rm | sundries

Claudette is adjusting well. She is more secure and lets both Patty and I pet her. She is eating well and seems to have figured out the temporary litterbox we set up for her after the horrific destruction of a really cheap Ikea throw pillow. Patty took this picture of her (along with many others that are AWESOME) to send to the woman who fostered her:

Openly gay MP to make the case that supporting gay rights is a key element of modern conservatism. I grok the argument, but can barely grok a political landscape in which that is true in the US although my gut tells me that the guy is right in that a lot of gays would vote on conservative/Republican lines here if gay rights weren't part of the issue. This makes me uncomfortable, because too often I see many members of the gay community wanting equality on gay issues so as to have their privilege on other fronts back (seriously, the organized gay activist community has a shit track record when it comes to racial and ethnic diversity).

Pride House opens at the Olympics. Because several countries participating in the Olympics have legal sanctions against LGBT people, Pride House is prepared to address asylum claims. So far, they have already received four inquiries.

Gay boutique hotel planned for NYC. That'll be interesting. Wonder if it'll be no girls allowed. Why do I ask? Similar ones I know of in Europe and the dance club anchorage.

Some states are planning a battery of tests that would let high school sophomores that complete them to skip immediately to community college. On one hand, good. On the other hand... why can't high school be high school and do the job it should and produce students who can write so that a B.A. is something other than people learning skills I had the luck and privilege to master in 6th grade?

The story we were expecting to break on Gov. Patterson finally did. And it's about the sharp rise of one of his aides. It is discussion candy. First, it's filled with framing that's unpleasant, and I feel nearly sure wouldn't be there in so voluminous a fashion if the protagonists in this tale weren't PoC. But then again, the New York Times having RaceFail? Is anyone surprised? It also, however, raises the question of whether domestic violence perpetration should disqualify someone for political work. This is something of a hot topic in New York State politics because of a case involving a state senator as well. If you follow the coverage of the cases there is, I think, a subtle undertone of shrugging acceptance that of course some powerful men beat women, and what are you going to do about it? Disturbing.

John Hodgman on the very weird world of fame.

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