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Vermont legalizes *** marriage with veto override
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090407/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_vermont
By DAVE GRAM, Associated Press Writer Dave Gram, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 1 min ago

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize *** marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.

The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote, the minimum needed, to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.

Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving gays the right to marry. Their approval of *** marriage came from the courts.

Tuesday morning’s legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of *** and ******* couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states’ laws.

Douglas called override “not unexpected.” He had called the issue of *** marriage a distraction during a time when economic and budget issues were more important.

“What really disappoints me is that we have spent some time on an issue during which another thousand Vermonters have lost their jobs,” the governor said Tuesday. “We need to turn out attention to balancing a budget without raising taxes, growing the economy, putting more people to work.”

House Speaker Shap Smith’s announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker’s admonishment against such displays.

Among the celebrants in the lobby were former Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, and his longtime partner, Chuck Kletecka. Dostis recalled efforts to expand *** rights dating to an anti-discrimination law passed in 1992.

“It’s been a very long battle. It’s been almost 20 years to get to this point,” Dostis said. “I think finally, most people in Vermont understand that we’re a couple like any other couple. We’re as good and as bad as any other group of people. And now I think we have a chance to prove ourselves here on forward that we’re good members of our community.”

Dostis said he and Kletecka will celebrate their 25th year together in September.

“Is that a proposal?” Kletecka asked.

“Yeah,” Dostis replied. “Twenty-five years together, I think it’s time we finally got married.”

Craig Bensen, a *** marriage opponent who had lobbied unsuccessfully for a nonbinding referendum on the question, said he was disappointed but believed *** marriage opponents were outspent by supporters by a 20-1 margin.

“The other side had a highly funded, extremely well-oiled machine with all the political leadership except the governor pushing to make this happen,” he said. “The fact that it came down to this tight a vote is really astounding.”

Also in the crowd was Michael Feiner, a farmer from Roxbury and *** marriage supporter, who took a break from collecting sap for maple syrup-making to come to the Statehouse.

“I’m taking a break to come and basically make sure that I was here to witness history,” he said.

The House had initially approved the bill last week with a 95-52 vote. Smith and his leadership team worked through the weekend to try to persuade some legislators to change their minds.

One who did was first-term Rep. Jeff Young, D-St. Albans. He said he continued to be philosophically opposed to *** marriage, but decided that voting with his fellow Democrats would help him be an effective legislator in the future.

“You realize that, you know, it’s a poker game in some ways,” Young said. “Chips on the table. I’m a freshman. I have no chips. If I … had 20 years of chips, I probably could play any card I want. I don’t have that option.”

He added, “It’s the way the political game is played.”

My wife and I are Massachusetts residents and have found it harder to live here during these difficult economic times, increases in taxes, and little job opportunities. We were thinking of relocating to the Orlando/Florida area in hopes of better job opportunities and a better quality of life. Can anyone tell us if this would be a good move, or not?

Ok. I am requesting a leave of absence because my childs daycare is closing and so I am left with no childcare thats affordable to me at this time. I will have to take a leave from work to be able to find him good childcare at a rate that i can afford. The thing is that what if it takes me a longer time to do this and I have to end up voluntarily quiting my job? Will I be still eligible for unemployment. I am in Massachusetts. Anyone know? Thank you.
Thank you. Yeah I always thought the FLA was just for like pregnancy and medical reasons.

Is it enough to get into Bentley university(only for business).Its located in Massachusetts

Also please tell me if I have any chances to get in there.
My list
I am a junior right now in High School
Plan to apply Early decision(ED)
GPA-3.3
ACT-26
Class rank-either top 30 or top 50
Recommendations-1 from medical office(volunteered there for 400 hours) the other one from my school Academy of finance teacher.
Essay-plan to have a good one
Teams-number one player in city varsity tennis
Clubs-founder and first president of Russian club.Also president of chess and international club.
Volunteer work-400 hours in total
Jobs-had a part time job during school year.
Did not take any AP.Took some honors classes

1. The Red Sox World Series win was, and will always be, one of the greatest moments in your life.

2. The guy driving in front of you is going 70 mph and you’re swearing at him for going too slow.

3. When ordering a tonic, you mean a Coke.

4. You went to Canobie Lake Park or Water Country as a kid.

5. You actually enjoy driving around rotaries.

6. You do not recognize the letter ‘R’ as a part of the English language.

7. Your social security number starts with a zero.

8. You can actually find your way around the streets of Boston .

9. You know what a ‘regular’ coffee is.

10. You keep an ice scraper in your car year-round.

11. You can tell the difference between a Revere accent and a Dorchester accent.

12. Springfield is located ‘way out west.’

13. You almost feel disappointed if someone doesn’t flip you the bird when you cut them off or steal their parking space.

14. You know how to pronounce the names of towns like Worcester , Billerica , Gloucester , Peabody and Haverhill .

15. Anyone you don’t know is a potential idiot until proven otherwise.

16. Paranoia sets in if you can’t see a Dunkin Donuts or CVS Pharmacy within eyeshot at all times.

17. You have driven to New Hampshire on a Sunday just to buy alcohol.

18. You know how to pronounce Yastrzemski.

19. You know there’s a trophy at the end of the Bean Pot.

20. You order iced coffee in January.

21. You know that the Purple Line will take you anywhere.

22. You love scorpion bowls.

23. You know what they sell at a Packie.

24. Sorry Manny, but number 24 means DEWEY EVANS.

25. You know what First Night is.

26. You know at least one guy named Sean, Pat, Whitey, Red, Bud or Seamus. Bonus: You know how to pronounce Seamus.

27. McLobster = McCrap

28. You know at least 2 cops in your town because they were your high school drinking buddies.

29. You know there are 6 New England states, but that Connecticut really doesn’t count.

30. You give incomprehensible directions to tourists, feel bad when they drive off, but then say to yourself ‘Ah, ***** them.’

31. You know at least one bar where you can get something to drink after last call.

32. You **** the Kennedys, but you vote for them anyway.

33. You know holding onto the railing when riding the Green Line is not optional.

34. The numbers ‘78 and ‘86 make you cringe.

35. You’ve been to Goodtimes

36. You think the rest of the country owes you for Thanksgiving and Independence Day (…and they DO…let’s get it straight people, Massachusetts, NOT Virginia is where Thanksgiving and the American Revolution began!)

37. You have never actually been to ‘Cheers.’

38. The words ‘ WICKED’ and ‘GOOD’ go together.

39. You’ve been to Fenway Park .

40. You’ve gone to at least one party at UMass.

41. You own a ‘Yankees Suck’ shirt or hat.

42. You know what a Frappe is.

43. You’ve been to Hempfest.

44. You know who Frank Averuch is.

45. You know Frank Averuch was once Bozo the Clown

46. You can complete the following: ‘Lynn, Lynn …..’

47. You get pissed off when a restaurant serves clam chowder, and it turns out to be ******’ Snows.

48. You actually know how to merge from six lanes of traffic down to one.

49. The TV weatherman is damn good if he’s right 25% of the time.

50. You never go to Cape Cod, you go ‘down the Cape ‘.

51. You think that Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon are more evil than Whitey Bulger.

52. You know who Whitey Bulger is.

53. You went to the Swan Boats, House of Seven Gables, or Plymouth Plantation on a field trip in elementary school.

54. Bobby Orr is loved as much as Larry Bird, Tom Brady, and Ted Williams.

55. You remember Major Mudd.

56. You know what candlepin bowling is.

57. You can drive from the mountains to the ocean all in one day.

58. You know Scollay Square once stood where Government Center is.

59. When you were a kid, Rex Trailer was the coolest guy around. Speaking of which…. You can still hum the song from the end of Boom Town .

61. Calling Carrabba’s an ‘Italian’ restaurant is sacrilege.

62. You still have your old Flexible Flyer somewhere in your parents’ attic.

63. You know that route 128 is some kind of strange weather dividing line – snow/rain

64. The only time you’ve been on the Freedom Trail is when relatives are in town.

65. The Big Dig tunnel disaster wasn’t a surprise.

66. You call guys you’ve just met ‘Chief’ or ‘Boss.’

67. 4:15pm and pitch black out means only 3 more shopping days until Christmas.

68. You know more than one person with the last name Murphy.

69. You refer to Savin Hill as ‘Stab ‘n Kill.’

70. You’ve never eaten at Durgin Park , but recommend it to tourists.

71. You can’t look at the zip code 02134 without singing it.

72. You voted for a Republican Mormon as Governor just to ***** with the rest of the country.

73 11 pm ? Drunk? It means one thing: Kowloons!
EDIT: I did not write this list. I copied and pasted it.

Hi. I live in Massachusetts, about an hour outside Boston, the college capital of the U.S., if not the world. There’s 107 universities and liberal arts colleges in the small state of Massachusetts (Northeastern, Boston College, Harvard, Boston University, Bridgewater, and U-Mass just to name a few). My dad says it’s a shame I don’t want to take advantage of this, but I just really want to get out of Massachusetts. The weather is so cold, and the people are colder, and live such a fast pace life. I don’t want that life at all. I want to have a house on the beach in California and have a job I absolutely love. I want to go to the University of South California, but I know schools down there (the UCs) are so competitive, and it will be even harder for me to get in because I’m an out of state student. Do you think I should take advantage of the opportunities right in front of my nose, or should I try to get into a college in SoCal? There are so many amazing colleges here, I just want to get away from everyone I go to high school with. What would you do?

I chose to argue it would have a positive effect ( everyone else chose to argue that it would have a negative effect, so arguing the opposite would make for a stronger essay) Instead of torturing you with a really long essay I’ll just present the main point:
1. Creates new revenue for the economy
2. Create new jobs
3. Affordable in most states (Massachusetts already has a system and I used some examples where if It’s system was used as a model and a few changes were made, larger and poorer states could afford it too)
@80ist
I wasnt asking for your position I was asking for a title. A different position usually gets a higher grade anyway. So go back to worshiping Glenn beck and let the grown ups talk.

In Texas, it’s against the law for anyone to have a pair of pliers in his or her possession.

In Philadelphia, you can’t put pretzels in bags based on an Act of 1760.

Alaska law says that you can’t look at a moose from an airplane.

In Corpus Christie, Texas, it is illegal to raise alligators in your home.

In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.

It is against the law to mispronounce the name of the State of Arkansas in that State.

In Illinois, the law is that a car must be driven with the steering wheel.

If your interested in the strange laws in this country then you should strive for an online paralegal certificate. Picture yourself enrolling in a paralegal institute for some online paralegal training ! Online programs that offer distance learning opportunities are great for people who work full time jobs or simply work better outside of a classroom environment. Go to Paralegal Tech today.

California law prohibits a woman from driving a car while dressed in a housecoat.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a woman is not to drive a car unless a man warns approaching motorists or pedestrians by walking in front of the car that is being driven.

In Tennessee, it is against the law to drive a car while sleeping.

In New York, it is against the law for a blind person to drive an automobile.

In West Virginia, only babies can ride in a baby carriage.

In Georgia, it is against the law to slap a man on the back or front.

A barber is not to advertise prices in the State of Georgia.

In Louisiana, a bill was introduced years ago in the State House of Representatives that fixed a ceiling on haircuts for bald men of 25 cents.

In Oklahoma, no baseball team can hit the ball over the fence or out of a ballpark.

In Rochester, Michigan, the law is that anyone bathing in public must have the bathing suit inspected by a police officer !

In Kentucky, it’s the law that a person must take a bath once a year.

In Utah, birds have the right of way on any public highway.

In Ohio, one must have a license to keep a bear.

In Tennessee, a law exists which prohibits the sale of bologna (sandwich meat) on Sunday.

In Virginia, the Code of 1930 has a statute which prohibits corrupt practices or bribery by any person other than political candidates.

In Providence, Rhode Island, it is against the law to jump off a bridge.

In the State of Kansas, you’re not allowed to drive a buffalo through a street.

In Florida, it is against the law to put livestock on a school bus.

In New Jersey, cabbage can’t be sold on Sunday.

In Galveston, Texas, it is illegal to have a camel run loose in the street!

In North Carolina, it is against the law for dogs and cats to fight.

In Singapore, it is illegal to chew gum.

In Cleveland, Ohio, it is unlawful to leave chewing gum in public places.

In Virginia, chickens cannot lay eggs before 8:00 a.m., and must be done before 4:00 p.m.

In New York, it is against the law for children to pick up or collect cigarette and cigar *****.

In Massachusetts, it is against the law to put tomatos in clam chowder.

If you have considered entering the legal profession, consider earning your online law degree. Choose from a wide range of programs, including online paralegal degrees, and many more.

In Washington State, you can’t carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length.

In San Francisco, there is an ordinance, which bans the picking up and throwing of used confetti.

In Kentucky, it is illegal for a merchant to force a person into his place of business for the purpose of making a sale.

It is against the law in Connecticut for a man to write love letters to a girl whose mother or father has forbidden the relationship.

In Michigan, married couples must live together or be imprisoned.

In the state of Colorado, a pet cat, if loose, must have a tail-light !

In Phoenix, Arizona, you can’t walk through a hotel lobby with spurs on.

In California, a law created in 1925 makes it illegal to wiggle while dancing.

In Utah, daylight must be visible between dancing couples.

In Michigan, it is against the law for a lady to lift her skirt more than 6 inches while walking through a mud puddle.

In North Carolina, it is against the law for a rabbit to race down the street.

In Georgia, it’s against the law to spread a false rumor.

In West Virginia, one can’t cook sauerkraut or cabbage due to the odors and the offence is subject to imprisonment.

In Missouri, a man must have a permit to shave.

The law states that more than 3000 sheep cannot be herded down Hollywood Blvd. at any one time.

In Texas, it is still a “hanging offense” to steal cattle.

Okay so tell me if I’m wrong here…I have had the same job since I was 14 and I had always wanted to work before I turned 14…but it is illegal for someone under 14 to work and get a paycheck in Massachusetts. I’m almost 17 and I still love to work but pretty much none of my really good friends have jobs. Their parents say nothing about it and just say “school is your job”. Is it wrong for their parents to keep them from working? I was raised to believe that working and earning your own paycheck is something to be proud of. I’m making my own money and with that money I buy all of my clothes and stuff like that so that my dad doesn’t have to worry about it. Would you consider my friends lazy? I often find myself rolling my eyes at them at this issue…am I wrong?

Zip code: 02382-2444 (Southeastern Massachusetts)

Anyone have any idea? The snow happening right now (Sunday, about 11:40am) will probably turn to a mix around 4pm, and then it’s expected to flash freeze. I’m just wanting to hear some opinions from people who may not be so hopeful as me and my friends. :]
-We’re one of I think a handful of districts even bothering to go to school Monday and Tuesday. -_- Our district has always been such tight-bums that way.