Today's Mighty Oak

The BSA’s national board meets next week, and on their agenda is a possible change to the membership policy.  You can read the media statement here.  Again, it’s not full and total equality, but a huge step in the right direction (more about that Thursday and Friday).

They’ve opened up a special phone number, (972) 580-2330, and e-mail address, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to take comments and you can leave a comment on their Facebook page.  All you have to say is that you are for the policy change.

I’m just asking for two minutes of your time, as a personal favor.  I’ll owe you a cup of coffee. Send a quick-email, add a facebook comment or call (they’re in Central Time by the way), just to say you support the policy change.  Even if you don’t think you know anyone associated with the BSA, you do (that would be me by the way, just as one example).

I’ll be releasing a special series of blog posts over the next few days as we push to get this change enacted.  And yes, I’d love to be able to go back to the camps I love to volunteer, but honestly, this is more about the safety and well-being of young people across the country.  And for that reason, we can’t afford to not push as hard as we can.

So please, all I’m asking for is two minutes, not a big commitment.  It would mean a great deal to me, the youth who are being told everyday they’re not as deserving as their peers and maybe even your future children.

If you’re still not convinced, read on, I’ll be making that case for equality in the following posts (links will be updated each day, or check out the main blog page):

Thursday - The case against discrimination

• A comprehensive look at discrimination and how it harms young people, the need for role models and the losses that the BSA incurs from it’s discriminatory ban.  Study citations listed in the footnotes.

Friday - One month later

• An update about my own story since I released all my previous blog posts, what life has been like since leaving the BSA and the ongoing fight for equality.

Saturday - BSA camp staff and the destruction wrought by discrimination

• A moving video from a Program Director as he discusses what camp has meant to him and the fight for his rights.

Sunday - Fighting against first graders

• A recent news story about what will hopefully be the last time first graders are discriminated against by the BSA.

Monday - Story time with Mike

• Camp staff memories and the amazing alumni that I’ve worked with over the course of eleven summer seasons.

Tuesday - 1+1=3 : The business case for equality

• With a nod to days gone by at camp, I attempt to do math.

Wednesday - Scoutmaster’s Minute

• Bringing the discussion back home to Pittsburgh, home of the BSA’s founder, William D. Boyce.

It Gets Better: If you need help, please, please talk to someone you trust.  If you're thinking of harming yourself, in a bad place, or don't have anyone to talk to, please call the Trevor Project, the call is anonymous, and they're there to listen to you: (866) 488-7386.  We're all here for you and we care about you.  You are not alone.  Please be safe.

“We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls and Selma and Stonewall,”

I have to admit, that I had to look up the cities of Seneca Falls and Selma:

Seneca Falls is a New York town where, in 1848, the women’s suffrage movement gathered momentum. Selma is an Alabama city where, in 1965, marchers amassed, blood was shed and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood his ground against the unconscionable oppression of black Americans.

Aside from of course, the sentence construction, which resounded very nicely, it's a historic moment.  Never before in an inauguration address has a president acknowledged, and then moved on to fight for, the LGBT community.

It's been talked about a lot this last week, but it really is monumental.

Before the riots at Stonewall that kicked off the equality movement, it was illegal to serve alcohol to anyone who was LGBT.  We could not assemble in groups, use the postal service to mail anything  associated with equality.  Our community was harassed, jailed and blackmailed.

Stonewall was the tipping point when we fought back (side note, it's hard to write this in the proper tense, since I wasn't born yet, but just go with it) for dignity and equality.  Certainly it's a fight that continues today, and has a ways to go, but at the same time, has been so rapid.

And it's empowering and amazing to have a president who will stand up for our rights.  There was a quote after the last election about how it was

"the minorities, women, African Americans, LGBT, Hispanics, that reelected the President (as well as so many other left-leaning victories).  Or as we like to call ourselves, citizens."

I've been more and more sad opening facebook and other social media as I see people fight and bicker and choose sides.  And I think that's part of the problem.  We don't need sides; we all have to live together.  And once we can recognize and embrace each other's humanity, and work through our problems together, then we'll be in a much better place.

All my best,

Mike

First up, I'm at a bit of a loss for words.  Remember how the Catholic Church is strangely concerned with all of our private bits and the sex that we have?  You know, with the "pro-life" stance and the marches and the protests and whatnot?  Well, they can change that position as soon as it's financially beneficial to them (you know, after basically killing the two children in this sad, sad story).

And just a reminder, open, legal, safe access to comprehensive health care (which includes abortion and family planning services), as well as marriage equality, results in more stable families.

People being awesome:

So now we can 3D print houses for use on the moon!  And of course, it's a Mobius strip, which is totally cool!

The Good Men Project is launching the Hacker Scouts.  Building rockets, small electronics, sounds like fun.  If you're in NYC, check it out.

The good Men Project also looks at the unthinkable: What if my son doesn't like Star Wars?

Too nerdy not to pass up:

 The original Batmobile sold for 4.2 million.

So, in Utah you can be fired for what your boss thinks your political affiliation is.  Crazy.

That's it for now, have a great one!

I don't do this very often, but I have a flat-out product recommendation.

I was a kickstarter backer for an app called "Zombies, Run!"  You may have heard of it, I finally got the chance to use it, and I can't recommend it enough.

I've been using the weekends for strictly cardio at the gym, which is a nice change for me, and offers me some better people watching, so I loaded up some music and started the app.

The premise of the app is that you're a runner for the town of Abel in a zombie-infested world, although Mission one sets it all up.  You run out, collecting items the town needs and have to evade zombies.  Zombies will randomly pop up each mission and you have to run faster, otherwise you have to drop an item to distract them and get away.  The story is told to you between the music on your phone, and as you pick up items, you hear that over the music.

The voice acting is out of this world amazing and I've already become sucked into the story and the characters.

There is an "expansion" for couch to 5k, which I've done before, but I'd like to do it again, and it fits between missions one and two, so perfect for me.

I honestly wish I had more time at the gym during the week so I could do more missions, and I know the creators had said if it was a big enough success they would record a season two, so here's hoping.

I'll probably be adding a link to the sidebar, but until then, if you want to follow along and see my progress, check out my town here.

Zombies, Run! is available for Android, iPhone and Windows Phone (the c25k expansion is not yet available for Windows Phone, but at least in Google Play, it's on sale for a buck right now).

Written: 1/20/2013

Lana Wachowski, of Matrix fame, received the HRC Visibility Award, recognizing her brave and public transition.  She's very private and very nervous, but her speech is amazing and engaging, if you have some time, watch it:

A lot of times, I have trouble remembering pronouns, of anybody.  But I certainly try to make sure I get it right for anyone transgendered, transexual or any other kind of gender identity that I'm forgetting (and not out of malice or hate).  And the rule of thumb, is to use the pronoun that the person prefers, although I think that is just basic decency.

I've mentioned it before, but the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell still doesn't allow transgendered individuals to serve in the armed forces.  On one hand, they can sometimes more easily blend into society (but not always, aside from the gender expression, they may also fall anywhere on the sexuality spectrum), but on many others they can't hide.

I'm still working to better understand those in my own community, but it's wonderful to see visibility grow and such an eloquent woman tell her story.

All my best,

Mike

Alright, let's see what we have today.  First up, Carbolic Smoke Ball hits it out of the park.

Guns and comic books, covered here by Gutters.

On "Gun Appreciation Day," which, by the way, is horrid that it coincides with the MLK weekend, three different incidents of people being shot at gun shows.  But just be careful, the organization le pushing for this "appreciation day" are white supremicists.

A good piece on gun ownership, and how it scares me (I mean the author).  And in case you're wondering about assault weapons, check out Australia.

The best creative confessions:

Deadspin wins the Internet on how to react to Donald Trump.  And gifs come in.

GOProud, the LGBT Republican organization has finally come out to support marriage equality.  You should reread that.  January 18, 2013.  They just not think that marriage equality is worth fighting for.  Anyway, GOProud is a laughable group, trying to trick people into thinking the GOP actually cares about citizens.  And now they're outraged that they've become the laughing stock of the Internet.

Ancient riverbed discovered on Mars.  I just watched Star Talk on Nerdist where they talked about this!

That's it for now, but I'll be back with more soon, have a great one!

Shorter post today, but let's see what we have.

First up, 40 bizarre interview questions.  Many of which, I'm pretty sure are illegal to actually ask, or base employment on.

A Game of Thrones line of beer is coming out, pretty awesome.

Heavy handed, but fun:

A recycling system that takes discarded plastic and turns it into 3D printer ink.

Want to go on a blind date?  Like right now?  OKCupid has you covered.

How to charge your phone without plugging it in.

Amazingly beautiful bioluminescent leaves:

And finally, the terrifying real examples of design jargon bullshit.

Written: 1/16/2013

One of the other causes I've become interested in, even though I can't give blood (I'll tell you the story sometime, it's funny, and my arm turned purple and everything!).  Here's a good video summing up the situation (and even I learned that bisexual men can't give blood, I never realized that):

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

Ryan Anderson is an Eagle Scout.  His local Board of Review approved his application.  That's how the process works.

After years of work, leadership and a massive service project, one final Scoutmaster conference (usually a very unique one at that), a Scout sits on a Board of Review from the local district.  And they decide whether to approve the application (usually those turned down have something else to complete to satisfaction, it's not a closed door forever).

Yes, National processes the applications and keeps copies of everything, but I've never heard of National rejecting the work of a local Board of Review.

National hides behind technicalities about the date, and has forced the local employees in a position where they must fight the local volunteers, which is a shitty place for anyone to be in, and very cowardly if you ask me.  GLAAD and Scouts for Equality have slammed the organization, but sadly, I don't foresee National changing their mind.

But Ryan Anderson is an Eagle Scout.

All my best,

Mike

Written: 1/16/2013

A father in Brooklyn is starting a Scouting troop open to women and gays.

There are actually a bunch of these organizations that spring up, I'll have to write about them sooner or later.

And, fun fact, the BSA will allow girls to join if there is not a Girl Scout Troop nearby.  Also, Venturing is co-ed, and it starts at age 14, focused mainly on high adventure (but units can specialize in other interests if they wish), and there is also Exploring (for now) and Learning for Life, a school program.

I'm a bit mixed on the women issue.  Venturing was pretty much created because GSA was doing a terrible job of retaining older girls and giving them what they actually wanted to do, so the BSA stepped in.  That, by the way, is reality, not at all what anyone official will tell you.

But of course, I support opening the program to gay, bisexual and transgendered youth, they need to know they matter, they have value and they are not broken.

Will this new group change anything?  Not on the national scene, but for those kids, it will mean the world.

And that means the world.

All my best,

Mike