Calm cheese sex on the other hand...
Why can't things just work right without having to talk about them?!
Like if talking about things made them work right...
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Funny oops today.
I was out and about today. Wife had a maid come in to help her clean the house. Normally I keep up with the tidal ebb and flow of familial detritus but stuff accumulates. Both did an excellent job. I am not "Out" but I don't necessarily hide my alternate fashion sense. So I come home and all my shoes are lined up nicely. Workboots, crap shoes, running shoes followed by my heels and flats. My foot size is 5+ sizes bigger than wife's, so there was no mistaken whose these were.
Wife was there and relayed only comments concerning the size of said bunnies. The dust bunnies barricaded themselves under the bed using the shoes to augment their bunker.
Apparently it was a non-issue, as it should be. I can't help but wonder how far we've come and, of course, the professionalism of the maid.
Discussion and conversation isn't necessarily what is necessary in situations like this. Some of the time, you need simply to inform someone of a decision you have made. And while talking doesn't make things easier or better, your decision does... and the other part needs to know of it.
Go Cheeseweasel!
In happier news... ENDA passed the Senate 64-32 today. It likely won't pass the House, but it's a step...
It might not pass the House at this stage, sadly, but I think folks will be surprised by how many votes it gets on both sides of the aisle. The support was pretty damn bipartisan in the Senate, and I think that in recent years we've seen something of a sea change on the Republican side in favor of support for LGBTQ rights (part of a larger focus on economics rather than social issues in that camp, and an actual embrace of LGBT issues as time goes on). ENDA or a successor bill will end up passing in time. :)
Assistant Software Developer
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Basically, if ENDA had been passed three years ago, I would have never been fired for being trans*. That turned out to be better for me, but that's not the case for most people who lose their jobs for this reason.
There's bad blood that goes back at least 6 years re ENDA and specifically HRC/Barney Frank. To the point where I'm pretty much willing to bet cash money that the only way this gets to the floor in the house is by removing gender expression just like they did last time it managed to pass the senate. And as they are tossing us under the bus, they'll yell out the window that they promise to come back for us. Not that I'm the least bit bitter. *grumble*
Can you explain what ENDA is for those non-Americans here?Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Basically means you can't discriminate against LGBTs in hiring/firing/promotion.
This is on the federal level. Some states already have such rules, but most do not.
Specifically, right now, 21 states plus the District of Columbia (where Washington, D.C. is) have protection based on sexual orientation, and 17 plus D.C. have protection for gender identity.
Or to flip that, the jobs of gay, lesbian and bi people are not protected in 29 states, the jobs of trans people are not protected in 33 states.
Apparently, another issue is that a lot of people in the general public just assume such protections are already in place.
Basically, if ENDA had been passed three years ago, I would have never been fired for being trans*. That turned out to be better for me, but that's not the case for most people who lose their jobs for this reason.There's bad blood that goes back at least 6 years re ENDA and specifically HRC/Barney Frank. To the point where I'm pretty much willing to bet cash money that the only way this gets to the floor in the house is by removing gender expression just like they did last time it managed to pass the senate. And as they are tossing us under the bus, they'll yell out the window that they promise to come back for us. Not that I'm the least bit bitter. *grumble*
I'd be really bummed if that happened again.
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Assistant Software Developer
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Although technically, 50 states have protections for Trans* people, but nobody knows about it. My case, along with Mia Macy's case, prove that the EEOC considers firing someone for Trans* status to be a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
I'll believe it when the Supreme Court tests the ruling. I can't imagine that they would given it's current makeup and the fact that gay rights were specifically not included in the original. I would expect a 5-4 ruling stating that the original purpose of the law was to protect women and people of color in the workplace and extending that out beyond the original intentions would in fact require an act of congress. All of that becomes moot if they pass ENDA however.
I'd be really bummed if that happened again.I would be furious... again.
Yeah, that'd be a better word for it.
I'm somewhat optimistic that they won't pull the trans protections out this time, but I'm pessimistic that it'll pass the House.
But yeah, I would not be happy if they did that to us again.
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Assistant Software Developer
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I'd be really bummed if that happened again.I would be furious... again.Yeah, that'd be a better word for it.
I'm somewhat optimistic that they won't pull the trans protections out this time, but I'm pessimistic that it'll pass the House.
But yeah, I would not be happy if they did that to us again.
John Boehner has publically stated that he will not bring anything to the floor without majority republican support. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it will die in committee. But it nicely reminds us of who we need to vote for in 2 years if we want to have civil rights.
John Boehner has publically stated that he will not bring anything to the floor without majority republican support. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it will die in committee. But it nicely reminds us of who we need to vote for in 2 years if we want to have civil rights.I'd be really bummed if that happened again.I would be furious... again.Yeah, that'd be a better word for it.
I'm somewhat optimistic that they won't pull the trans protections out this time, but I'm pessimistic that it'll pass the House.
But yeah, I would not be happy if they did that to us again.
Agreed.
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Hmmm.
When I muse upon some of the differences between the UK and US, I find it interesting that The Land Of The Free seems less free than a country which has no (written) constitution or Bill of Rights.
Also, that the country that has an established state religion is so secular, and that the country which guarantees the separation of church and state is so religious.
The charity Stonewall, whose motto is, 'Equality for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. At home. At school. At work.', is running an advert on the sides of buses which reads:-
*Some people are gay. Get over it.*
"warmthiness"?
ACK! THE FURNACE IS BROKEN!
Man, I feel for you. We just got our first snowfall last night here in Western PA, and I'm trying to convince Mrs Gersen that she needs to call the reapir guy for the basement fireplace (that heats the house) far more desperately than she needs to go to yoga.
We got the first snowfall of 2013 today!
ACK! THE FURNACE IS BROKEN!
I live in Anchorage, for those who may have forgotten (or didn't know) so this is a rather crucial piece of household equipment. The furnace mechanics are coming back Wednesday. I'm going to a friend's house tomorrow, to wait out the repair hiatus in something approaching warmth!
Curse you, winter demons!!
You have my sympathies. A maintenance crew messed up a water-pipe repair for our house last March, and I ended up spending two weeks with a flat-temperature of 14-16 degrees (Celsius) (10 in the bathroom). So glad it wasn't during full-on winter time and that the house wasn't designed by British architects.
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So glad it wasn't during full-on winter time and that the house wasn't designed by British architects.
Indeed—an English house, after all, can never be warm.
Good luck with the repairs, Cheeseweasel! I hope it doesn't get cold enough to damage the pipes before then!
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Placate them with vegemite behind the ears and you'll be fine.Come to Australia! It's a pleasant 26C (~78.8F) today. And half the country is NOT currently on fire (unlike a month ago). :)You still got Dropbears?
Now just have to find a way to placate 99.999% of everything else down there. Cause, ya know, I like living. And not being on fire.
I thought it was only customary to burn certain household items down there...
Now just have to find a way to placate 99.999% of everything else down there. Cause, ya know, I like living. And not being on fire.Placate them with vegemite behind the ears and you'll be fine.Come to Australia! It's a pleasant 26C (~78.8F) today. And half the country is NOT currently on fire (unlike a month ago). :)You still got Dropbears?
I hear some of the sheep are safe to be around.
Some of them.
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Something like that, yup.
Provided you don't go walking in thick bushland without hiking boots on, it probably isn't a big deal. :P I've seen red-belly black snakes and brown snakes, and provided you don't provoke them they're not a big deal.
Same with the spiders... pick 'em up and move 'em outside if they bother you. They only bite if you threaten them in the first place.
Just don't go swimming in far north Queensland... crocs are a serious threat, unlike the other things.
I hear some of the sheep are safe to be around.
Some of them.
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Something like that, yup.
Provided you don't go walking in thick bushland without hiking boots on, it probably isn't a big deal. :P I've seen red-belly black snakes and brown snakes, and provided you don't provoke them they're not a big deal.
Same with the spiders... pick 'em up and move 'em outside if they bother you. They only bite if you threaten them in the first place.
Just don't go swimming in far north Queensland... crocs are a serious threat, unlike the other things.
Then you get to the Australians, the most dangerous creature of all.
We got the first snowfall of 2013 today!Ugh don't say the "S" word :( We got ours about a month ago and it was only 26" and knocked out power for about a week for some people and kept the city shut down for about three days...
that sounds heavenly!
Come to Australia, with man-killing spiders (really funnelweb spiders have only poison to kill humans and monkeys) in your swimming pool, under your toilet and in your shoes. With tiny little cubic jellyfish in the ocean that when they sting you give pain (that can't be covered by anti-pain drugs) for a few months (non-stop pain)
Also if those jellyfish don't sting you the Great White Sharks or Saltwater Crocodiles will probably eat you.
Ow and those cute little wasps that lay eggs in your skin when you are lying on the beach.
Taipan? Only the most venemous snake in the world together with ocean snakes which ALSO come from Australia, coral devils, stone fish? Come to australia!
Yeah Australia sounds like the place to be! Every single animal wants to eat or kill you with poison lol.
But the best thing (really) is that games like Mortal Kombat and other such dirty games are banned there, but Miley Cyrus (which is much worse for your kids) is not.
Australia, australia the place to be for gays! (who are already scared for tiny little non-lethal spiders in other countries and catsharks) ;-)
J/K btw.
that sounds heavenly!We got the first snowfall of 2013 today!Ugh don't say the "S" word :( We got ours about a month ago and it was only 26" and knocked out power for about a week for some people and kept the city shut down for about three days...
Very good for the air quality, you know.
True fact: In 1995 or 96 (my memory's a bit hazy, but it's the only day I've ever gotten off school due to weather), western Sweden got hit by a freak snowstorm (they're not supposed to turn up in November), basically shutting down everything in the way of transportation that wasn't one of these throughout three provinces - in terms of air pollution it was the cleanest day in this part of the country since they started measuring.
1995. The only week people actually talked to one another at the bus stop.
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that sounds heavenly!We got the first snowfall of 2013 today!Ugh don't say the "S" word :( We got ours about a month ago and it was only 26" and knocked out power for about a week for some people and kept the city shut down for about three days...
It really wasn't. It was wet, heavy stuff that had been preceded by a day of rain. It killed thousands of cattle (one of the main economy boosters here), destroyed hundreds of trees, put most of the city without power for three days, and some of the city without power for about a week. Without power in the middle of the worst blizzard our state has ever seen. Certainly a heavenly experience.
Well, when you put it that way, it sounds horrible! Sorry for the loss of cattle, was anyone hurt by falling trees?
We recently had a very big storm in southern England and a couple of people were killed. We may have regular grotty weather, but we don't usually have fatal weather.