I went to a lecture with Jeannette Walls tonight. She was so hilarious and insightful. She took questions at the end, which was great. She was also very genuine and kind enough to stay two hours after the lecture to make sure every single person got their book signed.

I also got some videos that were pretty funny, but those will have to wait for another day.

A couple years ago (I think because I did a speech on it and was thus forced to research it) I became really interested in the hate crime laws (or lack thereof) in this country. I received an email from HRC today reminding me that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (AKA Matthew Shepherd Act) is coming up for vote in the Senate tomorrow.
So here’s the scoop:
Federal hate cime laws are already in place for violent crimes committed on the basis of race, color, national origin, or religion, when engaging in a federally protected activity (ie voting, going to school).
The LLEHCPA would add to the list crimes resulting in bodily injury or death based on actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
It authorizes funding to assist local and state law enforcement with the investigation and prosecution of such crimes.
It removes the current prerequisite that victims must be engaging in a federally protected activity.
It gives federal authorities increased flexibility to pursue hate crime investigations local authorities have chosen not to.
It requires that transgender bias be added to the list of hate crimes statistics already being tracked by the FBI.
It contains explicit language indicating that the law is not intended to restrict or infringe upon any freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment.

Someone please tell me why anyone with half a brain would oppose this legislation.

Moving on. Happy birthday to me!
Mom sent me a fabulous gift in the mail- a Sean Watkins cd! I’m so excited!
A) I didn’t know he wrote Let it Fall- I always assumed it was Glen’s song and B)It has Ferdinand the Bull on it, which is the song during which he suddenly became extremely attractive at the show I went to in July.

See what I mean?
I’ve been wanting some new music, too.

I caught the last few minutes of Bionic Woman tonight. I knew Katee Sackhoff would be in it, but I hadn’t intended to really make a point of watching it. However. I turned it on to find her dressed in leather, wearing excessive eyeliner, kicking ass, in the rain, smoking a cigarette. And that happens to be exactly how I like my Katee Sackhoff, so…Wed nights at 9 it is.

Oh my. My my my.
New Cort and Fatboy interview recorded today. She talks about Bionic Woman and has some interesting things to say about Battlestar, including that there’s a good chance season 4 will be split in half with the first 10 episodes airing this January and the final 10 not until January ‘09! Boo!!!! Also a cute thing at the very end with a Buffy mention. They talk about how Faith was such a hot badass and the fans loved her so much that she eventually became a regular ass-kicking Scooby wannabe. And since the response to Katee’s performance has been so great that Sarah Corvis should be to Bionic Woman what Faith was to Buffy. She eventually teams up with the real Bionic Woman and become like the Bionic Punisher. And then Katee goes “Yeah…like she never quite agrees with my ethics, but she likes to have my manpower!”
Cute. Here it is.

PS. I had Leno on in the background, and I see a band playing. I look at the lead singer and think “he looks familiar”, but the sound was all the way down (because I’m listening to my new cd-yay!). So I go over and turn it up…and I hear the unmistakable warble of Conor Oberst. I didn’t even recognize him! Seriously, Connor. Get a haircut, and stop doing drugs. You’re not 19 anymore. (But you’re starting to look like you’re 40.)

See what I mean?