One Sane Voice on California High Court

These are the six California Supreme Court Justices that voted to uphold Proposition 8 that took away a civil right by banning same-sex marriage based on a popular vote.

There was one voice of reason among the seven: California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, was the only judge dissenting in today's 6-1 decision. His dissenting opinion was this:

In my view, the aim of Proposition 8 and all similar initiative measures that seek to alter the California Constitution to deny a fundamental right to a group that has historically been subject to discrimination on the basis of a suspect classification, violates the essence of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution and fundamentally alters its scope and meaning. Such a change cannot be accomplished through the initiative process by a simple amendment to our Constitution enacted by a bare majority of the voters; it must be accomplished, if at all, by a constitutional revision to modify the equal protection clause to protect some, rather than all, similarly situated persons. I would therefore hold that Proposition 8 is not a lawful amendment of the California Constitution.

Write to Justice Moreno and thank him for efforts. Also feel free to write the other six and let them know what you think of their judgement. I could only find a snail mail address, which is:

Supreme Court of California
350 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102-4797

The California Supreme Court Upholds Hate

It breaks my heart. California's Supreme Court upheld Prop 8 banning marriage between same-sex couples. I just do not understand how the court can justify people voting away the civil rights of a group of people. It is frustrating that with every step forward, there seems to be another step backward. I just have to keep reminding myself that things are getting better. Write to President Obama and your Senate and Congressional representatives and demand equal rights for same-sex couples. Tell them to push forward on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Demand your rights! Give money to support our cause. Do something today.

More of the Mothership from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

These are more shots from my iPhone of the mothership from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  It was on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport (such a catchy name), part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  There was some interest in my earlier posting of this item.  Sorry the quality isn't any better, but the ship is inside a very reflective case, making it difficult to take pictures, and the iPhone camera isn't exactly high-resolution.  

The top photo with Shane pointing gives some perspective as to the ship's size.  Shane would not be happy if he knew I posted that photo of him though.  He is very particular about photo approval.  It isn't exactly flattering.  Luckily, he doesn't read this blog and will never know.  

You might notice a small CP3O (from Star Wars) located on the edge of the ship in the middle photo.  There is a list of all sorts of items to find, such as mailboxes and other items I don't remember.  The third shot loses much of its sci-fi effect by having a bathroom-like tile wall in the background. 

Walt from the blog, WCS, posted a funny comment on the earlier posting about having a strange urge to make a mountain out of his mashed potatoes.  Enjoy the French Open Walt!

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest Week #195

But that doesn't explain the lipstick on your collar!

The above is the cartoon for New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for week #195. Let me know if you come up with a caption.

Concorde

Here are various planes at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum,
including the Concorde, which I saw take off from Dulles airport years
ago.

Mothership from Close Encounters

This is the mothership used in the film Close Encounters of the Third
Kind on display at the Smithsonian with the space shuttle in the
background.

Lady Astronaut Pampers

A display at the Air and Space Museum. On the left is a fecal collection device and on the right is a ladies diaper.  Interestingly, all astronauts now usually wear commercial diapers.

The Space Shuttle Enterprise

This is me in front of the space shuttle prior to watching the
fictional Enterprise in Star Trek.

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Near Dulles

We were going to see Star Trek in Imax, but it was sold out.  This is the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The museum was pretty cool. We later went to see Star Trek in Georgetown. It was so so. I'm not that into time travel plots.  

Nats Players during the National Anthem

We had awesome seats!

President Washington at the Nats Game

Mingling prior to the game.

Nats Celebrate Loss with Fireworks

The Os win in the 12th. We watched some fireworks on our walk home.

More George

George Will and a male companion stand between innings. It is still
tied 2-2 in the 10th.

George Washington Leans in to Win Presidents Race

Ryan Zimmerman just hit a 2-run homer to tie the game. Nats and Os
2-2 so far... Bottom of the 4th. That's George Will sitting behind
guy standing with the Nats Jersey.

At the Nats Game -- Preshow

Late Lunch

These frozen dinners never look as nice as the picture on the box.

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #194

Is this a convenient time to discuss your life insurance needs?

The above is the cartoon for New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for week #194. Let me know if you come up with a caption. Click on the link to enter your caption and share any suggestions you have here. 

Sign the Petition to Urge the President to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The military is still discharging soldiers for being openly gay.

One of these soldiers is California's own Lt. Dan Choi, who is also an Arabic linguist. In March, Lt. Choi went on Rachel Maddow's show and spoke honestly about his sexual orientation. As a result, the Army sent him a letter of discharge on April 23. Lt. Choi is now fighting the discharge and fighting the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

I just signed a Courage Campaign petition to President Obama -- signed by more than 100,000 people --  urging him to do the right thing by stopping the discharge of Lt. Dan Choi and other LGBT soldiers, and asking President Obama to uphold his promise to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  The Courage Campaign will deliver this petition to the president -- that's why it is important that as many people as possible speak out right now.

Will you join me in signing and urge your friends to do the same?:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontFireDan

Thanks!

Cleaning Up the Yard and Not Touring the Capitol

A corner of our backyard.

I was off work today and had planned to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol.  I have lived in the Washington, D.C. area for more than 20 years and have lived on Capitol Hill for more than 6 years and I have never been in the U.S. Capitol.  I almost went in once before.  We were in line to view Ronald Reagan when he was lying in state.  We thought, since we went at around 10 p.m., that the line wouldn't be too bad, but it was soon apparent that it was going to take hours and Reagan wasn't exactly my favorite president, so we bagged it after about 30 minutes.  

So, since I had a day off, I decided it would be fun to take a tour of the Capitol.  I went online and read that you can get a free ticket for a tour, so I promptly signed up.  My ticket was for 10:30 a.m. today.  I arrived at the Capitol Visitor Center at about 10:20 and as I got close to the door, the Capitol Policemen were telling everyone to leave the area.  They were clearing the area and everyone had to go across the street.  I waited around a while and it didn't look like anything was going to change, so I walked down past the Supreme Court building.  There was a bunch of crazies with red Jesus shirts protesting against "Homosexual Acts" and other ungodly things.  They try to give me some literature, but I kindly refused with an expert eye roll. 

I walked around Capitol Hill for a while and slowly made my way back home.  Obviously, I'm not meant to visit the Capitol.  

I spent the rest of morning cleaning up our backyard.  Shane's mom is coming on Thursday, so we have incentive to get some projects done around the house.  Though our backyard is tiny, it quickly fills with weeks, pine needles and pine cones.  I also did some pruning of a bush in the front of our house.  It was a beautiful day and it was nice being out.  We spent most of the weekend inside.  Shane got my cold from the previous week and it hit him hard.  He spent the weekend in bed or on the couch trying to get better.  I still am still not 100 percent myself.  I had quite a sneezing fit working out in the yard today.  We're hoping it is the swine flu, so we'll have immunity and survive when everyone is is dying this fall.  

Art I Could Get Into (Or Vice Versa)

I took this photo with my iPhone at the Philadelpia Museum of Art last week. The sculpture is called Princess X by Constantin Brâncuşi, a Romanian sculptor, and was done in 1915-1916. I don't know why, but for some reason it spoke to me.

The following is from Wikipedia:

In 1920, [Brâncuşi] developed a notorious reputation with the entry of "Princess X"[1] in the Salon. The phallic shape of the piece scandalized the Salon, and despite Brâncuşi's explanation that it was an anonymous portrait, removed it from the exhibition. "Princess X" was revealed to be Princess Marie Bonaparte, direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte. Brâncuşi represented or caricatured her life as a large gleaming bronze phallus. This phallus symbolizes the model's obsession with the penis and her lifelong quest to achieve vaginal orgasm, with the help of Sigmund Freud. Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, condemned orgasm by clitoral stimulation and praised vaginal orgasm with a penis as the superior and only legitimate type. His condemnation echoed the social mores of his era which condemned masturbation as both morally harmful and as a cause of mental disorders. Her search for the elusive vaginal orgasm led her to have two unsuccessful surgeries and numerous affairs throughout her life with wealthy and famous men.