Friday, August 29, 2008
McCain taps Alaska Gov. Palin as VP
Palin is the least qualified and experienced running mate in the history of the office, having served a total of 20 months in office, and none on the national level.
Does anyone really want Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Presidency should McCain become unable to serve?
Although known as a reformer, Palin is a product of the corrupt Alaskan political machine, and is even under criminal investigation herself for abusing the power of her office.
Can she possibly face off against Joe Biden on any issue?
She pronounces “nuclear” like George Bush. I knew that the GOP ticket wanted to continue Bush’s policies….but four more years of Bushisms too!?
[My favorite] She supports Obama’s energy plan, all but undercutting the one supposed strength she brings to the ticket.
Toyota iQ: The Smallest Four-Passenger Car in the World
The Toyota iQ, which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will go on sale in Japan in October and in Europe a few months later. Lets have a closer look.
Big Space in Small PackageUnlike the Smart Car which can only seat two people, the Toyota iQ has 4 seats, though only 3 of those can accommodate adults. The last one is better used for a small child, a baby seat or a grocery bag. Still, not bad for a car that fits somewhere between the Smart and Yaris in length (117 inches).
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Iraq Signs Deal To Develop Oil Field - With China
China and Iraq have signed a $3 billion deal revising a prewar agreement for China's biggest oil company to help develop the Ahdab oil field, an official at the Iraq's Oil Ministry said Thursday.
The deal, restoring a project canceled after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, was signed late Wednesday by Chinese officials and Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani.
"The initial agreement has been signed, and we are waiting to see the approval of both governments," said Sarhad Fatah, a spokesman at the Iraqi Embassy in Beijing.
Major oil companies have been reluctant to commit to deals in Iraq because Baghdad has yet to enact a law to govern the oil industry.
If it is approved, the agreement would be the first Saddam-era oil deal to be honored by the new Iraqi government.
Iraq sits on more than 115 billion barrels of oil, but decades of wars, U.N. sanctions, violence and sabotage have battered its oil industry.
The Ahdab field is located in Shiite-dominated Wasit province, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad. It has been the scene of sporadic attacks since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
As security improves, Iraq is trying to bring in foreign companies to help increase crude output from the current 2.5 million barrels a day to 3 million barrels a day by the end of 2008, and 4.5 million barrels a day by the end of 2013.
GMCLA: 30th Anniversary
The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles celebrated the kick off of their 30th Anniversary at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles to a sold-out audience.
Joely Fisher was a great MC for th enight. George Takei and Brad Altman were on stage as support for marriage equality - they did not sign. However, Della Reese did. (video below)
Loni Anderson and Florence Henderson were also there. So was Carol Burnett.
It was a great night.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Longtime lesbian activist Del Martin dies
Lesbian rights pioneer Del Martin died Wednesday. She was 87. Her wife, Phyllis Lyon was at her side when she passed away.
Martin began working as an activist after receiving her degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. While working on a newspaper in Seattle, Martin met her partner Phyllis Lyon and the two began working on behalf of lesbians in their community.
Martin and Lyon devoted their lives to working towards LGBT equality, healthcare access, advocacy on behalf of battered women, and issues facing elderly Americans. Their many contributions over the past five decades helped shape the modern LGBT movement.
Her last public political act, on June 16, 2008, was to marry Phyllis Lyon, her partner of 55 years. They were the first couple to wed in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court recognized that marriage for same-sex couples is a fundamental right in a case brought by plaintiffs including Martin and Lyon.
“Today the LGBT movement lost a real hero,” Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights said in a statement.
“For all of Del’s life, she was an activist and organizer even before we knew what those terms meant. Her last act of public activism was her most personal—marrying the love of her life after 55 years. In the wake of losing her, we recognize with heightened clarity the most poignant and responsible way to honor her legacy is to preserve the right of marriage for same-sex couples, thereby providing the dignity and respect that Del and Phyllis’ love deserved.”
In 1955, Lyon and Martin were among the founders of the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights organization.
In 1956, they launched “The Ladder,” the first lesbian newsletter, which became a lifeline for hundreds of women isolated and silenced by the restrictions of the era. Del Martin was the first openly lesbian woman elected to the board of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and in 1971, encouraged the board to pass a resolution stating that lesbian issues were feminist issues.
Del Martin’s publication of Battered Wives in 1976 was a major catalyst for the movement against domestic violence. Martin became a nationally known advocate for battered women, and was a co-founder of the Coalition for Justice for Battered Women in 1975.
Martin lectured at colleges and universities around the country. Martin received her doctorate from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in 1987.
In 1995, Martin and Lyon were named delegates to the White House Conference on Aging by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. In 2004,
“Del lived her life with great compassion, wit, tenacity, generosity, and valor,” said The Honorable Donna Hitchens, Founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
“She inspired thousands of us to be more courageous and energetic than we thought possible. When faced with moments of fatigue, laziness or weakness, one had only to ask – ‘What would Del and Phyllis do?’ While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will be cherished forever.”
Martin is survived by her spouse Phyllis Lyon, daughter Kendra Mon, son-in-law Eugene Lane, granddaughter Lorraine Mon, grandson Kevin Mon, sister-in-law Patricia Lyon and a vast, loving and grateful lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender family.
Legal Status Helps Relationships Last Longer
Same-sex couples in legally bound relationships appear to stay in their relationships longer than those who are not legally recognized, according to a new study published in Developmental Psychology.
The study is a five-year project that began in 2002, the year same-sex civil unions were legalized in Vermont.
Robert-Jay Green, executive director of LGBT research organization Rockway Institute, said the study shows that civil union status itself may help preserve relationships.
"There are many ways that a legal couple status may support a relationship -- more family understanding, acceptance by friends and coworkers, greater commitment that results from a public declaration, and enhanced legal protections in the form of health care benefits and community property," Green said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sixty-five male and 138 female couples who entered civil unions in 2002 were asked to provide information. The study also included 23 male and 61 female couples not in civil unions and 55 heterosexual married couples who were related to the same-sex couples in civil unions. Same-sex couples not in civil unions were more likely to have ended their relationship than same-sex couples in civil unions or heterosexual married couples in the study. About 9% of same-sex couples not in civil unions ended their relationship, while only 3.8% of same-sex couples in a civil union ended their relationships.
The study was conducted by Kimberly F. Balsam and Theodore P. Beauchaine of the University of Washington, Esther D. Rothblum of San Diego State University, and Sondra E. Solomon of the University of Vermont.
[You want to say “duh,” but I am glad someone spent the time to prove it.]
The study is a five-year project that began in 2002, the year same-sex civil unions were legalized in Vermont.
Robert-Jay Green, executive director of LGBT research organization Rockway Institute, said the study shows that civil union status itself may help preserve relationships.
"There are many ways that a legal couple status may support a relationship -- more family understanding, acceptance by friends and coworkers, greater commitment that results from a public declaration, and enhanced legal protections in the form of health care benefits and community property," Green said in a statement on Tuesday.
Sixty-five male and 138 female couples who entered civil unions in 2002 were asked to provide information. The study also included 23 male and 61 female couples not in civil unions and 55 heterosexual married couples who were related to the same-sex couples in civil unions. Same-sex couples not in civil unions were more likely to have ended their relationship than same-sex couples in civil unions or heterosexual married couples in the study. About 9% of same-sex couples not in civil unions ended their relationship, while only 3.8% of same-sex couples in a civil union ended their relationships.
The study was conducted by Kimberly F. Balsam and Theodore P. Beauchaine of the University of Washington, Esther D. Rothblum of San Diego State University, and Sondra E. Solomon of the University of Vermont.
[You want to say “duh,” but I am glad someone spent the time to prove it.]
Mass. Voters May Decide Out-of-State Marriage Ban
The Massachusetts legislature’s decision in June to lift the ban on marriages performed for out-of-state same-sex couples may be contested in 2010. Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley has given the go-ahead to a ballot measure that will ask voters if the law should be reinstated.
Coakley authorized the proposal with hesitation, saying the “decision that this referendum meets the constitutional requirements as to subject matter does not mean that it has our support, but simply that the constitutional requirements are met for the proponents of the referendum to obtain further signatures."
MassResistance, the organization committed to reinstating the 1913 law, has met nearly all requirements in order to form a ballot question. Its next step is to gather 33,000 signatures by October 31. If it can achieve that goal, the question will appear on the 2010 ballot.
“I don’t think we’re going to have much trouble getting the signatures,” MassResistance president Brian Camenker told Metro International.
Gov. Deval Patrick told the Herald Monday that this same law, which former governor Mitt Romney invoked to prevent nonresident gay and lesbian couples from marrying in the state, was originally instituted to impede interracial marriage.
Coakley authorized the proposal with hesitation, saying the “decision that this referendum meets the constitutional requirements as to subject matter does not mean that it has our support, but simply that the constitutional requirements are met for the proponents of the referendum to obtain further signatures."
MassResistance, the organization committed to reinstating the 1913 law, has met nearly all requirements in order to form a ballot question. Its next step is to gather 33,000 signatures by October 31. If it can achieve that goal, the question will appear on the 2010 ballot.
“I don’t think we’re going to have much trouble getting the signatures,” MassResistance president Brian Camenker told Metro International.
Gov. Deval Patrick told the Herald Monday that this same law, which former governor Mitt Romney invoked to prevent nonresident gay and lesbian couples from marrying in the state, was originally instituted to impede interracial marriage.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Gay marriage foes step up battle in California
Michael Bumgarner says he’s never campaigned for a political cause before, but his strong opposition to same-sex marriage has prompted him to join thousands of volunteers going door-to-door in support of a ballot initiative that would ban gay nuptials here.
“I’ve never stumped before, but I want to be a part of this,” Bumgarner said. The retired insurance executive and devout Mormon said his late mother would “turn over in her grave” if she knew that gays and lesbians could marry.
With less than 11 weeks until Election Day, supporters of Proposition 8 are ramping up their field organization and refining their message as they seek to persuade California voters to shut the door on same-sex marriage. It’s the first time voters will be asked to weigh in on the issue in either California or Massachusetts - the states where gays have won the right to wed.
An estimated 15,000 backers of the measure, most of them members of Mormon, Catholic and evangelical Christian churches, knocked on doors and distributed campaign literature to registered voters throughout the state this weekend and last, according to Jennifer Kerns, spokeswoman for the Yes on 8 campaign.
The initiative is a constitutional amendment, similar to ones already enacted in 26 other states, that would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. It needs a simple majority of votes to pass.
Ron Prentice, director of the coalition of religious and social conservative groups that qualified the amendment for the November ballot, said the group has ordered 1 million yard signs and 1 million bumper stickers.
“Unless the people are angry, nothing will happen,” Prentice said. “We are going to change the Constitution and say on Nov. 4, ‘Judges, you can’t touch this.’”
For now, the campaign’s goal is to identify supporters and voters who are unaware or haven’t made up their minds about the measure, said Al Almendariz, a retired air traffic controller and a Mormon.
Almendariz led a team of five people canvassing a suburban neighborhood southeast of Sacramento on Saturday, and their script was concise. The volunteers told people who answered their doors they were with the Proposition 8 campaign, an effort that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. They didn’t mention same-sex marriage unless a resident brought it up.
“We’re just polling - yes or no, not trying to find converts or change people’s minds,” said Christina Hirst, 28, a photographer with three young children. Hirst and her husband, Justin, 33, a high-school Spanish teacher, said they joined the door-knocking Saturday because they don’t want their children hearing about gay relationships at school.
The literature that volunteers distributed was intended to reinforce the campaign’s message that the amendment is “pro-marriage and children” instead of anti-gay.
“California should do more to encourage families to stay together,” reads the pamphlets illustrated with close-ups of heterosexual couples posed cheek-to-cheek.
Frank Schubert, who is co-managing the Yes on 8 campaign, said the outreach effort is designed to counter the principle message of gay rights advocates, who are portraying the upcoming vote as a matter of fairness and equality.
“They want people to feel like you are a bad person if you support what has been the definition of marriage since the dawn of time,” Schubert said. By having face-to-face conversations about why the amendment is necessary, organizers hope to reach potential supporters who may worry that voting for the measure would get them labeled as “bigots or homophobes,” he said.
Bumgarner distributed handouts listing “Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails” that volunteers were encouraged to use as talking points. They included warnings that ministers who preach against same-sex marriage could be sued for hate speech, churches would be sued for refusing to host wedding ceremonies for gays, and that “children in schools will be taught that same-sex marriage is OK.”
The amendment’s opponents dispute those claims, saying that the Supreme Court specifically exempted churches from having to participate in same-sex weddings and that nothing in state law requires teachers to discuss marriage - straight or gay - with students.
Recent polls suggest the election could be close. A Field Poll taken last month found that 51 percent of likely voters said they would vote against Proposition 8, while 42 percent said they would vote for it.
“I’ve never stumped before, but I want to be a part of this,” Bumgarner said. The retired insurance executive and devout Mormon said his late mother would “turn over in her grave” if she knew that gays and lesbians could marry.
With less than 11 weeks until Election Day, supporters of Proposition 8 are ramping up their field organization and refining their message as they seek to persuade California voters to shut the door on same-sex marriage. It’s the first time voters will be asked to weigh in on the issue in either California or Massachusetts - the states where gays have won the right to wed.
An estimated 15,000 backers of the measure, most of them members of Mormon, Catholic and evangelical Christian churches, knocked on doors and distributed campaign literature to registered voters throughout the state this weekend and last, according to Jennifer Kerns, spokeswoman for the Yes on 8 campaign.
The initiative is a constitutional amendment, similar to ones already enacted in 26 other states, that would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. It needs a simple majority of votes to pass.
Ron Prentice, director of the coalition of religious and social conservative groups that qualified the amendment for the November ballot, said the group has ordered 1 million yard signs and 1 million bumper stickers.
“Unless the people are angry, nothing will happen,” Prentice said. “We are going to change the Constitution and say on Nov. 4, ‘Judges, you can’t touch this.’”
For now, the campaign’s goal is to identify supporters and voters who are unaware or haven’t made up their minds about the measure, said Al Almendariz, a retired air traffic controller and a Mormon.
Almendariz led a team of five people canvassing a suburban neighborhood southeast of Sacramento on Saturday, and their script was concise. The volunteers told people who answered their doors they were with the Proposition 8 campaign, an effort that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. They didn’t mention same-sex marriage unless a resident brought it up.
“We’re just polling - yes or no, not trying to find converts or change people’s minds,” said Christina Hirst, 28, a photographer with three young children. Hirst and her husband, Justin, 33, a high-school Spanish teacher, said they joined the door-knocking Saturday because they don’t want their children hearing about gay relationships at school.
The literature that volunteers distributed was intended to reinforce the campaign’s message that the amendment is “pro-marriage and children” instead of anti-gay.
“California should do more to encourage families to stay together,” reads the pamphlets illustrated with close-ups of heterosexual couples posed cheek-to-cheek.
Frank Schubert, who is co-managing the Yes on 8 campaign, said the outreach effort is designed to counter the principle message of gay rights advocates, who are portraying the upcoming vote as a matter of fairness and equality.
“They want people to feel like you are a bad person if you support what has been the definition of marriage since the dawn of time,” Schubert said. By having face-to-face conversations about why the amendment is necessary, organizers hope to reach potential supporters who may worry that voting for the measure would get them labeled as “bigots or homophobes,” he said.
Bumgarner distributed handouts listing “Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails” that volunteers were encouraged to use as talking points. They included warnings that ministers who preach against same-sex marriage could be sued for hate speech, churches would be sued for refusing to host wedding ceremonies for gays, and that “children in schools will be taught that same-sex marriage is OK.”
The amendment’s opponents dispute those claims, saying that the Supreme Court specifically exempted churches from having to participate in same-sex weddings and that nothing in state law requires teachers to discuss marriage - straight or gay - with students.
Recent polls suggest the election could be close. A Field Poll taken last month found that 51 percent of likely voters said they would vote against Proposition 8, while 42 percent said they would vote for it.
O'burger
O'burger, the first organic fast food joint in Los Angeles, where the burgers and everything else are all organic. What does that mean exactly? Well, "the buns, the sauce, the vegetables, meat, ketchup, mustard, fries and salad dressing" - it's all organic.
What about the burgers? Well the beef comes from grass-fed cows, the turkey burgers all come from free-range, grass fed turkeys and the veggie patties are vegan-friendly and made in-house from corn, oats and vegetables. According to O'burger, "if its edible, its organic."
What about the burgers? Well the beef comes from grass-fed cows, the turkey burgers all come from free-range, grass fed turkeys and the veggie patties are vegan-friendly and made in-house from corn, oats and vegetables. According to O'burger, "if its edible, its organic."
[Really?]
Monday, August 25, 2008
Hallmark taps in to gay wedding market
“It's our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can.”
SARAH GRONBERG KOLELL, Hallmark spokeswoman, after the nation's largest greeting-card company introduced same-sex wedding cards
SARAH GRONBERG KOLELL, Hallmark spokeswoman, after the nation's largest greeting-card company introduced same-sex wedding cards
Most states don’t recognize gay marriage - but now Hallmark does.
The nation’s largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards - featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. “Two hearts. One promise,” one says.
Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions.
The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure.
Hallmark’s largest competitor, American Greetings Corp., has no plans to enter the market, saying its current offerings are general enough to speak to a lot of different relationships.
Hallmark started offering “coming out” cards last year, and the four designs of same-sex marriage cards are being gradually released this summer and will be widely available by next year. No sales figures were available yet.
The nation’s largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards - featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. “Two hearts. One promise,” one says.
Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions.
The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure.
Hallmark’s largest competitor, American Greetings Corp., has no plans to enter the market, saying its current offerings are general enough to speak to a lot of different relationships.
Hallmark started offering “coming out” cards last year, and the four designs of same-sex marriage cards are being gradually released this summer and will be widely available by next year. No sales figures were available yet.
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that more than 85,000 same-sex couples in the United States have entered into a legal relationship since 1997, when Hawaii started offering some legal benefits to same-sex partners. It estimates nearly 120,000 more couples will marry in California during the next three years - and that means millions of potential dollars for all sorts of wedding-industry businesses.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
IOC To Launch Investigation Into Ages Of Chinese Gymnasts
The International Olympic Committee will investigate whether the Chinese women's gymnastics team that won the gold medal had underage athletes, saying "more information has come to light."
"If there is a question mark and we have a concern, which we do, we ask the governing body of any sport to look into it," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said Friday.
Messages for the International Gymnastics Federation were not immediately returned.
Questions about the ages of at least three of the athletes on China's team have swirled for months. Online records and newspaper accounts suggest three Chinese gymnasts -- He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan and Jang Yilin -- may be as young as 14, but Chinese passport records show they meet the age rules. A gymnast must be 16 in an Olympic year to compete at the games.
The IOC had said previously that it had verified the passports of all athletes competing at the games.
Ricky Martin Has Twins Via A Surrogate
There won't be much "livin' la vida loca" for Ricky Martin these days _ he's now the father of twin boys. The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement from his representatives.
"The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky's full-time care," said the statement. "Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children."
A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children's birth.
[And Clay Aiken just became a father also. Hmmmmmm. Oh, the picture is of Ricky Martin and his male “friend” on the beach together. Please, come out already.]
"The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky's full-time care," said the statement. "Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children."
A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children's birth.
[And Clay Aiken just became a father also. Hmmmmmm. Oh, the picture is of Ricky Martin and his male “friend” on the beach together. Please, come out already.]
U.S., Iraqi Negotiators Agree on 2011 Withdrawal
U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from the country by the end of 2011, and Iraqi officials said they are "very close" to resolving the remaining issues blocking a final accord that governs the future American military presence here.
Iraqi and U.S. officials said several difficult issues remain, including whether U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi law if accused of committing crimes. But the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to discuss the agreement publicly, said key elements of a timetable for troop withdrawal once resisted by President Bush had been reached.
[What ever happened to “no timelines, no timelines?” And the GOP gave Obama hell about withdrawal timelines.]
Iraqi and U.S. officials said several difficult issues remain, including whether U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi law if accused of committing crimes. But the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to discuss the agreement publicly, said key elements of a timetable for troop withdrawal once resisted by President Bush had been reached.
[What ever happened to “no timelines, no timelines?” And the GOP gave Obama hell about withdrawal timelines.]
Thursday, August 21, 2008
NEW JERSEY READY FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
A Zogby poll of 803 likely New Jersey voters taken between August 7 and 11 shows the state is more ready than ever to transition from civil unions to same-sex marriage:
"A majority of New Jersey favors marriage for same-sex couples over civil unions – and an even bigger majority is fine with public officials’ changing the civil union law to marriage equality, according to a new statewide Zogby Poll commissioned by Garden State Equality. By 59 to 36 percent, New Jerseyans would be fine with public officials’ changing the civil union law to marriage equality. Indeed, when the poll goes out of its way to remind voters that New Jersey already has a civil union law, a majority of New Jersey still supports marriage for same-sex couples – 50.1 to 42.3 percent. And an astounding 69 percent of New Jerseyans say marriage equality is inevitable in the state."
Other interesting revelations from the poll, including some first-ever answers on transgender medical insurance:
"New Jersey also wants Governor Corzine to follow the lead of New York Governor David Paterson, who has recognized legal out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples in his own state. In response to the question: Same-sex couples can already be legally married in places outside New Jersey, including California and Massachusetts. Do you think New Jersey should recognize those marriages as marriages in New Jersey? 57 percent said yes and 37 percent said no. 69 percent believe New Jersey will allow same-sex couples to marry, while only 21 percent believe New Jersey would not. 71 percent said, nothing will happen to legislators if they vote for marriage equality 'because New Jersey voters care more about other issues.' Only 21 percent said supportive legislators would not be reelected. In one of the poll’s most interesting questions – probably the first time the question has appeared in any poll – a clear majority of New Jerseyans believe insurance companies unfairly discriminate against transgender people by not covering the medical treatments that doctors deem vital to gender transition. 53 percent said this denial by insurance companies is unfair, while only 36 percent said it is fair."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Military Donations Favor Obama Over McCain 6-To-1
U.S. soldiers have donated more presidential campaign money to Democrat Barack Obama than to Republican John McCain, a reversal of previous campaigns in which military donations tended to favor GOP White House hopefuls, a nonpartisan group reported.
Troops serving abroad have given nearly six times as much money to Obama's presidential campaign as they have to McCain's, the Center for Responsive Politics said Thursday.
The results also are striking because they favored Obama, who never has served in the military. McCain meanwhile, is a decorated war veteran who spent nearly five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The Arizona senator graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and had a 22-year career as a naval aviator.
Obama has opposed the war in Iraq and says he would withdraw combat troops within 16 months. McCain has been a steadfast supporter of the war, saying he would withdraw the troops only when conditions on the ground warrant it.
''Obama will work tirelessly to uphold this nation's sacred trust with its veterans, to ensure they are not forgotten after they return home and he will provide our troops with the leadership they deserve, as well as the support they and their families need,'' Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro said.
McCain's campaign played down the significance of the donations.
''John McCain has been endorsed by more retired admirals and generals than Barack Obama has military donors,'' McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb said in a statement.
''We feel confident that many U.S. troops stationed overseas will support John McCain in the election this fall, but we suspect most are too busy doing the important work of defending this country than to make political contributions,'' Goldfarb said.
The report tracked donations of $200 or more. It found that 859 members of the military donated a total of $335,536 to Obama. McCain received $280,513 from 558 military donors.
Among soldiers serving overseas at the time of their donations, 134 gave a total of $60,642 to Obama while 26 gave a total of $10,665 to McCain.
Troops serving abroad have given nearly six times as much money to Obama's presidential campaign as they have to McCain's, the Center for Responsive Politics said Thursday.
The results also are striking because they favored Obama, who never has served in the military. McCain meanwhile, is a decorated war veteran who spent nearly five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The Arizona senator graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and had a 22-year career as a naval aviator.
Obama has opposed the war in Iraq and says he would withdraw combat troops within 16 months. McCain has been a steadfast supporter of the war, saying he would withdraw the troops only when conditions on the ground warrant it.
''Obama will work tirelessly to uphold this nation's sacred trust with its veterans, to ensure they are not forgotten after they return home and he will provide our troops with the leadership they deserve, as well as the support they and their families need,'' Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro said.
McCain's campaign played down the significance of the donations.
''John McCain has been endorsed by more retired admirals and generals than Barack Obama has military donors,'' McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb said in a statement.
''We feel confident that many U.S. troops stationed overseas will support John McCain in the election this fall, but we suspect most are too busy doing the important work of defending this country than to make political contributions,'' Goldfarb said.
The report tracked donations of $200 or more. It found that 859 members of the military donated a total of $335,536 to Obama. McCain received $280,513 from 558 military donors.
Among soldiers serving overseas at the time of their donations, 134 gave a total of $60,642 to Obama while 26 gave a total of $10,665 to McCain.
Smart Cars Have A Year-Long US Waiting List?
For most of its 10-year history, Daimler's (DAI) Smart car division has had a reputation for making small cars that lose big money. In 2005 and 2006, Stuttgart-based Daimler recorded more than $3 billion in restructuring costs for the division that produced the diminutive two-seater. Frustrated execs at one point vowed to sell the division or kill the quirky vehicle if they couldn't fix the chronic money loser.
Turns out the Smart may simply have been ahead of its time. Suddenly, Smart sales are soaring, even in the U.S., where the brand has been available since January. Smart USA has sold more than 14,000 cars in the U.S.--about double what Daimler expected--and there is a yearlong waiting list. Worldwide, Smart sales are up 57% this year, to 81,300 vehicles, and Daimler has added shifts at its factory in Hambach, France. Daimler doesn't disclose results for Smart separately, but analysts expect operating earnings of about $75 million on sales of $1.5 billion. The 5% margin compares to about 8% for Mercedes cars as a whole.
STATUS SYMBOL
Gas prices only provide a partial explanation for the Smart's surge. True, the Smart, with a three-cylinder engine and colorful plastic body panels, gets great mileage. At 41 mpg on the highway, the Smart is the most fuel-efficient nonhybrid gasoline car on American roads. A diesel version (not available in the U.S.) gets 71 mpg.
Turns out the Smart may simply have been ahead of its time. Suddenly, Smart sales are soaring, even in the U.S., where the brand has been available since January. Smart USA has sold more than 14,000 cars in the U.S.--about double what Daimler expected--and there is a yearlong waiting list. Worldwide, Smart sales are up 57% this year, to 81,300 vehicles, and Daimler has added shifts at its factory in Hambach, France. Daimler doesn't disclose results for Smart separately, but analysts expect operating earnings of about $75 million on sales of $1.5 billion. The 5% margin compares to about 8% for Mercedes cars as a whole.
STATUS SYMBOL
Gas prices only provide a partial explanation for the Smart's surge. True, the Smart, with a three-cylinder engine and colorful plastic body panels, gets great mileage. At 41 mpg on the highway, the Smart is the most fuel-efficient nonhybrid gasoline car on American roads. A diesel version (not available in the U.S.) gets 71 mpg.
But Smart buyers aren't your average penny-pinchers. Many are affluent, design-conscious folks who have seen Smarts during trips to Europe and own at least one other car. To Daimler's surprise, only 5% of U.S. customers choose the $11,590 base model, instead ordering spiffier versions such as the $16,590 convertible. Though some drivers say the Smart feels like a mouse among elephants on the highway, Ron Moreau, a 74-year-old Williamsburg (Va.) resident, says his two Lexus models have hardly left the driveway since he bought a $16,800 Smart Passion in July.
DeGeneres And De Rossi Wed In California
There was much dancing: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are married, according to reports.
In the biggest celebrity union since California legalized same-sex marriage, DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, wed Saturday night in an intimate ceremony at their Beverly Hills home, People and Us Magazine reported.
A publicist for DeGeneres confirmed People's report and gave no further comment.
After the California Supreme Court's ruling in May, the talk-show host announced that she and de Rossi would wed after four years together.
The ceremony was attended by 19 guests, including DeGeneres' mom, Betty, and de Rossi's mother, Margaret Rogers, who had flown in from Australia, People.com reported Saturday night.
DeGeneres said after winning her fourth consecutive Daytime Emmy for talk show host in June that a date had not been set, and that she would show "a tiny bit" of the nuptials on her show.
While opponents in California have gathered signatures to put a measure on the November ballot for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, Hollywood was throwing its support behind the newlyweds.
"One of my favorite people of all time is Ms. Ellen DeGeneres," Katherine Heigl, star of "Grey's Anatomy," told Associated Press Television News at a Hollywood charity event on Saturday night. "So I wish all the best, all the happiness, all the joy that comes with that certificate ... just the joy of being able to stand up and say that. In front of everyone you love and care about in front of each other and to walk away legal is huge."
Tila Tequila, whose dating reality show fame is built somewhat on her affinity for both men and women, passed along her good wishes with only one small complaint.
"I love Ellen (DeGeneres); I watch her show all the time," Tequila told APTN. "I just want to say congratulations, and I am really sorry you didn't invite me to your wedding."
[I like this picture.... and I am going to buy "People". Show my support.]
Friday, August 15, 2008
DeGeneres And De Rossi To Wed In Weekend Ceremony
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are planning to marry this weekend in California. DeGeneres' representatives declined to give details, but Us Magazine reported that the ceremony would be an intimate gathering of the couple's close friends.
DeGeneres and de Rossi got engaged following the California Supreme Court's May decision to legalize same-sex marriages. The couple has been dating since 2004.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, 35, will wed this weekend in California.
The pair are planning a small, intimate ceremony with only a few close friends and family.
DeGeneres and de Rossi got engaged following the California Supreme Court's May decision to legalize same-sex marriages. The couple has been dating since 2004.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, 35, will wed this weekend in California.
The pair are planning a small, intimate ceremony with only a few close friends and family.
Following the California Supreme Court's monumental ruling that same sex couple's have the "right to marry," DeGeneres announced she planned to wed her longtime girlfriend on a taping of her show in May.
"It's something that we've wanted to do and we want it to be legal and we are very, very excited," DeGeneres, 50, gushed.
DeGeneres reflected on their upcoming nuptials at the Daytime Emmy Awards in Hollywood in June.
"I think someday people will look back on this like women not having the right to vote and segregation and anything else that seems ridiculous that we don't all have the same rights," DeGeneres said.
Of the preparations, DeGeneres joked, "Planning a wedding is very stressful. It's crazy. My gardener is now invited."
DeGeneres and de Rossi began dating in December 2004. "I feel like I found my perfect fit," DeGeneres said of de Rossi in an interview with the Advocate. "She’s taught me lessons about myself, and I feel like I’ve taught her," DeGeneres added.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Colin Finlay, a former photocopy machine salesman turned world class photographer may represent the tip of the spear when it comes to the public consciousness of climate change. Even the Queen of England is a fan: He's about to be knighted for his efforts to bring the impact of climate change to the masses. Finlay has the rare ability to capture images that sear an indelible mark on the soul of those who view them; his gift is a human face to the crisis at hand.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Los Angeles Times Endorses NO on 8
"It's the same sentence as in 2000: 'Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.' Yet the issue that will be put before voters Nov. 4 is radically different. This time, the wording would be used to rescind an existing constitutional right to marry. We fervently hope that voters, whatever their personal or religious convictions, will shudder at such a step and vote no on Proposition 8."
Catholic Bishops Endorse Prop. 8
California's Roman Catholic bishops are urging parishioners to support a fall ballot measure that seeks to overturn the court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.
The California Catholic Conference issued a statement strongly encouraging parishioners "to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8." The proposition would put a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
In the statement, the bishops say their position is based partly on the presumption that while all people deserve to be treated with dignity, being raised by a married mother and father is "the ideal for the well-being of children."
The conference's executive director said the bishops plan to develop materials that parish priests can use to address the topic between now and Election Day.
The conference represents the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco and the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Stockton.
[Yeah, I know… surprise. The catholic church against gays, again!]
The California Catholic Conference issued a statement strongly encouraging parishioners "to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8." The proposition would put a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
In the statement, the bishops say their position is based partly on the presumption that while all people deserve to be treated with dignity, being raised by a married mother and father is "the ideal for the well-being of children."
The conference's executive director said the bishops plan to develop materials that parish priests can use to address the topic between now and Election Day.
The conference represents the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco and the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Stockton.
[Yeah, I know… surprise. The catholic church against gays, again!]
Michele Bachmann on Why We Don't Need To Save the Planet
The Member of Congress from the State of Minnesota is now in the lead with the most quotes of the day, with her latest complaint about Nancy Pelosi and the fight against climate change:
""[Pelosi] is committed to her global warming fanaticism to the point where she has said that she's just trying to save the planet. We all know that someone did that over 2,000 years ago, they saved the planet -- we didn't need Nancy Pelosi to do that."
""[Pelosi] is committed to her global warming fanaticism to the point where she has said that she's just trying to save the planet. We all know that someone did that over 2,000 years ago, they saved the planet -- we didn't need Nancy Pelosi to do that."
Mitsubishi to Test i MiEV Electric Car in California
Fleet Testing of the i MiEV Electric Car in the USAfter announcing that its i MiEV electric car would be sold globally and would come to market in Japan 1 year ahead of schedule, Mitsubishi is now announcing that it will partner with two utilities in California to do fleet testing.
Southern California EdisonWith Southern California Edison (SCE), Mitsubishi wants to "gauge how electric vehicles will most effectively connect to the smart grid of the future and the next generation Edison SmartConnect advanced meters." SCE might have been chosen because of its EV Technical Center, a department within the company that helps test prototypes of electric cars, but also plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.
Southern California EdisonWith Southern California Edison (SCE), Mitsubishi wants to "gauge how electric vehicles will most effectively connect to the smart grid of the future and the next generation Edison SmartConnect advanced meters." SCE might have been chosen because of its EV Technical Center, a department within the company that helps test prototypes of electric cars, but also plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Presidential Debate Schedule Set
First presidential debate
Friday, September 26
The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
Jim Lehrer Executive Editor and Anchor, The NewsHour, PBS
Vice presidential debate
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
Gwen Ifill Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor, Washington Week, PBS
Second presidential debate (town meeting)
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.
Tom Brokaw Special Correspondent, NBC News
Third presidential debate
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
Bob Schieffer CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Host, Face the Nation
Friday, August 8, 2008
San Diego
Sean and I took a quick trip to San Diego. We toured about Old Town San Diego and La Jolla Cove on the first day and then went to the San Diego Zoo the second.
We walked through The Presido, overlooking Old Town San Diego.
Then to La Jolla Cove. Sea birds everywere. Seals in the water. People were kayaking and snorkeling. We plan to go back to snorkel at the cove.
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