Home

[icon] Matt's Thoughts
View:Recent Entries.
View:Archive.
View:Friends.
View:User Info.
View:Website (Matthew Baya).
View:My Real Journal (the one this is a mirror of).
You're looking at the latest 20 entries.
Missed some entries? Then simply jump back 20 entries

April 23rd, 2009

Subject: Attended the Maine LD 1020 public hearing in Augusta
Time:02:32 pm
I got up early in the morning yesterday (4:40 AM) to get on a bus to go to Augusta to a public hearing on Maine's proposed Law for "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom" (aka the ever so scary "Gay Marriage") LD 1020. Through e-mails from EqualityMaine I learned supporters of the bill were encourage to wear red, so the night before i went to pick out my clothes and chose a big red shirt that belonged to my late-stepfather Gilbert W. Hart. My mother had given me this at xmas and since Gil was an outspoken and passionate advocate for many issues, especially gay rights. I figured he'd like to have that shirt there and be present at the event :)

It was really pretty incredible, the event was held at the Augusta Civic Center, which got close to full (one newspaper estimated around 4000), and a majority of the people, like 70%+ were wearing red. Later in the day I think it was closer to 90%. Seeing the 'Sea of Red' in the room was amazing in itself, let alone the standing ovations. The testimony was moving and amazing, at least from the supporters. Supporters all spoke about hope, love, life and tangible examples of how civil unions are not the same. I remember one woman yelled into the microphone 'Separate but equal is NOT EQUAL!'

The opponents had sad tired arguments based on fear, the bible, the 'defense of marriage' from being 'taken over' by the 'gay agenda'. "it's not a slippery slope we're on the edge of a cliff!' yelled one person, trying to make it seem like our entire planet would collapse into chaos if gay people could be legally married in Maine. Wow.. so goes the planet, eh? Their statements, often prefaced with 'I don't hate gay people .. but ... ' or 'I'm not a bigot but... ' (if you ever find yourself prefacing your comments with such statements, perhaps you should re-think the comments?) were filled with small definitions of family, parenting and marriage, I almost feel sorry for them if they weren't so annoying and, often contrary to their preface, bigoted.

I don't know how the law will do but the hearing was a big win for 'our side' and Gil's shirt was part of it :)

Video from the event is available here : http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1417871 .

It starts with a speech by State Senator Dennis Damon, our representative actually, that's pretty great in itself.

I'm sure there will be edits of this to focus on other highlights.

I posted a bunch of stuff, including quotes and short thoughts on twitter yesterday, you can see them http://twitter.com/mattbaya . (see my 'what i've twittered about recently post just before this)

On twitter if you put a keyword with a # in front of it it lets people follow that topic, so the topic from yesterday was #marryME . You can see all of them at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23marryME . This is also a good search to keep following for updated info

I took some photos too (of the 'sea of red') I'll try to post up at some point once I get to download them.
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:03 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 08:10 In the Augusta Civic center bracing to hear many hours of Public testimony, apparently alternating between love & hate. Glad I'm with love #
  • 09:13 Matthew is thinking, from a star trek perspective having all the pro marriage equality folks wearing red shirts is... ff.im/-2hBqG #
  • 09:35 standing ovation for Senator Dennis Damon by 70%+ of the room #
  • 10:04 One hour in and the first hate, fear and phobia speakers are spewing idiocy. Sad little definitions of family, parenting and marriage. #
  • 10:35 Matthew thinks if you have a clear minority in a room then perhaps doing standing ovations isn't a wise move. ff.im/-2hIeZ #
  • 10:36 @ishawith um, your point? #
  • 10:42 Is there a tag I should use for tweets about this hearing? #eqme #marryme #mainemarriageequality ? #
  • 10:58 If you have to preface your statements with "I don't hate but", "I'm not a bigot but" maybe you should re-think your comments #marryme #
  • 11:37 #marryME I'm biased on this issue but this discussion is hate vs love. One side is talking fear & anger, the other is hope & love. Choose. #
  • 11:43 @DharmaDuck I'm actually in the press area with someone else from WERU. Powerstrip here, great view & I feel like my tweets are important :) #
  • 11:59 #marryME Re: Quoting the bible at a state legal hearing? Why? Speak to the issue, we all know you know how to read (selectively) #
  • 12:02 #marryME Oh golly someone is speaking on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, now I'm listening! Are the Odd Fellows and the Masons next? #
  • 12:08 #marryME Speaker now is equating Maine becoming a liberal state with job loss. Yeah.. that's why the papermills failed! Damn Liberals! #
  • 12:10 #marryME apparently the audio stream is failing, even to local patches here in press area. Overwhelmed perhaps? #
  • 12:15 #marryME "This bill is silent" um-that's the point, you can still refuse same sex couples at your bigotted church! It's.About.The.State! #
  • 12:16 @DharmaDuck I'm over on the far side near hearing (with all the Macs). I'm wearing red and properly stickered and buttoned :) #
  • 12:18 #marryME Wow first poem in testimony comes from opposition. Where's the gay creativity and artistic prowess? I expect a 'fabulous' response #
  • 12:24 #marryME Dr. Summers from Maine Chapter of American Pediatrics speaking in support of bill. Well spoken, logical, fact filled and awesome. #
  • 12:28 @timkaru Room is 70%+ in support of the bill, judging by the wearing of red. It's a sea of red. So yes, way more applause 4 support #marryME #
  • 12:43 @TheMaineCampus tag your tweets today with #marryME so they show up in the search. #
  • 12:44 RT @jjdactyl: #MarryME I'm enjoying the science on our side, and the scaredy-cat god-fearing on the opposition side. #
  • 12:46 I'm off to help watch the kids area in the ground round for 2 hours :( Back at 3 PM #
  • 13:43 Back online. Listening from kids room that I'm watching for a while. Begged the holiday inn for key to their wifi. :) #
  • 14:07 @pazzypunk #marryME no they just happen to have them in a big clump together, probably to make an impact #
  • 14:39 back in the civic center, kids room is closed down. Back in the press area. Here until 6 (though may get food at some point) #
  • 14:50 RT @portland_maine Sen. Dennis Damon's testimony #marryME tinyurl.com/ckv4dj #
  • 14:51 @brotherM Thanks. Follow #marryME for a wide variety of folks here and listening to the stream. Some great comments & insights there. #
  • 14:54 #marryME "many examples of where the legislature has stepped up to reform marriage laws, even long standing ones" - Maine Women's Lobby #
  • 15:02 #marryME Shenna Bellows, Maine Civil Liberties Union, Summarized the detailed packet of legal info she is presenting to the legislature. Wow #
  • 15:05 #marryME "separate is not equal!" #
  • 15:08 #marryME Mark McCullough of Portland Chamber of Commerce - "as an employer we ARE harmed by a state that does not treat everyone equally" #
  • 15:12 #marryME Herbert Hoffman, giving examples of Bill of rights amendments 'They didn't get it right the first time'. Nice use of repeated theme #
  • 15:14 #marryME and now back to fear and anger filled narrow and weak arguments... #
  • 15:17 #marryME Yet more justifying 'some of my best friends are gay'. Ah there's the problem, Silly gays, be less accepting, you're enabling them! #
  • 15:20 #marryME "You cant call a bicycle a boat and still expect it to float". Impeccable rhyming logic. If Dr. Seuss was speaking in opposition #
  • 15:24 #marryME "Where will this stop?" Fear about polygamy and marriage to animals. Supporters all standing and turning their backs to hate & fear #
  • 15:27 The Phoenix ff.im/-2i6uD #
  • 15:27 #marryME Dorothy of Newport. "I didn't stand in line to talk about hate" but later "if you want the wrath of god then go ahead and pass it" #
  • 15:30 #marryME Scott ? says Canada is pushing for polygamy. I love it when people spout facts without any sources. Opinion doesn't equal fact. #
  • 15:37 #marryME "I am here to speak for god, god cannot speak for himself" Ah it's the Lorax argument! "I speak for the trees"! Wish it was rhymed #
  • 15:38 #marryME "Which ones mommy? Which ones daddy" More care and defense of children by saying we should avoid giving them something to ask about #
  • 15:42 #marryME Opponent who wore red today 'Sorry I didn't get the memo on clothing colors' :) But then off to counterfeit currency argument. weak #
  • 15:53 #marryME HS student from Auburn speaking on behalf of his gay, lesbian & transgendered friends standing with him. Well written & logical. #
  • 16:04 #marryME Lou Alessio of Greene. Passionate personal stories on how the lack of legal status has affected him. Well spoken, beautiful, moving #
  • 16:09 RT @PortlandPhoenix: Observation: Opps: God, Bible, religion. Supps: Rights, love, security. #marryME #
  • 16:12 #marryME I note that Ms. Watt, HS teacher, did her (great) speech in exactly 3 minutes. #
  • 16:14 #marryME Peter Rees of Trenton, ME - Retired psychologist speaking on experiences with helping LGBT students deal with inequality and bias #
  • 16:21 #marryME I wasn't sure why I was coming here today besides just to show support. I had no idea how moving this would be. Amazing. So glad #
  • 16:35 @TheMaineCampus Thanks for streaming. Will full recordings of todays be made available for download/podcast afterwards? #marryME #
  • 16:42 RT @PortlandPhoenix: What family circumstance would be a kid's first choice? The one with the most love. #marryME #
  • 16:53 #marryME @PortlandPhoenix crowd is thinning out. Probably 1/2 what it was earlier. Some might just be dinner breaks. #
  • 17:01 #marryME Supporters = Logic, passion, science, history, love, and hope . Opponents - fear, select bible quotes, anger, small definitions. #
  • 17:03 #marryME Judging by wearing of red, room seems to be 90% supporters now. #
  • 17:29 Matthew I attended this hearing (Maine Equal Marriage bill hearing, LD 1020) today without being sure why besides... ff.im/-2ifu2 #
  • 17:36 #marryME Dan Lourie of Bar Harbor 'To think that any marriage, heterosexual or homosexual, is a threat to my marriage is ludicrous'! #
  • 17:43 #marryME Jim Bishop & partner "With liberty and justice for all, that's what America is all about that's why we want you to support LD 1020" #
  • 21:39 #marryME Spoke with @TheMaineCampus folks who did streaming. They said video & audio will be posted later tomorrow. Everyone go thank them #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 22nd, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:03 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 20:15 @Metafrantic that should give you enough time to get press releases if you act fast! #
  • 23:26 @DharmaDuck I'll be in Augusta tomorrow too. Perhaps we can actually meet in person. #
  • 23:55 Come to the Public Hearing on the Marriage Bill (LD 1020) | EqualityMaine ff.im/-2h4wU #
  • 05:20 In the Hancock county bus on the way to Augusta. #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 21st, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:03 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 20:08 @gardeningemerso I'm sure it can't quite figure you out either :) #
  • 22:13 » Joel Mabus - Wednesday May 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM in Ellsworth, ME Downeast Concert Collective: Bringi ff.im/-2ftIK #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 17th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:04 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 00:40 I'll be presenting "Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website" on April 29, 2009 @ Ellsworth Library - tinyurl.com/dnefgs #
  • 01:09 Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website - Free Workshop - April 29, 2009: FREE WORKSHOP
    “Using Wordpress to Manag.. tinyurl.com/czhgug #
  • 01:09 Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website - Free Workshop - April 29, 2009 ff.im/-2aGSX #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

Subject:Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website - Free Workshop - April 29, 2009
Time:01:08 am

FREE WORKSHOP



“Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website”
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
at the Ellsworth Public Library

The Downeast Learning Cooperative will present a workshop on “Using Wordpress to Manage Your Website” at the Ellsworth Public Library in the Riverside Room on Wednesday April 29, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM.

This two hour summary, demo and Q&A session will focus on using the free, open-source software, Wordpress (http://wordpress.org), to easily deploy & maintain professional websites. While this software was originally used for blogs, it has grown into a robust internet publishing tool and can be used to run fast, organized and dynamic multi-author websites.

This class will cover installation, setup, common uses, adding custom plugins & design themes, and search engine optimization. No prior knowledge of html, web publishing, or ownership of an existing website is required. Copies of the presentation slides will be made available on the web after the class and will contain links to free web tutorials and videos.

The workshop will use a projector and the library's free wifi to show live examples of sites currently running Wordpress, and how Wordpress is used to update and manage those sites. Participants are welcome to bring their own laptops to the workshop.

This workshop will be presented by Matthew Baya, the manager of Svaha LLC, a web hosting, design and consulting business located in Ellsworth, ME. He has been designing websites for over 15 years and has been using Wordpress to deploy and manage a wide variety of websites since mid-2005.

There is no cost for this workshop although there will be a donation jar available to help pay for room rental and other expenses. No reservation is required.

The purpose of the Downeast Learning Cooperative is to enable its members, who are interested in technology, both digital and mechanical, to learn from one another and share what they have learned with the wider public. This is the third presentation in a series by Coop members that will continue over the coming months. For more information visit http://downeastlearning.org/
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 16th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:04 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 16:23 Matthew Warren Z. Watson, my college comp sci professor, academic advisor, friend and inspiration on many fronts... ff.im/-28H8S #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 14th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:04 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 21:36 About Doing DaVinci : Doing DaVinci : Discovery Channel ff.im/-26b1u #
  • 22:49 @DharmaDuck FYI, I found you via "Localtweeps" & since your in this area & seem to share my political views & interests I figured I'd follow #
  • 23:44 @DharmaDuck I was referring to classes on social networking, blogging, etc. Is Maine ready for classes on geeky stuff? :) #
  • 23:45 @DavidFeldman would that be 'monotasking'? :) #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 10th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 21:06 Matthew has given up on reading all FB updates and tweets everyday. If there's something important I should know,... ff.im/-21CQ7 #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

April 2nd, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 31st, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 23:52 Vote Woz! ff.im/-1PgyQ #
  • 23:58 Matthew is voting (alot) for Steve Wozniak on Dancing with the Stars. votewoz.com. Geeks represent! ff.im/-1PgyR #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 29th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:04 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 22:31 Sheep Art - A geeky video on DIGYOUROWNGRAVE ff.im/-1MT6A #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 27th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 00:00 Matthew is down in NH tonight, then Boston Children's Museum tomorrow, Billy Jonas & Boston Aquarium on Saturday,... ff.im/-1KHXD #
  • 00:22 Knick Knack Shelf - by David Wilcox ff.im/-1KJ3B #
  • 00:50 Knick Knack Shelf - by David Wilcox: Years ago I found someone giving away some David Wilcox ‘bootleg̵.. tinyurl.com/c77mty #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 24th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:03 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 22:30 @vitriolix i got a ton of those too today. I noted each one had different color variants for each letter, i guess to avoid pattern matching #
  • 22:33 @sandykidd see if google had crawled and cached it before it was deleted. (I just looked and it was last cached on 3/16) #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 23rd, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 22:08 Matthew “Those that say it can’t be done should get out of the way of those doing it” - Chinese Proverb. ff.im/-1Fubq #
  • 23:58 JULIAN SMITH - 25 Things I Hate About Facebook ff.im/-1Fzua #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 21st, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:03 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 10:41 @laura2342 Happy spring. We have lots of snow sitting around still. #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 18th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 15th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 06:34 Matthew is on the air at WERU.ORG until 10 AM. Pledge drive show, 1 800 643 6273. Support an awesome community... ff.im/-1vCuo #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 13th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!

  • 11:24 Matthew is listening to the workplace rumor mill and feeling sad about the names he's hearing. ff.im/-1tq37 #
  • 13:46 Pattie Maes demos the Sixth Sense | Video on TED.com ff.im/-1tAn2 #
  • 19:40 Give Local TV an Equal Footing | Free Press ff.im/-1tWFM #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

March 10th, 2009

Subject:What I've twittered about recently
Time:06:02 am
A collection of my tweets, which are often copies from my facebook updates. Exciting stuff. Golly!


  • 22:48 Matthew is Steve Wozniak on Dancing With The Stars? Seriously? ff.im/-1r1bb #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter
comments: Leave a comment Add to Memories Tell a Friend

Advertisement

[icon] Matt's Thoughts
View:Recent Entries.
View:Archive.
View:Friends.
View:User Info.
View:Website (Matthew Baya).
View:My Real Journal (the one this is a mirror of).
You're looking at the latest 20 entries.
Missed some entries? Then simply jump back 20 entries