Yeah, that about sums it up

So, I've been on a bit of a hiatus lately from teh internets. Work has been busy, and there is a palpable feeling in the air to establish one's usefulness at work so as to stay gainfully employed. I've fallen behind on my personal emails and just about everything else that I access through this box on my desk.

So instead of trying to catch up with all that is wrong in the world, be it Somali Pirates or this Swine Flu, I am just going to post the following picture, which I feel sort of sums up what is wrong with television politics contemporary America right now. I'll be back soon with some additional intelligent and cutting analysis of issues affecting the global community more words sooner, rather than later.


From the LA Times via Defamer

National Be Kind to Lawyers Day

Today, apparently according to someone, is National Be Kind to Lawyers Day. This kind of reminds me of the time when I asked my Grandmother why there was a day for mothers, fathers, and grandparents, but no day for kids.

"Every day is children's day," she said.

But for all you lawyers out there doing god's work (you know who you are), who are not making a kabillion dollars a year, we are all indebted. And for so many of you who are out of a job, take heart. Things will pick up.

Outside Lands Announces 2009 Lineup

With regards to the headliners, I think I would have been more excited if this were 1994.

But there are some interesting bands on there:

Calexico
Lila Downs
Dengue Fever
Thievery Corporation
Kinky
Q-Tip
Samba Da
Raphael Saadiq

I'm kind of glad there is no band that would tempt me to try and navigate the gigantic cluster fuck that was last year's Radiohead show that was, incidentally, worth the headache to experience.

Who wants to guess that even though you'd think that MUNI would have learned a lesson last year, they will do almost nothing to improve the public transportation situation to and from GG park?

Auditions for Anti Same-Sex Marriage Advert Reveal Just How Full of Crap They Are

Wow. Just Wow. Check out this post from Sfist about what the Human Rights Campaign has uncovered. I'll restructure the gist of it here though.

First, Watch the anti-gay ad:



and now you can click and watch the auditions for it! That doctor who was so upset about having to choose between her faith and her profession for a reason she doesn't mention because it DOESN'T FRAKING EXIST?* An actor! The New Jersey guy who says his church was punished for not supporting gay marriage?** An Actor!! In fact the whole thing is filled with specious inaccuracies!

And I love how they couch it as being about their "freedom." It takes some pretty twisted logic to conclude that one's freedom extends to the "freedom to decide with other like-minded people how other people should be treated under the law." That's not freedom at all. That's tyranny by the majority. Anyway, here is one part of the auditions.




* This has been determined to reference the Benitez decision, which held that a health care provider cannot refuse a patient treatment based on their sexual orientation. Hardly necessitating a decision between your faith and your profession.

** I think I've mentioned this case on here before, because the Mormons used it in their prop 8 blitz. But anyway, in New Jersey the state offers a tax exemption to private property owners who open up their land for the use of the public, provided they follow all state laws. The unincorporated community of Ocean Grove that is very religious took advantage of the program, but then refused to allow a same sex couple to have their civil union ceremony on the grounds, which runs afoul of the state anti-discrimination policy. So the state is contemplating revoking their ability to claim a tax exemption. That is hardly being fined for not supporting same sex marriage. New Jersey doesn't even have same sex marriage.

I Really Really Hope This Is Good

Otherwise I know several generations of 5 year-olds who will not be happy.



The Arcade Fire Song is a nice backdrop, so you're off to a good start Spike!

Isn't that where syrup is made?

Vermont now joins the list, as its legislature legalizes same-sex marriage over the governor's veto.

D.C. has voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

While all of this makes me a little sad for California, it makes me very happy for all those couples who can now get married.

In Other Legal News, Iowa Supreme Court Gives Ok to Same Sex Marriage

Yes, really. I wonder if the Prop 8 people have any money left to pour into an amendment to Iowa's constitution. How many courts and legal scholars (and bloggers!) have to weigh in before we all realize that banning same sex marriage violates the Equal Protection clause. It won't ruin your schools, it won't teach anyone to be gay (whatever that means), and it doesn't mean you have to marry someone of your own sex. It only extends the same benefit (ONLY the rights wielded by the state, no religious significance is given or required. Your religion can still discriminate if it wants to.) we all enjoy to the gay community. That's it. Come on people.

UPDATE:

Apparently it is much more difficult to amend the Iowa Constitution than ours, and it requires going through the legislature first. Rich out-of-state social conservatives might be SOL. I might have to get a map and actually find this state.

Right to Habeas Extends into Afghanistan

It seems ages since Boumediene v. Bush was handed down, holding that the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay had a right to petition for habeas corpus in federal civilian courts. But yesterday, the decision was the basis for a significant ripple in federal jurisprudence. Yesterday, a federal judge determined that, under the rationale used in Boumediene, detainees that are being held at Bagram Afghanistan also have a right to petition for the great writ.

Well, not everybody. It turns out that Bagram has become a sort of terrorist holding tank for prisoners picked up all over the region, not just in Afghanistan. The judge ruled that the writ extends to prisoners who are NOT Afgahn nationals. So the decision concluded that three of the four (two Yemenis and a Tunisian) have a right to file habeas petitions, but due to possible friction with the host country, the Afghan does not.

NYT Article

Decision