...because the "Real ID" passed.
Call me paranoid, and I've said this before, but we're inches away from tattooed barcodes.
Yeah, Yeah, I know... it's to fight terrorism. Well, bullshit. It's making our police force and millitary into the SS. How is "show me your "Real ID" different than "Papers, please," when you get down to brass tacks?
I love "Real ID," too. I'm amazed they didn't call it "iId," what with that iPod being so trendy with the kids these days.
Only three Republicans had the brass ones to vote against it; from what I can tell, no Democrats voted "Yea."
So much for privacy.
(Via Bob. Cross-posted from my blog.)
UPDATE: There's still time. The chances are slim, but hey, if we make enough noise...
Grab yer ankles, America
The Nuclear Option Threatens...
By all accounts, the trigger on the nuclear option is due to be pulled this week, unless the GOP and the Dems can reach some kind of compromise. The AP reports that, according to Chuck Hagel (R-Neb), who may well be the last remotely reasonable Republican in the entirety of the American government, Bill Frist and Harry Reid are still meeting and discussing a possible eleventh-hour compromise.
I really hope Harry’s giving ’em hell.
Meanwhile, Hagel, who notes…
"My goodness, you've got 100 United States senators. Some of us might be moderately intelligent enough to figure this out. … We need to work through this."…and…
“[Y]ou can't give up a minority rights tool in the interest of the country, like the filibuster.”…and…
"The Republicans' hands aren't clean on this either. What we did with Bill Clinton's nominees - about 62 of them - we just didn't give them votes in committee or we didn't bring them up.”…still hasn’t decided whether to endorse the nuclear option. What a sad state of affairs, what poor governing we truly have, when there are people who will admit they know something is wrong and yet still go along with it if enough political pressure is put on them. (See also: Dems, Iraq War Vote.)
Sunday Eddie Izzard Blogging
Eddie Izzard on Lying:
Everyone fucking lies! When we were kids we lied our heads off! “I didn’t do it! I was… I wasn’t… I was dead at the time! I was on the moon! With Steve!” And your dad’s going, “I haven’t even accused you of anything yet.” “Oh, all right. Well… what is… what’s the que– well… I – I – well… what?” “Did you brush your teeth?” “No… yes… what’s correct? I was dead at the time!” Then when you’re more mature, you do start telling the truth in odd situations. “I’m sorry, I’ve broken the glass, see… I’ve broken this – is that a – an – expensive? I’ve – I’ll – I’ve broke it – I’ll pay for that, I’m sorry.” And you do that so people in the room might go, What a strong personality that person has. I like to have sex with people with strong personalities. “And I’ve broken other things! I smashed that, and… and that’s gone, and I’ve just thrown the cat out the window and…” Ooh, yeah.
So, perjury, umm, you know. If you commit perjury, I don’t care. Don’t give a shit. I don’t think you should because you grade murder. You have murder one, murder two. You realize that there can be a difference in the level of murder. So there must be a difference in the level of perjury. Perjury one is when you’re saying when you’re there’s no Holocaust when, you know 10 million people have died in it, and perjury nine, is when you said you shagged someone when you didn’t.
Blog News
Menu links in the lefthand sidebar now finally work in Firefox, many thanks to Charlie of Shades of Grey, who was able to figure out what the problem was. (Thanks to the Dark Wraith and Rook who also tried their darnedest to sort it out for me along the way.)
Also, the Big Brass Blog logo has been added to the righthand sidebar, linking directly to B3. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already!
Wild Wild Jim West
JJ’s got more on Wild Wild Jim West and the Pacific Northwest Pedophiles at Big Brass Blog.
I also want to take a moment to congratulate JJ on being the first to break this story in the blogosphere. In fact, the NY Times first reported on it yesterday, days after JJ had already done several thorough posts on it at B3. Well done, JJ!
Loser
The problem with having a conscience:
In the course of a discussion on filibusters and Senate rules, Washington's top Democrat gave the 60 juniors a lesson in partisan politics, particularly about the commander in chief. "The man's father is a wonderful human being," Reid said in response to a question about President Bush's policies. "I think this guy is a loser.(Via Penndit via The Daou Report.)
"I think President Bush is doing a bad job," he added to a handful of chuckles.
"He's driving this country into bankruptcy," Reid said, referring to the deficit. "He's got us in this intractable war in Iraq where we now have about 1,600 American soldiers dead and another 15,000 injured."
Republican National Communications Director Brian Jones issued a statement calling the senator's comments "a sad development but not surprising from the leader of a party devoid of optimism, ideas or solutions to the issues people care about most."
After the statement was released, Reid phoned the Review-Journal to acknowledge he thought he crossed the line.
"You know the president is in Europe, probably sleeping," Reid said in an interview this afternoon. "But I called (Karl) Rove and apologized for what I said."
See, this is what the problem is with this whole situation. Reid says he thinks the president is a loser because he’s presided over a spiraling fiscal crisis and a disastrous war into which he led us on false pretenses, resulting in lots of death and injury to both Americans and Iraqis. Loser is perhaps one of the nicer things one could have said about someone with that record, yet he calls to apologize to
The GOP comes back with a litany of charges against the Dems about their lack of optimism, ideas, and solutions, which is patently untrue. The amendments they offered to the bankruptcy bill alone (which were summarily rejected by the GOP) showed optimism about the American people’s use of credit and addressed the reality that most bankruptcies are a result of problems outwith people’s control, and were both reasonable and compassionate ideas and solutions to make the bill less punitive for those who are forced into bankruptcy for reasons such as medical costs, death, or divorce, as examples. So, a bald-faced lie from the GOP, but because it didn’t contain any easily identifiable pejoratives such as loser, no apology will be forthcoming.
And, by the way, I’m still waiting for an apology for using $70 million of taxpayer money to go after the Clintons for being “crooks” and “murderers” and turning up no evidence of either. As regular Shakers know, I’m no apologist for the Clintons, but that was a witch hunt of outrageous proportions, irrespective of the targets’ political party, and the waste of resources was unconscionable. But no apology.
Those are, apparently, only required of Democrats who commit the grievous sin of calling a spade a spade. Or, a loser a loser.
The Freakshow Comes to (Pam’s) Town
Check out Pam’s recap and pictorial of rotting cryptkeeper Fred Phelps’ gang of merry miscreants’ visit to her area. She’s also got local news coverage here. Stunning.
Quite a display from the bigots. And once again, I say: You Can’t Claim to Love America if You Hate Americans.
Filled with Christ’s Love
Catholic Archbishop Harry Flynn, head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has announced that the LGBT community and their supporters who celebrate gay tolerance by wearing rainbow sashes to the Cathedral of St. Paul will no longer be allowed to receive communion as long as their continue to wear their sashes. According to Flynn, the sashes, which have been worn by the group for four years without incident, are symbolic of a protest against Catholic teaching and are unacceptable to the Vatican.
A gay-rights leader said sash-wearers would continue to attempt to receive communion at the cathedral.Charming.
The Rainbow Sash movement is an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Catholics and their families and friends.
[…]
Last year, a group of Catholic men stationed themselves in the aisles at the Cathedral to disrupt the procession of sash-wearers to receive Communion.
After the recent appointment of the new pope, who is a staunch believer in an alleged “intrinsic moral evil” of homosexuality, I wrote:
I reject this pope, I reject his church, and I reject its teachings. I reject the notion that people I love are evil for being gay, or that any expression of love between two consenting adults is somehow sinful. There’s nothing sinful about love, and there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between the way I love Mr. Shakes, and the way Pam loves Kate, and Mr. Furious loves Mr. Curious; I reject all claims to the contrary. And if that consigns my eternal soul to the fires of hell, then off I go, tra la la. I never fucking liked harps, anyway.In reply, someone commented, “I'm sure the Church will be so sad. You were the top recruit.” Such a comment exemplifies the problem with modern Christianity, which has largely become (with a few notable exceptions—I’m talking to you, UCC) a place of exclusion, a place of judgment and scorn.
The things is, I should be the church’s top recruit. By the definitions of just about every Christian denomination, I am a sinner, a soul in need of saving. But I am of little interest to most modern Christians, aside from my convenient position as a target of their blame and ire. I am the face of the secular Left—the believer in evolution, the feminist, the queer appeaser—and I am much more useful as an object of their scorn than a lost sheep to be brought into the fold. They’d much rather hate me than save me.
It’s fine with me, as I don’t particularly want or need saving, but that such an attitude is exacted upon those in their midst, who desire participation in the church, who long for a grace they cannot find in earthly things, is truly indicative of how far the church has strayed from the beliefs of the man upon whose words its foundation rests.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
While America’s Christians wail and moan and organize multicasts to stir their adherents with riveting stories about how they are being oppressed, they busily endeavor within their own ranks to oppress those with whom they disagree. If it is as difficult for a rich man to get into heaven as a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, I can only imagine the contortions required of such shocking hypocrites to reach the pearly gates.
Friday Limerick
(I almost forgot!)
The Dominionists just won’t abide
Gay equality, marriage, or pride.
On this they are firm:
They don’t want your sperm!
But Microsoft’s back on our side.
Microsoft Changes Position on Anti-Discrimination Law!
And this is why it’s worth making noise, people!!!
From Microsoft’s website (not blockquoted due to length; emphasis mine):
REDMOND, Wash. -- May 6, 2005 -- In response to widespread public interest in the company's position on anti-discrimination legislation, Microsoft Corp. today released the following text of an e-mail sent today from Steve Ballmer, CEO, to all Microsoft employees in the United States:
Date: May 6, 2005
To: All U.S. Microsoft Employees
Subject: Microsoft’s principles for public policy engagement
During the past two weeks I’ve heard from many of you with a wide range of views on the recent anti-discrimination bill in Washington State, and the larger issue of what is the appropriate role of a public corporation in public policy discussions. This input has reminded me again of what makes our company unique and why I care about it so much.
One point really stood out in all the e-mails you sent me. Regardless of where people came down on the issues, everyone expressed strong support for the company’s commitment to diversity. To me, that’s so critical. Our success depends on having a workforce that is as diverse as our customers – and on working together in a way that taps all of that diversity.
I don’t want to rehash the events that resulted in Microsoft taking a neutral position on the anti-discrimination bill in Washington State. There was a lot of confusion and miscommunication, and we are taking steps to improve our processes going forward.
To me, this situation underscores the importance of having clearly-defined principles on which we base our actions. It all boils down to trust. Even when people disagree with something that we do, they need to have confidence that we based our action on thoughtful principles, because that is how we run our business.
I said in my April 22 e-mail that we were wrestling with the question of how and when the company should engage on issues that go beyond the software industry. After thinking about this for the past two weeks, I want to share my decision with you and lay out the principles that will guide us going forward.
First and foremost, we will continue to focus our public policy activities on issues that most directly affect our business, such as Internet safety, intellectual property rights, free trade, digital inclusion and a healthy business climate.
After looking at the question from all sides, I’ve concluded that diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda. Since our beginning nearly 30 years ago, Microsoft has had a strong business interest in recruiting and retaining the best and brightest and most diverse workforce possible. I’m proud of Microsoft’s commitment to non-discrimination in our internal policies and benefits, but our policies can’t cover the range of housing, education, financial and similar services that our people and their partners and families need. Therefore, it’s appropriate for the company to support legislation that will promote and protect diversity in the workplace.
Accordingly, Microsoft will continue to join other leading companies in supporting federal legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation -- adding sexual orientation to the existing law that already covers race, sex, national origin, religion, age and disability. Given the importance of diversity to our business, it is appropriate for the company to endorse legislation that prohibits employment discrimination on all of these grounds. Obviously, the Washington State legislative session has concluded for this year, but if legislation similar to HB 1515 is introduced in future sessions, we will support it.
I also want to be clear about some limits to this approach. Many other countries have different political traditions for public advocacy by corporations, and I’m not prepared to involve the company in debates outside the US in such circumstances. And, based on the principles I’ve just outlined, the company should not and will not take a position on most other public policy issues, either in the US or internationally.
I respect that there will be different viewpoints. But as CEO, I am doing what I believe is right for our company as a whole.
This situation has also made me stop and think about how well we are living our values. I’m deeply encouraged by how many employees have sent me passionate e-mails about the broad respect for diversity they experience every day at Microsoft. I also heard from some employees who underscored the importance of feeling that their personal values or religious beliefs are respected by others. I’m adamant that we must do an even better job of pursuing diversity and mutual respect within Microsoft. I expect everyone at this company -- particularly managers -- to take a hard look at their personal commitment to diversity, and redouble that commitment.
The questions raised by these issues are important. At the same time, we have a lot of other important work to do. Over the next 18 months we’ll release a broader, more advanced and more exciting set of products than at any time in the company’s history. Let’s all recommit to the job ahead, using our diversity as a strength to work together creatively and with respect for each other.
Thanks.
Steve
[Hat tip Pam, who’s also got the Freeper reaction at Big Brass Blog.]
Papieren, Bitte
Via Skippy’s Cookie Jill, we find out:
starting three years from now, if you live or work in the united states, you'll need a federally approved id card to travel on an airplane, open a bank account, collect social security payments, or take advantage of nearly any government service. practically speaking, your driver's license likely will have to be reissued to meet federal standards.CJ also points out that this icky little piece of legislation was snuck into a bill that provided funding for the troops and tsunami victims.
homeland security is permitted to add additional requirements--such as a fingerprint or retinal scan--on top of those. we won't know for a while what these additional requirements will be.
...the real id act says federally accepted id cards must be "machine readable," and lets homeland security determine the details. that could end up being a magnetic strip, enhanced bar code, or radio frequency identification (rfid) chips.
in the past, homeland security has indicated it likes the concept of rfid chips. the state separtment is already going to be embedding rfid devices in passports, and homeland security wants to issue rfid-outfitted ids to foreign visitors who enter the country at the mexican and canadian borders. the agency plans to start a yearlong test of the technology in July at checkpoints in arizona, new york and washington state. - cnet / npr
And by the way, only three nay votes were from the GOP. I’d like to make a suggestion for their ’06 campaigning: Who’s your Big Brother, baby?
Damn these political posts!
As some of you will recall, I wrote a post a while ago about how much I dislike the Pride Parade. Well, instead of just griping about how the parade is no longer meaningful, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and do something about it this year.
I want to put together a small pamphlet of the best blog writing on gay issues since the re-election. (The shorter the better, as I don't want to do any editing, but I promise not to reject anything due to length.) So, I need your help. In comments, please leave a link to the blog entries, from any blog, that you feel need to be read by the gay community the most. (For obvious reasons, entries that link too much to other web entries won't be easy to use. For links, I'd like to use a footnote, i.e. "Enter this web address into your browser to view the link.) I'd also like a "sites to visit to take action" section at the end.
I'll put it together, make a bunch and hand them out at the parade. I figure it's the least I can do, since I can't carry around a laptop and force people to read blog entries. (Or can I? Hmmm... maybe if I dress in leather and carry a whip...)
My idea for the title: Yes, Your Ass Looks Great. Now Get Up Off It And Do Something.
As we can see daily, the right has decided to make anti-gay, well, everything, it's crusade. And they're not going to get me without a fight.
Feel free to email me with comments and suggestions too... or if you want to volunteer to help at the parade, of course! Hell, I'm forced to go every year anyway, I may as well be productive!
(Cross-Posted from my blog)
Robertson wallows in more of his own filth.
Okay, I said no political posts today, but The Liberal Avenger is making me! Rather, he pointed me to this post from Reverend Mykeru. Go see what Pat Robertson says when he doesn't realize the camera is still on.
"It's the homos! The homos, I tells ya! They're out to get me!"
This guy is obsessed.
(Cross-posted from my blog.)
Blog Challenge
Issued by none other than Shakes contributor Paul:
I was driving home last night and the theme to "The Adventures of the Smart Patrol" by Devo came on the 'ol ipod. I really love that song, so I'm making it the offical theme song of my blog. ... So here's the challenge for my fellow bloggers today:I kind of vaguely touched on something similar the other day, when I used lyrics from James’ Sit Down to wax philosophical a bit about the purpose of this blog. It would probably do as a theme song, too.
What is the theme song for your blog?
Failing that, I think I’d choose Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas.
What do you think Shakespeare’s Sister’s theme song should be?
Question of the Day
Shaker and fellow blogger Camera Obscura noted in a comments thread that the Burger King dude reeks with some serious creep-out. I agree.
Watching those commercials doesn’t make me want a Whopper; it makes me want a shower. Eugh.
What do you think of those ads?
Friday Blogwhorin'
Your chance to promote your blog, other blogs, and various things of interest. What's going on?
(Btw, Friday Blogrollin' is below. Did it early today.)
More on Outed Spokane Mayor Jim West
JJ’s got more astonishing dirt on Spokane Mayor Jim West over at Big Brass Blog, including the transcript of an alleged chat between West and an 18-year-old male member of the Gay.com community. What a nutzoid this guy is: cruising Gay.com for hot young tail by night; dedicated GOP homobigot and anti-gay legislator by day. You’ve got to read this shit. It’s truly outrageous.
And while you’re over there, Pam’s pulled together some Freeper reaction to West’s outing. Unsurprisingly, they’re not happy with finding a closeted gay among their ranks.
"Sweet Jesus....I'm originally from Spokane, and this shocks me. Spokane is a conservative town, and this is going to go over like a fart in church. A recall? Abso-stinkin-lutely, followed by his getting run outta town on a rail, tarred & feathered."Say, Log Cabin Republicans, what’s that old line about how the GOP has a big tent?
""I can't tell you why I go there, (gay.com) to tell you the truth … curiosity, confused, whatever, I don't know," the mayor said." … I can: he's a pervert."
Get with the program, conservative queers. They not only don’t want you in their party; they hate you. Have some self respect and get the fuck out of that party.
