Neanderpundit

I’m not too pleased about most of what goes on in Illinois, but I’m all over this. The Civil Unions act (750 ILCS 75/) is designed so same sex and either sex couples may enter into an agreement that gives them the rights and remedies of spouses. This is extremely important for any number of really good reasons, not only for same sex couples, but for elderly people living together and caring for one another. THis happens a lot more often than you think. One way or another, what is- or should be- important to the individuals is the commitment they make to one another. The Civil Union just recognizes their relationship for legal reasons; if youfeel you need a piece of paper to make your relationship “Legitimate”, you do not have much of a relationship.

The law of unintended consequences always bites hard, though. Catholic Charities, who are a large force in foster care for children, will be forced to close their doors. They cannot in good conscience grant children to same sex couples, so will get out of the business in Illinois. They could have been granted a waiver, but the legislature chose not to, and if a same sex couple shows up and asks to adopt a kid, and the Catholics, who cannot countenance that, do not allow it, it is discrimination under law and the church gets hammered. So because the absolutists would not allow that exemption- which had NO effect on the civil unions- a group of people doing good work gets to shut it’s doors, probably forever.

Gotta break eggs, I suppose.

Partner, Mr B and his bail bondsman Mike, and I, went to my club for a day of recoil therapy.

Many, many holes were made in several targets.

The Arisaka turns out not to be a hand grenade.

it’s clear that Mr B is not a man to stand in front of, at the range.

Partner is still relatively lethal with his match 22, but would probably be amazing had he been able to find the match ammunition. I expect he’ll need to buy some NEW match ammunition, at which point, he will place the new match ammunition next to the old match ammunition. where he can lose it again.

Damn, maybe it’s at MY house. I’ll have to look.

Then we spent three hours making an electrical connection. The 98 sploder had lost a lambda probe (Oxygen sensor) some time ago, and I had replaced it, but the cable was impossible to get to. That’s not hyperbole, by the way, the manual actually says ‘Turn the car upside down and shake”

Well, no it doesn’t. But it does say “replace connector” which is all. Which is like saying “learn differential calculus” as step two of something.

Now the fuel pump isn’t working. So we’re on to that next, but one can only do one thing at a time.

Thanks, Partner, B, Mike, for a wonderful range day. I had a blast.

is the safety cable for a Craftsman pushmower.

See, the powers that be have decided that we’re all too fucking stupid to own mowers that can be- you know- on.

No, you have to hold down the special lever and pull the handle, and sometimes it starts. And when you’re mowing, it’s not much of an inconvenience other than the special lever pushes against one of the parts of your hand most likely to cause carpal tunnel issues.

No, it’s not a horrible inconvenience, unless it breaks. Then the mower is useless, because it cannot be operated without the safety.

Or so they think. I’mna finish mowing with a wire tie on it, effec tively making the mower dramatically less safe than before, because YOU HAVE TO ORDER PART #1659933, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN ANY OF THE LOCAL STORES THAT SELL LAWNMOWERS.

monkeys.