The first government collapse of the global economic crisis is about to yield the world’s first openly-gay leader. Johanna Sigurdardottir, a former air hostess, is expected to be sworn in as Iceland’s Prime Minister by the end of the week.

The 66-year-old politician lives with her partner, Jonina Leosdottir, a journalist and playwright. The couple were joined in a civil ceremony in 2002. Don’t expect them to show up togetherfor photocalls, however – that’s not the Icelandic way. Though she is famous across the island, having been a top politician for years, her lesbian union was no big deal in this calmly progressive nation of only 300,000 people.

“Johanna is a very private person,” said an Icelandic government source. “A lot of people didn’t even know she was gay. When they learn about it people tend to shrug and say, ‘Oh’. That’s not to say they are not interested; they are interested in who she’s living with – but no more so than if she was a man living with a woman.”

Ms Sigurdardottir has two grown-up sons. She entered politics via the labour movement, was first elected to parliament in 1978 and was given her first ministerial office in 1987. She will be Prime Minister of a minority caretaker government composed of her Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Greens, with outside support. It is only expected to hold office for two or three months, until fresh elections are called.

“In opinion polls Johanna has repeatedly been chosen as the most popular politician in Iceland,” said the government source. “She is a good choice, because one of the problems the government is facing is lack of trust. Getting Johanna to become Prime Minister was a way of saying trust is an issue. Politicians want a fresh mandate from the electorate and, before they get it, they need to rebuild trust. Choosing Johanna is a way of saying, ‘Let’s bridge this gap, let’s have peace to be able to implement the emergency measures’.” (Source-The Independent)

Good for the world. Someday, soon I hope, sexual orientation won’t be news.

The new century has seen an upsurge in visitations by Ma’ Christ, though her booking agent needs a stern talking-to.

Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, 2003-2007:

• Tree stump, Passaic, N.J., 2003
• Grilled cheese sandwich, Hollywood, Fla., 2004
• Expressway underpass, Chicago, 2005
• Pretzel, Nebraska, 2005
• Firewood, Janesville, Wis., 2006
• Chocolate drippings, Fountain Valley, Calif., 2006
• Souplantation restaurant, Grantville, Calif., 2006
• Pizza pan, Houston, 2007
• Watermelon, Arizona, 2007  (Source-Futility Closet – a blog that earns a place in my RSS feed)

Seattle Gay Bars Receive Threatening Letters

Eleven gay bars in Seattle received letters today addressed to the “Owner/Manager” from someone claiming to be in the possession of ricin, a deadly poison. “Your establishment has been targeted,” the letter begins. “I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients.”

“I felt sick when I read it,” said Carla, the owner/manager of Re-bar. “It’s so vile. It’s just hatred. It made me worry for all the other bars, and for my bartenders, and our clientele.”

According to the CDC’s website, someone who has ingested “a significant amount” will develop vomiting and diarrhea within the first 6-12 hours; other symptoms of ricin poisoning include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. There is no antidote for ricin but ricin exposure is not invariably fatal.

“I just had the police come pick [the letter] up,” said Keith Christensen, the manager of the Eagle, when reached by phone. Christensen had already heard about the letter from other bar owners and managers, and so he didn’t open it. “It’s probably nothing,” Christensen added, “but the economy is really screwing all the bars right now, and the last thing we need is something ramping up the not-go-out mode people seem to be in right now. It’s really freaky that someone would do something like this at a time like this.”

“The police have already come and gone,” said Roland, the manager at Madison Pub. “They collected the letter and that’s about it. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about it.” Roland admitted to being unnerved by the letter at first.

“But after the initial ‘what?’, it’s like whatever.”

A letter also arrived in The Stranger’s offices, addressed to the attention of “Obituaries.” The letter’s author said the paper should “be prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals all of whom were patrons of the following establishments on a Saturday in January.” The listed bars are: the Elite, Neighbours, Wild Rose, the Cuff, Purr, the Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, CC’s, Madison Pub, and the Crescent. “I could take this moment to launch into a diatribe about my indignation towards the gay community,” the letter concludes, “however, I think the deaths will speak for themselves.”

Alison, Luying, and Tippett, local promoters and DJs who do nights at various bars around town, came up with the idea of organizing a pub crawl for this Friday night to show support for the bars that were threatened. (Source-the stranger)

Party on, my brothers and sisters. The best revenge is to show this cretian how pathetic his attempt at domestic terrorism really is.

Today’s the day to Get Religion! The more hungover and nearly incoherent you are this morning, the more sense religion will make. That way, no matter how bad 2009 becomes, no matter if the Middle East erupts into nuclear war, no matter if America suffers a depression sever enough to steal the title “Great” from the depression of 1929, no matter if the governments of England and America undermine human rights through unwarranted eavesdropping and the deployment of troops on their own soil, the matter if the world descends into anarchy, chaos and unprecedented holy war between Christians, Jews and Muslims, none of that will affect you because you’ll have your own personal relationship with the guy responsible for all that…according to your new beliefs.

And theists, go ahead and do your usual “I’m offended” routine. It’s so much easier and garners so much more sympathy to feign offense than it is to actually counter, with reason and substantiation, the exposure of your beliefs for what they are.