Month: January 2008

Marriage Equality Government Contacts

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I know the bill is going to be submitted yet again this year, and yet again sent to the judiciary committees in the House and Senate. So this time I think we should start now in contacting those on the committees to let them know that Rhode Island shouldn’t be the laughingstock of New England. Because the legislature makes it difficult to figure out who is on what committee I thought I’d do the work for them.

Without further comment, here’s the csv file if you’d like to suck it into a database. Multiple city representation is escaped out with a forward slash ‘/’. Some interesting things to do would be which cities dominate which committee. For example, Providence has 3 senators on the committee, but only one in the house committe, Edith Ajello. She and Amy Rice are like the dynamic duo at the hearings, while rice is the attack dog that gets sent to deal with religious idots, Ajello is good for the more profound moments.

chamber,firstName,MI,lastName,Party,position,district,geo,email
S,Paul,V.,Jabour,D,,5,Providence,sen-jabour@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Charles,J.,Levesque,D,Vice Chair,11,Bristol/Portsmouth,sen-levesque@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Christopher,B.,Maselli,D,,25,Johnston,sen-maselli@rilin.state.ri.us
S,John,F.,McBurney III,D,,15,Pawtucket,sen-mcburney@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Michael,J.,McCaffrey,D,,29,Warwick,sen-mccaffrey@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Harold,M.,Metts,D,,6,Providence,sen-metts@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Rhoda,E.,Perry,D,,3,Providence,sen-perry@rilin.state.ri.us
S,Leonidas,P.,Raptakis,D,,33,Coventry/East Greenwich,sen-raptakis@rilin.state.ri.us
S,John,C.,Revens Jr.,D,,31,Warwick,sen-revens@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Edith,H.,Ajello,D,,3,Providence,rep-ajello@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Jon,D.,Brien,D,,50,Woonsocket,rep-brien@rilin.state.ri.us
H,David,A.,Caprio,D,,Narragansett/South Kingstown,rep-caprio@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Donald,J.,Lally Jr.,D,Chair,33,Narragansett/North Kingstown,rep-lally@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Bruce,J.,Long,R,,74,Jamestown/Middletown,rep-long@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Nicholas,A.Matiello,D,,15,Cranston,rep-matiello@rilin.state.ri.us
H,William,J.,McManus,R,,46,Lincoln/Pawtucket,rep-mcmanus@rilin.state.ri.us
H,J.,Patrick,O’Neill,D,,59,Pawtucket,rep-oneill@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Peter,G.,Palumbo,D,,16,Cranston,rep-palumbo@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Amy,G.,Rice,D,,72,Porsmouth/Middletown/Newport,rep-rice@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Gregory,J.,Schadone,D,Co-Vice Chair,54,North Providence,rep-schadone@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Joseph,H.,Scott,D,,39,Charlestown/Exeter/Richmond,rep-scott@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Raymond,J.,Sullivan,D,,29,Coventry/West Greenwich,rep-sullivan@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Donna,M.,Walsh,D,,36,Charlestown/New Shoreham/South Kingstown/Westerly,rep-walsh@rilin.state.ri.us
H,Timothy,A./Williamson,D,Co Vice Chair,25,Coventry/West Warwick,rep-williamson@rilin.state.ri.us

‘Tis the Season Again

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The season when those wingnuts come out with their anti-abortion screed. I guess it’s too cold for these pussies to take to the streets, but then that wasn’t effective anyway. Let’s shame the legislators into making abortion illegal, that’s a much better goal for them.

So I always look at the current photo album on our local rag, The Providence Journal. Today I saw a picture that sums up my feelings on those who are against abortion. They’re so ugly that you wouldn’t want to fuck them anyway. Case in point, this picture:

Abortion Protestors

Notice the fellow holding the Stop Abortion Now sign with that little pout on his face. Would someone please let him know that he looks like Princess Tiny Meat and that his affected pout is so last season.

Then there’s dour Bob to PTM’s right. He doesn’t look all that enthused and I just bet he’s there at the behest of his nagging pseudo-Christian wife. Poor guy probably never gets a moment of peace and he probably looks forward to death since that would put an end to his wife’s nagging bullshit.

To the lower right we have the obligatory breeder with her spawn. Great, another mouth to feed and I notice they didn’t get a shot of daddy in the picture. Why is that?

And to the lower left we have the requisite middle aged women who think their shit doesn’t stink.

I heap my scorn on the guys more than the women because the guys should fucking know better. It is not our right to say who can and cannot have an abortion. And if this country didn’t have such a fucked up attitude about sex maybe there’d be fewer abortions. Who’s to say. But I think the author of Freakonomics made a very good point, the drop in crime rates of the 90’s and on is directly related to the legalization of abortion.

Because time and again, if you force a woman to carry a child to term that doesn’t want the child the state is loathe to step in after the fact. So the child is born into poverty, and poverty breeds crime. It’s that simple.

And here in Rhode Island our governor (Yes, with a little ‘g’ because this asshole doesn’t deserve the honorific capitalization of his title) Don the Asshole CarcieriGovernor Don Carcieri the 1st Asshole of Rhode Island is pushing to move welfare services to faith based initiatives. Ok Don, let me ask you something. Other than spending millions on proselytizing and missionary work exactly what have the churches done to help the poor. Oh some run meal programs, and some act as shelters. But cut welfare down and the churches won’t know what to do with all those people and I’m more than just a bit concerned about using faith based because there’s always that recruitment component.

All in all he’s been a horrible governor. Compared to his predecessor Linc Almond, Carcieri is to the right of Hitler.

So sure Don, cut benefits for the poor and the elderly. Then watch the backlash. It’s good thing you’re only in office for two more years because you’ll obviously go down as Rhode Island’s worst governor.

My Democratic Primary Pick

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I have to admit, I favor Barack Obama in the Democratic Primary. I could give a flying shit about the Republican primary because I feel they’re all a bunch of assholes.

People may say Obama doesn’t have much experience. They’d be wrong since they totally discount his achievements in the Illinois legislature, or his other activities outside of politics.

I distrust Hillary Clinton. She just smacks of politician to me and her message rings hollow.

They’re at it again in Florida

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Yet another petition drive to get marriage narrowly defined is circulating in Florida. Last go around I found my fathers name as one of the signatories of the petition and called him about it.

I asked him how as a good Christian he could consider divorcing his wife, yet he felt it so all important to sign a petition that guaranteed someone like his only son would be considered a second class citizen. I told him he was the worst kid of hypocrite.

At this time I am thoroughly disgusted with organized religion, primarily the so called Christians. While I am an atheist it is my belief that if there were such a person as Christ and he were to return today, he wouldn’t be recognized for who he supposedly is and he’d be crucified once again.

The churches have allowed themselves to become the pawns of politicians, and the politicians have become pawns of the Christian churches. I cannot wait for this years hearings on marriage equality. At these hearings I plan to call out the priests and the politicians on their bigotry. Because that is precisely what this is, bigotry.

And hopefully this year we’ll finally shame President of the Senate Joseph Montalbano who I wish the fuck they’d indict sooner than later, but Corrente is a careful prosecutor who dots all his i’s and crosses his t’s. In addition I hope we can shame Speaker of the House William Murphy, and Governor Don Carcieri.

Of course our esteemed legislators make it difficult to figure out who is on what committee. You have to troll through every bio to get the committee assignments but I’m going to database it and put it up on the web. Then I’m going to troll the newspaper archives and see how many have been divorced. I’d guess since there are roughly 18 people, and nearly 50% of marriage end in divorce, I’m bound to find someone who by biblical law should never have been allowed to divorce, let alone re-marry.

I’m seeing my little speech this year evolving into one that castigates the legislators for daring not to vote this for approval, and at the same time disgraces the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence for allowing those legislators to divorce. This could be great fun.

Troppe informazioni mar numero centoventi (TMI #120)

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1. Would you stay in a relationship with an physically unfaithful partner?

Possibly. It all depends on the dynamic of the relationship. If the emotional component is still present I have no problems with it. I understand that as men our biological systems dictate that we not be sexually monogamous.

2. Would you stay in a relationship with an emotionally unfaithful partner?

This where I draw the line. If you aren’t emotionally involved then there is no relationship.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how important is the recognition of birthdays to you (your’s, a friend’s, a partner’s)?

Keyron gets a cake etc. every year. I downplay mine, it’s just the day I was born for crying out loud, why does it have to be a big deal? So he gets a 1, mine is a 10, friends rate somewhere in between probably at about a 5 or 6, again depending on their take on birthdays.

4. When you have a “toe-curling” orgasm, do your does curl up, or down?

Actually more contorted than up or down. As I’ve mentioned before they can be pretty intense to the point that the body spasm component kicks in big time.

5. Every one has a pet peeve, tell me one of yours.

Just one? I’ve got a list that could fill a few library shelves. But the one that really grates on me is people who think they know everything. They’re very annoying to those of us that do. You realize that last part is just me being sarcastic, right?

Bonus (as in optional):Name someone famous who you have no sexual interest in but would have sex with just to brag about it?

It’d be a politician of course, and while it would be disgusting to even think about committing the act it would have to be Dick Cheney. Then again, we’re not certain who got to him first since that prostitute cum journalist had unfettered access to the White House.

Troppe informazioni mar numero e un centinaio di diciannove (TMI #119)

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1. What was your favorite book as a kid?

Probably Stranger in a Strange Land. I loved that book as a young teenager and still love it now. It’s rather prophetic.

2. If you were stranded on that proverbial desert island (again!), what book or books (up to 5) would you want to have with you?

  • The Adolescence of P-1, a book about a neurally networked computer that became self aware.
  • Stranger in a Strange Land because it’s so relevant

    • The entire Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series which now brings me over five books since I shall list them for you:

  • The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”

  • The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

  • Life, the Universe and Everything

  • So Long, and thanks for all the fish

  • Mostly Harmless

  • The Salmon of Doubt

    • And one I’m surprised didn’t make it but then that only had Arthur Dent in it,

  • The Long, Dark Tea Time of the Soul

    • Uh oh, that’s 9 books.

    3. What was the first “naughty” book you read and in what way was it naughty?

    If I count language it would have to be Catcher in the Rye. If for pure unadulterated bigotry and savagery it would have to be the Bible.

    4. If you were to publish your autobiography today, what would be the title?

    It would be titled “A life mis-spent: The story of a man and his bypassed opportunities.”

    5. Would you rather look at nude pictures/pornography or read erotic fiction and why?

    I’m a very visual person but then sometimes it’s fun to let your imagination run free with the written form. But I’ll have to say pictures and porn for this one.

    Bonus (as in optional):Do you know the whereabouts today of the first person with whom you had sex?

    I believe he’s living in East Providence, RI but we haven’t been in touch for close to twenty years.

    An embarrasing little episode

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    Last night I was at the DC401 gathering where Mitch Altman, developer of the TV-B-Gone device was showing us how to create the Trippy RGB (Warning, high geek quotient!) light kit which is based on the MiniPOV 3 kit. I also ordered a MiniPOV 3 kit because I want to put one of those together too. I also found a cheap USB to Serial adapter from Old Fashioned Robotics so I can program these little controllers.

    While I can do a bang up job with a soldering iron, I didn’t know my resistor color codes. I’d always had the resistor chart in my pictures folder and just brought it up when I needed it. And in my parts bin everything is labeled in text so I know what’s what. Speaking of which, I need to add some parts into my database. What’s more, I was in good company. Brian Jepson had to pull up a web copy on his cell phone.

    So today I finally decided, I’m going to learn what those colors mean. I already know the 25 pair code (Blue, Green, Orange, Brown, Slate and then the binder are White, Red, Black, Yellow and Violet) so why not electronics codes?

    So I can happily state I can now name them, ready?

    Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White that correspond to 0 thru 9, then gold bands mean multiply times .1, and silver times .01.

    Lets see how long I remember them but I think I might actually have it this time since I’m getting the project bug again.

    And this XKCD coming amply illustrates the point.

    XKCD Resistor Codes

    Huckabee: Bring the Constitution in line with the Bible

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    And all I can say to that is, over my dead body. The Constitution is there to protect the rights of the people, it derives none of its power from any god because our forefathers saw the damage that could be rendered by churches when they interfered in the political process.

    You can read the article and see the video at this link.

    And as I’ve stated before, if I were to amend the Constitution I’d simply make a small change to the 14th Amendment that would bar corporations from expecting the same rights as people. But now that an asshat like Huckabee wants to bring the entire document into line with the Bible, I say we also build a stronger wall between religion and secular society.

    On that note I’m happy to see that Congress is now investigating the mega-churches. This ought to be highly amusing seeing them explain how God requires them to have private jets, Bentleys, and mansions.

    Little by little we’ll see these monsters torn down. It started years ago with Jim and Tammy Baker, and it’s coming home to roost now.

    Small corrections to musical lyrics among other things.

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    I’m listening to the song in the link below. There’s one line in there that the engineer in me feels the need to correct. That is the line that states “Nothing lasts forever but the sky and sun.” Um no, when our Sol goes red giant, there’ll be pretty much NOTHING left of Terra. Sol will consume it all and then eventually go Nova.

    And that brings me to the next topic. Seems a huge cloud of hydrogen gas is on target to hit the Milky Way galaxy. All that hyrdrogen will mean that the Milky Way because a nebula galaxy with loads of star formation. Of course it isn’t supposed to happen for 4E07 or 40 million years. We’ll all be dead and gone by then, nothing but Dust in the Wind.

    —————-
    Now playing: Kansas – Dust In The Wind
    via FoxyTunes