Maybe I won’t end up in hell…

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A guy died and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment.

As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into heaven. Others, though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit. But every so often, whenever one of the condemned souls showed up wearing a Utilikilt, instead of hurling him into the fire, Satan would march him straight back to Heaven and slip St. Peter five bucks after a short, hushed conversation, whereupon the soul was quickly slipped inside. After watching Satan do this several times, the fellow’s curiosity got the best of him so he asked what was going on.

“Excuse me, Prince of Darkness,” he said. “I’m waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn’t help wondering, why are you bribing St. Peter to admit folks in Utilikilts instead of flinging them into the fires of hell with the others?”

“Oh, them?” Satan said with a groan. “They’re all from Seattle, they’re too wet to burn.”

(via Oakdancer on the Utilikilts Yahoo! group)

Nasty bug

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I’ve spent the majority of the last 31 hours or so either unconscious or in a very woozy half-conscious state, thanks to being hit with a nasty cold bug. Loads of fun, let me tell you. Ugh. Right now, I’m just hoping that since it hit me over the weekend and I could spend that much time resting, I’ve knocked the majority of it out of my system, and making it through the work day won’t be too much of a strain.

Before the bug took me out of commission, though, Prairie and I did spend some time on Saturday afternoon out at the Arboretum, and there’s a bunch of new flower shots added to my Arboretum photoset, starting with this fern.

And now, off to soak in a hot shower and hope that the workday isn’t too crazy. Posting may very well be light for the next few days — I’m thinking early bedtimes are going to be a good idea until I’m sure I’ve got this bug taken care of.

iTunes “Groove Radio pres. House (full mix)” by Various Artists from the album Groove Radio pres. House (full mix) (1997, 1:13:46).

Better Living Through Apathy

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As cynical as it may be, I think there just might be something to Davan’s theory in today’s Something Positive strip.

Peejee: You don’t really care about this date, do you?

Davan: Not even an ounce. If I did, I probably wouldn’t be going on it.

Peejee: Care to explain?

Davan: When you’re involved with someone else, people find you attractive. It’s because you don’t care about attracting someone else. You’re complacent, and therefore you’re actually being yourself.

After Branwen, I’ve just not been interested in trying to find anyone else. As long as I maintain that same level of ‘it honestly doesn’t matter to me if you live or die,’ women will find me attractive on some level. The minute I show any interest, it’s over. Remember that. The key to happiness is disinterest mingled with mild contempt.

iTunes “You Are My Sunshine” by Cash, Johnny/Dylan, Bob from the album CBS Nashville Studio Session (1969, 3:27).

MS backing down on gay rights?

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From this week’s The Stranger:

In a move that angered many of the company’s gay employees, the Microsoft Corporation, publicly perceived as the vanguard institution of the new economy, has taken a major political stand in favor of age-old discrimination.

The Stranger has learned that last month the $37-billion Redmond-based software behemoth quietly withdrew its support for House bill 1515, the anti-gay-discrimination bill currently under consideration by the Washington State legislature, after being pressured by the Evangelical Christian pastor of a suburban megachurch. The pastor, Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, met with a senior Microsoft executive in February and threatened to organize a national boycott of the company’s products if it did not change its stance on the legislation, according to gay rights activists and a Microsoft employee who attended a subsequent April 4 meeting where Bradford L. Smith, Microsoft’s senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, told a group of gay staffers about Hutcherson’s threat.

AMERICAblog comments:

Microsoft Corporation pulled its support for a gay rights bill in Washington state last month after complaints from a single radical right anti-gay leader, according to an article just published in the Seattle paper, The Stranger (the article is on the news stands already, online Thursday).

My sources in Washington state tell me that the vote on the bill, expected in two days (Friday), is SO CLOSE that Microsoft’s actions may be pivotal in KILLING THE PRO-GAY LEGISLATION.

The radical right activist reportedly told Microsoft it had better pull its support for the gays or anti-gay bigots would launch a nationwide boycott of Microsoft, and guess what – Microsoft caved. A single anti-gay jerk, and Microsoft chose to reverse over ten years of policy and bash gays.

This is outrageous. It’s also incredibly dangerous. For over a decade Microsoft, along with hundreds of other corporate leaders, has endorsed gay rights legislation in the states and nationally. And now, suddenly, because ONE ANTI-GAY ACTIVIST COMPLAINED, they’ve suddenly changed their minds ON A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE. A rather big “oops” after ten years of being in favor of civil rights, don’t you think?

Robert Scoble comments:

I don’t know anything about it, or anything about how Microsoft decides to support political issues, but human rights is very important to me personally and I’m gonna take this up with the leadership of the company and support this cause.

Update: The anti-discrimination bill, which had been passed 61-37 by the House in February, was defeated this afternoon by one vote (via Salon)

April Seattle Weblogger’s Meetup

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I finally made it out to another Weblogger’s meetup! It was long past time, as the last time I’d made it out was back in November. While I don’t have much basis for comparison, it seemed to be a pretty good turnout again, 20-some people all told, I’d guess. People I know were there and can remember names or websites for include Anita Rowland, Chas, Chris Prillo, TDavid, Jake, Dayment, Jeannie, and Samantha, plus a bunch more people that my brain couldn’t hold onto names or URLs for. I’m sure Anita will have a full attendee list soon.

I’ve tossed some photos up into a photoset, named and tagged as much as possible. Of course, if anyone can identify any of the people I had to leave unnamed, comment and tag away!

(Photo courtesy of Chris Pirillo)

iTunes “Cornflake Girl” by Amos, Tori from the album Under the Pink (1994, 5:07).

Heteroflexible

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One of the mailing lists I belong to (though I don’t chime in terribly often) is that of the Utilikilts Yahoo! Group. For the past few days there’s been an interesting discussion of sexuality. Over the course of the discussion, I just stumbled across a new term that I’d not heard before, but that I like a lot.

My own experience has been a interesting adventure. I had always been devout hetero. I like men. I like the way they feel, the way they smell (most of the time). I like the masculineness (if that’s a word) of a man. I like to feel feminine in his big hands and strong arms. I like sex with a man. That being said, I discovered in the last couple of years that an occational romp with another woman is just plain fun. My husband says “For instant lesbian, just add taquilla”… that’s me, but does that make me gay or just a horny drunk?

yes. although the term i’ve heard bandied about is heteroflexible.

Heteroflexible. What a wonderful word — especially for someone who’s comfortable self-identifying as 85-90% straight. Apparently this isn’t a new word, either, though it’s the first time I’d run across it.

Here’s Word Spy’s definition:

heteroflexible (het.ur.oh.FLEKS.uh.bul) n. A heterosexual person who is open to relationships with people of the same sex. —adj. Also: hetero-flexible, heteroflex.
-—heteroflexibility n.

iTunes “Transitions” by Beastie Boys, The from the album Ill Communication (1994, 2:31).

Social Realist

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Some silly/fun astrology bits from #flickr tonight…

djwudi: what’re you doing, underbunny?
underbunny: …I’m reading from my favorite astrobooks, dj.
djwudi: aah, okies
platinum: UB, what was the title of that book again?
underbunny: …the Secret Language of Birthdays, & then there’s the Secret Language of Relationships.
underbunny: …gimme your birthday, dj!
djwudi: May 3
djwudi: ’bout two weeks ’til I hit 32
djwudi: whee!
platinum: Lord, May is that close? Wow!
underbunny: …May 3, the Day of the Social Realist.
underbunny: …strengths are insightful, clever & charming.
underbunny: …weaknesses are demanding, procrastinating & head-headed.
underbunny: …oops!
underbunny: …hard-headed. :)
djwudi: I am not stubborn!
djwudi: dammit
djwudi stomps his foot
underbunny: …hehe.
underbunny: …got someone to match with?
djwudi laughs
djwudi: Nov. 3
djwudi: my g/f
underbunny: …dj, you’re not going to like it.
djwudi laughs
underbunny: …May 3 & November 3.
djwudi: that’s encouraging
djwudi: gimme the bad news…
underbunny: …k.
underbunny: …it’s got a pretty title? :)
underbunny: …Crusading Spirit.
underbunny: …o wait!
underbunny: …read the wrong one!
underbunny: …which you’re not going to like either. :D
djwudi laughs!
djwudi: doomed!
djwudi: doomed, I tell you!
underbunny: …also pretty title.
djwudi: star cross’d lovers, and all that
underbunny: …Second Childhood.
underbunny: …strengths are entertaining, youthful & relaxed.
underbunny: …weaknesses are closed off, misdirected & stubborn.
underbunny: …best for friendship.
underbunny: …worst for love.
djwudi: hmmmmmmm…
djwudi: well, we seem to be doing well so far
djwudi: I’ll just keep my fingers crossed :D

Admittedly, I don’t put much stock in astrology or such things, but I’ll freely admit that they’re fun to play with. I think Prairie and I are doing better than this book seems to expect, though…

iTunes “Home (Air ‘Around the Golf’ Remix)” by Depeche Mode from the album Remixes 81-04 (Limited Edition) (2004, 3:55).

Pope Benedict XVI

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I’ve been browsing articles about the new Pope off and on all day…have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. They seem to have picked the most staunchly conservative of the candidates.

Bits and pieces from CNN’s profile:

The newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, was one of the most powerful men in the Vatican under Pope John Paul II, a strict enforcer of church doctrine who earned the nickname “Cardinal No.”

[…]

Ratzinger became known as “Cardinal No” because of his drives to crack down on the liberation theology movement, religious pluralism, challenges to traditional teachings on issues such as homosexuality, and calls to ordain women as priests.

[…]

Ratzinger has said modernity led to a blurring of sexual identity, causing some feminists to become adversaries of men. He labeled homosexuality “an intrinsic moral evil.”

He argued that Muslim Turkey did not belong in Christian Europe and issued a document saying that Catholicism was the only true religion, questioning the validity of other religions, even Christian ones, even as his Pope John Paul II was trying to reach out to other faiths.

[…]

He rejected a 1993 pastoral letter co-written by fellow German Cardinal Walter Kasper that encouraged divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to return to the sacraments.

Y’know, in the church I was brought up in, I was taught that we were supposed to be accepting of others different from us. That we were supposed to love all people equally. To do unto others as we would have done to us. That Jesus shunned the powerful and spent time with the weak, downtrodden, and humble masses.

Of course, I wasn’t brought up Catholic.

iTunes “Graveyard” by Webley, Jason from the album Springman Records Sampler (2003, 3:57).