Timbre of a TimeFree Mind

If you like games...here is a great site, actually done very well.

http://ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

Just click on one of the boxes. I haven't tried them all yet but
the ones I have...are very enjoyable.

[click on picture for larger view]
Wichita in the early 1960's. I'm (Mr. Kevin) the little blonde monster.
From the right, Mary (my Mom), Uncle Dick and
Aunt Betsy.
[picture courtesy of Dick Puckett]

PETA LAUNCH GRAPHIC AD SHOWING ‘THE REAL COST OF ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION’
July 29, 2004 [via http://www.peta.org.uk/] warning: graphic animal cruelty pictures on this site

“Animals in laboratories suffer through experiments in which they are poisoned, shocked, infected and dissected, often without even an analgesic to dull their pain or a kind word to see them through”, says PETA Director Dawn Carr. “They are the victims of violence perpetrated against them only because, as with tortured Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib, they are not seen to be exactly like their oppressors, so their pain and fear have been set aside as inconsequential.”

Entire article can be found at:
http://www.peta.org.uk/newsnew/NewsItem.asp?id=2907

[via John Lichfield, Independent.co.uk]
28 July 2004

France's most celebrated, and controversial, newly-weds - both men - were told by a court yesterday that they were not married after all.
Their lawyers said they would appeal, all the way to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if necessary. Meanwhile, they would consider themselves legally married.
A court in Bordeaux formally annulled the wedding on 5 June of Stéphane Chapin, 33, a home-help, and Bertrand Charpentier, 31, a warehouseman.
The couple were married, amid great media ballyhoo and political controversy, by one of the leaders of the French Green Party, Noel Mamère, who is also Mayor of the small town of Bègles, near Bordeaux.
The centre-right French government suspended M. Mamère for one month from his mayoral functions and brought the formal case for annulment of the marriage, which was heard on 29 June and judged yesterday.
The court in Bordeaux accepted the government's argument that the French civil code - the basis of most French law - does not permit marriage between partners of the same sex. Lawyers for the couple argued that there was nothing in the code which specifically outlawed same-sex weddings. This argument was thrown out by the court.
M. Mamère, a former television presenter, was the Green candidate at the last presidential election in 2002.  

[via Diedre Woollard- ElitesTV]

It seems that even animated characters are weighing in on the issue of same-sex marriage and gay rights. At a panel discussion during the Comic-Con International in San Diego last weekend it was revealed that an upcoming episode of “The Simpsons” will feature a same-sex marriage storyline. The creators of the animated TV hit did not reveal which character will be stepping out of the closet.

Simpsons-watchers would say that odds are on Waylon Smithers, the doll-collecting toady of town mogul, Montgomery Burns. But it is possible that it could be anyone. Show creator Matt Groening even joked it would be Homer, according to the Associated Press. Other potential gay characters includes Homer’s best friend and town drunk Barney, bartender Moe, either of Marge’s sisters and many others. Some people are even starting betting pools as to which character it will be. The episode, which will most likely air in January, has the town of Springfield legalize gay marriages in order to raise money.

It is very unsettling to look at a hand-held mirror when most of your front teeth are out of your head (personal experience- yesterday afternoon). The dentist and his assistant had to pull fairly hard to get my bridge out (it was 22 years old) and then proceeded to grind down what was underneath (with a root canal) and put in a temporary setting. It's great what can be done (cosmetic-wise) but there is no great improvement as far as the actual procedure is concerned. Thank G_d for numbing injections but they hurt like hell too. It's almost like you need something to numb.... to help with the numbing injections.

[click anywhere on picture for larger view]
My sister, Keri and I in Washington DC a few
years back.... we had a wonderful visit with
my Uncle Dick and Aunt Audrey [the date
should read 8/3/2002]

[via Gayapolis News]

Oregon has certified a ballot initiative to amend the state's constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages. The move follows the issuance of marriage licenses earlier this year in two Oregon counties.The Defense of Marriage Coalition presented over 240,000 signatures earlier this month. Based on a sample, the Elections Division certified 204,160, nearly double the number needed.Oregon marriage law currently does not discuss gender of the spouses, which led to the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses earlier this year.This will be the first initiative concerning same-sex marriage in the state. Earlier initiatives seeking to restrict gay rights in the state have failed in 1992, 1994, and 2000.The initiative will appear on the November ballot.
 
 
 

[via Advocate.com]  July 27, 2004

Democrats are doing a delicate dance as they attempt to embrace gay rights but not necessarily gay marriage. Nearly 42% of Democratic convention delegates interviewed by the Associated Press said they support gay marriage. But 21% are against it, and around 38% said their feelings either didn't fit into a "for" or an "against" category or they declined to answer the question. Draft language in the Democratic Party platform being considered Monday stopped short of endorsing gay marriage but supported "equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections" for gay and lesbian families.

That is consistent with the stance of the party's presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry, who opposes legal recognition of gay marriage but supports legal recognition of same-sex civil unions. Jeffrey Soref, chairman of the Democratic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus, said he wasn't upset by Kerry's stance on the gay marriage issue or the fact that both Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, skipped the vote in the Senate concerning the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. "First of all, the Senate vote was a procedural vote. It wasn't a vote on the issue itself," Soref said. "I think the campaign felt that if the Republicans want to tie up the Democratic ticket with endless procedural votes, they would have Kerry and Edwards on the floor voting all the time. It's a diversion from going on and talking about real issues.

They said that if the amendment itself came to a vote, they would be there." Soref told caucus members that they probably wouldn't be able to bring signs into the convention center supporting gay marriage, for security reasons, but he also mentioned that "the campaign wants to get a consistent message out." Caucus member and New York delegate Chris Digiorgio said he was considering wearing a T-shirt with a pro-gay marriage message on it. "We are all adults here. We can have a disagreement," he said. Singer Carole King, making a cameo appearance at the caucus meeting, urged members to mobilize voters for the Kerry-Edwards ticket despite differences on gay marriage. "I know John Kerry, and I agree with a lot of things that he believes. I cannot agree with his stance on gay marriage," said King, whose comments were met with hearty applause. "I think he will eventually come to where we are on this issue."

Eight years ago or so I decided that I wanted another member of the family. I researched the ads and kept looking out at Animal Control. I had a fawn-colored pug named Brutus (I had rescued a few years before) and I thought a black pug would be cute. I finally saw an ad in the Oregonian and I called the lady and drove down the Coast (2-3 hour drive) and found the home where the little Pug was living with his siblings. The first time I laid eyes on Dominic I knew that he was a special little guy. He came to me immediately and I bought him on the spot. The lady said that he wasn't papered but had all of his current shots (she gave him one while I was there) and we came back to Portland. Brutus has since passed (I guessed his age at around 13) and I have adopted two more since. Rodney the Chihuahua was next, and then 3 years ago Bandit- a rowdy fawn Pug. Time marches on and I have lived with Darren for almost a year now//... between the both of us we have 5 kids. Bear is a great Basset Hound and I have fallen for him too. Mollie is our cat and she is the undisputed Queen of the house (I handed my crown to her some time back....)

They have all been healthy and happy. Rodney did have one bout with a bladder stone a few years back.....BUT, in June 2003 I noticed that Dominic seemed "older" and not as happy. He had gained quite a bit of weight over the years and I was trying to get all of our weights down.
My partner of 9 years, Rick Smith had passed the month before after a 2-year battle with cancer and I was still very much in the mourning process.

July 15th, 2003: Dominic was urinating uncontrollably and the subsequent wetness was very sticky to the touch. He had not lost any weight yet but he was refusing to eat. He was drinking water like there was no tomorrow. It scared me. This was during the second weekend in July 2003 and good friends of mine (Scott Van Da Walker & Greg Smith) who are a physician's assistant and a hospice nurse respectively, were visiting from Colorado and Scott diagnosed Dominic immediately. I took Dominic to my Vet on Monday and Brian (our Vet) called me back as soon as he got in with the diagnosis. Diabetes! I couldn't talk and my jaw hit the floor- along with my heart. Two thumps, major bruising- spiritually and emotionally. I couldn't lose another family member so soon, how could this happen to a sweet dog?

Brian gave Dominic his first shot of insulin that day and I have been giving him his 2-shots daily since. Darren has been great with all of this and he is a wonderful caregiver to myself and the rest of our family. There is no way that I could've kept Dominic (and all of our "kids") healthy and happy without him. Darren is everything to us and he keeps our blended family happy, healthy and loved. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to him. Dominic is doing great although diabetes has caused him to become mostly blind. He has learned the whole back yard through other senses and he amazes us every day.

Saddam's people are winning the war
Scott Ritter TMSI Thursday, July 22, 2004
 
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[via MetaFilter]

The Democratic Convention begins today. Here's a few blogs that are worth a look [via MetaFilter]:

http://www.conventionbloggers.com/
A community site for bloggers participating in the DNC, July 26-29

http://politics.feedster.com/
The Latest in Today's Politics from the Official DNC Bloggers

http://politics.technorati.com/
We’re offering a new way to monitor politics in weblogs during and after the Democratic National Convention

ZEN....click on the link below, once in....be sure and use your mouse.

http://www.do-not-zzz.com/

 

I have a preference for religious art. 

Sean Penn is the best American actor- hands down. We've been watching a copy (DVD) of Mystic River and I am blown away with the performances. I am more inclined to watch foreign films or older American movies but I've heard interesting things about this film so we picked up a copy to view today. We watched 21 Grams a couple of weeks ago...another very good performance by Mr. Penn.

We attended our church again this morning. There is a new priest and today was our first Mass (St. Andrews in North Portland) http://www.standrewchurch.com/ in which he presided. I'm pleased that Darren and I have found a traditional place to worship...one that we feel welcomed in as well.

Typo generator fun! can be found at: http://mtd.nussnet.at/typo/index2.php 

The new main floor bathroom fixture. The "Camden" collection and we are awaiting delivery. 

It is very hot here in Portland. We are not used to days in which the temperature rises above 100 degrees. The Boyz must stay inside...Especially the Pugs. Thank G_d for air-conditioning. When Darren bought this house the previous tenants did not know that it was hooked up with central air (they either feigned ignorance or perhaps the costs was out of their league). In any case we are lucky to have it.

This house was built in 1927 (the area is known as Piedmont) and I have enjoyed it very much. We both have additional plans to update rooms,  and hopefully we'll be true to the original design. We just completed the main floor bath which is now RED. This house is haunted and I have had a few interesting experiences (no kidding). I am in the process of looking for more information on the history of the house. I have looked a little online and with the neighborhood association but I will probably need to make a trip to the Oregon Historical Society. 

I have plugged in all of the phone numbers into Darren's phone. These phones are great. I would have never thought that I would be using something like these...10 years ago? We will probably discard the land phone and use these exclusively. That means folks will be able to call us anywhere, anytime. Am I ready for that? Darren always carries his phone with him and has for some time. Of course he has to be available for work purposes. I, on the other hand, have not been a slave to these communication devices. I know that I don't have to answer when it beckons but....can I resist a call coming in? Turning it off defeats the whole premise of having one in the first place...I think.

Darren and I upgraded our cell phones tonight...very cool but I am not very savvy with wireless. I have tried to read and understand as much as I can find and so far my search has turned up a lot of commercial stuff. We now own 2- Samsung a670's and I can text from the phone to a blog or similar. They have cameras as well. If I can figure it all out I will use this phone quite a bit. 

[click on picture for larger view]

PE Puckett (Grandfather)  Wichita, Kansas
Beechcraft. I believe this is a publicity shot
that was taken in the 1960's. [picture courtesy
of Dick Puckett].

EXTREMELY hot today! Our boys* are outside but I will run home after a bit to let them in.

* Dominic, black Pug
   Bandit, fawn Pug
   Bear, Basset
   Rodney, Chihuahua

Found a riveting site: http://www.thebody.com/visualaids/index.html  ...definitely worth a look. (possibly NSFW)