January is National Blood Donor Month -- Unless You're Gay!

We gays are not allowed to donate our blood. I've been tested for HIV and am negative, and I'm in a monogamous relationship. I don't think my chances of getting HIV are any greater than anyone else in the general population -- actually, I think my chances are lower.

I can understand prohibiting those exhibiting risky behavior from giving, but to ban all men who have had sex with another man even once since 1977 seems a bit extreme. How do they define sex, anyway? Does it have to be without a condom, or does it matter if there was a condom used? What about the women who have slept with men who have had gay sex?

Anyway, this doesn't prevent closeted gays from giving blood who might be doing the most risky of behaviors. Anyone can just lie and say they haven't had gay sex. I know that some government agencies give 4 hours of leave for blood donors. I'm sure that's enough incentive for many to lie. Also, some closeted men might feel pressure to give blood so it doesn't look like they can't give, because then others might suspect they've had sex with a man. Honest gay men that know they are healthy, however, are banned for life.

Below is an excerpt of an Associated Press story about the ban from last year. Don't get me started on the headline. Obviously gay men physically "can" give blood. It is just not permitted.

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Banned for Life: Gay men can't donate blood

WASHINGTON - Gay men remain banned for life from donating blood, the government said Wednesday, leaving in place — for now — a 1983 prohibition meant to prevent the spread of HIV through transfusions.

The Food and Drug Administration reiterated its long-standing policy on its Web site Wednesday, more than a year after the Red Cross and two other blood groups criticized the policy as “medically and scientifically unwarranted.”
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The good old FDA was in the news more recently when a group of scientists sent a letter to our new soon-to-be new president. It basically said the agency was corrupted.

According to the letter, FDA managers "committed the most outrageous misconduct by ordering, coercing and intimidating FDA physicians and scientists to recommend approval, and then retaliating when the physicians and scientists refused to go along."

Perhaps when the new administration finally arrives, this is another mess they can work on correcting.

All Bound for Moo Moo Land

I was watching some clips from Sordid Lives and I had a bit of a Brother Boy moment. So here's my tribute to Miss Tammy Wynette with the help of KLF. I think you'll agree Tammy would have stood by the jam. And don't forget to TURN UP THE STROBE!

The Problem with Being an Atheist is that the Holidays Suck -- Not Anymore!

Most holidays center around religion. Not just Christmas, but even things like Thanksgiving, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Memorial Day all involve religion, praying, or thanking god.

Christmas was originally meant to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many people still celebrate it for that reason, but even many of us non-believers like Christmas. Who can resist the songs, gifts, and decorations -- not to mention the cookies and other goodies?

I think to popularize atheism, we need to develop a kick-ass holiday just for us. I did a search on Wikipedia for "atheist holiday" and got no matches. Zero. I really think we atheists should have at least one holiday of our very own -- a day of realization that we don't need the mythology of the past to cope in today's world. Though we don't understand how many things work in the universe, it doesn't mean we have to make up gods to explain them.

I personally think this holiday should be February 12, the birthday of Charles Darwin. In fact, there already is a celebration of Darwin's birth called Darwin Day.

According to Wiki, Darwin Day is a recently instituted celebration intended to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, 1809. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. The day is an opportunity to highlight Darwin's contribution to science and to promote science in general.

Events on Darwin Day have included dinner parties with special recipes for primordial soup, protests with school boards and other governmental bodies, distribution of information by people in ape costumes, lectures and debates, essay and art competitions, concerts, poetry readings, plays, artwork, comedy routines, reenactments of the Scopes Trial, and recreations of the journey of the HMS Beagle, church . The Perth Mint, in Australia will launch a 2009 dated commemorative 1 oz. silver legal tender coin depicting Darwin, young and old, the HMS Beagle, and Darwin's signature.

Darwin day is only a little more than a month away... don't forget to send out your Darwin Day Cards!

Pinky and the Archer

My friend Archer at Archer Radio (www.archerr.com/blog.html) is posting a picture of himself everyday in 2009. Today's picture inspired me to play with the Photoshop a bit.

Master Bathroom Renovation Update

We are in the middle of completely renovating our master bathroom. Earlier I posted a before and after photo showing the gutting -- where they tore out the entire room -- toilet, bathtub, sink, floor, walls, and ceiling (http://mkr20003.blogspot.com/2009/01/bathroom-guts.html). These pictures show some progress. They put down a plywood floor and have done the pipes and lights. We had to reorder our tile, because it was $6,000 over our budget. We are still going to be way over our tile budget, but we did find a less expensive tile that looks just as good. We had a meeting with the contractor at 7 a.m. this morning to go over some issues, but things seem to be moving along. These photos show the lights above where our shower will be and where our toilet will be. Luckily we have another bathroom to use in the meantime, so we don't have to squat over that hole in the floor.

Job Security

This is my workload. I go through these folders all day, everyday --
day in and day out. The red folders are always a bitch. Also, while
I'm working on these folders, they keep bringing me more folders. It
never ends until you die. Happy Thursday!

Inauguration Map

Double click on the map to get a clear view. Shane and I will

walk down among the throngs to try and see something, but

mostly just to be part of the experience.

More Pictures from Florida

These are some pictures I took with my digital camera, which takes marginally better photos than the iPhone. The first one is the pelicans off Boca Grand. The next two are of Shane, his mom and I at Boca, taken with the little tripod I got for Christmas. The last one is Shane and I on the beach at Naples, also taken with the tripod. I love that little tripod.

Bathroom Guts

They started our bathroom remodel.  They gutted it today.  This is before and after.

100 Facts About Me -- Numbers 1-10

These are the first 10 of the 100 Facts about me. You may notice there are 11 items listed. That is because one of the items is not true. Can you guess which one? I'll post 10 more facts and a non-fact next Monday and tell which one of these is false then.

1. I was born in New Jersey.

2. My father died when I was 1 year old in a skydiving accident (where he drowned).

3. I've run 3 marathons (so far).

4. I can name all 50 States in alphabetical order in less than 30 seconds.

5. I killed a deer with a bow and arrow (mostly the arrow).

6. I was a vegetarian for several years.

7. I donated one of my kidneys to my Aunt Alice.

8. I successfully performed the Heimlich Maneuver on my dog.

9. I've worked for the Government for more than 24 years in five different jobs.

10. I've been interviewed on live TV as a Government agency spokesperson.

11. Because I'm deathly afraid of public speaking, I took my present Government job to avoid having to do live TV interviews.

In the Loo

I don't know what possessed me to snap a photo of myself in the
bathroom of Flight 1468 from Tampa to Washington DC today.

This Is Wrong On So Many Levels

Shane and his mom pose for a photo in Punta Gorda, FL.

Double Rainbow

And they say SW Florida isn't that gay...

Rainbow Inland

As we were driving home from the beach, we ran into a shower and an
accompanying rainbow.

Naples, FL

We're relaxing and sightseeing on the beach today. Perfect weather.

New Year's Day 2009

Shane and his mom relax on the beach at Boca Grand, FL. Not a bad way
to start the year.

The Pelicans at Boca Grand

Shane's mom watches the pelicans. Double click the photo and make it bigger.

We're Off to Florida -- Happy New Year!

We're not going to Miami, but close enough... We're flying into Tampa and heading down to North Port to stay with Shane's parents.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

The New Ten Commandments

This list was found on the Atheistic Forum (http://www.atheist.net/) and inspired by the list in Richard Dawkin’s The God Delusion.

1. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

2. Treat the natural world with respect. -- a. Protect and preserve the environment. -- b. Treat living things with respect. -- c. Seek to create a better world.

3. Rejoice in your life. -- a. Live life with a sense of joy and wonder. -- b. Appreciate what you have. -- c. Look after your emotional, physical, social and intellectual health.

4. Seek knowledge and understanding. -- a. Always seek to be growing in your knowledge and understanding. -- b. Always check your understanding, ideas and beliefs against the best available facts or information, and be ready to discard any belief if it does not conform to this best available information.

5. Seek moderation in all thoughts and actions. -- a. Understand your cravings and do not be a slave to them.

6. Have integrity in all your words, actions and thought. -- a. Keep your agreements and promises. -- b. Take responsibility for your action.

7. Protect and care for the weak and vulnerable.

8. Recognize harm and act to prevent, stop or minimize it.

9. Respect the right of others to act and think differently; seek to understand the reasons for their thoughts and behaviors. Honor their contribution to the richness of your world.

10. Strive to make the world a better place --a. Leave a contribution for future generations -- b. Seek to further the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of others -- c. Nurture and support the ethical, intellectual and emotional growth of your family

Brandywine River Museum

Today, I took my Mom to the Brandywine River Museum. If you are a NC, Andrew or Jamie Wyeth fan, this is the place to go. They also have various Christmas displays this time of the year. They have a large model train set and various trees with ornaments made from all-natural things from the woods. For more info, go to http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/.