Offensive.

So, I am an avid NPR-listener. Every week, they usually read some letters/emails from listeners who found something or other to be offensive, blah blah blah. Until today, I had never been personally offended by anything that I had heard on NPR.

On my way home from the bakery, I heard the Senator from South Carolina answering questions about a book he had recently written. The book is basically about how putting an end to legalized abortions is a matter of national interest, and how abortions are having a negative effect on the welfare of our country.

He also fielded a question about his views on homosexuality. Here are some quotes:
"...the average cost of an AIDS patient is about $200,000 - statistics show that 50% of all sexually transmitted diseases occur amongst homosexuals. The costs associated with the treatment of those diseases is a major burden on the pocketbooks and wallets of the American people."

"I don't see how it's right to teach our children about Homosexuality, when it is known to be a destructive behavior."

Okay, buddy... first of all, if the statistics show that 50% of all STD's are a result of homosexual behavior, then it's half-and-half. That means that you're no less likely to get one if you are heterosexual. So, I guess if we follow his logic, being straight is just as wrong and damaging and immoral as being gay.

Also, since when is homosexuality a proven damaging behavior? Damaging to whom?

I really hate knowing that closed-minded, prejudicial people like this are in roles of power in our country. These are the same dumb-asses who decided that the electric car should be taken out of production.

king hunter weeks

sweet darby

while in philadelphia this weekend, i got to meet my "first cousin once removed," darby. that's right, isn't it? my first cousin's kids? anyway, she's the most curious, sweet-faced 4-month old i've ever seen. here she is with her sisters and grandma (my aunt).
















and here she is with my dad - baby's love him. it's really something.

and just to make sure this post doesn't get too sappy, here's a classic pap-style shot of my little sis in the beer store. one of her thigh-highs kept slipping. she might kill me for posting this, but seriously, look at those legs. who ISN'T jealous?

funny cat

my older sis showed us this video this weekend.

landlords

been doing a lot of blog-thieving lately... figured i'd keep it up.

erin and joel, you should send a copy of this to your old landlord. think she'd appreciate it? :D either way, you have an awesome house and you don't have to deal with her anymore. so you win.


toothpastefordinner.com

hedwig

hedwig and the angry inch

loved it.

if you enjoy stories told through poignant glam rock songs, performed by a transgender beauty with a dysfunctional past and an incredible voice (and a fierce talent for make-up), this is the movie for you. john cameron mitchell stars in his own creation, and i can't imagine it played any better.

master's degree

erin - this is something to keep in mind...


marriedtothesea.com

marshall's

... is having a like-whoa sale.

got me some new jeans. dark, uniform wash. no flaps on the butt. see, i'm learning.

i heart billy

+

out of shape

=

legs made of

added bonus: not sure i'll be able to stand up OR sit down without help tomorrow

unproductive

utterly

#1 - pouting hollywood starlet

#2 - nicole richie


#3 - i don't know

#4 - lindsay lohan

you know you're jealous of outright disregard for productivity

let's play a game. leave comments with emotion/situation descriptors for the picture of your choice.

for example: #2 - wants to kiss you, but is unsure of the consequences and quite drunk

it ain't easy

I don't know how many of you caught Oprah's "How to be Green" episode last week, but it was great. I remember when 'being green' meant you had to be a hippie. So, I'd like to extend a big thank you to Oprah for making it okay to like the environment. Here;s a list of the stuff that we are doing here at our house:
1.) We recycle. You can too!
2.) We are going to be buying Compact Florescent lightbulbs and replacing all of our crappy, inefficient incandescents.
3.) We will be insulating behind all of our power outlets that are on an outside wall. (This one is pretty amazing - go put your hand in front of any outlet on an outside wall. Feel the breeze?)
4.) We own a couple of reusable grocery bags - looks like its time to start using them.
5.) We do our best to only buy Fair Trade coffee. If you don't think it matters, read this: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/
6.) We use cloth napkins. This also really makes a difference - If you are a paper napkin user, at least try to use one less a day.
7.) Purchasing of low-flow diffusers for all of our faucets. If you get the laminar flow variety, you won't even notice the difference. Most household faucets run at 2.5 gallons per minute and up, with a low-flow diffuser, you can get good water flow at rates as low as 0.75 GPM.

Here some resources:
1.) watch "An Inconvenient Truth." Even if you don't like Al Gore, the information is really solid, and really important.
2.) Check out sites like http://www.treehugger.com

So, I think what I'm trying to say is that 'being green' isn't actually very hard at all, and if everyone who reads this blog did their thing, it just might help to make sure that Kermit doesn't end up like this: