Guard Dog

New Guns and Roses CD, Chinese Democracy. Next in the changer is Def Leppard, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge.

Which is quite possibly the reason why a majority of black voters supported Prop 8 in November. Lets face facts here, had the majority of black voters been against it it would not have passed.

The real issue with gay marriage is that people have not gotten used to the idea yet. It is now where mixed race marrigaes were 10-15 years ago. A few years from now it will be commonplace and most folks will wonder what the big deal was anyway. Just like mixed race marriages now. Enoch was dead on the money when he pointed out the wisest course of action will be to just let it happen. Forced social change is usually a messy business and as I pointed out several times it is a little dumb for gays to portray themselves as an aggrieved and supressed minority. Compared to the REAL civil rights movement, they have no problems.

Working very hard on my NWN2 modules. For those interested in that kind of thing check out the project forum here: http://nwcitadel.forgottenrealmsweave.org/...isplay.php?f=77

What? Do you live on another planet? Nope, the good old US of A, just two time zones east of you. And try as I might I cannot recall a single instance in US History where homosexuals have been treated with institutionalized discrimination like most minorities have at one time or another. I'm not talking about people, there is nothing you can do about that. I'm talking about using the power of the state to suppress liberty for a group. And no marrige does not count because there is no "right" to marry. The military would be a good example here but I also discount that because it does not exist for the empowerment of the individual and is a whole different animal than real life anyway.

I don't know if it is a choice or not. That is just my opinion based on my understanding of genetics and biochemistry, and animal behavior, which I'll freely admit is limited. However, the one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that it is not proven one way or another. If it ever is, it is. And if it is not genetic they should still be free to pursue that lifestyle if that is their wish. That whole "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" thing must apply to everyone or it applies to no one. Personally I find the concept of hating or discriminating against someone because of what they do in the bedroom a little silly. I also find it a little silly for a homosexual to believe their "rights" are being violated because they can't get "married". There are legal arrangements and domestic partnership laws in all 50 states that provide all the benefits of marriage with the exception of federal income tax filing (and they actually penalize married couples anyway). As for private companies not extending benefits to gay partners, most do now. Mine does. And at any rate, employment benefits are granted and paid out solely at the discretion of the employer. If company A won't extend benefits to a gay employees spouse, that employee can either take it or go work elsewhere. When you get right down to brass tacks, being gay is all about who you have sex with. That is it. There is no mystery here. Gays are not and have never been forbidden from working, voting, shopping in whatever stores they want, sitting where they want on the bus, or visiting any part of town they wish. Gays have never been subjugated, enslaved, segregated, etc. To compare the gays difficulties in getting society to accept them, and gain rights they already have to the actual struggle of minorities for basic civil rights is just absurd on it's face in my opinion

Heck, I don't even approve of Prop 8 as it is. You know me better than that. I oppose ANY infringement on personal liberty. And I really don't see what the big deal is about allowing gays to marry. And I can say that as a Christian and as a Libertarian. I'll pretend for a moment you were actually asking an intelligent question rather than tossing a firebomb at me. If an amendment that blatantly discriminates against someone on the basis of age, gender or ethnicity is passed by the voters or legislature of any state it would be a violation of a number of Constitutional Amendments including the 14th, 15th, 19th and 26th. In that case the SCOTUS would intervene because no state law can supersede the Constitution. It is the supreme law of the land. Prop 8 does none of those things. I do think it was wrong but it would be unjust for a court with no jurisdiction to overule the will of the voters. You will not like where that action leads. Gays are not recognized as a legitimate minority in this country or any other I know of. Whether that is right or wrong I don't know. Personally, I do not think they should be considered a minority because nobody chose to be black, or Asian, or white. Homosexuality is not (IMO) a genetic condition. It is not a disease. There is an element of choice in it. It is just what some people like to do and they should be free to pursue whatever lifestyle they wish. Thats my $.02

They had better not. Unless there is a component of the law that affects another state/nation/or guranteed rights enumerated in the Constitution the 10th Amendment grants sole jurisdiction of State law to the State. Perhaps an argument could be made that it is a violation of the Full Faith and Credit clause since some states do recognize gay marriage but that argument has lost everywhere it's been tried.

S. Korea is a cool place. I've been there twice. Mostly I just saw Pohang (not so nice) but I did get to see Taegu (beautiful) and Pusan once. Very nice pics Tig.

I realize this is totally OT... but this is the only political thread cooking right now and the story does not merit creating another. If you will all recall the ever popular US Presidential Elections threads we had, I stated several times that the very first thing the Democrats will do once they've won the congressional elections would be to vote themselves a pay raise. I was right: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/20...-Raise-me_N.htm They wreck the economy, I lose my job, they get a pay raise. Ain't life grand.

Today I watched football. A LOT of football. I watched Navy lose to Wake Forest (I was bummed), I watched Colorado State beat Fresno State (I didn't care who won but it was a good game), and I watched Memphis get the stew beaten out of them by USF. Now watching Dallas and Baltimore. I barely got out of the chair today. Now I'm going to make peanut putter and strawberry sandwich, get another beer, and finish the game. I think tomorrow I'm going to do the same thing again. Life is good.

I'll second Hurlshots suggestion of banning government sanction of marriage. In fact, having actually been married, I really would not recommend it for anyone...

The California SC cannot throw the amendment out because it is part of the Constitution of the State now. In other words, unless it conflicts with another aspect of the same it is the supreme law of the state and the SC is bound to enforce and uphold it. That said I'm a little curious how the suit to anull existing marriages makes it to the SC. Correct me if I'm wrong (especially Enoch or Gromnir) but isn't the first requirement of any lawsuit that the plaintiff have standing to file the suit? How are the plaintiffs here damaged by existing marriages to the extent that it requires a legal remedy? What is their standing?

Still playing the NWN2 OC for the first time all the way. Is anyone else a little annoyed at seeing Tanar'i and Baatezu fighting side by side like old buddies? That little detail just irks the heck out of me.

I'm doing "tower inspections" at work for the rest of the week. As I have become fond of saying... "What are you going to do? Fire me?" Anyway, it's cold and raining and we may get sleet & snow so I'm going to stay inside and work in my NWN2 module all day.

Not food exactly but I really like this stuff: http://www.starbucks.com/ourcoffees/produc...roduct%5Fid=xma

Point taken.

Actually that is another thing backasswards in the US. We call Obama a liberal but if you ever look up the definitition of the word: Liberalisim - a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c: a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties you can see Obama is NOT a liberal by any means. He is the exact opposite of that. Our politics are a little weird. Logic, reason and facts might be regarded as interesting but they have little bearing on who gets in office or what they do there. Oh, and we have a word for the greatest amount of government being closest to the voters, it Federalisim. We are in the process of dismantling that now in favor of big central oligarchy that we will have no control over and that will have no regard for us. Ain't progress grand?

Thats no joke there. That whole concept of "Ask not what your country can do for you..." has become very outdated hasn't it? Right along with rugged individualisim and the spirit that it is everyones responsibility to work hard and succeed on their own merits, to take care of their families and themselves, not ask the state to do it for you. I have become more and more aware of late that the battle is over. My side has lost. And that breaks my heart more than you will ever comprehend. Not for me but for what our country is becoming, and will become.

Actually, the US works kind of backasswards on that. The Executive does something like warantless wiretaps for example and the court decides two years (in that instance) after the fact that it was not Constitutional and puts a stop to it. That is not a new phenomenon by the way. During the Civil War Lincoln issued a few executive orders that amounted to a de facto suspension of Habeas Corpus. IIRC it was six years later the SCOTUS ruled he did not have the constitutional authority to do that. The practical effect in foreign policy would be nil since the Constitution grants the Federal Government sole power to make treaties, prosecute war, conduct trade, etc and the authority is pretty broad. Domestically it would make a huge difference. I believe it would be an improvement since the State governments would take a larger role in the lives of citizens than the Federal Govt. I think you will find I'm in the minority on that one.

there's a difference between questioning/changing our government and changing the Constitution. much of what our government does, domestically and abroad, is not Constitutional anyway. perhaps we simply need to abide by the document rather than paying it lip service? taks There was a bill in Congress back in the late 90's that would have required the legislature to cite the Constitutional authority on every bill it passed. The honorable gentlemen on the hill allowed it to expire of course. Too bad we don't have that law today now that the government is using tax money to buy stakes in private businesses.

Excellent point, very well stated, and I agree 100%

Ha! You DO realize a Constitutional Convention now would lead the the break up of the USA don't you? Think that one through. You may believe it would be a good thing, I do not. As to the subject at hand, the US in not subject to the caprice of the World (kangaroo) Court. If such a body ever tried to seize a US citizen for prosecution even I would be ready to take up arms and fight. Another thought, the ingratitude of the Iraqis, Afghans, and for that matter the "allies" of Europe and Asia whose freedom was won and defended with American blood and treasure these last eighty or so years just drives home the wisdom of the Monroe Doctrine, and the warning of our Founding Fathers to avoid "foreign entanglements". Once the Republican Party stood firmly for a strong national defense and a non interventionist foreign policy. Nixon was the one who put an end to that. I wish they would find their way back to it. I think they would find the voters amenable to it.

The company has been pretty decent about it actually. I'm an exempt employee so I am on their good graces when it comes to severance packages and they one they offer is pretty generous. It's one months base pay for every year with the comapny (up to 6) and they will buy back all outstanding vacation time. My last day is Jan 30 so I'll have a full set of vacation days. Like I said earlier, if I can find somewhere to land quickly this may work out to be a good thing. I was miserable at first but then I realized just how lucky I am to even HAVE severance. A lot of good people are losing their jobs lately with nothing more than a kick in the rear as they exit. So I really can't complain. My director informed me that all of my projects are being either defunded or turned over to someone else so I can spend much of January conducting "tower inspections" (our code word for not coming in to the office). I have my resume on Monster and Career Builder and I've sent it cold to at least a dozen companies in the West-Tennesee area. Plus I have a killer idea for a home business. It won't make enough to live on but it will be fun and will make a little money. More on that later.

I have a question for all of you professionals here. Most of you work in offices of one kind or another so most of you have been around people who are being laid off, surplussed, positions eliminated, whatever. Have you ever noticed that co-workers treat them differently once it gets out? Our office Christmas party was today and I'm walking in with one of the design guys who is in the same boat I am and I noticed the conversation volume in the room dropped perceptibly. I swear it actually got quieter. Plus I've noticed a lot of them are treating me differently now. They either avoid me all together or lay the courtesy on so thick it is obviously false. I spoke to a couple of the other folks on death watch and they have noticed similar things. I don't see why that would be. I made peace with what was coming immediately. That is just how the business works. It happens to everyone sooner or later. I guess we serve as a reminder than no ones job is safe right now. Anyone else ever notice that?