Perhaps I am showing my age here.. but yeah I was a fan of the Golden Girls. Not a rabid, must sit in front of the TV whenever it’s on fan.. but a fan never-the-less. Initially I watched mostly for Bea Arthur (Maude) and Betty White (Match Game), again showing my age here, but grew fond of Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan over the course of the show. They were the senior version of Sex and the City before Carrie put on her first Manolo Blahniks…

Estelle “Sophia” Getty passed away this morning at 84. You will be missed.

I’ve always been a fan of George Carlin, and at a far younger age than my parents would have ever liked — of course I was also reading Stephen King in 5th grade, and I turned out alright… didn’t I? 🙂

George was all about the social commentary, and turning the mundane on its head. Famous for the “Seven Words you can’t say on Television,” I will always remember his treatise on leftovers.

“Leftovers make you feel good twice. First, when you put it away, you feel thrifty and intelligent: ‘I’m saving food!’ Then a month later when blue hair is growing out of the ham, and you throw it away, you feel really intelligent: ‘I’m saving my life!’”

Below is an abbreviated version of the piece from George Carlin at Carnegie Hall. Watch the clip below at the 12:40 mark. Feel free to watch the whole thing as it’s vintage George, just not quite safe for work.

Goodbye George, your candor and wit will be missed in times such as these.

Yesterday was quite the day… At 5:01PM on June 16, gay marriage became legal in California. While I have never been an active proponent of gay marriage (partly because I feel it cost us the election in 2004, and I rank other issues facing the country ahead of it), I am glad this day has come. It was a typical, overcast day in San Francisco, cold and dreary. Shortly after 5pm I ambled up to the front of the crowd across from City Hall and took the scene in. It was a large crowd of course, the vast majority voicing their support for gay marriage, while the minority were self-righteous and indignant as they held up bigger signs. Looking around I found myself standing close to members of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, holding aloft some of the most hateful signs in the crowd. They were wedged into a small space by a pair of barricades like caged animals. Not to protect us, but to protect them. As I looked over at them, it was a struggle not to hurl all kinds of colorful metaphors in their direction. Others however did not share my restraint. But those bigots didn’t deserve the attention they so desperately craved, so I ignored them. Instead I focused instead on the brides and grooms as they came out onto the steps of City Hall. Each time they waved the cheers in the crowd would swell, drowning out the vitriolic cries of hate and intolerance. And the warmth and happiness on each of their faces, took the edge off the damp weather, making the protestors small, and less relevant. I choked up a little. Below is some video from the event. Apologies in advance for some of the harsh audio (turn your speakers down). Hopefully it will give you a taste of what happened…

Since the ruling we have been asked many times if Chad and I were going to get married. I always smile and say maybe next year, provided the anti-gay marriage initiative fails in November. But if you ask me again tomorrow… I might have a different answer.

While not as strong as the previous video, a moving effort none-the-less.