Shivian Balaris

Let your friends know about the illegal gay bar raid that happened at the Atlanta Eagle, read...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:08:44 -0600

Let your friends know about the illegal gay bar raid that happened at the Atlanta Eagle, read more…

Want to know what Google knows about you? Enter the new Google Dashboard - all they know, in one...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:55:00 -0600

Want to know what Google knows about you? Enter the new Google Dashboard - all they know, in one place!

“Glee” - Noun: A musical television show that makes Shivian laugh & cry, oft both...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:54:41 -0600

“Glee” - Noun: A musical television show that makes Shivian laugh & cry, oft both during each episode. - Also see: gay man; big-olde-queen

Working on the site for my boyfriend, because I love him...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:38:51 -0600

Working on the site for my boyfriend, because I love him supermuch!

Yay! Gym routine continues to go up. My body is adapting quicker then I predicted it would. Looking...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:48:45 -0600

Yay! Gym routine continues to go up. My body is adapting quicker then I predicted it would. Looking forward to more ab definition soon!

Kinda chill this AM in Chitown. Looking forward to my desk, and its accompanying space heater to wam...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:20:58 -0600

Kinda chill this AM in Chitown. Looking forward to my desk, and its accompanying space heater to wam me up, feet to face… nomnomnom!

This article made me happy cry - “Can a 4yr Old Boy Wear a...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:57:43 -0600

This article made me happy cry - “Can a 4yr Old Boy Wear a Pink Dress?” - from @ethanhaan

Another great photo of Kai, and one of myself, in the Halloween...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:10:55 -0600

Another great photo of Kai, and one of myself, in the Halloween Parade costumes he made for us. In case you missed it, we were voted one of the TOP 4 couples in the parade!

Making my popular Samhain underworld potion, Spirit offertory incense, and sacred Bread for the rite...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:41:17 -0600

Making my popular Samhain underworld potion, Spirit offertory incense, and sacred Bread for the rite occurring in the Twilight this eve.

Pic of Kai from last night’s Halloween Parade where we...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:52:39 -0600

Pic of Kai from last night’s Halloween Parade where we placed in the top four for Best Couple - all hand made by Kai!

Fruit: $1. Blade: $20. Incantation: Free. Offering a pomegranate so the Wild Hunt won’t steal...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:03:00 -0500

Fruit: $1. Blade: $20. Incantation: Free. Offering a pomegranate so the Wild Hunt won’t steal away your boyfriend mid-ritual? Priceless.

There are some things magick can’t avoid… for everything else, there’s sacrifice.

Carved 2 pumpkin guardians to stand watch against nefarious spirits this Hallow Even’in and...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:54:47 -0500

Carved 2 pumpkin guardians to stand watch against nefarious spirits this Hallow Even’in and the days surrounding. Making 2 more tomorrow!

King & King - a great children’s story with a...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:40:00 -0500

King & King - a great children’s story with a beautiful twist, presented by Gay Family Values (Youtube user)

Creating my famous Underworld Brew tonight under stars… mugwort, star anise, bay leaves &...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:17:48 -0500

Creating my famous Underworld Brew tonight under stars… mugwort, star anise, bay leaves & more death herbs, w/ a Pomegranate Juice base.

Guess what? … THIS POST CAME FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:20:04 -0500

Guess what? … THIS POST CAME FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!

I don’t know if it’s subconscious due to Saturn Return or actual, but I have a HUGE urge...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:06:38 -0500

I don’t know if it’s subconscious due to Saturn Return or actual, but I have a HUGE urge to toss unused stuff from my appt all of a sudden!

Trailer: Cat Ladies, the Documentary - no joke… this look...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:08:53 -0500

Trailer: Cat Ladies, the Documentary - no joke… this look amazing! Cat Ladies FTW!

Heidi Klum’s in a Shiva Costume (a Hindu God) - This costume is...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:01:54 -0500

Heidi Klum’s in a Shiva Costume (a Hindu God) - This costume is FANTASTIC! HONESTLY, WOAH!!! I. AM. IN. LOVE!!!

My super-fun photo from the Feast of Fun podcast by Fausto...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:29:42 -0500

My super-fun photo from the Feast of Fun podcast by Fausto Fernós

An Open Letter to Merchant Services of MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc.,

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:01:00 -0500

Upon attempting a $1.07 purchase today with my credit card at the following business, I was informed that there was a $5 minimum purchase fee. When I attempted to inform this business that this is a violation of the Merchant Agreement they signed, my objections were ignored. The full information for this business is as follows:

Ivan T. Matthei Pharmacy
25 E. Washington, Suite 53
Lower Level-Pedway
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-263-7194

Day of Minimum Purchase Demand: 2009-10-28, 2:32pm

Demanding a minimum purchase is against the policy of both MasterCard Worldwide & Visa Inc. and I wanted to bring it to your attention immediately. I’ve copied and pasted the relevant parts of your Merchant Agreements below:

MasterCard Worldwide

Minimum/Maximum Transaction Amount Prohibited. A Merchant must not require, or indicate that it requires, a minimum or maximum Transaction amount to accept a valid and properly presented Card.

Page 5-10 from the June 2009 MasterCard Rules Document. Call 636-722-6100 for more information.

Visa Inc.

Always honor valid Visa cards in your acceptance category, regardless of the dollar amount of the purchase. Imposing minimum or maximum amounts in order to accept a Visa card transaction is a violation of the Visa rules.

Page 9 of the 2008 Visa Card Acceptance and Chargeback Management Guidelines. Call 800-VISA-911 for more information.

I respectfully request that you either demand this business follow the Merchant Agreement they signed when you entered into the contract with them; or immediately revoke their license to do business as a MasterCard Worldwide or Visa Inc. vendor.

Respectfully,

Shivian Balaris
Proud MasterCard & Visa Card Holder