The Buck and Mike Blog

I found this op-ed from the New York Times to be the most erudite statement I have read recently about how marriage equality has reached its tipping point in the United States. I have reprinted the full piece here, including Rich’s internal links. I would be interested in the opinions of others on the piece and its contents.

The Bigots’ Last Hurrah

By FRANK RICH
WHAT would happen if you crossed that creepy 1960s horror classic “The Village of the Damned” with the Broadway staple “A Chorus Line”? You don’t need to use your imagination. It’s there waiting for you on YouTube under the title “Gathering Storm”: a 60-second ad presenting homosexuality as a national threat second only to terrorism.

The actors are supposedly Not Gay. They stand in choral formation before a backdrop of menacing clouds and cheesy lightning effects. “The winds are strong,” says a white man to the accompaniment of ominous music. “And I am afraid,” a young black woman chimes in. “Those advocates want to change the way I live,” says a white woman. But just when all seems lost, the sun breaks through and a smiling black man announces that “a rainbow coalition” is “coming together in love” to save America from the apocalypse of same-sex marriage. It’s the swiftest rescue of Western civilization since the heyday of the ambiguously gay duo Batman and Robin.

» Read the rest of this entry »

Gathering Storm, same-sex marriage

By now, you’ve probably heard of Susan Boyle, the Scottish woman who is the latest Youtube sensation.

Like many people, I can’t help watching the Youtube clip over and over. Susan Boyle surprised the audience and judges of “Britain’s Got Talent” by singing a beautiful rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables. Susan is now 48 years old. She’s rather plain in appearance, to put it mildly. As you watch the clip, you’ll see the audience greet her with jeers and derisive laughter. Then she opens her mouth and sings, and everything changes. » Read the rest of this entry »

Susan Boyle, Britain’s Got Talent, I Dreamed A Dream, Les Miserables

It’s time for the Republican Members of Congress to stop holding our economy hostage. When he was elected, President Obama promised to act quickly to get the economy back on its feet. He has kept that promise, but it is a constant fight with the GOP. Yes, there needs to be discussion and debate on the issues. But when the Republicans vote along straight party lines on all legislation, there is something clearly lacking in their vision. Actually, come to think of it, what exactly is their vision? Sit tight and let the rich get richer while unemployment soars? (Unemployment in Oregon, where we live, is 12.8%. We are part of that sad statistic.) Perhaps they have forgotten that they work for us, at will, and can be fired at the next election. We did, after all, elect Obama to do a job.

It reminds me of the most disfunctional presidential team in history, also Republican. Disgraced president Richard Nixon’s vice president Spiro T. Agnew (who resigned and was convicted on bribery charges) called the press “Nattering nabobs of negativism.” Ironically, is sounds like a description of Congressional Republicans today.

Republican Members of Congress, Obama, Unemployment in Oregon, Spiro T. Agnew

I read this wonderful column in the New York Times today called “The Limits of Tolerance,” written by Randy Cohen.

We all arrive at our personal ethics through a framework or lens. Ethics themselves seem as though they should be clear-cut, but how we see right and wrong inevitably gets shaded somewhat. » Read the rest of this entry »

In a project that seems right out of “Project Runway,” Nashville singer Britt Savage put IRS tax forms to the best use I’ve seen. Her dress—the first garment she has ever made—was fitted over a dress form made by her husband by covering her body with duct tape. (Is there anything that duct tape can’t do? No!) It is entirely constructed of paper, glue, and tape. (Click the picture to see enlarged details.)

This creative and imaginative singer loves all kinds of music and has performed with Punk bands at CBGB’s, Soul bands at The Apollo, Country bands at The Grand Ole Opry, and soloed with Nashville Opera. Now she can add Fashion Designer to her credits.

In the 3Rs world of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Britt is this week’s winner.

Update!

Britt is auctioning the dress and offering 100% of the proceeds to Heifer International, whose mission it is to end hunger and poverty in the world. (Fittingly, buying the Tax Form Dress may give you a charity tax deduction.) Bid on it here! A worthy cause and a good reward for a great effort.

Project Runway, Britt Savage, IRS, Reduce Reuse Recycle

We have an important update to Buckley’s earlier blog about Vermont. The Associated Press reports that “Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.”

I guess the “new ears” line doesn’t make sense unless you’d seen my character Ferd on Toonlet.com before. Up until this comic, he had no ears. I assure you, the real Mike has always had ears.

Remember me? It’s Mike. I’ve barely blogged here in the last year, but I hope to start making up for that in the coming weeks.

Right now, I’m unemployed. At first it was by choice. I left the World Bank in Washington, DC, because Buck and I wanted to live nearer our families, so we moved to Portland, Oregon. At least we’re on the same side of the Rockies as our families.

Lately, the boredom of unemployment, not to mention the lack of an income, is getting hard to take. Cheer me on, folks! I need your good vibes. Yes, I’m signed up with a temp agency, as well as CareerBuilder and Monster.com and several other job sites. I scour Craigslist. I apply for several jobs a day. So far, with unemployment locally hovering around 11%, I haven’t had any luck.

Here’s the Web site I put up for potential employers. It has my résumé, some beautiful testimonials from former colleagues, and some other stuff. If you know of an employer in Portland who would like an experienced administrative assistant on their staff, please let them know about me.

World Bank, unemployment, résumé, Portland

In a unanimous decision issued this morning, the Iowa Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The court ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to full marriage equality was unjustified and not in keeping with the state’s constitutional guarantees of equality.

Today Iowa becomes the third state, after Massachusetts and Connecticut, to extend the responsibilities and benefits of marriage to everyone.

“We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification.” —Justice Cady, from the text of the Iowa Supreme Court decision

The Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Speaker Pat Murphy issued a joint statement on this historic event.

Further reading:

• The full text of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling
• New York Times article: Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional
• CNN: New Hampshire House OKs same-sex marriage

Iowa has confirmed today that it really is the “Heartland of America.”

Iowa Supreme Court, same-sex marriage, marriage equality

One-hundred twenty years old on March 31, and Gustave Eiffel’s creation is younger and sexier than ever. I’ve visited Paris several times and every time I see the Eiffel Tower my heart skips a beat. It is beautiful, powerful, iconic, elegant, romantic, and unique in all the world. Paris is the most beautiful city I have ever visited—by far—and deserves to be the steward for this incredible treasure. As the video below shows, the Parisians get it. (Hint: Remember to turn up your speakers.)

Gustave Eiffel, Paris