Many conservatives complain that the health care bills are too big. Wait, they mean too long in written words? In there ongoing quest for irrelevancy, the Republican Party is trying it's best to be the party to oppose anything the Democratic Party does. They are also trying to redefine themselves as more conservative, which should lose them even more moderates. Instead of focusing on solutions to problems, they just want to make a spectacle and stop any progress. If you saw Unruly Republicans Disrupt Health Care Debate you'd see what I mean; objections for objections sake. Here's some examples from SPIN METER: 'War and Peace' in 209 pages? from AP.

( Clip )

Tags: health, news, politics
Mood: irritated

House passes health care reform bill - CNN

If we can come this far, there's no telling what else we can change. We can become a more compassionate and conscious people. A more perfect union is always possible, if we can put forth the effort. Yes we can.

One of the 39 Democrats to vote against it was Scott Murphy from my district. I called his office on Friday, the first time I've called a Congressman and learned he was still reading it, but I told them my preference.

I just sent an email asking him to explain his vote, so we'll see how that goes.

Tags: happy, health, news, politics
Mood: accomplished

CNN - Obama signs hate crimes bill into law... a law that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity... Former President George W. Bush had threatened to veto a similar measure, but Obama brought a reversal of that policy to the White House."

"Our nation's first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people." - Joe Solmonese, HRC President

This makes me feel better about being out in society, although I still try to avoid violence, regardless.

( President Obama Commemorates Enactment of Hate Crimes Prevention Act )

Tags: happy, news, politics, relationships, sex, transgendered, video
Mood: ecstatic

I try to minimize things like eating eggs and drinking milk, but it's hard to eliminate them, and I still consume products that use them. In case you didn't know, there's a video of people throwing live male chicks into a grinder, because they are not needed, only the females are. I guess life is cheap.

Being a vegan is hard. I can work towards the day when I can call myself one, if I can stay healthy.

Tags: news, vegetarianism, video
Mood: discontent

Aug.3: In a Special Comment, Countdown's Keith Olbermann slams members of Congress for acting more in the interests of their health industry campaign donors than their constituents who so clearly favor health care reform.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#32277034

Tags: health, news, politics, tv, video
Mood: restless

NY man guilty of hate crime in transgender slaying

My letter to the family of the victim:

All of us have fears, but we put them aside to live happy lives. I remember at the "Day of Remembrance" seeing that a person from New York, not far from Oswego where I went to school, was killed recently. Even though I didn't know Lateisha Green personally, I won't forget what happened, and I will keep moving towards a more just and peaceful society. I hope that our state will pass GENDA to protect against discrimination, but losing my job is not my only concern. We must stand together and tell everyone that hate crimes based on gender identity, or any other hate crime, is especially unacceptable in society. I am happy to see that justice was done, and I am hopeful for our future. Peace.

Tags: news, transgendered
Mood: numb

I am part of a new community on YouTube! I just posted my first video there, where I talk about some gender related issues that are coming to New York, once I talk to a bunch of people who posted earlier this week. After that, I posted a video as a response from my persona channel, talking about transition updates and Chaz Bono. If you have about 20 minutes, and don't find me talking to be boring, then check them out...

( YouTube Video )

Tags: camcorder, family, news, politics, transgendered, video, vlog
Mood: accomplished

When I see Michael Jackson, I see someone who seems like they are transgendered. Of course, only a person can say if they are or are not: themselves. We may never know. A person, who is one of the most popular people on the planet, would have a lot of pressure not to do something like transition, although Jackson seemed to do a lot of things that people didn't understand. Not all transgendered people transition, or even want to live as the opposite sex. Many just have different ways of expressing their gender. I don't really understand Michael, but from a distance it seemed like Jackson's journey was to express what was on the inside, and that just happened to be kind of feminine. So, there's your "freak" who, because of incredible fame, was attacked from all sides for being different and went into hiding. In all probability, the King of Pop was one of the nicest people you could meet, but will be remembered most for how they changed... I guess beauty really is skin deep, huh?

Jackson had a skin condition (vitiligo) that causes a person to lose melanin, the pigment in skin. Even people who learn about this still think it was something intentional.

Michael Jackson's performances were legendary. I hope we all can make the world a better place through our actions. "Make a better place for you and for me!"

Tags: music, news, transgendered
Mood: cynical

Project Natal

Video and voice recognition have been tried before with games, with moderate success. I am hopeful that this device will be of high enough quality, and fully integrated, to deliver the type of accurate experience I've hoped for. It certainly could give the motion controllers a run for their money. It seems like Microsoft is putting a lot of emphasis on this project, which is what's needed from a console maker to make it successful, and not just filling a small niche. The Wii has opened up gaming to more people, but this could bring it to everyone, and really change how we think about gaming in the future. Until it actually comes out, we'll have to play the waiting game!

Update: Penny Arcade is excited for Project Natal

Tags: games, news, xbox
Mood: hopeful

Tags: camcorder, happy, news, politics, relationships, school, sex, transgendered, video
Mood: accomplished