Archive for May, 2008

Help Firefox set a Guinness World Record for the most downloads in a 24 hour period. You can pledge taht you will on their website. Firefox 3 will release in June.

To strive for a better world, I believe in a society that is non-judgmental; I believe we have to stand up for those not in our own demographics. To that end, I run a §501(c)(3) queer-straight alliance called Brazos Valley QueSt.

Last night, with the love of her life and their best friend just inside the house, one of our patrons committed suicide. The suicide rate among the gay community is 2 to 3 times that of the straight population.

She was a private person, so I will not make big deal or ask for donations in her memory, exactly. I ask that you come up with a small gesture of support for suicide prevention and/or the gay community. Maybe you can donate the cost of your daily beverage indulgence between now and her memorial?

I will donate half of all portrait session fees from this week to these causes.

If you can’t donate money, consider a moment of thought and reflection for those who struggle to the point of no return.

From Zen Habits

strike back against the selfishness and greed of our modern world, and help out a fellow human being today. Not next month, but today.

From Legal Andrew

No more yellow pages

I keep trying to convince my wife that we can throw out the paper phone books. With Google Maps and its awesome local results, yellow pages are simply obsolete.

Why should I dig out a huge book and thumb through the pages looking for the crazy category that somebody decided to stick the business in? I can just type a keyword and zip code in Google (like “cafe 22407″) and find exactly what I want.

As one search industry expert wrote,

My gut feeling is that the Google Trends graph for searches for “yellow pages” is likely representative of a broad behavioral pattern of Internet users who are going to traditional Yellow Pages sites less and less. If we project the pattern out in time, we can see that searches for “yellow pages” might reduce down to nil by as soon as 2011

What are local businesses to do?

Emil and I are taking a couple of days “off line” to work on a project and do some research.

Enjoy Memorial Day. Be careful.

Overheard at the Beach

Rated NSFW (Not Safe For Work)

warning, the story following the more… link uses adult language….but it’s c1@^^& funny!

I only have one more week to make bail. Help me BREAK OUT by making a donation to the MDA. You can give the donation directly to me, or donate online.

The minutes are ticking away until the 2008 B/CS Telethon Executive Lock-Up . Only 4 business days left!

Here’s an update on some of the Jailbirds

Luis Cifuentes, TAMU, $2,575
Earl, Bledsoe, West District Methodist Church, $2,000
Kathy, Montoya, Reveille’s Convenience Store, $2,000
Chief Tyrone, Morrow, Chief of Bryan, $1,665
Jo Ann, Muzny, Noel’s Wonderful World of Travel, $1,504
Kristy, Roe, Voter Registration, $1,488
Anna, Erskine, Harley Davidson Motor Club, $1,375
Carol, Laird, Walmart, $1,100
Carla, Henderson, Carla Henderson Realtor, $942
Bill, McGuire, Franklin Bank, $900
Wayne, Tomilson, Kroger, $900
Lisa, Biasiolli, Stretch & Grow, $769
Sheila, Dotson, International Association of Admin Professionals, $759
Andrea, Goodson, Aggieland Title Company, $655
Lewis, Cobler, The Suit Club, $600
Carl, Ryder, Elliott Electric Supply Inc, $595
Paul, Bullard, Paul Bullard & Co, $590
Joshua, Reinbolt, Association of Former Students, $577
Jim, Elmquist, Asap Inspections, $575
Mel Hohlt, Hohlt, Kalkort, $562
Lynn, Powell, At Home Property Management, $485
Jennifer, Fountain, Bead Fountain, $476
Bernice, Spink, The Bryan Fairfield Inn, $392
Sherri, Roberts, Sign Language Interpreting, $390
Dudley, Stark, Varsity Ford Lincoln Mercury, $375
Brandon, Terry, Carter’s Burgers, $375
Charon, Marshall, Lawrence Marshall Dealership, $367
Travis, Ward, Square One, $355
Dante, Castillo, Texas Veterinarian School, $350
Joe, Salvato, 1st National Bank, $350
Melinda, Berlan, First Victoria, $300
Bradley, Newsom, HEB, $300
Dave, Stevenson, Brenham National Bank, $300
Melissa, Simmons, Target, $295
Harry, Francis, Bryan High School Athletic Dept., $290
Thomas C., Holt, Lone Wolf Couriers, $290
Deanne, Huebner, Let’s Go Dreamin, $290
Chuck, Simmons, Target, $285
Christine, Cruz, Brazos Family Medical Center, $280
Dawn, Thompson, Realty World Aggieland, $270
Stephanie, Jeter, Association of Former Students, $255
Barbara, Clemmons, TAMU, $250
Kimberly, Livingston, Jack & Jill Preschool, $250
Dennis, Norris, Batteries Plus, $250
Dave, Ferguson, Mac Bolt & Steel, $250
Pat, Shields, Brazos County Livestock Commission, $235
W Steven, Steele, Davis & Davis, $235
Tiffani, Dean, Pharmacy Shop, $230
Mark, Price, Brazos County Appraisal District, $225
Melissa, Marek, Fantasy Lingerie, $215
Debbie, Kelley, Texas Aggieland Bookstore, $210
Teresa, Swonke, Da Vita Inc, $210
Kathy, Brick, Helping Hands Personal Assistant Services, $200
William, Cangelose, State Bank, $200
Barbara, Hensley, Denny’s, $200
Dianna, Reimer, All American Sleep & Mattress, $200
Kristen, Dixon, Coufal-Prater Equipment LTD, $195
Mitchell, Reyes, Wells Fargo Bank, $195
Meredith, Stancik, Channel 3 TV, $190
James, Suttle, Hill Country Electric Supply, $185
Howard, Bleekman, Dispute Resolution Center, $150
Ben, Roper, College Station MIS Department, $150
Rusty, Spencer, Varsity Ford Lincoln Mercury, $150
Susan, Rogers, Bryan Community Health Clinic, $140
Canyon, Baxley, Sew Vac City, $125
Sherry, Piper, Texas Home Health Hospice, $125
Deborah, Rogers, Baskin’s Department Store, $125
Robert, Schoppe, Reed Arena, $120
Greg, Belcheff, Conoco Phillips, $117
Robert, Person, Brazos County Juvenile Justice Department, $117
Raymond, Marshall, Reliance Baptist Church, $105
Candy, Paterson, In Zone, $105
Barry, Biggar, Bryan/College Station Convention Center, $100
Kim, Hinton, Brazos County, $100
Jennifer, Scott, Courtyard by Marriott, $100
Melissa, Senkel, Talbots, $100
MARIE, TAYLOR, Woodmen of the World, $100
Bill, Woodson, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, $100
Aaron, Clemmons, Gold’s Gym, $95
Natasha, Williams, College Station Ambulance, $95
Mary, Johnson, History Department, $80
Cathy, Plagens, City of College Station, $80
Mary, Crabb, First Convenience Bank, $75
Jo Lynn, Dunn, Mosaic, $75
Kolby, Horner, Mattress Sleep Center, $75
Melissa, Fisher, Brazos Family Center, $65
Steve, Marchant, New York Life Insurance, $65
Larry, Beavers, Walmart, $60
John, Rhodes, RAI Design Inc, $51
Joe, Aker, Papa Murphy’s, $50
Sergio, Carrera, Signs by Sergio, $50
Brenda, Heredia, Pizza Hut, $50
Donna, Lamarche, Royal Oaks, $50
Rosa L., Mata, Brazos Valley Urgent Care, $50
Debbie, Goswick, $45
Becca, Amos, Brazos Valley Toy Library, $40
Chelsea, Barton, Main Street Homes, $35
Lauri, Dean, Compass Bank, $30
Nick, Medina, Buffalo Wild Wings, $25
Nick, Seaton, Papa John’s Pizza, $25
Tex, Stokely, $25
Diane, Walters, $25
Rebecca, Cella, Sunglass Hut, $25
Lisa, Williams, Southwest Homes, $15
Elizabeth, Szymanski, College Station Family Medical Center, $10

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage for Same-Sex
Couples

Upholds State Constitution’s Guarantees of Privacy, Intimate
Association & Due Process

Austin, TX (May 15, 2008) – In a historic decision, the
California Supreme Court has ruled that existing state statute
barring same-sex couples from marriage is a violation of the
California Constitution because it discriminates based on sexual
orientation and sex and violates the fundamental right to marry,
which are protected by the California Constitution’s guarantees
of privacy, intimate association, and due process.

Statement of Paul Scott, Equality Texas Executive Director

Today’s decision in California is a victory for all Americans
who cherish fairness, due process, and equal protection under
the law. The Court rejected the State’s argument that domestic
partnership law was an equal substitute, noting that
marriage-like rights without marriage smacks of a concept long
rejected by the courts: separate but equal.

While Texans are legally unaffected by this ruling, we are
hopeful that same-sex couples in Texas will one day have the
same opportunity to solidify and legally protect their families.

…brown cow?

more LOLcat pictures