June 30, 2005
Dear Kansas School Board,
Finally, a researched-based, fact-filled, logical theory of earth's beginnings that I can support.
June 14, 2005
Look Ma - No Balance!
After getting the DC trip reimbursement from work (pictures of said trip coming soon), I paid off the remainder of my VISA bill. Since taking a paycut in my new job, I have managed to pay off both my Shell card and VISA card. Go figure!
Damn it feels good to be credit-card-debt-free!
June 13, 2005
The Point of Pride?
This weekend was the conclusion of Austin's Week O' Pride. Chase and I went to the grand finale (and only event): the Pride Festival...a gay-themed, small county fair...without the ferris wheel and bumper cars. For a $7 entry fee, you get a classy green wristband advertising sexual lubricant. Just beyond the entrance, dozens of militant, clipboard-wielding lesbians pounce on you, demanding your support for causes for which signatures on clipboards will do no good.
End Don't Ask, Don't Tell! Keep A Woman's Right To Choose! Support Gay
Marriage!
Don't offer to come back later or sign up online, because they only desire your John Hancock on the clipboard. Perhaps a reminder that they're volunteers and not commission-based salespeople would have prevented some of the dirty looks I received for declining. If that wasn't annoying enough, there were dozens of other roamers giving out fliers, pamphlets and leaflets advertising churches, student groups, and polical lobbyists. If I'm going to get all these handouts, at least give me a bag to hold them all. It's as bad as a Microsoft conference. As we mosied around the boothes, I entered "avoid clipboards" mode. I really shouldn't have to feel this assaulted at my own damn festival. If I pay an additional $7, can I get a red wristband that means "leave me the fuck alone"???
On the upside, I ran into a few friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Anant was there with Paul. The four of us teamed up for the duration of the festival. We also ran into Mike, a friend and co-worker. He sat in his church's booth, answering questions about the church and selling wares. One quality Mike possesses is the ability to listen to just about anyone talk about anything. Whenever an eager "salesman" butted in to our conversation to tell us about his church/organization/protest opportunity, Mike engaged him about his activity and cheerfully took a pamphlet. Sometimes, I think that is a quality that would serve me well to emulate.
After a couple of hours, we left. I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond to purchase a few items. During checkout, my cashier glared at me a number of times. I couldn't figure out why until I returned to my car - I had handed him the merchandise and my debit card with the hand that still had that wonderful green sex lubricant advertisement (aka the wristband) attached to it. Eh, what are you going to do?
Unless it improves, this was my last pride festival. I'll still go to the parades. However, I refuse to pay $7 to see a couple of friends while getting harassed by militant activists as I shop through the meager variety of boothes in the extreme heat. For $7, I can see the same friends at Mozarts and treat them to a smoothie before heading out to the other hundred or so festivals held in Austin each year (most with a wider breadth of boothes!).
So what is the point of pride activities in the 21st Century? It's not to increase awareness or visibility. Everyone in this country knows that gay people exist. It's not to gain more rights (contrary to the clipboards!). If gaining rights is the point, then we are going about it all wrong. Maybe it's to come together and have a good time? Again, if that's the case, then more and better activities are needed at the festival. The organizers need to define the purpose of the festival and then go balls-to-the-wall in making it the most kick ass pride festival in Texas.
I want to come back, but for now..."Good bye pride festival - it was nice knowin' ya."
June 07, 2005
The Adventures of ... Action Item!!!
I sometimes feel like this in meetings.