Random Quote...

No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.
- WH Auden

Gay Bar Mitzvah!

So, I forgot to write about him last week and was reminded this week hen I was again dragged to services.

Anway, last week I was dragged to services mostly to meet this new rabbi. This new temple is evidently about three times the size of the old one, as far as membership, which means that most of the Bar Mitzvahs are doubled up. Last week, one of the gayest 13 year olds I have ever seen was up. He was gay enough that I didn't need to see him move or hear him speak; I looked at him and thought, "Gay. He may or may not know it yet, but he probably does."
There is no real point to this bit of news, I'm just bored. And I don't want to go to services next week, and need an excuse out of them.

Jehovah's Witnesses at Diridon

I sent a letter of complaint to Caltrain a few days ago. I complained about the presence of a religious group, and their chosen location-on the subway ramp. Today on my way home I noticed that their table had moved near the newsstand-still present, but not in the way.

Today I recieved a reply...

Mr. Call:

Thank you for your inquiry concerning the presence of Jehovah's
witnesses at the San jose Diridon station.

The Caltrain Real Estate Department handles requests from organizations
wishing to have a table and distribute literature at our stations.

According to our legal counsel:" Organizations, be they religious or
political, have First Amendment rights too, as organizations are
comprised of individuals. So long as organizations follow the
established procedures applicable to use of the "public forum," i.e. to
file an application, to obtain a permit and to follow the JPB's rules
on
access, safety, etc, these organizations, including the Jehovah
Witnesses, have the right to distribute materials/literature at a
Caltrain station and such use does NOT violate the separation of church
and state concept in the First Amendment. Indeed, to deny the Jehovah
Witnesses the right to use the Caltrain station for distribution of
their literature in accordance with the JPB's time, place and manner
regulations set forth in Ordinance 1 would constitute a violation of
the
First Amendment."

Astrid Lindell
Caltrain Customer Relations Specialist

Hmmm...I'm conflicted. I believe that their presence violates the separation of church and state, but I don't want to compromise use of the station as a public space. I really need to see the "JPB" regulations.

Dead iPods

So, today was my first day in LA where no one wanted anything from me (no services, Fathers' Day barbeques, doctor's appointments, or sister's "Comencement Exercises" to go to), and I was bored stiff. There are only so many times I can check my email and facebook, especially when no one is sending me anything.

So, I jumped at the opportunity to take my sister to the Apple Store in the Northridge mall when her iPod kept having issues. Evidently, its harddrive is shot. Sad. However, while the not-so-attractive guy was helping my sister, the hottest woman (and definitely lesbian) I have seen in a long time walked by, into the "Staff Only" room. And she didn't come out again. I was disappointed. I was going to ask her something stupid like how much AppleCare for my iPod would be and take out my rainbow wallet while fishing for said iPod in my purse. But, she stayed in the magic back room. Sad. Maybe she'll be working the genius bar the next time my computer craps out...except that if it does, I'll probably be up there again and have to go to Valley Fair in Santa Clara AGAIN. Ugh.

Dear Nicholas

Dear Nicholas,

I hope summer has been treating you well.

I noticed that you've un-friended me on Facebook. Now I understand that you're upset at the way things turned out, as am I, but don't you think that's a little melodramatic?

Dating doesn't always work out, especially blind dates, but there's no reason why you need to avoid me, or pretend I don't exist when I'm nearby. Rushing into a nearby dining hall when you see me approach is entirely unnecessary. I realize that you're just trying to avoid an awkward encounter, but uncomfortable exchanges are inevitable. Next time, just wave or simply nod in my direction. I'd prefer to remain friends, but I understand if you wish to keep your distance.

Now about the matter of the ticket money. As you are aware, I didn't respond to your two requests for reimbursement for my Great America ticket. The reason for my silence was because I felt that your request was completely inappropriate. Asking for money back from a date, regardless of your financial situation, is quite simply against the rules; there's no money back satisfaction guarantee.

I really enjoyed the time we spent together, and I hope we can continue our association as friends.

Best,
-Kevin

Summer Goals

Summer Goals

1. Make money
2. Save money
3. Read a lot
4. Learn some conversational French
5. Master a few recipes out of my cookbooks
6. Figure out what Chomsky and Foucault are arguing about
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8812109947317308949&q=
foucault&total=282&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1
7. Get a tan
8. Work on Network stuff
9. Keeping my sanity while living at home
10. Act more gay around my family
11. Indoctrinate my siblings with my liberal world view
12. Learn to ride a horse
13. Watch more Orson Welles films
14. Finally meet up with Biff Faunce for tea and film gossip
15. Successfully prevent Jehovah’s Witnesses from tabling in the Diridon Station
16. Ride BART for fun on Spare the Air Day

The Land of the Kosher

So, the drive home was long, since there was enough traffic that it took an hour just to go the eight miles from the 1 to the 152, but it was really nice to do it with my dad (and in his fancy Prius). I'm really glad he came, though it definitely wasn't my intention when I called home Thursday evening.

Anyway, down here is...down here. I haven't done anything exciting yet except be dragged to services at the new temple (Aliyah) to meet the other Rabbi. She's nice, and I'd actually met her before, at camp when I was 13. She's a UCSC alumna (Stevenson), and said when she was there, College 8 was new thing. So, she was there early 90's. She offered herself as someone to talk to about potentially going to rabbinical school if that ever ends up looking like something I want to do again, and about "other things...and remember, I DID go to Santa Cruz..." And my mom had told me she's queer-positive already. So, maybe. She seems nice, but I was running on 12 hours of sleep total between 3 days and wasn't very alert or receptive.

Today was the Father's Day thing...BBQ with the grandpa, and watched my mom and uncle get into an argument when he forgot to tell her his in-laws were coming and would need food, too. Pam, the crazy grandmother, was mostly okay today. Now I am hiding in my room on the (now working!) computer.