Not Fit to Serve!

(Thanks, Tanya! Helping to get the word out there...)

This from Human Rights Campaign is important! I don't bug you all unless it is. Please take a minute to read this, then go to the link below and send your thoughts. Thank you! -- Pixie

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Dear Everyone --

In Mississippi a few years ago, the courts took away a woman's 8-year-old child.

Why? In part because the child's mother was a lesbian.

Two of the judges in the majority went so far as to write and sign an additional opinion, unnecessary to the case's outcome, which stated that the mother must accept the fact that losing her biological child was a possible consequence of her sexual "choice."

One of those two judges was Leslie Southwick. And today, Southwick is dangerously close to being appointed to the Federal bench by President Bush.

On August 2, your senator, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, cast the decisive vote in the Senate Judiciary committee to send Southwick’s nomination to the full Senate.

Before the full Senate votes, let Sen. Feinstein know that that any judge who does not respect GLBT rights is unfit to serve.

America's highest courts are meant to be protectors of justice, not prejudice. Yet Southwick's record as a Mississippi judge raises serious doubts about his ability to apply the law fairly to all Americans. In this case alone, Southwick:

* Went so far as to cite Mississippi's irrelevant and outdated sodomy laws, which have since been invalidated.
* Focused on "the practice of homosexuality" - refusing to even mention gay individuals as human beings.
* Cited Mississippi's law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children - even though this was not an adoption case!

The American Psychiatric Association has long held that sexual orientation is not a "choice," and that lesbian and gay parents are just as successful as their heterosexual counterparts.

Yet Judge Southwick disregarded widely accepted science in favor of his personal bias. This man MUST NOT be given the responsibility to protect the basic rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

Urge Sen. Feinstein to reconsider her support and vote against Southwick’s nomination when it comes before the full Senate.

If approved to the Court of Appeals, Southwick's appointment would be for life. That's why I'm asking you to take action today - and when you're done, please forward this message on to everyone you know in California.

Thank you.

Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President

LINK TO RESPOND:

www.hrcactioncenter.org/campai...instein

MS Ride - Very Close to Home

My dear friend Steve Nail (aka "Diva", aka "Bug") was planning to ride in the upcoming Oregon MS Ride, like he did last year, to raise money for the MS Society. The thing is, his own case of MS started acting up again badly enough that he's been back in a wheelchair since December. His friend Maryanne agreed to ride on his behalf, and needs another $225 in support to be able to join the ride - which is this weekend!

The story also gets better! They've located a tandem bicycle that has a standard bike for the back half and a recumbent in front - which they're going to rent so that Steve can join Maryanne for the ride, flare-up or not! I think Steve is amazingly brave, and I love him dearly. I also want to see money raised to help Steve and others with MS.

Will you join me in supporting them?

Steve is asking that all donations go to Maryanne's page right now so that she can qualify... I think she needs a minimum of $300 donated in her name. her link is: www.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR

Then follow along! Steve's fundraising page is at www.dodgingwindshields.com/msri...1.htm and he'll be adding a blog to it to cover the ride.

Thanks!

50 Things NOT to do at Hogwarts

Stolen fair & square... and no, it has NOTHING to do with the new book, so fear not & read on! Some of them are quite entertaining...
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50 THINGS NOT TO DO AT HOGWARTS

1. I will not poke Hufflepuffs with spoons, nor will I insist that their House colors indicate that they are "covered in bees".
2. No matter how good a fake Australian accent I can do, I will not imitate Steve Irwin during Care of Magical Creatures class.
3. Growing marijuana or hallucinogenic mushrooms is not "an extra credit project for Herbology".
4. "I've heard every possible joke about Oliver Wood's name" is not a challenge.
5. Putting up Doug Henning posters in Filch's office is not appropriate.
6. I will not go to class skyclad.
7. The Giant Squid is not an appropriate date to the Yule Ball.
8. I will not use Umbridge's quill to write "I told you I was hardcore".
9. I will stop referring to showering as "giving Moaning Myrtle an eyeful".
10. Polishing my wand in the common room is acceptable. "Polishing my wand" in the common room is not.
11. If a classmate falls asleep, I will not take advantage of that fact and draw a Dark Mark on their arm.
12. House elves are not acceptable replacements for Bludgers.
13. Starting a betting pool on the fate of this year's Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher is tasteless and tacky, not a clever money-making concept.
14. I will not start every Potions class by asking Professor Snape if today's project is suitable for use as a sexual lubricant.
15. "Liften Separatis Crotchum" is not a real spell.
16. I will not claim Chick Tracts are an accurate representation of Muggle life.
17. Seamus Finnegan is not "after me Lucky Charms".
18. I will not refer to the Weasley twins as "bookends".
19. I will not refer to the Patil twins as "bookends".
20. I will not call the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher Kenny, even if he is wearing an orange anorak.
21. There is no such thing as a were-thylacine.
22. I will not provide Luna Lovegood with Coast-to-Coast AM transcripts.
23. I will not bring a Magic Eight Ball to Divination class.
24. I will not place anything by Silver Ravenwolf on the library shelves.
25. Tricking a school house elf into stripping does not mean that they are now mine, even if I yell "Pwned!".
26. I am not a sloth Animagus.
27. I am not a tribble Animagus.
28. I am allowed to have a toad, rat, cat, or owl. I am not allowed to have a reticulated python, snow leopard, Tasmanian Devil, or Piranha.
29. I do not weigh the same as a duck.
30. Remus Lupin does not want a flea collar.
31. I do not have a Dalek Patronus.
32. I will not lick Trevor.
33. I will stop asking the Arithmancy teacher what the square root of -1 is.
34. The Ravenclaws are not "Mentats in training".
35. Any resemblance between Dementors and Nazgul is coincidental.
36. I will not change the password to the prefects' bath to "Makes getting clean almost as much fun as getting dirty".
37. There is no such thing as an Invisibility Thong.
38. Professor Flitwick does not wish to be addressed as "Admiral Naismith".
39. Asking "How do you keep a Gryffindor in suspense?" and walking away is only funny the first time.
40. I will not offer to pose nude for Colin Creevey.
41. I will not offer to pose nude for Dean Thomas.
42. It is a bad idea to tell Professor Snape he takes himself too seriously.
43. It is a bad idea to tell Professor McGonagall she takes herself too seriously.
44. I am not to Owl copies of the Evil Overlord List to suspected Death Eaters.
45. I will not offer to prepare Tandoori Owl.
46. I will stop asking when we will learn to make "Love Potion Number Nine".
47. I will not ask Dumbledore to show me the pointy hat trick.
48. I will not teach the first-years to sing "A Wizard's Staff Has A Knob On The End".
49. If Ginny Weasley wanted to borrow my Darkover books, she would have said so already.
50. I will not take out a life insurance policy on Harry Potter.

Woo Hoo - Sex Toy got a GREAT review in the UK!

We just got word that the "Sex Toy" CD got a rave review in the UK! Here's a link to it: www.whisperinandhollerin.com/rev....asp

And if that isn't cool enough for one day... as of this afternoon, Hooman at Radio Alice (97.3 fm) has a copy in his hands for review... he says if he likes it, he'll play it!

If you've seen any other reviews out there on Cuir Bleu, please let me know!