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Quote of the Week:
"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result".
Weekly Green Tip:
Before you throw something away, consider whether it could be donated instead. There are so many items that end up in our landfill that could be useful to others.
Set in a country westernized theme, the author brings to life two characters that are full
of personality. Surprisingly, the author is female but yet catches the essence of man to
man sex. She is very detailed from scenery of the open plains to boner popping male
action. This book was a page turner; I read it in 4 days. This book is so, for lack of better
comparison; “Brokeback Mountain”. I was all engrossed in the story line that there were
times that actual time passed by the hours. She sends you on a continual roller coaster
ride of experiences of all the characters and the ending, such like the beginning, is
captivating. This book is a, “MUST OWN”, for your personal library.
Book Notes: He would do anything to possess him. Deke McCallister has seen it all along
the dusty trails of the old west. But now, working as a ranch hand for the Crooked J- and
for the nasty owner, Harlan Jennings, Deke is about to get the surprise of his life…in
the form of love. The object of his affection is a young man named Wyatt, who, after a
sudden burst of passion; Deke dubs “sweet Lips.” Trouble is, Wyatt is the Boss’s son-and
they’ve been caught in the act.
He would do anything to love him. Knowing their own survival is at stake; both Deke
and Wyatt run off to spend their lives together. Chasing after them is a posse determined
to hang Deke for his actions and desperate to return Wyatt home safe. As the hunt
intensifies, Deke and Wyatt realize that this grand adventure is about one thing: their
growing love for each other. And while they must fight off their enemies by day, it is the
nights they look most forward to, a time for them to indulge their passions.
Our American Society is based on the ethic of Freedom. Our country was initially founded for religious, social and economic freedom. There was never a statement in the US Constitution or the Bill or Rights that some people were more deserving of Human Rights and inherent Freedoms than others. This was underscored by the Abolition of Slavery and later by Women's Rights and the Civil Rights movement. Up until the mid-1960's,it was illegal in 13 states for interracial marriages to occur. When these laws were overturned it was truly a statement of who we are as an American People. Why now do some, in the name of religion or "the natural way" want to block the ability of two people who love one another to form a union that is recognized in the eyes of the law as being equivalent to any other marital union? I fail to understand how anyone else's marriage, straight or gay, would impact mine that is in its 40th year. In a society that, for the most part, views marital vows as revocable and even at times disposable when made between men and women, to prevent same sex couple from the opportunity to form a bond that transcends casual and proclaims to everyone its desire for permanency, is irrational. To call marriage between a man and a woman "natural" and "God's will" makes no more sense than to say that marriage is the destiny for all heterosexual people living in the United States. To couch marriage as a requirement in order that there be procreation would null and void those marriages between couples that are unable to
conceive due to physiologic causes or age, or who desire not to have children. Do we truly extol the virtues of people for their ability to reproduce or do we just accept that as a part of humankind? Love is matter of the mind and heart. It cannot be dictated or limited by political edict. Constitutional changes that attempt to revoke the "inalienable rights" that the founders of this country so clearly wanted are "unnatural" and Un-American.
Our world is replete with problems, financial, international, environmental and political. Why erect barriers to one of the most reasonably accepted concepts, love between two people? Haven't we
better fights to fight than that?
As one of the founders and President of PFLAG (Parent's Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of Tulare and Kings Counties, my goal and the goal of all PFLAG members is to Advocate for the LGBTQI community, to Educate an ill-informed public and to Support the families and
friends of the LGBT community. There is a large network of LGBTQI people living in our counties. Many live shadow lives, attempting to blend in, cover their sexuality and be regarded as no different than the person next door. In fact, they are no different than the people next door, but many have lived with exclusion, derision, prejudice and the pain of non-acceptance. Many families have faced disruption to their entire value system (social and religious) when a member of their own "comes
out." Some LGBTQI people have tried or succeeded in ending their lives because of the societal stigma placed on them in our counties. At PFLAG we strive to make the community whole and to involve straight advocates in the journey for complete Equality. We want everyone to feel secure
and valued.
The declaration that Prop 8 is unconstitutional is one step and the journey is not over. I encourage all fair-minded people to join the movement of fairness. Come to PFLAG or support Equal Rights for All People. It's the right thing to do.
Steven L Palmer MD -President: PFLAG Tulare and Kings Counties
No same sex marriages in California for now.
So don't rush off to the County Clerk's Office this Thursday. The court
has issued a ruling to have the appeal in this case heard quickly, with
the hearing scheduled for the week of December 6th. The ruling is
below...
I read an interesting theory on this issue today. Seems some right
wingers are presenting the opinion that it might be better to let
California have legal same sex marriage since an appeal would eventually
take the issue to the Supreme Court. If the appeal had been denied and
same sex marriage was legal in California, it might have been better for
our opponents since the issue would not be taken to a national level
nearly as fast. But it looks like that's exactly where this is headed
now...
Filed order (EDWARD LEAVY, MICHAEL DALY HAWKINS and SIDNEY R.
THOMAS) Appellants' motion for a stay of the district court's order of
August 4, 2010 pending appeal is GRANTED. The court sua sponte orders
that this appeal be expedited pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate
Procedure 2. The provisions of Ninth Circuit Rule 31-2.2(a) (pertaining
to grants of time extensions) shall not apply to this appeal. This
appeal shall be calendared during the week of December 6, 2010, at The
James R. Browning Courthouse in San Francisco, California. The
previously established briefing schedule is vacated. The opening brief
is now due September 17, 2010. The answering brief is due October 18,
2010. The reply brief is due November 1, 2010. In addition to any
issues appellants wish to raise on appeal, appellants are directed to
include in their opening brief a discussion of why this appeal should
not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing. See Arizonans For
Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 66 (1997). IT IS SO ORDERED.
[7441574] (JS)
Due to overwhelming interest in the Prop 8 appeal, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has created a website for updated information. You can go there and sign up for email alerts, read submitted documents, etc.
Visit THE SITE and stay in the know with the latest info!
Judge Vaughn Walker has ended the temporary stay on legal
same sex marriage in the state of California. It's expected that the opposition
will attempt to have this overturned in the next few days but the merits of
that plea may not hold up for the 9th District Court.
Judge Walker has ruled that same sex marriages will once
again be legal on Wednesday August 18th at 5pm in the state of California.
I've added a new poll to the site. Go cast your vote today! If you think there aren't enough things in the south valley to do and have suggestions, let me know what they are and we can try to get something going!
One candidate for Governor of Minnesota has promised to veto marriage equality legislation and has ties to a Christian rock band that advocates death to gays.
Target and Best Buy, both based in Minneapolis, have donated $250,000 to a political committee supporting his campaign.
But they still have a chance to make it right. We've drafted an open letter calling on the companies to donate an equal amount to support fair-minded candidates. We'll publish it in a full-page ad in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Will you help us ratchet up the pressure by adding your name?
By signing on, you'll help make it clear that Target and Best Buy are risking the business of millions of pro-equality customers – and show the rest of corporate America, which is watching this situation very closely, that support for hateful and intolerant candidates won't go unnoticed.
But don't stop there. Print out our letter, take it to the manager of your local Target and Best Buy, and let them know how disappointed you are.
Here's the backstory: Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Target had donated $150,000 to the political committee MN Forward. Best Buy pitched in another $100,000.
MN Forward's mission? Elect as governor an anti-LGBT state representative with a long history of attacks on LGBT Americans. This representative's campaign even donated to a controversial "punk-rock Christian ministry" whose leader has advocated executing gays and lesbians!
After all these two companies have done to build a fair and equitable workplace, it's a slap in the face. In years past, Target and Best Buy consistently received 100 percent ratings on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation'sCorporate Equality Index.
They need to make this right – by donating an equal amount to support candidates who will fight for equality. But they won't do it just because we ask. They need to see that hundreds of thousands of customers across the country are upset and disappointed.
I hope Target and Best Buy will do the right thing. But it's up to us to show that fair-minded consumers are paying close attention to what they do next.
The verdict will be handed down tomorrow on the Federal Prop 8 trial. We will meet in Porterville for another Day of Decision Rally. We will stand in solidarity with a victory or another disappointing outcome. We hope you will come out and show your support. The event details are below. You can contact Brock for more information, brock93274@yahoo.com.
Wednesday August 4th, 5:00 pm in Porterville on the corner of Henderson & Potter in front of Savemart.
Vampire Transgression
--A Novel--
Author-- Michael Schiefelbein
Reviewed By; Leon Velasco
Rating of; Two Thumbs Down
I had taken too many months to read this book; probably because I’m not one for a “Vampire” story. Towards the end I was getting into it and when it came to the end I was like… NAH! It didn’t just end like that! And unfortunately it did. I don’t know if it is to make a sequel book but it didn’t look like it would end a way to do one. I was very disappointed and let down after all the lead up it just left one hanging. Like a 90 year old mans penis, (no offense, I’m headed that way). The detail for imagery is fine although I have never been to the places described but the author was really descriptive. He tried to make it a little erotic but he was too quick to get the act over with. I wonder if that’s how he is in real life. In my opinion pass the stake; this vampire book needs to be obliterated.
Book Note: Vistor Decimus is a two-thousand-year-old vampire, having last seen the sun when he was a roman soldier posted to Nazareth at the time of Jesus Christ. In the intervening years, he’s learned that there are only a couple of rules governing a vampires existence, but those rules are absolute: 1. Vampires are not allowed to associate with other vampires, and 2. Once a Vampire convinces a human to take his place as a vampire, he must leave the earthly realm for the Dark Kingdom. Now Victor has broken both rules—he’s sired his human lover, Paul, as a vampire and has stayed behind with him on Earth. The two enjoy an intense life as vampire lovers living in Georgetown and mingling at their private nightclub, where very little is forbidden. But their transgression is not taken lightly, and now agents of the Dark Kingdom are now on the prowl, looking to enforce the rules and, if necessary, punish Paul and Victor by threatening all that remains precious to them. Vampire Transgression marks the long-awaited return of Victor Decimus, a vampire with a complex past. Now, with Vampire Transgression, Michael Schiefelbein brings Victor’s story to new heights, revealing hitherto unseen complexities in the twilight world of the damned.
--“[An] audacious, erotic, and entertaining novel…sexy, suspenseful, and, yes, spiritual. Vampire Vow is a distinctive Debut.” – Philidelphia Gay News
--“[Schiefelbein] once again draws the reader into a spell. [Vampire Thrall] has enough suspense and sex to keep one reading with rapt attention until the last page.—Virginia Gazette
We all know and love our monthly Newslink paper. It’s informative and has something for just about everyone. We need your help south valley! We are looking for a volunteer to pick-up and distribute locally the newspaper each month. The newspapers are usually picked up at Wild Willy’s in
Goshen
and then you can distribute them about town. For example at Borders, PFLAG meetings, VPLC, TEDG and wherever else you feel would benefit from having our community paper. We are really looking for a long term commitment but if you can only do it for a month or two that would be great as well. So, if you are ready willing and able to keep this vital community resource available in our area, get in contact with us today! Newslink thanks you, I thank you and the community will thank you as well!
