Open Thread – New York Pride Photo Album
We were lucky to have not one, but two Mudflatters in the Big Apple this past weekend, enjoying the various Pride events happening around the city. New Yorkers had something extra to celebrate – the passage of a bill in the state legislature legalizing same-sex marriage.
First, we had Mudflatter “Wormtongue” who went to the Gay Pride Parade and got some shots of the politicos who came to celebrate. There were several. This first one was a surprise! OK, it’s an impersonator, but still… That’s pretty good.
~Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Christine Quinn (City Council Speaker) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
~David Patterson on the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality float
~Senator Chuck Schumer
And our New York Bureau Chief, and honorary adopted Alaskan Zach Roberts was at a drag march in the West Village. He got some great shots. I picked some of my favorites, but there are many more on his Flickr page HERE.
Congratulations New York!
This is both infuriating and heartbreaking.
Infuriating that the people responsible will not go to prison, and heartbreaking because 29 lives were callously sacrificed for bigger profits. Federal investigators looking into the 2010 mine disaster in Kentucky found that:
“Mine owner Massey Energy kept two sets of records that chronicled safety problems. One internal set of production reports detailed those problems and how they delayed coal production. But the other records, which are reviewed by federal mine safety inspectors and required by federal law, failed to mention the same safety hazards.”
And Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is one of the crowd calling for a reduction or elimination of federal regulations. I’d like to see him try to justify that to the families of those 29 miners. Corporations who HAVE the government looking at them try to get away with safety violations. Can you imagine what it would be like if there were no federal regulations?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/29/989772/-Two-sets-of-safety-records-at-Upper-Big-Branch-mine?via=blog_1
Attention Alaskans!! This was in my inbox when I got home:
Dear [Zyxomma],
Come help get the word out: Alaskans cannot trade wild salmon for coal to power Asian economies. Join us on Thursday, June 30 at 6pm to learn more about the proposed Chuitna Coal Strip Mine and write letters to the editor at volunteer parties in Homer and Anchorage.
What:
Letter-writing party and tasty snacks!
When:
Thursday, June 30, 6PM
Where:
Anchorage: Sierra Club Office, 750 W 2nd Ave, Ste 100
Homer: Cook Inletkeeper Office, 3734 Ben Walters Lane
For more information contact:
Anchorage:
Maya, maya@alaskacoal.org
907.744.5097
Homer:
Liana, liana@alaskacoal.org
262.483.7161
http://www.chuitna.org
©2011 Chuitna Citizens Coalition
My birthday dinner date with the boyfriend was superb — I took photos of each course.
I am proud of New York. Every step forward in ensuring equality for all Americans is a precious victory.
This made me so very sad today:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/06/natives-targeted-most-for-hate-crimes/
We have such a lot of work to do on so many fronts.
I think I need to rest a bit . Just worn down with it all.
I see Ohioians have delivered over ONE MILLION signatures to place the union busting bill on hold until a votor referendum can be voted on in the next election… methinks there will be a few REpublicans in the unemployment line during the next election cycle….
This is SOOO cool!!! For anyone who still doesn’t believe the intimate connection between math and music, check this out.
It’s is an amazing video of musicians playing a composition based on the mathematical constant Tau (don’t ask me what it’s used for…I don’t understand it even after looking it up on a math reference website!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3174T-3-59Q&feature=player_embedded#at=85
More proof that the schools that are reducing or eliminating their music programs have it all WRONG and will ultimately harm their math programs as well.
I’m so proud of New York and very happy about this vote. It’s so refreshing to have sanity nearby.
When ya can’t stand that obnoxious yahoo you have as governor any more, come on up and visit!
Des Moines Register has an article about Pella and the Palin film with some interesting comments afterwards. Pretty much the love/hate she generates where ever she goes.. She couldn’t have picked a much more conservative location to find adulation.
Happy PRIDE everyone!
…always a great clebration in NYC! I made it in 2002…
This year I volunteered for the San Francisico Pride Celebration. In part I worked the parade and the Pink Brick Booth. The ‘Pink Brick’ repersents the 1st brick thrown at the Stonewall Inn (rebellion) – in NYC. The Pride Committee gives this yearly ‘faux’ award to the person or organization that has done significant harm to LGBT communties.
PASTOR LOU ENGLE IS THIS YEARS DISHONOREE (What a damanged man)
…at the booth, we asked everyone to write a ‘special’ comment to him – expressing their point of view, congrating him, whateva’. I was suprised that lots of people DID NOT KNOW about him/who he is….NOW they do.
BOY! Lots of wonderful comments….
Oh one past winner is none other than…Miss South Carolina….and her OPPOSITE MARRIAGE crap!
OMG Bachmann is stealing Bristol’s Mom’s LOOK
http://www.mediaite.com/online/bristol-palin-michele-bachmann-totally-stole-my-moms-look/
No Bachmann fan here, but she certainly does wear less makeup than Palin slathers on. And so far I haven’t seen her in a red jacket with hair swept up, wearing glasses. Sorry Palins, I’ve been around a looooong time, long enough to hear that “red” was Nancy’s color. I’m sure if Bachmann gets the nomination then the Palins will say it was stolen from them.
I’ve noticed a lot of nutter pols following Palin’s lead of running off at the mouth with out actually saying anything. I’ll give credit where credit is due. Sarah’s jaw-jacking at a hunnert miles per hour and her brain is in neutral.
Love the way Bachmann hilariously hands out the headline that everyone’s already thinking anyway:
Bachmann on Palin: Not going to give media ‘a mud-wrestling fight’
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-bachmann-palin-20110629,0,1966174.story
Great way to maintain dignity, eh?
Palin’s indecision:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-leadership/post/sarah-palin-campaign-liability-from-movie-to-bus-tour-to-indecision/2011/04/01/AGAWsnqH_blog.html
Interesting article from Yahoo News suggesting crows are smarter than Rethugs,because crows can recognize the face of evil and react to it. Some students in Washington state wore a caveman mask when they caught and released some wild crows. They would then wear different masks around campus and the crows would be upset with the caveman mask wearer. After five years even more crows reacted adversely to cave man mask. A Dick Cheney mask was used as a placebo and elicited no response. I say wait until crows can read and Cheney will get his. This is mostly true.
Hear that, CrowWoman?
LOL!
While NY takes a giant leap forward, OH takes the same sized leap backwards. Ohio has now made it illegal to have an abortion if a heartbeat can be detected via ultrasound. The next step is to pass a bill making it illegal for insurance to pay for an abortion. I am FED UP with these idiots.
Un-freaking real. I thought these people didn’t want government interfering in private matters, not to mention free enterprise (insurance)?
Time for everyone to stock up on Plan B, in addition to having plenty of condoms on hand. Are contraceptive sponges still available in the US? The internet?
http://planbonestep.com
Something easy:
http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8
“So, today, I am asking the American people that, if you believe deficit reduction should be about shared sacrifice; if you believe the wealthiest people in our country and the largest corporations should be asked to pay their fair share as part of deficit reduction; if you believe that, at a time when military spending has almost tripled since 1997, that we begin to take a hard look at our defense budget; and if you believe the middle-class and working families have already sacrificed enough, I urge you to make sure that the President hears your voice–and he needs to hear it now.
I would urge the American people to go to my Web site, sanders.senate.gov, and sign a letter to the President letting him know that enough is enough…”
Signed it. Thanks!
Done. Thanks.
I heard a right wing radio talking head complaining that this is an attack on marriage, and an assault on his religion. The odd part to me is this. Not once has a gay person knocked on the door of my house, asked me to divorce my spouse, and convert to being gay. However, over the years, I have had dozens and dozens of people representing various religions knock on my door, and ask me to convert to their ideology.
Stop with that logic, you! You’re not getting into the spirit of the things, thinking and all…
Thomson & Aukofer’s Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith.
http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Believe-God-ebook/dp/B0053VLW3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309365335&sr=1-1
Quick and easy read summarizing current science regarding how neural networks, brain locales, and the raft of neurotransmitters promote…imaginary friends, shall we say.
Scary.
Yeah, I heard some guy arguing that the other night and I don’t get it either. Whether I agree or not with gay marriage, I fail to see how that has any impact or influence on my own marriage or church. It is just an odd point of view. It must be based on something but they aren’t doing a very good job of explaining it. Then again, it is hard to explain things that make no sense whatsoever.
Pat says: “It is just an odd point of view. It must be based on something but they aren’t doing a very good job of explaining it.”
When something doesn’t make sense, very often bullshit is involved. And the anti-gay crusaders are FULL of it. They just always need to have a scapegoat to demonize..as long as it’s not a “sin” they themselves could easily be guilty of. You really think these people would ever come out swinging (er, no pun intended) for an amendment banning adultery? Or divorce???
Good point! And some you just can’t get rid of. Imagine if a gay person came to your door and was as hard to get rid of as a Jehovah’s Witness!
Over the year, I’ve tried various things to thwart the JWs. Here are a few, the last two being the most effective.
1. When we were exploring the Jewish faith, we put a Star of David in the window after clearing doing so with a local cantor for whom i worked as a secretary at the time. Sad to say, even when pointed it out, some of the JWs didn’t know what it represented. It certainly did not stop them.
2. Later, when beginning our exploration of Buddhism, we simply told the JVs (and others) that we were Buddhists. Sigh. We had to explain that as well to some of them, and once again, they did not stop.
3. This was more effective: I praised them for following their faith because we, too, followed our own spiritual path as fervently. I wished them well but simply said “thank you for your concern, but we are not interested.” The visits slowed down.
4. The last was fun and no one, I repeat no one has knocked on our door since: I responded with great enthusiasm, shoot their hands and told them to come in because I wanted to share my faith with them – one that, in my opinion, was even better than theirs. I told them that I was so very glad they’d stop by because I just hunger to have the chance to convert people to my faith. Being more enthusiastic than they themselves were, seemed to make them uneasy and they backed away as fast as they could — stopping by the curb to note our house number
before scurrying down the block. (Mind you, I would have had to invent something on the spot if they had come in, but I think I could have pulled it off.)
I was never dishonest or disrespectful of their faith, but I found that fighting fire with fire the only way to get them leave us alone.
A friend of mine was one cleaning her shotgun when JWs came to the door. Without even thinking of it, she opened the door with the shotgun cradled in one arm. JWs left quickly, and never returned.
I’m gonna try that method… will let you know how it works.. 🙂
There was a letter to the editor in my local paper last week (just got to read it today) regarding same-sex marriage. Keep in mind that this was before the bill passed so I’m sure this man really has his panties in a twist this week!
The writer asked if it was against the Constitution’s guarantee of the right to practice religion to “impose a law to anyone who, guided by his religious beliefs, cannot in good conscience comply with such law”. He goes on to say that passing this law would “threaten religion and freedom in our state.” He talks about “every activity where marriage affects society” and if “people of goodwill” will have to betray their conscience.
I’m not sure what rights he has that would be taken away by this law. No one is forcing HIM to marry another man. No one is forcing his church to perform marriages of same sex couples. No one is forcing his church to accept same sex couples into their congregation.
I’d love to know exactly what he was hoping to do that he can’t do now and I wonder if whatever that was would be considered ‘Christian’ by Jesus himself!
I heart NY!
Economics commentary can be richly funny:
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2011/06/hoisted-from-comments-economics-as-science.html
The goldbuggery paragraph is worth a grin all on its own.
If you haven’t seen these volcano photos,they are much prettier than me. Better personality,too still yet,I might add. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/jun/05/chile-volcano-eruption-in-pictures#/?picture=3754072468/index=0
I goofed on the address-it should read 375407246&index=o. Beautiful Chile volcanic eruption and accompanying electrical storms.
Many thanks, Mike, for the link. I’ve sent that page to friends and family and to a person, they are grateful to see such stunning photographs.
BTW — no human could be prettier or have more explosive personality traits than Mother Nature, so don’t go running yourself down. You are a wonderful addition to mudflats.
Dear heavens…
Posted at 03:48 PM ET, 06/28/2011
Michele Bachmann’s radical position on minimum wage
By Greg Sargent
This morning, Michele Bachmann confirmed on Good Morning America that she could support abolishing the Federal minimum wage. That’s an actual substantive position that offers a window into Bachmann’s ideology and worldview. But judging by the media chatter today, her John Wayne flub is still being widely viewed as far more newsworthy.
Clear back to Raygun times,getting rid of the minimum wage was part of Rethuglican’s crusade against workers. Dems would want a raise for poor folks,Rethuglicans demanded and usually got tax breaks for business and wealthy persons. The Des Moines Register did a piece on Medicare recently about how the arguments have not changed since 1965. Iowa had two Rethug Senators in 1965 and both voted against creating Medicare because it was Socialized Medicine. Sound familiar?
My husband suggested that the one thing that would have made that parade perfect would to have a Michelle Bachmann impersonator walking alongside the Sarah Palin impersonator and to see them holding each other’s hands with maybe a big kiss every now and then.
I would only add that it would make me even happier to see an endless loop of that scene shown on every political news show from now until the primaries (and beyond if necessary). Just knowing it would steam both ladies would make me smile every single day at the thought of it.
I like the way your husband thinks! 😉
I am neither a New Yorker nor gay, but looking at these pictures gave me an incredible rush of pride and solidarity. After the New York decision, we should all feel a little more free. Good work, youse guys!
((Mag))
It’s my birthday, and I’m very proud of my state.
Happy Birthday, Zyxomma! May you have many, many more and all them find you happy and vibrant and in good health.
Happy Birthday and may you get lots of hugs and good wishes!
Happy Birthday!
happy birthday Zyx. we have a great deal to be proud of.
Happy Birthday! ((zyx))
Shocker!
Astrophysicist Dr Willie Soon, one of the most prominent climate change skeptics, has admitted to taking money from oil and coal industries. And not just a paltry little token, but more than ONE MILLION DOLLARS over the past decade. And gee, it seems as though I’ve heard the names of some of his most generous benefactors before: ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Insitute and Koch Industries. Yup, the Amazing Koch Brothers are at it again!
http://www.americablog.com/2011/06/high-profile-climate-change-skeptic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Americablog+(AMERICAblog)
goodness me, who would of thunk?
I sincerely thank you too 🙂
Has anyone seen ‘the movie’ yet? I’m curious if the SP’s rant on those mean and hateful hollywood people is based on anything actually in the movie? Did someone say her children should be killed?
Just curious.
I’m just interested to know how many attended! ‘course most of those may have had gratis tickets, too, so you really can’t know for sure. I did read somewhere that those outside the theater were folks that both had and did not have tickets. Just showed up out of curiosity.
Also wonder how many books Mother and Daughter sold today? How awful for Bristol if Sarah’s book outsold hers. I hope the whole thing was a big flop, but do feel sorry for Bristol with her own mom upstaging her like this. On the other hand, maybe no one would show up just for Bristol. Sad.
Silly me! I remember now reading that Sarah wouldn’t sign a book unless the person had also bought Bristol’s
I’ve never been a fan of all the various beauty pageants but this video just blew my mind.
Apparently, the contestants in the Miss USA 2011 were asked if they believed evolution should be taught in schools. Now, I understand that, like politicians, contestants are taught to give answers that are as inoffensive and vague as possible, but this video completely floored me. I could only bear to watch a few of them (Georgia to NC) but am shocked that even the women from very blue states (like NY!) that have less of a conservative religious influence were talking about MAYBE including evolution as part of teaching ‘all perpectives’ and letting kids decide what to believe.
SORRY but NO…kids do NOT get to decide if they believe evolution is accepted science, based on mountains of evidence. I apologize if I’m offending anyone here who’s religious, but creationism and ID should NOT be taught in public school. There are plenty of religious institutions that are welcome to teach whatever stories they want, but public schools need to teach the most provable SCIENTIFIC theory we have, which is backed up by overwhelming evidence spanning millions of years. If parents are so offended by evolution being taught in their schools, they are welcome to put their children in religious schools or home school them, but DON’T expect the public schools to start promoting fictional stories from a really old book as being as factual as the theory of evolution which has had thousands of scientists over hundreds of years finding evidence to back it up as the real deal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_61453&v=UkBmhM0R2A0&feature=iv
Thank you Leenie17.
Bill Maher did a good piece on this on Real Time. He said (I’m paraphrasing, this is from memory), Don’t ask beauty pageant contestants about evolution! They know about spray tans, fake boobs, and baton twirling — and nothing else!
Bill Maher is the smartest guy on television. He has the spine to call things for what they are.
Hey, don’t forget the Lt Governor, Bob Duffy, marching behind Cuomo! He’s the very, very tall one (who was banging the gavel in the midst of the celebration after the vote was announced the other night). He used to be the Mayor of Rochester and, as happy as I am that he’s in state government now, we do miss him!
Wonderful photos.
Who managed to make it a sunny day for the parade? I want that kind of pull!
Great photos. Great day. Great piece of legislation.
Now if only other states would open their minds and hearts.