Random: August 2004 Archives

So, some group kidnapped some French people in Iraq, are holding them hostage, and are threatening to decapitate them unless they... no, not leave Iraq...no, not agree to put pressure on the United States to leave Iraq... no, it's unless the French government agrees to rescind the headscarf ban in France's schools!

So, OK. On the one hand, I don't like that ban. It seems really invasive and unfair, and it's certainly a reminder that France's definition of secular is rather more restrictive on personal freedoms than ours is (or was.)

On the other hand... this also seems proof that the group behind it has no productive goals whatsoever. This tactic plays right into Bush's hands. It was so considerate of them to pull this nasty little stunt right before the GOP convention, so the chickenhawks there can point to it and say, "See? They really do hate freedom!" It's also designed to reinforce a bad image of Islam in the world's eyes. The French government can say that it justifies their policy.

Good going, guys!

Really, this has been a horrible week for the three major monotheistic religions. The Jewish community has gotten a bunch of embarrassing news too. That Paris JCC fire? It was set by a Jewish ex-employee. Then there's the Doug Feith office/AIPAC scandal a-brewing. And last but not least, the "God's Own Party" Convention in New York (yes, somebody really said that.) Hey, guys, when you alienate a normally loyal group like the Log Cabin Republicans, you've fucked up. MKay?

I can't think of anything more intelligent to say about it all then "Feh."

From an evening wandering around San Francisco.

Pictures I took at Michael's office party, which was on a houseboat in Sausalito.

While we're all distracted by the Swift Boat controversy, nobody has to notice that teens were abused at Abu Ghraib, that the new overtime rules screw over workers, that the war in Iraq continues unabated...

Forgeddaboutit!

The California Supreme Court declared that San Francisco's same-sex-marriage ceremonies earlier this year were invalid, because the city didn't have the authority to buck the state law.

But:

In its decision, the justices focused on whether the mayor had the authority to marry gays rather than the broader arguments whether the state constitution must allow gay marriage.

Briefs in a lawsuit on the broader issue are expected before a lower court next month and the state Supreme Court said it was not signalling its views on that case.

"Should the current California statutes limiting marriage to a man and a woman ultimately be repealed or be held unconstitutional, the affected couples then would be free to obtain lawfully authorised marriage licenses," the court said.

Gavin was just (slightly) ahead of his time, I think, and I'm still glad he did what he did. Hopefully people will eventually come to their senses and realize that it's foolish and wrong to tell consenting adults that they can't marry their equally adult and consenting partners, or give rights to some families, but not others.

Funny.

Not so funny. Scary, in fact.

Today's spam (caught by our spam-blocking service) was a message with the choice heading "a vagina - date one today."

I enjoyed imagining what the actual text of the thing would say.

"Want the convenience of the female genital region without the inconvenience of having to deal with the rest of her?"

"Your fantastic plastic pocket pal!"

Hey, I'm good at this! Or maybe I'm just really weird.

Delete!