iBear's going out of town for a couple of weeks.

A couple of you I'll soon be seeing in person!

The rest of you can deal with it until I get back:P

Argentina approves gay marriage.

Reposting this quote from a friend of a friend: "The US has long prided itself on being a land of liberty and equality, and now we are falling behind nations like Sweden, Iceland, South Africa, and now Argentina. Hopefully this helps serve as a wake up call."

Way to go, Argentina!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/world/americas/16argentina.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1279224015-eYWI2M3PhKr8IZrF8Jsjiw

Arizona's Photo Radar

So it turns out one of the co-sponsors of the controversial Arizona Immigration Law is now on a crusade to end civil rights violations...in the form of highway cameras equipped with radar that snap a photo of your license plate if you're speeding. State Representative Carl Seel says that writing tickets based off of photos from a radar-equipped camera is "grossly unconstitutional." Seriously, Carl!?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Arizona's Photo Radar
www.thedailyshow.com
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DOMA Section ruled unconstitutional.

In two separate cases, a federal court in Boston has ruled that the 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act" violated the US Constitution.

The first ruling found that the DOMA takes away the states' right to decide whether a couple can be considered married or not. As marriage licenses are obtained from the states themselves, the federal government does not have authority to make that determination on their behalf.

The second ruling found that the DOMA violates the equal protection guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment. The court ruled that marriage benefits were being withheld from citizens based on their sexual orientation.

A great step forward for equal rights! :)

US Justice Department sues, seeking injunction on Ariz. immigration law

The lawsuit, filed today, claims that Arizona's hideous immigration law (see here for details: http://ibear2.blogspot.com/2010/04/and-while-im-thinking-about-it.html) violates the legal doctrine of "preemption", namely the principle that the US Constitution and Federal laws supercede state and local laws.

Finally! It's about time, people!

News Flash: BP is still stupid!

Yesterday they had to remove the cap from the gushing oil well because--and here's the funny part--they ran a robot into one of the pipes!

That's right, blog fans; you heard it here first: BP not only put Wile E. Coyote in charge of their emergency spill operations, but the fate of the Gulf of Mexico is now in the hands of somebody who couldn't operate a quarter-operated claw machine...

Israel lifting blockade of Gaza 'except for military items'

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/20/israel.gaza/?hpt=T1

Seeing as how there's nothing like a humiliating international incident to finally change years of oppressive and illegal policy, Israel announces that they will lift the blockade of Gaza, "except for military items."