In 1971, "decades before any state had seriously considered legalizing gay marriage, long before anyone had thought of creating—never mind repealing—a policy called “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” before Reagan, before AIDS, before the American Psychiatric Association determined that homosexuality was not a mental illness, and before half the people currently living in America were even born, a man named John Singer stepped into the King County marriage license office in Seattle."
Meet Faygele ben Miriam, the radical activist who pioneered the fight for same-sex marriage in Washington State, 41 years ago. Via.
posted by zarq
on Jun 7, 2012 -
16 comments
For safety's sake, please consider all links herein either nsfw or potentially offensive*
Let's Have a Shambles! with the
Country Teasers!
Formed somewhere in Scotland in 1993 around one
Ben Wallers, the Country Teasers forged an unusual contrast between
acerbic lyrics, trash punk twang, and
honest affect(at)ion of
country-western tropes and
sounds. They were also equal opportunity offenders, their songs frequently featuring seemingly
misanthropic, misogynistic, and even
racist lyrics. But despite their affrontive controversy, perhaps
they aren't quite so easy to dismiss.
Though rarely does he give in-person interviews, Mr. Wallers will, when confronted,
defend his "schlock tease," though not without
characteristic aplomb.
Although the Country Teasers are pretty much dead,
their extensive discography has plenty of
noteworthy diversions.
Some albums to start with are 1996's
Satan Is Real Again or Feeling Good About Bad Thoughts, 1999's
Destroy All Human Life, and 2006's
Back to the Future.
Mr. Wallers continues to release new records under the moniker
The Rebel. A number of Teaser records were released on
In The Red records.
*Although if you do find it offensive, I'd simply request considering if that is perhaps the point.
posted by SomaSoda
on Nov 9, 2011 -
5 comments
Our Universe consists of between thirty to fifth billion trillion stars, arranged in eighty to one-hundred-forty billion galaxies. Our nearest neighboring star is called Proxima Centauri and it's four light years away. We need some bread, but it's really hot outside and I can't be bothered to walk around the corner.
Try to make sense of the things that you think.
posted by Lord_Pall
on Aug 30, 2010 -
47 comments
Ben's Chili Bowl, a Washington, DC institution if ever there was one, has put up a site. This eatery was opened in the 50's, when U St. NW in DC was the 'Black Broadway', survived the riots (and the ensuing economic disintegration) and is going strong today, still run by the family that opened it.
Next time you're in DC, go in and order a few half-smokes just like Bill Cosby does - he and his wife had their first date there - and say hello to Mrs. Ali. If you already live in DC, rejoice in the new online ordering interface and have your chili cheeseburger waiting for you when you breeze through the door.
posted by GriffX
on May 11, 2002 -
12 comments
