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THE LEFT HAND COLUMN

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Hate Stamps
In May, Mexican President Vincente Fox riled many by saying Mexican migrants take jobs in the United States that “not even blacks” want.

“(The character is) so charming, so affectionate, so wonderful, generous and friendly.”(via msnbc.com)

Does the term "third-world nation" mean anything here? Although, I must admit, just because US racism is more subtle doesn't make it any less ugly.

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 30, 2005 09:30 | link | comments

Did I Forget Something?
Oh Yes:

Oh, Canada!
Canada approves same-sex marriage(via canada.com)

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 30, 2005 08:19 | link | comments

Viva El Spañia!
Spanish parliament legalizes gay marriage(via msnbc.com)
Bill also lets same-sex couples adopt children, inherit each others' property

“We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality.”

"We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives.”

Take THAT ultra-right wing, uber-conservative christian (little c, little c), hate-mongering demagogues. To paraphrase John Adams, progress travels westward. Let's keep it rolling!

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 30, 2005 07:51 | link | comments (1)

Rhonda, Rhonda Go Away...
Don't Come Back Another Day

She graduated from the same high school as I did. Brandon. That alone gives me the shudders. She belongs to the Katherine Harris School of Cosmetology and Hair Design--that's pre-Senate makeover. Her opinions are shrill, biased and filled with every phobia you've come to expect from the woman who said she never "want's to have to explain to [her] daughter what it means to question her sexuality."

It almost appears as though Storms is laying a track on which to shove her caboose into major political office (see Katherine Harris School of Senate Makeover Success). Which is sad, because Rhonda Storms is just another surfer riding the crest of uber- conservative hate-mongering now threatening to engulf the country. Don't think so? Take a look at this today in the Tampa Trib, complements of Daniel Ruth:

"...in the full flurry of her faux fulminating, Storms somehow arrived at the demagogic conclusion that merely acknowledging June as Gay Pride Month put county government in the position of ``promoting'' homosexuality.

"Oddly the county has approved a ``Confederate Day,'' and nobody accused the board of ``promoting'' secession and/or slavery."

She's supposed to be a lawyer. What other kind of behavior have we come to expect from politician/attorneys? Fact is, being an attorney is almost de rigeur in government these days. It follows perfectly that I can't seem to find where she ever actually worked as one, a fighter for justice, that is. Maybe she has a resume out there somewhere.

Just waiting to be submitted for your approval...

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 29, 2005 09:31 | link | comments (1)

Columba Bush: Sightseeing On Our Dime Again(via tampatrib.com)

"On the trip, Florida's first lady led a delegation of Florida business and cultural representatives to participate in a ceremony showcasing Florida's art, music and economy at Expo 2005, the world exposition in Aichi, Japan. The next day, she departed for a six-day sightseeing and culture tour."

Did anyone make sure she paid import duties this time?

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 29, 2005 09:10 | link | comments

LGBT and Me

Got a packet in the mail today from Equality Florida. They want some money to contribute to "the biggest challenge Florida's LGBT and allied community has ever known." Let me get this out of the way: after the "Priceless" episode, there's nothing left, sorry.

And yet, I have questions. Why is my voice for equality stammering on the B of bisexual and the T of transgendered? I know, I know, we gay people are supposed to be ultra-tolerant, nice, and left-leaning. However, I don't see how being bisexual is a discrimination problem unless you're in a same-sex relationship. Hello? And transgendered persons? They have issues to deal with too complex to be reduced to a single letter in an acronym that aims to be all-inclusive. We, all of us, are fighting for rights others take for granted.

<

Read more...

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 28, 2005 17:32 | link | comments

Aruban Police Confess:

"Natalee Holloway is hiding in bushes of Aruba. She refuses to come out. We feel we are making significant progress in luring this American teen from her hiding place."

Film at 11.

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 28, 2005 16:12 | link | comments

Only a True Closet Case...

Tom wants Nicole at wedding
Tom Cruise wants Nicole Kidman at his wedding.

I don't get it. Tom thinks psychiatry is out there but he belongs to a "religion" founded by a science fiction writer. Hmmmm. What does scientology think about homosexuality, anyway, Mr. I've-Done-The-Research-And-You-Haven't-So-Nyah-Nyah-Nyah?

Just a question.

Someone wrote that it looks like Mr. Cruise is in the middle of his first manic phase in a bi-polar episode. I totally agree.

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 27, 2005 19:25 | link | comments

The Cost of Being Uninsured: Priceless

Cost of ER visit for suspected GI bleed: $1,234.44

Cost of pathology for blood work (read by computer): $103.00

Cost of pulse oximetry (ET finger thingy): $41.00

Cost of physician (who was cute but not that cute): $360.00

Total cost of confirming self-diagnosed GI bleed and providing no diagnostic testing whatsoever: $1,738.44.

Coming from a patient financial services background, always having had sufficient insurance/income to take care of myself, and knowing what I know about patient over-billing and the reduction of services provided in hospital ER's, I know the true cost of falling ill in America: Priceless.

Also, I am now in total sympathy with guys who have to have prostate exams: as soon as that doctor snaps on a glove and says, "bend over," the exam should be FREE!

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 27, 2005 08:17 | link | comments (1)

Drilling For Time(via tbo.com)

``With young men and women sacrificing their lives every day in Iraq, it would be unconscionable for us to not look into our own domestic energy supply to reduce our growing dependence on Mideast oil,'' [Sen. Mary, D-La.] Landrieu says.

Gosh, and I thought the war in Iraq had nothing to do with oil...

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 26, 2005 08:52 | link | comments

"Jane, you ignorant slut!"

Journalist Shana Alexander, model for the famous Saturday Night Live skit, dies of cancer at 79.

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 24, 2005 11:37 | link | comments

Speaking of Stealing:
Abramoff Loots American Indians Like Great White Fathers of Old

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 23, 2005 10:10 | link | comments

Time Magazine's Top 50 Websites

I have it on shaky authority, Bloggerel just missed the cut.

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 23, 2005 09:42 | link | comments

Was He Drunk? (or just stupid?)

Bernie Eccleston to Danica Patrick:(via cnn.com)
"Women should be all dressed in white like all other domestic appliances."

But wait, there's more...Regarding women in racing:

"What I would really like to see happen is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish."

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 23, 2005 09:27 | link | comments

WOW (details to follow from CNN)

BREAKING NEWS

U.S. Supreme Court rules local governments may seize homes and businesses for private economic development. Details soon.

*   *   *   *   *

Details.

"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random," [Justice Sandra] O'Connor wrote. "The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms."

Harrumph. What's new with that?

Posted by: Likes2mtnbike at June 23, 2005 09:02 | link | comments