Stockholm, July 8, 2009

Another Segels Torg and the Central Station street performance done as a tribute to Michael Jackson. The dance collective Bounce came up with the idea.

I Remember it Well

Oscar Mayer, the retired chairman of the Oscar Mayer meat packing plant in Madison,WI, died at the age of 95 in Fitchburg, WI. Lets all sing along with this commercial from 1973 in his honor today. Where did they ever find this precious kid in the commercial?

Gay Marriage Progress in DC

After a law called the Jury and Marriage Amendment Act 2009 was approved in May by a 12 to 1 vote, and despite legal challenges that threatened to delay this progressive move for gay rights, D.C. has, as of Tuesday July 7th, started to officially recognize lesbian and gay marriages that were carried out in other states, with council leaders already looking toward making D.C. the next place to offer gay marriages to its own citizens in the future. So what does this ruling mean, and what does the future hold for gay marriage in D.C.?Read the whole story by clicking here.

ON WISCONSIN!!

In an e-mail from Fair Wisconsin today, we were told that Governor Doyle not only got our State budget approved today (which seems to be a hard thing to get done these days...as many states know) but he signed domestic partnerships into law. Wisconsin is the first state in the Midwest to legislatively enact protections for same-sex couples. It is also the first state in the U.S. with an existing ban on marriage equality and civil unions to enact domestic partnerships. We will be able to start signing up at the city clerks office on August 3. The new law provides over 40 benefits we were denied in the past which is great, but a far cry from the 1000+ benefits couples receive in a traditional marriage.

But, even as we celebrate, Julaine Appling of the Wisconsin Family Council said that her organization intends to challenge the constitutionality of domestic partnerships under our amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Raid on the Rainbow Room Bar

Isn't it sad how history has a tendancy to repeat itself. 40 years ago, New York City, The Stonewall Inn bar in Greenwich Village...and a police raid that began the gay revolution that we celebrate during June...known worldwide as Gay Pride month. Now, 40 years later on the same night, a raid on the Rainbow Room bar in Fort Worth, TX...which the police claim was just a routine inspection, where patrons were beaten, harrased and several were arrested. There are many blogs with accounts which you should check out to get the real story. It's sad to think that homophobia and bigotry are still alive and well in the South or anywhere. Check out the stories on Pams House Blend, our friend Kelli's blog - Planet Transgender and this article by Eric Folkerth, a Methodist Minister from Dallas, TX. Our hearts and prayers are with our LGBT friends and allies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area this evening.

Kris and Adam

Since Kris Allen and Adam Lambert will be spending so much time together on the road now on the American Idol tour, its great that they are best buds. It's nice that they have become so close, but I wonder how Kris's wife feels about it. Anyway, examiner.com from Milwaukee has more information about their close friendship.

Tyme Travel Photography

About a month ago, I started a new part time business taking greenscreen pictures at Ravenworks costume shop in Westgate mall in Madison.
Every other Sunday from 1:00 til 5, I set up and patrons are invited to bring in their own costumes or try on anything in Ravens store of Renaissance, Victorian, pirate and other period costumes and accessories, have their photo taken against a greenscreen backdrop and get transported to another place or tyme via my iMac technology.
I have been spending my spare tyme inbetween photo shoots to try out some creative and artsy variations of some of the photos and thought I'd share some of them here. The photos above and below are of Jerry, a store employee who graciously volunteered to pose so I could test out my new lights and backdrop on the second shooting. The background photo is an abstract pattern I shot of leaves and stems which were floating on our pond. I found they created an interesting pattern. I know I'm a bit wierd, but hope you enjoy them anyway. They have a Kandinsky-esk feel to them. If they become immensly popular, maybe some day I will print them up and do a gallery showing.