the new bartender on Broadway in Long Beach.  Huzzah! 

Mom:  What are you giving up for lent?
Me:  I gave up 24 years ago mom. 

Has been a MOTHER FUCKING BITCH.  What else was left to do?  Well, cut my contract in 1/2.  Therefore, that now means I make 1/2 per month. . . . which will not be possible. 

Time to find either more clients, or a new job. 

So let me get this right, California was concerned about animal rights, but when it came to simple human rights for gay people, it was completely disregarded. Ladies and gentlemen, today was a good day for the gay chicken!

It's not over. . . . .

A man wearing a "No on 8" button was beaten with a "Yes on 8" lawn sign in Torrance this week in what police characterized as a possible hate crime.

Joseph Storm, 23, is due in Torrance Superior Court today for arraignment on a felony charge of a hate crime assault and a misdemeanor count for interfering with another's exercise of civil rights, according to Deputy District Attorney Janet Wilson.

Wilson said the scuffle between two longtime acquaintances occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of 230th Street. Both men were outside, but it isn't clear why.

Storm and the 22-year-old victim, whom Wilson did not identify, have known each other since junior high school, she said.

"I don't think they had any problems in the past," Wilson said.

The men told police slightly different versions of what happened, Wilson said. Whether Proposition 8 - which would ban same-sex marriage in California - was at the center of the dispute is unclear.

The victim, whom Wilson described as openly gay, said, he was wearing a "No on Prop. 8" button when he encountered Storm.

Storm took a nearby "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn sign
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and knocked the victim down with it, then punched him in the face and choked him, Wilson said.

During the beating, Storm called the 22-year-old a derogatory name for homosexuals, Wilson said.

The victim was treated at a hospital, where he had an inch-long cut on his head, she added.

Storm, however, told officers after his Monday night arrest that he saw the victim hold up his middle finger toward the sign, then pull it out of the lawn and throw it in the street, Wilson said.

Storm said he didn't know what the sign said, but got angry because the other man was littering, which is why he assaulted him, Wilson added.

He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor case of driving without a license, Wilson said.

If convicted of all the charges for the sign incident, Storm could face a maximum of seven years in custody, Wilson said. He is being held on $50,000 bail.

Of the 12 initiatives California voters will decide on Tuesday, Proposition 8 has generated some of the most impassioned and emotional reactions on both sides.

The measure, backed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as leaders in Catholic and evangelical churches, would amend the state's Constitution to define marriage as only "between a man and a woman."

The California Marriage Protection Amendment would overturn a decision by the California Supreme Court earlier this year that allowed same-sex marriages.

Other episodes of violence involving supporters and opponents of the measure have been reported elsewhere in California.

A Kern High School District trustee, who supports Proposition 8, got into a fight Friday night in Bakersfield with an adversary during a confrontational rally.

The scuffle, caught on videotape, has not led to any arrests or charges, according to the Bakersfield Californian.

In Modesto, a Proposition 8 supporter reported being attacked while distributing lawn signs in front of a church on Oct. 12, according to KCRA.com.

The No on Prop. 8 campaign director issued a statement after that incident condemning violence of any sort.'

Haider 'was double speed limit'

Shock at Haider's death was keenly felt in his stronghold of Carinthia

Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider was driving at twice the speed limit when he died in a crash early on Saturday, court officials have said.

Mr Haider, 58, was travelling alone at 142km/h (88mph) in a 70km/h zone when his Volkswagen Phaeton V6 crashed.

The accident occurred south of Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, where he was the provincial governor.

He was leader of the Alliance for Austria's Future, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies.

Mr Haider had crashed shortly after leaving a nightclub.

However, prosecutor Gottfried Kranza would not say whether Mr Haider's body had tested positive for alcohol.


JOERG HAIDER: KEY DATES

1950: Born in Upper Austria
1976: Joins Freedom Party
1986: Elected party's leader
1989: Elected governor of Carinthia
2000: Resigns as party leader
2005: Founds Alliance for Austria's Future


Obituary: Joerg Haider
Death shocks friends and foes

Mr Haider's car overturned a number of times, causing him serious head, chest and spinal injuries. He died on the way to hospital.

Mr Haider had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day.

The Alliance for Austria's Future (BZO) was one of two right-wing parties that did better than expected in general elections last month, fuelling speculation of a possible role in a ruling coalition.

Mr Haider's deputy, Stefan Petzner, has been named his successor.

Austria's President Heinz Fischer said Mr Haider's death was a "human tragedy", while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described him as someone who had shaped Austria's domestic and political landscape over decades.

On Saturday, residents of Klagenfurt left candles and messages of condolence outside the governor's office.

EU sanctions

Mr Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986.

In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany.

AdvertisementThe wreckage of the car Mr Haider was driving
But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003.

In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government.

In 2005, Mr Haider left the Freedom Party and founded the Alliance, which scored its best result so far in elections last month, gaining 11% of the vote.

This was, however, well below the 27% that the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Mr Haider's electoral career at national level.

"With his passing, Austria has lost a great political figure," said Heinz-Christian Strache, who had taken over as leader of the Freedom Party after Mr Haider left.

Tennessee 10-year-old crashes van

A Tennessee boy who crashed a van driving at 90mph (145km/h) is just 10 years old, local police have said. Two other children and two adults were in the car at the time of the crash. One of the adults told police he had drunk at least 15 beers, while the other was trying to swallow as many pills as she could, authorities said. All five were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the crash. Both adults have been charged in connection with the incident. Child abuse charge The boy, who has not been named, lost control of the vehicle in Sullivan County, in north-eastern Tennessee. The van rolled over, before coming to rest upside-down. Police have charged Randy Lewis, 43, with seven offences, including third offence DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) and felony reckless endangerment. People can be charged with DUI in Tennessee if they own the vehicle, even if they are not driving. Paula Elaine Evans, 38, faces charges including aggravated child abuse or neglect. A photograph released by police showed Mr Lewis wearing a T-shirt saying: "Buy this dad a beer".