:: OnlyInTheSouthEnd ::

The reason I ask is because I just found my FIRST gray hair!

So I received this email today and thought I would share it with you all because, to be honest, I think this guy has the wrong idea.  Who ever said that those who seek marriage equality for all are anti-marriage?  I think it is just the opposite.  These people are very much pro-marriage.  If you feel that marriage is being eroded in this country, look around yourself and find the real cause.  Don’t use same-gender marriage as your scapegoat.  Is the same-gender couple’s fault that you might be cheating on your wife causing her to want a divorce?  I don’t think so.  Is it the same-gender couple down the street that taught your son how to shoot up heroin?  I don’t think so.  Is it the same-gender couple who just enrolled their child into first grade the reason why your little Johnny boy hates you both to death?  I don’t think so.  An unhappy marriage/family is a byproduct of your doing, not Adam and Steve Smith!

Will your state become the next Massachusetts? Radical groups have given us a smoking gun pointed at your state TAKE ACTION 1. You can make a difference in your state by sending a request to your state legislators asking then to organize to support and to defend common sense marriage in your state. 2. If a Marriage Protection Caucus has already been launched in your state, it encourages them to join without delay. If not, it encourages them to start one immediately. 3. Also, please be sure to tell-a-friend about the positive work AFM is doing to protect marriage in America Ever since radical activist groups convinced the courts to destroy marriage in Massachusetts in 2003, the Alliance for Marriage Foundation has sounded the alarm about a plan to export that decision to states across the nation. Very recently, our warnings came to pass. The courts have now declared that Massachusetts-style “gay marriage” can be exported to other states. The first stop? New Mexico – because that state has no law protecting marriage as between a man and a woman. Make no mistake. The People of New Mexico are not confused about the meaning of marriage. As is the case with most people in your home state, they are teaching their children that kids do best with a mother and a father. But the radical activists are determined to destroy marriage in every state – including yours. They know that marriage is a portable legal institution. And they are working to export the socially destructive revolution they have begun in Massachusetts on a national scale. Now, for the first time, anti-marriage forces have given us a smoking gun. They have demonstrated that they are deadly serious about their plans to force Massachusetts-style “gay marriage” on the nation. The situation for marriage in America is bad and getting worse. In fact, the New Mexico/Massachusetts battle is only one of many recent flare-ups across the country. As you may remember, the struggle for marriage in California is on equally dangerous ground. In 2000, an overwhelming 61.4% of California voters cast their ballots in favor of Proposition 22 … the California Defense of Marriage Act. This strong, pro-marriage act passed in 52 out of California’s 58 counties, including all major metropolitan areas except San Francisco and its surrounding counties. Prop 22 clearly defined marriage as between a man and a woman. But it wasn’t a constitutional amendment. It was just a law, which can be changed by politicians who are hostile to the Will of the People on marriage. Since Prop 22 passed, radical activists have dedicated enormous amounts of money, time and energy into overturning it. They’ve attacked Prop 22 in hostile courtrooms, in the state legislature and even in city governments. Today, radicals have all but completely annihilated Prop 22. The California State Legislature recently passed a bill that would overturn Prop 22. Simultaneously, the California Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could also strike down Prop 22. My friend, there’s no longer any room for debate as to the intentions of anti-marriage radicals. They will not stop until they destroy marriage one state at a time. And if we wait to fight them – until they have won the battle in your state – then it will be too late for our children and grandchildren. That’s why the Alliance for Marriage Foundation’s efforts to pass state constitutional amendments protecting marriage in America are so critical. Thanks to the AFM Foundation’s State Legislative Marriage Protection Caucus, you and I can go toe-to-toe with radical activists in state legislatures. We have also developed a broad national coalition that allows us to educate and mobilize a wide range of communities in a way few other pro-family groups can. Our primary goal here at the Alliance for Marriage is to protect kids. Our mission is to ensure that more children in America are raised in a home with a mother and a father. That’s a mission that Americans of every race, religion and political affiliation can embrace. And that is the source of the strength of our movement. This is especially crucial in states like California and New Mexico, with large Latino populations. The Alliance for Marriage Foundation has a long record of success organizing Latinos on the marriage issue. But, as with past efforts, the AFM Foundation’s efforts to help preserve marriage in states like California and New Mexico have a slim chance of success without dedicated marriage defenders like you in our corner. Will you help the Alliance for Marriage Foundation defend marriage in California, New Mexico, Massachusetts and other “hotspots” around the nation? If so, please click here right away to give an immediate, secure online gift to the Alliance for Marriage Foundation right away: Donate Now! Remember, anti-marriage radicals understand all too well the fact that marriage battles in the states have national importance. The destruction of marriage in one state can have broad-sweeping consequences anywhere in America. Please do what you can to support our efforts today. Urgently, Matt Daniels, J.D., Ph.D. President & Founder P.S. You and I now have the smoking gun for what AFM has warned for years … anti-marriage radicals have a plan to export the destruction of marriage into every state in America! Please do what you can to help stop them today through a generous, secure online gift to the Alliance for Marriage Foundation today. Thank you in advance for your generosity. The Alliance for Marriage Foundation receives no government or taxpayer support of any kind. We are entirely dependent on the voluntary donations of concerned Americans like you. Our need for funding is urgent. Your generous contribution can make a big difference in the success of our vital mission to protect marriage between a man and a woman and to ensure that more children are raised in homes with a mother and a father. If you’ve received this e-mail in error and do not wish further e-mail from the Alliance for Marriage, please unsubscribe. Home | Mission | AFM In The News | Media | Contribute | Contact | Search

I’ve been on a Logo kick lately. For one, the newscaster Itay Hod is extremely sexy, Israeli and Jewish (damn how do I find this guy!). The only thing that bugs me about the network, however, is that they repeat their shows way to often. Once a day, I could deal with that, but two or three? I think that is a bit overkill. It’s like KISS 108 playing the new Gwen Stefanie song once an hour until I hate it so much I don’t want to hear it again until I start wearing Depends.

Anyways, I did pick up some really useful information the last time I was watching it. Did you know what a few airlines will actually refund you a fare price difference if the fare you paid goes down after you buy your ticket? The only catch is you have to find the fare when it goes down. Now you might say, how the hell am I going to do that? I don’t have the time to monitor the fare all the time until I finally depart. Well have no fear, check out the website Yapta. They do all the work for you and will monitor your flights for fare decreases and then will allow you to submit claims to get your refund!

OK, I have to ask, why the fuck does Logo network *bleep* out swear words. I mean what’s worse, two guys attempting a yankee swap or two guys saying ‘fuck, whore, pussy, ass, etc …’. My guess would be for the yankee swap! Swear words are far from unfamiliar in the gay lexicon.

My guess is that Les Moonves is so afraid of the FCC following the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction and Howard Stern’s huge-ass mouth, that he doesn’t care that Logo is a CABLE network. The FCC is just out to get him!

OK, so I’m exxagerating slightly, but I think you’ll catch my drift in a moment. One thing a “big” city should be able to offer is choices; choices in dining, choices in beauty enhancements, choices in entertainment options, and yes dammit choices in nightlife.

It seems, however, that the choices of gay nightlife here in Boston is just getting smaller and smaller. In fact, one of the most “popular” venues in the city is closing its doors. If you haven’t heard yet, Avalon/Axis will be closing their doors just around Pride time. It will be closed for over a year as the owners work in reconstructing the location into a music hall. So if I get my calculator and street map out that leaves this “big” city with 7 venues for gay nightlife in this city. Just a year ago, that number was just over 10. I’m thinking by the end of 2007 that number will be down to 3.

The world of journalism is a tenuous one.  The world relies on journalists to fairly and accurately deliver the news of the world.  We the readers expect that what journalists write is unbiased (however we know that bias in the media certainly exists).  It is one thing when a particular journalist consistantly shows bias in his or her reporting, and in most cases journalists who do show bias are often not taken as seriously as those who truly are as unbiased as they possibly can be.

It is another thing, however, when a group of journalists show bias as a group.  Just this past week, the National Union of Journalists in the United Kingdom, voted at their annual meeting to boycott all Israeli products, one to show their dismay with how Israel has acted in Lebanon and the Palestinian authority and two as a response to the kidnapping of BBC correspondant Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped in Gaza by a Palestinian militant group.

I don’t know about you, but this smells of bias to me, and it is not the bias of one particular journalist.  It is the bias of an organization which represents all British and Irish journalists.  The vote (66 to 54), while not unanimous, certainly shows that the majority of these journalists have a bias against Israel.  When I read the news as reported by the BBC, Reuters, The Financial Times, or even The Economist, how am I going to really believe that they are reporting the news fairly and accurately.  If they can demonstrate one bias by vote how do I know that there are not other biases they are not showing?

Until this vote of bias is recinded, I will be getting my news from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz.  Sorry BBC, but there is no room for bias in my book.  So call this one man’s boycott of the British/Irish media until they end their boycott of Israeli products.  I kindly ask that you join me.

That should be Vermont’s new nickname.  I live in a state that was once (and by some still is) referred to as Taxachusetts.  A recent report by the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit fiscal policy research group, shows that in fact when it comes to state and local taxation, Vermonters get screwed the most!  If you don’t believe me, here is report results.

As you might see from that same report, Massachusetts falls at #28, which means my state is actually tax friendlier than more than 50% of the nation.  So all you card toten, Taxachusetts referrin’ ninnies out there it’s time for you to sing a new song!!

The Two-Minute Haggadah
A Passover service for the impatient.
By Michael Rubiner

Opening prayers:

Thanks, God, for creating wine. (Drink wine.)

Thanks for creating produce. (Eat parsley.)

Overview: Once we were slaves in Egypt. Now we’re free. That’s why we’re doing this.

Four questions:
1. What’s up with the matzoh?
2. What’s the deal with horseradish?
3. What’s with the dipping of the herbs?
4. What’s this whole slouching at the table business?

Answers:
1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry. There was no time for making decent bread.
2. Life was bitter, like horseradish.
3. It’s called symbolism.
4. Free people get to slouch.

A funny story: Once, these five rabbis talked all night, then it was morning. (Heat soup now.)

The four kinds of children and how to deal with them:
Wise child—explain Passover.
Simple child—explain Passover slowly.
Silent child—explain Passover loudly.
Wicked child—browbeat in front of the relatives.

Speaking of children: We hid some matzoh. Whoever finds it gets five bucks.

The story of Passover: It’s a long time ago. We’re slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh is a nightmare. We cry out for help. God brings plagues upon the Egyptians. We escape, bake some matzoh. God parts the Red Sea. We make it through; the Egyptians aren’t so lucky. We wander 40 years in the desert, eat manna, get the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple, enjoy several years without being persecuted again. (Let brisket cool now.)

The 10 Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice—you name it.

The singing of “Dayenu”:
If God had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would’ve been enough. If he’d punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would’ve been enough.

If he’d parted the Red Sea—(Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now.)

Eat matzoh. Drink more wine. Slouch.

Thanks again, God, for everything.

SERVE MEAL.

You’re probably asking what the heck the title of this post means.  Well before I get to the meaning, first I’ll tell you how to pronounce it: Bulbul.

Now, for the story behind the word.  I was in Israel for the last week for a wedding, but also had the opportunity to meet up with my family that lives here.  My younger cousin (by 5 months) has two children, one boy and one girl.  My uncle lives two blocks from her, so my cousin sent over her daughter to walk me over as she needed to clean up the boy.  So I get over to her apartment (condo really, but they call everything apartments there) and the first thing that comes out of the boy’s mouth is “yeish lecha bulbul” … “do you have a bulbul?”  Both my cousins children begin to laugh uncontrollably.

My cousin explains to me his fascination with this word and I’m rather amused by it.  Of course his mother isn’t because he uses it all the time.  He can turn any conversation into one about bulbuls.

All I have to say on the topic of bulbuls is that you might find an Israeli size-queen say: “yeish lecha bulbul gadol?” … “do you have a big bulbul?”  Now I think you should all be able to figure out what a bulbul is.

When it comes to less clutter and ways to help the environment I’m all ears. I try to recycle. I try to cut down on paper usage. If I could I’d put a wind turbine on my roof, but I don’t think the South End Landmark Commission would like that one bit. So when I got offers to go paperless on my bills I was all ears. I’ve been using electronic bill paying services since the early 1990’s, so I was glad to have to deal with less paperwork.

This past billing cycle on my cellphone I finally got stung. For some reason, Cingular decided back in August to change my 200 text message plan to their Media Bundle plan, which increased my text message usage to 400 as well as giving me a small amount of download abilities for free. Of course I never got notification about it, which isn’t a huge deal as I’ve come to find out my text message usage has also increased. Now here comes the stinger. I checked over my last bill because it appeared to be higher than what I thought it would be. I didn’t make any 411 calls (which they charge you an arm and a leg for) and I only used 306 text messages. Looking a little closer I found that they actually charged me for 106 text messages, which would have been ok if I was still under the OLD 200 message plan. I called Cingular and they credited me the charges that I shouldn’t have received.

Being the person I am, I decided to review all my bills from the time of the service change and found that they charged me for 243 text messages (349 if you include the original 106 I found). So now I have to call Cingular again to get those credited as well.

Moral of the story is, check your bills, especially if they are paperless!