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A miniature non-update on my blog, explaining the lack of updates. I've been goofing of all week, except for at work and on my novel.

As for my novel, the relaxation in other areas seems to have really helped in that one. I passed the 75% mark on my massive edit. If I can keep up my current rate, I'll be four-fifths finished in three days.

Other than that, it's just been Kingdom Hearts -- which is very fun, and the Disney elements (which still make me cringe) decrease as the game progresses. I'll post a review when I'm done.

Next week, I'm working extra hours, so there'll be little time for video games. I want to finish my novel this month, because my goal is to start sending it out by the end of October.

I also really have to get cracking on my research -- I didn't go into the archives this week, and still have a good 50 years of Montreal indictment records to go over.

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Please, if you're in this country, and if you haven't yet, please write to Diane Finley, our Minister of Immigration in Harper's Cabinet of Evil^TM about the Orozco case. The mailing address is here:

The Honourable Diane Finley
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

There is no postage required for such a letter.

For those of you who don't know, Alvaro Orozco Hurtado (immigration Client I.D. Number: 5489-8782) was the Nicaraguan refugee who left his country at the age of 12 -- fleeing the homophobia of both his family, and his country (where homosexuality is illegal and gaybashing is common), and made his way north.

He was originally headed for San Francisco, but was caught by American immigration officials. He's spent much of his life in institutions, or in asylum offered by religious (and generally anti-gay) groups. Finally he got away, and headed for Canada, hoping he'd get a better hearing here.

But the one-person Refugee Board -- for there which there is (contrary to law requiring it) no appeal -- has rejected his claim. The Board, whose name is Deborah Lamont, doesn't believe Orozco is gay, because he can't prove he was having sex, as a teenager, in American federal government institutions or in the basements of anti-gay churches.

Please take time to send a letter. Finley's party is homophobic, but if they think enough people care that'll alter their chances in the next election with the moderates outside their base, then there's a chance he can get a Minister's Permit, allowing him to stay.

A good Toronto Star article on Orozco. His website's a little poor in quality and tends to ramble, but it does have more info.