here's a cute story......

(06-30) 13:06 PDT AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) --

Amsterdam police say 15 camels, two zebras and an undetermined number of llamas and potbellied swine briefly escaped from a traveling Dutch circus after a giraffe kicked a hole in their cage.

Police spokesman Arnout Aben says the animals wandered in a group through a nearby neighborhood for several hours after their 5:30 a.m. breakout.

The animals were back at the circus later Monday after being rounded up by police and circus workers with the assistance of dogs. Aben says neighbors fed some of the animals — which he said was a bad idea — but they were tame and nobody was hurt.

Says Aben: "You have to imagine somebody rubbing his eyes first thing in the morning and saying, 'Am I seeing things or is that 15 camels walking past?'"

This is funny shit. Gordon Smith is a Republican Senator from Oregon. That Oregon has a Republican Senator in itself is an oxymoron. In fact, he is the ONLY Republican Senator on the Pacific coast. But anyway, the guy is running scared. And he is running ads in Oregon that imply he is endorsed by Barrack Obama. Take a look:



The problem is, Barrack Obama is endorsing Jeff Merkley, Smith's Democratic opponent. Polls show that the race is tilting toward Merkley.

Meanwhile, Oregon's four Democratic Representatives are calling bullshit on the whole thing. Here's a story from KATU-TV in Portland.




It is so fun watching the Republicans eat shit after so many years. Hopefully the era of government for big business and nut-job Christians is coming to a close, and we can return to Lincoln's dream of "government of the people, by the people, for the people."

Queer Quips.....

EMI Records Guy: Billy Idol and his group should be arriving any minute

Fred: They're already here. Got here about a half hour ago. They're setting things up in the studio for the interviews.

EMI Records Guy: Cool. Has he given you a fist pump yet?

Fred: No, but mmmm I'm liking the sound of that.

Don't Buy Bolthouse Farms Products!

William Bolthouse has donated $100,000 to right wing groups trying to pass the Calfornia "marriage amendment" in November. Bolthouse Farms products are sold in Walgreen's, Whole Foods, Albertsons, and others.

I have written a letter to Walgreen's. I urge everyone else to do the same. And don't buy Bolthouse Farms!

Here's the letter:

I am a frequent customer of Walgreens. I buy all my prescriptions from there, and most of my food, toiletries, etc. I understand that a supplier for Walgreens, Bolthouse Farms, has donated $100,000 to the group trying to pass the California "marriage amendment." It is disturbing to me that Walgreens would have products on its' shelves from a company that is actively seeking to make discrimination legal against me and millions of other fellow Californians. As a long time frequent shopper of Walgreens, I urge you to consider pulling Bolthouse Farms products from your shelves. Thank you.

I Hate Insurance Companies.....

God I hate insurance companies. I especially hate Metlife, which provides the dental insurance for my company.

I had a crown pop out a couple of weeks ago. I went to the dentist, and he sent me to a specialist for a root canal, and building a foundation for a replacement crown. So far so good. Then the bomb dropped on me today. Metlife has a 5 year waiting period before they will pay for a crown to be replaced, and since the bad crown was originally placed in March of 2004, I would have to wait until April of 2009 for Metlife to pay for my crown. So, I have to cough up $721 to get this new crown.

It's not my fault the damn crown popped off. I didn't take a hammer and knock it out. By the way, Metlife only pays for half the price of the crown in the first place. It's not like this is elective. You either need a crown or your don't. I'm not looking for some extra bling in my mouth. No need to get my grill on.

Insurance companies are nothing but a scam. They don't care about the patients. All they care about is taking our money and figuring out ways to screw us out of payment. Of course, I'm not saying something you don't already know.

That's why we need universal health care NOW dammit!

Queer Quips....

From a commercial on Energy 92.7......

Greg: It's summer and time to go topless

Fernando: You don't need a reason to go topless. You'll take your shirt off at the drop of a hat

Greg: No, I'm talking about Volkswagen convertibles.

(commercial bullshit blah blah blah)

Greg: And if you don't like convertibles, Volkswagen is bringing in a bunch a hard tops just for Pride

Fernando: Well, you'd better hurry, because the competition is always stiff for hard tops in this town

funny shit....

Marriage News....

Joseph Smith

So, the Mormons have entered the same-sex marriage fray in California. The president of the LDS has written a letter, which is supposedly to be read in church services this Sunday. The letter has leaked out to the press.

According to sources, the letter asks all California Morons, er I mean Mormons, to "do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to ensure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman." The letter goes on to say "the church's teaching and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the formation of families is central to the Creator's plan for His children."

Gee, it wasn't so long ago, and in some quarters is still the case, that the Mormons said God's plan for marriage was one man and the more the merrier women. And, what I can't understand is, if their esteemed prophet, Joseph Smith, said that polygamy was God's will, how is it that the Mormon Church suddenly decided a hundred years ago that it wasn't God's will???? And they only decided that for political gain? Because Utah would not have been admitted to the Union as long as Mormons practiced polygamy? Isn't God's will eternal? That's what I keep hearing.

I refuse to take advice on what is God's will for marriage from this cult.

By the way, If you're struggling with Mormonism, here's a group that can help: http://exmormon.org

It amazes me how many "happily partnered" guys are on the web sites like bear411, biggercity, and others. It makes me wonder why they have a profile on there if they are so "happy." And I love the ones that go out of their way to make it sound like there's nothing sexual about it. "Don't even think of hooking up with me. I am very happy with my man." Those are the first ones you'll catch at Steamworks. Just last week I saw a profile from a hot chaser in Southern California. He was "happily partnered to so and so. Just on here to chat with friends (that's what phones and email are for). Don't even think of hooking up with me. I never cheat." Well, all it took was me signing his guest book and he was all over me.

And yes, I'm being hypocritical, because when I was in a relationship, I did the same thing. But, I think I learned my lesson. Take it from an old daddybear who's been there. If you're going to cheat, just be honest about it. Don't post a profile that implies you have some blissful relationship. If you are truly that happy, you don't need to be on bear411.

Boycott Bakersfield!

Bakersfield has always been a good stopping point on the way to LA to get gas, stretch the legs, etc. Come to think of it, it's the only stopping point. But, not for me anymore. The Kern County Clerk, Ann Barnett, has stopped performing ALL civil marriage ceremonies, both breeder and gay. She claims it is for financial reasons. But memos from a high ranking official in the office to a right-wing Christian group suggests that finances were not the real reason.

Oh well, there is something good that comes out of this. All those Kern County brother/sister couples will have to get in their beat up pickup trucks and drive to another county if they want a civil ceremony.

I went to LA this weekend. I really needed to get away. Haven't had any weekend getaways since March. And it was going to be really hot in the Bay Area this weekend, and I have no AC, so I decided to take a road trip.

God it was hot. It was 83 when I left Alameda. After I crossed the Altamonte Pass, the temp soared to 104, and it hovered between 104 and 109 all the way to LA. My Sirius radio crapped out near Fresno. Not a good thing to happen in the land of nothing but Spanish stations. Needless to say it was not the most fun drive I've ever had.

I stayed in Buena Park, which I didn't realize was in Orange County. I probably wouldn't have known had I not been told by a friend. I'm surprised my head didn't explode.

So, after I got Buster and me checked into my air conditioned hotel room, I headed out to Pistons. They actually had a pretty nice crowd there. I enjoyed a few beers, along with the unwelcome attention of this Ted Baxter lookalike, and went back to the hotel.

On Saturday, I was invited to a bear pool party/orgy (their words not mine) in Anaheim. Note to self: use caution when invited to a bear pool party/orgy hosted by a chaser. There were like 50 bears there and 2 chasers. Must have been a buffet for them. Actually it was a pretty good time. I ran into a couple of LA buddies there and hung out by the pool and drank a lot of beer.

Saturday night the G/M of LA was having their social at Pistons, so I went to that. There was a really good crowd. Nice mix of chasers and chubs. I ran into several acquaintances so I wasn't standing there by myself all night. The bartender bought me a few beers, and I just sat back and enjoyed the evening.

The trip back on Sunday was much better than coming down on Friday. I fixed my Sirius. The weather was a little cooler. Only in the mid 90's. And, when I arrived home, a cold front had moved in, and it was something like 53 degrees.

All in all, not a bad weekend.

It's always a sphincter-tightening moment when you find a letter from the IRS in your mailbox. That happened to me this week.

The letter stated that I failed to file my 2006 income tax return. Well, that's odd since I received my refund that year. Anyway, there were instructions on what to do if I had, indeed, filed the 2006 return. Thank God for Turbotax. I was able to pull up my 2006 return and pop it in the mail to the IRS.

My question to the IRS is this: since your records show I never filed a return, does that mean I get my refund again???

BTW, as much as I hate Mike Huckabee, his one good idea is to abolish the IRS. I wholeheartedly agree with that concept.

Marriage News....

Equality California et al have filed a lawsuit asking the California Supreme Court to pull the proposed marriage amendment off the ballot in November. Their argument is that, under the California constitution, only the state legislature can put forth a revision to the constitution.

Now, I don't really understand the subtle distinction between a "revision" and an "amendment." But I do know that the constitution states that the voters can put forth an amendment, but only the legislature can draft a revision to the constitution.

The plaintiffs maintain that the marriage amendment would so drastically alter the constitution that it is a revision, not an amendment. They also argue that the petitions to put the marriage amendment on the ballot were misleading, because they said the amendment "would not alter the state's definition of marriage."

I'm rooting for them. It really pisses me off that a matter of civil rights is being put up to a vote. It would be the same as voting on a constitutional amendment to allow segregation after the US Supreme Court ruled that as unconstitutional.

Gay Marriage Has Arrived!

Some local coverage of the first day of gay marriage in the Bay Area. Check out the bear/chaser couple in video #2.

Vote Republican! Here's Why....

Yet another reason why reefer should be legalized......

From AP:

WASHINGTON - Marijuana potency increased last year to the highest level in more than 30 years, posing greater health risks to people who may view the drug as harmless, according to a report released Thursday by the White House.

The latest analysis from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project tracked the average amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in samples seized by law enforcement agencies from 1975 through 2007. It found that the average amount of THC reached 9.6 percent in 2007, compared with 8.75 percent the previous year.

The 9.6 percent level represents more than a doubling of marijuana potency since 1983, when it averaged just under 4 percent.


Gee, maybe if the government legalized it, and regulated it, they could control the potency of the product. It's exactly like during prohibition times. Who controlled the liquor supply when the government outlawed it????

No one has ever died directly from marijuana use. According to the government's own figures, 435,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use. 85,000 die directly from alcohol use. 32,000 die from adverse reactions to prescription drugs. 7,000 die from NSAIDS and aspirin. But NOT ONE American dies directly from marijuana use. To be fair, marijuana use is implicated as a contributing factor is somewhere between 200 and 3o0 deaths a year.

So, I want to know, when is MY government going to quit wasting MY tax dollars on a losing battle trying to wipe out a drug that, by all accounts, is pretty fucking benign???? A drug about which President Nixon's Commission on Marijuana and Drug Use had the following to say in 1972:

"Neither the marijuana user nor the drug itself can be said to constitute a danger to public safety. Therefore, the Commission recommends ... [the] possession of marijuana for personal use no longer be an offense, [and that the] casual distribution of small amounts of marijuana for no remuneration, or insignificant remuneration no longer be an offense."

Now, if you want to read something really scary about drug abuse, check out the next post.

Here's what parents should be afraid of......

While the government continues its scare tactics about marijuana, they don't seem to care as much about the real problem, abuse of prescription drugs.

Not only are adults abusing prescription medications (ask Rush Limbaugh), but so are their kids.

One of the up and coming drugs for teens is Fentanyl. It's a powerful narcotic pain killer. 100 times more potent than morphine. Its' intended use is for cancer patients for whom morphine does not work. It's meant to be used as a skin patch, which releases small amounts of the drug in the body over a long period of time.

But, guess what? Kids are getting their hands on it. And they're using it. And they're dying from it.

Kind of makes reefer seem kind of benign doesn't it?

six days until gay marriage......

watch this and cry....

I guess I'm officially a San Franciscan now. The temperature today climbed to something like 86 degrees today in the Bay Area, and all I can say is that was fucking hot!

I actually would have loved it, except none of us has AC, and 86 degress + no AC = sucks.

Marriage News......

Counting down the days now. We're one week away from same sex marriage being legal in California.

In the news today, a new UCLA study is saying that same sex marriage will bring almost $700 million and create 2,200 new jobs over the next three years. That money will come from queers spending money on flowers, cakes, hotels, and all the trappings of marriage. This translates into almost $70 million in state taxes, and about $9 million for counties in fees for marriage licenses.

About 68,000 out-of-staters are expected to travel to California to tie the knot over the next three years.

All of this assumes that voters defeat the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in November.

Queer Quips....

Fred: is this thing really worth 80 bucks?

Leather store clerk: it seems to be real popular. we sell a lot of them.

Fred: ok i'll take it.

Leather store clerk: let me know what you think.

Fred: oh, it's for a friend.

Leather store clerk: of course it is.

Fred: i suppose you won't take it back if it's not well received?

Leather store clerk: uh, no

I took a break from work today and went to a movie. The movie I saw was "The Strangers." It was awful, awful, awful. An hour and a half of my life that I will never get back.

It's kind of a rip-off of the original "Halloween," down to the closet scene. The difference being there are three psycho killers instead of one. These psycho killers taunt their victims, playing a game of cat and mouse, before they do the deed. And "Halloween" was good.

This movie gets no stars from me. Don't waste your time or money.

Lesbo Kiss Stirs Controversy At Ballgame

A lesbian couple were asked to stop kissing at a Seattle Mariners baseball game after another spectator, a woman, complained to an usher. The woman claimed they were "groping" each other. The couple claimed they were kissing each other lightly while eating fries. The whole incident has created quite a stir, with Dan Savage suggesting a "kiss in" to protest the Mariners.

Why is it that when gay people show the slightest amount of affection, they're "groping" each other, while breeders can suck each others' faces off without anyone complaining?

I guess the Seattle bitch didn't get the memo. WE'RE HERE. WE'RE QUEER. GET USED TO IT!

Marriage News.....

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously against a request by conservative groups to stay the ruling which will allow same sex marriage in the state. Attorneys General of several other states also joined in the request for the stay. They are concerned of the legal ramifications of their own citizens getting married in California, and returning to their home states. So, there's no stopping queer marriage now. It will go into effect on June 17.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that gay marriage is expected to be a financial windfall to the state, as thousands of gay couples from across the country flock to California to get married. The San Francisco Tourism and Convention Bureau is planning an advertising campaign with the theme "Celebrate liberty, justice, and marriage for all. Come to the city where it all began."

Queer Quips......

David: so what did you think of sex and the city?

Fred: haven't seen it yet

David: YOU, of all people, haven't seen sex and the city?

Fred: no

David: isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?

From BearWWW.........

"I dig dirty white boys, latinos, shaved heads, scruff, dark hair, green eyes. If you suggest a Starbucks date, I'll fucking stab you."

Poll Shows Most Americans Now Support Same-Sex Marriage

Six in ten Americans say the government should not regulate whether gays and lesbians can wed the persons they choose, a new survey finds. As same-sex couples start lining up to get marriage licenses in California on June 17, the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found 63 percent of adults say same-sex marriage is "strictly a private decision" between two people. That the government has the right "to prohibit or allow" such marriages was stated by 33 percent, and 4 percent had no opinion.

A majority of respondents at every level of education and income say same-sex marriage is "strictly private." This was true:

• In every region: East (71 percent), West (64 percent), Midwest (63 percent) and South (56 percent).

• Among all age except "65 and older": 18 to 29 (79 percent), 30 to 49 (65 percent), 50 to 64 percent (62 percent) and 65 and older (44 percent).

• Among people who also say they have a favorable view of any of the three leading presidential candidates. For those holding favorable views for John McCain, 55 percent say marriage is a private decision; for Barack Obama, 75 percent say so; and for Hillary Clinton, 69 percent do. All three oppose same-sex marriage. Both Democrats both favor civil unions.

• Among people who say a relative, friend or co-worker personally has told them he or she was gay or lesbian (73 percent).

The strongest support for government regulation of same-sex marriage came from people who say they:

• Attend religious services weekly (56 percent).

• Are Republicans (56 percent).

• Are politically conservative (54 percent).

Queer Quips......

Mike: what did you do last night?

Fred: hung out with my friend Matt

Mike: what's he like?

Fred: he's pretty cool. grew up in a hippie/christian commune

Fred: his dad kicked him out when he came out

Mike: that would be the "christian" part right?

Fred: right

Yeah we get it. You don't like fat guys......

"I like guys who are fit and masculine. Fitness is very important to me and it should be to you as well, which means you spend enough time in the gym that it is readily evident. In my world, being fit also means you don't have a huge gut: musclebears, lean guys, and admirers are all welcome to write me. My fitness goals currently center around bodybuilding. My dates should have fitness goals of some kind (not necessarily bodybuilding). I am looking to meet a good fit guy, in their 20's to 40's, that knows who they are, has faced their inner demons, and is now looking for someone to add a little extra spark to an already fullfilling life."

Hell must be about to freeze over because I never thought I would hear myself saying what I'm about to say. I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON EVEN IF SHE WAS RUNNING AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH!

I am so turned off by Hillary and her crazed supporters that I wouldn't want her in the White House. If the phone rings at 3AM and she answers, it's probably to take a call from the hit man that she hired to rub out some political opponent. She has proven that she is EXACTLY what the "vast right wing conspiracy" said she is: a vicious pit bull who will break any rule to get what she wants.

So let's see how this works. Florida and Michigan break the rules and hold their primaries early. The DNC punishes them by saying their delegates will not count at the convention. All the candidates agree to not campaign in those states. Obama isn't even on the ballot in Michigan. Now that the chips are down, she whines and bitches and stamps her feet and wraps herself in the "count every vote" flag. Then the DNC agrees to sit Michigan and Florida, only with half their votes. The Florida delegation is allotted according to the popular vote, but what do we do with Michigan? Obama wasn't even on the ballot there. So the DNC agrees to a 50/50 split of Michigan's delegates, a plan put forth by the Michigan party. And that's STILL not good enough for Hillary?????

If the shoe had been on the other foot, Obama would have bowed out gracefully a long time ago and he would be the VP nominee.

Now, I fear Hillary and her wacky supporters will hand the White House to McCain in November. Get ready for 4 years of "Bush Light."

Happy Pride!

So I'm down in SOMA last night walking to my car, when I suddenly hear a series of loud booms and cracks. It scared the shit out of me at first because I immediately thought there was some kind of gunfight nearby. But then I looked over my shoulder and saw fireworks in the air over City Hall.

What could this be for? I pondered. And then I looked at the time and realized it was midnight. And I also realized it was midnight on June 1. And then it hit me. HAPPY PRIDE!

This is my second pride in San Francisco, and I have to tell you, it's pretty wild. Like a month long holiday. This year's Pride is going to be particularly fun since same-sex marriage will become legal on June 17.

It all culminates with San Francisco's big Pride Parade and Celebration on the weekend of June 28/29.

But all month long, there will be plenty of activities to keep you busy. The San Francisco Chronicle's Pride page can be found here.

If you're looking for a place to really feel proud of being gay, I suggest you come to San Francisco. And don't forget those flowers in your hair!