Category: Uncategorized

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Pres. Obama to Justice Dept: DOMA “unconstitutional”

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According to the NY Times, in a letter sent by Attorney General Eric Holder to Congress today, the Obama Administration stated that it believes the 1996 so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (which bans the federal government from recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples) is unconstitutional, and the Department of Justice will no longer defend DOMA in court.

From Attorney General Eric Holder: “After careful consideration, including a review of my recommendation, the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny. The President has also concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional. Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination.”

Here is a link to his full statement.

Laws that unequally affect a group protected by that test are presumptively unconstitutional, and may only be upheld if lawmakers purpose in enacting them serves a compelling governmental interest.

CA Senator Dianne Feinstein says she intends to sponsor repeal of the law: “As a Member of the Judiciary Committee, it is my intention to introduce legislation that will once and for all repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. My own belief is that when two people love each other and enter the contract of marriage, the Federal government should honor that. I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It was the wrong law then; it is the wrong law now; and it should be repealed.”

House Speaker John Boehner questioned the Obama administration’s decision to halt its legal defense of DOMA. “While Americans want Washington to focus on creating jobs and cutting spending, the President will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation,” he said in a statement.

In a twist of irony, Boehner has stated that the Republicans came into their majority to create jobs and yet, since taking control of the House, they have focused on repealing health care reform and other issues with no movement on actually “creating jobs.”

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Why Wis. Gov. Walker is working to break the unions

Ok, so I usually hate long videos on the internet, but this is actually very straight forward and explains things in a very easy to understand way.

Rachel Maddow takes facts and shows why the governor of Wisconsin, who got all the financial concessions he wanted, still wants to strip Wisconsin union workers of their rights of collective bargaining.

Basically it goes like this: get rid of unions, fewer Democrats, fewer Democrats to win elections.

By the way, he apparently tried a similar tactic earlier in his career firing union security guards and then hired a private security company. A company with a history of partying on the job in Iraq. The security “chief” hired in that instance in Wisconsin had a police record including jail time. And in the end, the move didn’t save nearly as much money as promised by Walker.

It’s a very interesting explanation. Watch.

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Chippendales on ELLEN today!

So, as we go along the journey of The Randy Report you’ll notice I have a few favorite things: great music, the triumph of equality, my husband Michael, my best friend Carlye, and you can add to that mix The Chippendales. Michael is the national press rep for the show, so we’ve gotten to know the guys pretty well over the past five years or so. They are really cool guys, and I always have a great time at the show. (Contrary to popular belief, men are allowed at the show. We see married couples, boyfriends and girlfriends, gay men at the show all the time). The show in Las Vegas is at The Rio Hotel and Casino in The Chippendales’ $10 Million theater complex with it’s own cool lounge/bar and theater. The show isn’t what they used to call “strip and tip” anymore. It’s a “production” show with the vast majority of the show taking place with the guys on stage doing production numbers. It’s never vulgar and a lot of fun – no tipping, no dollar bills or any of that. The guys have been featured on The View, ELLEN, The Wendy Williams Show, Oprah, and tons of reality shows.  Michael has gotten press for guests at the show like Ronnie from Jersey Shore, Karina Smirnoff from Dancing With The Stars, Olivia Newton-John, Dorothy Hamill, Mel B from The Spice Girls, Holly Madison from Holly’s World and Peepshow… Just a ton of stuff. Three of the guys – Lind, Billy and Jaymes – are on ELLEN today as a special surprise for a guest. If you can, watch. It’s always fun to watch the audience members lose their minds. I celebrate women having such a good time enjoying the idea of good looking, sexy men.  It’s always a good, light-hearted fun time.  There’s almost a universal reaction of “look, then scream.”  So fun. Oh yeah…  I have a good time too.  What’s not to like?  Watch and have a good time kids.

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Little Italy – only 5% Italian – but still all NYC

I’m married to a proud Italian-American and I’m always going to be a proud New Yorker no matter where I go, so this hits home. According to the recent Census, only 5% of residents in Little Italy are of Italian descent, and there are NO residents originally born in Italy. From the New York Times: “In 1950, nearly half of the more than 10,000 New Yorkers living in the heart of Little Italy identified as Italian-American. The narrow streets teemed with children and resonated with melodic exchanges in Italian among the one in five residents born in Italy and their second- and third-generation neighbors.” “The number of residents of Italian descent in the neighborhood has been declining since the 1960s, as immigration from Italy ebbed and Italian-Americans prospered and moved to other parts of the city and to the suburbs.” “When the Italians made money they moved to Queens and New Jersey, they sold to the Chinese, who are now selling to the Vietnamese and Malaysians,” said Ernest Lepore, 46, who, with his brother and mother, owns Ferrara, an espresso and pastry shop his family opened 119 years ago.” Apparently, as Chinatown moved north and SoHo moved east, the neighborhood has slowly been absorbed by the surrounding areas. You haven’t lived until you’ve attended the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy.  So NYC. (tip from Joe.My.God)

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It’s Toto Tuesday! – “Africa” by Toto

I can listen to this song over and over and over. It completely takes me back to my days in college, sitting watching MTV in my fraternity house – Sigma Chi don’t you know – when MTV was still new and we all would just hang watching videos. (Ok, so there was probably some beer drinking involved too).

Good times. Good times.

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Maryland Marriage Equality Bill hits the state Senate

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The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, SB 116, which passed out of committee on a vote of 7-4 was introduced to the full state Senate this morning. This bill would legalize marriage equality in the state of Maryland.

State Senator Robert Garagiola introduced the measure and in doing so emphasized that religious institutions would not be required to recognize these relationships:

“Under the terms of the Act, an official of a religious institution or body who is authorized to solemnize marriages, may not be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, or Article 36 of our Constitution. As amended, the bill also provides that a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit operated by one, may not be required to provide services accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request is related to the solemnization of a marriage or celebration of marriage that is in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.”

Debate is scheduled to occur Wednesday. Reports are that there are 24 votes, the necessary number, to pass the bill. From there the bill heads to the house of delegates where it’s expected to pass.

Governor Martin O’Malley has indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

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Sarah Palin & Lou Sarah: a tale of two Sarahs

There’s news floating around today that Sarah Palin allegedly has a second, “secret” Facebook account so that she can praise and “like” her own posts. Under the name “Lou Sarah” – Louise is apparently Sarah Palin’s middle name – Palin has been “liking” and praising not only her own posts but her daughter’s performances on “Dancing With The Stars.” From Wonkette:”We searched for this address on Facebook, the way millions of people search for people on Facebook every day, and it appears that Palin keeps a second Facebook account. Besides staying in touch with Sarah Palin’s father Chuck Heath, what does “Lou Sarah” use Facebook for? Saying “amen” to her own Facebook fan page missives, in the guise of a completely different person. “Lou Sarah” also really “LIkes” Bristol Palin’s Dancing With the Stars photos.” Apparently, along the way “Lou Sarah” cheered Bristol Palin on, said “amen” to Sarah Palin’s own posts, divulged secret information that Wasilla’s Edge Fitness was going to be featured on “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” (how “Lou Sarah” knew that we’ll never know!) and criticized health care reform. Personally I’m shocked to find out there’s a fitness club in Wasilla.

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Inspiration 101 – what can happen when given a chance…

I love this story so much.

Last year my brother, after almost 50 years, was finally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. No one ever cheered him on, no one ever offered to really help him. But he tries everyday. And he never gets off the phone without telling me he loves me.

Watching this just sends me over the edge. Talk about Inspiration 101.