Kiss my odd ass August 21, 2008

I’m reading my myYahoo! page this morning, and I run across this, listed under “Odd News”:

Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards

By SARAH SKIDMORE, AP Business Writer Sarah Skidmore, Ap Business Writer – Thu Aug 21, 7:11 am ET

AP – Actress Portia de Rossi, left, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres arrive at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media …

PORTLAND, Ore. – Most states don’t recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does.

The nation’s largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards — featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. “Two hearts. One promise,” one says.

Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions.

The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure.

Rest of the story here.

What the hell is so odd about this? Hallmark has recognized a market it’s neglected forever, and it’s now filling it. Personally, as someone who recently tried to find something remotely meaningful among the miles of talking and singing garbage that passes for greeting cards, I find this a refreshing change. Further, the people on the other side of the aisle have made this into a political issue. For those of us whom this affects, and further, for those of us who would actually be buying these cards, this is a matter of personal utility, not of politics.

This is the result of politicizing relationships: We become “odd news” and suspects of political tomfoolery when a simple business decision is made. It’s also a sign of the success of right wing talk radio, as gay folk are always out to “advance the gay agenda,” which has a nice political ring to it that sounds great bellowing from the bowels of some didactic blowhard, but in actual practice simply means trying to live and move through society like the human beings we are.

I hate taxes April 15, 2008

I hate taxes.

Yes, I know I’m repeating myself. But I reallyreallyreallyreallyreally hate them.

Hate.

I suppose it’s not that bad. I was able to pay my state taxes online — California has this wonderful interface where you can tell them: Yup, standard deduction, yup this, yup that, and next thing you know, you’re done. Skip all the irrelevant shit.

I love California.

The feds, however, can suck it. I went to the IRS site, and was directed to all these private businesses. And I remembered why I’d never e-filed before; why should I have to go to some private schmoe who has contacts with the feds? How do I know what they’ll do with my information?

Ugh. But it’s April 15. It’s my own fault for dropping the ball. I registered, and I started plowing through questions.

My taxes are fairly uncomplicated. That’s the insidious thing about my forms, actually. I think I’m in for a fairly easy time, but after quadruple-checking those numbers and wading through dry IRS-speak for time immemorial my eyes start to dry out, my temples start to throb and I itch to leave my chair running, crying and screaming.

Further, the private federal e-file company I chose wasn’t nearly as streamlined as the California system. Could I just check a few boxes that in essence add up to, “Can I just fill out the online equivalent of a 1040A or EZ?” No. I had to acknowledge every form known to man in order to wade through what I owed. Capital gains taxes. Personal business forms. None of these apply to me! Why am I being asked this?

I got pissed, logged off, and got out my trusty pencil and calculator. Fuck the Interwebs.

And, the insult to injury: For California taxes, I have a spouse. For the feds, however, Lizzie is just an unrelated schmoe, less important to them than the schmoes they glom their tax business to.

I am two separate people.

Yes, I know, people have written about this. But it still irritates me.

Have I mentioned? I hate taxes.

/rant