Hurry Up, Verizon

With the news that Comcast will raise its cable tv cost by 3.2% by January 1st, all I can say is, "Hurry up, Verizon!" Verizon has begun its cable tv wiring and sales in NJ. My good friend Pax Romano has had his domain wired for Verizon, but I believe Comcast made him a pretty good deal to keep him as one of theirs. And that's what I'm talking about; the competition will be good for the consumer. If Comcast thinks raising its rates is going to keep customers, they are dead wrong! So I hope Verizon moves faster in getting the rest of South Jersey cable ready.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Those Damned Activist Judges!

Well, those damned activist judges are at it again, making law and procedure. However this time it's in Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the government Tuesday to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. Although efforts by Israel's gay community to win approval for same-sex marriage face a major obstacle because Israel's religious authorities have a monopoly over marriage and divorce, this ruling does make it possible for same-sex couples to marry outside Israel and that marriage be legally recognized in Israel. Israeli law stipulates a couple must be married to adopt a child, and with this ruling, same-sex couples can now adopt if married elsewhere. Prior to this ruling, gay couples in Israel already had many of the rights of heterosexual partnerships. Now married gay couples will get the same tax breaks as a married couple.

It amazes me that the U.S. thinks it is so progressive, but other countries seem to be surpassing it's recognition of gay rights. On November 14th, the South African parliament voted 230-41 to legalize same-sex marriages. South Africa of all places! Wow! Maybe someday soon the U.S. will realize that gay individuals deserve the same rights and recognition as hetero couples. You don't have to like it or be happy with it, but gays in the U.S. pay the same taxes and are as productive to society as anyone else. They deserve the same rights!

Where To Buy; What To Buy

The Human Rights Campaign has again published it's Buying for Equity 2007 Guide. This guide makes it easier to buy from those companies/businesses that support equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. Before making any purchases this year please check out the guide. (The guide can also be ordered through the mail from the HRC site).

Is A "Disaster" The Same As A Mistake?

Looks like British Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted that the invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain was "a disaster." Blair made this assessment of the situation in Iraq in an interview with David Frost. "Iraq invasion a disaster, Blair admits on Arab TV," was the headline in the Daily Telegraph. Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said the Prime Minister should now apologize for his actions.

My assumption is that Blair still does not feel that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake, given what intelligence, although flawed, showed. But at least Blair has admitted the situation in Iraq is a disaster! Bush won't even do that. He and only a handful in the US, Cheney and Rumsfeld among that group, still think things are going well in Iraq! With the help of the midterm elections Bush at least is not on his "stay the course" strategy, but he still believes all is well in the Land of Iraq. As I have said before, admit the mistake, and get out ASAP!

The Role Gays Played In The Election

The Advocate.com contains a story asking whether gays should be thanked for the Democratic victory in the recent mid-term elections. According to The Advocate.com, in Virginia, the effort to defeat an anti-gay marriage amendement brought thousands of "progressive voters" out, and most of them also voted for Democrat James Webb.

I would also suggest that in at least one other race, Pennsylvania, Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. should be thanking the gay community a whole bunch for his victory over Republican Rick Santorum. I personally saw gay groups passing out ant-Santorum literature and supporting Casey. "Gay rights supporters nationwide savored the defeat of several high-profile anti-gay incumbents, and no prize was larger than Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who lost by double digits to moderate Democrat Bob Casey", according to Bay Windows, New England's Largest LGBT Newspaper. This paper also reports that Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, openly gay, will become one of the most influential men in America when he assumes the chairmanship of the powerful House Financial Services Committee.

I am going to wait to see what actually happens when the new Congress takes over. Many of the Dems that won the election are moderates, many not favoring gay marriage. Will their personal beliefs and feelings prevail, or will these men and women push for equal rights for all Americans? Only time will tell.

How 'Bout A Roadtrip?

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!

Coming Soon To A City Near You

Rain, or this? MMMMM!!! Which do I like best? I am looking forward to a little of the white stuff. I am getting tired of being in my apartment, too hot because it's warmer than it should be and I cannot open the windows because of the rain. Yes, I've even had the AC on for a bit. Crazy to have the AC on in November!

Get Real, Assemblyman Richard Merkt

The NJ State Legislators pumped up their positions on gay marriage vs. civil unions yesterday. While Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, presented a bill that would open up marriage to "any two consenting adults committed to a permanent relationship" and would protect religious institutions from having to perform or recognize such unions, Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, proposed impeaching the state Supreme Court justices who last month extend the rights of same-sex couples beyond the domestic partner benefits they now have. GET REAL, MERKT!

I understand some people being upset by the NJ Supreme Courts' ruling that committed same-sex couples have the same rights as their straight counterparts, but like it or not, that was the ruling! So stop belly-aching and reacting in such a manner as Merkt and get busy completing the task set forth by the NJ Supreme Court.

Throughout history, it has been the "activist courts" that have set in motion legislation that has improved the civil rights of US citizens. If not for "activist courts" my guess is there would still be slavery in southern states and women wouldn't be voting. Yes, it was constitutional amendments that gave these rights, but the "activist courts" prompted it with various rulings. (Do a Google search for specifics). In NJ, like Massachusetts, the Supreme Courts have also set in motion rights that are deserved by citizens.

Let Assemblyman Richard Merkt know what you think!

The Iraq War Was A Mistake

I have always been told that everyone makes mistakes, and that "to err is human." I rarely make them, mistakes that is, but I must admit I do. I do not know any person who does not make a mistake or two, or three or four or a thousand, in his lifetime. If such a person existed he wouldn't be called a "person", he'd be called GOD!

When is someone going to admit that the war in Iraq was a mistake? Who is going to admit that the war in Iraq was a mistake? It was a mistake from the very beginning. I'll even give the Bush Administration the benefit of the doubt and say the intelligence was incorrect, not that Bush & Company twisted the intelligence for their own purpose. And if the intelligence was wrong, then it was a mistake! The way the war has been handled is a mistake! So when is someone going to admit this and correct the mistake?

I know that alot has been lost in the war. Some 2,800+ American lives have been lost, and today Iraq claimed 150,000 civilians, not counting soldiers, have lost their lives in Iraq since the US invasion. It is said the US must win so the lives of our soldiers lost will not be in vain. But I ask how many more lives must be lost before someone finally gets it? THE WAR IN IRAQ WAS A MISTAKE! Plain and simple! We are in a quagmire! We leave now and who knows what will happen? We stay another 2, 3, 4, 10 years and how many more lives will be lost unnecessarily?

Everyone is all excited about the Dems taking over control of the House and Senate. It is time for a change in direction all proclaim. But what kind of change? Maybe the Iraq war should be recognized for what it is, one huge mistake! The event in US history will go down as one of the biggest blunders ever made! George W. will go down in history as one of the biggest buffoons in history! So why not just stop beating around the bush? Why not stop sugar-coating the mistake? Admit the mistake and move on.

Rummy! Not A Fighting Chance In Hell!

Poor Donald Rumsfeld! He's been fired by the American people. Well, not exactly, but close enough! A television commercial in NJ supporting Tom Kean, Jr. used the slogan that Bob Menendez refused to resign so NJ voters would have to do it for him, reminds me of the Rumsfeld ouster. Adios, Rummy! Glad to see you go!

I also had the displeasure of watching Bush in a news conference this afternoon. What an arrogant SOB! He had the nerve to say that he really believed the Democrats do care about the safety of the US, but disagreed with their methods. So what made Bush change his mind in 2 days because just the day before yesterday Bush basically said a vote for the Dems was a vote against America's safety? Oh yeah!! A romp! A good old fashion "whuppin'". Or was Bush just lying like he has his entire presidency? Thank God a reporter with a British accent called Bush on this. And Bush again said he did believe the Dems do care about the US and its safety. More Bush bullshit! Soon, Bush will be gone too!

Interesting election! I'm pleased except for the defeat of gay marriage in several states. Most were southern states in which the vote was clearly the majority against gay marriage. Out west, the votes were closer. So I say all gays should just leave the states that don't want them and join us in gay-friendly states. What a shock it would be for those gay-hating states to lose all that disposable income. (If I were President, I would outlaw any federal funding to states that continue to discriminate)!

But the Dems have control of the House, and at this time, only Virginia seems to be in the way of Democratic control of the Senate. Webb, the Dem candidate is slightly ahead and calling it a victory. I hope he's right. (I am a bit worried that many of the winning Dems are moderate to conservative individuals). So all in all, a good election. Let's just see what happens now. And I'm sure the tv ads will soon begin for 2008!

Suggestion To Reverend Ted Haggard

If I could offer a suggestion to the Rev. Ted Haggard? Shut up and stop digging your hole even deeper. You know the saying that one lie leads to another and another and another? Well, by trying to explain what actually happened, Haggard is doing just that. If anybody believes for a moment that Haggard would go to a male prostitute for a massage and to purchase drugs, but not for sexual purposes, then that believer should get what he/she deserves, a big letdown! Maybe instead of trying to explain what happened, Haggard should just keep quiet and fade off into the sunset!

Another One On Our Side

Actor Neil Patrick Harris has confirmed that he is "a very content gay man living my life to the fullest." The 33-year-old actor said he was motivated to disclose his sexuality because of recent "speculation and interest in my private life and relationships." Another one on our side.

It is great to see more and more men and women proclaiming the "true" them. I know it's not easy and I applaud these people. A much better way of coming out wouldn't you say than the scandals involving politicians and ministers?

Another Goody-Goody Gets Fu**ed!

The Rev. Ted Haggard (pictured to left), the leader of the 30 million member National Association of Evangelicals in the US, has resigned over allegations that he paid for sex with another man. Haggard is the pastor of his 14,000 member New Life Church. The honorable Rev. Haggard (HaHaHa) is also known as a strong opponent of same-sex marriages. Why should gay sex be permitted in a monogamous relationship when one can pay for such an experienc!

Rev. Haggard and all the hypocritical opponents of same-sex rights should be exposed for who they really are. It is quite often said that those who oppose gays so vehemently more than likely have something to hide themselves. Just another prime example of this in Haggard!

Enough Already! I'm Gonna Puke!

Anyone else sick and tired of all the political bullshit? I am so tired of the political commercials on tv; one comes on for a particular candidate claiming something, then the opponent's commercial comes on with the exact opposite message. Who's the worse of the two is what elections come down to anymore. Thank God it will be over in a little more than one week....well until next year at this time. Then, wait for 2008. That will probably be so much worse with the political ads starting in the summer of 2008 if not sooner.

My Brief History Search of Marriage

With the recent ruling by the NJ Supreme Court and the battle in NJ between gay marriage/civil union or whatever it's going to be called, I decided to do a little research on the history of marriage. Was "marriage" really ordained by God and directed in the Bible? When did the word, "marriage" actually begin to be used? Have there been gay "marriages" or unions before in history. What I found left me even more confused. For you see, "marriage" as we know it today in the US has been an ever changing ritual.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God orders a man and a woman to marry. There are certainly references to a woman and a man joining together, but it is nontheless very confusing as to what the Bible actually states about marriage. And the union between a man and a woman was not even called "marriage" way back then.

I did come across one piece of information that seemed to sum up all of the other research I did. It is The History of Marriage as an Institution, by Larry R. Peterson, PhD. Several interesting facts, at least I think they're facts, are brought up in Dr. Peterson's writing:

1. From the 5th to the 14th centuries, the Roman Catholic Church conducted special ceremonies to bless same-sex unions which were almost identical for those to bless heterosexual unions. At the very least, these were spiritual, if not sexual, unions;
2 From the 1690s to the 1870s, “wife sale” was common in rural and small-town England. To divorce his wife, a husband could present her with a rope around her neck in a public sale to another man;
3. Marriage was strictly a civil and not an ecclesiastical ceremony for the Puritans in Massachusetts Bay until 1686;
4. Until 1662, there was no penalty for interracial marriages in any of the British colonies in North America. In 1662, Virginia doubled the fine for fornication between interracial couples. In 1664, Maryland became the first colony to ban interracial marriages. By 1750, all southern colonies, plus Massachusetts and Pennsylvania outlawed interracial marriages;
5. In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state anti-miscegenation laws in Loving v. Virginia.
As a result of the decision, Virginia and fifteen other states had their anti-miscegenation laws declared unconstitutional. Those states were: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
In the fifteen years prior to the decision, fourteen states had repealed their anti-miscegenation laws. Those fourteen states were: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

What conclusions do I draw from this? That marriage has had many different connotations througout history. And most importantly: If it was not for a US Supreme Court ruling in 1967, there would still be states to this day that prohibit interracial marriages! Those State legislatures would never, never have changed the law except for the US Supreme Court ruling! Those goddamn activist judges!

Decision Expected Tomorrow On Gay Marriage In NJ

Expect a decision tomorrow in the battle for gay marriage in NJ. Winnie Comfort, a spokeswoman for the state judiciary, said the New Jersey Supreme Court will release its highly anticipated decision in a case brought by seven gay couples who claim the state constitution entitles them to marry. If the court rules that NJ's Constitution does not prohibit gays from marrying, NJ will become only the second state in the country, beside Massachusett's, in which gay marriage will be legal. Although conservative groups will try to amend NJ's Constitution to define marriage between a man and a woman, Governor Jon Corzine has already said he will support no legislation opposing the court's decision. NJ is known to be a progressive State when it comes to civil rights, so tomorrow we will know. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thank God For The Non-Traditionalist

In his piece of shit book, Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly touts himself a "traditionalist" fighting against the "secular-progressive movement." The battle in America is not between conservatives and liberals but those that want to keep things the way they are versus those progressives that want to change the way things are. O'Reilly "condemns the "erosion of societal discipline" flowing from an alleged "S-P [secular-progressive]" agenda of drug legalization, teenagers' rights, moral relativism, church-state separation, therapy instead of punishment for criminals and, above all, the "communist" freeloader's doctrine that the government should tax the rich to fund housing, health care and early-childhood education for the poor."

I say thanks be to God for those non-traditionalists in our history. And every minority group, including women, should also agree with me. If it wasn't for the "secular-progressives" in our history, where would they be today? The Ann Coulters of the US would be in the kitchen, cooking for their man, instead of in the media blowing their horns. If it wasn't for the "secular-progressives" in our history, a good number of us would not have the freedoms we do today. If it wasn't for the "progressives in US history, slavery would still be the norm of the day. These are just a couple things that were only changed by those "secular-progressives." I must say that I, as a white male, would be enjoying life, while those not meeting my makeup, would still be oppressed today.

So I say to Bill O'Reilly, "STUFF IT, BILL!" If moving forward with equal rights for all, and if creating change so all Americans so they can enjoy life to it's fullest, makes me a "secular-progressive," I'll gladly wear that title and do everything in my power to fight the "taditionalists."

Hillary/Condaleeza Showdown

A friend sent me this...........You gotta see it!

A Day In AC....And Not A Penny Spent On Gambling

THE WALK

THE PIER

Everytime I go to Atlantic City I am amazed at how much it changes. There is now so much to do that does not involve gambling that it can actually be a very entertaining day if you do not like to go into the smoke filled gaming halls and throw away your money.

My trip started with a visit to Atlantic City Outlets-The Walk, where at least I have something to show for the money I spent. Then, it was dinner at Los Amigos, my favorite Mexican restaurant. Then, over to The Pier Shops at Caesar's, where there are several new restaurants as well as many expensive, but interesting stores.

I would encourage everyone to spend a day in AC. And if you really feel the need, there are the many casinos you can visit as well. And who knows, maybe you'll get lucky. Some people do!