Ms. Elisabeth

Things younger than John McCain

Thanx to pecunium.

Before E left for work this morning, she showed me that the toilet in the girls' third-floor bathroom was leaking onto the floor. [Note to self: instruct all members of household on how to turn off water at the wall and when to do so--e.g., when water is leaking onto the floor, for starters.]

We have a serious ant problem. We always have ants for a while in the spring, but this is the worst ever.

Happy birthday, self!

OTOH, I got a plumber out here already--rather a pricey one, but extremely highly recommended on Angie's List. He fixed the problem and even improved the functioning of the toilet.

And I went to Caribou Coffee to redeem my coupon for a free birthday drink, and while in the Lund's store (the Uptown one), browsed around, to discover that Haagen Daz has a "limited edition" green tea ice cream, AND Lund's had HD on sale. When I had HD green tea ice cream in Korea, I thought it far and away the best green tea ice cream ever; alas, they haven't been selling it in the U.S. But now they are, at least temporarily.

And J is going to get us Famous Dave's take-out for my birthday dinner.

So all in all, not too bad a deal.

some comments sparked by this discussion:
http://community.livejournal.com/bi_people/1510906.html
made me go look up some numbers.

2006
In 2006, law enforcement agencies reported 1,415 hate crime offenses based on sexual- orientation bias. Of these offenses:

* 62.3 percent were classified as anti-male homosexual biased.
* 20.7 percent were classified as anti-homosexual biased.
* 13.6 percent were classified as anti-female homosexual biased.
* 2.0 percent were classified as anti-heterosexual biased.
* 1.5 percent were classified as anti-bisexual biased.

Of the 9,076 single-bias hate crime offenses reported in the above incidents:

* 52.2 percent were motivated by racial bias.
* 17.6 percent resulted from religious bias.
* 15.6 percent were motivated by sexual-orientation bias.
* 13.6 percent were motivated by ethnicity or national origin bias.
* 1.0 percent were the consequences of biases against disability.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2006/incidents.html

Law enforcement agencies reported 1,195 hate crime incidents based on the offenders’ bias against a particular sexual orientation in 2006. Of these:

* 31.8 percent occurred in or near residences or homes.
* 24.0 percent happened on highways, roads, alleys or streets.
* 9.7 percent took place in schools or colleges.
* 7.3 percent occurred in parking lots or garages.
* 10.9 percent happened in other or unknown locations.
* 16.3 percent occurred in the remaining specified location categories.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2006/location.html

i was unable to locate statistics on the number of hate crimes against lgbt persons that were committed by other lgbt persons. if anyone can find this information please leave it in the comments section. personally, i don't believe that particular data exists.

Would love to host a bellydance meetup at WisCon, but when? Would people tear themselves away from the auction on Saturday night after it had been going a couple hours? Or would you be willing to stop karaoke-ing on Friday at 9:30??

Bellydancers of WisCon, let me know!

Because I desperately want to babble about shoujo manga to people:

Shoujo Bodies

Most bodies in shoujo manga are thin and wispy, with an emphasis on androgyny. Many of the men tend to lack muscle definition (think Yuu Watase), while the women are much less curvy than their shounen manga counterparts. What does this mean to us? What other body types are there in shoujo manga? We will hopefully talk about gender-bending, cross-dressing, body image, and the fashion industry. Suggested series to discuss: After School Nightmare, Paradise Kiss, Walkin' Butterfly, Angel Sanctuary, Fruits Basket, W Juliet, Rose of Versailles, and Princess Knight.

Time and place should be decided on Thursday at Wiscon; keep an eye out on the spontaneous programming board.

If spontaneous programming is still going on this year, I'm going to be trying to grab some space for a couple of program items that came up after the programming suggestions deadline/didn't make the official program cut-off. Please check the board in Madison for scheduling details if you're interested in attending.

( Seal Press Boycott )

( Octavian Nothing Book Club )

For some reason, the Wiscon hotel is convinced that I had two reservations for hotel rooms in the Governor's Club, instead of the one that I actually made.

Since it's presumably guaranteed with my credit card, it behooves me to dispose of it before I get charged an extra room night for non-appearance.

Is anyone interested in this room? It's on the Governor's Club level, which means it costs an extra $30 or so per night, but gives access to perks such as continental breakfast, evening bar, and lounge.

If you are, please send an e-mail to carbonel@livejournal.com. I'll post again here when it's taken.

(posted to my LJ account as well)

I have a room to give away at the Inn on the Park. It's a discounted con rate, The Inn on the Park rate will be $124/night single/double occupancy, with an extra $10/person charge for the third or fourth guests per room. The reservation is Thursday evening through Monday morning, though of course you can change that. Let me know if you're itnerested

The Inn at the Park is about 3 blocks away from the Concourse at 22 South Carroll Street http://www.innonthepark.net/

I always love it when I find writers and people who love reading and writing. I've published 8 lesbian novels (my 8th came out in January), and I'm hoping for two things to come of all this blogging:
1) if you can help get my book out to your friends and people who read, I'd like to
2) read some of your work and help you move forward in your own writing career or
3) become a more active blogger on your sites.

I think it's important to pay it forward. Katherine Forrest helped me (and is now my editor at Spinsters Ink/Bella Books), and so I'd like to do the same.

Lesbian publishing houses are folding every day because we've stopped supporting them. Look around you. Where are all the independent booksellers? Gobbled up by the Barnes and Nobles of the world. Help me keep SpinstersInk and BellaBooks on the map and in turn, I'll help anyone who aspires to be a writer.

So...get your friends/bloggers/etc. to buy my book, ACROSS TIME and after you read it and email me with your thoughts, I'll do the same for anything you want me to read or write.

:)
You can learn more about me at
www.lindakaysilva.com
http://lindakaysilva.livejournal.com
www.glee.com/lindakaysilva.

Let me know what you think!
Linda Kay

Oliver Willis notes an important demographic:

John McCain has a clear lead among the delusional. EVERYBODY PANIC. WHAT WILL BARACK OBAMA DO TO APPEAL TO THE DELUSIONAL?–Oliver Willis

By George, I think I've got it!:

Torusenji's Priest by Ariel Cinii

AROSDE was a child-inventor. All grown up now, she needs to juggle her mechanical and psychic talents as the replacement Priest for an airborne island, whose people quarry its gravity-defiant ore. Yet her heightened perceptions give her no clue that CAL, the ageing pilot flying her to the new post in his veteran warbird, is an air ace with a previous fame: He was the kid who restored humanity’s long-lost connection with the reclusive culture of sentient dragons who’d monitored their ancestors’ first colony in the world. But being flown in by a celebrity is just her first surprise. She discovers an old friend is the quarry’s chief engineer, then she gains a lover from Cal’s cultish mercenary squadron––a group the locals despise. Suddenly, she’s on the outs with the very people she’s supposed to help toward enlightenment. Then to complicate matters, some telepaths start singing in her head, warning of a pending attack! The winds of war now threaten her new home. She spreads the word with a spontaneous concert of the telepaths’ song and breaks the ice with the townies. But the news also triggers an avalanche of clandestine doings, karma clues, and brief encounters with a mystery man who shows her a SECRET WEAPON that screams for her technical skill. Meanwhile, as two military forces get set to kill each other, the prized airland’s stuck in the middle. And Cal becomes not just a defender but also Arosde’s emotional anchor when one strike hits too close to home––her lover from the squadron dies on a scouting run. As a Priest she’d trained to bring peace and open people to their inner skills; now her peace is shattered. She knows too much––and the shooting’s about to start! Arosde must choose: She can remain on the enlightened path or help work the secret weapon, not both.


This has actually been fun! Of course, now I have to finish the book.

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

From http://transgroupblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/looking-for-new-bloggers.html

I'm looking for new writers for this Trans Group Blog - either established authors or ones who are up & coming. I'd like especially to see people who already have kept their own blogs for some time.

Much needed: FTM spectrum authors, partners, allies. You are free to cross-post anything trans related to your own blog at this one, since I've always intended this blog to be a little like the magazine Mother Jones - more of a compendium of what a lot of different kinds of trans people are writing.

I'd prefer writers who write more in the essayist tradition, about political & other issues concerning the trans community, and not so much of the "personal journey" type blogging that is more typical in trans land.

Put your recommendations here, or e-mail Helen privately at helenboyd@myhusbandbetty.com.

Is here.
Politically, she is my role model.
She's be so even if she didn't kiss her dog(s).

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/open-forum-free-speech-where-do-we-draw.html

The next time McCain does a stump and uses the words "My friend" someone should stand up and ask why he thinks they are.