Save the children

Poland is trying to ban teletubbies, cuz you know, they're gay, gay, gay! Make sure your kids play with gender appropriate toys, or they will magically turn fruity. Fallwell's dead but idiocy lives.

"One radio station asked its listeners to vote for the most suspicious children's show. Some e-mailed in, saying that Winnie the Pooh had only male friends."

Relax Poland, send the world some perogies and peace.

R.I.P. Best Show Ever

"Those jeans are really working for you. They're working for me, too... That's all I can do right now. People are watching. But tonight I will give you my extremely positive views on other aspects of your being."


"They say absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Yeah. Sex can do that also."


"Oh, here, I almost forgot your notes."
"Oh, I hope they helped."
"They did. Some guy tried to mug me earlier and I beat him to death with them."

Gay Bashing still A-Ok w/ Repulicans and Christian Right

The House of Reps passed legislation to extend hate-crime protection to gender and sexuality (currently it only applies to race, religion, color or nationality). However, Bush is expected to veto it because he deems it “unnecessary and constitutionally questionable”. Where was this reasoning when he passed the Patriot Act?

Essentially, the bill is being opposed for 2 reasons:

1) it would afford certain groups a higher level of protection
2) it threatens the right to express opposition to homosexuality

Rep John A. Boehner (the minority leader) said “We’re going to put into place a federal law that says that not only will we punish you for the crime that you actually commit, the physical crime that you commit, but we’re also going to charge you with a crime if we think that you were thinking bad things about this person before you committed the crime.”

I think this reasoning is flawed. The GLBT community should be given protection under hate-crime legislation because a hate-crime is different from regular crime. If you are killed in a crime of passion by someone you know, you had the misfortune of being around someone unsound. If you are killed in a robbery, you had the misfortune of being involved in a random situation. If you are targeted and killed because you are gay, then it is for no other reason than EXISTING.

Hate crime legislation was originally necessitated to protect Blacks from being lynched for no other reason than pigmentation -- for existing. All violent crime is abhorrent, but prejudicial crime is especially abominable because it doesn't simply hurt those assaulted, but it also tears at the moral fiber of a society. Legislating protection against it sends a message to our society that prejudice manifested through violence cannot and will not be tolerated.

Not suprisingly, the Republicans were backed by the Christian Right, who are intent on portraying the bill as "misleading". James Dobson (of 'Focus on the Family'), continued his fierce protection of homophobia with the fallacious argument that the bill would serve “to muzzle people of faith who dare to express their moral and biblical concerns about homosexuality”.

Extending protection to GLBT people under Hate-Crime legislation does not in anyway threaten free speech. The bill would not prohibit a person from raising objections about another person's sexual orientation. It would prohibit a person from vicously beating a "fag" and then leaving him to die.

Canada only added protection for the GLBT community under hate-crimes law a few years ago, and it's disheartening that so many of our neighbours below are so intently focused on promoting oppression and hate under the guise of protection of the family structure or societal morals. Trying to dictate what a person can or cannot do in their own bedroom, or who they can marry is despicable enough, but to try and stop physical protection for a oft terrorized section of our society is truly disgusting.

The Canadian Al Gore

Cute article in the Washington Post about David Suzuki, who they call "the Canadian Al Gore".

Apparently Suzuki interviewed Gore in the 80's and was so impressed by his knowledge of climate-change issues that "He sent shivers up my back."

Gore told him "don't look for politicians like me. If you want to bring about change, you have to convince the public there is a problem. Show them there are solutions. Get them to care, and demand that something be done."

Below: Suzuki interviews Stephen Harper

Good Eats

Went to a neat restaurant on Saturday night called Fiction. Had read a couple of things about it, so we gave the old Saturday nite date try. The interior is gorgeous, modern but warm. Great wine list (they won for best list a couple years ago at the Playhouse fest), but I just enjoyed a pale ale since we'd already had some wine before we came. I had the Steak n Frites with red wine jus. I didn't even realize it had blue cheese on it until after a few bites (all I need to read is steak n fries & I'm sold). I've always hated blue cheese, but it was so delicous and perfectly complemented the other flavours. Wow, I'm a convert, can't wait to try & make this at home.

The music wasn't too loud, pretty great since it was after 9pm & it is a late night hub. The service was fast and the waitress didn't hover (I find that even more annoying than one who never checks in). For the type & quality of food, the prices are really good. I'm sold on this place. Next time I'd come in later at night & enjoy some tapas instead of a full meal.

Argh, Conservative Bullshit

Al Gore was in Toronto recently, educating the masses. He spoke out on Harper's new environmental plan, calling it a "complete and total fraud". Since last year, there's been a higher level of understanding in regards to what is Global warming and it's effects (largely thanks to Gore's documentary), and it's finally become a major issue for voters. Conveniently, Harper has (seemingly) done a 180 & introduced policies focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Gore points out that the plan is vague, failing to the detail specific regulations needed to combat the environmental crisis, and instead is "designed to mislead the Canadian people."

John Baird's response was "The fact is our plan is vastly tougher than any measures introduced by the administration of which the former vice-president was a member." This is the usual sidestepping the Tories are known for. ("Don't look at what we're actually doing, look at the wrong doings of Governments past").

The fact is that Gore is stepping up to the plate. He's admitted he didn't do nearly enough in his time in office to combat emmissions, but he has been the catalyst for "going green" becoming a must do in the past year. People are much more interested/aware/willing since Gore's movie came out. (Much respect to David Suzuki's work, of course). IMO, Canadians have a much higher Bullshit meter than Americans do, so I'm glad that Gore has brought attention to the Tories specious plan. If Lorne Mayencourt runs in Vancouver Centre in the next election, he's going to get Fryed.

Seriously?!

"An Indian court has issued an arrest warrant for Richard Gere over a public kiss he gave to Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty earlier this month."

When I first heard about this "controversy" I thought it was just a bunch of religious nut jobs, every country has them. (I'm looking at you Pat Robertson). But now the courts are actually involved, saying the cuddly kiss was "against Indian culture."

Making out with Richard Gere is not against this here girl's Indian culture, lemme tell ya. Gere circa 'Officer & a Gentleman' of course, although he's looks pretty decent for a senior citizen.

Oh you silly Indians. Relax and make the world some samosas.

Floor 18, Stupid

Yesterday when I got home I found our apt door covered with 6 crazy stickers. 5 of them were in crazy colours like cyan, magenta, orange, and screamed "Yes!", the other was a rainbow.

I was pissed. Who the hell would vandalize our door in such an odd fashion? Maybe the guy in the bachelor suite next to us who always looks a little shifty to me. Maybe we'd been making noise and this was his way of resolving the situation? Grrr.

I analyzed the clues: one of the stickers was a rainbow. Could it be our other next door neighbours, gay couple Scott n Mo? But why? Promoting the Gay Way by putting rainbow stickers on people's doors?

I tried peeling one off, got it half off, grr. Even worse, I had the wrong key & couldn't get inside. (I'd borrowed Gef's keys cuz mine were at my Mom's. Our garbage shute key looks just like door key.) Grrreat!

I went back to the elevator, noticing that they had replaced the rugs on our floor. It wasn't until I was getting in the elevator that I noticed I was on Floor 10 (we live on 18). Oops :)

Strange, cuz our fob only gives us access to our own floor, so I must've accidentally pressed 10 instead of 18 & was somehow magically transported there. I feel bad about peeling off half their sticker.

The lesson learned is I need to sleep more and go riding in the country w/ Benji more often.

Bad Calls

Pretty brutal game last night (5-1). Canucks are the long shots in this round, but there's still time for them to shine. Seemed like a lot of crappy calls though. Someone highsticked Burrows right in front of the ref but wasn't penalized. After the whistle, Burrows pushed the other guy to the ground in mad revenge and then they both got penalized!?

Geoff made a good point that they should just label the penalties more accurately. It would be much more entertaining.

Living Downtown

Awesome game ... but it's over an hour since it ended. Do these ding dongs still need to be honking and screaming "yyyyyeaahhhh!" We're not even that close to the Stanley Cup yet! It's a Monday! Geez, it doesn't take too much to get a beer-addled Vancouverite excited.

Come on people, it's not like Bittbox released another set of custom brushes.

Oh. It's finally starting to die down :)