| CNN |
[11 Sep 2006|04:42pm] |
BRAINERD, Minnesota (AP) -- State Sen. Paul Koering once fit neatly into the profile of socially conservative central Minnesota: abortion opponent, supporter of gun and property rights, outspoken supporter of veterans.
But last year, Koering was the only Republican in the Senate to join Democrats in opposing an effort to force a floor vote on a constitutional gay marriage ban.
That stirred up long-standing rumors at the Capitol about Koering's own sexuality, and within a few days he revealed that he was gay -- a move the area's GOP chairman called "political suicide."
In Tuesday's primary, he will find out if that is true.
read the rest here.
*edit: http://asdfghjkl.org/
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[11 Sep 2006|10:30pm] |
"there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."
-elie wiesel
http://www.shac7.com/
from the website:
The SHAC7 are 6 activists and a corporation, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA Inc., that have been found guilty of multiple federal felonies for their alleged role in simply campaigning to close down the notorious animal testing lab, Huntingdon Life Sciences. They are not accused of actually smashing windows, liberating animals or even attending demonstrations, rather reporting on and ecouraging others to engage in legal demonstrations and supporting the ideology of direct action.
After being found guilty, with defendants facing up to 13 years in prison, they are beginning their appeal. Unfortunately this appeal will be done from prison.
they're being sentenced tomorrow. i found a sort-of faq:
Q: Why haven't I heard about this in the media?
A: A couple reasons. Mainly because not enough people took the case seriously during the trial. Also, remember that today is the 5 year anniversary of 9/11 and since the SHAC 7 have been branded as domestic terrorists, its not very popular to shower people like this with attention. The ACLU ignored the SHAC case for the same reason. Activists are bad for business.
Q: But I thought they just made a website? Isn't that legal?
A: Evidently not. Though it remains legal for the people at godhatesfags.com to spread hate, its not legal evidently to share information about non-violent protest against a corporation that uses ruthless violence against animals.
i found nothing about this at the ACLU website... this is absofuckingnuts. these protesters are facing more time than a lot of actual criminals. they were charged with "conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and three counts of interstate stalking via the internet." i don't know much about the history of this case, but... wow.
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[11 Sep 2006|11:05pm] |
this is the last update today, i swear! i'm just bored. and avoiding homework, as usual.
( survey for the old people )
and a quote for good measure.
me: why're you such a good writer, kate?
kate: it's what i came into the world to do.
me: what did i come into the world to do? laugh at what you write?
kate: yeah, pretty much.
me: what a crappy purpose i have.
kate: oh no, no - i think it's pretty good.
we laughed until we cried. but, as is generally the case, it's probably only funny to us.
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