Archives › 2005 › September
Arnie Terminates Same-Sex Marriage in California
On Thursday, as promised, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the same-sex marriage bill that had passed the California state legislature. He cited constitutional confusion that would result if the bill passed, since a state appeals court is already considering the constitutionality of the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Schwarzenegger did speak out in favor of domestic partnerships, [...]
Better Gelatin
Here’s a tip for decreasing sugar and artificial flavorings in your kids’ treats (if you care about such things): Adding natural fruit juice to plain gelatin takes about the same amount of time as adding plain water to pre-flavored gelatin dessert powders, which are typically artificially flavored and highly sweetened. Plain gelatin can usually be [...]
Transforming Education: Wikis, Laptops, and Learning
I’ve posted a long entry on my Salty Snack: Science and Technology Munchies blog titled Transforming Education: Wikis, Laptops, and Learning, about some of the ways electronic books and online access are transforming classroom resources and traditional textbook publishing. Hop on over if you’re interested.
Banned Books Week
The American Library Association (ALA) is sponsoring their 14th annual Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, September 24-October 1, to remind Americans not to take intellectual freedom for granted. In observance of Banned Books Week, the ALA publishes a list of the most challenged books and authors of the previous year. A challenge [...]
Finding Leverage: LGBT Rights and the Unbiased but Unknowing
I was talking recently with another local mom, who has a toddler about the same age as mine. She’s straight, but has been totally accepting of my relationship and our family. She’d recently enrolled her child in a daycare program that she liked, and wanted to know if I’d be interested. It turned out that [...]
Essential Tool: A Rubber Mallet
One in an occasional series of essential household tools: A white (non-marking) rubber mallet. Whether it’s assembling a rocking horse, fitting shelves into a bookcase, or flattening chicken breasts for Poached Chicken Breast Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Spinach (cover the chicken in plastic wrap first), this is a tool you never knew you needed [...]
How Kids Can Help in the Kitchen
Managing meal preparation and toddler(s) simultaneously can be a daunting task. You can make it easier by having your little ones help in the kitchen. Instead of having to cut playtime short so you can go cook (the cause of much toddler angst), start cooking a little earlier and call it playtime. Here are a [...]
Science for Kids
As a sometime astronomer and historian of science, I’m often prowling sites in those areas. My own son is still too young to start learning “science” per se, although his facility with latches and love of anything with a motor makes me think he’ll be an engineer like his other mom. Still, I was pleased [...]
LGBT Family News, Good and Bad
Ontario Christian School in California has expelled a 14-year-old student because her parents are lesbians, the Associated Press reports via Yahoo! News. School policy dictates that at least one parent must avoid actions “immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian life style, such as cohabitating without marriage or in a homosexual relationship.” The parents should [...]
Lifehacker
Thanks to Lifehacker for covering our Lesbian Parenting Hacks post today. Lifehacker is a great site with tips for making our lives more productive and efficient, something we moms certainly value. If you haven’t visited it already, I highly recommend doing so. They always seem to have something useful.
artPad
artPad is a quick and fun online painting program your kids (and you) may enjoy. You can create online digital images, save them, e-mail them to friends, or even “replay” your painting process as a video. You can paint with a virtual brush, add text, or “spash” paint from a bucket, Jackson-Pollack style. If you [...]
Starbucks Promoting Homosexual Agenda
Several conservative groups are pushing an anti-Starbucks campaign because of an objectionable quote on its coffee cups, 365gay.com reports. The quote in question is from Armistead Maupin, author of the gay-themed Tales of the City. It’s apparently part of a horrible secret agenda to promote literacy and cultural awareness while one sips a latte. Baylor [...]
Fall Family Fun
OK, enough political posts. It’s September already, and will be fall next week Hard to believe–I think kids warp time so it runs faster around them. Here are a few useful sites for some fall activities with your family: Pickyourown.org is a state-by-state listing of pick-your-own farms, along with recipes and more. The Stormfax Guide [...]
Massachusetts Legislature Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Ban
As expected, the Massachusetts Legislature yesterday rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have halted same-sex marriages in the state. Opponents are pushing for a new amendment, however, that would not only prevent same-sex marriages, but also forbid civil unions. The battle is won, but not the war. If you live in [...]
Political Birds
The New York Times reports today that many conservatives have taken the family lives of penguins, depicted in the blockbuster documentary March of the Penguins, as affirming “traditional norms,” and proof of “intelligent design.” Funny how these same conservatives seem to be ignoring examples of same-sex pairs among swans and other animals, including penguins. La [...]
Same-Sex Marriage to Stay Legal in Massachusetts
The Associated Press reports that support has fallen apart for an amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The official vote on the matter is scheduled for tomorrow. Phew. Won’t have to return the china after all.
9/11/2001 Remembered
Four years ago today. For many of us, one of the most vivid moments of our lives, still remembered in all its intensity. And yet . . . it seems an eternity ago that we were living without the constant hum of threat, without the extra layer of fear when we fly, without the added [...]
Grandparents’ Day
Grandparents’ Day is always the Sunday after Labor Day, which makes it this coming Sunday, September 11. In honor of this, the U. S. Census has put out some interesting facts and figures about grandparents in the U. S. I’m guessing they’re not counting same-sex grandparent households, but it’s hard to tell; the 2000 U. S. [...]
Referendums on Same-Sex Marriage
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced he will veto the same-sex marriage legislation recently approved by the California legislature. Based on a California referendum in 2000, which passed a proposition defining marriage as between a man and a woman, Schwarzenegger says the issue should be decided by the courts or the voters, not by legislation. [...]
California Assembly Approves Same-Sex Marriage
Following the California Senate, which voted last week, the California Assembly approved a measure to allow same-sex couples to marry in California. This is the first time a legislature has voted to endorse same-sex marriage. (It was a judicial decision in Massachusetts.) The measure passed after a heated debate, and now goes to Governor Arnold [...]
Schoolwork Boosters
Ah, September. For me, September, more than January, was always the start of the new year. I’m still a recovering academic, so I may need to go out and buy some new pencils and a notebook just to curb the shaking. For those of you with kids going back to school, here are a few [...]
Disaster Preparedness
Hurricane Katrina has gotten me thinking about how important disaster preparedness is, for both governments and individuals. While it’s clear the government has some improvements to make, they are not things that most of us can make happen immediately. (Though if you feel so inclined, you can write to your elected officials about such matters.) [...]
International Blogging for Disaster Relief Day
Blogger Andy Carvin has declared today international blogging for disaster relief day. Bloggers in general have been writing about the disaster for several days now, doing everything from posting information about lost people, to offering material aid, to trying to organize technology assistance, to providing ground-zero coverage of the situation, but we applaud the effort [...]
California Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage
The California Senate today approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in California. Don’t head to the Golden Gates quite yet, however; the legislation still needs to be approved by the state Assembly, a move that is by no means certain. Still, this is the first time any state legislative house has approved such a [...]
Thoughts and Help for Hurricane Katrina Victims
Our thoughts today are with the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We also hope that the aid workers and agencies treat affected LGBT families with the same respect and consideration as other families. You can assist hurricane victims by donating to the Rainbow World Fund, a GLBT and supportive-heterosexual humanitarian service agency. Donations made through RWF [...]
