I think I must be one of the cool kids.

Last summer, I randomly met a former child actor who starred in a popular TV show during my own childhood. We had a pretty interseting conversation and I thought about writing him a fan letter afterward. Tonight, while deeply immersed in preparing for my upcoming qualifying exams, I discovered that this former child actor is in fact part of my Friendster network.

Specifically, six of his friends are friends with four of my friends. One of these four is more fabulous and better-connected in the jet-setting gay 20something set than most of my friends are, and he personally accounts for three of the connections. But there are these three other people I know, who also know a friend of this child actor's, meaning that there are overlapping connections rather than one random link.

I think I must be one of the cool kids. The mystery becomes, how come nobody else realized this in my sixth grade class? And yet, on the other hand, it becomes less myserious when you realize that Friendster and its curious argot - "Is Jack really your friend?" "Jane has accepted your Friend Request" - are most likely the invention of former uncool sixth graders. Who else would be so interested in counting how many friends they have?

I Love Spam. I Love America.

Tonight I received a spam email with the subject line "in canadian pharm we trust." I found this strangely touching and poetical. It even prompted me to "click through" (as the spammers term the action of that one recipient in ten thousand who makes up, in their minds, for the rest of us), whereupon I was offered both "free Cialis with every order!" and, also, the opportunity to "remove" myself from their mailing list by entering my email address and clicking OK on a form. Umm, not so much. But, still, great subject line.

I was glad to learn that numerous corporations have suddenly decided that the growing numbers of Americans without health insurance constitute bring unacceptable costs to them through higher rates on themselves, and so they have banded together to create a pale, cheap substitute for health insurance to be sold to "uninsured part-time and temporary workers, contractors, consultants and early retirees, who typically are not eligible for employer health plans." The Times notes, "The employers will not subsidize the coverage," but somehow the participants will benefit from cost savings made possible by negotiations as a group (the kind of thing that, as I understand it, the federal government is explicitly forbidden to do under Bush's "Senior Prescription Drug Benefit" and Pharmaceutical Profitability Enhancement Act).

Meanwhile, we are thinking about bombing Iran, American soldiers are dying in record numbers in Iraq, and "Many lawmakers in both parties expect President Bush to propose major changes in the state-federal Medicaid health program in his budget next month, possibly turning it into a block grant to the states."

Today I received, in the U.S. mail, a blank envelope from Jason F-B. Not even any anthrax, so far as I could tell. The address and return address had been printed on a laser printed. Perhaps Jason had some sort of mass-mailing scheme in which a vital step was missed. I wonder how many Friends of Jason nationwide received empty envelopes today.

Jonah was supposed to email me some pictures today, of me, taken at the joint birthday party that he and Kumasi had last Friday night. Last night I ran into Jonah at Boost, where he was working, and, in fact, bought a sandwich from him, in addition to having this conversation with him about the pictures. But he hasn't emailed them yet.

It's too bad how I never socialize these days, due to my intensive schedule of day-and-night preparation for my qualifying exams.

Finally, the following precious material - and I am not making this up - comes from a Whitehouse.gov page of questions from the public answered by the Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Alan Gilbert:

Daniel, from Lakeville, CT writes:

Hi, I am 14 years old and very interested in politics and such. My dad is a doctor and every year, he pays higher medical liability premiums. So that is a major concern for him. How is the president going to balance the need to help my dad with medical liability and to help keep docotds accountable for patients who do seriously get hurt by a bunch of bad apple doctors?

Alan Gilbert

Thanks for the question, Daniel. With a doctor for a father, and an interest in politics, you have the makings of a health care policy advisor. I’m sure you get lots of good first-hand perspective from your dad. As your father has probably told you, good doctors are targeted by frivolous and junk lawsuits. This raises medical liability premiums for all doctors, even those who have never been the target of a lawsuit. Ultimately, the availability of health care services in some communities is reduced. The President has met with many physicians who have been forced to leave their communities because of rising premiums.

The President has called to reform of the medical liability system so that trial lawyers are discouraged from filing frivolous and junk lawsuits in hopes of winning the litigation lottery. That way the legal system can be freed up to focus on ensuring appropriate damage awards for those who are truly victims of malpractice. The President also strongly believes that patients who have been truly injured should receive quick, unlimited compensation for their current and future economic damages such as wages, medical expenses, and the loss of ability to provide unpaid services like care for children or parents. In determining a plaintiff’s economic damages, juries can look at a plaintiff’s future income.

Again, I am not making this up, nor did it come from Jon Stewart (who could make this shit up?). It came from the White House.

Why are our panties in a bunch over Abe Lincoln in drag?

Dear Editor,

The published responses to the Robert Grossman cartoon display a troubling eagerness on the part of some gays and lesbians to disown the figure of the gender transgressor. (I am grateful to Greg Smith for eloquently sharing sentiments close to my own.)

Yes, the cartoon was illogical and its spirit of mockery problematic, and the writer who complained of its "adolescent vulgarity" hit the nail on the head. But since the inception of the gay liberation movement in the early 1970s, some gays have accused drag queens, trans folks, and other gender-nonconforming queers of perpetuating "old stereotypes," which apparently makes it harder for more mainstream gays to explain "the difference between gender and sexuality" (as the letter writers put it).

While not all queers are gender-nonconforming, gender inevitably shapes both our experience of biological "sex" and others' perceptions of our deviant desires. For this reason, gender transgression has been central to queer culture for decades. Drag queens and other nonconformists have long played a key role in carving out safe spaces for more conventional gays, even though the latter have sometimes reproduced the dominant culture's hostility toward them.

The eagerness to repudiate the figure of the gender transgressor can have profoundly destructive consequences. Drag queen and Stonewall veteran Sylvia Rivera was expelled from the rally platform at one of New York's earliest pride parades, and just ten years ago the organizers of New York's "Stonewall 25" march refused to include the word "transgender" in its name. Until just five months ago, Human Rights Campaign lobbied for the inclusion of only sexual orientation, and not gender identity, in the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.

We will never get where we need to be by demonizing some of the most vulnerable, and often the bravest, members of our own community.

Timothy ***

"You would not hear of that party again"

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again.... There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt...a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

---Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a letter to his brother Edgar, May 2, 1956

What's my ideal drug? The surprising results.

You scored as Ecstacy. Love, sex, parties, and DANCING! Just be wary of your mood coming down! www.dancesafe.org Ecstacy 88% Inhalents 75% Alcohol 69% Mushrooms 56% Cocaine 50% None! 50% Marijuana 38% What's your ideal drug? created with QuizFarm.com

I am NOT making this up

Hey-

Check out this great site that is giving away totally FREE iPods!

I've joined and I think you should as well.

It's a completely legitimate offer, and this company has already given away $4 million in FREE stuff!

All you have to do is join, complete an online offer, and refer friends to do the same. That's it!

Here is my referral link. To help me get my iPod, click this exact link to join, or copy and paste it into a browser:
http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=14099523

---tim

Cramming our agenda down Illinois voters' throats

"I believe this is the first step to cram down the throats of Illinois voters a radical homosexual agenda," Family PAC Director Paul Caprio said.

Thanks, Paul. It's always nice to hear you folks talk about our rights in terms of things being crammed down your throats. And you guys always talk about it that way. Why is that, Paul?

Here is the text of Senate Bill 3186 - from the first US state to decriminalize sodomy (back in 1961):

The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended ... as follows:....

It is the public policy of this State: .... To secure for all individuals within Illinois the freedom from discrimination against any individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military status, sexual orientation, or unfavorable discharge from military service in connection with employment, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public accommodations....

When used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise, the term: .... "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at birth.

with the following caveats:

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring any employer, employment agency, or labor organization to give preferential treatment or special rights based on sexual orientation or to implement affirmative action policies or programs based on sexual orientation.

and just in case you were wondering:

"Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.

And, as a final, rather odd, qualification:

Nothing contained in Section 3-102 shall prohibit: ....The owner of an owner-occupied residential building with 5 or fewer units (including the unit in which the owner resides) from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's sexual orientation.

HRC adds, "The law will make Illinois the 15th state to ban workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual people and the fifth state to protect transgender people against workplace discrimination." And, reflecting their newfound passion for transgender inclusion, they add: "Since 2003, all state laws protecting the community from discrimination have included protection for transgender people (California and New Mexico, both in 2003, and Illinois in 2005), indicating a positive trend."

My current LEGAL status is...

Earlier today, while avoiding preparing for my qualifying exams, I filled out a survey on the Internet that was aimed at gay men (it was sponsored by Pfizer and asked a lot of questions about whether I simultaneously use Viagra and other drugs during sex). Here was my favorite part of the survey:

My current LEGAL status is…

[ ] Single/Never Married

Domestic Partner / Civil Union

[ ] Opposite Sex
[ ] Same Sex

Legal Marriage

[ ] Opposite Sex
[ ] Same Sex (in Canada, Massachusetts, or another country)

Other Marriage (Legality to be determined)

[ ] Same Sex (in San Francisco, New Paltz, Nyack, or other US State County)

Divorced / Separated

[ ] Opposite Sex
[ ] Same Sex

Widowed

[ ] Opposite Sex
[ ] Same Sex

Feds tell religious pacifists, "Get ready for a draft!"

===========================
===========================
Brethren Agree to Revive 'Alternative Service' Draft Programs

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15893_1.html

[ 05 Jan 2005 ]
By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

Leaders of the Church of the Brethren say they will follow through on a
request from the Selective Service to have "alternative service" programs
in place for conscientious objectors if a draft is reinstated.

As one of the historic "peace churches" that shun military service,
Brethren officials were "cautious" after an unannounced visit by a draft
official to a church center in Maryland last October. Officials were
worried that the visit signaled that a draft may be at hand.

In follow-up meetings, draft officials urged the church to dust off
long-standing "alternative service" programs that allow conscientious
objectors to serve in two-year domestic service projects in lieu of
military service.

In a meeting Dec. 10, the church's council voted to "maximize our efforts"
on alternative service, as well as help "guide our youth in their choice of
nonviolent service."

"We don't want to miss the part of providing resources to our youth that
will help them understand and embrace the Brethren peace witness," said
Chris Bowman, moderator of the church's 2004 conference.

Selective Service officials have insisted there are no plans to reinstate
the draft, and said Alternative Service Director Cassandra Costley stopped
by the Brethren Service Center simply because she was in the area.

Dick Flahavan, a spokesman for Selective Service, said officials did their
best to convince church leaders there is no draft on the horizon. "We
answered every one of their questions and they didn't leave with anything
hanging," he said. "What we were telling them was what we tell everyone.
The story hasn't varied."

Brethren leaders also agreed to meet in March with other Anabaptist
churches that oppose military service. The meeting in Elgin, Ill., will
bring together six Brethren and Mennonite groups to discuss "how to prepare
for alternative service opportunities."

Barbara Boxer is my hero

To: senator@boxer.senate.gov

Dear Senator Boxer:

I want to extend my warm thanks for your courageous willingness to stand with African American members of the House of Representatives in drawing attention to voting irregularities in Ohio.

I understand that you are likely to be the target of vicious attacks by the right-wing media because you took this stand. Please know that I'll do everything I can to support you in the future.

I have also written to the Majority Leader reminding him that, in spite of your disagreement about the particulars of this election, it is his duty as a patriot to respect your sincere and profound concern for the sanctity of voting rights.

I'm confident that my friends and relatives in California share my appreciation for your courage.

Sincerely yours,
Timothy ***

*************************************************
To: Senator_Frist@frist.senate.gov

Dear Senator Frist:

Although you disagree with Senator Barbara Boxer about the significance of voting irregularities in Ohio this November, I hope and expect that as a patriot, you will join me in saluting Senator Boxer's courage in standing up for her beliefs.

Will you join me in urging a bipartisan effort to discuss ways of safeguarding that most precious right for which so many Americans have given their lives, the right to vote?

Thank you in advance for your attention and reply.


Sincerely yours,
Timothy ***