Happy National Surf & Turf Day (a.k.a. Leap Day)

Did you know that Julius Caesar proclaimed the first Leap Day in 46 B.C.?? I didn't!

I also didn't realize that Leap Years were so complicated! Through the magic of the internets, though, I found out that there are THREE criteria which determine which years are leap years! To wit:

1. Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year;
2. Of those years, if it can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless
3. The year is divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

You may be asking yourself why we even bother with Leap Years.

Good question!

Well, the simple truth is that it takes planet Earth approximately 365.2422 days to circle the sun, so every 365-day year we observe leaves a little less than 6 hours unaccounted for. By adding the extra 24-hour day (almost) every four years, we make up for the almost quarter of a day we are off each year. So, per the math:

4 x 0.2422 = 0.9688 or very nearly 1 day

Thus, the need for a nearly-quadrennial adjustment known as a Leap Day!

Besides holding the honor of being National Surf and Turf Day, other notable Leap Day events include...

On Feb. 29, 1692, the Salem Witch Trials began when Tituba, the female slave of the Reverend Samuel Parris, Sarah Goode, and Sarah Osborne were all arrested and accused of witchcraft.

On Feb. 29, 1916, Dinah Shore, singer/ actress was born.

On Feb. 29, 1940, Gone with the Wind won 8 Oscars, one of which went to Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American to win an Oscar. Also on this day, Mario Andretti, Italian racing driver, was born.

On Feb. 29, 1960, Anthony Robbins (who made an appearance in the movie, Shallow Hal), motivational speaker, was born.

On Feb. 29, 1972, Hank Aaron was the first Major League Baseball player to sign a contract for $200,000 a season (he was signed for 3 seasons).

On Feb. 29, 1976, Ja Rule, rapper and actor, was born.

Make Your Own Kind of Music

I love me some Mama Cass! From 1969, one of my most favorite songs...

The Ads

Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas & Vermont are holding their primaries on March 4. Nearly everyone believes that this is a "do-or-die" moment in Hillary's campaign: either she wins the biggest prizes that day (Texas and Ohio) or her campaign is virtually mortally wounded, politically-speaking.

I bring this subject up because I read on the Advocate website that Barack, in an attempt to cut into Hillary's long-standing support amongst the GLBT community, has recently bought full-page ads in some Texas & Ohio GLBT publications. The ads are supposed to be running starting today.

I was able to find one of those ads online. It's a generic version &, according to Barack's campaign, the exact ads that will be published will "include specific information on voting in those states and how to get involved with the campaign locally."

Here's what the ad will look like:

Happy Birthday, Ted!

Today, Edward Moore Kennedy celebrated his 75th birthday!

I have long been a fan of the Kennedys, and most especially, Ted Kennedy!

One of the best things about Senator Kennedy is that--love him or hate him--you know exactly where he stands on just about any issue! He is my kind of Democrat! He compromises when he can, but he never compromises his principles! He fights for the elderly, the poor, the environment, women's rights, workers' rights and--yes--EVEN gay rights! Ted Kennedy is the voice for so many of us who have felt so forgotten or so demonized for so long. He stands as a living reminder that government has the power--and the moral obligation--to serve ALL it's people, not just those with enough luck to have been born to money and privilege. His brother, John's, inaugural speech in 1961, summed it up memorably:

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor,
it cannot save the few who are rich."

I also remember back before the 1980 election, when Senator Kennedy was competing against President Carter for the Democratic nomination. When Ted got to the convention & finally ended his candidacy, he gave a memorable concession speech, his voice breaking with obviously deep emotion. The last line in the speech that night still rings in my mind & in my heart today...

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives
and the dreams shall never die!"

Some of us still dare to dream, thanks, in large part, to the senior senator from Massachusetts.

Happy Birthday (and Thank You), Senator Kennedy!

Lost

This is Michael Bublé's latest song, Lost. I'd heard the song a couple of times, but it's the first time I've seen the video for it. Beautiful song from a man who has a beautiful voice. It even has a beautiful message for all of us..."when you feel like you're done, and the darkness has won, babe, you're not lost..."

Lyrics:

I can’t believe it’s over
I watched the whole thing fall
And I never saw the writing that was on the wall
If I’d only knew
The days were slipping past
That the good things never last
That you were crying

Summer turned to winter
And the snow it turned to rain
And the rain turned into tears upon your face
I hardly recognized the girl you are today
And god I hope it’s not too late
It’s not too late
‘Cause you are not alone
I’m always there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When your worlds crashing down
And you can’t bear the thought
I said, babe, you’re not lost

Life can show no mercy
It can tear your soul apart
It can make you feel like you’ve gone crazy
But you’re not
Things have seem to changed
There’s one thing that’s still the same
In my heart you have remained
And we can fly fly fly away

‘Cause you are not alone
And I am there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When the worlds crashing down
And you can not bear the cross
I said, baby, you’re not lost
I said, baby, you’re not lost
I said, baby, you’re not lost
I said, baby, you’re not lost

Vote Obama!

While visiting a local shop's website today, I saw this banner which the shop owner claimed was "borrowed" from another website. With it's overabundance of awsome-osity I had to, with all due respect & gratitude, jack it for my very own! It's just too cool not to...

Obama vs. McCain

Sen. Obama has a video & now Sen. McCain does.

You may notice some similarities in the videos, but it's the differences that are most stark...

If it weren't so scary, it might be funny...MIGHT BE, that is...

POLITICS ALERT!!

So, being the semi-professional political nerd that I am, I went over to CNN's website to look at the primary/caucus election results of this past Super Tuesday. I had noticed in previous similar elections this year that the number of people casting votes in the Democratic contests were nearly always greater than in the Republican contests.

So I went through & added up the number of votes cast for all the Democratic candidates & all those cast for the Republican candidates (including the non-committed or no preference votes) and here are a few little nuggets I found interesting:

Disclaimer: in the interest of full disclosure, some of the numbers from some of the states do not reflect 100% of the votes being counted, but nearly all of them showed 99% to 100% having been counted. For my purposes, these numbers are more than adequate.

• In the 17 states that held both a Democratic & a Republican primary or caucus (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah), there were an unofficial total of 22,964,136 votes cast on Feb. 5.
• Of the nearly 23 million votes cast, over 63% (14,506,808) were cast in the Democratic race; the remaining 37% (8,457,328) were cast in the Republican race. That's over 6 million more votes (6,049,480) that were cast in the Democratic races!
• Of the 17 states with elections in both major parties, the Democrats had more voters in 15 of the 17! Only in McCain's home state of Arizona & in Republican Beehive Heaven, Utah, did more Republicans cast votes! Even in typically "red" states like Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota & Tennessee, more people voted in the Democratic contests!
• If you take the total number of votes received in these 17 states by all the candidates regardless of party affiliation, the Republican with the most overall votes, John McCain, would have come in at 3rd place. Both Hillary Clinton (with the most number of overall votes) & Barack Obama (with the 2nd highest total) earned more than TWICE the number of votes than McCain did!
• Even John Edwards, who bowed out of the race before Super Tuesday, got more votes (401,000+) than Ron Paul (381,000+), who is still a candidate.

Unofficial Totals Of Votes Cast,
Selected States,
Per Candidate,
In Super Tuesday Contests, 2/5/2008

Clinton
7,122,201

Obama
6,957,328

McCain
3,422,762

Romney
2,875,270

Huckabee
1,570,375

Edwards
401,744

Paul
381,641

Giuliani
198,185

Uncommitted/Other/No Preference
34,630

So, it seems to me that there may be just a little more excitement (or, at least more voter interest) in the Democratic race. It may just be wishful thinking, but that seems to auger well for the donkeys...if they can take that interest & turn it into support in November! I really think that this is our race to lose...but you can't discount that. Democrats have had too much experience at losing their spine as well as their way. Still I hope...

e-Harmony, e-Shmarmony!

So, it seems that the online matchmaking website, e-Harmony, is not really so down with the gays. Because the world is apparently only full of hetero's lookin' for luv, (of course, that's because gay people aren't really capable of love, are they? No, it's only about the sex for us perverts, so no need to think about including us in your little club) e-Harmony doesn't allow it's members to search for someone of the same sex. Since I haven't needed a date in over a decade now (I've got someone on permanent retainer, don't ya know ;-), I've just heard about this little exclusion over at e-Harmony.

Anyway, I saw this ad on YouTube for an e-Harmony competitor, Chemistry.com that I thought was just so cool! OF COURSE, I had to share it.

If there are any str8 people who wind up reading this & if you're still searching for your someone special, and if you ARE down with gays & equality & basic human respect, do me a favor & pass right by the other guys for Chemistry.com (or some place similar that allows people like me to be a member). I cannot vouch for this website (or any other, of course), but, as far as I'm concerned, if they like (people like) me, then they can't be ALL bad, right??!?!

Please take a look at one of Chemistry.com's gay-themed commercials:

Who Would Maria Vote For?

It seems that the wife of the Governator of California (you know, Ah-nuld) has announced her support for Barack Obama for President. Being that Maria Shriver is both the crème de la crème of the Democratic Party gliteratti as well as one of the multitude of Kennedy progeny who serve as living reminders of our 35th President's dream of Camelot, it is not surprising to me that she would support a Democrat for President.

The surprising part is that she would be so wonderfully public about it, considering that her high profile hubby has given his Golden State blessing to the senator from the neighboring Grand Canyon state, John McCain! How awesome that she is strong enough & secure enough in her own beliefs that she is able to disagree with her man on a subject so important! Of course, I don't know California's first couple personally, but I'd wager that Ah-nuld is not the least surprised that his wife would be so independent. It's probably one of the things he loves most about her.

Here's my favorite line from her endorsement:

"If Barack Obama was a state, he'd be California! That's right! I mean, think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, bucks tradition, innovative, inspiring, dreamer, leader..."

When you put it that way, I guess Maria didn't really have a choice, did she?!?

And, in case you're wondering if we can make real change in this country & Undo The Damage that the good ol' U.S. of A. has had to endure for too long, I have no choice but to believe, "Yes, We Can."

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.

Darkness finds its way to The Sunshine State

Got this email from Equality Florida today about the anti-marriage rights amendment which will appear on the ballot in Florida this November.

Here's the text of the email, if you're interested:

The day we expected has finally arrived.

A few hours ago, the Florida Department of Elections officially certified the deceptive "marriage protection amendment" to be on the November ballot.

Disappointing? Yes. Surprising? No.

After 4 years of signature gathering, the only surprise is how narrowly they reached the deadline.

Those pushing this onto the ballot hope to strip away rights from all unmarried Floridians by stoking anti-gay sentiments. Some of them are motivated by a desire to impose their particular religious beliefs on people through the Constitution. Others see this as tactic to help far right candidates in the November Presidential election. What this isn't about is "gay marriage".

Two state laws and a court decision already block access to marriage for gay couples in Florida. Now, this amendment would close the door to civil unions and any meaningful domestic partnership benefits for all unmarried Floridians - gay and straight.

Beyond the legal obstacles to taking care of our loved ones, this amendment is intended to deliver a dangerous symbolic blow by denigrating the lives of gay Floridians. It is the singling out, the idea that the majority should vote on the rights and the humanity of fellow citizens that makes today's news a particular and personal insult. And it is why in the wake of these amendment battles across the country, we consistently see an increase in anti-gay hate crimes.

I hope we give ourselves just a moment to grieve that this has been forced upon us. To feel the hurt , sadness and anger that are appropriate ways to feel in the wake of this news.

Knowing, intellectually, that we must face this challenge is one thing. Having it finally arrive in all its ugly spitefulness is another. It was difficult not to hold onto a glimmer of hope Florida would avoid this fight especially as the far right struggled to meet the deadline.

But now is the time to take a deep breath and allow that false hope to transform into the deep resolve to DO THE WORK that will DEFEAT this measure.

And we can DEFEAT it. Opposition to the amendment is broad, diverse and growing everyday. We stand with the NAACP, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, Florida Consumer Alliance, Planned Parenthood, and more than 200 other civil rights, union, campus, faith, senior and social justice organizations who are part of the Fairness for All Families Coalition working to DEFEAT this amendment.

Polling shows we are within striking distance of beating this amendment if we are willing to do the work. Talk to your circle of influence, step outside your comfort zones and engage the people in your neighborhoods and the places where you shop.

Our job is to bring this message to millions of voters in Florida who are unaware and ill-informed about this measure. And experience has shown us our conversations matter. On Jan 29th, Equality Florida members were part of the Fairness for All Families Primary Day of Action that drew more than 500 volunteers out to talk to voters at polling places across the state.

Seasoned activist and first-time volunteers reported back with excitement how often a quick conversation had persuaded someone to vote NO on the amendment.

In November, your friends, family and co-workers will go to the polls and decide whether our families will be denied adequate protections, whether essential benefits can be stripped away and whether anti-gay political attacks are a good investment for the far right.

It is time for all of us to do something. Here's a good place to start: Sign the Pledge to Vote No and personally recruit 5 of your friends to do likewise. If everyone on this list did that today we would have nearly half a million more supporters by Monday.

We can't allow the people in our lives to go to the polls in November and make decisions about us without ensuring they hear the truth about this amendment and the harm it would inflict.

Working together we can DEFEAT this amendment.

Sincerely,
Nadine Smith
Executive Director
Equality Florida

Our Car Is SO Gay!

So, while my homo credentials are in proper order & I have been a Queer In Good Standing for quite few years now, I am ashamed to admit that I have never heard of a website called Gaywheels.com. As you have probably already derived from the website name, it's a car website for those of the decidedly un-heterosexual persuasion. Among other things, the GayWheels website provides information on car companies who are considered "gay friendly" where their company/corporate policies are concerned. The criteria for "gay friendliness" is pretty simple:

To be considered gay friendly, a manufacturer must offer domestic-partner benefits to their GLBT employees, no matter where they live or work in the US.

Gay Wheels created a list of the Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles on their site during the fourth quarter of 2007, and guess who came in first???

THE TOYOTA YARIS!!

It's the car that my husband & I drive...and we're about as gay as two people can be!

The Yaris looks small on the outside, but it's quite roomy inside. It's a well-built car and the gas mileage is very satisfying (about 35-39 mpg on the highway)! We love our Yaris, and it's the smallest vehicle that Toyota makes!

Just goes to show you, homos do really have great taste!

Here's the link to the article about the rest of the Top 10:
http://www.gaywheels.com/top_10_researched_vehicles_on_1.htm