The federal law banning gay marriage is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define the institution and therefore denies married gay couples some federal benefits
[...]
The state had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004.
Tauro agreed and said the act forces Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens in order to be eligible for federal funding in federal-state partnerships
The act "plainly encroaches" upon the right of the state to determine marriage, Tauro said...
The rulings apply to Massachusetts but could have broader implications if they're upheld on appeal.
Quote by Raine:
Why would anyone want to swim with a cast?
Quote by wickedpam:
Sofia comes in cans
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Sofia comes in cans
They are pink right?
Quote by wickedpam:
from expericance I can tell you that canned champagne that you drink through a straw goes straight to ya head
Quote by Scoopster:
Morning all & Happy Fridee!
In other GOOD news... doctors have taken a large step in finding a cure for AIDS
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
It was nice to hear the person I voted for again, wish he would come out to play more often
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
It was nice to hear the person I voted for again, wish he would come out to play more often
Based upon looking at his grey hair, I think he's been damn busy with little time to play.
I miss playing with my friend, but I know he's doing his best with a shitty situation of running a country that is in dire straights.
This country allowed a bunch of frat kids to rent our house and he as the caretaker still getting it back in order.
(and THAT my friends was a "Friday anecdote frittata" )
Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile in the Glenn Beck Oligarhy...
Chalkboards don't have spellcheck.
Quote by wickedpam:
oh no, I know he has - I just want to hear a little more fired up talk when dealing with the jackasses.
I swear I'm gonna write to him one day and ask for advice on deal with idiots
Quote by Raine:Quote by clintster:
Meanwhile in the Glenn Beck Oligarhy...
Chalkboards don't have spellcheck.
OMG.
And I thought I spelled like crap!
Quote by Raine:
This guy has a company provided car WITH satellite radio?
and he wants to know what rich is?
Quote by wickedpam:
I've just been fixated on where the station logo happens to fall
Quote by Raine:I Noticed that too!!!Quote by wickedpam:
I've just been fixated on where the station logo happens to fall
Oh it's wonderful subliminallness!!!
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
I think no one mentions the Middle Class anymore since the policies of the Cons from Reagan to Chimpy have contributed to killing off the middle class just as Thom Hartmann noted in "Screwed".
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
from expericance I can tell you that canned champagne that you drink through a straw goes straight to ya head
OOf. You just reminded me of Champale.
Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
I think no one mentions the Middle Class anymore since the policies of the Cons from Reagan to Chimpy have contributed to killing off the middle class just as Thom Hartmann noted in "Screwed".
But---
The middle class has NOT been killed off. I think that is a very important distinction. Bob and I are neither poor or rich.
I would propose that many people I know are neither poor nor rich. Struggling? That I would agree with.
I know a person online who lives out of a car. He uses the library for internet access.
I am suggesting that if people want to set a bar for "what is Rich" we should not assume that anything less than that (whatever that is) is poor. There is still a middle class and it is struggling -- but it exists.
Quote by livingonli:
The Middle Class is not dead but it has taken a beating. I know I've been one of the downwardly mobile during the Bush years. I was living much better in 2000 and 2001 than I am now although things have stabilized since my financial situation took a beating last year.
Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
The Middle Class is not dead but it has taken a beating. I know I've been one of the downwardly mobile during the Bush years. I was living much better in 2000 and 2001 than I am now although things have stabilized since my financial situation took a beating last year.
and that is why I said many ARE struggling.
There is no question abut that. I would like to see far less struggling. YES there is an attack on the middle class. But the middle class is not gone.
We do not have to make a choice between rich and poor -- that is what people seem to think they have to choose between -- and I think that meme is being driven by the media.
I do hope I am making sense.
Quote by livingonli:
That makes sense. I think that the conservatives want to kill off the middle class and our happy with a society that has a small wealthy elite and everyone else living in poverty like in the Guilded Age.
A proposal announced Tuesday at the White House by Cabinet officers, called "Opening Doors," suggests a major shift in the federal approach to homelessness. The effort would be driven mainly by integration of support services and applying state and local models at the federal level, according to the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The effort calls for ending chronic homelessness – where people cycle through shelters and hospitals – and homelessness among military veterans in five years, and for ending homelessness among families and children by 2020. The plan aims to eventually end all types of homelessness.
Quote by Raine:
Later Mala! (I suggest a Snake)
Quote by TriSec:
Howdy, folks.
I think I can sum up "rich" fairly succinictly.
"Rich" is not worrying about where next month's rent is coming from.
"Rich" is being able to buy something without wondering about what you'll have to cut back on next week.
"Rich" is not telling your kid "we can't afford it."
"Rich" is fishing for fun, not food.
"Rich" is being able to call in sick when you don't feel good, instead of dragging yourself to work so you don't lose a day's pay.
There's probably more, but that's my definition of "rich" since February 2009.
Quote by Raine:If we allow the right wing to define economic status as Rich OR Poor -- as tho it were black and white -- they have won.Quote by livingonli:
That makes sense. I think that the conservatives want to kill off the middle class and our happy with a society that has a small wealthy elite and everyone else living in poverty like in the Guilded Age.
I want to see people raised up. When we raise those that have the least-- we all rise together.
That is why I like seeing things like this.A proposal announced Tuesday at the White House by Cabinet officers, called "Opening Doors," suggests a major shift in the federal approach to homelessness. The effort would be driven mainly by integration of support services and applying state and local models at the federal level, according to the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The effort calls for ending chronic homelessness – where people cycle through shelters and hospitals – and homelessness among military veterans in five years, and for ending homelessness among families and children by 2020. The plan aims to eventually end all types of homelessness.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I so agree with you about the conservative mindset. It is so totally binary. "American" or "unAmerican," "good" or "evil." There is never anything in between.
Quote by Mondobubba:
I am watching "All The President's Men." Remember when journalists actually investigated shit?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Later Mala! (I suggest a Snake)
Auger, snake, same thing.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Later Mala! (I suggest a Snake)
Auger, snake, same thing.
looked like it was - picked up a drum auger compact and storable
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Later Mala! (I suggest a Snake)
Auger, snake, same thing.
looked like it was - picked up a drum auger compact and storable
Yup. They have em at my local Ace Hardware. I love that place, I can buy a single screw from them!
Quote by Mondobubba:
Yup. They have em at my local Ace Hardware. I love that place, I can buy a single screw from them!
Quote by wickedpam:
we don't have a Ace need the office had to go to the depot
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
Yup. They have em at my local Ace Hardware. I love that place, I can buy a single screw from them!
*whiffs on the meatball*
Heh.
My friend Doug runs the hardware store in Wakefield, MA. It's an Ace.
You can indeed by that elusive single screw....but if you buy in bulk, he weigh's em.
The Home Despot out on the highway charges by the each.
Doug said a few years back when that first opened, "Sure everyone went to check them out. But six months later I was doing more business than ever once everyone learned how bad they really are."
Quote by Raine:I can attest to this...Quote by wickedpam:
we don't have a Ace need the office had to go to the depot
We know the Depot of which Mala speaks.
The closest Ace is actually in Old Town -- and I have to admit -- I am not super fond of it.
*sigh*
I think I smell a business opportunity...
Quote by TriSec:
*snort*
Just saw Gene Robinson's latest column.
So where have the global warming deniers been during the heat stroke?
Quote by Scoopster:
And now, a postcard from Georgia.
Quote by BobR:
*jumps into hardware talk*
I love our little local hardware store. It's like an Ace, but everything is crammed into every single little corner. Single screws? no problem.
I like Ace too.
The problem is when you need bigger stuff (like lumber, sheet rock, or other building materials). For that - Home Despot is pretty much the only option
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:
*jumps into hardware talk*
I love our little local hardware store. It's like an Ace, but everything is crammed into every single little corner. Single screws? no problem.
I like Ace too.
The problem is when you need bigger stuff (like lumber, sheet rock, or other building materials). For that - Home Despot is pretty much the only option
Ahem. Sheet Rock is a registered trademark of the National Gypsum Company for their pressed gypsum drywall. So, unless you are getting actual Sheet Rock, it's drywall.