I now pronounce you husband and husband...

When I heard that Argentina had become the first South American country to legalize gay marriage, the song "Don't cry for me Argentina" ran through my head. Great song about a great country, which now joins seven other great countries that recognize same sex marriage: Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden.

There are parts of Mexico and the United States where same sex marriages are performed and considered legal. That shows some positive initiative, though I will never get over the shock of California repealing gay marriage the year President Obama was elected. It was as though the U.S. could only handle one civil step forward at a time and having a black President trumped gay marriage in Calli.

I think its hilarious that the state of Oregon doesn't allow gay marriage, unless you're on the Coquille reservation. The Coquille tribe is recognized as a sovereign nation and perform gay marriages, despite being located within a state that doesn't recognize them. Its confusing that within the borders of a single country, there are states where gay marriage is legal and recognized, other states that recognize gay marriage but won't perform them, and states that neither recognize or allow same sex unions at all.

That phrasing is ridiculous, too. Same sex union vs. gay marriage. They're basically the same thing, its just one doesn't use the word "marriage" so that tight@ss people don't shrink themselves in to non-existence at hearing it used in an acceptable manner next to the word "gay."

Yet, this simple distinction has allowed same sex unions to flourish in more places around the world. Civil unions are recognized and performed in Andorra, Austria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, Wallis and Futuna, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and parts of Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, and the United States. That's quite a chunk of the world allowing gay people to live like an old married couple, as long as they don't use that word.

Like gay marriage, civil unions are recognized in places that don't allow them to be performed, like... well, ironically, just the Isle of Man. And I think that's the crux of the matter. I suspect, though admit I don't know for sure, that the number of men who are against gay marriage far exceeds the number of women who are opposed. Its a hunch, but I bet I'm right.

Gay marriage has been around for centuries, there's evidence of it as far back as the Ming dynasty - more irony, since China now appears to be one of the least tolerant countries in the world with respect to homosexuality. Nowhere is as intolerant as the Middle East, where homosexuality is punishable by death... interesting, as Mesopotamia is purported to be where mankind first came from, meaning homosexuality would have originated there, too.

I have never understood what the uproar was all about. I've always viewed two people loving each other as a good thing... certainly not something I'd be offended by, let alone consider killing anyone for. If its two consenting adults, what's the problem? How does Adam and Steve affect you anymore than Adam and Eve would? It seems to boil down to the idea of sexual relations and then I have to wonder, why are people so obsessed with other people's sex lives? Perverts!

Perhaps the most hypocritical aspect of all is that most men are not bothered in the least by the thought of two women together. In fact, for many, the idea of Eve and Eva together is a well cherished fantasy. Talk about your double standard! What that says to me is that its the idea of two men having sex that's the real problem and all I can wonder is, again, why are men thinking so much about two guys making love?

Kinda begs a whole 'nother question, doesn't it?

Personally, I think our world could use a lot more love in it... and as long as its amongst adults, I don't care who's doing the lovin'!!! And if the idea of two people loving each other bothers you... it really make me wonder what's wrong with YOU.

"Why never to ask favours from the graphic designer"

A friend of mine posted this on his Facebook wall earlier today and I laughed so hard, I was crying. If you've ever worked at an ad agency or art production department, you know people just like this. I feel so bad for the poor secretary, but oh my, this is so funny! If you want to read it in its entirety, go to www.27bslash6.com/missy.html. C.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.

This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. Missing on Harper street and my phone number.


Thanks Shan.



From:David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news.

Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
ate: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah OK thanks. I know you don't like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.



















From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah, that's not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

That's just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window.

I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.





















From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing Missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 20 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster






















From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah, can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it.

I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.

























From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

That's not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww























From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didn't say there was a reward. I don't have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.


From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


























From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww
























From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

Bye bye Miss American Pie...

At noon today, the Acting Governor is going to sign a law raising the drinking age on Guam to 21 years of age. This will be in keeping with the states and a few of the territories. It shouldn't matter to me since I am well above the legal drinking age, but it does.

I am one of those people who believe that if you're old enough to vote, serve your country, get married, and/or be punished as an adult for breaking the law, you should also be considered old enough to consume an alcoholic beverage. I also think that passing a bill like this sends a message to parents that we didn't do our jobs well enough and now the government has to step in, even though research shows the vast majority of alcohol related mishaps involve people age 25 - 35.

That bothers me, but what bothers me even more is the way this law was passed. The issue of raising the legal age for alcohol consumption has appeared on Guam ballots twice. And has been voted down by the majority, twice. Yet the bill to raise the age was introduced and voted on exclusively by our Senators this time and now, our Acting Governor will add his vote making it a law.

My understanding of politics has always been that we elect our officials to represent us. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of democracy is "a government by the people." That's what I was taught in school; a government by the people for the people. I guess I missed the part where it said, "unless your elected officials decide otherwise."

The ironic part of the passing of this law is that it has been called a political move designed to gain votes since this is an election year. If that's so, then this one of the dumbest things I have ever seen a collective group of politicians do! How does one endear themselves to the voting populous by doing the exact opposite of what they want?

The majority of the people have voted against this initiative, not once, but twice. Now our incumbent election hopefuls, and I have to admit, much as I hate it, that includes the Acting Governor (of whom I am a supporter, employee, and friend), have basically spit in the face of the majority. I'm no political analyst, but that seems like a really bad campaign strategy for all of them.

This sets a dire precedent on Guam. This says that no matter what the people want, our elected officials can and will do whatever they want. What's next? The people of Guam have voted against casino gambling twice, but perhaps our elected officials will decide that because of the money that could be generated from taxes, it is actually in our "best interest" (which was the argument used to go against the wishes of the people with regards to raising the drinking age). Who knows what issues are coming in the future?

The pending military buildup from US Marines and their families relocating from Okinawa to Guam has been a hot topic, especially now that the military has made it known that they intend to take more land than they'd originally said would happen. The people of Guam went nuts upon hearing the military intends to make the Pagat area off limits to civilians. I was greatly affronted by the amount of coral they intend to destroy in Apra Harbor.

We have implored our politicians to do something about this, but who knows what will happen if the military starts waving money in their faces? Rumor has it that the real reason our legislature passed this bill was because of the millions in money that could be had for roadway improvements. What's to stop that from happening again, with the military buildup or some other issue that is hotly debated in the community?

We have just been blindsided by our politicians and most of us don't get it yet, or begin to understand the ramifications. Its shocking and scary to those of us who do.

It will and has been argued that lives will be saved by the passage of this bill, except research doesn't support that. I don't expect much will change. If people between the age of 18 and 21 want to drink, they'll find a way to do it, and traffic accidents will continue to occur amongst drunk drivers over the age of 25, where research proves they mostly do.

All that this law will accomplish is to let us know that what we want means nothing and that our politicians will sell us out, literally.

On the bright side, this could end up being a great tourism attraction for Fiji, where the legal drinking age is still 18. Maybe we'll see more of our young people heading to Fiji for a holiday so they can have a beer. And maybe we'll see less of our young people registering to vote because the message today is that it doesn't matter what the voters want so why bother trying to make your voice heard.