Life as an Extreme Sport

Category: …and everything else

Mostly everything else in a brain-academic way.

Is it Really a Matter of Fairness?

...and everything else

New Hampshire made history yesterday, becoming the first state in America to legalize gay civil unions without court order or the threat of lawsuit. Signing the bill, Gov. John Lynch said

“We in New Hampshire have had a long and proud tradition of taking the lead in opposing discrimination,” Lynch said as he signed the bill. “I do not believe that this bill threatens marriage. I believe that this is a matter of conscience and fairness.”

But I have to wonder at his statement. On the one hand, this makes six states that recognize some form of domestic/civil union for gay couples (Washington, California, Vermont, New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire), with Oregon joining the list in January. Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to marry, but only Hawaii extends certain marriage-like benefits to cohabitating couples of either sex.

That is where my reservation comes from. If it were truly a matter of fairness, I don’t believe we would need new laws. Instead, we would simply allow gay couples to marry – or straight couples to have civil unions. But at this moment in time, we are creating legal equivalents of different drinking fountains. It used to be that different laws applied based on the colour of your skin – now they apply based on who you join in relationship with.

It does not oppose discrimination to reinforce it by creating and maintaining divisive laws based on sexual preference.

apocalyptic beauty

...and everything else

If you haven’t seen the movie Serenity, this Television Without Pity recap of the movie will make little sense; it will not resonate. But if you have, clear some time in your schedule and read this. It is a thing of sheer and almost religious beauty, words made real and solid, so infused with passion and reverence it is infectious, and should be contagious. Jacob is amazing, masterful; you will not be sorry.

the benefits of ocd addictions

...and everything else

I’m addicted to two sorts of television shows: forensic dramas and medical shows. I’m indulging that addiction tonight, with several hours of CSI and then medical mystery shows. One of the challenges to these shows, for me, is diagnosing the disease prior to the show does – and about 25 minutes ago, I looked up from the php pages I’ve been poking at, cocked my head towards the television, said “porphyria – probably acute and intermittent“, and went back to the website.

Guess what the patient was just diagnosed with? Sometimes, I think I missed my calling…

maybe I’ll skip forensics after all

...and everything else

Sometimes, it’s really nice to have a Monday end up like this one did, where I end the day better than I started. In fact, in the last two days, my writer’s block has started to lift, and much more importantly, I found the passion I’d misplaced.

It’s really, really nice to lay on the couch, cuddle my cats, and be genuinely, truly happy with my life and what I am doing with it.

does the moon cry when the sun sets?

...and everything else, life and living

I’m having the sort of night where I’d like to climb out on the fire escape, or maybe even up it to the roof, wrapped in a blanket, barefoot and vulnerable to the world. Where I would like to lean against MoMo, or curl up and watch endless hours of CSI with Bennett.

I think I’m lonely.

No, I know I’m lonely.

Laurie and I were talking today, about how academics don’t often put down roots in new communities. She was being acidic about it, playing up the elitism that often plagues academics, but she was right, in some ways. Mostly because it’s just difficult to put down effective roots. Especially since I know this place isn’t permanent for me, I know I’ll be leaving after I graduate.

When I was in Seattle, I wasn’t certain I was ever going to leave. I settled, for the first time since my mid-teens. I allowed myself to make connections, and for the first time since I can’t even remember how long, friends. People I could trust, let my hair down with, relax. I hadn’t really believed, that after so many years in one place, I was going to leave again.

And yet, I did.

I guess it’s just been on my mind. I knew I was making a lonely choice when I made it, and that it would be a long path. But sometimes it’s hard to be reminded of what you had, and what you walked away from, and won’t have again.

Of course, you could also just call this “still suffering writers block, feeling sorry for self, and visited the liquor store.” Probably more accurate, anyway.