From

As evidenced by Katie Couric, Sarah Palin is unable to name any Supreme Court case other than Roe v. Wade.

The Rules: Post info about ONE Supreme Court decision, modern or historic to your lj. (Any decision, as long as it's not Roe v. Wade.) For those who see this on your f-list, take the meme to your OWN lj to spread the fun. (If you wish, of course.)

Go forth, and edumacate!

I give you:

Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003),was a landmark United States Supreme Court case. In the 6-3 ruling, the justices struck down the sodomy law in Texas. The court had previously addressed the same issue in 1986 in Bowers v. Hardwick, where it upheld a challenged Georgia statute, not finding a constitutional protection of sexual privacy.

Lawrence explicitly overruled Bowers, holding that it had viewed the liberty interest too narrowly. The majority held that intimate consensual sexual conduct was part of the liberty protected by substantive due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. Lawrence has the effect of invalidating similar laws throughout the United States that purport to criminalize sodomy between consenting same-sex adults acting in private. It may also invalidate the application of sodomy laws to heterosexual sex based solely on morality concerns.

The case attracted much public attention, and a large number of amici curiae ("friends of the court") briefs were filed. Its outcome was celebrated by gay rights advocates, who hoped that further legal advances might result as a consequence. Conversely, it was decried by social conservatives as an example of judicial activism.

Lawrence did not really affect me personally as a heterosexual, but it gave many of my friends and loved ones one more bit of ammunition for the government to consider them equal citizens. Although technically, any slightly sexually adventurous heterosexual was breaking the law as well. ;)

Ny father passed away last night. He had a pulmonary embollism that went to his lungs. He fought a good fight, but didn't make it. I'm as fine as I can be right now, waiting for the realization to really hit me.

My friend pinwiz posted an excellent statement about negative campaigning and accusations from one of the candidates if you are supporting the other. I responded thusly, and my inflated sense of self importance thought that this need to be said to a wider audience:

I'm with you. I'm growing a bit tired of each side acting like we're brain dead or not patriotic, or don't believe in hope if you support the other side. Look, I like you both. For the first time in a long time, I'm torn about who to vote for because I believe in both candidates, not because one is less bad than the other. I am not casting a negative vote for the first time in yonks. Don't spoil that by making me not like you. Either of you.

( FLAIL!! )

In short. LOVE

Hey guys, I have two tickets to The Police show on Friday, July 20. $225 OBO. Email me at my profile addy if you're interested. Will deliver in the DC area on Thursday.

My school did me proud. Many of you have heard me gnash my teeth and speak much ill of the Virginia Tech sports teams. The rivalry between the University of Virginia (the 'Hoos) and Virginia Tech (the Hokies) is legendary in this state. But, the UVA students rose above and painted Beta Bridge.

For those of you who do not know, Beta Bridge is one of UVA's many traditions. It is a small bridge right off of campus, on the way to Rugby Road, our "fraternity row". Students paint the bridge for any number of reasons, to advertise a sporting event or play, to say congratulations, to announce a baby, whatever. The rules are that you must start painting after dark, and if you leave before sunrise, someone can come along and paint it over. Many days I rode over it on the bus or saw it on the way to the theatre building, and always looked forward to seeing what was there.

Someone sent me this picture today, and I am moved. Certainly no student would have wished this on Virginia Tech, but to honor them with one of our great student traditions really makes me glad to be an alumni.

Dear LJ,

The butt ass ugly Valentine's header was awful when you put it up. Rose and puce are horrible colors together, and as such, clash with my classy background. To add insult to injury, Hallmark orgasm Valentine's Day is OVER. Take it down, it makes me nauseated.

Love,
me

But, It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran

"Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd take his oath of office on the Koran -- especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.

Yet the holy book at tomorrow's ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We've learned that the new congressman -- in a savvy bit of political symbolism -- will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson." (rest of the article behind the link above)

As one of the Box People said, "Ellison shows his class, Virgil Goode shows his ass"

I am about to unplug my wireless router so that I can upgrade to digital cable. It will take a few days, I'm cool with that mentally. but vicerally, I'm all No Internets?!?!? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Just wanted you to know that it's 1:54AM EST. I swore I was going to bed an HOUR ago, and still up. I know that it's only 11 for you, but if you start trying to go to bed now, you might make it by 1 or so ;)