| Thursday, November 19th, 2009 |
| 11:36 am |
Call Congress TODAY about ENDA
The fate of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will be decided by YOU! TODAY & TOMORROW CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE! The bill should be moving in the House shortly after Thanksgiving, but it’s critical that our elected officials hear from us TODAY to ensure that all LGBT people are protected from workplace discrimination once and for all. Just follow these three steps: 1) Call the Capital Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to speak to your representative. (If you’re not sure who your representative is, simply give the operator your zip code and they will connect you.) 2) Follow this script: My name is _____ and I’m a proud FAITH VOICE in (your city, state). As a (your faith/spiritual identity) I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017) to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. No one should have to fear losing their job simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Please pass ENDA THIS year. Thank you for your time. 3) Go back to step 1 and call your senators — we need to make our voice for equality as loud as possible. |
| Friday, November 13th, 2009 |
| 4:41 pm |
Dr Horrible
Yesterday, the wife and I watched Joss Wheden's* "Dr Horrible."** Neil Patrick Harris stars as supervilan Dr Horrible who is trying to join the Evil League in this musical comedy that also features Nathan Fillion of "Firefly" fame as Dr Horrible's nemesis Captain Hammer. Joss wrote this during the writer's strike while he was bored. I highly recommend it: http://www.drhorrible.com/*Joss Wheden also created "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (movie and TV series), "Angel," "Firefly" (TV) and "Serenity" (movie), and "Dollhouse" (this last one was just canceled after 1.5 seasons). ** Not to be confused with the They Might Be Giants song "Mr. Horrible." |
| 3:29 pm |
Birthday Karma
Happy Birthday everyone! Consider this your happy birthday wish for the entire year. I have now completed by birthday karma. :) |
| Monday, November 9th, 2009 |
| 3:27 pm |
10 years!
Lexi and I have been together 10 years. November 7 was the anniversary of the day I asked her out. We've been married 3 1/2 years. |
| Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 |
| 1:15 pm |
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| Thursday, October 29th, 2009 |
| 4:11 pm |
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| Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 |
| 2:30 pm |
Free Pakistani Slaves
ACTION ALERT: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has begun a three-day visit to Pakistan as a hostage crisis is unfolding near the city of Hyderabad. Time Magazine reports this week that scores of bonded-labor slaves are being held at gunpoint after going to court to win their freedom. Slaveholders are threatening to kill the hostages unless they drop their court cases. Some of the hostages are children. One hostage has reportedly been killed. Please urge Secretary Clinton to use her influence with Pakistani officials to secure the release of the hostages. Call the U.S. State Department in Washington today: 202-647-6575, Extension 1. Here's a link to the Time Magazine article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1932723,00.html |
| Monday, October 26th, 2009 |
| 12:52 pm |
Call to Activism
Four years ago, Jamie Leigh Jones was drugged and gang-raped, vaginally and anally, while working for defense contractor KBR (a subsidiary of Halliburton at the time) in Iraq. She then was locked in a shipping container without food, water or medical treatment in an attempt to keep the story quiet. She was unable to sue KBR for sex discrimination in open court because KBR was one of many companies with government contracts that require employees to sign individual contracts barring lawsuits and forcing mandatory binding arbitration, where the company almost always wins. Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) amendment to a defense appropriations bill pending in Congress restores women's rights to jury trials when employed by a company with a government contract. This amendment is in jeopardy, thanks to the lobbying of Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Daniel Inouye (D -Hawaii) by deep-pocketed defense contractors. Take action NOW! Please take time now to call the Appropriations Committee office to demand that Sen. Inouye keep the Franken Amendment in the defense appropriations bill. Your Message Please call the office of the Defense Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee NOW before it's too late. The staff member who is handling this issue is Nicole DiResta, and her direct line is 202-224-3506. Make sure to leave a message if you reach voice mail. If Ms. DiResta's voice mail fills up, the main number is 202-224-6688. Please note: Sen. Inouye's name is pronounced "In-uh-way." Sample talking points for your call: I am calling because I am a supporter of equal rights for women, including the right to be free from violence and to seek justice through the courts. I am concerned that Senator Al Franken's amendment to the defense appropriations bill may be taken out or watered down. Right now, government contractors are denying workers the right to sue in public court if they are sexually assaulted while on the job. This amendment restores that right. Jamie Leigh Jones' story demonstrates what happens to women when they are denied worker's rights. Jones worked for defense contractor KBR in Iraq, where she reportedly was drugged and gang-raped by her male co-workers. In an attempt to cover up the activities of its employees, KBR had Jones locked in a shipping container without food, water or medical treatment. When Jones tried to sue KBR, she was told that due to a clause in her contract she was only allowed private arbitration, with no public transcript of the proceedings. Therefore, no judge or jury would ever hear her case. I am shocked by media reports that claim Appropriations Chair Senator Inouye is planning to water down or eliminate this critically important amendment. Please tell Senator Inouye to stand up to big defense contractors who want to change this bill so that they can continue to avoid responsibility for the violation of women's rights. Tell Sen. Inouye: You voted for this amendment because you know it's right. Please don't take it out of the bill. Women are counting on you. Thank you for your time. |
| Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 |
| 3:16 pm |
Meme from BeckaandZac
The problem with LJ: we all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your LJ and find out what people don't know about you. |
| 1:36 pm |
International Talk Like a Quaker Day
Friends, I am pleased to announce that Tenth Month 24 (10/24/09) will be the third annual International Talk Like a Quaker Day. Basically, this is a day to use Plain Speech (thee/thy instead of you/your) and/or talk about Quaker principles, such as peace and equality. I had no idea how popular this event would get when I first created it, so let's keep the Light shining! Here are some examples: ITLAQ Day is the 24th day of Tenth Month and it is Seventh Day (of the week). Mind the Light. Friend Obama, thy policy of increasing troop levels in Afghanistan is not in keeping with the Peace Testimony. I have posed myself a query in the spirit of John Woolman and William Penn: where among my possessions and actions are the seeds of war and what I am doing to change that? (PS- There is a Facebook page International Talk Like a Quaker Day!) |
| Thursday, October 15th, 2009 |
| 11:27 am |
Very Busy Week
Last night I went to the last CROP Walk volunteer meeting. This morning and later today I have/had doctor's visits. Saturday I'm going to the AFSC Together in Faith conference (which is a long drive away). Sunday/First Day is Business Meeting, which I think I will skip, but I'll probably go to Meeting for Worship. I have to learn immediatly after Meeting ends because I've volunteering at then walking in CROP Walk. I've been doing a LOT of walking lately, with the AIDS Walk not too long ago and the National Equality March this past weekend. |
| Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 |
| 11:27 am |
March on DC
The National Equality March for LGBT rights was a huge success! My parents said it got really good coverage in "The Washington Post." I heard estimates from 50,000 to 150,000 participants (although I think reality is most likely toward the lower end). The organizers' website http://equalityacrossamerica.org/blog/?page_id=19 is reporting 250,000. Our group from Michigan brought 110 people in two charter buses. Folks came from all over the state, so we were really representative. Lexi and I became (unexpectedly) bus captains for the U of M bus. Then, we ended up with seven people, besides ourselves, staying at my parents' house. My parents' dogs loved it, of course. We were also very happy to visit with my parents, sister, other relatives, Ro, Eri and Julie. Hi everyone! |
| Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 |
| 1:29 pm |
A long day
Last night I got home at 10:15 pm. After working a 10-hour day and staying at the office until 7 pm*, I went home to let the dogs outside and feed them. Then, I went to the U of M campus for a meeting of those of us organizing the buses from Michigan to DC for the National Equality March. There I learned that I'm riding a different bus than I thought I was, which means I get to be the one to give a speech to the riders about non-violence and what NOT to do on the Metro. After the meeting I went home and started to take the trash bin and recycle bins back inside (yesterday was trash/compost/recycling pick up day) when I get a call from Lexi. She was finally done with class and her library research but due to the hour and the rain, couldn't take the bus home and would I please come to campus to pick her up? So, I put the dogs back in their beds, got back in the car and drove back to campus. Is it any wonder that I accidentally slept in this morning after dreaming that a friend dragged me to a hardware store and I was worried about my hair being dirty? *We had a drum circle for the youth, which was organized by a local professional drum circle leader. The event was really cool and the youth really enjoyed it but after already working 8.5 hours, I was rather exhausted. |
| Monday, October 5th, 2009 |
| 9:03 pm |
National Equality March
Lexi and I will be at the March in DC this weekend. Who else is going? It's organized by Cleve Jones who is a Quaker! |
| Monday, September 28th, 2009 |
| 2:54 pm |
My birthday
Tomorrow is my birthday. In lieu of presents, please make a donation for the buses to the National Equality March on Washington, DC via http://www.mdplgbt.org. |
| Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 |
| 3:48 pm |
Washtenaw Community Service Opportunity
Community Service Opportunity: weed the Ypsi Senior Center's Garden Sat, Oct 3, 10 am to 12:30 pm. Free pizza! 1015 N Congress, Ypsilanti This event is sponsored by the Washtenaw Youth Mentoring Coalition and is open to people of ages and abilities. |
| Thursday, September 17th, 2009 |
| 12:19 pm |
When I was a kid...
My parents played Peter, Paul and Mary tapes in the car whenever they drove. Sometimes they played Holly Near or Pete Seeger. Mary died last night. |
| 12:14 pm |
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| Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 |
| 6:42 pm |
Torchwood
Lexi and I have now watched "Torchwood: Children of Earth." You may now feel free to post comments and spoilers. I will also entertain a discussion via comments to this posting. |
| 5:56 pm |
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