Tab dump

This is lazy blogging, but today I won't resist. What follows are some unrelated items that grabbed my attention -- and which I thought others might enjoy without my needing to write much about them.

A small step for womankind... Apparently "potty parity" in public accommodations is now the law, or at least the building code. Architects have recognized that women take longer in rest rooms, what with needing individual stalls, wearing more complex clothes, and often escorting children, so stadiums are beginning to be built with enough toilets. I never thought I would see the day! Maybe with this, we'll begin to take up a more equal proportion of the seats at sporting events, in addition to enjoying concerts and other mass festivities more. ***Obama allows more travel to Cuba ... and leaves most of us in the United States as second class citizens. Sure, it is great news that he has relaxed the Bush era restrictions that prevented Cuban-Americans from visiting their relatives -- but what's with continuing to prevent the rest of us from traveling there legally?

I know, many of us go to illegally from Mexico or elsewhere. I did it myself from Canada over 20 years ago. I didn't come back a Cubaphile, though there's a lot to like on a Caribbean island with wide beaches where everyone has access to health care. Back then, heterosexuality was far too compulsory for my taste. I hear that is no longer true and can believe it -- presumably the Revolution's misguided attempt to repress visible gayness had a lot to do with how much underlying pansexual liberation was trying to break out.

But who cares what I think about Cuba? What's infuriating about Obama's half measure is that Cuba policy is not a foreign policy issue. Like Israel, it's domestic political theater masquerading as serious high policy. Baloney. It's about very localized bloc voting and campaign contributions and that's no reason to let those dictate our country's relations with millions of real people. ***Justice Clarence Thomas said something I find endearing... I know, that's impossible. But this observation accords completely with the way I see the world:

"I have to admit," he said, "that I’m one of those people that still thinks the dishwasher is a miracle. What a device! And I have to admit that because I think that way, I like to load it. I like to look in and see how that dishes were magically cleaned."

Wonder if he really does load the dishwasher? As for the rest of his ideas -- no, not for me. ***Oh, and like most everyone else, I'm a sucker for the White House dog.

You're a nice addition to the national reality TV show, Bo. Glad you are along.