February 14, 2004

Are you without a date tonight? Instead of getting depressed about your singlehood, visit Skirt! Magazine and read "Be My Masochistic Valentine."

I guarantee you'll feel better by the end of the story.

February 14th is also International Quirkyalone Day. Although I'm technically a "quirky-together" (I scored a 96 on the Quirky quiz, which is "very quirkyalone"), I thoroughly enjoyed Sasha Cagen's new book.

February 13, 2004

More than 50 gay couples were legally wed in California yesterday, after the mayor of San Francisco directed the county clerk's office to issue marriage certificates. Mayor Gavin Newsom said he made the order because the state's constitution prohibits discrimination in such matters.

Allowing same sex couples to marry is an issue of equality. Anyone who wants to keep marriage between a man and a woman should remember that slavery was once a "time-honored" institution.

Times change.

Heteroflexible -- n. A heterosexual person who is open to relationships with people of the same sex. --adj. Also: hetero-flexible, heteroflex.

February 12, 2004

The next time you receive an e-mail containing a story or rumor or virus report you need to confirm, visit Purportal.com. This search engine will keep you from filling your friends' e-mail boxes with urban legends.

Truth is almost always stranger than fiction.

Jim Devlin, a 33-year-old investment banker from New York, was vacationing in Key West when his hotel room was burglarized. So Devlin called the police -- to report that his high quality Bahamian marijuana had been stolen.

February 11, 2004

There's a classic moment in an old episode of "ER" where two chatting physicians are interrupted by a patient. He's complaining about waiting a long time to receive medical attention.

The docs, annoyed by the interruption, tell him to continue waiting, that they'll help him once more critical cases are cleared. The man nods and walks away -- with an arrow embedded in the back of his head.

I remembered that scene today when I read this story.

As I mentioned in this column, animal cruelty makes my blood boil. The only thing worse? People who run rescue centers that mistreat animals.

February 10, 2004

Two students at a Houston, Texas, middle school were caught allegedly engaging in oral sex during class. When the teacher left the room to retrieve lunch, the students gave their classmates a lesson of their own.

Of course, things can always get worse.

Jesus Rivera, a drama and Spanish teacher at a high school in Merced, Calif., was arrested for sexually assaulting four students. One of the alleged teenaged victims claims Rivera sucked on his toes.

Rivera, who plead not guilty, denies the charges.

February 9, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week, I endorse Sen. John Edwards for president.

"Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them."
--Carl Schurz

Past Afterthoughts