Monthly Archives: February 2012

(Community Matters) Many thanks to Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama for notifying Congress that they will no longer defend laws discriminating against gay servicemembers or their families.  TPM

(Community Matters)  Gay high school football player finds acceptance amid homophobia in rural America

Editor’s note: Jeremy is a high school football player in rural America. Outsports knows his full identity, including what school he goes to, but is only using a first name for reasons that will be clear when you read the story. Jeremy also has a fantastic blog, “Standing Up Speaking Now,” where he chronicles his coming out.

By Jeremy

My name is Jeremy. I’m 17 and a junior in high school. I’m a good student, a driven guy with ambitions, a football player, a track runner, and I’m gay. Saying the latter has always been a challenge, and up until recently I couldn’t accept it; thankfully that’s changed.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Andrew Sullivan (okay, I’m finally over being over him). “The Bishops’ Obsession With The Sex Lives Of Others”

They’ve been dominating the news, haven’t they? And they are prepared to go down screaming over contraception in health insurance plans handled between patient and insurer. Letters were read recently in every parish. They planned a campaign against any compromise for months.

But ask yourself: where were they on a much more fundamental cause for Catholics: universal healthcare? Were they anything like as vocal?

Where were they when the Bush administration was practizing and authorizing the torture and abuse and robbing of human dignity of terror suspects? The Pope never obliquely mentioned these categorical evils when visiting the US and cozying up to the war criminals in the Bush administration?

Where have they been on tackling climate change – a sacred obligation for Catholics according to the Pope they follow so fanatically? continued

(Community Matters) Charles Murray’s Coming Apart & Thomas Frank’s Pity the Billionaire. gotta read these two next.

Charlie Rose interview of Charles Murray here

(Community Matters)

1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. tied: Geneva, Switzerland and Osaka/Kobe, Japan
4. .
5. Oslo, Norway
6. Paris, France
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Melbourne, Australia
9. Singapore
10. Frankfurt, Germany

Hat Tip: Huffington Post

(Community Matters) Amanda’s been with the Entrepreneurs Foundation for five years now. She’s my partner, my interpreter, a very dear friend, the person who operationalizes our visions – together with Shobie who does this for member company initiatives and Leigh who does it for Lemonade Day. It was a shock to learn she is leaving us. Comes as a surprise to her too – the job offer she received unsolicited just too good to pass up; too good for me & my board to talk her out of. It’s a real national opportunity and a position from which she can help change the world.

We’ve posted the job description here 

(Community Matters) I’m reading this morning that Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) wants to amend the affordable healthcare act so that any employer can exclude access to contraception.

(Community Matters) from my dearest friend Sonya Cohen Cramer

(Community Matters) ughh, I feared this retaliation for what was likely Israeli car attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists. Imagine its very likely Iran was behind the New Delhi & Georgia attacks as payback. I’m not arguing against preventing Iranian nuclear arming, just bemoaning the war – whether overt or covert it is/will be one.

Andrew Sullivan, Is Israel a Sponsor of Proxy Terrorism?

(Community Matters) Are you fricking kidding me? I respect that there are two sides to the argument on choice, but anyone who wants to roll back a woman’s or man’s access to contraception is a out of touch and too radical to be taken seriously. Of course any families can choose not to use contraception. If you’re unfamiliar with the gains in women’s rights, education levels, the overwhelming benefits to society, to families, as a result of the introduction of reliable contraception, then you really should read up.

In retrospect, the invention of contraceptives was as fundamental for the evolution of humankind as the invention of the wheel.

I love the idea of using this as a political wedge issue.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) After 15 years, the frescos for which the chapel was built closes and are being returned to the Orthodox Church of Cyprus – last chance to visit

gonna try to take my 12yo nephew & 9yo niece there on Sunday on my way to a couple of nights at Michael’s & Kip’s reading weekend

(Community Matters) Jessica & Paul D’Arcy and Steven & I hosted friends for dinner at Franklin BBQ. Steven & I mostly drew straws on who to invite this month. We’re hosting several of these during the year and will include all our nearest and dearest. All you can eat, no lines, no wait. . . brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, turkey, beers, Dr. Peppers, Melissa’s pies and plenty of conversation with people who needed to meet – a favored evening. My favorite guest: Clara  (nearly 2yo).