more than ever

another really good article on race/obama from a.coop., via twitter. basically just states the obvious, but i found myself saying "...yeah! ...YEAH!" to a lot of the points addressed. give it a read here.

"don't worry about history, they'll write it later."

i've been following anderson cooper on twitter for the past few days and loving the articles he keeps sending "my" way--here is one i just couldn't resist posting up here; the excerpt that follows is his speculation on what (if anything) our new president's predecessor might have left in a note in the top drawer of the desk in the oval office:

Keep a sense of humor.

Don’t forget to eat lunch.

Exercise helps with the stress. Keep shooting hoops.

Meet with the families of our fallen troops. Value their sacrifice.

Remember that you’re also a husband and a father and that the folks working around you have families.

Don’t worry about history, they’ll write it later. Have faith in your judgment. Protect the country we all love.

My new phone number’s unlisted but I’ll make sure you have it.

anyway, read the rest of the article here.

...from sea to shining sea.

Yes, we can.

Yes, we did.

Yes, we will.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama. As I live and breathe.

dcioppand: i think we need this for 39 methyl

watchthesky84: ha! yes.
watchthesky84: i like this:


dcioppand: HA


many, many, many more here.

the gays are none too happy with president elect Barack Obama:

Barack Obama’s choice of a prominent evangelical minister to deliver the invocation at his inauguration is a conciliatory gesture toward social conservatives who opposed him in November, but it is drawing fierce challenges from a gay rights movement that – in the wake of a gay marriage ban in California – is looking for a fight.

Read the rest of the article here.

true story

read one of many corresponding articles here.



:::edit:::

Arce11o: i think it's funny that the article pointed out that, in ARAB culture, throwing a shoe at someone is a sign of disrespect

Arce11o: is a sign of endearment in other cultures?

watchthesky84: hahaha

watchthesky84: well, you know what it means when it happens in america

watchthesky84: "sweet! new pair of shoes!"



:::edit 2:::
per my office manager's request, go here. trust me. hilarity will ensue.

and, while we're defining things...

turns out, it's got LOTS of definitions:

mar⋅riage

   /ˈmærɪdʒ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [mar-ij] Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

2.	the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock: a happy marriage.

3.	the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife, including the accompanying social festivities: to officiate at a marriage.

4.	a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage.

5.	any close or intimate association or union: the marriage of words and music in a hit song.

6.	a formal agreement between two companies or enterprises to combine operations, resources, etc., for mutual benefit; merger.

7.	a blending or matching of different elements or components: The new lipstick is a beautiful marriage of fragrance and texture.

8.	Cards. a meld of the king and queen of a suit, as in pinochle. Compare royal marriage.

9.	a piece of antique furniture assembled from components of two or more authentic pieces.

10.	Obsolete. the formal declaration or contract by which act a man and a woman join in wedlock.

---

Origin:
1250–1300; ME mariage < class="ital-inline">mari(er) to marry ¹ + -age -age

also...


(side note: the saddest thing i have ever seen. please note the first ad listed when dictionary.com is asked to define "marriage.")

just for shits and giggles:

PDF, and the ability to read one.

the invisible knapsack, part: 2

another PDF file, found while trying to find the last one i posted.

This article is based on Peggy McIntosh’s article on white privilege and was written by a number of straight-identified students at Earlham College who got together to look at some examples of straight privilege. These dynamics are but a few examples of the privilege which straight people have. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer-identified folk have a range of different experiences, but cannot count on most of these conditions in their lives.

i don't entirely agree with ALL of the points listed (i can't possibly be the only person who's ever been asked to represent the entire heterosexual population, can i?), but again, another good read; can be found here.