Californians are now free to marry!

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved gay marriage ban Thursday in a ruling that would make the nation’s largest state the second one to allow gay and lesbian weddings.
…
In striking down the ban, the court said, “In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”

Full article from the New York Times

Hope you called your moms or sent them something nice. My folks are visiting again and I am going to give my mom some flowers I got at the florist this afternoon.

I used to think flowers were one of the least meaningful things you could give someone. I mean, if I had to choose between flowers or something practical like a Brita filter, I would choose the Brita. And I assumed other people would as well.

The two most important things I’ve learned about gift giving are:

1. Other people tend to like things for incomprehensible reasons. “If I were [so-and-so], I would love this,” is a useless strategy. Better to take a behaviorist approach–what gifts (stimuli) would likely elicit positive responses, based on past observations?
2. The less practical the gift (e.g. flowers, jewelry, candy, a nice dinner), the more meaning is associated with it. It may seem extravagant and wasteful, but that is the point–it’s always nice to have someone spend frivolously on you.

Anyone else have tips about gift giving? Or how to show appreciation to your “oh don’t get anything for me” moms?

As of today, I have 11 days left before my Step 1 exam. Panic levels are at an all-time high.

I’m doing a Brooke White impression in my head: “It’s okay, I mean it’s not okay, but it’s okay, I’ll be okay.”

The date went superbly. We had a delicious meal at a Swiss-French restaurant. We browsed books at a kooky small bookstore. We went to see Iron Man–which, if you haven’t heard, is a pretty awesome movie. To me, the best superhero film since Batman Begins.

But no sparks. And three days later (yes I kept count) I asked him, and he felt more like staying friends as well.

So that’s how it turned out.

I know I set a personal rule that I would become a Secure Gay Man before entering the dating world. But I’m going on a date tonight!

He’s a good friend and I always feel great talking to him. One day I just blurted out (on IM), “Do you want to go out some time?” And he said yes!

So wish me luck.

(Boards? What boards?)

http://www.dayofsilence.org/

I thought I had seen the worst when Michael Johns was voted off two weeks ago. But Carly Smithson whips out her most rocking performance yet, and yet she was voted off! The same week Jason Castro poorly sang another song while employing his two signature expressions (which I like to call “constipated” and “relieved”). The same week that Brooke (yet again) messed up the beginning of her song — Jesus Christ Superstar, woman! You’re worse than Archuleta!

The worst part is the nagging suspicion that she lost votes because her song goes “Jesus Christ, superstar, do you think you’re what they say you are?” And I thought I could escape national despair by watching reality TV!

Carly, oh Carly. I weep for you. Facing unnecessarily cruel judges. A nation that hates you and loves “God Bless the USA.” And yet you soldiered on, keeping a smile on your face even as you, one of the two best vocalists this season, ended up in the bottom three time and again.

And I’m left wondering why I keep watching this stupid show. Elliott Yamin, Melinda Doolittle, and now Carly Smithson — I’m 0 for 3 so far.

My only hope is that Carly gets signed right away, and comes back with an album that’s all drunken hellfire and blasphemy. I’ll take the first hundred copies.

Brooke White — Xanax, once a day and before performing, talking to judges, or being on camera.

Carly Smithson — a bottle of whiskey and a microphone. Take as needed.

I’ve only seen like three of her videos and already I want to be best friends. Oh mah gahz.

And I’m learning so much. Who knew that lesbians only get 20 hours in between live-in girlfriends?

Of course the joke with gay men is, “What do gay men bring on their second date?” “What second date?” (And yes, I will kill you if you repeat that and are not gay.)

It’s Pride Week on our campus. Happy Pride!

Youngme / Nowme is a web site where people re-create photos from their past, sometimes with an absurd level of attention to detail.

Everyone is cute as a kid, do you notice that? But some people–wow, what happened?