.
Let me say this now: I don't think the Supreme Court made the right decision. They could have said that equality is more important than majority rule. They could have put California on the forefront of the marriage fight and they could have made us once again a state people look towards for guidance. But they didn't. I don't agree with their choice at all.
But after reading most of their argument, I understand why they came to the decision they did.
The job of the Supreme Court is to uphold the law, not choose what is morally right. We want judges that will look at situations objectively and apply the law as it exists to those situations. It is not the judicial branch's role to make law - that is what the legislature is for, or in the case of California, the people.
The case presented to the court was whether the Proposition was an amendment or a revision to the constitution. A revision requires a much more thorough process involving the legislature (and based on how California's government is being run lately, we all know a revision wouldn't happen). An amendment is simply added to the constitution as long as it falls in line with the rest of the document.
Though the logic might be flawed and the cases cited in the opinion not the best examples, they were very specific that this proposition dealt with one thing: the word "marriage." They were very clear to point out that all rights that gays and lesbians have right now are not affected, they simply are not able to use the word "marriage" to describe their unions, and that Prop 8 did not fundamentally alter the constitution.
However they let 18,000 gay marriages stand, allowing a hollow victory for the GLBT community. So if you got married, congratulations, you're still married! If you didn't, sucks to be you.
The court was in a difficult position. They could either choose to say equal rights above all, or that Californians votes don't matter. A choice of the latter would have set a potentially harmful precedent for future court cases, something that they had to keep in mind. This is not Iowa and our constitution is different and works differently than theirs, so it is not necessarily fair to compare the two.
However we cannot blame the court for their decision. Nor can we say the court is against us. The fact is, the court already gave us the right to marry last year. We celebrated. We rejoiced. We hailed it as a victory. And then WE lost it. The campaign was weak. The opponents were strong. Gays and lesbians were content with the thought that California would never vote for such a discriminatory proposition, so many didn't do anything to act. And look where that got us.
So the question is what now? Where do we go from here? There are already plans to put another proposition to repeal Prop 8 on the ballot in 2010 or 2012, and a federal case has been filed. Are these the right things to do? The only way to undo a voter initiative is with another initiative. Is 2010 or 2012 better? Personally I think 2012 is better. It gives us more time to do what we need to do - talk to and educate people. Show them who we are. Give them our side of the story. Explain to them it's not religion that we are against, it's using religion to influence public policy that we are against.
My main worry about putting "Proposition X - Repeal Ban on Gay Marriage" on the 2010 ballot is the fact that voter turnout will not be as high as in 2012 when we have a presidential election. In 2010 the main race will be for Governor - the problem with that is that if someone like Gavin Newsom (who I'm a fan of, by the way) is running, you can be sure that the right wing will come out in force to defeat him - and us. Again. We'll have to work twice as hard and three times as fast to change people's minds and make sure make sure those who support us get out and vote. I'm not convinced we can do that in 17 months.
The energy at the protest the other night was different than it was in November. Back then it was rage and anger and frustration. Tuesday night it was subdued anger and disappointment and shock, but people were there to show their support for the cause and show that it's not over.
Marching through the streets is not something I think is productive anymore. What we need at these rallies are not just celebrities and mayors telling us that they are supportive and will fight with us, but for people to actually get the crowd involved. Out of the thousands of people who were at the rally that night, 95% of them will go back to their daily lives and not get involved with anything else. There has to be a way to harness that population to get more of them involved (I openly admit I'm generally one of those 95%, but I'm trying to be better).
We can be mad at the Mormons, mad at religions, mad at intolerant people, and all the other people who have wronged us in the past year, but the fact is we need to stop looking back. Proposition 8 is done. It's law. The battle is over and we lost.
It's time to look forward and let the real fight for equality begin.
Friday, May 15, 2009
A Decade of Birthdays
My 30th birthday is finally here. Today I've racked up another year of life and have changed the first digit in my age. That's only happened three times now!
So to honor this I thought I'd take a look back at what I did on the past decade of birthdays. Year by year. Get excited.
5/15/99 - Age: 20
My twenties started off great. My friend John had secretly recorded a video with all my friends giving a rough story of my life and testimonials about me. Then in the evening when my friends started arriving at my apartment, one by one, friends who I hadn't seen in weeks, I figured something was up. We had a viewing and it's still one of my favorite birthday presents ever.
5/15/00 - Age: 21
Ah the big 2-1. As was customary among my friends, we were at TGIFridays at midnight for me to buy my first legal alcoholic beverage. It was that Electric Lemonade that always looked so good. Turned out it was not so good, but I followed that up with my first Long Island, and that was tasty.
5/15/01 - Age: 22
This day was celebrated with an early dinner at Island's where K gave me a gift she made, something that was inclusive of all our friends. I remember something incredibly hilarious happening, and I have a picture of everybody at the table laughing. I think we almost caught a shirt on fire from the birthday candle or something. It was quite funny, honestly. Then I had a meeting to be at which was followed by a surprisingly poignant moment for me, given that my college career was coming to an end. A great day.
5/15/02 - Age: 23
Remember how Blink 182 proclaimed that nobody likes you when you're Tweeeeenty Threee? This is what I call "the dark birthday." I was unemployed for months, in horrific temp job that made me want to jab my eyes out with a spoon, it was a Wednesday so there wasn't really anything to do, and my friends were all busy. I didn't go to work that day and instead bought Winnie the Pooh on DVD. A favorite of mine, what sold it was that "A Day for Eeyore" was on it. That's the day I started a new tradition of watching that short on my birthday. It reminds me that even on the gloomiest of days, you can still find joy. And three days later I got an awesome job.
5/15/03 - Age: 24
I had moved to Los Angeles by this point, but still didn't know anyone. I was living with my sister and had a quiet day, elebrating with her and her husband.
5/15/04 - Age: 25
I for some reason have no mental recollection and no iPhoto recollection for this birthday? WHAT DID I DO?!?!
5/15/05 - Age: 26
I was now secure with my new roommates and my new job, both a year old, so maybe "new" isn't the right word. Things were great. I had my friends to Lola's on Fairfax. I bought my "Don't hate me because I'm Awesome" shirt (another tradition I started - wearing that on my birthday every year), and had a great time with a bunch of new friends and a few old ones. I proceeded to have four martinis of various flavors. A few of them ended up on the side of La Brea on the drive home.
5/15/06 - Age: 27
The actual birthday was nice. A few good friends and I went to have dinner in Culver City, and it was actually kind of gross food, but we took some great pictures and then followed it up with karaoke at Boardwalk 11. A few nights later my friends and i went to O-Bar for my big b-day celebration. good times.
5/15/07 - Age: 28
TACO TUESDAY! Dollar tacos, good margaritas, and good friends. What more could I have asked for?
5/15/08 - Age: 29
The actual birthday, KS and I went to Crustacean in Beverly Hills for dinner. It was nice, quiet, and the food was great. The following night I had a party at Eleven in West Hollywood. It was a grand time with great friends, people I hadn't seen in a while, and one awesome friend introduced me to Lance Bass. And then my other friend made me take a picture with him (a meeting ten years in the making!). I'm pretty sure I embarrased myself since I was a wee intoxicated. And I've spent the following year trying to find him again. You know, to...uh...apologize...
Birthdays always remind me how much people like me. And I know that sounds conceited, but I forget sometimes. It's nice to see that people care and offer me their well wishes. So thank you to everyone who have made my birthdays special. I really do appreciate it. And I look forward to the big 3-0 bash tomorrow night!
So to honor this I thought I'd take a look back at what I did on the past decade of birthdays. Year by year. Get excited.
5/15/99 - Age: 20
My twenties started off great. My friend John had secretly recorded a video with all my friends giving a rough story of my life and testimonials about me. Then in the evening when my friends started arriving at my apartment, one by one, friends who I hadn't seen in weeks, I figured something was up. We had a viewing and it's still one of my favorite birthday presents ever.
5/15/00 - Age: 21
Ah the big 2-1. As was customary among my friends, we were at TGIFridays at midnight for me to buy my first legal alcoholic beverage. It was that Electric Lemonade that always looked so good. Turned out it was not so good, but I followed that up with my first Long Island, and that was tasty.
5/15/01 - Age: 22
This day was celebrated with an early dinner at Island's where K gave me a gift she made, something that was inclusive of all our friends. I remember something incredibly hilarious happening, and I have a picture of everybody at the table laughing. I think we almost caught a shirt on fire from the birthday candle or something. It was quite funny, honestly. Then I had a meeting to be at which was followed by a surprisingly poignant moment for me, given that my college career was coming to an end. A great day.
5/15/02 - Age: 23
Remember how Blink 182 proclaimed that nobody likes you when you're Tweeeeenty Threee? This is what I call "the dark birthday." I was unemployed for months, in horrific temp job that made me want to jab my eyes out with a spoon, it was a Wednesday so there wasn't really anything to do, and my friends were all busy. I didn't go to work that day and instead bought Winnie the Pooh on DVD. A favorite of mine, what sold it was that "A Day for Eeyore" was on it. That's the day I started a new tradition of watching that short on my birthday. It reminds me that even on the gloomiest of days, you can still find joy. And three days later I got an awesome job.
5/15/03 - Age: 24
I had moved to Los Angeles by this point, but still didn't know anyone. I was living with my sister and had a quiet day, elebrating with her and her husband.
5/15/04 - Age: 25
I for some reason have no mental recollection and no iPhoto recollection for this birthday? WHAT DID I DO?!?!
5/15/05 - Age: 26
I was now secure with my new roommates and my new job, both a year old, so maybe "new" isn't the right word. Things were great. I had my friends to Lola's on Fairfax. I bought my "Don't hate me because I'm Awesome" shirt (another tradition I started - wearing that on my birthday every year), and had a great time with a bunch of new friends and a few old ones. I proceeded to have four martinis of various flavors. A few of them ended up on the side of La Brea on the drive home.
5/15/06 - Age: 27
The actual birthday was nice. A few good friends and I went to have dinner in Culver City, and it was actually kind of gross food, but we took some great pictures and then followed it up with karaoke at Boardwalk 11. A few nights later my friends and i went to O-Bar for my big b-day celebration. good times.
5/15/07 - Age: 28
TACO TUESDAY! Dollar tacos, good margaritas, and good friends. What more could I have asked for?
5/15/08 - Age: 29
The actual birthday, KS and I went to Crustacean in Beverly Hills for dinner. It was nice, quiet, and the food was great. The following night I had a party at Eleven in West Hollywood. It was a grand time with great friends, people I hadn't seen in a while, and one awesome friend introduced me to Lance Bass. And then my other friend made me take a picture with him (a meeting ten years in the making!). I'm pretty sure I embarrased myself since I was a wee intoxicated. And I've spent the following year trying to find him again. You know, to...uh...apologize...
Birthdays always remind me how much people like me. And I know that sounds conceited, but I forget sometimes. It's nice to see that people care and offer me their well wishes. So thank you to everyone who have made my birthdays special. I really do appreciate it. And I look forward to the big 3-0 bash tomorrow night!
Friday, May 08, 2009
No, there's no excuse
There is a girl in Sacramento who sent 303,000 text messages in a month on her new iphone. Three hundred and three thousand. She claims she can't help it because she's popular. They break it down to 7 texts a minute.
Yes dear, you can help it. It's called having a conversation. Or having a life other than texting people. Do you text at dinner? While you're hanging with your 'friends' who you texted to meet up? Do you really have that much to say? Txt me the answer.
Yes dear, you can help it. It's called having a conversation. Or having a life other than texting people. Do you text at dinner? While you're hanging with your 'friends' who you texted to meet up? Do you really have that much to say? Txt me the answer.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Save Kermit!
Maybe it's Daniel Craig, maybe it's Harry & William, maybe it's the Dalai Lama, or maybe it's Kermit. But there's something about this ad from the Prince's Rainforests Project that is somewhat inspiring. I mean, if we can't work together for Kermie, what will it take?
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Things from around the web
- Why? Why are people still letting Joe the "Plumber" speak? He needs to go away. Right quick. For so many reasons. Or at least balance it out with me, another irrelevant person with ridiculous views on the world.
- The face transplant is a marvel. It's amazing that doctors can actually do this.
- Star Trek is getting phenomenal reviews. Because I don't want to spoil anything for my friends, I have not said much about the screening I went to the other week. I'll let it's 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes do the speaking for me.
- I'm really excited for Food, Inc. With all the reading I've been doing about our messed up food supply system in America, I'm hoping this helps the word get out. Even if it means my farmer's market will get busier.
- How can you not want Shawn Johnson to win Dancing with the Stars? She's an adorable American treasure!
- Maine is now the 5th state to legalize gay marriage. The California Supreme Court has just a few weeks more to hand down their decision. Six is a good number too right?
- The face transplant is a marvel. It's amazing that doctors can actually do this.
- Star Trek is getting phenomenal reviews. Because I don't want to spoil anything for my friends, I have not said much about the screening I went to the other week. I'll let it's 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes do the speaking for me.
- I'm really excited for Food, Inc. With all the reading I've been doing about our messed up food supply system in America, I'm hoping this helps the word get out. Even if it means my farmer's market will get busier.
- How can you not want Shawn Johnson to win Dancing with the Stars? She's an adorable American treasure!
- Maine is now the 5th state to legalize gay marriage. The California Supreme Court has just a few weeks more to hand down their decision. Six is a good number too right?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Piercing through the lies
This is an excellent and educational video by Rob Tisinai (via Towleroad).
I think everyone should share this with people. Especially those who voted for Proposition 8, maybe it will help them see through the distortions of truth that they're being fed. Pass it on.
I think everyone should share this with people. Especially those who voted for Proposition 8, maybe it will help them see through the distortions of truth that they're being fed. Pass it on.
Conservatives hate silence
The headline is "Conservative groups call for school boycott on Day of Silence."
The article says that conservative Christian groups in New York are encouraging parents to take this children out of school on Friday, the National Day of Silence which was designed to increase tolerance and acceptance of gay kids in schools, where homophobia still runs rampant.
And tell me, Linda, is homophobia a concern to you at all? Do you care that children get mercilessly teased and ridiculed at schools just because they're different? Do you care that children are beaten up and killed by other children because of intolerance? Intolerance that was probably taught by parents like you who teach your kids it's ok to hate others because of who they are?
Let me ask you this, Linda. If your child was beat up for being a Christian, you would consider it a result of intolerance for Christians, am I right? You would cry that it is anti-religious hatred taught by liberal heathens who don't believe in God and you would gather your troops to fight this intolerance in our school system. So why is it that acceptance of all people is a bad thing? We accept you for being who you are, why is it so hard for you to accept others?
If you are so close minded about what you want your children to learn then you should not have sent them to public school. Public school is funded by taxpayers. Both you and gay people. It should be filled with facts and truths unaffected by anyone's political views. The goal of school is to educate our children so that they are successful in the future. But it is also their responsibility to open their minds to all walks of life, both yours AND mine. Because taxpayers should not support intolerance. Ever.
Have your little protest, Linda. One day people are going to look back on things like this and laugh at those who fought a day about peace and tolerance. Because it's just stupid.
The article says that conservative Christian groups in New York are encouraging parents to take this children out of school on Friday, the National Day of Silence which was designed to increase tolerance and acceptance of gay kids in schools, where homophobia still runs rampant.
“This day is not about ‘tolerance’ as it claims, but about forcing propaganda and acceptance of high-risk behavior into the schools with no opposing views allowed,” said Linda Harvey of Mission America.Really, Linda? And what is it you are doing exactly? Certainly not promoting your own propaganda!
And tell me, Linda, is homophobia a concern to you at all? Do you care that children get mercilessly teased and ridiculed at schools just because they're different? Do you care that children are beaten up and killed by other children because of intolerance? Intolerance that was probably taught by parents like you who teach your kids it's ok to hate others because of who they are?
Let me ask you this, Linda. If your child was beat up for being a Christian, you would consider it a result of intolerance for Christians, am I right? You would cry that it is anti-religious hatred taught by liberal heathens who don't believe in God and you would gather your troops to fight this intolerance in our school system. So why is it that acceptance of all people is a bad thing? We accept you for being who you are, why is it so hard for you to accept others?
If you are so close minded about what you want your children to learn then you should not have sent them to public school. Public school is funded by taxpayers. Both you and gay people. It should be filled with facts and truths unaffected by anyone's political views. The goal of school is to educate our children so that they are successful in the future. But it is also their responsibility to open their minds to all walks of life, both yours AND mine. Because taxpayers should not support intolerance. Ever.
Have your little protest, Linda. One day people are going to look back on things like this and laugh at those who fought a day about peace and tolerance. Because it's just stupid.
You think you're crazy?
There's this new movie coming out called Obsessed with Ali Larter and Beyonce Knowles. It looks deliciously trashy and yet I have no desire to see it because Beyonce kind of deters me from anything she does. But her line in the trailer makes me laugh hysterically everytime I hear it.
I actually might be sad when the movie opens because the ads on TV will stop, and they prominently feature this line. I love it.
"You think you'hh crazy? I'll show you crazy."
I actually might be sad when the movie opens because the ads on TV will stop, and they prominently feature this line. I love it.
Monday, April 13, 2009
For the love of Allie
When my alarm goes off for the third time each morning, I tend to turn on the television to wake me up. Years ago I tried turning it on to Fox's Good Day L.A., but between Jillian Barberie and the other woman who perpetually sounds like she just smoked a full pack of cigarettes after going clubbing all night, it just made me want to turn the TV off. So I tried turning to CNN or something interesting, but it didn't work. Then I found the KTLA Morning News.
For me this has become a ritual. I wake up to the same people and get the news I want in 15 minute increments. (I know, I sound like a commercial). The thing I think i like about it is that it's not overly serious, the anchors are good at what they do and can move the show along no matter what technical glitches there are (and there have been a good number recently), and none of them are afraid to make fun of each other.
But I have to say the bright spot of the show these days is Allie MacKay. Is it because she is a good reporter? Is it because after you get used to her sense of humor she's hilarious? Is it because she seems like an intelligent woman who seems pretty normal but with a dash or two of crazy? It's a combination of all of those things.
I know I probably shouldn't have a favorite morning news person, I do have better things to be doing in the morning like going to the gym, but I can't help it. So there. I admit it. I adore Allie MacKay. Think of me what you will.
For me this has become a ritual. I wake up to the same people and get the news I want in 15 minute increments. (I know, I sound like a commercial). The thing I think i like about it is that it's not overly serious, the anchors are good at what they do and can move the show along no matter what technical glitches there are (and there have been a good number recently), and none of them are afraid to make fun of each other.
But I have to say the bright spot of the show these days is Allie MacKay. Is it because she is a good reporter? Is it because after you get used to her sense of humor she's hilarious? Is it because she seems like an intelligent woman who seems pretty normal but with a dash or two of crazy? It's a combination of all of those things.
I know I probably shouldn't have a favorite morning news person, I do have better things to be doing in the morning like going to the gym, but I can't help it. So there. I admit it. I adore Allie MacKay. Think of me what you will.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tales from Chez Zeo - The Bacon Explosion
A few months ago in my blog browsing I came across the recipe for the Bacon Explosion that the guys a BBQAddicts had come up with. I was entranced. Bacon! Wrapped in Bacon! With more Bacon stuffed inside! What wasn't to love? The recipe is so outlandish that it got picked up by newspapers and morning news shows a few weeks after they published it.
So naturally I had to try it. (I wanted to try it before it went mainstream, I wouldn't want anyone thinking I was trying it just to be cool. I was cool before the hype.)
A couple of weeks ago my roommates and I had some people over and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to blow everyone's minds. I certainly wasn't going to eat the whole thing by myself (though trust me, I could have...right before I had a heart attack) and I wanted to share the joy that I expected this to be.
Step one was to create a weave of bacon. Thankfully I have a Boy Scout merit badge in basketweaving (true story) so that came easily to me.
A skill learned at summer camp. But with bacon.
The next step was to sprinkle some BBQ seasoning on the weave (I conveniently had some straight from Rendezvous in Memphis), put two pounds of sausage on top of it in the shape of a square, and sprinkle some cooked bacon on top of that. Toss on a little BBQ sauce (also from Rendezvous) and this is what you get:
So many layers of flavor!
Next: Roll up the sausage.
What rolls one way...
Once that's done, roll it backwards so that you wrap the roll of sausage in the bacon weave.
Must roll the other.
Sprinkle with more seasoning and it's ready to cook!
How good does that look like it's going to taste??
Now, you're supposed to use a smoker and let it smoke for a few hours. It will infuse the pork with flavor and make it moist and juicy. But I don't have a house and/or a yard to house a smoker. So I had to bake it. I know the taste would have been better in a smoker, but I had to work with what I had. Although this has given me serious reason to consider finding a place for a smoker.
Onward...
The crackling Bacon Explosion came out of the oven looking and smelling fantastic. Smothered in some more BBQ sauce it looked even better.
I know, right?
Let's slice that baby open.
Explosion is putting it mildly.
Now let me just tell you, this was something worth beholding. It tasted exactly what you think it would taste like. But better. Salty, porky, BBQy, juicy, a definite explosion in your mouth of flavor. It was a hit around the party and I'm sure at some point in the future I will try it again.
I made a sandwich out of the leftovers and wow. Better than any meatloaf sandwich I've ever had.
I highly recommend trying this out if you're curious and are having a party. Don't attempt to eat the whole thing by yourself. Or even 1/4 of the thing. You'll die. And I don't want to be responsible for that. Consider yourself warned.
So naturally I had to try it. (I wanted to try it before it went mainstream, I wouldn't want anyone thinking I was trying it just to be cool. I was cool before the hype.)
A couple of weeks ago my roommates and I had some people over and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to blow everyone's minds. I certainly wasn't going to eat the whole thing by myself (though trust me, I could have...right before I had a heart attack) and I wanted to share the joy that I expected this to be.
Step one was to create a weave of bacon. Thankfully I have a Boy Scout merit badge in basketweaving (true story) so that came easily to me.
A skill learned at summer camp. But with bacon.The next step was to sprinkle some BBQ seasoning on the weave (I conveniently had some straight from Rendezvous in Memphis), put two pounds of sausage on top of it in the shape of a square, and sprinkle some cooked bacon on top of that. Toss on a little BBQ sauce (also from Rendezvous) and this is what you get:
So many layers of flavor!Next: Roll up the sausage.
What rolls one way...Once that's done, roll it backwards so that you wrap the roll of sausage in the bacon weave.
Must roll the other.Sprinkle with more seasoning and it's ready to cook!
How good does that look like it's going to taste??Onward...
The crackling Bacon Explosion came out of the oven looking and smelling fantastic. Smothered in some more BBQ sauce it looked even better.
I know, right?Let's slice that baby open.
Explosion is putting it mildly.Now let me just tell you, this was something worth beholding. It tasted exactly what you think it would taste like. But better. Salty, porky, BBQy, juicy, a definite explosion in your mouth of flavor. It was a hit around the party and I'm sure at some point in the future I will try it again.
I made a sandwich out of the leftovers and wow. Better than any meatloaf sandwich I've ever had.
I highly recommend trying this out if you're curious and are having a party. Don't attempt to eat the whole thing by yourself. Or even 1/4 of the thing. You'll die. And I don't want to be responsible for that. Consider yourself warned.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A WTF Moment: Aren't we in a drought?
California is having a water shortage right? Water rates are rising in Los Angeles, right? So a few questions then:
1) Why does this guy in the parking lot outside my office have to hose down his entire lot once a day? Is he bored? Does he think it looks cleaner? I understand taking pride in your workplace, but you don't need to spend half an hour hosing down the big concrete lot EVERY DAY. For some reason it's been irritating me all day, to the point where I want to steal his hose and replace it with a broom. Or at least get him a spray nozzle.
2) If said shortage is as bad as they are forecasting, why on earth are there people all over the city spray washing the sidewalks? Two days ago there was a guy spraying the same sidewalk displayed in the picture above. Yesterday on Vine Street I passed another guy who was spray washing, this one taking at least 20 to 30 seconds to spray off the white sign painted above the drain (the one that says "give a hoot, don't pollute...the ocean" or something like that). Then on the way home I saw another guy spraying outside a part of Santa Monica Blvd that no one really walks on.
I should speak with someone at the city. Because really, no matter how much you clean the sidewalk, it's not going to look pretty.
Unless you're in Beverly Hills. Those things are spotless!
1) Why does this guy in the parking lot outside my office have to hose down his entire lot once a day? Is he bored? Does he think it looks cleaner? I understand taking pride in your workplace, but you don't need to spend half an hour hosing down the big concrete lot EVERY DAY. For some reason it's been irritating me all day, to the point where I want to steal his hose and replace it with a broom. Or at least get him a spray nozzle.
2) If said shortage is as bad as they are forecasting, why on earth are there people all over the city spray washing the sidewalks? Two days ago there was a guy spraying the same sidewalk displayed in the picture above. Yesterday on Vine Street I passed another guy who was spray washing, this one taking at least 20 to 30 seconds to spray off the white sign painted above the drain (the one that says "give a hoot, don't pollute...the ocean" or something like that). Then on the way home I saw another guy spraying outside a part of Santa Monica Blvd that no one really walks on.
I should speak with someone at the city. Because really, no matter how much you clean the sidewalk, it's not going to look pretty.
Unless you're in Beverly Hills. Those things are spotless!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Closed Book
These are tough times in our economy, as we know. Former retail giants like Circuit City and Mervyn's have closed and are now just memories in the wind. When one of these stores go out of business some people are sad, but most aren't because they don't have an emotional connection to a chain store.
The same can't be said about independent stores though. With the news that The Cook's Library is closing, I'm sad about the small businesses that are driven away not just because of the economy, but because of behemoth stores. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but there is something really nice and comforting about going into a small bookstore. You get people that really care about the experience of browsing and of finding something new.
It's also nice to have a store like this dedicated to one topic. I've only been in The Cook's Library a few times, but each time there were at least a dozen books I wanted (but didn't) buy. But when I was in there surrounded by books about cooking, books about things I didn't even know they could write books about, it inspired me and made me want to have all different kinds of culinary adventures. I don't get that experience in a large bookstore.
A Different Light bookstore in West Hollywood is also closing, and though I never really went there it's still a sign of the times that we keep moving away from small businesses that support a community and towards a large warehouse type store (internet included). Whether this is good or bad, it's hard to say. But these places were special and hopefully can one day fight their way back to a triumphant return.
The same can't be said about independent stores though. With the news that The Cook's Library is closing, I'm sad about the small businesses that are driven away not just because of the economy, but because of behemoth stores. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but there is something really nice and comforting about going into a small bookstore. You get people that really care about the experience of browsing and of finding something new.
It's also nice to have a store like this dedicated to one topic. I've only been in The Cook's Library a few times, but each time there were at least a dozen books I wanted (but didn't) buy. But when I was in there surrounded by books about cooking, books about things I didn't even know they could write books about, it inspired me and made me want to have all different kinds of culinary adventures. I don't get that experience in a large bookstore.
A Different Light bookstore in West Hollywood is also closing, and though I never really went there it's still a sign of the times that we keep moving away from small businesses that support a community and towards a large warehouse type store (internet included). Whether this is good or bad, it's hard to say. But these places were special and hopefully can one day fight their way back to a triumphant return.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
L.A. Oddity - L.A. Tigers
There are a lot of things I don't understand about Los Angeles (Thursday traffic, anyone?), but I think the most perplexing is the existence of L.A. Tigers.
Every day on my way home I pass by this tiny store at the corner of La Brea and Venice, and if it's out, their satellite location at Highland and Melrose, on the corner by the gas station. I know that people sell a lot of things on corners here in LA: art, flowers, naranjas, etc., but those are all things I might actually need. But stuffed tigers? Is there really a large enough market out there that they actually have a storefront?
According to the reviews on Yelp, I'm not the only one who is perplexed by this store's existence. The thing is, it's more often closed than open (or maybe they're just set up in various other locations) and I can't figure out where they put all the tigers that aren't adopted. That little kiosk-like store doesn't look that large, though maybe it has some sort of magic-carpet-bag quality that I'm unaware of.
I suppose I shouldn't be so quick to judge and could stop by one evening just to check it out. Who knows, maybe I'll be charmed and greet my roommates upon my arrival at home holding a cuddly tiger. Stranger things have happened.
Who else wants one?
Every day on my way home I pass by this tiny store at the corner of La Brea and Venice, and if it's out, their satellite location at Highland and Melrose, on the corner by the gas station. I know that people sell a lot of things on corners here in LA: art, flowers, naranjas, etc., but those are all things I might actually need. But stuffed tigers? Is there really a large enough market out there that they actually have a storefront?
According to the reviews on Yelp, I'm not the only one who is perplexed by this store's existence. The thing is, it's more often closed than open (or maybe they're just set up in various other locations) and I can't figure out where they put all the tigers that aren't adopted. That little kiosk-like store doesn't look that large, though maybe it has some sort of magic-carpet-bag quality that I'm unaware of.
I suppose I shouldn't be so quick to judge and could stop by one evening just to check it out. Who knows, maybe I'll be charmed and greet my roommates upon my arrival at home holding a cuddly tiger. Stranger things have happened.
Who else wants one?
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