When The Simpsons started, there was a bar in Madison that would show it. So we'd watch it there most of the time.

Later, a bartender at that bar got in trouble for selling cocaine from behind the bar. I don't think this is related to them showing The Simpsons.

They eat a lot of fish, bald eagles, when they can. There's one that has been nesting near a fish farm for years because of the easy pickin's which I find extremely clever (and allowed Nat Geo or someone to film him over a fairly long period of time).

when I know there is a kiwi farm in Suisun Valley. Tsk.

I saw enormous kiwis for sale at the farmer's market on Saturday. Newspaper fail!

If I was just a little more of a curmudgeon I'd write a letter to the editor.

Can I put an item for discussion in here today. Senator Portman (of OH) now says he supports marriage equality because his son came out to him about 2 years ago.

While some have said he should be supported for this view, I am a bit more circumspect. I'm glad he is now a supporter of marriage equality, but very recently he has said that employers may discriminate against LGB individuals in the work place, his voting record is pretty poor on civil rights issues in general and toward LGB communities in particular.

Should we celebrate this change of heart or what?

Should we celebrate this change of heart or what?

I'm glad he accepts his son; not all parents of gay children do the same. On the face of it, I like that he was willing to examine his long-held beliefs, and change them. But I'll be interested to see if his voting/policy decisions change after this.

If I was just a little more of a curmudgeon I'd write a letter to the editor.

You should totally write a letter to the editor! What better task for when you're bored at work?

Should we celebrate this change of heart or what?

I sort of feel the same way I did about the pope -- I guess that's better than it could have been, but not great. I saw a great comment on tumblr along the lines of, "So now we just need them to have a relative who works hard and is still poor."

I think we should wait and see. I want to be positive and say that it took him a while to re examine his beliefs and to come to support gay marriage and not think he put it off because of political reasons.

Although this could hurt him politically and he could have just kept silent. Or he could have continued to oppose gay marriage.

Should we celebrate this change of heart or what?

As someone I saw on Twitter just said, "Great! Now we just need a Republican legislator to realize that his daughter is a woman."

On a more serious note, I do think it's remarkably petty and parochial to only approve equal treatment when a member of your own family is being oppressed. Better than nothing, but it's not exactly an example of great moral courage on his part.

You should totally write a letter to the editor! What better task for when you're bored at work?

That is true, but I'm afraid that if I do that they'll start delivering their paper to me again, and that's a hassle I don't need.