Today's Cultural Warfare Update

Massachusetts Episcopal Bishop Thomas Shaw presides over nuptial mass for gay couple; condemned by all kinds of people;

Fundamentalist Target boycott ended over so-called "War on Christmas";

New York State appeals court rules against marriage as an equal protection issue, says marriage is for children;

Focus on the Family condemns Brokeback Mountain; quoted as "twisted," "neo-Marxist homosexual propaganda," and "a high ick factor"; warns against boycott, fearing a boycott would bring it more business - they've learned from their mistakes on that front, unfortunately;

"Justice Sunday III" set for January 8th; Greater Exodus Baptist Church of Philadelphia to host; usual suspects to show up and speak;

FCC pledges more indecency prosecutions in broadcast;

Concerned Women for America continues its "Merry Christmas ONLY!" demands on retailers, listing by those who use only "Christmas" references, and explicitly docking those who use both "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays"; oddly, White House and Bill O'Reilly not on list;

Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's run to the social right is tripped up: hospitals must provide emergency contraception if rape victims request it; this is a reversal of his previous position, and is in response to a new law;

Walgreens does not allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense drugs they dislike on religious grounds; some pharmacists decided to do so anyway (emergency contraception, in this case), and were put on unpaid leave; they're now suing Walgreens for religious discrimination;

Ted Stevens may have scrapped a follow-up panel on broadcast "indecency";

LifeNews.com action item against Planned Parenthood's Christmas cards - yes, really;

CWA endorses government-mandated al la carte cable channel plans;

Family Research Council joins "War on Christmas" paranoia bandwagon;

FRC ACTION ITEM against marriage rights, for anti-marriage amendment to Pennsylvania constitution;

FRC press release for Justice Sunday III;

Exodus International condemns Brokeback Mountain;

Agape Press: 70% of Alabama residents think creationism and intelligent design should be taught at science; fewer think evolutionary theory should be; happy religion professor credits conservative Baptist churches for the poll result.

( Articles, excerpts, press releases )

Still can't find it

I still can't find that figure. I do begin to suspect what kind of figure it might be if it exists, though. So that's helping.

Here, have today's leaf picture:


Totoro Tree in Autumn

Here's another picture of the market, since I scanned and cropped it and stuff:


To Market, To Market

Also, roosters! It's hard to get good pictures, they always run away if you shoot over the fence. This one's at distance, zoomed and cropped:


Roosters!