Bloomberg Pushes for Same-Sex Marrage Vote in New York Senate

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is an independent, has met with the Republican Cacus in New York State about same-sex marriage.  Bloomberg has driven the issue for some time now, looking to bring what he says is marriage equality to the state of New York.

“I still believe if they do vote their hearts and principles, New York State will become the next state to adopt marriage equality,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “Because based on my conversations with senators, I believe that if the bill comes to the floor, it will pass. And I’m very hopeful that will be any day now.”

There are only a few states, such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont that allow same-sex marriage, Bloomberg looks to add New York to the short list.  However, he is facing some opposition in the New York Senate, as not all Republican Senators have decided which way they will vote if the bill comes to the floor.

“In all my conversations with senators – Senator Lanza, Senator Flanagan, Senator Grisanti – and many others, I could see how personal this was for them and their families, how carefully they were listening to both their parents and children, and how earnestly they are struggling to find the right answer,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “This is not an easy issue.”

Mr. Bloomberg is right, this is not an easy issue.  I believe that up to this point as a country we have handled the issue in the correct way, let the states decide the issue.  There are several personal liberty issues that I believe shoul be handled by individual states.  Legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriage, gun laws, and the drinking age are a few issues that should be handled at the state level.

Far too often the Federal Government tries to intervene in our lives.  The government has grown too much, taking more power for itself and away from the people.  States, like New York, need to take a stand, passing legislation that they want. 

I will admit that I am not the biggest supporter of same-sex marriage, but my personal beliefs are religious and I do agree with ‘separation of church and state‘.  Therefore, I believe that each state should decide how to handle this issue, but not impose their laws and statutes on other states.  If New York, or any other state for that matter votes to allow same-sex marriage, then that is their prerogative and vise versa.

Apple Looking to Ban iPhone Filming at Live Events

I am usually an Apple apologist, defending the company blindly, because I thought they could do no wrong.  Their stellar products made up for some of the Orwellian policies.  But if this new rumor is true, then they might be overreaching a little too much.

I’m not one for having ‘Big Brother’ watch over me, whether it’s the government or a Fortune 500 company. 

When people go to a concert with their camera phones, they aren’t looking to sell the footage to gossip website or news outlet for a profit, they want to remember their experience at the show.  Keeping people from documenting their memories is a crime. 

Here are the details:

IPHONE users may soon be stopped from filming at concerts — as a result of new Apple technology.

The leading computer company plans to build a system that will sense when people are trying to video live events — and turn off their cameras.

A patent application filed by Apple revealed how the technology would work.

If an iPhone were held up and used to film during a concert infra-red sensors would detect it.

These sensors would then contact the iPhone and automatically disable its camera function.

People would still be able to send text messages and make calls.

The new technology is seen as an attempt to protect the interests of event organisers and broadcasters who have exclusive rights to concerts.

The companies are often left frustrated when videos of shows appear online via websites such as YouTube which let users watch them for free.

Apple filed for the patent 18 months ago — and it is thought if successful it will help them negotiate deals with record labels to sell content through iTunes.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3641676/Apple-to-ban-iPhone-gig-filming.html#ixzz1PSWjSaYZ

Rep. Anthony Weiner Set to Resign

Rep. Weiner (D-N.Y.) has decided to call it quits, what with his junk floating all over the Internet and Twitter.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) will resign from his seat in Congress, heeding calls from President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and dozens of other congressional Democrats, sources confirm to POLITICO. The resignation ends nearly three weeks of tumultuous political controversy since the New York congressman sent a lewd picture of himself over Twitter which he claimed at first was a result of a hack, and later admitted he had sent himself.

According to two sources, Weiner made up his mind to resign Wednesday night, and shortly after began making calls to inform them of his decision. Weiner called DCCC chair Steve Israel — who had also called for his resignation — on Wednesday night at the White House picnic to inform him and Pelosi that he had decided to resign on Thursday.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57116.html#ixzz1PRtAQ6tl

This is the right move by the representative, who needed to pull the trigger on this about two weeks ago.  You can’t keep your job once you put racy pictures of yourself on the Internet. 

This is also a good move for the Democrats, you know that they forced this joker to resign.  Everyone and their dog was calling for his resignation.  Don’t expect this move to help the Democrats in the polls anytime soon, they will still have an up hill battle with the elections next year.

Public figures need to realize that their actions have consequences and that they need to own up to them.  The fact that this man tried to keep his position by going to rehab is ridiculous.  With the position comes responsiblity.  If you want your life to be private you shouldn’t be in the lime light.

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