Last night, the New York State Senate approved Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bill, and Cuomo signed it into law just before midnight. Provided nothing gets in the way, LGBT couples will be able to get hitched starting in late July, making us the sixth state to legalize marriage equality.

Want your state to get on board too? Wear a White Knot in support of marriage equality and tell people why you’re wearing it when they ask. Explain why you believe in marriage equality if you have the time and they’re willing to listen. Tell them why it matters to us even if it doesn’t matter to them.

I looked up from what I was doing to see what he was talking about. As usual, he’d read some news story while I was feeding the animals and getting his breakfast ready.

“What, baby?”

“I don’t get these people! They get themselves all worked up and stressed out, and go and shoot someone, right?”

“Yeah?”

“And then! They’re arrested and their life is over. What’s the point? It solves nothing!”

Oh… Didn’t I tell you? I write sex news for SexIs Magazine, now. As in, I get paid cash to write about sex, now. And not just about how awesome sex is, but all the different things people should know about, like sexuality, and sexual health, and different sexual cultures. I know!

But it’s kept me super busy, cause I have to learn what’s on topic, and what’s okay to snark on, and what I really need to approach with tact. They’re really looking for a news approach, and not a snarky, opinionated blogger approach. So, it’s really no surprise that I didn’t catch on to what was going on over at TheBloggess.com till I thought it was over. 

You’re never gonna believe it. I almost didn’t. And every time I read a new update, I start tearing up.

So, Jenny (TheBloggess) offered a $30 gift card to the first twenty people to comment on her post to let her know they need a little extra help this Christmas. And… You know what? I’m gonna let her tell it. She did it best.

From TheBloggess’s Update Post:

The past few days have been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted and have given myself hives so please forgive the typos.

A few days ago I put up a post offering $30 gift cards to the first twenty people who didn’t know how they were going to give their kids Christmas gifts this year. They went frighteningly quickly. When I got to the twentieth person I saw that there were still a few more people who needed help and my heart sunk. Then a few comments in one person said “I’ll take care of the 21st person”. Then another person offered a card for the 22nd. Then another. Then it avalanched.

In the past few days that post has gotten over 500 comments and so many heart-breaking requests were from people who need a small hand-up to buy food for Christmas dinner or from people who are planning on telling their children that there is no Santa because otherwise they wouldn’t understand why he didn’t come. You can’t read the comments and not ache a little because so many of us have either been there or see how easy it would be to be in their position one day. But here’s the amazing thing…every time someone would leave a comment asking for help someone else would leave a comment asking to help. And that’s why as of Friday morning, every single person who asked for help here is matched up with at least one person who will be sending them a gift card. In fact, so many people offered to help that we were able to give out multiple gift cards to people who had a greater need. And when things seemed dicey and I was about to call for an end to comments a wonderful man emailed me and told me that he’s so enjoyed the community on this blog that he wanted to donate $1000, no questions asked. So, ten people who were really struggling woke up this morning to $100 in their paypal accounts. Another reader offered $250 to a family in desperate need. A doll-clothes store owner sent sent seven beautiful Madame Alexander/American Girl dolls to wait under the tree for seven little girls who truly needed a single happy surprise in their lives right now. People getting the gift cards are vowing to pay the gift forward next year. Emails are flooding in from people in shock, in tears and so grateful. And the funny thing is that half of those crying, grateful people are the ones who are donating. They’re so happy to have finally felt something warm and true that they’re feeling a Christmas spirit for the first time since they were children.

I know exactly what they mean.

I haven’t made it all the way to the end of that post. My eyes water up so bad every time I try to get through that I can’t see the screen. People of every religion, from everywhere in the world sent money to absolute strangers in the name of Christmas. This just reiterates everything Christmas has meant to me since I was a child. Sometimes, a little faith in the spirit of Christmas is all it takes.

Thanks, Jenny. You and your readers are truly an inspiration. And you’ve made me believe again.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Having trouble finding a working WikiLeaks site? Here’s a list of WikiLeaks mirrors.

Police hunt ‘The Midnight Knitter’ wool graffiti bandit

When I saw the accompanying picture, I laughed out loud.  Someone’s running around my home town putting up colorful knitted pieces everywhere.  That is just the coolest thing.  If I knew how to knit, I’d be doing it here.

Unfortunately, the police are hunting for the people responsible.  It’s a shame, really, because, while I realize it’s technically vandalism, many of the town’s citizens are excited about it.  They think the brightly colored scarves bring a more lighthearted air to the town.  And it’s not as if any permanent damage was done.  A pair of scissors will take these “tags” down if the property owners are that upset by them.

I’m tempted to learn how to knit just so I can do this here.

They have this page, a facebook, and a myspace, so head over to see more of their artwork.

See? There’s still some goodness in this world yet.

Do you live in or around Schenectady, New York? Have you used one of our parks or bike trails or playgrounds? Then you’re darn right I’m talking to you.  So I ask you again, what are you doing Saturday, May 22nd?

This morning we stopped down to the Muddy Cup to grab some coffee, and I noticed a flier taped to the wall for Project SKIP (Schenectady Kids Imagine and Play).  They’re still looking for volunteers.  So far, they’ve got around 150 people getting involved. 

If you live in or around Schenectady, you’ve probably heard of Hamilton Hill and Vale.  Chances are, unless you live there, you avoid these neighborhoods like the plague.  But some of us, here in Schenectady, still see the beauty this city has to offer and are trying to clean it up.

To this end, on Saturday, May 22nd, citizens will gather to revitalize and rebuild Jerry Burrell Park and the spirit of the community.

Here’s what you’ll find in the pamphlet:

The Vision of Project SKIP

The ultimate goal of Project SKIP is to construct, trough the community build model, a new playground in Jerry Burrell Park.

What makes a community-built playground special is that the success of this project relies on the involvement of the local community.

Local citizens, like you, are assisting in designing, fundraising, and will even be constructing (usually in one day) the new play structure.

With its emphasis on community involvement, Project SKIP provides an opportunity to not only revitalize Jerry Burrell Park, but the spirit of the community itself.

Origin of Project SKIP

In December of 2007, several Union College students traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.  While there, one of the projects they worked on was a community-built playground.

Struck by how the playground brought the community together to really help better their own community, they thought, “Why not Schenectady?”

How to Accomplish This Dream

Design: Local residents who are mothers, daycare providers, and people just like you worked with a qualified playground vendor to design the new playground.

Fundraising: This project will cost approximately $80,000.  In order to raise the necessary funds, fundraisers will be held throughout the community.

The Build Team: In the months leading up to the build, we will be recruiting volunteers to come out to help construct the playground.

Build Day: The build day will bring together all corners of the city to construct our dream playground.

Why Jerry Burrell Park?

Not only is Jerry burrell Park the most utilized park in the city, but the playground equipment is approximately 15 years old, which is the average lifespan of the type of playground currently installed.

In addition to aging, the play structures in place are increasingly difficult to maintain.

By coming together to build a new playground in Jerry Burrell Park, we will be continuing the current efforts to improve both the park and the neighborhood.

How to Get Involved

On May 22, 2010, the build team made up of over 150 residents from all oer Schenectady, will come together to build the playground of our dreams.  Our volunteers will be doing everything from building to serving food to watching over children.

To get involved call: (518)374-2683 -or- Email: prjctskip (at) gmail (dot) com

If you have a community project you’d like to get the word out about (There is no charge.), please contact the webmaster using this form.

I’d like to close my eyes, go numb
but there’s a cold wind coming from
the top of the highest high-rise today.
It’s not a breeze ’cause it blows hard.
Yes and it wants me to discard the humanity I know,
watch the warmth blow away.

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you grow old.

So do you think I should adhere to that pressing new frontier?
And leave in my wake a trail of fear?
Or should I hold my head up high
and throw a wrench in spokes by
leaving the air behind me clear?

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you go.

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you grow old.

Before you grow old.
Where did it go? (x4)

In Moberly, Missouri, they’re working to make sure the children in their public schools are being fed on the weekends.

You heard me right.  In Moberly Public Schools, they noticed that some of their kids were only eating in school.  There’s not enough money or food to go around on the weekends.  So the kids were coming into school and stealing lunch boxes and digging through the garbage.

In order to combat this, Moberly started a program, aided by the Central Missouri Food Bank in Columbia.  They fill backpacks with canned soup and ravioli, cereal bars, fruit… Things the kids can prepare for themselves just in case they’re left to fend for themselves while their parents work.  Then they line the backpacks up in the hall, with no names or labels, so the kids can just grab a bag on the way out without the stigma of being poor.

According to the article, schools all over are doing something similar.  This is a pretty cool thing they’re doing.  Matter of fact, I plan to mention it to some of the parents I know around here.  See if they can’t get something started in Schenectady Public Schools.  Lord knows, we need it.

Melen’s 37 years old today. Make sure to wish Him a happy birthday, and stuff!

I love you, Babe!