Odessa

The Week Daily:

FROM THE MAGAZINE

Only in America

A Pennsylvania woman is facing up to 90 days in jail for swearing at an overflowing toilet in her own home. Dawn Herb admits she used some four-letter words near an open window when she discovered that her toilet was leaking down into her kitchen. Her neighbor, a police officer, took offense, and had her cited for disorderly conduct. “It doesn’t make any sense,” says Herb. “I was in my house. It’s not like I was outside or drunk.”

Guess I better make sure my windows are closed if I feel a fit of potty mouth coming on !!!

Author J.K. Rowling stated, when a young fan asked if the solitary Dumbledore would ever find true love: “I always thought of Dumbledore as gay.” I'm not up on my Harry Potter lore, but I gather that Mr. Dumbledore has had terrible luck in the love department. If he never had a romantic (or lusting after someone) scene in the entire series, how is his sexuality relevant? And she chooses now to make this revelation now because???

There are many gay people that are in very happy relationships; therefore, being gay does not prohibit someone from finding true love. Her answer does not answer the question posed to her. Perhaps his loneliness is the result of a terribly broken heart (which from what I understand is eluded to), which can happen to homo- and hetero-sexual people alike.

In addition, one joy of books is filling in some of the blanks yourself. Also,we don't always know the private lives of everyone in our life. For example, I don't know with surety the sexual orientation of all my co-worker, my dentist, my docter, my old teachers, etc., etc. Should be likewise with characters in a good book. Maybe Ms. Rowling misses that point.

Furthermore, although many are claiming that this helps an attitude of tolerance toward gays, I see it as almost the opposite. How does a lonely old gay guy, who may have not ever had a meaningful relationship foster tolerance? To me it is says: "Gay people are doomed to grow old, alone, and without love." Tolerance, but only tolerance of someone who is effectively asexual in their homosexually - kind of like how gay priests are supposed to be, and we all know how well that works out in most cases.

Ms. Rowling, have your books not created enough controversy? Need to create a bit more with this little gem? Witchcraft and fags - the Christian right wing-dings now have more or a reason to use your book for kindling.

I have a friend who is a great guy. He is hard working, intelligent, thoughtful, and trusting. He is dating a woman. That woman's sister said "What are you doing dating a black man?" Yup, my friend is black and his new girlfriend is white. They are both well into their 40's and definitely able to decide for themselves what human beings are worth spending time with. When he recounted this story to me I told him that unfortunately the media has painted black males in particular harsh tones. His girlfriend needs to set her sister straight.

Think about it. While most African-Americans in this country are overcoming and surpassed all kinds of awful stereotypes, the media clamors to a few bad apples. And stupid teenagers of all races are using the few bad apples as role models. However, thankfully, I have heard that "gangsta" rap sales are down - way down.

Perhaps the novelty of calling women bitches and 'ho's and glorifying violent crime has passed. One can hope. Maybe now people can get to living their lives in harmony rather than acting like a bunch of felons. I'm not so naive to think it will happen, but one can hope, can't one?

Ellen DeGeneres adopts a dog named Iggy. Iggy and the household's cats don't get along. Ellen's hairdresser takes Iggy in. Here's the rub, Mutts and Moms, the pet adoption agency Ellen got the dog from has an issue with Ellen giving little Iggy to her hairdresser. They take Iggy back.

Many pet adoption agencies have many rules that they wield with an iron fist. I chose to adopt my cats from the humane society rather than one of these adoption groups because of their rules and long list of questions. Ask anyone who knows me and they know my cats are my 4-legged, furry children. However, for example, I was not going to have someone tell me that I couldn't de-claw my cats if they became destructive. All of the adoption groups seem to have extensive "rules" to which adoptive human
mommies and daddies must adhere.

I am not disputing these groups rights to make rules. However, do any of the people running these places ever ask themselves whether finding a home that adheres strictly to their guidelines will make their furry charges happier than finding a home that might be a bit less than what they, the human operators of these groups , would find purrr-fect? I think it comes down to pure arrogance on the part of many of these people.

Lets use my de-claw example - If you were a cat, would you rather be de-clawed living in a warm home with ample food and clean water or stuck in a 3 ft by 3 ft cage hoping someone finds you cute? People like me, who would provide and nice safe home to an animal companion are turned away in favor of leaving the animals in cages or less than ideally "homelike" foster homes where people may be taxed to the brink with the number of foster animals they have. Doesn't make much sense to me and the reason I went elsewhere.

I hope Iggy winds up in a good, stable, home.

I went to the human society instead of one of these pet and I couldn't be happier with my furry companions. Oh, and by the way, everyone should do their part to limit the number of unwanted dogs and cats and spay and neuter you pets. There is nothing macho or cool about letting you pets procreate unless you are a professional breeder.

On another blog, a post about former Iranian president and current Chairman of the Assembly of Experts statement that Hitler’s treatment of Jewish people in Europe was due in part to their being “a pain in the neck" quickly became a post about the Holocaust. I posted the following.

I think one message that could be learned from the holocaust that gets forgotten is - Don't isolate yourself.

A relative of mine lived in Germany until the late 1940's. She said that she personally didn't know any Jewish people so she was frankly unaware that any were disappearing. They were around, but at the periphery of her life. If someone that never speaks to you and avoids any real interaction with you disappears, how likely are you to ask where they went? Also consider that many Jews that survived the holocaust survived because they interacted with others, because their friends were not limited to those of their own faith.

Many people still have not learned this lesson. I have gotten down right distrustful, just this side of hostile, stares in Hasidic communities, even when I smile and say hello. The stares made me feel very uncomfortable and self-conscience. I doubt I would be aware if any of the people in those neighborhoods were to start disappearing and I wouldn't much care. Although cruel, it is human nature to care less for people treat you with disdain than those that treat you with kindness. Nor do I suspect, given how they seem to regard me, they would give a hoot if I were to disappear. Replace "Hasidic" with many other groups and the result is the same - it is a "we" / "them" mentality.

Even in less insular communities, our life styles isolates us. How long would it take for you to know if your neighbor disappeared? I live in a small village and I would have no idea if any of them disappeared for quite a while. And if I disappeared? My neighbors wouldn't have a clue for at least a month - until the grass got long. The only people that might notice sooner or care are my friends, who are busy with work during the week, and my co-workers. Who would miss you?

The smoking bans have reached epic heights. Let me just say that I personally hate cigarette smoke and I would love it if everybody quit. But I am a realist, the 20% of Americans that smoke are not just going to quit. However, I do have a bit of sympathy for someone who is told they can not smoke in a place they OWN.

For many years, landlords have banned smoking. My parents owned a rental property about 20 years ago and would not rent to smokers after renting to one for 3 yrs. From a purely business perspective this makes sense. Smoking is a fire hazard so insurance is higher. Smoking makes the windows and walls completely gross and cleaning up after a smoker who has moved is time consuming, smelly and thankless. Furthermore, smoke-free appeals to the 80% who do not smoke. However, smoking bans aren't just for tenants anymore.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-02-nosmoke_N.htm

Now some condo associations are banning smoking. Since most don't grandfather people in, it doesn't matter if you bought your unit 3 months ago or 10 yrs ago. If one buys a condo or a home in any other restricted community, one realizes that they will have rules to live by in their own home. However, should those rules be changed on someone? Now some municipalities are passing laws banning smoking in apartments and condos. I do not think its fair, no matter how much I hate smoking.

Think about this - the government is passing a law on what you can do within the four walls of the home you own. Something that is not inherently illegal. People tend not to squawk unless the right being taken away is something they like having the right to do. If the government can ban smoking in someone's home, a privately owned residence, where will the erosion of our rights end?