Fan Stuff and Equal Marriage With Some Overlap

So tired! I attended an Equal Marriage rally in town, which involved way too much standing while I listened to speakers. For Perth, this day was freezing, with a maximum temperature of only 14^C, but it didn't rain. After the last rally, I told myself I'd go if (a) I woke up in time and (b) it wasn't wet. Touch and go for awhile, since the rains have finally arrived. On Saturday I had my own personal flash flood in front of the house:


I'm probably going to have to leave any complicated philosophy for the next time I get enough sleep, but it was a good rally, fairly well attended, though I didn't spot some folks I thought would be there. I ran into Finn [dude, I know it took me a moment to recognise you but you didn't have hair last time] and ariaflame, who had the theory that people here are easily bored, because we drop a chant after three repetitions. This will require somebody who's been to a rally/march in some other city to confirm or deny.

They had a trans speaker who talked about the specific problems faced by this community, which was good, since it means acknowledgement that it's not purely "same sex" marriage if you're trans, or rather, it may be, but then again maybe not. So equal marriage is definitely more accurate. Also somebody from the MUA [Maritime Union of Australia]with the theme that things have certainly moved on in the last few years, so that even this, one of the world's blokiest unions according to the speaker, has woken up to the fact that there are more options than "one man, one woman." You help us, we'll help you, the unionist said; a philosophy I can relate to.

There was Lyn McLaren from the Greens and various folk from student and community organisations whose full appellations now elude me. Also "Baloney Abbot", a comedian dressed up as our PM in budgie smugglers, who was hauled off by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence when he threatened to show us his tackle. My favourite "speakers" were the people doing Auslan interpretations. Thanks to Mark Sheppard on a Supernatural con panel, I knew the Auslan for "bullshit" but I've now learned a few more, including "blood-sucking politicians." And no, the word "bullshit" was not used at the rally!

I didn't agree with absolutely everything that was said, because that would be a bit peculiar. I think in some cases the speakers weren't too sure of precisely how some aspects of government works in Australia and I have trouble with the idea that everyone in a political party should be forced to adopt a particular line; in this case, passing a law to allow equal marriage. I'm too tired to ponder now. I'll get back to this.

Somewhere on this weekend I squeezed in my usual housework, since yesterday I dropped in on the Swancon programming meeting. I now need to research the details of the Iron Writer panel, if anyone remembers them. And no, I'm not volunteering to be on it. I've had enough of panels and people not letting me talk and annoying audience members who like to put you on the spot. I'm not super sure whether I'll be able to afford the con but we'll see closer to the time.

My brain is now fuzzing out, so I'll stop waffling and go do something more important, such as feed rats.