I’m sure the DavidDukes of the world are threatened by this, but I was happy to see that CA just overturned a same-sex marriage ban. I’m sure this isn’t the end of the issue, but it’s a good step. This after last night we celebrated Ron & Tim’s 29th year together. Congrats, fellas.

UPDATE:  I feel like an idiot for not being more skeptical about the timing of the ruling, which once again may prove to be lethal to the Dems.  As much as I wish we could just get to full equality, perhaps we can lose the battle and win the war if the 3 candidates are in agreement here.  CA will still scare some fence-sitters into voting for McCain though, as the WV folks all over the web saying they don’t like Obama because he’s Muslim or hates America–or is Black–indicate.  But Michael Kinsley had the real answer several years ago.

Not to lower the level of debate or anything, it looks to me as though Manu and Tim are celebrating the ruling already (pic from ESPN.com):

I’ve decided that I’m going to start removing as many of those racist bumper stickers that are all over town.  I don’t know exactly who puts them up, but I’m tired of them.  I don’t know why I’ve always just ignored them til now, but I think I’ve been a little afraid that people might think I was putting them up rather than taking them down.

Yesterday I was taking one off a sign at the light at Carrollton and Oak, and I had to stand on the base of the sign post to get to it, which took me a minute.  A sheriff’s car was waiting at the light, and he passed as I was getting the sticker off.  The driver, of ambiguous ethnicity, waved at me, so I feel encouraged.

I know taking down the stickers won’t get rid of racism, but it couldn’t hurt.

At this time of year, I have a lot of work to do, but I get to do it in shorts and t-shirts at the coffee shop.  I love that.  It’s always more interesting than staying home, and I feel like I can still get work done.

Right now I’m sharing space at Sound Cafe with Jacques Morial, who’s hanging with some cute young thing on the couch with computers.

Yesterday at Rue, Jerry the owner was sitting outside with a manager-seeming employee.  No less than five times, Jerry would light a cig, take about 2 drags, and throw the thing in the street.  He must be pretty highstrung.

And damn, I’m glad Zots doesn’t let people smoke anymore.

The Cornets looked good again last night, so we’re all hoping for a road win tomorrow night.  Even if the series goes 7, the Nest is proving to be a formidable environment.

Strong work here, fan:

Tulane frat makes TSG!

I’m embarrassed that I couldn’t tell if the article in the latest Levee was real or fake.  It sure SEEMED real, but you never see real things published in stuff like that and the Onion.  So at Wed on the Square, I saw the author of the piece, and he assured me that they had indeed screwed up the monument… monumentally.

We just got G one of the FYYFF t-shirts for his b-day, and E got a Geauxbama while we were at it.  They both rock.

One of the things that sucks about being in psychology is that people don’t take our science seriously.  And yet, out of one of our own publications comes this chart with which husbands can rate their wives (and the wives can do it for themselves).  Forget that it comes from the 1930s; some things are eternal.

Well, E scored herself a -24, which is pretty sad.  In fact, Dr. Crane rates this well below “Very Poor (Failures).”

I guess I’ll need to find someone who’s hose seams aren’t crooked and who is a bit slower in coming to bed.

On the left is Karen (L), with E(R). If you’re a BrassPasser, you know her as the wonderful woman who is always cheerful and on-task, checking you in. We’ve seen her there for years but didn’t know her name until we saw her at a Hornets game. One JF I’d forgotten my pass, went home and got it, and she told me she could’ve let me in on credit because she knows us. She’s one of the people who make JF great.

I’m one of those every-day JazzFesters. I know it’s expensive and has its problems, but I feel so in-my-element there that I can’t resist. I love it so much that I’ve decided to bury the hatchet with Cyril. I’m sure he’s relieved. Some quick-hits:

Best non-local set–The Roots. I’d seen them a couple times before, but this one was incredible. Strains of In a Gaga Davida, into Apache. Cover of Bob Dylan’s Masters of War to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. Lots of other great stuff, plus a visit from Ludacris, who urged us to take care of the environment. Gotta love a hip hop band with a sousaphone, y’all.

Best local set–Trombone Shorty’s was wonderful, and I’m glad to see that he and James are cutting down on the talking and getting back to the playing. Terrific stuff. But maybe the best was the surprise of the Midnite Disturbers, who comprised members of Galactic, Big Sam, and many more. Awesome, especially in the middle of the pouring rain.

Revelation–New Orleans Bingo! Show, whom I’d never managed to see before now. I’ll be catching them again soon. Great theatrics, great music, great sense of humor. Can’t believe I went this long without seeing them.

George Porter/Eddie Christmas Award for Busiest Fest Musician–This year it’s Shamarr Allen in a walk. Damn, that guy’s everywhere, not that I’m complaining! And Matt Perine was ubiquitous too. Great musicians.  And then of course there’s this guy (I can never catch his name) and Lady Tambourine, who’s pissed because Team Quint won’t let her on stage all the time.

Grub–Still love the veggie red beans, and the jama jama. I don’t need anything else there but beer.  Well, ok, the occasional falafel.

Chief Complaint–SURELY there’s a way to do something about that stink, especially around the food. The mud kills more business than the rain that made it.

Musical Query I–Why did Alejandro Escovedo quit so early? He was rockin’.

Query II–Was Anders TRYING to look like Hunter S. Thompson? 

Query III–Any idea what Bela Fleck is doing here?

Coolest Tattoo–The Giving Tree 

Coolest Button–I’m Not OK

Blogger Laugh–When I was showing E all my pix, she saw this one of Adrastos & Dr. A (whom she’s never met) and said, “Oh, that’s Androgynous or whatever!”  All I could say was Dayam.

Thanks to everyone at JazzFest for keeping it real.  Some people will complain, but I’d pay a lot of money to keep seeing Kirk Joseph, Kermit, Bonerama, Michael White, Uncle Lionel, and the rest keep doing their thing.

If anyone’s inclined, I’ve posted all my JF pix in my first Collection on Flickr here.

How about coming to New Orleans as the youngest college professor in almost 300 years?  Damn, 19 and teaching at SUNO to make a difference.  Cheers, Alia.

Why the hell do I have to read about this remarkable local woman in a link to the fucking Today Show?