Cocktales - Archived Blog Posts

[cocktales]

Senator Joe Biden, Democrat from Delaware.

So, Joe Biden wants Camp Delta at Gitmo to be shut down and he wants the terrorists to be let go.

These are the hard-core Joe. These are the guys that would go right back into the field and murder civilian men, women and children. These are the guys that would cut your throat, your wife's throat and the throats of you children without blinking and eye. And you want to just let them go.

Joe, excuse me; but have you lost your mind?

Biden, lusting after the presidency, has tucked away a provision in a proposed anti-terrorist bill that would establish an independent 9/11-type commission to investigate U.S. abuse of prisoners throughout the world.

Senator Biden, these people are the hardest core terrorists........the enemy combatants! We treat them in accordance with the Geneva Convention dictates and you want more??? These are the people who in their training manuals, they are taught, yes taught to tell lies about their detainment's....specifically, use propaganda to their best ends.......tell how badly they were treated while being imprisoned........total lies!!!

I am not saying we don't have instances where some of the guards "may" lose their tempers with the prisoners; but I honestly believe that for the most part, the Gitmo prisoners are treated very fairly.

Biden is trying his best to prepare for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president. He is trying to put the best light, the best leadership potential for himself by making waves against the Republican administration.....now in 2005.

I think he's already shooting himself in the foot....he has openly attacked the Democratic Party Chairman,
Howard Dean. I don't think that's the right approach to try and steer Deanites toward his campaign, do you??

I think Biden's chances of getting the Democratic nod for President of the U.S. is remote at best...

 

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Check the video out here:
http://blog.justusboys.com/wp-content/cruise_squirt.mov
By now you've probably heard or have seen how the "War of the Worlds" star was doused with a water gun that looked like a microphone, by a fake reporter while walking the red carpet at the London premiere of the Steven Spielberg science-fiction flick on Sunday.

And while other actors like Russell Crowe, Sean Penn or Colin Farrell might have decked the squirter (and I would have, too), Cruise didn't let his emotions get the better of him.

"Do you like thinking less of people, is that it?" Cruise asked, as the moron stood there silently, as if he were being berated by a disappointed dad. "You're a jerk," Cruise added.

The world's biggest movie star wiped his face and continued on for another two hours, giving interviews about the film and answering questions about his recent engagement to the lovely Katie Holmes.

.....and yet, back in the states, another attack was taking place.......this time to Leo DeCaprio!

Leonardo DiCaprio was hit with a bottle while attending a Hollywood party given by Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend and needed about a dozen stitches to close a wound near his ear. In reality, this was extremely close to the carotid artery and could have been fatal if struck there! He still may need plastic surgery to fix this mess....folks, he needs that face in his work!!!

DiCaprio was at a party at about 4 a.m. Friday at the home of Rick Salomon when a woman struck him with what appeared to be a beer bottle. No ambulance was called but friends took the actor to a hospital where he received about a dozen stitches.

Leo was attacked by a woman who was trespassing and had been repeatedly asked to leave the property. The attacker struck him with a glass object before being restrained by witnesses."

WTF is going on here? We have the photographers chasing people and making them have accidents, we have people shooting a star with a water bottle (it could just as well have been acid) and we have a woman hitting another star with a beer bottle!

Folks, things are outta hand here, don't you think?
I may not like a particular actor; but dammit, they should not be attacked or stalked and not allowed to live their lives in peace.

I hope the authorities prosecute people to the fullest who harm or try to harm celebrities out there!!

That goes for the paparazzi's too!!!

 

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Tonight my partner and I watched Blow Out on Bravo Network, you know the same network that has Queer Eye.....? Jonathan's Hair Salon, owner Jonathan Antin is truly, truly something to behold! Check it out!

I thought the show was pretty good overall; but when one of the hairdressers (another gay guy) said that his assistant Scott Cunha was too flamboyant and gave Gays a bad image, I almost lost it!!

WTF gives this other Gay man the right to openly strike down one of our own and on the same show that he is on?

I thought acceptance and diversity was what we wanted to get the heteros to accept; but pal if we can't get it done to our own.........all is lost, I am afraid!

However, I DO NOT think this guy's perception is right.

Scott, is an assistant to these hair dressers and he does ALL of the dirty work....he cleans up all that fucking hair they cut off, he washes all the patron's hair, he gets towels, he holds things for his hair dresser and he probably goes for lunch for them too....!!! AARRGGHH

Scott is adorable! Yep, he is totally "over-the-top" and is real campy and just the sweetest thing you'd every see and wouldn't hurt a flea! He said he wants to be the best hair dresser to the stars and is eager and willing to start from the bottom up...

Here's his pix:

I think he's probably a little over 5 feet tall and thin.....

Am I being overly critical of the hair-dresser who made the dumb comment? Do you think it was appropriate.......what he said about Scott?

If I am wrong, I will eat crow; but I could NOT help but being incensed about that comment: Scott, is a bad image for Gays!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

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It's a sign, when people take the "emblem" of that country and then burn it, destroy it!

People who do it are saying it's just "free-speech"!

Surely, you know that to really, really get to an enemy, a foe, you want to do something, anything that will cause them the greatest pain.........to people who protest the U.S., they feel like burning the U.S. flag does just that.......infuriates the U.S.

So then, when this is done, I agree, people have NO right toe express themselves in that manner or that extent. The whole point is not a freedom; but a sign of hate and dis-taste....

As for being in the military for over 22 years, I've been to many countries and they too, love and respect that symbol of theirs, their flag. They too get riled up and fighting mad when anyone burns the symbol of their country and rightfull so.

So, I agree with the Flag Amendment; yet, I still want the freedom of speech,etc..

The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, ``The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.'' For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.

Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed.

Today, by a 286-130 vote - eight more than needed - House members approved the amendment after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections.

Approval of two-thirds of the lawmakers present was required to send the bill on to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in years. If the amendment is approved in that chamber by a two-thirds vote, it would then move to the states for ratification.

Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.

But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.

By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.

The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.

The amendment is H.J. Res 10.

What thinks you?

 

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A spray-painted orange X appeared on the Gambles’ door in Norwood, Ohio, days after they were forced to evacuate their home. Just as foresters mark trees for loggers to cut down, the X is a painful sign that the Gambles’ house faces demolition. Since then, a court order prohibits their house from being destroyed while the legal fight to defend the home rages on. The Gambles, however, are now not even permitted to visit their home and the X remains on their door. This insulting and cruel action is the latest development in their long battle with a private developer who has exploited the governmental power of eminent domain for his private benefit.

In the case of Kelo vs New London the Supreme Court voted 5 to 3 to allow the City of New London to take property on the basis of "Public Use"....that is to enable the area to be re-vitalized by a pharmaceutical to build a factory that will generate tax revenue and jobs to build up the community and city.

In the past, the city or state could not use imminent domain (the taking of land) unless it was for road building, school building or such uses.

This case is BIG and will cause some problems for citizens who can lose their property without normal due process, if the city/state can show good cause for taking the property at fair and reasonable value!!!

I think it sucks...

Go here to read more about the background of the Kelo vs New London case.

http://www.ij.org/private_property/connecticut/

It's sad, very sad!

 

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A suicide car bomber and gunmen ambushed a U.S. military convoy in Fallujah, killing five U.S. Marines and a sailor.....three women were among those killed, making the attack likely to have an impact beyond the tragedy of the six deaths.

The women were part of a team of Marines who were assigned to various checkpoints around Fallujah. Female Marines are used at the checkpoints to search Muslim women "in order to be respectful of Iraqi cultural sensitivities," a military statement said.

Current Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in front line combat roles in the infantry, armor or artillery, for example. And members of Congress have sought to toughen the rules excluding servicewomen from forward combat.

The terrorist group al Qaeda in Iraq, headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying six "crusaders" were killed and two Humvees were destroyed. The claim was posted on an Internet site, but its authenticity could not be verified.

I know Congress DOES NOT want women in combat; but how can they not be in combat if they are even in country where the war is being held?

It's just impossible.

The women are true patriots too and don't want to be coddled per se and see themselves along side their male counter-parts protecting democracy from the radical insurgents in Iraq.

All the soldiers, navy, airmen and marines are true heroes...They give their all, their lives for us in America....If they did not have the war over there; where would it be held, for the War on Terror is so very real and these bastards of war will terrorize somewhere and I would rather it be in Iraq vs one of our 50 states, wouldn't you?

So tonight, like every night, I say another prayer of peace and passing for those killed in the war. May God have mercy on their souls and lead them forward to paradise; if so possible.

One day, yes one day you cowards of war, we will find you and make you pay for your bastardly ways of killing Innocent men, women and children!

 

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We all know for a fact the wild range horse is NOT indigenous to the Nevada plains; but they are here and BLM and others are trying their damnedest to rid our beautiful plains of the wonderful animals!

***(This is what the mission statement of the BLM is concerning the Wild Horse program)
The Bureau of Land Management manages wild horses and burros as part of its overall mission to manage the public lands for multiple uses. In carrying out this multiple-use mission, as set forth by Federal law, the BLM works to ensure that the number of free-roaming animals is consistent with the land's capacity to support them. Toward that end, the Bureau gathers thousands of wild horses and burros from the public rangelands each year, then puts them up for adoption to good private homes.

LOOK AT THESE WONDERFUL "FREE" ANIMALS:

I was fortunate to work for the U.S. Military as a civilian for over 10 years and part of my job entailed protecting the vast range the Air Force uses to train our pilots during war time scenarios and part of my job was protecting the environment from any projectiles leaving the range boundaries and protecting people employed to support the range...

I had the opportunity to watch the population of the horses dwindle down to almost nothing on the Nellis Ranges in Nevada. BLM said it was too dangerous for the animals to exist on the range!

You know how many range horses I saw killed in the 10 years I worked on the range? Zero, nada, none, nicht, null...............!!!

The only problem the horses had was water! I can understand the continued population of horses with dwindling water supply and the need to cull them so that the population/water supply matched.

The adoption is all fine and good; but when these people tire of the horse, they sell it either for dog food or to whom ever will slaughter the animal for fertilizer, etc...

Foreign countries are also very interested in these horses for food! I am not sure of the total numbers; but a BLM friend told me they have to continually watch to ensure the horses are not bought by private individuals in bulk and then sold to over-seas buyers...

I've never eaten horse meat; nor do I ever want to. I've been told it's a favored meat of many people; usually NOT in the states.

I cannot or will not feel safe for the horses until a program is established that will save the horses from a fate none should ever face!

Please, save the beautiful free-range horses/burros!

Read this:http://www.kbrhorse.net/whb/blmnev.html

SAVE NEVADA'S WILD HORSE'S

 

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George Segal's Gay Liberation in New York's Sheridan Park (top) and on the campus of Stanford University.


This sculpture by George Segal (1924–2000) honors the gay rights movement and commemorates the events at the Stonewall Inn opposite this park that gave rise to the movement.

Located at 51-53 Christopher Street, Stonewall Inn was formerly two adjacent two-story stable houses erected in 1843 and 1846. After numerous alterations, the two buildings were joined into a restaurant by the 1930s. By the 1950s the place was known as Stonewall Inn Restaurant. In 1966, it closed for renovations, and reopened in the following year as a private club known as Stonewall Inn - a bar and dance hall which, like numerous local establishments, catered to the homosexual community of Greenwich Village.

In the early hours of June 27, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn and a melee ensued in which 13 people were arrested. Word of the raid and the resistance to it soon spread, and the next day hundreds gathered to protest the crackdown and advocate the legalization of gay bars. Further protests erupted in early July, and on July 27, a group of activists organized the first gay and lesbian march, from Washington Square to Stonewall. The events of that summer and their aftermath are often credited as the flash point for the gay rights movement in the United States.

To the pioneers we raise our glass to thee in a toast of love and respect for what you did to start the revolution, the Gay Revolution.

You started it; but we have to continue till we have the social equal rights other's have. The U.S. Constitution grants to us all equal rights; not rights granted to others; but the same rights of other citizens to live in peace and harmony with our loved ones.

God Bless our Stonewall ancestors!

 

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Canada’s House of Commons voted today to legalize gay marriage, passing landmark legislation that would grant all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional unions between a man and a woman.

The bill passed as expected, despite opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority Liberal Party government was also expected to easily pass through the Senate and become federal law by the end of July.

Canada is the third country to allow same-sex marriages nationwide, along with the Netherlands and Belgium.

According to most polls, a majority of Canadians supports the right for gays and lesbians to marry. In the United States, gay marriage is opposed by a majority of Americans, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll taken in November, shortly after constitutional amendments in 11 states to ban same-sex marriage were approved.

Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay marriages, although Vermont and Connecticut have approved same-sex civil unions.

Canada is fast becoming a tourist attraction for same-sex marriages............a tourist destination for people going there to make their life-long commitments to one another....I forsee this to be a large boom to the Canadian economy and hope they make a fortune off it........serves the U.S. right along with the rest of the world siding with the Christian ethics........

This is NOT a religious statement! It is a union between two men/two women and it has to do with doing the ultimate to show your partner you love them and want them forever.

One should/would think the rest of the world would applaud commitments Gays are making to one another and stopping the promiscuity and having mono relationships..........finally!

U.S. get your fucking act together....NOW!

 

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Gay Partnership/Marriage Flag

Gays and lesbians won a major legal victory Wednesday when the California Supreme Court let stand a new law granting registered domestic partners many of the same rights and protections of heterosexual marriage.

Without comment, the unanimous justices upheld appellate and trial court rulings that the sweeping measure does not conflict with a voter-approved initiative defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The domestic partner law, signed in 2003 by then-Gov. Gray Davis, represents the nation's most comprehensive recognition of gay domestic rights, short of the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts and civil unions in Vermont and Connecticut.

The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, grants registered couples virtually every spousal right available under state law except the ability to file joint income taxes.

Groups opposing the law said Wednesday they hope to qualify a ballot measure asking voters to overturn the justices, and perhaps to bar gay and lesbians from ever getting married in California.

 

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First Mexico says that Hispanics will do jobs that "...even blacks don't want" and now they issue a state-issued stamp to commemorate, allegedly, Memin Pinguin.

In May President Vicente Fox apologised for saying Mexican migrants in the US did jobs "even blacks don't want".

He said the comment was taken out of context, which had been made to express frustration with tough new immigration legislation approved by the US Senate.

........and now we have the latest row coming after the Mexican government issued a series of five stamps of Memin Pinguin.

The cartoon character from a comic book created in the 1940s has exaggerated eyes and lips.

Correspondents say there are currently no plans to withdraw the 750,000 commemorative stamps set for release.

A spokesman for Mexico's president on Thursday noted that the cartoon had in the past helped to promote family values, and called the adverse reaction "strange."

One Mexican diplomat responded that the character was no more offensive than the cartoon Mexican mouse, Speedy Gonzalez.

So, is that what it's all about.......tit for tat? Speedy Gonzalez or the Taco Bell Chihuahua vs the "Black Stamps"???

I should think Mexican Government officials would NOT want to incite the U.S. at this point; especially over a race issue. Right now, we are discussing the eligibility of immigrants coming and staying in the U.S. and granting citizenship to those who have lived in the U.S. for years.

I would think that President Fox and the rest would try their best not to appear to be racists.....at least not openly!

My take is that this is pure and simple poor taste! It is racist, along with the statement President Fox made about Mexican workers/Black Workers.

There is no room for this kind of talk in our modern society!

..........and the issuance of stamps is just over the top with bad stuff!

 

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Surprised? Many people are surprised that Justice O'Connor retired before Chief Justice Renquist; but I'm NOT....

Justice O'Connor has been on the bench for 24 years, appointed by President Regan...

Sandra O'Connor has been waiting for CJ Renquist to retire first; but he's stalling and stalling and she just could not wait any longer. You see, her husband is suffering from severe Alzheimer's Disease and she wants to take him back to Arizona to care for him and be with her children and grandchildren...I think that's admirable; for she has done a tremendous job!

Now, back to my title.....Yep, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is/was the most powerful woman; maybe person in America till she retired today!

Let me explain. You see Justice O'Connor was appointed by President Regan as a Conservative; but she's turned out to be far greater than that label! You see on almost every, I mean every important case that's come before the high court, she's always, yes, always the "swing" vote. She's the deciding vote that determines the Law of The Land. For instance: Roe vs Wade...yep, she is for women's abortion rights. The prayer in schools, yep, she's not willing to allow church and state to mix, like our ancestors wanted it to be when they wrote the Constitution.......I could go on and on and on and you will continually see that Justice O'Connor was always casting the deciding vote that allowed the right choice to be made for the most people!!!

I guess you would label Justice O'Connor as a "moderate" on the court....cause you don't know which way she is going to vote!

I really do love to watch the Supreme Court moderates in action.

You can usually predict what Scalia, Rehnquist and Thomas will do on the right.

You can usually tell what Stevens and Ginsburg (and usually Breyer) will do on the left.

But to watch Kennedy and O'Connor, and sometimes Souter, is to watch what the best intentions of the Supreme Court really is. It's to see the difference between making the knee-jerk right- or left-wing legislation from the bench versus a deliberate, sober, reflective look at both original intent *and* modern reality in order to determine the most prudent rulings consistent with the Constitution.

Bless the Court's moderates. They hold the balance between sanity and lunacy in many cases. They reminds me of the Justice Novelli character in the "First Monday" series and they are truly the difference makers.

Now, Bush II gets to make a difference. He's NOT forced to appoint another woman on the court to replace this one........the first woman on the "all boys club".

He may appoint a woman, he may appoint a Hispanic, or any other person he chooses. I think he will try to appoint someone who will not be probed like some of his other appointees. He wants the justice on the court when it re-convenes in the Fall.

Justice O'Connor, we thank you for your service to America. Your unselfish choices you made on your decisions. You voted your heart and not your political party. You did not allow the public criticism to sway you one way or the other....

We wish you a wonderful retirement.

God Bless you for your hard work!

 

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Live 8 is a day of action that calls on the leaders of the world's richest countries to put an end to poverty and debt when they meet on July 6.

On 6th July 2005, the leaders of Great Britain, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia will meet at Gleneagles in Scotland to talk about world affairs, including Africa. They will be presented with a workable plan to double aid, drop the debt and make trade laws fair.

The G8 summit is our opportunity to demand that the world's most influential leaders take action now.

Live 8 has organised concerts in Philadelphia, Berlin, London, Rome, Paris and Edinburgh, with 100 artists, a million spectators, two billion viewers and one message: Make Poverty History. All started by Bob Geldof, Live Aid Man himself!!!

"This is not Live Aid 2.

These concerts are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison.

This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

Will it work? It cannot hurt can it?

President Bush has already quadrupled our aid to Africa, to help fight/eradicate malaria in Africa...and I am certain the other richest nations can do better than they have in the past too.

I think the "forgiving of debts" will encourage the countries toward ending the problems they face each and every day of existence....

I say, good luck and let's hope we're not too late!

God Bless Bob Geldof for his unselfish promotion!

 

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From the mouth of babes: http://www.usacitylink.com/usa/sounds/ssb.wav

Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United States of America. Founded July 4th 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America is celebrating it's 229th birthday this year.

The 4th of July is a time for the Red White and Blue. A time for Picnics, Parades and Marching Bands. A time for Beaches, BBQs and "Bombs Bursting in Air."

As we celebrate, we cannot help but remember our fallen heroes who have recently given their lives so that we can continue to celebrate freedom....

We also must remember the thousands of men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan who are still in harm's way every day trying to free those countries from tyranny. We hope they all know just how much we appreciate the sacrifices all of them have made in the name of America's freedom.

As a retired military person, I recall all the 4th of July's I spent in a foreign land, wishing I was home with my family, having a summer picnic with only the worries of sunburn and eating too many hot dogs!

Corny, but true..........here's the song Lee Greenwood made famous, "God Bless The USA".....

I challenge any American who has served in the armed forces of our country to stand and sing along with this song..........we all know it; and if you do not have a "lump" in your throat or a tear in your eye after singing it, I will buy you the beverage of your choice!!

**Just reading those words and remembering where I was each year, brings tears to my eyes......yes indeed it does!


God Bless The USA
by: Lee Greenwood


If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life, And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,

I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,

'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.



I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee, Across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.,

There's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say:



I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God Bless the U.S.A.



I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,

And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God Bless the U.S.A.

Thank all of you non-Americans who are reading my blog for bearing with a sentimental old fool as he bears his patriotic soul to you....

I hope you guys love your country as much as I love mine; for with all our problems, I still think we offer to those who do not enjoy freedoms, the best there is available almost anywhere!

 

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G-8, the richest, most powerful nations of the world are scheduled to meet 6-8 July in Scotland...The meetings will be held under heavy security in the luxury golf resort at Gleneagles, about an hour's drive north of Edinburgh. Thousands of demonstrators have been protesting in Edinburgh in recent days. They want the leaders to go even further to help poor countries.

In addition to pouring billions more dollars into Africa through aid and investment, the leaders have already agreed to cancel $40 billion in debt to the world's poorest countries.

They are also expected to pledge to work for a successful conclusion of the current Doha Round of global trade talks, which has as a top priority reducing rich country trade barriers, such as huge farm subsidies which depress the exports of poor countries.

Canadian officials said the leaders will discuss soaring oil prices and will underscore their commitment to the free market and transparency of supply and demand. There are no plans to discuss a regulatory scheme to control prices.

Other items on the agenda include Iraq, Iran, North Korea and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and the leaders of India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa will meet with the G8 on Thursday while leaders of several African countries will hold talks on Friday.

The United States is the only G8 country that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, claiming it would hurt the economy.

Environmentalists say Blair should consider leaving his U.S. ally behind as he tries to unite the world's top democracies behind urgent action against global warming. Blair has called climate change "probably the most serious threat we face."

Eradicating poverty is far more complex - in order to be sustainable and complete it requires changing the global economy and would affect everyone, with no exceptions. Writing off Third World debt, restoring "trade justice" and having better and more focused aid will barely skim the surface of the problems of Africa. It is, of course, an important start - and it is far from a foregone conclusion that the G8 leaders will agree to any of it- but it will not be an overnight cure: even if all these measures and more are taken, poverty will not be eradicated in my lifetime, and without a change from within many of the African nations any changes that do occur may well be short-lived. I suspect that for a large number of people who watched Live8 or marched in Edinburgh on Saturday, there is a vague belief that they will see measurable and immense change - and soon. Their hopes are, of course, for change for the good of humanity - but also that they will be able to witness it.

The expectations placed on the G8 summit are immense - and immensely hyped. The causes of poverty in Africa vary from nation to nation and not all can be solved by intervention from richer nations, many can only be solved from within Africa itself. My hope (I haven't forgotten the feeling) is that interest in world change is sustained, that people will continue to care long after the G8 summit is over and the media has focused elsewhere, but I am not sure that the message of perseverance is one that has been made clearly enough. If we are to truly change our world are we really prepared for the long haul?

I am all for helping the third world nations of Africa; in addition to helping them with their AIDS problems as well; but the U.S. is really, really "tied" up with the two front wars we currently have being supported almost entirely by this country in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are pouring billions of dollars to help those countries stabilize and learn how to govern themselves without our assistance.

So, don't expect President Bush to offer too much more than already anted up. I know this will cause the demonstrators to yell louder; but you can't continue to get more blood out of a turnip, now can you??

 

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In a meeting on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia, the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly approved a resolution supporting same-sex marriage, therefore becoming the largest Christian denomination to do so. UCC has over 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members.

In a press conference, Rev. John H. Thomas said, "On this July Fourth the General Synod of the United Church of Christ has acted courageously to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of same gender couples to have their relationships recognized as marriages by the state, and encouraging our local churches to celebrate and bless those marriages."

Thomas also acknowledged that the issue of marriage equality is "the source of great conflict" not only in society but also in the churches. The UCC, he said, "is no exception" and "there are clearly great differences among our own members over this."

The decision is non-binding but asks member churches to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate against couples based on gender" and support laws granting equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

Some member churches have suggested they may leave the denomination but most members appeared to support the resolution noting some ministers already perform same-sex ceremonies.

UCC was criticized last year for creating a television commercial including a gay couple being excluded from a church. The 30-second ad was rejected by most TV networks.

You know what? Of real significance, the UCC is the first Christian church to openly agree to marry same-sex couples in the U.S. I find that to be ground-breaking territory and frankly once you break into a new venue, it's much, much easier to continue to get others to also allow same-sex marriages, I HOPE!!

OK, here we go, one step at a time, we will reach the top of this uphill battle for equality, for humane treatment, for the constitutional rights guaranteed to everyone..........Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness......total equality!!

 

[cocktales]

The bid team promised that the Games -- London's third Olympics after 1908 and 1948 -- would be the best ever and would transform a rundown eastern part of the city into an ultra-modern sporting ground. I think hosting the Olympiad will cause Londoners to spruce up the city and make it a show-place for the world to see....

The result shocked most pundits and the bookmakers, all of whom had placed Paris as the favourites through out the bidding process. In earlier rounds of voting, IOC members placed Moscow last, followed by New York and then Madrid, preparing the way for a final run-off between the capitals of France and Great Britain.

The vote was 54 for London and 50 for Paris....now that is really, really a close vote!!

I think the last obstacle to hosting the Olympics was over-come and the Committee realized that when the locals "finally" started supporting the bid for London to win. I think it's appropriate for London to win and allow millions of people to come to this city and see what a wonderful place it is.

Londoners, congratulations from the "Colonies"! We are happy our fore-fathers came from Great Britain to America....

 

[cocktales]

TODAY, WE ARE ALL LONDONERS!!!

Our heartfelt condolences go out to you, the wonderful people of London and the United Kingdom. As you were there on 9/11, sustaining us in our moments of fear and doubt, so we are here for you now. Our shared tragedies will only strengthen the bonds of history and culture that tie our sister nations together. Y'all hang in there, and God bless.

What an awful day! But does this have anything to do with the actions of G8, the Olympics, the actions of Britain in Afghanistan or Iraq? No - it has all to do with the deadly desires of a few fanatics who wish to impose their ideas on the whole world. They are rejects and are rejected by all noble people - Islam has nothing to do with this!

Many are saying that these terrorist atrocities are a result of the coalition's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. They are wrong, and clearly so. The calamity of September 11th did not happen because of an invasion of an Arab country, but because some Muslims truly believe that they must destroy us. They have sworn to kill us. Invading a Middle Eastern country with a dictator in charge, who killed perhaps up to 2 million people, is not the reason for terrorism. Terrorism affects the weak - and if the western world is going to start blaming our leaders, however much they disagree with the statesman's political views, then they will disgust the free world. If the men and women out there, who inhabit this democratic, free society, really want to help the world, then they will support the removal of regimes that kill and torture people, the destruction of terrorist groups, and the bringing of freedom into the non-secular society of these Islamic culture countries. Men, women and children have been blown up this day. This shocking awakening to terrorism once more in Britain, is nothing compared to the devastation caused by terrorists in Israel over the past decades. If the people of Britain will accuse our leaders of these atrocities, then they are not condemning terrorism, and I can go as far as saying they are endorsing it. This is a global war against fundamental Islamics. The only terrorist attacks against the west in the 21st century have been by these maniacs. Do not move the blame. Do not object to conflict that promotes freedom and democracy. Do not endorse terrorism. Support the expansion of the free world, and the removal of terror.

Yesterday, London and all of Britian was celebrating garnering the 2012 Olympiad.........today, we are mourning their dead!

What a difference 24 hours makes!

Great Britian stood tall on 9/11 with us and we will stand with them on 7/7!!

The War on Terror is really now an all out assault on the common person, the working man and woman out there. Good people just going to work or at work in New York and now London!

We will fight along with those who will fight with us....and like Dubya said a few years ago...."You are either with us or agin us"!

I/we may disagree with certain aspects of American Policies; but one we do not disagree on is our position on the War on Terror!

We will win........we will fight till the end.....and we will win!!!

 

[cocktales]

According to the Christian Right folks, the Religious Right (RR), Gay people do not know what monogamous sex is all about.

It is a Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada for me...according to the RR theory, I should be out whoring around, having sex with any and everyone I meet, without protection, spreading my seed to whomever I meet!

WRONG!

I've been in a committed relationship for over 25 years now and counting, to a most magnificent person who just happens to be a man......not just any man; but the man of my hopes and dreams!

We are "normal".... We go out and have dinner, we have friends, we have people over for dinner, we go to the movie theatre, to art galleries, to museums....do you see anything that is contradictory here? Do we look like a normal, everyday, house-hold?

That's the whole point! Gay people want, NO, we must have the freedom of institutional marriages to each other..........for without that "legal stigma" people just don't get it and they don't believe us. We too make life commitments. We want families. We want to retire and live happily ever after..........

Who says the ideal family is a husband, a wife and two children (a boy and a girl)???

Why can't that family be: two men or two women with the same children?

We now have 4 prominent nations allowing Gay marriages: The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and recently Spain.

How can the RR declare we are not worthy of having a marriage? How can they say we aren't deserving of falling in love with the same sex and living a life together.......married?

Face it people, being Gay is NOT a choice. It also is NOT a disease. Once you face those two basic points, it is easier to accept us as being a part of the plan in God's world, we are all HIS children and I don't think he makes mistakes.

Gay people can do as good if not better in marriage than heterosexual people do......let's see, almost 60% of all married people's marriages DO NOT make it......end up in divorce.

I think Gay people can/will do better than that.

After all, how many marriages do you know that have lasted over 25 years without interruption......like ours, my Partner and mine??

Gay marriage and monogamy does work!

 

[cocktales]

Two parts vodka, one part octopus? To boost sales, bars and liquor companies are pushing weird cocktails.

Now that Americans have been through Cosmopolitans, apple martinis and caipirinhas, what's next: ginger Cosmopolitans, cucumber-apple martinis and carrot caipirinhas? Actually, yes -- those combinations and even weirder ones are popping up on menus across the country. After two years of strong liquor-sales growth, the spirits industry want to keep the party going by making customers feel like they have to try the next new thing. Meanwhile, bars and restaurants, squeezed by higher wholesale food prices, are using attention-grabbing, pricey drinks to keep bar revenues high.

The bar at Ken Stewart's Grille in Akron, Ohio, serves a $10 martini with a pickled baby octopus draped over the side. In Kirkland, Wash., Jager Bar & Restaurant recently added a cocktail of cucumber, sake and vodka topped with lumps of wasabi and seared sushi tuna. The national chain Morton's is considering rolling out a new "Jameson and ginger" drink promoted by the whiskey's maker, the French conglomerate Pernod Ricard. And this season, Marriott sent out recipes to 320 hotels that included a new mojito that uses basil instead of mint.

With so many cocktails out there already, it's pretty tough to break new ground and come up with something that tastes good. Many bartenders lack the training to develop drinks with the proper balance between bitter and sweet, in part because most bartending schools -- unlike cooking academies -- can't encourage students to taste drinks as they make them. For reasons of liability and cost, these schools don't use actual liquor: Students make hundreds of drinks in a typical 40-hour course, so they often practice with colored water and dishwashing soap.

Meanwhile, bartenders are being asked by managers to follow constantly morphing directions. The Sweetwater Restaurant and Martini Bar in Naperville, Ill., has about 50 different kinds of martinis on its bar menu, and the list changes every three months. "It can absolutely be overwhelming," says bartender George Gellis. The martini menu at Lola's in Los Angeles carries this warning: "Martinis are not returnable! All ingredients are listed. Please order accordingly."

I don't know about you guys but "I cringe when people call anything in a martini glass a martini."

I say call me old fashioned or just not trendy or whatever. I guess I am the light-weight here though cause the multi, multi-billion dollar industry keeps selling those bubble gum, watermelon, infused crap and call them martinis!!!

Sorry, they are not for me!