California, thou art fail.

I can't believe this.

Looking for opinions...

Now that you have seen them, which ones shocked you most and why? Which ones made you laugh? Which ones "worked"?

On Domestic Partnerships....

As some of you may know, me and my fiancée are filing for a Domestic Partnership. Since California has decided that same sex couples are not aloud to marry and we don't condone that definition, we decided to get a Civil Union. Well, after several e-mails back and forth with the County Clerk:


Me: November 23, 2008

Me and my fiancée were looking at the San Francisco website and
found no place to apply for an opposite sex civil union.

We were hoping to find the forms or the process we need to go through.

I realize this may not be the right department to go to, but if you could
pass it along to the right one we would be most appreciative.

County Clerk: November 24, 2008

Hello,

In California, we do not have civil unions.

For opposite sex couples, we have marriage. If you would like to get
married, please make your marriage license appointment and civil ceremony
appointment through our online reservation systems.

https://services.sfgov.org/clkmarlic/start.asp?ID=GBURGZQAXEHRYAHGFTULHQPSMCGQSRWUKBYQDUOZWCMFOCFUJA

https://services.sfgov.org/ceremony/start.asp?ID=VUZWQEKRSDVYHIGXZGWCMKUORRYCGIVDVXPWZTJLBPGPRLMURH


You may also call 311 for additional assistance. From San Francisco, dial
311 (Voice/TTY) toll free. From outside San Francisco, dial (415) 701-2311
(Voice/TTY). TTY direct (415) 701-2323. Or you may visit their website at
www.sfgov.org/311

PLEASE NOTE: County Clerk Fee Increases Effective August 15, 2008
http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_page.asp?id=5555

Me: November 24, 2008

You don't have an alternative for those looking to register their coupling with the state without having a theology imposed upon them?

Marriage implies a religion and we feel that the state has no right to establish any religion. There's no way to have a secular union in the state of California?

Sincerely,
Dylan Cassard

County Clerk's office: November 24, 2008

Due the unusually high volume of messages to the County Clerk email box, we
cannot respond to your inquiry at this time. Answers to the majority of
inquiries can be found on the City's main webpage at www.sfgov.org.

Visit the County Clerk homepage at www.sfgov.org/countyclerk for questions
regarding marriage license requirements, marriage ceremonies, fictitious
business name statements, notary oaths, authentication of notary
signatures, professional registrations, and all other non-judicial legal
filings.

Visit sfgov.org/courts for answers to questions regarding divorce, traffic
citations, case files, docket numbers, and jury duty.

Visit sfgov.org/dph for answers to questions regarding birth and death
certificates.

Visit sfgov.org/assessor for answers to questions regarding property
records and certified copies of public marriage certificates.

Visit sfgov.org/treasurer for answers to questions regarding business tax
registration.

County Clerk: November 25, 2008

Hello,

Three things must happen for you to be legally married in California.

1. Unmarried male and unmarried female must purchase a California
marriage license,
2. A ceremony (religious or civil) must take place in California within
90 days of purchasing the marriage license, and
3. The ceremony must be performed by authorized person.

A civil ceremony implies no religion. In California, we have marriage, not
civil unions.

You may also call 311 for additional assistance. From San Francisco, dial
311 (Voice/TTY) toll free. From outside San Francisco, dial (415) 701-2311
(Voice/TTY). TTY direct (415) 701-2323. Or you may visit their website at
www.sfgov.org/311

PLEASE NOTE: County Clerk Fee Increases Effective August 15, 2008
http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_page.asp?id=5555

We seem to be at a speed bump. I can only assume it is because I kept saying "civil union" and not "domestic partnership" because it seems like it would have been the County Clerk's duty to inform us of San Francisco Administrative Code CHAPTER 62 SEC. 62.1 on DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

SEC. 62.1. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this ordinance is to create a way to recognize intimate committed relationships, including those of same-sex couples who otherwise may be denied the right to marry under California law, and to afford to domestic partners, to the fullest extent legally possible, the same rights, benefits, responsibilities, obligations, and duties as spouses. All costs of registration must be covered by fees to be established by ordinance.

If they make an expressed point to state "same-sex couples" seems that opposite sex couples are entitled to them as well.If this is the case, we're doing all the research we can to see exactly what we are entitled to as domestic partners.


Interestingly enough, our partnership would be recognized by Oakland, Berkley, Ann Arbor all of Oregon, Washington and Washington D.C.

~~~~~~~~~~~EDIT~~~~~~~~~~~~

County Clerk: December 8, 2008

Hello,



California Domestic Partnership Program is administered by the Secretary of
State and not our office. Your email did not provide enough details to
determine your eligibility for SRDP.



If you are an opposite sex couple and you are applying for a marriage
license and have a ceremony performed, you will be legally married.



San Francisco Domestic Partnership Registration is available to any couple
regardless of gender or age. This is a local program and may or may not be
recognized by the State or any other jurisdiction.

I really don't think they even read these e-mails.

Opposite Sex Civil Unions

Proposition 8 has passed in California, taking away the rights for same sex couples to marry. I cannot believe this has happened. It boggles my mind that something so utterly unconstitutional has been allowed on a ballot. And what reasons do they have for not letting gay couples marry?

“Our children will learn that being gay is okay IN SCHOOL!”

Big shock, I learned that in school before they had the right to marry.

“Every child is entitled to a father and a mother.”

I guess you’re going to ban single mothers and fathers. Hold a lottery and require them all to get married to random strangers?

“It’s not right to teach someone so young about homosexuality. Wait until after sex ed.”

Heterosexual marriage is fine to teach children when their babies. We’ll teach that to them till the cows come home.

Also, please keep in mind, “homosexuality” is NOT about sex, it’s about love.



Gender is NOT essential to the family. It’s sexist to believe that a woman cannot do a man’s job and vise versa. You are entitled to that opinion, but you don’t get to make laws that take away someone’s rights. And you will allow Joan to get married, but no other same sex couple? Why just your lesbian neighbor? What makes her so special? I have to meet this woman.



So… by this logic, we need to ban black people from marrying black people and white people from marrying white people.

And where is this evidence? Where is this research that shows the damage done to children raised by same sex couples? Is it all the hatred and harassment the child suffers in school because all the other children make fun of them?



I have plenty of friends that have two gay pets, and even one of the Pandas at the Thai zoo is gay. It occurs “in nature” too.

Another major issue seems to be that homosexuality will be taught in “in every class.” I don’t think there will be many repercussions in the classroom setting except for word problems looking like this:

“John is going to meet Peter for their date at 6:30. It takes John twelve minutes to get ready and six minutes to get to Peter’s house, how early will he be?”

All of these things are based on the “horrible atrocities” that happened to Massachusetts after gay marriage was legalized. And apparently, lightning came down from the sky and burned away the entire population as well:


I’ve been wracking my brain over this whole situation for a while, and I have a solution.

Once again, the Nation has got the cart before the horse.

What is the purpose of Government? To preserve the social contract.

People give up some rights to a government and other authority in order to receive or jointly preserve social order.

There are things that every citizen cannot do on a constant basis along with their lives, so they make someone else responsible for it. Nice and simple. I can't balance the budget on Saturday when there's laundry to be done. I'll leave that to a group of people making a lot more money to decide that for me.

Now lets stop for a moment and think about the first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

See that bit right there in bold? THE FOUNDING FATHERS did not give the government authority over our religion. They wanted Catholics, Protestants, Quakers, Jews, Agnostics and Atheists to worship in peace and buy and exchange each others' goods freely. They looked to the Netherlands and saw the wealth and equality that all people had there and chose that life for their people. Nothing in Prop 8s arguments give any factual information to support the hazards of gay people being aloud to marry. By amending the constitution of California in this way, the have in effect established religion.

But I can make everyone happy. The government should no longer recognize marriage, period. If people get married, it’s between them and their beliefs, not the state. I propose that from now on, on the books in the halls of government all marriages are civil unions. Marriage is a sacred act separate from government. Much like lunchtime. And if you want to get the government involved, don't make a law respecting an establishment of religion. Just be civil and have a union.

Me and my fiancée Nicole are getting married in October of 2010, but when we get our "marriage license" we will be applying for a civil union. Asking that our government not interfere with our religion, and our religion not to interfere with our government.

I know that this was a Christian country founded by Pilgrims and... wait... That's not entirely true... I suppose it was settled by treasure and glory seekers acting on behalf of Elizabeth I. But our great Founding Fathers Jefferson and Franklin were Deists. They set down the framework for this country through enlightenment and reason. Not through dogma, bigotry and hatred.



Does America really want to take away this girl’s freedom? She has every right to marry a princess if she wants to!

Nov. 4, 2008

The election is over now and it feels surreal. It all happened so fast, I feel like I missed something. It could be because the first election I was politically aware for was Bush V. Gore, (before that I had a vague notion that Perrot had funny ears) and so “an election” has always been a knock down drag out fight between two men and the Electoral College. Even Kerry wasn’t this quick. But I feel like I turned on the TV and suddenly McCain was conceding.

I kept waiting for stories of voter fraud, and disenfranchisement and instead I saw the Electoral College light up blue. I just don’t know what to make of this. It feels like someone had to be sacrificed for this to happen as it did. I voted for him out of fear over McCain and a former love for him in the primaries in hopes to see those speeches that made me cry return.

Anywho, these next ninety days are crucial. Bush is still in charge, and a lot of shit can happen. Be vigilant. Write congress, write Obama. If the Bush administration does so much as look at the lawn funny, get people on it, or kick him in the face yourself.

The best man won, but we need to remember who put him there and that we need to make sure we all do our end of the bargain. We need to help each other as we’ve helped him. Don’t forget how we all came together to get him into office, now lets get together and make this nation what it was meant to be, ensuring freedom, life and liberty to all of its citizens and preventing injustice abroad.

I had an odd moment with my co-worker this evening when Obama’s victory was announced; we suddenly realized that Old Glory is no longer a symbol of hatred and aggression. She turned to me and said, “I’m American.”

Those eight years are over, and elections will never be the same.


“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
-John F. Kennedy

Samuel L. Jackson Says No on 8!

From A-Rabs to A-Mericans.

I was hesitant to believe the lengths to which our government will go to scare people out of their minds. I thought it ended with randomly strip searching old ladies at the security checkpoints.

Ladies and gentlemen, the true face of Terrorism:


Six year old John William Anderson here, is on the TSA's U.S. terror watch list. This child is the most dangerous thing to happen to this country since Bill Ayers!

The face of terrorism has been getting progressively less and less Arab and more and more white. At least the government can't be accused of racial profiling.

Watch out people, the Terrorists are all around you! Make sure and put your name on the watch list. That way, if you ever do anything wrong, you can help your country by being spirited away in the night by government officials.

Ten Tips to Remember For Nov. 4

I love the ACLU

Just a little theological musing...

This was taken from SoulForce.com. Good read.

The Bible is the story of God's love for the world and the people of the world. It tells the history of God's love at work rescuing, renewing, and empowering humankind. It was never intended to be a book about human sexuality. Certainly, you will agree.

In fact, the Bible accepts sexual practices that we condemn and condemns sexual practices that we accept. Lots of them! Here are a few examples.

* DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
* DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
* MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
* LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
* MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
* DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

I'm certain you don't agree with these teachings from the Bible about sex. And you shouldn't. The list goes on: The Bible says clearly that sex with a prostitute is acceptable for the husband but not for the wife. Polygamy (more than one wife) is acceptable, as is a king's having many concubines. (Solomon, the wisest king of all, had 1,000 concubines.) Slavery and sex with slaves, marriage of girls aged 11-13, and treatment of women as property are all accepted practices in the Scriptures. On the other hand, there are strict prohibitions against interracial marriage, birth control, discussing or even naming a sexual organ, and seeing one's parents nude.

Over the centuries the Holy Spirit has taught us that certain Bible verses should not be understood as God's law for all time periods. Some verses are specific to the culture and time they were written, and are no longer viewed as appropriate, wise, or just.

HEEEEEY!

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Veterens Haaeart McCain

These facts have always been interesting to me:

With American soldiers serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq -- and with thousands more scheduled to be shipped to Afghanistan -- the current burden on our military men and women is unprecedented. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs is in the midst of a scandal over its systematic blocking of veterans benefits and shocking attempts to cover up PTSD and suicide rates. The result is a serious health crisis among American troops.

Obama has helped pass laws designed to assist homeless veterans and improve care for wounded veterans. He has received an 80 percent approval rating from the Disabled Veterans of America and a B+ rating from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

McCain's record on veterans' issues is abysmal. He was given a D rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the Disabled American Veterans reports that he has voted for legislation benefiting veterans only 20 percent of the time. McCain voted against health care funding for veterans in 2003, '04, '05, '06 and '07. And unlike Obama, McCain refused to support the Webb GI Bill, which was critical to ensuring that soldiers who enlisted with the hope of eventually going to college would be able to do so.

This was very odd. So I typed in McCain and Veterans in YouTube to see all the happy veterans telling me they would feel safe in a McCain presidency. I mean, the guys platform is "I am a former POW."

Yeeeeeah. Um... Not so much.

Now turn the knife counter-clockwise.

21,500 voters may have problems voting in Michigan on election day...

I hope no one reading this is one of them.

I feel really bad for any first time voters out there who decided to finally have their voice heard, only to have someone at a school gym or local church tell them that they can't vote because their information was invalid.

Rich people will always vote, and poor people will always feel like it doesn't matter. The voter apathy game is what it's all about. Poor people vote Republican in hopes of keeping their money, not realizing that the rich people have no intentions of giving them raises. They want to keep their money too. A progressive system of taxation gives more money to the workers and the consumers which they happily spend into the market because they have so much. This allows the money to trickle up to the rich. It's not magic, it's common sense. Taxing the poor more than the rich only makes the poor poorer and the rich richer.

There's a hell of a lot more poor people in this country than rich. And if they all vote for the change THEY need, then this country stands a chance of being something truly amazing.

This election has put quite a few interesting things in perspective for me. It keeps making me think about how 2000 was an election about issues. About Abortion, Guns, Taxes, Healthcare, Social Security. All valid but none life threatening. All choice. But who were the candidates? Gore and apparently Spider-Man's most underrated nemesis: Demogoblin.


This time it's beyond just a simple personal preference. Supply Side/Voo Doo/Reagenomics has sent this country down the toilet by gutting its infrastructure and sending it overseas, then ripping out the life blood from the stock market. How does a president go eight years without generating one new job?

This time people can't afford not to vote.

On Maverickness...

This article is so funny, you wish it were fake.

I'd like for this family to go on national television and ask for John McCain to apologize for defamation of character.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

...The Republicans will proceed to disenfranchise you.

So remember how in Florida the Republicans blocked "felons" from voting in the 2000 election?

Well it looks like they're out to block victims of foreclosure from voting in Michigan and Ohio.

I understand the idea they're putting forth, but this minority of America deserves to cast their ballot. Their voice should be heard over anybodies. Plus, well there's no guarantee that they don't have a home.

You can’t challenge people without a factual basis for doing so,” said J. Gerald Hebert, a former voting rights litigator for the U.S. Justice Department who now runs the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington D.C.-based public-interest law firm. “I don’t think a foreclosure notice is sufficient basis for a challenge, because people often remain in their homes after foreclosure begins and sometimes are able to negotiate and refinance.

Another interesting fact is that McCain's Michigan headquarters was located in a law firm specializing in these very foreclosures. Seems "marginalizingly" shady to me.

So I don't know what ye Michiganders can do to prevent this, but something has to be done to make sure these people vote!

PALIN BACKS OBAMA AGAIN!

In a statement made on Sunday morning Palin agrees with Obama that we should be hunting Osama into Pakistan instead of ending the train in Iraq.

The McCain campaign has said she didn't really mean this and she shares his position on our military efforts.

"...sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that's—that's a person's position… This is a free country, but I don't think most Americans think that that's a definitve policy statement made by Governor Palin."

Also, please note: We should not take anything a candidate SAYS seriously. What they write down in pamphlets and on their website is their TRUE policy, not what they straight talk off the cuff.

Wacky Economy & Crazy Preacher Week!

Here's an interesting article from over at Daily Kos. Seems like the video of Pastor Muthee has resurfaced after being scrubbed from the internet for so long. I guess he doesn't just ask God to make Palin Governor, but also for him to rip the wealth from the Israelites. WHAT!?

So Obama's preacher speaks the truth (sorry, but I take no issue with a black man saying the white man has done him wrong and that 9/11 was provoked) and the white media flips out. Palin's blessed by an anti-Semite & anti-pagan and that's okay? I'm really, really confused.

The "We Deserve It Dividend"

This makes a hell of a lot of sense. Lets face it, Voodoo economics has not worked. It's time to bail out the people, not the business that put us here.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLAN TO ME. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Sounds crazy but sounds good.

The Birk Economic Recovery Plan We Deserve It Dividend

I am against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I am in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting
every man, woman and child.
So, 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax-free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But, it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife have $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?


* Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
* Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads.
* Put away money for college - it'll be there.
* Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
* Buy a new car.
* Create jobs.
* Invest in the market - capital drives growth.
* Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves.
* Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else.

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we are going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead
of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ("vote buy") economic incentive that
is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we are going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out ever y adult U S
Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here is my rationale.
We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But, can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5
Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,
& nbsp;Birk
T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it's either good for
a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion.

***UPDATE***
The large amount of fuzzy math in this article has been called to my attention. But a deal out of that magnitude is still amazing.

Wow. Just wow.

We are not attacking Bristol Palin, I actually applaud her for choosing to keep the child. We're saying that the Republicans (the party of family values) have no right to attack Jamie Lynn Spears or any of the countless other teens who have stories like Bristols. It's the hypocrisy not the "crime" that is important.

The Election Is Coming Up FAST!

Everyone is making early preparations. Obama is "forgoing lawn signs", telling recruiters to focus their energy going door to door to get those last few converts, McCain is lying his head off, and George W. Bush is bringing some of the troops home!

WAIT... Did she just say...
Why would Bush re-deploy troops to act as crowd control in the U.S?

Palin is pro-Obama!

Palin has told the country that one of the things she wants to do as vice-president is to create a website that allows the American Public to search and track Government spending. Just one small catch. It was already created by Senator Tom Coburn and some guy from Illinois.

Maybe she thinks that the media is being biased against Obama and is upset that they have not talked about this new website. Since her party is repetitively trying to soundbite Obamas's achievements into oblivion, I think she lies in order to call attention to everything that Obama HAS done in Washington.

He's done so much already, she must be exhilarated about all the amazing things he'll do when he's in the oval office. He's going to cut taxes like crazy and change the oval office carpet back!