News and Current Events - 2011

[doodler]

I'm glad we agree!

[Marge_Innavera]

from Metro Weekly:

John Geddes Lawrence, of Lawrence v. Texas, Has Died at 68

John Geddes Lawrence, the lead named plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that declared sodomy laws unconstitutional across the country, died on Nov. 20, according to an obituary posted by R.S. Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas. He was 68.

According to the obituary, Lawrence was born in Beaumont, Texas, on August 2, 1943, served in the U.S. Navy for four years and worked as a medical technologist in Texas hospitals until his retirement in 2009.

In the facts underlying the Supreme Court case, Lawrence v. Texas, Lawrence and Tyron Garner were arrested under Texas's Homosexual Conduct Law after police entered Lawrence's home on Sept. 17, 1998, and saw them "engaging in a sexual act." The couple challenged the law as unconstitutional, Lambda Legal backed their challenge, and the couple fought it up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jenner & Block partner Paul Smith then argued the case for Lawrence and Garner on March 26, 2003.

Three months later on June 26, 2003, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the court's opinion, holding, "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life. ... Persons in a homosexual relationship may seek autonomy for these purposes, just as heterosexual persons do."


http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/12/john-geddes-lawrence-of-lawren.html

Joe.My.God. reported that "The second Lawrence Vs. Texas plaintiff, Tyson Garner, died in 2006."


All the stories I found on this were posted in the last 24 hours, although the story and the obituary both say "November 20".     Obituary at   http://www.timeformemory.com/fh_obituary.cfm?obitid=36083&fhid=375&locationid=395

[AZ.bbm]

...
We were coming back from London last evening and a man in front of us, (smart suit, pinstripe trousers etc) was completely drunk, and asleep. Other passengers tried to wake him in case he missed his stop, but he was completely out of it.
Finally, we got to the station...he got up, got off the train, and walked away in a reasonably straight line. I was amazed, I thought he would be spending the night asleep in the sidings somewhere.

--What's his name? -- Over here, we call that guy "Uncle Sam"...

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

Not sure what you mean by the above ^^^

I'm not much wrapped up in the symbol of Uncle Sam as a representation of patriotism, but maybe I'm just objecting to the interpretation of the above picture, which I don't think has anything to do with drunkenness. Maybe I'm wrong.

It looks like the Pieta, I think it means the economy is broken, that therefore our liberty is at risk.

Or maybe I'm objecting to the idea that "we" call that guy Uncle Sam.  I don't.  That's like when Boehner and Mitch McConnell keep saying "The American People..." as if they have some clear majority supporting their weird policies (weird as far as this American is concerned.)

[fofol]

Not sure what you mean by the above ^^^

I'm not much wrapped up in the symbol of Uncle Sam as a representation of patriotism, but maybe I'm just objecting to the interpretation of the above picture, which I don't think has anything to do with drunkenness. Maybe I'm wrong.

It looks like the Pieta, I think it means the economy is broken, that therefore our liberty is at risk.

Or maybe I'm objecting to the idea that "we" call that guy Uncle Sam.  I don't.  That's like when Boehner and Mitch McConnell keep saying "The American People..." as if they have some clear majority supporting their weird policies (weird as far as this American is concerned.)

I agree Ellen - rob from the poor to give to the rich is weird enough, but to demand equal taxes from people you refuse to consider as citizens equal in the eyes of the law is just too damn weird for toleration.

[AZ.bbm]

Ellen,

In another interpretation, 'Uncle Sam' could be seen as the embodiment of the US Government, drunk with power, foreign influence and greed, faltering yet propped up by the Statue which represents the ideals and virtues of the American People, commiserating the current state of their gov't.

Merry Xmas!
-Stan

[doodler]

I know this is the season of good will and all that jazz, but if the US is by the people, for the people and of the people or some such thing, we ARE our government.

[Tony_]

...... but if the US is by the people, for the people and of the people or some such thing, we ARE our government.

 Well then, if that's how it really is, no intermediate stages that can go wrong, can I be the IRS?  Paypal would be ok, am not picky  ......

Oh, and Doodler, you might try for governing Health and Human Services !  Just think what you could do about keeping that fiendish Jaimie Oliver OUT of our borders!

Oilgun could have the Pentagon.  Wow, we could really settle things so much better.....

But that leaves odds and ends like, well, the State Department.  Any suggestions?  And keeping it Brokie would be easy if we got there first.

[doodler]

Donna for State. (Assuming by keeping it Brokie Timm Gunn is out.)

SO glad you're back!

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

Merry Christmas to you!

Ellen,

In another interpretation, 'Uncle Sam' could be seen as the embodiment of the US Government, drunk with power, foreign influence and greed, faltering yet propped up by the Statue which represents the ideals and virtues of the American People, commiserating the current state of their gov't.

Merry Xmas!
-Stan

well, I know, but... janjo's post was about one thing, then your post was about something else entirely, illustrated by a picture about something else entirely....

oh well, I don'tagree with the sentiments of the drawing as it's intended, either.  Just wishing political conversations could make more sense to me.

[doodler]

Remember when KFC offered a "Hillary" meal, consisting of two small breasts and two large thighs?
Now KFC is offering the "Obama Cabinet Bucket."  It consists of nothing but left wings and chicken shit.

[Tony_]

 With or without cole slaw?  Makes a difference.  Also, whether the wings have BBQ sauce.

[doodler]

KFC doesn't do BBQ.

[Marge_Innavera]

Remember when KFC offered a "Hillary" meal, consisting of two small breasts and two large thighs?
Now KFC is offering the "Obama Cabinet Bucket."  It consists of nothing but left wings and chicken shit.

How clever -- a sexist joke followed by a racist one.

[Marge_Innavera]

http://twitpic.com/7yvq3x