Reasonably Logical

I didn’t quite give up when McCain got the presumptive nomination, but more and more I’m really starting to think I’m going to be voting for Obama come November. Is it too much to ask to actually have a decent Republican candidate? One who doesn’t just cater to the f*ing religious right all the time? I would like to be able to vote for my own party once in a while!

McCain assailed for opposing gay adoption
By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer
Not my original source, but it gets the idea across.

You’d get more money if you’d just stop bugging me. When you send me so much mail that it irritates me, you’ve pretty much guaranteed you’ll never receive another penny. I stop thinking of you a worthwhile cause and start thinking of you a spam. Just a tip.

For those who were wondering, it was two charities the prompted this rant: Human Rights Champaign (HRC) & March of Dimes.

This rant comes from trying to close Firefox after it hung on a bad website today. (Let’s ignore the fact that a *website* managed to crash my browser for now.) I - of course - immediately opened task manager and tried to end the process. Then I waited, … and waited … and then waited some more. What IDIOT decided that a close command - via the task manager no less - should be a polite request to the application to shut itself down?! Damn it, I want that thing gone. Now!

Then things just go worse. After waiting 1/2 an hour in the hopes that it might _finally_ close, I tried to shut down Windows and reboot. End result: nada. I ended up having to manually remove power and force a restart.

The worst part about this little saga is just how often it happens. Someone at Microsoft needs to get the idea that applications are NOT to be trusted and that the user should be obeyed.

Apparently, it is some kind of cost saving measure common through much of the northeast. There’s a point at which cutting costs just isn’t worth it. This stupidity is well past it.

BTW, got my new Connecticut drivers license today. Feels really weird not to have my California one any more. Though I have to say, getting the license here was a lot easier than I feared. One vision test (which I passed!) and I now have a license good for 7 years. My old license had to be renewed every two. Major improvement. Now if only I hadn’t had to wait 2.5 hours at the DMV to accomplish that.

This sounds like a program with a lot of potential. Homelessness is a huge problem in the LGBT youth community and this is one of the most revolutionary programs I’ve heard of. Studies have shown that as much as 45% of the homeless youth population is LGBT.

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Raquel (Rocki) Simões
hosthome@avenuesforyouth.org
612-522-1690, ext. 110

GLBT Host Home Program, a national model, is back
Senator Scott Dibble hosts a January 25, 2007 House Party to celebrate its relaunch

After a three year hiatus, the GLBT Host Home Program will again start matching homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth with adult community volunteers who will provide a roof over their heads and the support that comes from living together. Avenues for Homeless Youth, a youth shelter in north Minneapolis, has taken on stewardship for this very important community-based program. “This was an easy decision,” explains Wendi Heuermann, Executive Director of Avenues, “The GLBT Host Home Program only strengthens our ability to provide housing for homeless young people. It’s an honor to be involved with this program.”

Through community conversations in 1995-1996, a GLBT host home model was identified as one of the potential responses to GLBT youth homelessness. YouthLink, a nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk youth in Minneapolis, led the way by creating and supporting the program from 1998-2003. During that time, 50 youth secured host homes throughout the Twin Cities. For many of these young people, the GLBT Host Home Program provided an opportunity to build healthy and nurturing relationships with caring adults and to transition out of homelessness.

With the support of YouthLink and other community members, Avenues for Homeless Youth has now become the new home of the GLBT Host Home Program.

On January 25, 2007, State Senator Scott Dibble will host a community house party in support of the Program’s relaunch. “We will be celebrating a new begining for this important effort.,” says Sen. Dibble, “It is a vital component in our goal to end long term homelessness in Minnesota.” This community house party is for individuals interested in learning more about the program – either as potential hosts, donors or just as members of the caring public. From 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, individuals are invited to come to the Grant Park Fireplace Room at the Grant Park Apartments, 500 E Grant Street in downtown Minneapolis.

The GLBT Host Home Program has long had a significant impact on those involved with it. According to Michelle Chalmers, who together with her partner welcomed several youth into their home, “Getting involved with this program was one of the best things that ever happened to us. Sometimes we had to look really hard, but we could see that we were making a positive difference.” Started in Minneapolis, it has also been a model for organizations in other cities that want to create something similar, such as the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, Michigan.

According to a new national report released by The Task Force, of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, 42 percent are GLBT. “If you have an extra room in your house and an open heart, give us a call”, says Raquel Simões, GLBT Host Home Program Manager.

Contact information: Raquel (Rocki) Simões
hosthome@avenuesforyouth.org
612-522-1690, ext. 110

Event information: Thursday, January 25, 2007, 5:00pm – 7:00 pm.
Grant Park Fireplace Room at the Grant Park Apartments, 500 E Grant Street in downtown Minneapolis.

Parking on Portland Ave between 9th St and Grant St. Cash and credit cards accepted. Meters also available on Portland and Grant.

I got a donation request today that reminded me of a long standing annoyance. Shouldn’t a company or charity that wants my money do its best to make it easy for me? If so, than whats with the “please place stamp here” return envelopes? Maybe I just travel alot, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve run out of stamps the night before leaving and not been able to send the letter until days or weeks later. In some cases, I have just not sent the check (for a charity) at all. Given this, wouldn’t it make sense to include a prepaid envelope? If it is a bill, charge me the cost of the bloody stamp on the next bill! It would be worth it.

As it happened, the letter that prompted this rant was from the Carter Center. They got it right. Their return envelope was prepaid with a notice saying “Your first class stamp will help even more funds go to people in need.” Now if only more folks would do this!