I just read an open letter from Larry Kramer to all straight people.

What do we do to you that is so awful? Why do you feel compelled to come after us with such frightful energy? Does this somehow make you feel safer and legitimate? What possible harm comes to you if we marry, or are taxed just like you, or are protected from assault by laws that say it is morally wrong to assault people out of hatred? The reasons always offered are religious ones, but certainly they are not based on the love all religions proclaim.

-- Larry Kramer

I've always put the discrimination down to fear and misunderstanding. How many people confuse homosexuality with pedophilia? However I think in the last 10 years or so, when these issues have actively been in my conscious, my belief in that argument doesn't quite hold true. There has to be more that fear.

Then there's the fear that a gay will hit on you. I can see how this could challenge some, but I think the fear comes from a severe lack of understanding. Because they're gay doesn't mean they want you, and if they did, a polite "no thanks, I love boobs" would solve the problem. No harm done.

It's no secret that in the last few months switched my stance from "atheist" to "strong atheist" (and some might argue "aggressively strong atheist") and I think the last line in the above quote explains most of the reasons for my shift. Connecting the dots: I don't like people that can't think for themselves. Religious followers often (but definitely not always) display this characteristic, and are easily led. Anyone who is religious and preaches love and compassion, but hates gays is the worst mix of the worst traits. Just think about what it is you really believe. I'm not talking about heaven and hell, but humanity and kindness - the traits that modern religions claim to promote. To my understanding, there is no asterisk next to "love thy neighbour" referring to a footnote that says "so long as they are straight". Practice what you believe not what you're told. If there's contradictions ask why.

I definitely agree with all of the points raised in Larry's article. I was really saddened by the despair and frustration that the article contains. Fuck, this is 2007 not 1907.

What are you going to do come this federal election, if this is an important issue for you?

Whilst I think the fact that it was addressed to "straight people" (which includes me and most of my friends) and not "hateful straight people" is borderline-offensive, I'm prepared to overlook it because I understand the intent. But let it be known if there's ever a "them and us" devision I'll be on their side fighting against us.

So I'm watching The Ultimate Fighter when I hear the following:

I'm pretty sure you guys seen Karo Parisyan. He's my cousin. He's tossing everybody left and right. If I have the chance, you better be ready, 'cos I'm tossing on your head.

-- Manny Gamburyan

Nice words Manny. You missed a few words though which changed the whole meaning. Bring a towel.

Note: Karo's a Judoka so what Manny means is that the throws people around.

This might interest some of you more than others, but O'Reilly's MAKE magazine is for sale at the 24 hour deli near the kidney-shaped round-about in Victoria Park.

I picked up a copy; it's quite thick and costs $23.95, so it might not be something you'll buy just to check it out.

Feel free to borrow my copy (volume 9).

On a side note, they also have 6 different Volkswagen-related magazines, and a French car tuners publication there too. I visited Magshop (a magazine-only store in Melbourne) on the weekend and honestly think that the 24 hour deli has a larger range. I get all my MMA magazines from them.

Borders has a good range too. They import them so they always have the latest issue for sale, which is nice.

Maggie and I have completed our first book in our new (and somewhat exclusive) book club. We read George Orwell's classic, Ninteen Eighty-Four.

We'd both been interested in the story of "Big Brother" and I'd already seen Equilibrium a few years back which covers a lot of the topics so it was a good first choice for us. I'm going to try and track down the two film adaptations for our viewing pleasure.

Having Maggie as an English teacher certainly helped us in our last meeting tonight as she'd prepared some discussion questions, similar to what she'd present her students.

Here are two of her questions, and my responses to them:

What do you think is the key theme Orwell was trying to convey?

Orwell's key theme for me was the inspection of what defines humanity and provides worth to a life. The removal or intra-human feelings, trust, free thought and free will leaves a world that's very harsh and undesirable.

For me, the biggest lesson I took away (other than the obvious problems a totalitarian government would impose) was that at somewhere you go past the point of no return. It's likely that you'll approach that point slowly yet steadily and as you pass it you'll not be overly concerned because you won't have identified it. It reminded me of the story about the frog in the hot water that Al Gore said with respect to global warming: if you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water then he'll jump out; if you put him in a pot of cold water that you then raise to boiling point he'll be cooked.

How has reading 1984 changed the way you see the world?

I now understand a lot of cultural references better, especially from within the computing communities. Emmanuel Goldstein is the pseudonym of a New York radio host responsible for creating 2600. I've seen 2 + 2 = 5 on T-shirts; "Big Brother" is a popular reality-television show.

Politically the book reinforced some fears and reservations. The idea of a perpetual yet necessary war scared me about our current state of international affairs.

All in all I think this was a fine book to start with and I look forward to our next choice.

... She's got the look. And so does lambie.org.

It came time again to change up the look and feel, and this is what caught my eye over at themes.wordpress.net.

My previous theme, Blix, didn't display the pages correctly after I upgraded to Wordpress 2.1.3 in an effort to avoid spam. Rather than hack a fix back into the code, I fell back to the old addage that a change is as good as a holiday. I hope you like the new look.

Thanks Roxette for the inspiration.