And She Was...

There are a tonne of reminder posts about voting on my f'list these days. I've read them all. I think also_huey's post was particularly interesting. Huey (who is fabulous, by the way) also pointed me at this.

I'll vote. Probably late in the morning, but we'll see. I spent quite a bit of time checking out and deciding on the ballot amendments, especially on Vote Smart, Florida's website.

In other, less exciting news about life, we went to the local Ren Faire over the weekend and were very disappointed. We'll probably check out some of the other ones in the next few months. We'll skip Sarasota, because it's this weekend and next weekend...this is our only free weekend until December, and the following weekend is Pirate Festival. But, we'll check out Gainsville and probably Tampa. We're both looking forward to the Pirate Fair...a little bit of a change from Ren Faires.

We're going to be on Long Island (at Mom and Dad's) for Thanksgiving-we arrive Tuesday, and come back Monday. We haven't decided on any visitation plans yet, but we might try and do a whirlwind Jersey Tour on Saturday or Sunday if anyone wants to see us.

I need to shop for some clothes, and I need new shoes for Canada-my sister in law had serious admonishments over my choice of Doc Maartens in the snow last year. She complains they have no traction. I trust her, after the slipping and sliding I did, and am considering a different pair of shoes. I probably need new jeans too-it's hard to say when I don't wear them very often.

I think I cast on the same knitting project about fifteen times, and the casting on is fine, but I'm going nuts trying to count stitches and I can't find any stitch markers. I have some yarn I bought over the weekend that turns out to be too lightweight for the project I'd planned it for, so I'll exchange the three skeins I haven't wound for something bulkier, and pick up some more stitch markers. I'll keep the stuff I wound and toss it into the scrap yarn project-knitted patches done in a basketweave and a cable pattern (note to self, buy cable needle as well) and probably crocheted granny squares. Not necessarily turned into the same afghan, but we'll see, as I complete things.

I am a little bit looking forward to cool weather that we'll get in New York and in Canada. I enjoy the little bits of it that we get when we visit. I'm looking forward to more house -organizing, like acquiring bookshelves, and proper storage for craft things. And other stuff.

Eh, it's life. It keeps happening.

And, if you're interested in US politics, what's your favorite source for information about candidate and ballot initiatives?

Besides the fact that they thought it was a good idea to elect Katherine Harris, who played a significant role in the debacle that was the 2000 presidential election...

Today was primary day. So I went and voted. But of course, the airwaves have been filled with political ads leading up to today's primary.

Republican candidate 1 has an ad that attacks Republican candidate 2. Republican candidate 1's ad includes "Sorry, Charlie, only Jeb Bush conservatives get to be president." Republican candidate 2's ad includes "pro-life, Ronald Reagan republican you can trust."

Blech.

Ann Coulter opens her mouth again, and spews stupid...and I'm not talking about her latest comment about the 9/11 widows...

"A footnote on Page 3 of the book reads: "Throughout this book, I often refer to Christians and Christianity because I am a Christian and I have a fairly good idea of what they believe, but the term is intended to include anyone who subscribes to the Bible of the God of Abraham, including Jews and others.""

(And please read the comments; some of them are very much worth it)

Indiana's attempts to regulate assisted reproduction in ways that would effectively eliminate single people and same sex couples from becoming parents. It would require things like includes the fertility history of the parents, education and employment information, personality descriptions, verification of marital status, child-care plans and criminal background checks. Getting an approval certifiate would also require a description of the "family lifestyle of the intended parents," and don't forget the part about participation in faith-based activities.

(ETA: The orignial sponsor has withdrawn it...but that still doesn't explain how it got out of committee in the first place.)

NBC reported that Vanity Fair has released a press release naming Deep Throat...

Mark Felt, second in command at the FBI at the time.

All of this remains, of course, unconfirmed.

I'm so happy, I'm crying.

Same-Sex Couples Must Be Allowed To Marry In New York, Court Rules; Lambda Legal Says Decision Is ‘Historic, Well Reasoned and Fair’
Lambda Legal brought the case under the state Constitution, saying gay New Yorkers weren’t being treated equally under the law because they couldn’t marry

( Article from Lambda Legal here. )

A link to a PDF of the actual decision is also available at http://www.lambdalegal.com

Via Daily Kos...

I know that many of my readers are residents of Virginia, or know people who reside there.
I know that many of you care about womens health, and reproductive rights.

Live in Virginia, Have a miscarriage, go to jail?

I'm no longer a resident of Virginia, but you can bet your buns that I'd be all over this if I were still there.

(I don't think I have an appropriately angry icon for this post.)