Queerty uses this image of Medusa from “Clash of the Titans” in their articles about Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern and I can’t help think that it’s all too appropriate. She’s recently penned an op-ed to the regional newspaper The Tribune which they’ve posted online. I’ll put the full text below since it looks like it could vanish with the next issue. A relevant excerpt:

Anyone who thinks there is no homosexual agenda need only look here in Oklahoma to the newly formed Equal Rights Project created to help elect candidates by bridging the gay/straight community. The Equal Rights Project states “We felt we were uniquely qualified to help those running in the South and the Bible Belt. Running in these communities is much different than in California and New York. Our idea was to train, educate and support all candidates who support equal rights for all.”

Homosexuals are already citizens who have equal rights. They want “special rights” for the acceptance of their deviant lifestyle. I’m thankful that Oklahoma is different than California and New York. I pray it stays that way.

Like the title of this post, I have to wonder if she is just making it worse for herself. It disturbs me to think that there are educated people out there that feel the way she does even if not quite as extreme. I don’t know of any other well-known homophobes likening homosexuals to terrorists. (The threatening letters, initially reported as death threats after her first speech really didn’t help that, however) Still, clearly there are people on the fence just enough that her words don’t make them feel uncomfortable even if they aren’t coming out in force to support her.

I’m not really sure how I feel about people like Kern, though I know she is hardly rare. I mean while I am opposed to the message of groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, I think they provide an amazing polarizing force for people to examine their own levels of homophobia. They’re a perfect example of hatred and ignorance gone too far.

It’s worth noting, however, that I’ve been unable to find any official statements from any Oklahoma official regarding her comments. I’m not saying that’s tacit acceptance, but they may just be willing to let her stand alone on this one, sink or swim.

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It’s still a little chilly out there this weekend, but the blossoms around my neighborhood are peaking. I was up on Capitol Hill earlier today freezing my tush off and the trees along Pennsylvania Avenue are still keeping their petals to themselves. I had considered heading downtown yesterday, but a little research showed that there really was too much going on and staying in seemed a much better option.

It’s been a pretty slow day, I was up early and at the grocery store. I am definitely doing all of my shopping at 8am Sunday morning! The store was blissfully empty, I was in and out of Safeway faster than I think I’ve ever been. I met Tim over at Eastern Market and aside from getting a nice little hunk of parmesan-gouda, I got away without anything else. A quick breakfast/brunch at Mr. Henry’s and a short walk, due to the cold, and it was back home. I upgraded my Wordpress install which is the main reason for this post and it seems to have gone off without a hitch.

I’m attempting grilled lamb chops for dinner tonight, but in the meantime I think I might do some reading and some gaming and be happy that I am not outside in the windy chill. The joke is usually that DC gets about a week of Spring and then it’s straight away into Summer. It seems like this year we’re going to have a slightly more extended Spring before we become the swamp. It’s not that I miss heading into work already having broken a sweat, but with April around the corner, I don’t exactly expect to head out into 35° weather for a morning walk to the store!

See here and here for some comic-scans context from The Order, but doesn’t that sound like something Paula Deen would say? “Punching a bear in the face.” might just have to become my standard response to what’s up?

Just had another almost famous moment on the metro back from lunch. There have been camera crews swarming our station with the new stadium coming up and we got on at Archives to head back to Navy Yard. On the train with us was a guy with a camera and a perfectly coiffed blonde woman with a folder and a microphone. I was commenting to my co-worker that she looks exactly like the description of the god Media in the book “American Gods” when I turned around and she’s right behind me asking, “Hey do you mind answering some questions?”

She wanted me to talk about whether I was going to be in town and take metro this weekend or try to avoid it all due to the crowds. I think I gave her the responses she was looking for and I hope that I looked ok — ever since pollen season started, the nasal tickle makes me feel like I’ve got a bogey hanging outta my nose. After the camera shot was over she took down my name and where I lived and upon discovering I live in Mount Pleasant asked me questions about the street opening up and if any businesses had been displaced. I told her about the hair salon in the basement of the building moving a block down and she seemed happy for the free info. I guess I saved her a few minutes research online.

I think I started to ramble, as I often do, but maybe they’ll be able to cut some good footage out of it. If so, I might appear on Channel 7 tonight for a few seconds in one of their newscasts.

That would probably be the DC version of that old (and new) Chevrolet jingle. Clearly metro is ready, this cheesy (marshmallowy?) peeps video notwithstanding, for the throngs of baseball fans this weekend. The Washington Nationals season opener is this Sunday (Sunday… SUNDAY!!) and it’s pretty amazing all the construction that’s been going on around our office to make it look pretty. Potholes filled, new curbs being poured, new areas suddenly defined as parking lots. Though from walking outside I saw Parking Lots U and W, so I imagine those aren’t the choice lots.

I’m feeling conflicted about the cherry blossoms this weekend. I want to go, of course, even if they’re the same every year, they’re still gorgeous to see. But as a DC resident I feel I should show solidarity with the “Tourists Go Home!” sentiment I see in the local blogs and free papers. Still I wouldn’t want to miss the peak and since I’m no longer working near an Orange/Blue Line station, it’ll be more of an errand to hop the metro over there for a long lunch break. I wonder if it’s worth it to make an early morning trip just to have a nice long walk around the Tidal Basin and be done with it.

Truth be told, I don’t mind tourists all that much especially in large events like this or things on The Mall where they can’t really get lost or turned around. It’s a prime photo real estate so everyone’s going to be stopping every few feet to get another picture. If it turns out to be a nice weekend, the blossoms are a good launching point to make it a nice walking day for monuments and sights, at least see how far the Tulip Library has progressed, though that’s more of a April/May thing.

But no matter what, please heed the NPS Beaver:

The most insidious part of gentrification’s plan: to get my ass huge and complacent so I’ll be ripe for the slaughter when the aliens come to feast on tender human steaks, with just the right amount of marbled fat.

I have to admit that out of all the things coming soon, even the Five Guys, seeing a Potbelly come in is the most exciting for me. Seeing the applicants lined up yesterday to work there didn’t fill me with much enthusiasm, one girl was still on her cell phone while talking to the interviewer. But that little corridor of Irving between 14th and 16th keeps coming up with little surprises every day.

Hm, the complacency part is definitely working… food bribery helps!