All the presidential candidates, democratic and republican, were invited by Logo TV to a Presidential forum focusing on issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Not one of the republicans chose to participate, and all of the democrats except for Joe Biden and Chris Dodd were there. Those two had scheduling conflicts.
For those of us who do not get Logo TV, which includes all of us who have Brighthouse, you can view the candidates and their responses at Visible vote 08 where you will find links to various segments of the forum.
My vote is not going to hinge on what was said at that forum. Gay issues are important, but so is getting us out of Iraq, addressing immigration issues and accepting and doing something about climate change. So is accepting and promoting scientific research, some thing the Bush administration tinkers with to make science not really scientific...if that makes sense. And what about restoring our constitutional rights that have been trampled on during the last few years. If a candidate will address all these things, and it will have to be a democrat that does it, then I will be happy, because they are all gay friendly enough that they believe in workplace protections, civil unions, hate crimes, repealing dont ask dont tell and other GLBT issues.
I'm still not saying who I am supporting becuase I haven't decided yet. I've seen a couple of the candidates and one of the candidate's husbands (guess who that is) in person in recent months, and they all breaths of fresh air as opposed to the unfair and imbalanced reporting we often hear on tv.
Enough already. I leave for Jamaica in 21 hours. The trip is part of a course I am taking, and we are to keep a journal as part of the assignment. I am pretty sure I will be able to post some of my journal online, and if I can, that is what you will be reading next week.
The UAB students are teaming with students from San Diego State University and The University of the West Indies and Mona, Jamaica, and the trip is sponsored by the Sparkman Center for Global Health at UAB (and by a hefty fee paid by the students). The Jamaican Ministry of Health is also contributing.
We are focusing on community based approaches to public health, and will have three primary areas of study...mosquito surveillance, STD/HIV care and prevention, and water and sanitation.
We are staying in dorms on the University campus, but I am not sure what to expect, because on the "I wish I had packed..." list in our materials are "extra toilet paper, a small desk fan (I was told the rooms do not have air conditioning), and an 'electric water pot' if you want coffee in your room." The Hilton this is not. But hey...it's Jamaica!!!
If you are at all interested in health issues in Jamaica, here is their Ministry of Health web site.
Time to pack.
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Mindless Chatter
This persian cat showed up at one the readers door. A vet has declared her healthy, and she needs a home. Let me know if you are interested.
And I have a new camera, a Nikon d40 slr. I hope I can learn to make better pictures, especially of flowers and birds and bugs and such, but here is a picture of the deck .
And the deck and the back of the house
you can do neat things with the camera, like make monochrome images of your pictures
See that copper looking sun above the windows? It looks kind of freaky at night when its lit up.
Well I am getting ready for my trip, and doing some writing ahead of time for the paper, and studying a little for the topics we will be addressing in Jamaica. Maybe all the problems in Bessemer, and a few of the ones in Washington, will be solved when I get back. But I will post tomorrow. and maybe some from Kingston, but I don't know how my internet connection will be. Can't be too much worse that here using Bellsouth (ATT) fast (ha ha) access extreme (bull) and aol.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Bessemer Happenin's and Western Tribune column
The Bessemer Neighborhood Association met Monday evening, and we chatted with a Bessemer police officer and discussed directions we want to head as far as priorities.
We recieved tips on what to do when it seems the police response time is too slow (call and talk to the sergeant, if you are not satisfied, call and talk to the lieutenant, and so on up the chain of command). Also we will get a list of the officers that patrol our neighborhoods so we will be familiar with them when we talk with them. He provided us updates on new equipment they are getting to enable enforcement of noise ordinances and more.
With animal abuse still a priority, we also will be looking in to better lighting in residential areas, and also into finding out about a house on near 15th street and Arlington that is half burned with an elderly person still living in it. And we want to find out why the old Jones Carpet building in Jonesboro has not been torn down. It's a danger to children passing by going to and from school.
We are not giving up on Arlington School (needs restoring) or Red Rock convenience store across the street (needs bulldozing...its a place where drugs are sold in the parking lot quite frequently).
We decided our meetings will be the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.
*****************************
Here is my column from today's Western Tribune, more or less:
Seven thousand dollars is not a lot of money. Not when the entire budget of Bessemer is looked at. But here is what $7000 could do for our city.
In January the Foundry asked for about $7000 to pay for plastic garbage bags and gasoline so they could continue their practice of picking up trash along the city’s roadways. They had done this in 2006 when twice a week they sent about 100 men and women out armed with safety vests, cotton gloves and garbage bags to comb the streets. I went with them a few times, and if the crews I walked with were representative of the entire group, an average of two to three bags of trash per person was removed from our streets. They did this twice weekly, so that would be about 500 bags of trash a week removed from our streets.
Not only was this a benefit for our city, but it helped the men and women of the Foundry in their efforts to improve their lives as they were doing something positive for the community and learning what it is like to have their efforts appreciated.
But the city ignored this request. The men and women of the Foundry are no longer helping to keep our city clean in this manner, and the streets and highways are once again littered with hamburger wrappers, beer bottles and things I won’t mention here.
A couple of months before that the Greater Birmingham Humane Society addressed the city council and mayor with a letter outlining deficiencies in our Animal Control facility, with a plan to correct things that would begin with an assessment and recommendations from a noted consultant who is an expert in the field. The assessment would cost about $7000. And this $7000 was readily available, because the Humane Society had discounted services it had performed in the amount of $7395. The Humane Society even suggested in the letter that the money be used to fund the needed assessment.
But this letter and those recommendations were ignored as well.
But as I said, $7000 must be easy to come by for the officials in Bessemer, because this week they are funding National Night Out activities in almost every district, and each council person was allowed more than that amount to provide for the festivities.
I am all for neighbors getting to know one another, and having neighborhood street parties and such. But if the city had lowered their contribution to just $5000 for each of the seven districts, that would leave $7000 for the Foundry’s trash bags and $7000 for the Animal Control assessment.
But the priorities are not about having a clean city, or about treating animals humanely. Or about following the law, as it regards animal treatment. But things will change. They must.
We recieved tips on what to do when it seems the police response time is too slow (call and talk to the sergeant, if you are not satisfied, call and talk to the lieutenant, and so on up the chain of command). Also we will get a list of the officers that patrol our neighborhoods so we will be familiar with them when we talk with them. He provided us updates on new equipment they are getting to enable enforcement of noise ordinances and more.
With animal abuse still a priority, we also will be looking in to better lighting in residential areas, and also into finding out about a house on near 15th street and Arlington that is half burned with an elderly person still living in it. And we want to find out why the old Jones Carpet building in Jonesboro has not been torn down. It's a danger to children passing by going to and from school.
We are not giving up on Arlington School (needs restoring) or Red Rock convenience store across the street (needs bulldozing...its a place where drugs are sold in the parking lot quite frequently).
We decided our meetings will be the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.
*****************************
Here is my column from today's Western Tribune, more or less:
Seven thousand dollars is not a lot of money. Not when the entire budget of Bessemer is looked at. But here is what $7000 could do for our city.
In January the Foundry asked for about $7000 to pay for plastic garbage bags and gasoline so they could continue their practice of picking up trash along the city’s roadways. They had done this in 2006 when twice a week they sent about 100 men and women out armed with safety vests, cotton gloves and garbage bags to comb the streets. I went with them a few times, and if the crews I walked with were representative of the entire group, an average of two to three bags of trash per person was removed from our streets. They did this twice weekly, so that would be about 500 bags of trash a week removed from our streets.
Not only was this a benefit for our city, but it helped the men and women of the Foundry in their efforts to improve their lives as they were doing something positive for the community and learning what it is like to have their efforts appreciated.
But the city ignored this request. The men and women of the Foundry are no longer helping to keep our city clean in this manner, and the streets and highways are once again littered with hamburger wrappers, beer bottles and things I won’t mention here.
A couple of months before that the Greater Birmingham Humane Society addressed the city council and mayor with a letter outlining deficiencies in our Animal Control facility, with a plan to correct things that would begin with an assessment and recommendations from a noted consultant who is an expert in the field. The assessment would cost about $7000. And this $7000 was readily available, because the Humane Society had discounted services it had performed in the amount of $7395. The Humane Society even suggested in the letter that the money be used to fund the needed assessment.
But this letter and those recommendations were ignored as well.
But as I said, $7000 must be easy to come by for the officials in Bessemer, because this week they are funding National Night Out activities in almost every district, and each council person was allowed more than that amount to provide for the festivities.
I am all for neighbors getting to know one another, and having neighborhood street parties and such. But if the city had lowered their contribution to just $5000 for each of the seven districts, that would leave $7000 for the Foundry’s trash bags and $7000 for the Animal Control assessment.
But the priorities are not about having a clean city, or about treating animals humanely. Or about following the law, as it regards animal treatment. But things will change. They must.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Never Ending Parade of Stupid
This is going to be a long post, not because of my writing ability and thoughful opinions, but rather because of the ability to copy and paste.
I read an opinion by John Corvino about the "never ending parade of stupid," Motormouth Maybelle's (Queen Latifah) line from Hairspray predicting the problems her son Seaweed and his white girlfriend Penny might encounter because of their interracial relationship.
Then I remembered reading yesterday about state (Florida) representative Bob Allen (R) who was recently arrested for soliciting gay sex ($20) in a washroom in a park.
Allen has a history of supporting legislation against LGBT equality. He was also the co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign in Florida. Was.
In statements released by the police Allen admits to the charge but says he only did it because he was afraid of the high number of blacks in the park. What?
So while sufering from "black panic" (he was afraid he was "about to be a statistic,") (and, as opposed to the "gay panic defense" often used in assault and murdercases where gays are targeted) he propositions "a pretty stocky black guy" (Allen's words) for oral sex, and suggests a place where they can go. Trouble is: the stocky black guy is a cop.
Now if this is not part of the "never ending parade of stupid" I don't know what is.
Here is the whole story:
But I copied it here:
(Tampa, Florida) State Rep. Bob Allen (R), a longtime foe of LGBT rights in Florida, has a bizarre excuse for being charged with offering a male cop $20 for oral sex in a washroom at a park.
He was busted last month in a sting at Veteran's Memorial Park in Titusville, Florida.
In taped statements made by Allen to police following his arrest and released by the force Allen admits to soliciting the male officer but claims that it was the result of being nervous by the high number of black men in the park.
"I certainly wasn't there to have sex with anybody and certainly wasn't there to exchange money for it," Allen told officers.
Of the arresting officer Allen said in the tape, "This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park."
He claimed he feared he "was about to be a statistic" would have said anything just to get away.
But on the tape Allen also admits warning the undercover cop that "undercover cops" were in the area and the man should be careful.
"I said they're around here, you ought to know about that."
He only realized he was talking to an officer when he flashed his badge.
The arresting officer's handwritten report on the arrest also was released by the force.
Titusville Officer Danny Kavanaugh who was on plainclothes duty says he observed Allen entering the washroom twice. Kavanaugh said he was drying his hands in a stall when Allen peered over the stall door.
The officer's report said that after peering over the stall a second time, Allen pushed open the door and joined Kavanaugh inside. Allen muttered "'hi,'v" and then said, "'this is kind of a public place, isn't it,'" the report said.
Kavanaugh wrote that he asked Allen about going somewhere else and Allen suggested going "across the bridge, it's quieter over there."
"Well look, man, I'm trying to make some money; you think you can hook me up with 20 bucks?" Kavanaugh wrote in the report that he had asked Allen.
The Republican lawmaker, the report said, replied, "Sure, I can do that, but this place is too public."
According to Kavanaugh's statement, the officer said, "do you want just (oral sex)?" and Allen replied, "I was thinking you would want one."
It was at that point Allen was arrested.
Ironically, Allen was the Police Union's 2007 Lawmaker of the Year.
In the last session of the Florida legislature he sponsored a failed bill that would have tightened the state's prohibition on public sex. He also has been a supporter of amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and has opposed a bill to curb bullying of gay students.
Allen has been charged with solicitation for prostitution, which has a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Prior to his arrest Allen was a co-chair of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in Florida, a position he has since resigned.
*************
And here is John Covino's column:
Hairspray, Race and Gays
John is a philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.
I read an opinion by John Corvino about the "never ending parade of stupid," Motormouth Maybelle's (Queen Latifah) line from Hairspray predicting the problems her son Seaweed and his white girlfriend Penny might encounter because of their interracial relationship.
Then I remembered reading yesterday about state (Florida) representative Bob Allen (R) who was recently arrested for soliciting gay sex ($20) in a washroom in a park.
Allen has a history of supporting legislation against LGBT equality. He was also the co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign in Florida. Was.
In statements released by the police Allen admits to the charge but says he only did it because he was afraid of the high number of blacks in the park. What?
So while sufering from "black panic" (he was afraid he was "about to be a statistic,") (and, as opposed to the "gay panic defense" often used in assault and murdercases where gays are targeted) he propositions "a pretty stocky black guy" (Allen's words) for oral sex, and suggests a place where they can go. Trouble is: the stocky black guy is a cop.
Now if this is not part of the "never ending parade of stupid" I don't know what is.
Here is the whole story:
But I copied it here:
(Tampa, Florida) State Rep. Bob Allen (R), a longtime foe of LGBT rights in Florida, has a bizarre excuse for being charged with offering a male cop $20 for oral sex in a washroom at a park.
He was busted last month in a sting at Veteran's Memorial Park in Titusville, Florida.
In taped statements made by Allen to police following his arrest and released by the force Allen admits to soliciting the male officer but claims that it was the result of being nervous by the high number of black men in the park.
"I certainly wasn't there to have sex with anybody and certainly wasn't there to exchange money for it," Allen told officers.
Of the arresting officer Allen said in the tape, "This was a pretty stocky black guy, and there was nothing but other black guys around in the park."
He claimed he feared he "was about to be a statistic" would have said anything just to get away.
But on the tape Allen also admits warning the undercover cop that "undercover cops" were in the area and the man should be careful.
"I said they're around here, you ought to know about that."
He only realized he was talking to an officer when he flashed his badge.
The arresting officer's handwritten report on the arrest also was released by the force.
Titusville Officer Danny Kavanaugh who was on plainclothes duty says he observed Allen entering the washroom twice. Kavanaugh said he was drying his hands in a stall when Allen peered over the stall door.
The officer's report said that after peering over the stall a second time, Allen pushed open the door and joined Kavanaugh inside. Allen muttered "'hi,'v" and then said, "'this is kind of a public place, isn't it,'" the report said.
Kavanaugh wrote that he asked Allen about going somewhere else and Allen suggested going "across the bridge, it's quieter over there."
"Well look, man, I'm trying to make some money; you think you can hook me up with 20 bucks?" Kavanaugh wrote in the report that he had asked Allen.
The Republican lawmaker, the report said, replied, "Sure, I can do that, but this place is too public."
According to Kavanaugh's statement, the officer said, "do you want just (oral sex)?" and Allen replied, "I was thinking you would want one."
It was at that point Allen was arrested.
Ironically, Allen was the Police Union's 2007 Lawmaker of the Year.
In the last session of the Florida legislature he sponsored a failed bill that would have tightened the state's prohibition on public sex. He also has been a supporter of amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and has opposed a bill to curb bullying of gay students.
Allen has been charged with solicitation for prostitution, which has a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Prior to his arrest Allen was a co-chair of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in Florida, a position he has since resigned.
*************
And here is John Covino's column:
Hairspray, Race and GaysJohn is a philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Bessemer Neighborhood Association Tonight
The project that I said I would finish over the weekend is due today, and have I finished it? No!!!
So I need to do that.
So I need to do that.
If you live in Bessemer come to the Bessemer Neighborhood Association meeting tonight at 7. This group is for all of Bessemer, not just the southside.
It's going to be close to 100 degrees, so lets just stay in where the air is cool and pretend it's Christmas.
This guy gets invited to the party every year.
As does this couple.
Season's greetings. Be Back tomorrow.
Friday, August 3, 2007
No News - Just Fun
Today I have my last class of the semester!!! I still have a test to take and a project due in another class (which I will finish up today or tomorrow), and I won't get my grade in another class until we get back from Jamaica, but as far as I am concerned, it's over!
Maria sent me this, and it is just the greatest thing, especially if you like art. In 5 minutes, this guy does something remarkable. Watch We could use this guy at Bessemer's Art in the Park.
Want a Mercedes convertible? Birmingham AIDS Outreach is practically giving one away. For $25 you can purchase a chance to win this car. Only 750 tickets will be sold, so chances are pretty good. The car is a 1983 380 SL Mercedes. Sure it's a few years old, but hey...you can drive it away on Thursday, August 9.
BAO
Have a good weekend!
Maria sent me this, and it is just the greatest thing, especially if you like art. In 5 minutes, this guy does something remarkable. Watch We could use this guy at Bessemer's Art in the Park.
Want a Mercedes convertible? Birmingham AIDS Outreach is practically giving one away. For $25 you can purchase a chance to win this car. Only 750 tickets will be sold, so chances are pretty good. The car is a 1983 380 SL Mercedes. Sure it's a few years old, but hey...you can drive it away on Thursday, August 9.
BAO
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
From Prostitution to Dr. Laura
Please don't spend a lot of time thinking about this, but there was a big prostitution ring bust in Marshall County (that's Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville) Alabama, and one of the women from the "tralier park brothel" said that on slow days she had sex with 25 men and on busy days with 80 men.
Customers paid $30 for a poker chip that was worth 15 minutes of sex. The women collected the chips and traded them in for $15. Do the math. No, not for how much she made. For how much time out of the day she had left for anything else she might need to do to survive. Like eating, sleeping.
************************************
Check out my first ever youtube video. I know, it's too long (3 minutes) and too loud (bulldozers are like that) but the message toward the end is clear. Bessemer Success
There is also a link from Bessemer Neighbors
And finally, this is from 2002 and is about Dr. Laura. My brother sent it to me. Why can't I own a Canadian? All you Bible verse "pick and choosers" need to read it.
Customers paid $30 for a poker chip that was worth 15 minutes of sex. The women collected the chips and traded them in for $15. Do the math. No, not for how much she made. For how much time out of the day she had left for anything else she might need to do to survive. Like eating, sleeping.
************************************
Check out my first ever youtube video. I know, it's too long (3 minutes) and too loud (bulldozers are like that) but the message toward the end is clear. Bessemer Success
There is also a link from Bessemer Neighbors
And finally, this is from 2002 and is about Dr. Laura. My brother sent it to me. Why can't I own a Canadian? All you Bible verse "pick and choosers" need to read it.
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