Current Events

Anti-Women’s Suffrage Buttons

Under the heading of “HOLY CRAP!” :Check out the price on this eBay auction. Now I know that women’s right to vote memorabilia does go for a lot of money, in general, but I’ve never seen anything like this.

UPDATE: since the item is no longer there, more info: the object was a simple lapel button from the early 1900s, and it was an anti-women’s suffrage button. The auction price was over $3,000. Part of this was because some universities were attempting to purchase it for their historical archives.

It’s sort of shocking to read some of the anti-women’s suffrage materials; try to check them out on eBay or on the internet. It’s tough to remember there was a time with this sort of thing was said out loud by people in public.

But when you think about it in the context of today’s issues, specifically gay rights, you start to recognize the same sort of bigotry. I tried to collect some of these items and managed to get a few postcards, but the cost of them is so high on eBay that they were tough to collect.

Continue ReadingAnti-Women’s Suffrage Buttons

Relationships and the Importance of Gay Marriage

This article in the New York Times, in a nutshell, explains what I’ve been saying for 15 years about why it is important for gay and lesbian people to be allowed to get married.

“Marriage, for instance, isn’t just about the relationship of two people. Other people have to recognize the couple as a couple. What it means to be married is that other people treat you like you’re married,” Professor Chwe says, noting that two people who never see each other may still be regarded by others as married. (Conversely, two people who consider themselves a couple may be denied recognition by others.)

The need for common knowledge means a wedding is more than the exchange of vows by two individuals. “When you go to a wedding, it’s not just about you seeing the two people getting married. It’s also very important that you know that other people know,” Professor Chwe says. That’s why the vows themselves matter less than the ceremony.

“You might have a New Age reading or you can have a very traditional Catholic wedding. But having everyone being together in a wedding is extremely important, regardless of what is said,” Professor Chwe notes. “You’d never have a wedding by just sending a fax to everybody.”

Continue ReadingRelationships and the Importance of Gay Marriage

enough rainbows!

I have to say, even though it’s probably politically incorrect, that I’m really sick of rainbow crap. I certainly don’t want to hide the fact that I’m gay. But I don’t think I need tacky tchotckes and knick-nacks anymore to let everyone know that I am. I still have my first March on Washington t-shirt from 1987 and it has rainbows on it. So I’ve been wearing the stupid things for 15 years now. And I’m saying enough!

Weezy is upset

Rarity vewy sad

(2014 Spoiler alert: I got over it. But in my defense, there were rainbows on EVERYTHING in 2000-2005. It was a little much. Thankfully everyone’s pulled back a bit.)

Continue Readingenough rainbows!

A variety of fun links to check out

Google Technology run by pidgeons.
Bin Laden arrested in New Delhi, India. (Psych! not true.)
Dalnet to sell Bahamut ircd to Microsoft.
AOL buying up the most popular weblogs. Can’t be true–they haven’t contact me yet. 🙂
BBSpot — now part of the MSN network of sites.
Thinkgeek has the new “Wheatonix” software platform for sale, and also, Boba Fett’s original Helmet.

Continue ReadingA variety of fun links to check out