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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by Sarah, Proud and Tall|  January 18, 20149:23 pm| 111 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, The Gay Enemy Within

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In December 2013, in a 6-1 vote, the City Council of Shreveport, Louisiana passed a non-discrimination ordinance which covered LGBT people. The one vote against was a councilman by the name of Ron Webb.

Webb recently introduced a motion to repeal the non-discrimination ordinance.

Transwoman Pamela Raintree turned up to the City Council meeting where Webb’s motion was to be debated, and this happened:

In her speech against the motion Raintree said, “Leviticus 20:13 states, ‘If a man lie also with mankind as he lieth with a woman, they shall surely put him to death.’ I brought the first stone Mr. Webb, in case that your Bible talk isn’t just a smoke screen for personal prejudices.”

Webb withdrew his motion, which might just go to show that it’s not entirely impossible for a godbotherer to feel shame.

Via Towleroad.

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Reader Interactions

111Comments

  1. 1.

    Ninedragonspot

    January 18, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    Awesome.

  2. 2.

    Baud

    January 18, 2014 at 9:26 pm

    Looks like Webb is going straight to hell.

    BTW. Shreveport?! I’m impressed.

  3. 3.

    YellowJournalism

    January 18, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    This is how you stand up to prejudice and bigotry, everyone. She’s brave and not backing down.

  4. 4.

    Trentrunner

    January 18, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    I know neither of these two people. But just imagine the life of smooth, blithe privilege that councilman has breezed on his entire life, and then imagine the unending rain of shit and hate and scorn and derision and jeers and assaults and God knows what else that woman has endured for her entire life.

    And then marvel at what she just f*cking did.

    Obama should give her the f*cking Presidential Medal of Freedom.

  5. 5.

    TaMara (BHF)

    January 18, 2014 at 9:51 pm

    Courage. She has it.

  6. 6.

    mdblanche

    January 18, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    @Baud: 6-1. Was Webb really thinking the rest of the council was going to reverse itself? It seems like he was just wasting everybody else’s time to begin with.

  7. 7.

    Yatsuno

    January 18, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    @mdblanche: I never underestimate the sense of entitlement the culture warriors have. Plus there may have been some turnover in the council membership. But as the gentleman from Iowa stated, they’ve already lost. This is just their rear action trying to forestall the inevitable.

  8. 8.

    Aimai

    January 18, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Wow! What a woman! Im proud she’s playing for my team!

  9. 9.

    the Conster

    January 18, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    All it takes is to bring a rock and dare them? Pamela Raintree, you have cracked the code! Well played Pamela Raintree, well played.

  10. 10.

    RobertDSC-Power Mac G5 Dual

    January 18, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    @TaMara (BHF):
    No doubt.

  11. 11.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 18, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    Pamela Raintree. Another name to add to the roster of strong, brave, passionate men and women who know what’s right and don’t hesitate to share their views where it counts. Love that she actually brought a stone :-)

    And I have a kind of lame question for the always-brilliant Juicetariat. Is there a comprehensive term for those of us who are not L, G, B or T, but who in every way are supportive of the LGBT community? I’d like to believe that “decent human being” would cover it, but if there is a specific label, I’d love to know what it is. Thanks, and as always, I hope my naïve question doesn’t offend (you’ll let me know if it does, yes?).

  12. 12.

    Yatsuno

    January 18, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Ally. You’re our ally. That term has been seized and run with by many supportive organisations around the country. And I would be proud and happy to call you one. :)

  13. 13.

    Alexandra

    January 18, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Family. :)

  14. 14.

    dp

    January 18, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    @Baud: Yes. I wish we could get Baton Rouge to do the same, but no luck so far.

  15. 15.

    Betty Cracker

    January 18, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    In the thread below, lots of great advice was given for lodgings and food in Minneapolis. Any advice on cheap hotels and interesting restaurants in New York City? My mom, daughter and I will be there for a wedding in July.

    I’ve been to NYC before, but it was 20 years ago. I see bargain hotels online, but recommendations are welcome. Hoping to be somewhere in Manhattan. Some of the wedding party are staying in Times Square, but they’re better capitalized.

  16. 16.

    raven

    January 18, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Straight but not narrow.

  17. 17.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 18, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Go stay with my ex. Tell her I said you could. She lives on the Upper East Side.

  18. 18.

    Yatsuno

    January 18, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    @Betty Cracker: This sounds like Purple Girl and Psi territory to me. Hopefully they both see this.

    I’m like you, I haven’t been there in ages. But the NYD is a city kid, so it’s possible I might end up navigating the hell that is La Guardia soon.

    @Alexandra: This. Also. Too.

  19. 19.

    Hillary Rettig

    January 18, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Allies.

  20. 20.

    Mike in NC

    January 18, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Godbotherers are quite shameless, from my experience.

  21. 21.

    celticdragonchick

    January 18, 2014 at 10:43 pm

    She is utterly amazing. I am so proud to have trans sisters like her.

  22. 22.

    muddy

    January 18, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    I’m going to find a nice rock and carry it around with me in case god botherers start up. It’s perfect! I’ll write Pamela Raintree on it with a sharpie so I don’t forget.

  23. 23.

    muddy

    January 18, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    There’s a new Karl Pilkington show starting tonight, The Moaning of Life.

  24. 24.

    Betty Cracker

    January 18, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Kudos to Ms. Raintree! (Had to switch devices to see it. Worth it!)

  25. 25.

    Yatsuno

    January 18, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    @Betty Cracker: BTW did you see the article I put up the other day about the Seahawks mascot? Turns out he started as the Gator one!

  26. 26.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 18, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    @Yatsuno:
    @Alexandra:
    @raven:
    @ Hillary Rettig

    Thanks, all. Every one of those works for me. Proud to be a straight-but-not-narrow family ally.

  27. 27.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 18, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    @Yatsuno: A few years ago, I had to explain that to the kid.

    After Prop 8 passed, I kept a rainbow flag up on my desk. The kid asked, “Dad are you gay?” My reply was no, but I’m supportive of equal rights for my LBGTQ brothers and sisters. I later had to explain to her what LBGTQ was. Sometimes the kid’s so clueless, even though she’s identified with the B part.

  28. 28.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 18, 2014 at 11:01 pm

    OT, but related, as Andrew Cuomo made a major mistake, Noisemax headline:

    Cuomo: ‘No Place’ in NY for Pro-Lifers

    In the article itself, Cuomo is quote as saying “Right-to-life, pro-assault weapons, anti-gay — if that’s who they are, they have no place in the state of New York because that’s not who New Yorkers are,” he continued.

    The major mistake is accepting the framing of “right-to-life, “pro-lifers”, whatever these assholes call themselves. He should call them “pro-forced-birth.” Because these meretricious scolds are. It’s all about punishing the sluts with them, and any woman who DARES to not toe their line is, by definition, a slut.

    Do not meekly accept their self labeling. Call these people what they are.

  29. 29.

    Yatsuno

    January 18, 2014 at 11:01 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Eh, I wouldn’t look into that too much. It seemed fashionable for awhile for mostly girls to identify as bisexual. Since a woman’s sexuality is more fluid than a man’s, there might be some truth to it.

  30. 30.

    Betty Cracker

    January 18, 2014 at 11:02 pm

    @Yatsuno: I didn’t see it. I’ll have to Google it. One of my cousins had a job playing Goofy at Disney World. He got kicked in the stones dozens of times. I wonder if sports mascots are similarly abused?

  31. 31.

    Schlemizel

    January 18, 2014 at 11:10 pm

    @muddy:

    I can almost guarantee you will end up getting smacked with it, some of those guys are VERY self-righteous.

  32. 32.

    Cervantes

    January 18, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    which might just go to show that it’s not entirely impossible for a godbotherer to feel shame.

    Thanks, I needed that.

    On the other hand, perhaps we should wait to see what fresh hell he devises tomorrow.

  33. 33.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 18, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    @Yatsuno: I generally do not inquire about her sex life. About 10 years ago, she told me she was curious and a few months later Bi. I did ask a few years later if she still considered herself bisexual, she was in the Air Force at the time(pre DADT repeal), and she said she was. That was probably about 5 years ago and I intend to inquire no further.

  34. 34.

    MikeJ

    January 18, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    BTW did you see the article I put up the other day about the Seahawks mascot? Turns out he started as the Gator one!

    Croc to Hawk

  35. 35.

    Cervantes

    January 18, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    I never underestimate the sense of entitlement the culture warriors have.

    Raintree is not a “culture warrior”?

  36. 36.

    Schlemizel

    January 18, 2014 at 11:16 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Better to ask people who liver around there but here is my only recent experience”

    We stayed at the Paramount about 3 years ago. It had just been renovated. The rooms were tiny but clean & comfortable. It was very reasonable – to the point that we figured we might have to look for another place as it is about 2 blocks off Times Square (how could it be that inexpensive?). But ask for a room on the higher floors, There is a theater across the street & one about a half block up & both put on post show meet-n-greet in the street.

  37. 37.

    Skerry

    January 18, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Warm thoughts requested for the family of an old friend who ended her life today. She leaves a young adult son. Depression is a bitch.

  38. 38.

    ruemara

    January 18, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    In honor of this wonderful woman (I tend not to use trans unless I’m discussing a biological issue) may I present my top costume of the day, this fine away team member. It was really nice to see such open acceptance at the costuming show I went to. Makes me happy to know love of endless hours of sewing is the only prereq. Some of the men had fine costumes as well, like this Dutch peasant one. Consider this costume, and ask yourself, could I sit there and handsew all that stuff on the dress? Yes, it’s handsew. All the ruffles, the pleats, etc. HOLEEE CRAP. I had trouble sewing a few simple bags to hold my lens. It was fun and a little humbling since I seem to be stupid.

  39. 39.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 18, 2014 at 11:18 pm

    @Skerry: Sincere condolences.

  40. 40.

    Gex

    January 18, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    @Yatsuno: This. What this shows is how the religious conservative bullies like to yell and yell and then have the state administer punishment for him. But asking him to condemn her personally? He’s too much a coward.

    It reminds me about how the anti-abortion nut jobs are universally stumped when you ask them what sentence women who get an abortion should receive. They are too chicken-shit to think through their policy ideas to their logical conclusion – which is sending women to jail and is something they don’t seem prepared to do. So instead they yell and yell and then try to make the state ensure no woman gets one so they don’t have to answer that question ever.

  41. 41.

    muddy

    January 18, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    @Schlemizel: Yabbut, first stone? Is one of them going to say he’s sin free?

  42. 42.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 18, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    @ruemara: I sewed a pillow case in 7th grade. It was hideous. I can do buttons though.

  43. 43.

    jl

    January 18, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    Nice gesture from Ms. Raintree.

    I don’t know how any scrupulous Bible believing Xtianists can survive in Louisiana.

    They would have to condemn eating crawdads and shrimp too, since those are also roads to hell. Not sue how that would go over.

  44. 44.

    Schlemizel

    January 18, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    @muddy: YES, that is exactly what some of them will pretend in public

  45. 45.

    MikeJ

    January 18, 2014 at 11:22 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Tell her I said you could. She lives on the Upper East Side.

    NYC movers always say that upper east side is more clothes than books. Upper west side is more books than clothes.

  46. 46.

    Gex

    January 18, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    @Skerry: Oh geez. Condolences. Best wishes to her son and family and to you going forward.

  47. 47.

    Jay C

    January 18, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Is there a comprehensive term for those of us who are not L, G, B or T, but who in every way are supportive of the LGBT community? I’d like to believe that “decent human being” would cover it, but if there is a specific label, I’d love to know what it is.

    Naaah, no need to overthink it: “decent human being” is descriptive enough….

  48. 48.

    Belafon

    January 18, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    @Cervantes: I think he was talking about Webb.

  49. 49.

    jl

    January 18, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    What’w with the can’ edit your own comment stuff again?

    Anyway, I forgot, they would just interpret St. Paul’s famous dream of ‘all the beast of the field’ being offered to mankind from heaven in a perfectly narrow and convenient way, like a bigoted Pharisee. Which BTW was not how St. Paul interpreted his own dream. But whatever it takes to get your hate on through the night, i guess.

  50. 50.

    muddy

    January 18, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    @Schlemizel: It’s as well that I don’t come off as a cheek turner then.

  51. 51.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 18, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    @MikeJ:

    NYC movers always say that upper east side is more clothes than books.

    Sounds about right. I kept almost all the books. She had over 150 pairs of shoes when we split up.*

    *Not saying I don’t have a lot of clothes; I do. I just have a shit load of books too. And albums.

  52. 52.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 18, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    @jl: I thought that was Peter.

  53. 53.

    jl

    January 18, 2014 at 11:32 pm

    TPM has some interesting tidbits from the Mitt documentary. I guess I will have to watch it someday.

    ‘ In another scene, [Mitt] waxed poetic about how he was born into privilege. “I’m standing on [my father’s] shoulders… He’s the real deal,” he said. “I started where he ended up. I started off with money and education and Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.” Romney showed a level of self-awareness that millions of Americans probably didn’t know he was capable of ‘

    ‘ “He’s a very good debater. He’s a lot better than the other guys,” said Mitt Romney…. After the first debate, which Romney won handily in the polls, he didn’t get his hopes up. “Sitting presidents,” he reminded his inner circle, “get crushed in the first debate … and then they come back prepared.” ‘

    And I guess Mitt is a nice considerate family man.

    ‘MITT’: Five Big Revelations About Romney In The New Documentary
    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mitt-romney-netflix-documentary-tpm-review

    So, I guess I’ll have to watch now. The idea that Mitt could be a thoughtful, sefl-aware, nice guy gives me the chills, though. If had displayed some of that side of him, he would have had a much better chance of winning. And that would have been a complete disaster for the country.

    Wonder why he decided to play up his A-hole side for the campaign? Maybe because his heart was not in the race, and he just went along with what goofus GOP political operatives said was the way to do it?

    Edit: Or maybe all his years with Bain Capital trained him that was the way a person leads?

  54. 54.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 18, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    @jl:

    Or maybe all his years with Bain Capital trained him that was the way a person leads?

    That and cluelessness.

  55. 55.

    jl

    January 18, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    Also heard on news today that NJ politcos are now accusing Christie’s staff and Port Authority cronies of running shakedown schemes with the Sandy disaster aid. Had to ‘do some stuff’ to get the aid.

    And I see in TPM that a lawyer in the case says somebody has ‘a story to tell’, if he is granted immunity.

    Looks like we will be moving on from this scandal, very very slowly and after lots of neck craning and disaster gawking.

  56. 56.

    kdaug

    January 18, 2014 at 11:42 pm

    “I brought your first stone.”

    Point-blank awesome.

  57. 57.

    PsiFighter37

    January 18, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    6th Street is truly hopping at this time of night. That said, I need to sleep early so I can get Franklins BBQ tomorrow.

  58. 58.

    MikeJ

    January 19, 2014 at 12:00 am

    @PsiFighter37:

    6th Street is truly hopping at this time of night.

    I saw GbV at Stubbs’ once. Austin is the only part of Texas in which I’ve had a good time (other than my gfriend visiting in Houston. The fun was unrelated to Houston and completely related to not leaving the hotel.)

  59. 59.

    Yatsuno

    January 19, 2014 at 12:03 am

    @Betty Cracker: Okay I found it. Neat tale and I hope he stays asymptomatic for a very long time.

  60. 60.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:06 am

    @MikeJ: I’ve been to Dallas a couple of times (nearest approximation of civilization to Ft. Sill). I’d rather be in NOLA or Memphis if I must be in the South. I am sure this will bring up many objections, but so far that’s my view.

  61. 61.

    MikeJ

    January 19, 2014 at 12:11 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Having grown up in Memphis I have a completely different set of objections to it.

  62. 62.

    Cervantes

    January 19, 2014 at 12:11 am

    @Belafon:

    I think he was talking about Webb.

    Yes, thanks, but I was asking about Raintree.

    (Or maybe not really asking.)

  63. 63.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:13 am

    @MikeJ: I love music (Stax) and the food. Couldn’t live there.

  64. 64.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 12:14 am

    @MikeJ: I’ve had the displeasure of traveling to Houston and Dallas on bidnes for Satan. I’ll take Dallas any day, and I hate Dallas. I went to San Antonio for the kid’s BMT graduation and it was nice, but still Texas.

  65. 65.

    SarahT

    January 19, 2014 at 12:16 am

    @Betty Cracker: Hotels: Hotel 17 & Hotel 33 – tiny little rooms but clean & dirt cheap for NYC, weekly & monthly rates available, popular w/arts/fashion/music types from Europe & Japan. Of the two, I’d go with Hotel 17 (Gramercy Park area). It’s opposite Stuyvesant Square on a lovely block, & near Union Square (major subway station, terrific Greenmarket four days a week).

    Savoy Suites in Chelsea & the Cosmopolitan Hotel downtown (Tribeca/City Hall area) have bigger rooms, but still reasonable for NYC.
    Off-Soho Suites on the Lower East Side isn’t that cheap anymore but you get an apartment w/full kitchen, etc.

    Hotel Edison in Midtown & the Marcel near Gramercy Park – more upscale but both have frequent good deals.

    Food: Great Jones Cafe (East Village, 54 Great Jones St., aka 3rd & 3rd) – best Cajun food outside Louisiana, awesome staff, kitchen open ’til at least midnight, & best of all, free VINYL jukebox !

    Veselka (East Village, 2nd Ave. @ E.9th St.) – 24-7 Polish/Ukrainian food w/some actual healthy options. Delicious & cheap. Some great little stores around there, too.

    Maharlika & Jeepney (both on 1st Ave. in the East Village) – excellent Filipino food w/fun atmosphere.

    Also, the E. Village around 7th to 12th Sts., from 3rd Ave. to Ave. A, is a mecca for all things Japanese. Blanking on the name, dammit, but a wonderful Japanese-French
    bakery restaurant on E.9th St., the Sunrise Mart on 3rd Ave., and Hasaki sushi on E. 9th are my faves.

    Molly’s Shebeen (Gramercy Park area, 3rd Ave @ 22nd St.) – really authentic Irish pub, delicious food, wood-burning fireplace.

    Katz’s Deli & Russ & Daughters – Lower East Side landmarks, both on E. Houston St., not that cheap but worth the hype. Russ is takeout only but on the plus side, no tourists there reenacting that scene from “When Harry Met Sally”. Right near the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, which is ace.

    Full House (Chinatown – 97 Bowery). Delicious everything. Walk off lunch & head up to Pearl River, the Chinese department store, on Broadway near Grand St. (Soho) – you’ll want to buy everything, though – for real.

    Orion Diner (Gramercy area, E.23 st @ 2nd Ave.) – perfect example of NYC-type 24-7 coffee shop w/huge menu, hideous decor, surprisingly good food – even the fish specials are good & fresh.
    Right near best thrift shopping in NYC (E.23 St. from 2nd to Lexington Aves.)

    Splurges; Employees Only (West Village, Hudson St. near W.10th). Awesome food & fancy cocktails.

    The House (Gramercy Park, E. 17 St. between Irving Place & Park Ave. South). Good food but great atmosphere & wine list.

    La Paella (E. Village, E. 9th St. – really good tapas.

    Le Chat Noir & Match Cafe (Upper East Side, E.60’s near Madison Ave. – lovely bistros, both great after going to The Frick Museum, which is a must-see.

    Have fun !

  66. 66.

    MikeJ

    January 19, 2014 at 12:19 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: If you drew a line between Stax and Ardent (where Big Star recorded) that’s pretty much where I lived, physically and mentally.

    I’m amused that the Four Way grill, which was kind of a local dive soul food joint now has a fancy web site that declares that they do catering. Happy for the people that run it, but when I used to go half my white friends wouldn’t even go to that neighborhood.

  67. 67.

    BethanyAnne

    January 19, 2014 at 12:20 am

    @Skerry: I’m so sorry to hear that.

  68. 68.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:22 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA: My parents, who have been forced into TX by social obligations more times than they would have wished, say that San Antonio has character.

  69. 69.

    Cervantes

    January 19, 2014 at 12:23 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    She had over 150 pairs of shoes when we split up.

    May I just ask … How many feet did she have?

  70. 70.

    TS

    January 19, 2014 at 12:23 am

    @Yatsuno:

    I never underestimate the sense of entitlement the culture warriors have. Plus there may have been some turnover in the council membership. But as the gentleman from Iowa stated, they’ve already lost. This is just their rear action trying to forestall the inevitable.

    This time they lost – but as women and minorities have been discovering for the past many years – they NEVER stop trying to enforce their own strangled morality on others. They have to be fought over and over again. When they cannot repeal abortion rights they find ways to close down the clinics. When they cannot stop minorities from voting – they force them into 10 hour queues, demand photo ID, make sure they can’t afford to vote. It never stops.

  71. 71.

    MikeJ

    January 19, 2014 at 12:24 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    San Antonio has character.

    At least the basement of the Alamo does.

  72. 72.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 12:24 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    Nothing is cheap in New York City. In November I stayed at the Salisbury Hotel, 123 W. 57th Street, and I can recommend it. It is inexpensive by Manhattan standards. It’s across the street from Carnegie Hall and two blocks from Central Park.

    I’ll leave the restaurant recommendations to the locals.

  73. 73.

    Yatsuno

    January 19, 2014 at 12:25 am

    @Skerry: That is horrible. May the light find not only her but her loved ones as well.

  74. 74.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 12:27 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: I liked it, but it was only for 2 days. The kid had to live there for 3 1/2 years, HATES the place.

    (Had to as in duty station in the USAF)

  75. 75.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:28 am

    @Cervantes: Just the two. But they were very small (oddly, this did not affect the prices of said shoes). OTOH she wanted me to be well-shod as well and I now have a lot of very nice shoes that will serve me for a long time.

  76. 76.

    Gex

    January 19, 2014 at 12:29 am

    @TS: This. And with gays it is going to be trying to pass “religious protections” laws and rolling back public accommodation laws so every two-bit hater with a Bible can trump gays’ legal rights. See for instance the case where a man was kicked out of his husband’s hospital room in Missouri even though he also had Power of Attorney. I had heard it suggested that Missouri’s religious freedom law gave the hospital the right to disregard any contractual agreements made without the hospital’s approval – quite possibly even trumping that PoA.

  77. 77.

    Yatsuno

    January 19, 2014 at 12:30 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Actually…San Antonio isn’t that bad. Yeah it’s still Tejas but it does have actual culture and things beyond steak and cowpokes. And the Alamo is small. There I said it.

    @Gex: A lot of this shit ends up in the courts, where the Republican Presidents can really fuck things up even long after their terms end. To wit: Fat Tony Scalia and the many Republican judges on the federal benches. I know this won’t end here, but one retreat still needs to be celebrated, then built upon. The courts can change things, but they are not our saviours here.

  78. 78.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 12:31 am

    @MikeJ:

    San Antonio is actually pretty cool. Lots of really good restaurants. I haven’t been there in a few years, though.

  79. 79.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 12:32 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I like Austin and San Antonio way better than Dallas and Houston.

  80. 80.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:33 am

    @Yatsuno: That was pretty close to mom and dad’s appraisal. It just doesn’t cry for my visit.

  81. 81.

    PurpleGirl

    January 19, 2014 at 12:33 am

    @Betty Cracker:
    @Yatsuno:

    Yes, I’ve seen the ask.

    Off the top of my head right now I can’t think of inexpensive hotels in Manhattan. I will think on it and send recommendations. There has been a spate of new hotels being built along Queens Boulevard which are on a bus line that goes into Manhattan. I think they are around $120 a night — that seems to be the current low price but I’ll double check it.

  82. 82.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 12:36 am

    @Skerry:

    My condolences to you and your friend’s family.

  83. 83.

    MikeJ

    January 19, 2014 at 12:37 am

    Two seconds of hockey, 142 minutes of penalties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlel1VPZ4zA

  84. 84.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 19, 2014 at 12:39 am

    @jl:

    he just went along with what goofus GOP political operatives said was the way to do it?

    I can’t believe that for an instant. He was surrounded by yes-men, just the way he likes it.

    No, this kinder, gentler Mitt Romney is windowdressing for the documentary cameras. The REAL Mitt Romney is the privileged asshole at his private prep school and the one talking to his fellow rich privileged assholes about the 47%.

  85. 85.

    Yatsuno

    January 19, 2014 at 12:39 am

    @Steeplejack: The River Walk is a bit touristy, but still worth seeing and going down. I recall eating at a couple nice places along there but as a poor college student I couldn’t afford too much extravagance. But there’s a few other neat things besides that worth checking out.

    Of course I recall the River Walk best for almost getting the band TA arrested. That was fun.

    @MikeJ: Heh. Go ‘Nucks!

  86. 86.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 19, 2014 at 12:40 am

    @MikeJ: jeebus.

  87. 87.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 12:44 am

    @Steeplejack: When I was there, the kid, her sister and I went to a Korean restaurant in SA. Best Korean food I’ve ever had, including Korea.

  88. 88.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 12:47 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    I finally got the Moto X activated today after some backing and forthing to find a phone from which to do the activation. (Land lines and pay phones are getting scarce.)

    I can now reliably turn the phone on and off, and the one phone call I made sounded great, but it’s definitely going to be a rich journey of discovery. The look and feel are different from my old phone—the Moto X is closer to “straight” Android, I guess—and I’ve got to learn how to twiddle the dials and pull the levers. I may even have to RTFM, God forbid.

    I had a moment of panic when I couldn’t find Google Navigation anywhere, but it turns out it has been subsumed into Google Maps. Takes a few more clicks to get down to it, but it looks like it works substantially the same. Anything to spare me from Verizon’s app. Ugh.

  89. 89.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 12:50 am

    @Steeplejack: I rooted my note about a week after I got it, along with the s-view case; I never have to see Verizon except for the bill which my wife gets.

    Wait, it comes with a manual?

  90. 90.

    Yatsuno

    January 19, 2014 at 12:52 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA: I notice the wife was not along to adjudicate. :)

    Actually I’m gonna try to cook a few Korean things when I get back home. I can get the ingredients easily enough, I think I just need to update my cookware. Correction: I KNOW I need to update my cookware..

  91. 91.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 12:59 am

    @Yatsuno:

    I notice the wife was not along to adjudicate. :)

    She had to work, so she didn’t make the trip.

  92. 92.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 1:00 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    No manual included, but there’s one on line at the Motorola site. One thing I realized today while decommissioning the old phone is that after four years there were still things I wanted to change or reconfigure but never got around to doing. So with the new one I’m motivated, at least for the moment, to figure out how to set things up exactly the way I want them.

    I’ll wait to see about rooting it after I get the training wheels off.

  93. 93.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 19, 2014 at 1:05 am

    @Steeplejack: The note has a s-window feature that only works with a limited number of programs. I wanted to use more and rooting was the only way to do that.

  94. 94.

    Betty Cracker

    January 19, 2014 at 1:06 am

    @SarahT: Perfect! Thank you SO much!

  95. 95.

    PurpleGirl

    January 19, 2014 at 1:11 am

    Betty — Would you be open to a BJ meet-up while you’re in NYC? I’m sure a bunch of the NYC area people would like to meet you.

  96. 96.

    Betty Cracker

    January 19, 2014 at 1:18 am

    @Steeplejack: Thank you. I know my mom is keen to see Central Park (she’s never been to NYC). Staying near it would be great.

    @Yatsuno: The Alamo is shockingly tiny. You know what else is? Plymouth Rock. It’s a sad little chair-sized rock in a cage. Thanks for the link.

  97. 97.

    Betty Cracker

    January 19, 2014 at 1:24 am

    @PurpleGirl: I’d like to, but I’m not sure I’ll have time. It’s my sister’s wedding, so there’s a lot of family stuff. And I’m not sure it would be safe to leave my mom and 15-year-old unsupervised. not even for a couple of hours. They are equally untrustworthy in unfamiliar settings.

  98. 98.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2014 at 1:28 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    My room was not super cheap, but my friend had a small suite with her two adult daughters, and I think that worked out pretty well per capita. So it will depend on your domestic configuration. The hotel is quiet, and the rooms are pretty nice. Wi-fi is not free, if that’s an issue.

  99. 99.

    mdblanche

    January 19, 2014 at 1:38 am

    @Betty Cracker: Plymouth Rock has been reduced in size both deliberately and accidentally as it was moved around over the years and is only a fraction of its original size. The cage is there in part to prevent people from trying to breaking off more chunks of it for souvenirs. For a supposedly beloved national monument it has been abused pretty heavily.

  100. 100.

    SarahT

    January 19, 2014 at 1:48 am

    @Betty Cracker: my pleasure ! Hope you get some decent deals.

  101. 101.

    SarahT

    January 19, 2014 at 1:50 am

    @PurpleGirl: Hell yeah – count ne in ! And bring the whole Cracker family, too !

  102. 102.

    SarahT

    January 19, 2014 at 2:05 am

    @Betty Cracker: just remembered:

    King & Grove Hotel (Murray Hill, E.29 St.) & EastGate Towers (also Murray Hill, in thr 30s) – The former has tiny chic rooms but lots of good deals, the latter is more apartment-type rooms. Also there’s at least one of those Pod-type hotels which have cheap, chic, tiny rooms.

    Nane of the French-Japanese Bakery is Panya.

    Avoid like the plague: Milford Plaza (Mildew Plaza) & the Hotel New Yorker (owned by Moonies).

  103. 103.

    Glocksman

    January 19, 2014 at 2:37 am

    @Steeplejack:

    The Moto X is pretty easy to root.
    If you don’t mind invalidating your warranty, that is.

    When I considered an X (wound up with a Nexus 5) I found out that the bootloader is locked down and can’t be unlocked by a simple ‘fastboot oem unlock’.

    If your device wasn’t purchased from ATT or Verizon, Moto has a web page where they’ll walk you through unlocking the bootloader, but it *will* invalidate your warranty.

    If your phone is from ATT or Verizon, forget about the bootloader unlock unless someone’s cashed in on the $1100+ bounty the guys at XDA-Developers pooled together for the first person to succeed in doing so.

    The X used to be rootable on older versions of 4.3, but they’ve patched the exploit and I don’t know if anyone’s succeed in root without unlocking the bootloader first on Kit Kat.

    All of that said, you may find yourself not missing root at all unless Verizon’s loaded it up with crapware that you need to root in order to uninstall.

    The main reason I bothered with rooting my 5 was so I could run AdAway.

    Ads? What ads?
    I don’t see no steenkin’ ads. :)

    The other reason was to run a hacked SystemUI.apk that centered the clock and enabled percentage beside the battery icon.

    Screencap

    Anyway, have fun on your new phone.

  104. 104.

    Glocksman

    January 19, 2014 at 2:38 am

    WTF?
    What provoked moderation on the comment I posted just before this one?

  105. 105.

    Glocksman

    January 19, 2014 at 2:41 am

    Was it adaway?

  106. 106.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    January 19, 2014 at 3:03 am

    @Glocksman:

    Thanks. I may have questions as I go along.

  107. 107.

    Glocksman

    January 19, 2014 at 4:16 am

    @Steeplejack (phone):

    If I can help, no problem.
    If not, I can point you to the experts over at the XDA-Developers Forum

    If it can be done, someone there can do it.

    The only other reason I can think of for the average person* to root an X other than getting rid of ads and deleting carrier installed crapware would be to enable WiFi Hotspot tethering without paying Verizon their blood money.

    Though IIRC, the FCC is forcing Verizon to allow capped data users to tether free of charge.
    If you’re on a ‘grandfathered’ unlimited data plan they can still disable tethering.
    That’s where root and tethering apps come in. :)

    *I’m one of those ‘just because I can’ people when it comes to carriers dictating what I can and can’t do with my own phone.

  108. 108.

    bmaccnm

    January 19, 2014 at 5:50 am

    @Betty Cracker: Very late to the party, but when in the city, I always (three times now) stay at The Jane hotel on West 14th near the river. Tiny rooms with scruplulously clean bathrooms down the hall, clean, funky, interesting place. I am a middle aged lady, and I feel plenty safe there. $99/night for a single, $140 for a double.

  109. 109.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 19, 2014 at 8:15 am

    @Glocksman:

    Four links.

  110. 110.

    Betty Cracker

    January 19, 2014 at 8:59 am

    @bmaccnm: Thank you! I did see that one online, and it looked like a good possibility. Nice to hear a report from on the ground.

    @SarahT: Mildew and Moonies are both to be avoided at all costs. Thanks!

  111. 111.

    e.a. foster

    January 19, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    Amazing! She is great!

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