The second bedroom in our condo has morphed from the Man Room to the Pussycat Lounge.

No fellas, it's not this Pussycat Lounge but the new den for our newest four-legged residents.

In November, still mourning over the early year loss of Cathy's canine daughter Sweetie and my feline son Homes, we came across an local shelter website where we found "Sidney" and "Sheldon", two Siamese cats whose owner (obviously a fan of the novelist) had fallen ill. As they were older cats, we sympathized with the fact that it was hard to find a home for them. And as Homes was about 12 when he passed, I felt that these 11-year-old sister would essentially pick up where he left off.

A week later we were able to bring them home. We also decided to rechristen them "Sydney" and "Shelley". While they are both very vocal, which I found is typical of Siamese cats, they each have their own personalities and preferences.

Sydney (the blue point on the right) is very laid-back. In fact she likes to lay on her back for me to give her belly rubs. Other than whomever is closest to the food at mealtime, she seems to prefer my company.

Shelley (the brown point on the left) is definitely the most assertive. If our alarm clock does not go off, she will not hesitate to let us know what time it is. In fact, she must be on Greenwich Mean Time as she often attempts to wake us even earlier. If Sydney is resting on one of us or otherwise getting attention, she will bogart her way between her sister and us - even when there's no room - to the point of Sydney deciding to concede her position and leave. On the other hand, while Shelley never met a lap she didn't like, she seems to prefer laying on Cathy's belly, often using her head as a battering ram to show her enthusiastic affection for Cathy.

Even beyond the economic situation that most everyone is dealing with, this has been a challenging year for both Cathy and me. The early Christmas present we gave ourselves by bringing Shelley and Sydney into our lives has made a big difference.

God And Guns

As alluded to in a previous post, I’m admittedly not the most spiritual person in the world. Nonetheless, I support any faith that genuinely encourages peace.

I am not a present or future gun owner but I respect the spirit of the Second Amendment. I do think a “happy medium” should be found between responsible gun owners and those who would abuse the system for personal gain.

What I can’t understand is how some people can be so fervent about both their religion and their gun rights. It is one thing to be, say, a gun owner who believes in God but shows up infrequently in the pews… or perhaps a church deacon who carries protection to negotiate his or her way through a troubled neighborhood in order to serve the parishioners. But for someone to be as enthusiastic about God as they are about guns seems so contradictory to me. The obviously radical al-Qaeda killed over three thousand people in the name of Allah. Yet many people consider the military that we sent over to defeat them to be fighting “for God and country”.

Given all of this, I just have to ask: “What would Jesus do?”

Giving Thanks

I hope everyone reading this had a very Happy Thanksgiving. My lady Cathy and I went to South Carolina to enjoy the holiday with my Dad and other relatives. It's a relatively recent tradition that my Dad credits me for starting. Unfortunately, this years gathering was bittersweet as it was the first one without my Aunt Willie Mae whose life was senselessly taken away from her in late August by some thugs who invaded her home. After dinner, we decided to head down to her gravesite and share our thoughts. If it didn't bring closure for all of us, at least it allowed some catharsis. All in all, I think we appreciated each other's presence more than ever this year.

While reading the Michael Steele article in yesterday's edition of the conservative Moonie paper, I happened to stumble across - can you believe it? - a positive article about George Bush! Actually, it's more about Obama than Bush... but here's an uplifting quote:

"In a way, Obama has a tough act to follow: Some of President George W. Bush's Africa initiatives have widely been seen as one of the few bright spots of his foreign policy legacy."

I had heard that Bush had done a lot to help combat HIV/AIDS in Africa but I wasn't aware of the magnitude until I read this article. Rather than the backhanded compliment I gave Bush a couple posts ago, I have to give credit where it's due. This is definitely one example of the "compassionate conservatism" that we had been promised. It just goes to show that, not unlike Nixon and his support of affirmative action, sometimes Presidents defy stereotypes and assumptions. Nonetheless, I do have my issues with the outgoing President - no surprise there - which I will be expounding on soon enough.

The Dream Team(s)

In these troubled times when much of our nation is still polarized in their views, I think it would be good to bridge those gaps through a twin bill of some of today's leading comics.

How about Steve Harvey and Jeff Foxworthy?

D.L. Hughley and Bill Engvall?

Cedric the Entertainer and Larry The Cable Guy?

It's probably fortunate in a way that Bernie Mac (RIP) isn't around to team up with Ron White as I would have predicted a fistfight the first time that the latter blew smoke inadvertently into the former's face.... LOL

The Man of Steele

Not to be confused with the guy in the cape and tights - although my lady probably wouldn't mind taking this Clark Kent out for a cup of coffee - here's an interesting article about former Maryland Lt. Governor (and potential RNC chairman) Michael Steele from today's edition of the Moonie paper:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/19/steele-chastises-gop-for-slighting-youth-minoritie/

I absolutely agree with him that there is an untapped source of minority conservatives that has been largely ignored by those in the GOP with the ability to support that effort. I do give W quarter-credit for attempting to address this via his 2004 outreach to black churches regarding same-sex marriage.

Comic Relief?

I'm a big comic book fan. I've been collecting for over thirty years, save a six-year period in my teens when I thought I was "too mature" for them.

Ironically, it seems like the books have grown up along with their readers with more sophisticated writing and even specific titles made for adults. As for the rest of the books, many of them now come with a rating similar to TV or video games. What's surprising to me, however, is the many titles that don't feature such a rating.

Marvel is relatively consistent with their rating system. But when a DC title like Teen Titans feature a graphic scene of someone being mauled - with no rating whatsoever on the book - I'm wondering just what audience are they trying to target? Even their current Final Crisis mini-series, which is essentially required reading as it has ramifications through on much of their "universe", has some pretty hardcore scenes involving beheadings.

Now, I am far from a prude. Some of these scenes were shocking because I didn't expect it - which I suppose was part of the writers' plan - but I don't know if anyone under 15 or 16 should be looking at most of this stuff these days. To give both Marvel and DC some credit, they do have titles aimed at children with either tamer versions of a storyline (e.g. the Marvel Age books) or kid versions of superheroes ("Tiny Titans"). I just think each could do a better job with their rating system.

Same-Sex Marriage

(Editor's Note: This is not a response to a certain other blog post. I already had the idea to present my own thoughts on the subject before I saw it.)

The subject of same-sex marriage has obviously aroused passionate opinions and actions by people on both sides of the issue.

Many people that oppose same-sex marriage cite their own personal experience among homosexuals or, lacking that, what they've been taught by their family and/or religious upbringing. As I vacillate between being agnostic and secular, I don't have a spiritual filter to guide my point of view. That leaves me with only my experiences with the GLBT community which have been generally positive and respectful.

I essentially believe that any two consenting adults should be able to legally marry. Short of that, I believe that the word "marriage" should be removed from state laws with the intention of allowing any two adults to enter into a civil union. Churches, synagogues and mosques and other religious institutions would then have the option to choose to recognize the unions through a marriage ceremony.

Some people believe that allowing same-sex marriage will lead down a slippery slope that would legitimize polygamy, pedophilia and bestiality. It should go without saying that I definitely do not condone intimate relations with children and animals. As far as polygamy goes, I have to admit some discomfort with that concept, ironically for the same reasons many oppose same-sex marriage: I'm unsure whether it's something that is positive for children or if it isn't primarily based on lust. That said, I might not theoretically vote against a civil union of some sort, as long as the financial responsibility of tertiary parties is placed solely on the "extended family" and not taxpayers. Sorry, it's just the fiscal moderate in me...

I Feel Your Pain

To those who are dismayed about the advent of a Democratic President presiding over a Democratic Senate and House, I have to say, in the words of Bill Clinton, I feel your pain.

In fact, I felt it for six years when President Bush held sway over not only a Republican legislative branch but also established a conservative majority in the Supreme Court.

It would be "easy" for me to say that conservatives had their moment in the sun and blew it... but instead, I'm actually nervous.

I'm nervous that the Democrats will see the history of 2001-2007 and doom themselves to repeat it.

As much I as I'd like to see a progressive agenda in the White House, I'm afraid that Barack Obama will overreach and demand that Congress move in lock step with him... just like George W. Bush.

I'm concerned that Joe Biden, using Dick Cheney as a template, will stretch the legal authority of the office of Vice-President even further. As fond as Joe is of Amtrak and other transit, will he have a "Secret Transportation Policy" conference a la Cheney's Energy meetings?

Will Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid invoke the uncompromising spirits of Dennis Hastert and Trent Lott, respectively?

Will the Democratic Senate and House demand "up and down" votes against which it will be the GOP members who will find themselves using a filibuster?

Only time will tell. I truly hope that Obama is successful in accomplishing the commonly agreed upon issues on his agenda so that 2010 doesn't bring a return of the a GOP Congressional majority... and the gridlock of the past two years.

To The Left, To The Left...

This will be not exactly a shocker to those who know me but I am what you would consider liberal. progressive, left-leaning, etc. But I'm not exactly a "flaming, bleeding-heart liberal" as I've been jokingly called. I wouldn't consider myself a Democrat per se but given that there are only essentially two viable choices, I do tend to identify with them more than the GOP.

I actually have voted Republican in the past, mostly notably for Sam Katz when he last ran for Mayor of Philadelphia. I also voted in Ernie Preate for PA Attorney General. (Unfortunately he would later play us all.) I think I may have even pulled the lever for a local Republican or two when I first became legal back in suburbia; I don't recall social issues being a factor in their jobs.

I consider myself to be socially progressive, perhaps a notch or two below Dennis Kucinich, while also being a fiscal moderate. No one likes taxes but I think they are a necessary evil. I also think that while government assistance is sometimes necessary and beneficial for both individuals and corporations, both should be weaned off and encouraged to earn their keep. Of course, current events would seem to delay that idea for the foreseeable future.

The First Post

Greetings! Since a few members of my extended family have gotten into this blog site, I figured I may as well join in on the fun. I don't know if my life is that interesting in and of itself. I do figure that this can be a place where I can feel free to share my thoughts and opinions on things. I'll probably find it easiest to discuss my political and social views as I figure to be the Alan Colmes to the "Fox News Channel" fans most likely to read this first. So sit back and enjoy the ride!