Here in the San Fernando Valley, we are having a surprise hail storm, complete with thunder and lightning (rare for L.A.)

Last night, on the Westside of L.A., where multiple closures on Pacific Coast Highway plus many canyon road closures have forced even more traffic into this already terminally traffic-clogged area, it took us 25 minutes to drive 1/2 a mile. We finally parked and walked. More than a few friends have left L.A., not because they didn’t love the city, but because the traffic is so appalling - and getting worse every month.

We’re going to see Carter Tutti tonight at the Disney Hall downtown. And will take the subway to get there! It’s a 22 minute ride for $3 roundtrip vs. at least 45 minutes to an hour by car, plus no parking hassles. Yes, there is a subway in L.A., it doesn’t go many places, but for this performance, the subway drops us two blocks away.

Members of the legendary group Throbbing Gristle, artists, musicians and subcultural collaborators Cosey Fanni Tutti and Chris Carter give their first U.S. performance in a decade.

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The Canadian government has rejected US orders that it comply with the incredibly dangerous and wrongheaded waste of resources euphemistically called the “missile defense shield“

Prime Minister Paul Martin said Thursday that Canada would not join the contentious U.S. missile defense program, a decision that will further strain brittle relations between the neighbors but please Canadians who fear it could lead to an international arms race.

That Dubya, not only has he aliented most the planet with his arrogant muddle-headed wars and invasions, now even Canada, that most placid of US allies, wants nothing to do with his insane militaristic plans.

Will the Bushies now, with Life imitating Art, launch a slime campaign against Canada, darkly hinting they are terrorist? Will the South Park movie come true? “Blame Canada,” then invade?

Stay tuned.

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In the US, the Anglican Church, the Church of England, is known as the Episcopalian Church..

Anglican primates agreed Thursday that the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada would withdraw from a key body of the global Anglican Communion after failing to overcome internal church disagreements about the election of a gay bishop in the United States and the blessing of same-sex unions there and in Canada.

The agreement marked the first formal breach in the communion over the explosive issues of sexuality and biblical authority.

Can they reconcile? Should they reconcile? I doubt it. The split is too deep for that. This fight for gay rights mirrors the civil rights fights of the 50 and 60’s, when most established churches and institutions either opposed integration or were silent on the issue. After several years of protests in the streets, public opinion changed, and what was once considered a moderate stance, “well, they can drink from the same water fountain as us, but would you want your daughter to marry one”, was finally seen as the racist statement it was. The same will happen with gay rights too. In ten years, people will look at this fight now and be appalled by the rampant homophobia, wondering how people could have been so blind.

Conn. legislative panel backs civil unions

Connecticut’s legislature moved closer to legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples, as a key panel approved a measure that could make it the first state in the country to recognize gay unions through legislative action rather than court order.

New England is where the push for legalizing gay marriage began. Vermont was first, legalizing civil unions for gays. Massachusetts followed, permitting gay marriage for residents. Now Connecticut, where I grew up, may make it legal, period. Why New England? Because of a long history of belief in personal freedom combined with little influence from or respect for the religious right.

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A man who says his former lover deceived him by getting pregnant using semen obtained through oral sex can sue for emotional distress but not theft, an appeals court has ruled.

“She asserts that when plaintiff ‘delivered’ his sperm, it was a gift,” the decision said. “There was no agreement that the original deposit would be returned upon request.”

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NY Times:

“While still too much in its infancy to be considered an immediate threat to the radio industry, podcasting does present the prospect of a growing army of iPod-toting commuters who take programming decisions out of the hands of broadcasters and customize their own listening.” [Scripting News]

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From Podcastingnews

IndiePodcasting.com has announced a new service devoted to promoting unsigned and indie artists using a combination of podcasting technology, syndication, and viral marketing. It uses a format which is unlike most podcasts currently being generated.

IndiePodcasting.com hopes to “bring podcasting out of the realm of web blogging and audio blogs and into the hands of mainstream web surfers.”

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