Thursday, April 30, 2009 is the annual Dining Out For Life in the East Bay. Dine out at a participating East Bay restaurant and that restaurant will donate 25 percent or more of the total meal tab to an organization working to fight AIDS; this year, the beneficiary is Vital Life Services in Oakland.

I'm hitting up Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe for their killer mac and cheese and an ice-cold Oly. They're one of the few folks giving 50 percent -- doubling the standard donation!

Find out when your area is hosting their Dining Out For Life here.

Things to look forward to:

1) 10 Essential Cocktails To Make At Home

I can't stomach buying The Chron anymore, ever since they downsized to their hokey one-horse town layout and news style, but sfgate still pumps out some of the gems I'm missing by not getting the paper. This article takes a stab at listing the "essential" cocktails, but much more exciting is their list of affordable and non-pretentious essentials for the at-home bar. Class.

2) Sol Food in San Rafael

Vegetariano Plate: rice, beans simmered with Spanish olives, organic salad, tostones, Puerto Rican hot sauce, and a house-made limeade served in a Ball jar.















Sigh. I could eat this every single day, yo. Not having Puerto Rican food in Oakland is killing me. Killing me!

Not that I have to worry too much though. Soon, I may get to have it as often as I want, because of...

3) Trevor's sweet librarian position in San Rafael.

He studied, he withered my nether regions with talk of metadata, he worked tirelessly as an adjunct professor dedicated to his students, he honed his craft with internships, networking, and being seriously passionate about information and education. And it has paid off.

Trevor will be a librarian at a lovely, progressive, and academically challenging private college preparatory high school, with lovely students, lovely peeps, and a reverse commute. I am excited for him, and for us!

Trevor reading his book, Rarer and More Wonderful, and talking about publishing for our friend Ryan's Creative Writing class at Crafton Hills College:















See Rarer and More Wonderful on Facebook here!

My new obsession, P.O.S., covers Pearl Jam:



Just got his latest album, Never Better, on limited edition clear vinyl. Fierce.

Also picked up Bat for Lashes' new album, Two Suns. I'm really more partial to her first album, Fur and Gold, but that is not to say the latest album disappoints. It's just a little more disco!

BTW, I must say that I LOVE vinyl that comes with a free digital download card. One of the best things about the 21st century, yo.

Yee-haw! Artist and good friend Jon Stich, representing on the Squidbillies Volume 2 DVD release:

Woman Survives Polar Bear Mauling at Berlin Zoo

A polar bear attacked a woman at Berlin Zoo Friday afternoon after she climbed a fence and jumped into its habitat during feeding time, police said Saturday.













Sigh.

Some states have forward-thinking lawmakers, and some have, well...Betty Brown:

Texas Lawmaker Suggests Asians Adopt Easier Names

A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification legislation said Asian-descent voters should adopt names that are “easier for Americans to deal with.”

Because people of Asian descent aren't really Americans, right?

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” (Rep. Betty) Brown said.

Get out of town. For real?

How about putting some effort in to educate yourself and learn to accept and represent your full community? Betty Brown, you insult all Americans with this crap. With the election of an African-American president with decidedly non-Anglo first and last names, this is even more ridiculous.

Oi, I'm sure Betty Brown is glad I have my Dad's German last name -- no problems there, ever (riiiiight) -- and not my mom's phonetic Japanese last name.

I said it once, and I'll say it again, as it often sadly rings true -- you don't have to pass an IQ test to be [a public servant].

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.












On the heels of Iowa, Vermont becomes the latest U.S. state to say yes to the United States Constitution:

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage

And D.C. is throwing their hat into the ring as well:

D.C. Council Votes To Recognize Gay Nuptials Elsewhere

"I think we're going to look back at this week as a moment when our entire country turned a corner," said Jennifer C. Pizer, national marriage project director for the advocacy group Lambda Legal.

I am giddy!

And as if things couldn't get better -- Kumar goes to White...House?

Kal Penn Joins White House Team (warning: House spoiler at link)

The White House has hired actor Kal Penn as a liaison between President Barack Obama's administration and Asian constituents. White House spokesman Shin Inouye said Tuesday that the actor who had a recurring role on Fox's TV show "House" and has starred in several movies would join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison.

I love Kal Penn. Loved him in both Harold and Kumar... films, loved him on House, loved him in The Namesake, love his politics. I am proud to have Kal Penn representing Asian-Americans in the Obama administration.

Is it really only Tuesday? What a week!

Inspired by a friend on Facebook, I challenge you, dear reader, to a 80s video cheese-off!

My entry:



The hair, the soft-focus, the wet boys in speedos, and good god, the ninjas -- I don't think there's an equal.

Show me.

Whoa.

Getting Their Kirk On

I love Star Trek as much as the next nerd, but I think someone insisting on having one of these in my living room would be a deal-breaker.

Speaking of, Trevor and I were walking home from dinner last night and what did we see illuminated inside a small garage down a long, dark driveway in tony Rockridge? A boys room -- compete with a fooseball table, Guinness pool table lamp, computer, flat-panel teevee, various sports jerseys (meh), and a bar. With taps. It was really something. We were drawn like moth to flame.

Someday.

I never thought I'd say this, but...

WOO-HOO IOWA!!

Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional

Today is a good day!

“The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” the justices said in a summary of their decision.

And later in the ruling, they said: “Equal protection under the Iowa Constitution is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. Since territorial times, Iowa has given meaning to this constitutional provision, striking blows to slavery and segregation, and recognizing women’s rights. The court found the issue of same-sex marriage comes to it with the same importance as the landmark cases of the past.”

"...striking blows to slavery and segregation, and recognizing women's rights.  The court found the issue of same-sex marriage comes to it with the same importance as the landmark cases of the past." So simple, and so true.

Corn-fed IOWA gets that gay marriage is a social justice and civil rights issue. Smugly liberal California should continue to be ashamed.

C'mon California: repeal the shameful Prop 8.