Australian Senate upholds civil-union ban

Grrr....just last month (I think) I wrote about how the ACT's civil union act was a step forward for gay and lesbian individuals. Seems like we've taken a step back. Doesn't surprise me. SURE, the govt is concerned about whales, but yet he doesn't believe in equality for all people ::shaking head:: GO FIGURE.

SUMMARY: A 32-30 Senate vote cements Australia's defeat of the capital territory's efforts to let same-sex couples wed; territorial officials vow to try again.

By a 32-30 vote in the Senate, Australia's federal government succeeded Thursday in upholding its ban on the capital territory's legislation enabling civil unions between same-sex couples.
Despite three hours of parliamentary debate spanning legislative and emotionally charged arguments, senators voted to reject a motion to overturn a regulation signed Wednesday by Governor-General Michael Jeffery at the urging of Attorney General Philip Ruddock.
The Senate result ensured the federal government's ability to exert its constitutional power to overturn the Australian Capital Territory civil unions legislation, The Age newspaper reported.
Territorial Attorney General Simon Corbell labeled the Senate decision "homophobic," adding that he was disappointed but not surprised.
Corbell said the territory, which includes the nation's capital, Canberra, will now look to create a new act with the full intention of the original law giving same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples have under the Marriage Act.
"It's still our intention to give the same level of recognition provided for in the Civil Unions Act," he said.

Big Trucks

One thing I've noticed here in Australia (or maybe it's just me) is that big trucks, don't give a sh*t. They drive like morons, and they seem to be really inconsiderate of other drivers. I know in the states, while on the freeway, you'd get a real jerk who'd tailgate you in the 65 mph zone. But for the most part, they seemed courteous.

I know on backroads, not only big trucks, but buses...if there were a huge line of cars behind them, they'd pull over to the side, so that all the cars would be able to pass by. The same went with big farm machinery.

But not here, it doesn't seem like people know what it means to be conscious of who is behind them. Granted, there are not a lot of big trucks, or buses, but because I drive the backroads to the train station, I get a lot of the big trucks and buses.

Tonight on my way home, there was this big truck (not quite a semi, but big enough). The speed was 90 kms, and we were going under 80 kms. There were 20+ cars behind him (me included), and the guy didn't think to pull over, so that we'd all be able to pass. Okay, if you're going just under the speed limit, yeh that's okay. But going 10 kms under, and having 20+ cars behind you.....talk about obnoxious. And it wasn't as if there wasn't a spot that the truck could have pulled off to, because there was.

::shaking head in annoyance:: I wish truck drivers were more aware of their surroundings, especially when it comes to 20+ cars behind them.

I've Been Tagged

Thanks to Nakiki, I've been tagged...so here we go.

I've been tagged!! I'm pulling the gloves off.
Tagged:

Name six behaviors that bother you in others:
Rudeness
Ignorance
Promiscuity
Obnoxiousness (is that a word..lol)
Bad hygiene (I know it's not a behaviour, but still, it BOTHERS me)
Egotism (ppl who are egotistical)

Name six places you dream of visiting on vacation:
Canada
Some tropical beach
Great Barrier Reef
England
Africa
Queensland Australia

Name six favorite past times:
1) Camping
2) Cartoons on Saturday morning
3) Waking up on Xmas morning, waiting to find out what Santa brought me
4) Lying on our dock, at my parents house in the summer, listening to the frogs croak, not having a care in the world.
5) Staying up all hours of the night, reading underneath my sheets with a dim flashlight. (any wonder why I wear glasses)
6) Going shopping with my mum and sister.

Name six things you would like to accomplish in the next year:
1) Help my partner pay off her house
2) Buy a new car (Mazda 3)
3) Visit my family back in the states
4) Get new personal number plates for my vehicle
5) Get another tattoo
6) Buy another kitty.

Name six things people would be surprised to know about you:
1) I have white parents
2) I have 3 tattoos, and counting ::smirks::
3) I'm a closeted soap opera fan
4) I have never had a cavity ::knocking on wood::
5) I hate driving
6) I'm obsessed with rainbows (it's a gay thing)

Name six songs that identify your personality:
1) Paranoid-by Garbage
2) Misfit-by Amy Studt
3) Faded-By Kate DeAruago
4) Dumb Girls-By Lucy Woodward
5) She's Not Just a Pretty Face-By Shania Twain (no, I'm not being conceited here..lol)
6) I Will Survive-Gloria Gaynor (is that how you spell it??

Six people that I am tagging……
Don't know...in truth, no one. LOL

Finally Able to Blog

I'm finally able to sit down and blog. I tried to do it earlier this week, but the ol' website was having maintenance issues. ::shaking head:: Just when I felt ready to blog about something, I get the "down time" message.
Last week, my partner and I went to the airport to take her mother and partner. They were going up to Queensland, and we thought we'd tag along. It was the first time, I'd gone to the airport, and actually not having to leave. It was a weird sensation. The last time we went to the airport, we were leaving together, to go to New Zealand. That was July of last year.
But it was nice to actually just go to the airport without having to worry about checking in, or whether someone was going to question why I was in Australia. Aside from that, it was also nice not to have the emotional aspect of going to the airport. All the previous times, I was the one leaving, and there were many tears of sadness. Not fond memories by any means.
There is a show on TV called Hello, Goodbye. And it pretty much is a show that tapes people saying hello and goodbye at Sydney International Airport. There have been a few times where I've seen an episode, and cried. Cried because it brought back those memories of when my partner and I had to say goodbye. Such hard times, and you can't help but feel sad. I guess it's a part of life though eh??