The prospect of gay marriage legalization is one of the few social debates that brings can make me teary-eyed. I'm just not very teary-eyed by nature, but the fact that gays can't marry in even in relatively democratic areas of the world is just egregious, and it's a pretty personal issue for me.


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Libby visited last weekend, and it was awesome. She and I went on a hike that culminated in some hot springs along a local creek. The spring water is 96-102 degrees F, and pours out of the rock into manmade pools of various temperatures. It's a nudie spot, and there was an entertaining mix of tattooed, non-naked folks and the nudists, who were a ( Read more... )

Whenever I plan a road trip, I have these complicated ideas for concept mix CDs that I rarely actually finish. This time though, dammit, I am going to finish my Los Angeles/SoCal mix. It will remind me about this loverly region for the brief day that I am away (attending secret nuptials in the City of Sin).
Lots of people write songs about LA, but ( Read more... )

A week ago, I was in Bakersfield doing some research, when a guy with a cross walked by. It was obviously a religious statement - it was "crucifixion-sized," and he was carrying it along the street with a look of grave determination ( Read more... )