Proposition 8

I went to another volunteer session today for the No on Proposition 8 campaign. I'm working the morning of election day in Venice, helping to hand out palm cards and answer the questions of any undecided voters. While I haven't been able to devote the time that a lot of other "super-volunteers" have been contributing, I've put a lot of energy into the campaign over the last few weeks. I'm using this posting to explain why I've done this. 

People have commented on the amount of money that has gone into the No on 8 campaign as well as the fact that marriage may not be a good institution and a "right." I agree that the amount of money spent is unfortunate, and that the limitations of marriage as an institution are certainly notable (we've been thinking about this in my grad course, where we're reading entries from late Victorian New Woman writers). The money could be used for other causes (other kinds of social justice) and maybe marriage doesn't need to be an institution sanctioned by the state. 

At this point, though, these arguments seem ill-timed. Regardless of how someone feels about the expenditure of the money, the flaws of the institution, or the exact terminology of the debate, let's be pragmatic. We didn't decide we wanted to fight this battle; it was imposed on us. If we wake up on Wednesday and the constitution of California has been amended through the pro-Prop 8 people, it will be a loss for 16000 couples who've already gotten married. Certain kinds of futures--whether you like them or not--will no longer be viable for a whole part of the population. Discrimination will be part of the constitution. In short, gay people will be worse off than they are today. 

I know I'm a person who concerns himself with terms, with language, with discourse, and with abstract ideals on a day to day basis, but I'm not waffling here. Right now, it's about motivating voters. On Wednesday morning, once Proposition 8 has been voted down, then we can return to our worries about spending our money more effectively and working on making the US the utopia we want. 

After Break

Yes, I've neglected the blog entirely. I've been posting relevant news about my life on Facebook, I guess, though I'm kinda getting tired of that site. It has me disciplined in a way that I find annoying...after I see a movie, I rush to list it on there. Why do I do that? Am I looking for someone with whom to talk about movies? Probably.

Though the recent week was spent mostly on catching up with reading and grading after my parents, sister, and brother-in-law visited Kevin and me, I did manage to have fun over the last few days, catching the revival of Sweeney Todd at the Ahmanson Theatre, going to Disneyland on some leftover tickets, and watching the new BSG premier. 

Besides these entertainment events, the one "recreational" activity of the break was the start of a collection of ridiculous dinosaur pictures, which I've been posting on flickr. I'm oddly proud of these pictures, probably because they're the only creative output that I've had besides the paper comments and reports that I've been generating. Either way, check them out if you have a moment. They're weird, sure, but I think there are one or two that may tickle the fancy.

Meanwhile, it's back to the grind tomorrow. That's my life here.

Farewell day #2

After finally departing Charlottesville, I've decided to make another attempt at the top ten list I mentioned earlier in the summer. Here's the next two things worth mentioning.

Will be missed...
Chandler's Bakery. This will serve as a standard for all bakeries in my future. The everyday items like cupcakes, cookies, and breads are delicious, but the bakers are at the peak of their powers when it comes to the cakes made ahead of time. We had the cannoli cake for the defense party made here (the almond slivers were so good), and the Boston cream cake (which I sampled only recently) was a delight. They also make napoleons, and I am now experiencing serious regret for not having one at some point. Chandler's was also the place where I once bought a very cute dinosaur cupcake, only to have a ream of printer paper fall off the passenger seat in my car and squish it when I was checking out someone. Woe to the cupcake, and woe is me, for the fact that Chandlers will no longer be just up the street!

So long, bucko...
And the "worst of" Charlottesville site for today is also from the same mall as Chandler's, indicating how the best and crappiest can often be unhappy neighbors. If you haven't already guessed, I'm talking about the Carmike Cinemas 6 in Charlottesville. Bringing a wrecking ball to this establishment would only be an improvement to Mr. Jefferson's Virginia, since it would not only eliminate this flaming pile of a cinematic space, but save future viewers from having to run into the lobby because the image for the film (despite the presence of the audio) was missing or because the image was not lined up with the screen. It might also save future patrons from accidentally sitting down on a piece of twisted metal that they thought was a chair or from losing a flip-flop because it was permanently stuck to the gross gross gross floor of the theater. Kate put it best one time when we were all sitting in the dark of the theater (listening to the audio of the previews...they hadn't gotten the whole visual thing worked out yet!) by saying "Now is when we get mugged." It's that safe and action-packed, folks!

One quick caveat. Though I despise this theater, I should say that it was the place where I went to Pirates of the Caribbean with an eye-patch at the behest of Jordan and Mendy. This was a singular experience and will be cherished fondly despite the fact that I dislike the theater. Oh, and I also saw _Death to Smoochy_ here.

And from a photograph

After making the avatar below and not feeling particularly satisfied with it, I decided to see if the web could do a better job. Here's the result, with some refinement from me...

Disidentification

This really doesn't look like me, but I thought it would be interesting nonetheless...

No shrine!

Looking over the LA Times this morning, I was excited to see this wonderful rendering of a close friend. I like the picture not simply because of the delightful contrast it makes between the Tim and the man on the right, but because of the fact that the whole thing appears to be set on the bridge of the Enterprise D. The article was good also, but this is certainly a case where the picture is significant in its own right! How wonderful!

Golden

Okay, so I've arrived in Los Angeles, and done a lot of fun things, but, sadly, I've neglected to bring the cord for my digital camera, so I haven't been able to upload any of the wonderful pictures I've taken. So at this point, I can't post Kevin and I visiting the La Brea tar pits and other exciting moments. Nor, as you can see, have I continued my retrospect about Charlottesville's strengths and weaknesses. I may continue this...we'll see. In the meantime, I thought I would post some photos of the Harry Potter collage that Jordan and I made for Kate's birthday! You'll noticed the prominently placed dinosaur stickers to add some character outside the Potteriana. Check it out:

First, here's a picture of the entire collage:

And now a closeup detail:

Farewell Day #1

Sorely missed:

Sneak Reviews Video Store. I don't know how I really survived before I had found this video store. They really do have everything, and with my friend Jen working the desk, it's a great place to not only find a movie I've been curious about for years, but also to have an exciting conversation. The vintage films, television shows, and queer movies have been great, and the upstairs area organized by director has also been impressive. They had _2046_ before it had even hit American theaters and they also own a copy of the Star Wars Christmas special that features Bea Arthur as a special guest. Need I say more? Here's a picture of the store dog:

Good Riddance:

The Newcomb Hall post office. Being on the academic job market means lots of postage, but I rarely was able to get something sent out of Newcomb Hall. The postage machine was always broken, the workers were sometimes busy selling girl scout cookies on the side, and the line was often very long. To top it off, it was always apparent that the people working there did not want to be there. I know service jobs suck, but these people really made it painful. I think it would have been a modern miracle if someone had cracked a smile. The other post offices in C'ville, though sometimes slow, were solid, though this one was a big disappointment.

Top ten

A few years ago, Kate Webber, a friend of mine who was departing from Charlottesville after time in university's MFA program, set about to give her fond farewell. Kate did this by assembling a top ten list that discussed the ten things she would miss about the city (and the graduate school experience) and ten things that she would not miss. I liked the format of this farewell. Since I don't have much time left in the Commonwealth, I'm going to go ahead and shamelessly copy Kate. I'll be providing one thing I'll miss and one thing I won't in each blog entry. I hope everyone out there enjoys this!

Decompressing

Well I have finally turned in the thesis after a few months of intense work. I'm surprised to be where I am, leaving the 'ville in a little over a month...It's really happening fast after what's been a really long haul here in Cville.

I've had a nice weekend doing some things that I hadn't been able to do during the work period. In the last 24 hours I have

1. Read around 180 pages in David Mitchell's novel _Cloud Atlas_...an odd combination of sci-fi, Borges, and Joyce that I'd recommend to just about everyone who's willing to, well, pick up a novel.

2. Watched Douglas Sirk's _Written on the Wind_. After toiling for days over melodrama, it was fun to just watch one...especially one involving Rock Hudson.

3. Watching two episodes of Boston Legal while drinking Hoegarden. Shatner shooting a homeless man with a paintball gun was certainly worthwhile.

Tonight, Flapjack and I celebrate six months of goodness...I don't know what we're doing yet, but it should be memorable. It may even involve _Thoroughly Modern Milly_ on DVD.