GLBT DIGEST - August 23, 2008

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Modern Love
We'll Marry Each Other as Often as Needed
"Come to California," I said. "I will if you marry me," Ira replied. Thiswas two days before I was leaving for Los Angeles for work, and a week aftersame-sex marriage had been legalized there, making it reciprocally legal inNew York State, where we live. At the request of a lesbian couple, theCoquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast has adopted a lawrecognizing same-sex marriage. Tribal law specialists say the Coquilleappear to be the first tribe to sanction such marriages. Most tribal lawdoesn't address the issue. The Navajo and Cherokee tribes prohibit same-sexmarriages.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/fashion/24love.html

-8 States Cut From System That Tracks Rate of H.I.V.
Eight states and Puerto Rico will no longer receive federal money for anadvanced H.I.V. monitoring system that showed that the annual infection ratein the nation was 40 percent higher than previously estimated, officials atthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/health/policy/23aids.html


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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Oregon tribe to allow same-sex marriages
At the request of a lesbian couple, the Coquille Indian Tribe on thesouthern Oregon coast has adopted a law recognizing same-sex marriage.Tribal law specialists say the Coquille appear to be the first tribe tosanction such marriages. Most tribal law doesn't address the issue. TheNavajo and Cherokee tribes prohibit same-sex marriages. The couple planningtheir wedding at the tribal plankhouse say they seek only tribal recognitionand are unconcerned about Oregon and federal prohibitions against gaymarriage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082200688.html

-Leo Abse, 91; Led British Campaign For Gay Rights
Leo Abse, 91, a colorful Welsh politician who took a leading role inliberalizing laws on homosexuality and divorce, died Aug. 19 in London. Thecause of death was not announced. Mr. Abse, noted for his dandyish apparel,also won attention with books that attempted to apply psychoanalysis toMargaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082103396.html

-The Man With All the Medals Blows a Golden Opportunity
Before assessing the supremely unflattering Sports Illustrated cover thatcelebrates Olympian Michael Phelps's eight gold medals in Beijing, one thingmust be made clear: Phelps is an extraordinary athlete. He is an amphibiousmarvel. The man set an unprecedented goal for himself and then madeaccomplishing it look easy. He will undoubtedly serve as inspiration forgenerations of swimmers to come. All hail, Michael Phelps.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082200862.html?hpid=topnews

-Home Circumcisions Appealing to Christian Parents
Jewish Community's Mohels Infuse 'Holistic' Procedure With Spiritual MeaningMark Kushner pulled up to the Watson family's suburban Philadelphia home aweek after the birth of their first son, Colin. In the dining room, heunpacked the tools of his trade: sterilized surgical instruments, topicalanesthetic, prayer shawls and a small bottle of kosher wine.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082202673.html?hpid=sec-religion

-Protections Set for Antiabortion Health Workers
Opponents Denounce Proposed Regulation Allowing Federal Officials to PullFunding
The Bush administration yesterday announced plans to implement acontroversial regulation designed to protect doctors, nurses and otherhealth-care workers who object to abortion from being forced to deliverservices that violate their personal beliefs. The rule empowers federalhealth officials to pull funding from more than 584,000 hospitals, clinics,health plans, doctors' offices and other entities if they do not accommodateemployees who refuse to participate in care they find objectionable onpersonal, moral or religious grounds. "People should not be forced to sayor do things they believe are morally wrong," Health and Human ServicesSecretary Mike Leavitt said. "Health-care workers should not be forced toprovide services that violate their own conscience."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082102818.html?hpid=moreheadlines


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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-A Mormon site supports gays
Prompted by their church's support for a California initiative to ban gaymarriage, some Mormons are voicing opposition to the proposed ban on theInternet - saying in cyberspace what they might not be able to express inchurch buildings. MormonsforMarriage is one of a handful of Web sites tospring up since June, when top Mormon leaders distributed a letter to beread from California pulpits to call the faith's 750,000-plus members thereto contribute money and time to help pass Proposition 8.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flatnatdig08231sbaug23,0,1117840.story

-Neb. 'safe-haven' law allows abandonment of teens
Nebraska's new "safe-haven" law allowing parents to abandon unwantedchildren at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significantway: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyoneunder 19.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/ny-bc-children-safehavens0822aug22,0,4739473.story


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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Study states 10 percent of trans vets turned away from VA hospitals
An interesting study released today by the Palm Center at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara, shows that transgender veterans face being turnedaway by Veterans Administration hospitals and medical facilities as well asfacing other forms of discrimination. The study, based on a surveyconducted by the Transgender American Veterans Association, is the first ofits kind, according to TAVA. Participating in the survey were 827 U.S.military veterans and active-duty personnel.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=8/17/08&end=8/24/08#20481

-Obama campaign unveils LGBT website
After recent polls came out showing that Sen. Barack Obama has a 58 pointlead over John McCain among LGBT voters, the Obama campaign has revved upits gay out reach with a new website and blog called LGBTforObama.com. Thesite is aimed at gay voters to point out the differences between thepresidential candidates in their stances on GLBT issues. Topics includeFederal hate crimes legislation, Don't Ask Don't Tell policies, and the needfor more inclusive measures to protect civil rights for all Americans.Visitors may get little information on Obama's views on same-sex marriage.The senator says he supports civil unions and not marriage.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/8-21/news/localnews/4978.cfm

-All eyes on Denver as Dems seek unity
Record number of openly gay delegates to participate in conventionTens of thousands of Democrats, including an estimated 360 openly gayparticipants, will flock to Denver next week for the 2008 DemocraticNational Convention.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/8-22/news/national/4989.cfm

-Farewell, Express Gay News-our final issue
New look, new name, and new vibe is on the way with "South?Florida Blade"And so it is time, dear readers, to say goodbye to Express Gay News. Today,August 21, 2008, marks the final edition of this version of our newspaper.Express Gay News is taking a trip to the media publications spa, so tospeak: we're having a few nips and tucks to freshen up our image and makethings look pretty. We're changing our name, to "South Florida Blade," andwe're launching new graphics and colors and layout concepts. Our web sitewill start fresh and new as well, also with the new look and the new name.But fret not-we won't be on hiatus, the new paper will unroll next week,keeping us on our publishing schedule. What's in store, you ask? It'snatural to be curious. You'll have to come back next week to see.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/8-21/view/editorial/4980.cfm

-Bitch Session
I think it's high time we started beating the crap out of random straightboys. Better yet, pull a "Dexter" and track down those who deserve it. Aw,is that mean? Meeting up with them in public bathrooms does not mean thatyour churchgoing friends and white male Republicans are more accepting, justhorny and out for a thrill before they go home to their wives and families.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/8-21/view/bitch/4988.cfm

-Extra Signatures Turned In For Gay Adoption Ban Initiative
The group backing a proposed gay adoption ban says it has enough signaturesthis time to get it on the November ballot. But even if the Arkansas FamilyCouncil has enough signatures the initiative could land in the courts beforeyou vote on it.
http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9093168c-918e-46d6-ae65-6301218d7e06&rss=315

-Wales: Guide for victims of hate crime
Victims of homophobic hate crime are being encouraged by police and a gayrights group to report attacks on them. Stonewall Cymru believes attacks ongay, lesbian and bisexual people in Wales are underreported.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7575499.stm

-Hitchcock says no to $100,000 offer
Donald Hitchcock, the plaintiff in a discrimination lawsuit against theDemocratic National Committee, has rejected a settlement offer of $100,000made in mediation with the defendants, PageOneQ has learned. The partieswill continue trying to work out their differences when mediation continueson September 11. Because of confidentiality agreements related the case,sources requested anonymity.
http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Hitchcock_says_no_to_100_0822.html

-Beijing's homosexuals live in the shadows
The Beijing Olympics have not changed anything for Benjamin Han. He is stillgay, still single and still compelled to hide his orientation from publicview. The 28-year-old employee of a large international public relationsfirm is one of an estimated 5 million to 10 million gay men in China wholive, for the most part, in the shadows.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/21/MNGB12CRTC.DTL

-Transgender journalist caught in Wikipedia edit war
Ina Fried, the veteran technology reporter and a regular source of goodMicrosoft dish, is very open about her status as a transgender woman -- herCNET blog is titled "Beyond Binary." She knows she's female. But some usersof Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia any bigot can edit, aren't convinced.An anonymous Wikipedia user in Knoxville, Tenn. however, refuses to accepthers as the last word on the subject, and has been changing pronouns from"she" to "he" on Fried's listing with repeated edits in the last six weeks.The justification offered: I am a med student with an additional major inClinical Psychology. Ina's self-proclaimed gender is debatable (and anydebatable factoids should be left out of an encyclopedic entry).
http://valleywag.com/5040535/transgender-journalist-caught-in-wikipedia-edit-war

-McCain Antoinette
"If there be no bread, let them eat cake" - Marie Antoinette. Thehistorical portrait of Marie Antoinette is one of legendary excess anddisconnection to the common man. When confronted with a starving populace,myth has it that she blithely responded with the line above- notunderstanding that perhaps working class people did not have the luxuries inlife she had come to know and depend on.
http://www.lgbtforobama.com/439


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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Who we need at the top: Notes from our leaders, writers, activists andcelebs
We're not going to have a gay president - at least, not this time around.But where would an openly gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender appointeeor elected official make the most difference during the next administration?
http://www.365gay.com/features/082108-gay-appointees-main/

-Vanasco: Quick take on Biden and gay issues
I'm at the airport, heading to the DNC. But I thought you might find thisuseful, from About.com:
Lesbian and Gay Rights - Everything But Marriage:
Biden voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, but has been quoted assaying "I don't know why we should be frightened of [same-sex marriage]."Although he sees same-sex marriage as a likely inevitability, he has nottaken the step of actually supporting it. Instead, he supports a civilunions policy that would grant the same legal rights. He also supports theEmployment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal hate crime legislationthat includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protectedcategories, and the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."
http://www.365gay.com/blog/vanasco-quick-take-on-biden-and-gay-issues/

-Groups planning court fight over Ark. anti-gay adoption measure
A group fighting a proposed ballot measure to ban adoptions by unmarriedcouples living together are preparing to take their battle to court.Arkansas Families First, the group fighting the adoption ban, said that ifthe question is certified for the ballot, it will go to court.
http://www.365gay.com/news/groups-planning-court-fight-over-ark-anti-gay-adoption-measure/

-Canadian AIDS researcher given France's highest honor
(Montreal, Quebec) A leading Canadian AIDS researcher has been awardedFrance's highest honor. Dr. Mark Wainberg was named a Chevalier, or knight,of the Legion d'honneur for his work fighting the spread of AIDS and HIV.
http://www.365gay.com/news/canadian-aids-researcher-given-frances-highest-honor/


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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Nebraska Wrestlers Broke Rules Before
University of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne says the two wrestlersdismissed last week after appearing on a pornographic website had run afoulof NCAA rules on a previous occasion.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid59837.asp

- Poll: Most Americans Would Support Gay Presidential Candidate
Following an Advocate article pondering the electability of an openly gaycandidate for president, a new nationwide poll from Zogby Internationalfound that 65% of likely voters would support an openly gay person to serveas president of the United States if they believed he or she was the mostqualified person for the post.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid59801.asp

-Jindal Lets Louisiana Nondiscrimination Policy Lapse
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal will not renew an antidiscrimination orderput in place by his predecessor when it expires Friday, the Associated Pressreports. The policy, sanctioned by then-governor Kathleen Blanco in 2004by executive order, bars state agencies and contractors from harassing anddiscriminating against employees based on race, religion, gender, sexualorientation, national origin, political affiliation, or disabilities. Jindaltold reporters Wednesday that because state and federal laws prohibitdiscrimination, he did not feel an executive order was necessary. However,neither federal nor Louisiana law protects against discrimination based onsexual orientation or gender identity. He said he was also concerned thatfaith-based organizations could not contract with the state under Blanco'sorder.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid59823.asp

-Mormon Supporters of Gay Unions Take to the Web
Prompted by their church's support for a California initiative to ban gaymarriage, some Mormons are voicing opposition to the proposed ban on theInternet -- saying in cyberspace what they might not be able to express inchurch buildings.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid59838.asp

-GOP Faces Hard Choices in Bid for Revival
The Republican Party that strode confidently into New York City to nominatePresident Bush for a second term in 2004 would hardly recognize the one thatopens its national convention September 1 in St. Paul, Minn.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid59834.asp

-Many, Many Points for Us
It was a good week for gays in the news as Ellen and Portia marry, RachelMaddow gets her own TV show, even Karl Rove says same-sex marriage is nolonger a wedge issue, and Esquire asks the question, "What makes a lesbiantop?"
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid59760.asp

-Beijing in Pictures
On assignment for Amnesty International, out former NBA player John Amaechiand out photographer Jeff Sheng report from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.When former NBA star John Amaechi, who was raised in England, acceptedassignments from Amnesty International (where he serves as a spokesperson)and the BBC (where he provides basketball commentary) to cover the 2008Olympic Games in Beijing, he knew exactly who he wanted as a travellingcompanion. His friend Jeff Sheng is ethnically Chinese, fluent in thelanguage, and has spent more than a year living and traveling mainland Chinaas a foreign exchange student and frequent visitor. Sheng is also somethingof a wunderkind. At 27 his arresting photographs have appeared in more than20 exhibits across the country, including at Yale University and as part of"LA25," a select group of diverse artists showing October 8 to November 16at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions in Hollywood. And he's a visitingprofessor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid59622.asp


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Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Bob Barr -- "From Public Enemy No. 1 to gay rights advocate?"
Local resident Rob Calhoun and his husband, Clay, were devastated whenCongress passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, the same year Georgiapassed its own law against gay marriage. "We were so demoralized," RobCalhoun said. "But we were also shocked the community didn't come togethermore [to oppose it]. There was an apathy about marriage equality in themid-1990s. Nothing like we see now." The gay rights movement's increasedfocus on marriage isn't the only change since 1996. Bob Barr sponsored theDefense of Marriage Act when he served in Congress as a Republicanrepresenting Georgia's 7th District. Now running for president as aLibertarian, Barr advocates repealing part of the law.

-Republican officials leaving party over social issues
A wave of GOP state legislators and other officials is defecting from theRepublican Party, exposing the role that an increasingly hard line on socialissues may be playing in driving out moderates. The departures weaken theGOP as it confronts another challenging election. "I don't think RonaldReagan would recognize the party anymore," Wisconsin state Rep. Jeff Woodtold the Chippewa Herald on July 8.

-Arizona Secretary of State goes to court to avoid mention of existing lawagainst freedom to marry
Secretary of State Jan Brewer has gone to court to keep from having to tellArizona voters that same-sex marriage is already illegal under state law.Brewer wants a judge to rule that the only thing she needs to tell voters isthat approval of Proposition 102 would amend the state constitution todefine marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

-"Member of European Parliament plans campaign to have UK civil partnershipsrecognised in Europe"
Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sharon Bowles hasrevealed plans to campaign for the recognition of UK civil partnerships(CPs) in other EU states. At present, the French equivalent of a civilpartnership, known as a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) is fully recognisedin Britain, but France does not recognise UK CPs.

-NY: County board overturns ruling that prevented recognition of same-sexcouples
The Otsego County Board of Representatives voted late Wednesday night tonullify an amendment to the county's employee health plan that excludessame-sex spouses and others from coverage. There was no dissension as allattending representatives voted to strike down a change in language made byTreasurer Myrna Thayne that listed civil union partners, same-sex spouses ordomestic partners of county employees as ineligible for health carecoverage.

-Opinion: "Same-sex marriage debate is similar in California and Germany"
Few topics on either side of the Atlantic are as emotionally charged as thequestion of same-sex marriage. Germany is following with great interest theCalifornian debate on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent judgment and theimpending referendum on same-sex marriage. In my position as the justiceminister of Germany, I am quite familiar with the arguments and attitudesboth for and against providing same-sex couples with a legal framework -something I learned when I proposed improved rights for registered lifepartnerships in Germany. A visible sign that the important thing in thesedeliberations is love is the rainbow flag that flew over the Hamburg CityHall from July 31 to Aug. 3 to commemorate the local gay pride celebration.While the rainbow flag can be seen flying from several German city halltowers on Christopher Street Day (as the day commemorating the beginning ofthe gay liberation movement is called in Germany), this year was the firsttime the flag flew over Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany. Theevent was the result of a political agreement between the parties that formthe local government, which is led by the Christian Democratic Union. TheCDU is Germany's leading conservative party, and its attitude towardcreating a legal foundation for registered same-sex partnerships has rangedfrom reluctance to rejection.

-Hill vote on D.C. gun law alarms gay activists, casts doubt on marriage
A decision by House Democrats to allow a vote next month on a proposal togut the city's handgun law has stunned local home rule advocates and couldforetell a congressional overturn of a future same-sex marriage bill,according to city hall insiders. Developments surrounding proposed Houseaction to weaken the city's controversial handgun law come at a time whensome gay activists are urging Mayor Adrian Fenty and the D.C. Council toapprove legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in the District. Members ofthe Council are said to be considering introducing a same-sex marriage billnext year.


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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Lawrence King's school records obtained for accused teen's defence case
The school records of murdered gay teenager Lawrence King have been releasedto the lawyer defending the student accused of killing him. Mr King, 15,who self-identified as gay and wore feminine clothing to school, was shot inthe head on 12th February during a lesson, allegedly by Brandon McInerney,14, his classmate at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8782.html

-Concerned Women for America claim gay greeting cards are detrimental tochildren
Senior members of Concerned Women for America (CWA) have condemnedHallmark's marketing of greeting cards aimed at gays and lesbians.

-COMMENT: Stonewall FC to win Gay Football World Championship?
The British team Stonewall FC is strongly tipped to win the Gay FootballWorld Championship which opens in London this Sunday, 24th August writesPeter Tatchell


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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if can't access the article

-Judges loved it; fairgoers didn't
Prize-winning photo removed from display after complaints that it was too racy
Indiana State Fair officials removed a first-prize wedding photo from adisplay at the fair because the bride and groom were too close for someviewers' comfort. The photo was removed Thursday, a week into the fair,said spokesman Andy Klotz. He said the decision came in response to two orthree complaints officials heard each day about the photograph.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/LOCAL03/808170398

-Lesbian Festival Tickets on Sale!
Make sure you don't miss this year's Ohio Lesbian Festival, on September 13,2008 in Kirkersville Ohio at Frontier Ranch. Entertainment on two stages,workshops, merchant area, and more all for one low price! Pre-sale Ticketsare $35 and Senior and Student tickets are $30. Buy early and save money.All tickets are $40 on the day of the festival. You can purchase ticketson-line at our website, http://www.ohiolba.org


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Newsweek
Letter: As the parent of a young man who happens to be gay, I know thestresses my son went through in middle and high school. Luckily, he had astable home life and stable parents. Apparently, Larry King and BrandonMcInerney had neither. As you report, both boys were under terrible dailystress where they lived and were schooled. Although California provideslegal protections for gay students and mandates fairness in schooladministration, human beings implement these protections. Unfortunately,local schools resisted offers from the local Ventura chapter of Parents,Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to provide speakers tohelp educate staff and students before the shooting. Nor did local schoolsemulate the model gay and lesbian support program, called Project 10,offered by the neighboring Los Angeles Unified School District, only 50miles away. Sometimes, 50 miles is a world away when tragedy strikes.
Steve Krantz, Director
PFLAG Southern Pacific Region
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/150468


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Forwarded from Michael Emanuel Rajner
merajner@gmail.com
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-CALL FOR PROPOSALS
You are invited to submit a proposal for a 90 minute workshop at the Summit.
Participants are gay and bisexual men of diverse backgrounds, who share acommon interest in promoting better physical, spiritual and mental health.The Summit will focus on and celebrate wellness, nurturing, and communitybuilding of gay men living in the southeast. Participants will representurban, suburban, and rural communities from throughout the southeasternUnited States. The program will include plenary sessions, workshops, andsocial activities designed to increase health awareness and a greater senseof community. DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 22
See the website for more information and to submit your workshop proposalwww.gaymenssummit.com


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Detroit News
http://detnews.com/

-Deb Price: Librarian champions intellectual freedom
Veteran of book challenges resists efforts at censorship
Weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions. But reading about UncleBobby's big day in a children's book upset a grownup library patron.Fortunately, a calm and wise librarian, James LaRue, was there to guide thepatron through the dark emotional woods that can be very scary after readingsomething unsettling. That interaction recounted on LaRue's MYLIBLOG -- hastouched countless lovers of books and intellectual freedom.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080818/OPINION03/808180328

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