Pretend Uncle

On the way in this morning I heard Keb' Mo's Prosperity Blues on the radio, making me think of Nikki and Tony. At the office Nikki caught me in the hall. Talked for a minute and she mentioned that they might need me to watch the girls in two weeks when Keb' Mo' is here. Said that would be fine—I have no life.

Got to my desk and found the Charley art Nikki had left. Apparently Charley really liked it because it involved water color, stamps, and writing. So adorable. Made me think of a moment I had Saturday.

Was in Target going through automotive when I saw this very attractive father watching over his daughter in a stroller while listening to his four-year-old son prattle on about something. As I passed he looked down and asked, “Was there anything else you wanted to see?” He had that perfectly earnest facial expression that little boys do so well when he responded, “Oh yes.” then guided Dad back to the toy area.

I was a whirling maelstrom of emotion at that point. Totally turned on by the Dad. Thought the kids were adorable. Then Michael things from the past assault. What a mess! So glad that I live alone. I didn't talk to anyone the rest of the weekend except for Rob when I was stuck on some coding Sunday night.

So unimpressed with my life.

Men with Guns; Morality

Presidential candidate Brownback: Homosexual acts are immoral
POSTED: 8:46 a.m. EDT, March 16, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback is backing the nation's top general over his remarks that homosexual acts are immoral.

The Kansas senator planned to send a letter on Thursday to President Bush supporting Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who earlier this week likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs also said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune: "I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way."

'Unfair and unfortunate'

Lawmakers of both parties criticized the remarks, but Brownback's letter called the criticism "both unfair and unfortunate."

"We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues," Brownback said. "In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views."

Asked whether he agreed with Pace's comments, Brownback said: "I do not believe being a homosexual is immoral, but I do believe homosexual acts are. I'm a Catholic and the church has clear teachings on this."

Clinton: It's for 'others to conclude'

Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama initially tried to sidestep the issue when asked about it this week, but both sought to clarify their opposition to Pace's comments on Thursday. (Read how Clinton later said she "does not share [Pace's] view, plain and simple")

Obama did not directly answer on Wednesday when asked if same-sex relationships were immoral, Newsday reported. Obama issued a statement on Thursday, saying, "I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years."

Clinton told ABC News Wednesday that it's for "others to conclude" whether homosexuality is immoral. On Thursday, she put out a statement saying that she'd heard from gay friends who said her answer sounded evasive.

"I should have echoed my colleague Senator John Warner's statement forcefully stating that homosexuality is not immoral because that is what I believe," her statement said.

Meanwhile, Democratic hopeful Bill Richardson called Pace's remarks "unfortunate" and said the Bush administration should reject them, adding that he would push Congress to repeal military's "don't ask, don't tell policy" in which gay service members are required to keep their sexual orientation private.

"People should not be judged based on their sexual orientation," the New Mexico Governor said in Santa Fe. "Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind."

Brownback: 'We applaud Gen. Pace'

While there is no indication that Pace's job is in jeopardy, Brownback's letter to Bush said "personal moral beliefs" should not disqualify anyone from a position of leadership in the U.S. military.

"General Pace's recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have received," the letter said. "In fact, we applaud General Pace for maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles."

Pace said he supports "don't ask, don't tell," something Brownback said is "an appropriate policy."

Brownback, a favorite of the religious right, has been a prominent opponent of gay marriage.

Brownback spokesman Brian Hart said the senator was working Thursday to get other lawmakers to sign his letter. Hart said Brownback's office would not disclose who has signed on to the letter until there is "a final count."

On his campaign bus in Iowa on Thursday, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, declined to comment when asked whether he agreed with Gen. Peter Pace's comment that homosexuality was immoral. He said he still backs the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "It's working."

Another Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been criticized for changing his views on gay rights to conform with conservative views, said he thought Pace's comments were "inappropriate for public discourse."

"He can believe what he wants to, that's the great thing about America -- believe in what you want. But in a governmental setting, the right way to go is to show more of an outpouring of tolerance," Romney said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

He said he didn't think the "don't ask, don't tell policy" made a lot of sense, but added he wouldn't change it now.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

I found Brownback's stance annoying—splitting hairs of hatred. I suppose it espouses the Christian “Love the sinner, hate the sin” ethos but it's still hate.

I think it's dangerous when someone with that much responsibility (power) feels this way amidst all the “don't ask, don't tell” undercurrent. But at least he said something to create the forum. If everyone hid their hate like Romney suggests, things would never get better.

Besides… how does morality comes into the chain of command? Are orders supposed to originate from moral views? Sounds scary to me. Guess I'm pretty naïve.

Morale

Company ran a contest where if you read some new product hype you were entered into a drawing. Winner received a Porche for a day to ride around in. It was only available to employees in the Baltimore area but the whole company got to hear about the winner today. Bastards.

I respec'd away from Disc to Holy-heavy and was pretty pleased with the results in Karazhan. Until the fucking Maiden, anyway. One-shotted Attumen and Moroes, but we called it a night after five wipes on the Holy bitch. Really hate that encounter. Managed to pick up the Soulcloth Robe pattern so I can now make the set. Still need to finish my Scryer rep.

• How my achievements mock me!
  William Shakespeare

Retraction

Yesterday was the warmest March 13th in the recorded history of the Twin Cities. To celebrate I wore shorts today, only to find out there's snow expected by the afternoon. Perfect!

• We do what we must, and call it by the best names.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Engage?

Funny how I see a blurb about Star Trek 11 almost two weeks ago yet the friend that mentions it first is still AdamB.¹ I haven't bothered bring it up because of how depressing the last two were. Sure I'll go opening night like I have for the last 10, but I don't get worked up about them anymore. Wish they'd stop fucking with the goldmine.

• Anything not worth doing is worth not doing well. Think about it.
  Elias Schwartz

---

1. Still wish he would marry me.

Attack of the DVDs

Around Christmas time Buy.com had some really good deals and I randomly bought the first three seasons of Smallville for $12 each. Started watching them mid-February. Unfortunately I went through them so fast I didn't have time to order four and five before finishing three. The cliff-hanger left many things open—so mean. Arriving in the middle of last week, I immediately ripped open four to watch the first disc. Cancel code blue… I'm stabilized.

Surprised at how much I like the series. They introduce Superman's powers slowly, all as puberty-based problems to deal with. There are constant references to the comic series that are cheesy but fun. They depict Jor-el as an antagonistic father figure, reaching out from beyond the grave to control Clark.¹ The meteor rocks create all sorts of wacky powers and mutations. They worked in cameos by Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder² that I thought were very well done. And… Bo Duke is Superman's earthly father—too kewl!!

Have to admit that Thomas John Patrick Welling has special appeal.³ There are a number of times he captures the wholesome innocence that Reeve did so well. Plus… well, he is fucking hot. Plenty of torso things have been keeping my eyes on the screen. The first episode of the fourth season had extra skin, too. Can't believe he's going to be thirty in a few weeks.

Welling body shots aside, season four is looking good. Introduced Lois Lane and kept Chloe jealous. Lana Lang is back from France with a super-powered possession and a lover working a teacher at her High School. The Luthers are working the psycho as always. Wonder if they'll add another token black character after booting Pete.

Will be a while before I find out. While waiting for the shipments, I started up Buffy. Finished season three last night. Thinking I will go through six this week. I also went a little crazy at the Target sale this weekend. Bought seasons one and three⁴ of That Seventies Show, the complete Firefly, and seasons one and two of Will & Grace. I'm insane.

• You don't tug on Superman's cape
  You don't spit into the wind
  You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
  And you don't mess around with Jim
  Jim Croce, You Don't Mess Around With Jim

---

1. Could there have been a better voice for Jor-el than Malcolm McDowell?!?! I think not!!
2. Damn the drinking hit her hard. She looked like she'd been trampled by caribou then chewed on by rabid dogs.
3. I am not sure he's such a great actor. Doubt he'll ever make it past the Superman-as-a-boy type-casting.
4. They were out of season two but I'll get it for $18 sometime.

Adjust

Hate Daylight Savings time. My body was totally attuned to the declination and rotation and whatever. All last week I was up before the alarm… the first one into the office on my team. Then Sunday hits. Couldn't go to sleep the hour earlier. Managed to be in rather punctually but I'm grumpy. Sipping at my Tazo Green Ginger tea. Not looking forward to our daily status meeting that's minutes away…