The Supreme Court And Marriage Equality

The Supreme Court meets in conference today to consider the various appeals relating to marriage equality. What are my expectations? My expectations are low for this court dominated by right wing ideologues who are determined to impede justice and equality for all as much as they can. What will the court do? I think they will hold off on making any decision on the Proposition 8 case in California, and they will take one or more of the appeals in the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA). This is the best that the troglodytes Scalia, Uncle Thomas, Alito and Roberts can do at the moment in their quest to halt equality for gay people. It will mean that same sex couples in California will continue to prevented from marrying indefinitely. The right wingers will then try to secure more votes on the court in favor of somehow impeding the gay march toward equality. Anything they can do to slow us down and push off marriage equality they consider a victory. So I am not expecting very much positive news from the court when they announce the results of their conference probably on Monday.

Downtown Day

Having a delicious brewed decaf at Starbucks at Macy's Phila. The free organ concert starts at 12:10 pm.

What Hurricane Sandy Took From Us

I took this photo in September....Surf Walk in Cherry Grove....the town had just completely rebuilt the walkway over the dunes to the beach. In late October during Sandy we lost everything about up to where the dark green growth appears in the photo. Some say we lost 30 years of dune growth.

Dawn of a New Day for Marriage Equality (Extended Version)

Watching The Holiday Light Show At Macy's Philadelphia

Macy's really packs them in for the historic five decades old Grand Court holiday light show.

The Time Of Year For Home Made Cookies

I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies the other day. Soon it will be time for the traditional holiday Viennese crescents! ...and I'm dieting currently...great.

Black Friday Fun

The holiday tree at Liberty Place, Philadelphia...one of my hangouts downtown.

A Philadelphia Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Fun

Flipping the channels watching the parades...this is from the Philadelphia event.

Favorite Holiday Exhibit

Santa through the ages at the Bellvue Stratford hotel, Philadelphia.

The Holiday Tree At Macy's Philly

Any Day Now (2012) - Official Trailer [HD]

I can't wait to see this film!!! Ritz At The Bourse December 14!

Henri The Cat on Halloween and Fickle Humans

Gingerbread Palace III

Gingerbread Palace II

Gingerbread Palace

Fairmount Park historic mansions out of gingerbread are on display at Liberty Place in downtown Philadelphia.

Eric Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1

Professional Napper

This creature, Loki, is an expert at taking naps and staying warm while doing so.

Autumn Colors Along The Schuylkill

The morning walk is full of colorful autumnal eye candy at this time of year.

Our Beach House Survived Sandy

The Hurricane didn't leave us with any substantial damage. Many others on Fire island were not so lucky.

West End Dune Damage

Washover Damage

There is a now a large gap in the dune just east of Sailor's Haven, and the washover during Sandy came close to the bay.

More Sandy Destruction

This walkway was built in 2011 after Irene...Sandy didn't like it.

Sailor's Haven Path Gone!

Erosion thanks to Sandy has claimed the wooden walk between Cherry Grove and Sailor's Haven...one of our favorite places to walk.

Ferry Hq

Sayville Ferry Temporary Headquarters

I'm getting ready to take the boat out to Cherry Grove to inspect our beach cottage. The ferry company offices were flooded so the photo shows one of the temporary trailers they are using.

Trip Back To Fire Island

I'm headed back out to our beach cottage on Fire Island tomorrow. Let's hope I don't find any real damage.

Brad Pitt, Gay Hero & Chanel No. 5

Macy's center city Philadelphia fragrances department has a nice photo of Mr. Pitt, who gave $100,000 to support marriage equality efforts in the three states that just passed it. Bravo Mr. Pitt!

Dan's Latest Art Exhibit

Dan has four paintings on exhibit at Community College of Philadelphia currently. The opening for the faculty exhibit was Wednesday. A student choir performed.

Election Bright Spots

The defeat of several Republican far right "fringe" candidates as well as historic marriage equality victories are the bright spots for me in yesterday's election results.

The New York Times puts it this way:

President Obama’s dramatic re-election victory was not a sign that a fractured nation had finally come together on Election Day. But it was a strong endorsement of economic policies that stress job growth, health care reform, tax increases and balanced deficit reduction — and of moderate policies on immigration, abortion and same-sex marriage. It was a repudiation of Reagan-era bromides about tax-cutting and trickle-down economics, and of the politics of fear, intolerance and disinformation. 

 It's good to see the policies of Republican saint Reagan debunked once more.

The Times again:

...Christopher Murphy’s victory over Linda McMahon in the Senate race in Connecticut, Joe Donnelly’s defeat of Richard Mourdock in Indiana’s Senate race and Claire McCaskill’s defeat of Todd Akin in the Missouri Senate race showed the price the Republicans are paying for nominating fringe candidates in their primaries.

Republicans love to trumpet how the country is "center-right," but last night's results show clearly that the country rejects right wing extremism. 

The Election

Sigh. No progressives to vote for. Romney is horrible. Obama is only marginally better. No matter who wins our country will remain on the wrong track and the wrong side of history. How sad for a nation that once showed promise.

Architectural Detail

A nice looking three-faced clock at 833 Chestnut East Bldg. Philly.

Autumn In Our Personal Park

It seems like we haven't had a really sunny day since before the hurricane last week. Nevertheless the trail through the park across the street from our house is quite pretty.

Standard Time Evening Walks

Now that the clocks are set back one hour, my late afternoon walk ends in the darkness. Some of the buildings are lit nicely. Our favorite is this one.

Phila. Museum of Art

With friends Richard & Mark at PMA this afternoon.

Schuylkill River Comorant

I've been watching this bird for a couple of days now. I see it each morning on my walk.

From Wiki:

All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, though many species make a characteristic half-jump as they dive, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. Some cormorant species have been found, using depth gauges, to dive to depths of as much as 45 metres.

Half Of The Country Are Selfish F**ks

E. J . Dionne:

The new right has broken with conservatism’s past—and our country’s most constructive traditions—by adopting a new and radical individualism that largely ignores our country’s gift for community.

This is a nice way of describing the roughly half of the population in this country prepared to vote for Mitt Romney..the half that believes in everyone for themselves, believes in letting poor, sick and old people suffer because it's their own fault, the half that hates just about any kind of government even though they and everyone else would be screwed big time without it. Those of us who believe in economic and social justice, and government's role in bringing it about, really do live in a parallel universe with these people.

Almost Time

Macy's is ready!

Halloween Goblins

We had some enthusiastic and well-dressed trick or treaters in Philadelphia on Halloween.