August's donation: Human Rights Campaign

During this exciting week when Barack Obama, an African-American, has just accepted the Democratic nomination for US President and John McCain has selected Sarah Palin, a Native American woman, as his running mate on the Republican ticket, I have donated to the Human Rights Campaign. http://www.hrc.org/

Though its primary focus is the rights of gays and lesbians, human rights are human rights and progress is being made on all fronts. I envy the children who grow up during the next administration because seeing a minority leader will be a normal experience for them.

"The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 725,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community."

Olympic games start tonight

On this auspicious date of 8/8/08, at 8:08 pm, the opening ceremony for the Olympic games begins in Beijing!

It seems just yesterday (but actually in 2004) that the Olympic torch was being run through Astoria in honor of the games' return to Athens.

My block is used for TV

My grotty little block in Astoria is being used today as a background for "Lipstick Jungle", the drama starring Brooke Shields. It is based on the book of the same name by Candace Bushnell (Sex & the City).