Self Chosen Slippery Slopes

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/10/gay.friendly.school/index.html
In response to this article, I want to ask one question...how does this change the landscape of tolerance in public schools?

I understand that it might be better for these students from a safety standpoint to be in a school with a peer group that is fully supportive of their lifestyle and orientation, but something about this doesn't sit right with me.

If we suggest as a city (Chicago) or as a country, that we should group gays, lesbians, and transgenders together into one demographic of a high school, doesn't that mean, while confrontations and safety may be higher, exposure to other viewpoints and other individuals will be lessened?

I can't help but wonder if my close friends that are gay/lesbian/bi-sexual and transgender decided to go to this public school instead of mine, i wouldn't have been offered the chance to get to know them so well and become such good friends with them. I can respect a decision based on the safety of students, because that is supposed to be one of the most important things a school provides, beyond the "education" factor that is a given. But, what about the whole diversity in schools idea?
There are a lot of high school students out there as it is, that will not meet an openly gay/bi-sexual/transgender person until they get to college...(remember small towns in Iowa are rarely the bastions of liberal ideas/thinking that the state as a whole may be thought to be) and that may be okay for many of them, but I'm sure they often wonder if someone in that school has a different sexual orientation and just hasn't come forward.

I am for people being comfortable in their skin, and if an openly gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender high school will allow that to be the case for some folks, then I'm for that aspect of it...but I can't help but also see this as leading down a slippery slope of self-chosen separation, which will afford few high school students the chance to change their views on certain aspects of the culture/community of GLBTG folks or vice versa.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/ae5e/

I think this shirt is funny.

Carving, Taxes, and Friendship

Costume plans are coming together for the annual Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving party. As ya'll remember from "ghosts of years past" its' a BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) This year we're rockin' the "kid friendly" version, so that my friends and co-workers with kids should bring them along if the spirit moves you. Mulled apple cider, goodies and other such fare will be offered for noshing. Also, there are prizes for best costume, best pumpkin and best non-costume (i.e. the lovely popularity contest...) And of course, because costumes are option, best non-costume usually is a tough crowd, so accordingly and come prepared to bribe.

In other news, life, as I know it, just got more interesting, as it tends to when you're juggling jobs and a social life...more on that later though, as nothing's for sure...

oh and apparently part of that $700 billion dollar bill that passed Congress (and no a $700 billion dollar bill does not exist --who would you expect to see on that paper? Most of the really good presidents have already got their coinage...hmm...answers accepted here...Who would you like to see on a $700 billion dollar bill?
Regardless, there's a little add-on for those of us in flood ravaged Iowa...some sort of tax benefit write-off dealio---I'd simply like to not have to pay tax on the money FEMA gave us, but I think I'll have to claim it as "earnings" ---really not sure about that one...I had the UI folks do it last year cause it was easy with no stocks and three pay stubs...this year might be more complicated with flood money...who knows....anyways, that's the current update.
Pete...if you still read this blog, you should call me so we can catch up, it's been too long Mister.