http://www.noonprop8.com/action
http://www.noonprop8.com/

Again, religion is woven into our laws. You can't do that.

A "real life" Photoshop. Cool.

Sick of politics? Me, too. Ready to puke at the next mention of the word "vote"? Yeah. But it is that important. It's worth drilling into our heads. Vote. Vote. Vote. It might look like Obama has it wrapped up, but we thought that in 2000; some in 2004.

Vote. No matter how long you have to wait. Vote. No matter how hostile ignoramuses might be. It is worth your time. Young people with the chance to vote for the first or second time: please do it. Think about what the candidates stand for. Who do you want? What sort of administration do you want? Very important: what type of Supreme Court do you want?

The contrast between the candidates is even sharper with respect to the third branch of government. A tense equipoise currently prevails among the Justices of the Supreme Court, where four hard-core conservatives face off against four moderate liberals. Anthony M. Kennedy is the swing vote, determining the outcome of case after case.

McCain cites Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, two reliable conservatives, as models for his own prospective appointments. If he means what he says, and if he replaces even one moderate on the current Supreme Court, then Roe v. Wade will be reversed, and states will again be allowed to impose absolute bans on abortion. McCain’s views have hardened on this issue. In 1999, he said he opposed overturning Roe; by 2006, he was saying that its demise “wouldn’t bother me any”; by 2008, he no longer supported adding rape and incest as exceptions to his party’s platform opposing abortion.

But scrapping Roe—which, after all, would leave states as free to permit abortion as to criminalize it—would be just the beginning. Given the ideological agenda that the existing conservative bloc has pursued, it’s safe to predict that affirmative action of all kinds would likely be outlawed by a McCain Court. Efforts to expand executive power, which, in recent years, certain Justices have nobly tried to resist, would likely increase. Barriers between church and state would fall; executions would soar; legal checks on corporate power would wither—all with just one new conservative nominee on the Court. And the next President is likely to make three appointments.

Obama, who taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, voted against confirming not only Roberts and Alito but also several unqualified lower-court nominees. As an Illinois state senator, he won the support of prosecutors and police organizations for new protections against convicting the innocent in capital cases. While McCain voted to continue to deny habeas-corpus rights to detainees, perpetuating the Bush Administration’s regime of state-sponsored extra-legal detention, Obama took the opposite side, pushing to restore the right of all U.S.-held prisoners to a hearing. The judicial future would be safe in his care.

I hope the margin of victory for whoever wins is five points or more.

I hope the probable is not inevitable: Obama is elected but there is little actual change during his first term.

I hope that Obama wins, and he and his administration excels. It is the best way to convince elitists, racists, blinded zealots, petrified conservatives and Christians, and the like.

I hope Obama is not assassinated. Unfortunately, I would not be surprised, even if it were to happen before January 20.

I hope for good change.

I hope people have patience, and realize change will take a while.

I hope more people care sincerely, and less people care selfishly.

I hope religion finds a much smaller role in politics.

Yeah, right.

I hope people realize how ridiculous it is to think of Obama as the Anti-Christ or un-American.

The Republican party isn't going anywhere. Therefore, I hope they get their act together. Groom their ranks, remove backwards politicians like Giuliani and Palin. I hope those two do not run for national office in 2012 or any year. If so, I hope they lose quite well.

I hope that more people understand just how different the world outside of their spheres is, and that there is nothing wrong with that. "There are no savage and civilized peoples; there are only different cultures."

I hope for progressive policy. We evolve or die.

Maybe we should die. Sometimes I think that; look at all we've done. But I also tell myself: you cannot always judge a person by his past. The person I am is not the person I was.

I hope people can handle it when their candidate loses. I hope we can work together.

I hope for wisdom and kindness, two of the most important things for humanity.

I'm already seeing lots of idiotic posts on Facebook. I quote:

• RIP America — 1776-2008.
• Lord please rescue us from tis antichrist!
• People voted obama are idiots and is goin regret tis!
• People voted this muslim in office need Jesus. God help this country!
• terrified of the Reign of Terror that will begin next year...
• fuck the sheep that elected the spawn of Hitler.
• the only reason America needs any kind of a change is bc of what DEMOCRAT bill clinton messed up in the first place. Bush was trying to fix it. but u MAY be right. this coulda been divinely appointed by God because Obama is the ANTICHRIST and this is the beginning of the end.

How are there still people like this in the world?

A blogger explains why he did not vote for Obama. He gives some great reasons.

Jeff Flint said of Prop 8, "I think we made [the voters] realize that there are broader implications to society and particularly the children when you make that fundamental change that's at the core of how society is organized, which is marriage."

I'm disheartened by the passage of Proposition 8 in California. I have hope, however; I know that this absurdity will be reversed—throughout the country, in fact. It's only a matter of time as more people are educated and better understand government, society, and humanity in general. Once the "fundamental change" is made, America will continue to evolve in a wonderful, positive manner.

The problems proponents cite as reasons gay marriage would harm America are either untrue or stupid. For example, some church-related adoption agencies in Massachusetts, which made gay marriage legal in 2004, shut down because they would have to allow homosexual couples to adopt children. Those elitists won't stop other people from responsibly running adoption agencies. People are also worried about what their children will be taught in school: maybe gay marriage or same-sex couples will be mentioned in some way. Get this: NOT EVERYONE LIVES BY THE SAME MORAL PRINCIPLES. It is possible that some people see straight marriage as wrong, evil, erosive, gross. Heck, some people think people on television can speak to dead people, even dead animals. And some still think white people are better than black ones.

The point is that everyone is welcome in the United States, and no one can be discriminated against because of appearance, religion, sexuality, or anything else.

Banning gay marriage is the judicial equivalent of banning people with three kidneys.

Laws should not be laced with religion. Laws should only do the following: (1) protect people and other beings, localities, and institutions from other people and other people's possibly invasive ideas, and (2) establish government. Seriously, every law we have falls under those two categories: interstate commerce, taxes, gun regulation, driving laws, the court system, environmental protection, and so on.

A few comments I found on the Internet about Prop 8 that demonstrate some people's ignorance and fear:

• I agree with the many others who've commented. I believe that we must love all, but we do NOT have to change our moral ethics or opinions on these issues. Marriage is an ordinance of God to the Judeo-Christian group, as well as to many others. It has been for millenia. I intend to keep it that way. I'm voting YES on 8!! ps Yes, I have gay friends and I love and respect them, but it doesn't mean I'm going to condone certain behavior.
  
  
• nice! in your face gays. Now back off and leave our traditions and beliefs and FAMILYS alone.
  
  
• YAY!!!! I might be 12 but i still dont like homosexuals marrying, YAY FOR US! i do think it should be between a man and women. good job everyone who tried in any way to help people say yes, you made a difference!
  
  
• Marriage is between a man and a woman. If two men want to be together, they have that right, but I think it should be called something else, like garriage. That would make more sense.
  
  You know, Giving the designation of marriage to two guys or two women takes away from what marriage means to me, and what it always meant to me. It has always meant a man and a woman. Why change that? Why do we keep needing to redefine our dictionaries? Is nothing constant anymore??
  
  
• Yes on Prop. 8. From a secular point of view, gay marriage has an impact on straight marriage, which of course is a bedrock traditional institution. There is a good reason why American society is built around the traditional heterosexual home. As a societal stabilizer, it deserves a special place in our national life. Homosexuality is an action, an alternative. But the U.S. is under no obligation to change the traditional legal definition of marriage so everybody can feel good about themselves.

You'd think homosexuality is something Ellen DeGeneres invented in 1997, or that it destroys nations. The only reason it causes any harm is the hateful and unethical actions of those who are scared or disgusted by gay marriage.

You might also think that America is God's country. America is everyone's country. It is not a Christian nation but a nation of people, justice, and peace. Prop 8 goes against all of those things.

Someone on another discussion board said this, which sums it up nicely: "It's a problem because a state "marriage" isn't supposed to be a Christian "marriage." This bill is erasing that distinction. It is government regulation of marriage."

By allowing homosexuals to marry, we will discard divisive, antiquated religious dogma from our laws. In doing so, the United States will take yet another step toward democratic, ethical, progressive, patriotic, intelligent application of the founding principles of the nation. Proposition 8 is un-American.

Here is a lot of information about Proposition 8.

What is freedom? Everyone can do anything they want as long as their actions do not interfere with the rights of another.

It's not being mean, really. It's more of a celebration of further confirmation of Sarah Palin's vast inadequacy. There's no way a person like this should ever be considered for vice president, let alone the PTA. Sure, she can speak well to a crowd of her fans if she sticks to talking points and reads from a teleprompter. But all the evidence of the last two months proves her Bushlike political savvy and intellect.

As if all the blunders we've witnessed since her arrival weren't enough to convince anyone that Palin is politically inept, there are a few new secrets. It looks like she didn't know Africa was a continent. Well, to be fair, she couldn't see it from her house.

She couldn't name the three nations in NAFTA. Read that again.

To be fair, these two new allegations cannot be proven. Maybe she isn't that uneducated and/or stupid. But for everyone who knew she wasn't qualified for vice president, it's fun to consider. But, again, even without this new information, there was and is plenty to laugh about. And cry.

Now Republican lawyers are retrieving the $150,000 worth of designer clothes she bought during the campaign.

Republican bosses also complained that Mrs Palin and her family spent even more on new clothes and shoes than previously reported.

One McCain aide described the Palin family shopping spree in some of America's most exclusive department stores as 'Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast.'

According to Newsweek magazine, a party donor who agreed to foot the clothes bill was expecting to pay out up to £15,000.

He was stunned when he received the bill for nearly £100,000. And that wasn't even the whole tab, it was revealed yesterday.

Mrs Palin also allegedly leaned on some of her low-level handlers to put thousands of pounds worth of additional purchases on their personal credit cards.

Aides claimed a Republican Party lawyer is now being dispatched to Alaska to inventory the clothes and retrieve any still in the governor's possession.

Sorry, Sarah, the world just can't afford to take a chance on you.

Here's more info from Newsweek regarding Palin's ridiculousness.

This is what the US electoral map would look like if only young people voted. Take that as you will.

Lindsey and I shot handguns for the first time in our lives last weekend. She surprised me with her accuracy, hitting the target every time. She was shooting a Glock 9mm.

I did quite well, too.

Should have moved the target farther back. This is about eight yards.

This was a 9mm, but I loved the .45. A compact .45 is probably what I'll use for my concealed carry.

Diane Arbus is one of those photographers who inspires me. I could take photos like hers. The problem? Insufficient balls.

Here is one of my favorites, Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City (1962).

Why is it so good? Any number of reasons depending on the viewer. I like it for the light, the suspenders, and the grenade in combination with just about everything else on the boy. I'm sure all sorts of sophisticated political commentary can be tapped from the photo, too.

Contact sheet for this photo session:

Her most famous photos are of people on the social fringes. By capturing such people in their daily lives, Arbus normalized the marginalized, tried to show how close we all are to the edges. Or, at least, that's what I think. Here're some of her photos.

I wish I weren't so socially inept. My life feels truncated by my phobia. Another reason why I enjoy Diane Arbus.

Britches to nowhere.

An archipelago between seasons,
I've learned the vernacular of clams
and gulls but fish remain inaudible.
In the salty sweet morning smear
of the coast, I wake the sand.
Dog prints in beach dust.

Pollution, natural and manmade,
clogs my toes.
Through cold pools, still sleepy,
I slink then wade.
Scaring baby rays that look like brown spades,
I scream then laugh.

The tide ruffles the pink surface of saltwater,
sparks gold, a sun winking.
My nipples squeeze when wet.
Armpits drink bobbing soda,
and I remember that I can't swim.
The lemon sun pokes my face some more
but my toes turn, gripping shore.

To be an island.

Millions of historic LIFE images are now hosted by Google.

Circa 20th century. Give or take a lifetime.

Until recently I considered myself a ruralist. By that I mean that cow fields and mountain trails were preferred to cityscapes and crowds. I've changed my position about such things not because my people phobia has lessened but because I've realized the advantages of city life. For example, I would love to see "Sander's Children", a photography exhibit in New York City. August Sander was a photographer in the early twentieth century who focused primarily on people in natural settings.

Forester's child, Westerwald. 1931

The exhibition "Sander's Children" looks at the significant, lasting, and acknowledged influence August Sander has had on many photographers. Most active from the early 1900s through the 1920s, Sander's cool, objective style of portraiture anticipated work ranging from Irving Penn's "Small Trades" series to Richard Avedon's outdoor portraits and has continued to influence photographers to this day.

Lots of other great photographers' work, which bear the marks of Sander's influence, will be shown.

Richard Avedon
Bob Dylan. New York City. 1965

The Sartorialist
6 pictures taken between March and November 2008

More of Sander's spectacular portraits may be viewed here.

Hot dog.

If anyone would like to get me something:

• old wooden boxes
• 10 IQ points
• canvases
• banjo
• domesticated seagull
• speedlite
• any of these books
• any books
• pizza
• bagpipes
• hug
• subscription(s) to photo magazine(s)
• something illegal just for giggles
• moleskines
• cool hat
• one of those bug in amber deals