Clever Title: Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery

Dolly News

2008-02-12T10:57:00.000-06:00

from Daily Mail:

Dolly Parton's breasts may be two of the wonders of the entertainment world, but the country music icon says they are causing her nothing but pain.

Parton, 62, said on Monday she would postpone her upcoming North American tour after doctors told her to take it easy for six to eight weeks to rest her sore back.

"Hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have back problems," the folksy singer-songwriter said in a statement.

The tour was due to begin on February 28th in Minneapolis, two days after the release of "Backwoods Barbie," her first album of mainstream country music in 17 years.

She hopes to hit the road in late April.

Parton, also famous for her big voice, big wigs and big smile, has long joked about her famous bust.

When she received a songwriters award in New York last year, she noted that she's been known for two things throughout her career.

"I'm talking about my music and my lyrics," she said.

Parton, a member of both the country music and songwriters halls of fame, has been enjoying a renaissance since she released the first of a trio of bluegrass-tinged albums in 1999.

As with other veterans such as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, Parton found that she was no longer welcome at country radio, and changed tack by delving into roots music.

Her releases garnered widespread critical acclaim and a fond examination of her 40-year career.

Sometimes...

2008-02-12T10:51:00.000-06:00

Now for an embarrassing story that is just for you Clever Title readers...both of you.

I put in a repair request for the oven at my apartment because the light kept going out. I was getting totally frustrated - surely there was a short circuit or something. Well, according to the Note left on my oven by the repair man: "That light is the Oven Warming light. It turns on until the oven reaches the requested temperature at which point it goes out. The oven runs on a thermostat." Yeah, that's right...I'm an idiot. It's okay...I accept these things about myself. I look at them as funny stories that I can use later on in life...somewhere at sometime.

$$$ idea $$$

2008-02-11T10:59:00.000-06:00

So, here's my latest money-making idea for theatre. Get four guys in drag to perform episodes of the Golden Girls. We'd do two episodes (since they're only like 30 minutes apiece) and only the Golden Girls would be in drag - everyone else would be the correct gender. I think I'd also have a laugh track...and if there were special guest stars (like Burt Reynolds or the like) I'd have the actor portraying that guest hold a portrait of the star over their face and just play the pre-recorded dialogue. It'd be great. What do you think?!

Hamlet...more or less.

2008-02-08T14:47:00.000-06:00

So, in my stumbles around the internet today I came across something fun called The Skinhead Hamlet. I'm not going to post the whole thing but here's a little snippet to whet your appetite. Here's the scene in which the ghost of Hamlet's father tells him the true cause of his death...

The Battlements.
(Enter HORATIO, HAMLET and GHOST.)
GHOST: Oi! Mush, get on with it!
HAMLET: Who did it then?
GHOST: That wanker Claudius. He poured fucking poison in
my fucking ear!
HAMLET: Fuck me!
(Exeunt.)

God hates Reno...or at least Phelps does.

2008-02-08T12:40:00.000-06:00

So Phelps and the inbred fools over at the Westboro Baptist Church like to go around and protest the funerals of soldiers who die in Iraq - stating, of course, that the war in Iraq is because America loves gays - as is evident from our ability to get married and adopt...obviously - anyway, things do not go as planned in Reno and can I just tell you how happy it makes me :)

I especially enjoy the way the Angel Action that took place at Matthew Shepard's funeral has been adjusted to fit this situation - of course, crying college kids and surly bikers handle these things differently, but still...the idea is the same. Anyway, enjoy the fact that for one brief shing moment Ignorance was snuffed out...for a bit.

What happens when you combine...

2008-02-07T09:54:00.000-06:00

I found this while trolling some blogs and HAD to share it - it totally made me laugh and cheered me up a bit...

If my life were a song...

2008-02-07T09:24:00.000-06:00

if my life were a song it would be this one by Dolly Parton...

The hills were alive with wildflowers
And I was as wild, even wilder than they
For at least I could run, they just died in the sun
And I refused to just wither in place

Just a wild mountain rose, needing freedom to grow
So I ran fearing not where I'd go
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow

And the flowers I knew in the fields where I grew
Were content to be lost in the crowd
They were common and close, I had no room for growth
I wanted so much to branch out

I uprooted myself from home ground and left
Took my dreams and I took to the road
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow

I grew up fast and wild and I never felt right
In a garden so different from me
I just never belonged, I just longed to be gone
So the garden, one day, set me free

Hitched a ride with the wind and since he was my friend
I just let him decide where we'd go
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow

Hillary and the LGBT community

2008-02-05T10:32:00.001-06:00

from The Bilerico Project:

As I have traveled around the country these past twelve months, what I sensed in my heart has been confirmed – America is embracing its LGBT sons and daughters with an acceptance and understanding as never before. On the campaign trail, a father of a gay son will ask about ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. A woman will ask why she can be discriminated against just because of who she is. Sometimes they wait furtively for the crowd to thin and then whisper their confidences in a soft voice and sometimes they stand up proudly at town meetings and want me to share my views on how I will help lead the change to assure that this country fulfills its promise to everyone.

Let me tell you what I have been telling voters across America. I am fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans. For seven long years, the Bush Administration has tried to divide us - only seeing people who matter to them. It's been a government of the few, by the few, and for the few. And no community has been more invisible to this administration than the LGBT community.

I will change that. The best evidence of what I will do as President is what I have already done.

I am proud of my record as First Lady, as a U.S. Senator and as a candidate for President in working toward the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans.
I am proud that as Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee in 2006, I worked closely with LBGT community to develop a smart strategy that defeated the Federal Marriage Amendment. I am proud of fighting the FMA as divisive wedge politics at its worst.
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act which would grant the same benefits (including health insurance) to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees' legal spouses.
I am proud to have authored the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV, and fought to fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act.
I am proud that I hired a National Director of LGBT Outreach within a month of announcing my candidacy for President and to have openly gay and lesbian staffers serving at all levels of my campaign.
I am proud to have a National LGBT Steering Committee of over 130 that includes openly LGBT elected officials, Board members and opinion leaders on issues ranging from transgender rights, to HIV/AIDS, to "Don't Ask Don't Tell".
I am proud to have marched in Gay Pride parades as both First Lady and as Senator and to have spoken in front of so many LGBT audiences ranging from the Human Rights Campaign, Empire State Pride Agenda, the Hetrick Martin Institute, PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis), and the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
I am proud to have fought Republican efforts to demonize and marginalize the LGBT community, and I will continue to do that as President.
We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We're going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts.

America deserves a President who appeals to the best in each of us, not the worst; a President who values and respects all Americans and treats all Americans equally no matter who they are or who they love. I want to be that President. I want to be your President.

We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We're going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts.

America deserves a President who appeals to the best in each of us, not the worst; a President who values and respects all Americans and treats all Americans equally no matter who they are or who they love. I want to be that President. I want to be your President.

Not much, really...

2008-02-04T12:17:00.000-06:00

So it's been a while -

last night, in lieu of Superbowl Madness, I got rather drunk and watched The Pursuit of Happyness. Why is it I always seem to end up watching these horribly emotional movies when I'm drunk? The last time this happened was when I watched Pay It Forward - which I thought was going to be the charming tale of a young boy who brought a little happiness and joy to the world but ends up dying in the final reel and there's this huge candlelight vigal outside his home! Did NOT see that one coming...

Anyway, Pursuit of Happyness only added to the theory I'd started formulating since seeing I Am Legend. Apparently somewhere between movies he's done with Martin Lawrence and Summer Blockbusters he's become QUITE the good little actor-man.

This movie is a compelling portrait of how, if properly motivated and with enough drive, the American Dream can still be obtained. It was incredibly motivating and emotional for me. I'm not going to go into some full-fledged wordy review but I encourage everyone to check it out - it's powerful without being too candy-coated and Smith does some great and subtle things - his son is rather adorable as well.

I also just got a surprise visit from a friend from the local theatre and she dropped off some scripts for me to look over. They'd like for me to do some directing there next season and I'll happily do it if I can find some material that moves me. It's hard to direct something that you have no personal interest in. One of the scripts that she dropped off was for The Little Dog Laughed - which is still on Broadway so God only knows how she got a copy of the script.
It got fair to middlin' reviews, I think - it starred Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do) and the guy who played the artsy boyfriend on Roseanne...I'm bad at names today - it's Monday, what do you want from me. But now it's starring Chad Allen! It's about this closeted actor and his rent-boy that he's in love with. Rent-boy wants him to come out of the closet and closeted actor begins to think it's a good idea...then his lesbian agent locks him back in. Anyway, I'll give it a read - if it's too racy for their theatre I might float it past the college and see if they're interested - they tend to be a little edgier.

Anyway, just wanted to touch base and say I'm alive in case anyone's out there...

I'm mad that you're mad about being mad...wait...

2008-01-24T13:55:00.001-06:00

So, has this ever happened to you? Has anyone ever done something to make you mad. So, you get mad. Time passes and you get un-mad...or at least less-mad. You go to talk to that person again and find that they don't take your calls or acknowledge your existence? You finally discover that they're now mad at you. Why? Because you were mad at them. A discussion like this tends to follow:

You: Uhm, so...you're mad at me?

Them: Yes.

You: Why?

Them: ...because you were mad at me.

You: Do you understand why I was mad at you?

Them: Yes.

You: And do you agree that I had a right to be mad about that?

Them: Yes.

You: And so, you understand why I was mad.

Them: Yes.

You: And so, now I'm not mad anymore...

Them: ...

You: And...so...you're...mad at me?

Them: Yes.

You: Why?

Them: Because you were mad at me.

You: But you understand that I'm not...not now, right?

Them: Yes.

You: ...but you're still mad at me now for being mad at you then (even though you agree that I had every right to BE mad at you then) and even though I'm not mad at you now...

Them: Yes.

You: Does that make sense to you?

Them: ...Yeah.

You: Okay, well, tell me when you're no longer mad at me...I may be mad at you over this, though.

Well, that kinda happened to me today - I was walking some books to the library for a friend and came across Johnny Mac who I haven't spoken to in MONTHS over some comments and behaviours of his that finally pushed me over the line. I went so far as to walk on the other side of the street to avoid having to run into him because I'd heard he was still "mad at me for being mad at him" - of course, he could be mad about the letter I sent his boss...but that's a whole 'nother story...and one I don't apologize for. Anyway, he ends up crossing over to my side to say hi to someone and so I just casually step to the side to walk past him. Well, he shoots me the dirtiest look I've gotten in a while and I just smiled and went "Hi!" and kept on walking. I'm still pulling out the daggers he shot into my back...Ah, good times with mature adults.

What a great way to start my day...

2008-01-24T08:44:00.000-06:00

This douchebag is named John Gibson. He works at Fox Radio - why is it whenever I think of Fox and news in the same sentence I find myself laughing these days? Anyway, this fool with his own radio show took it upon himself to openly mock Heath Ledger's death just a few hours after it was reported. He played some clips from the movie Brokeback Mountain (including the iconic "I wish I knew how to quit you" line) and said "Well, he found a way to quit you now" - he went on to relate how he felt that Heath Ledger had a serious drug problem because the people at TMZ said so - and they're always right. He also read a quote from Ledger that recounted how, after a particular role of his, Ledger said he'd started to view and think of death differently. Gibson, deep as a mud puddle in a drought, asked why Ledger would possibly be thinking of death since he was only in his 20's?! His co-host said he was probably a deep person to which Gibson replied - "He was a weird-o" This asshat, combined with the inbred hillbilly church of cousin-humpers over in Westboro who plan on picketing the funeral (I hope it takes place in Australia and I hope they feel free to kill these idiots) are why I hate America some times! However, I did read a great post somewhere that suggested that when Phelps dies we should make his tombstone a mandatory stop for all gay roadtrips and make out on his gravesite. It would be awesome. When he dies we should hold signs that say things like "Cher loves you" or "Tinky-Winky cares!"

Meanwhile, let me introduce you to our heroes - in this corner we have Dan Abrams from MSNBC who went on the air to call Gibson out on his idiotic remarks. He went on to state that anyone who was willing to relate Ledger's death to his participation in Brokeback was "ridiculous." He plays some clips from Gibson's show as well so if you just wanna cut to the "heart" of the matter follow that link - I get so mad some mornings when I read things like this that I just want to crawl back into my bed and pretend it's all some nightmare that I'm just now waking up from. I have a feeling that I will be spending a good portion of my day today trying to figure out the in's and out's of becoming a Canadian citizen.

And over here we have a personal favorite of mine, Keith Olbermann who, on his Countdown with Keith Olbermann show awarded the Worst Person in the World award to Gibson. I think that Gibson and O'Reilly should just get together and make sweet sweet love and let the spawn of that coupling form its own Baptist church and then, once it has a little sister from the same parental coupling and begins to make it's own little inbred brood and the numbers get large enough - the whole clan can go on a big turf war showdown with the Westboro folk! It's like the Hills Have Eyes only with less teeth and more misquoted Bible Messages! ...okay, I gotta put my soapbox away for now - but I might be back later!

More bad news...

2008-01-23T08:48:00.000-06:00

from www.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON - A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

The study was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Center for Public Integrity, which worked with the Fund for Independence in Journalism.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel did not comment on the merits of the study Tuesday night but reiterated the administration's position that the world community viewed Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, as a threat.

"The actions taken in 2003 were based on the collective judgment of intelligence agencies around the world," Stanzel said.

The study counted 935 false statements in the two-year period. It found that in speeches, briefings, interviews and other venues, Bush and administration officials stated unequivocally on at least 532 occasions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or was trying to produce or obtain them or had links to al-Qaida or both.

"It is now beyond dispute that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction or have meaningful ties to al-Qaida," according to Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith of the Fund for Independence in Journalism staff members, writing an overview of the study. "In short, the Bush administration led the nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and that culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003."

Named in the study along with Bush were top officials of the administration during the period studied: Vice President Dick Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan.

Bush led with 259 false statements, 231 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 28 about Iraq's links to al-Qaida, the study found. That was second only to Powell's 244 false statements about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and 10 about Iraq and al-Qaida.

The center said the study was based on a database created with public statements over the two years beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, and information from more than 25 government reports, books, articles, speeches and interviews.

"The cumulative effect of these false statements — amplified by thousands of news stories and broadcasts — was massive, with the media coverage creating an almost impenetrable din for several critical months in the run-up to war," the study concluded.

"Some journalists — indeed, even some entire news organizations — have since acknowledged that their coverage during those prewar months was far too deferential and uncritical. These mea culpas notwithstanding, much of the wall-to-wall media coverage provided additional, 'independent' validation of the Bush administration's false statements about Iraq," it said.

Heath

2008-01-23T08:22:00.000-06:00

I am incredibly upset about the death of Heath Ledger - which is kinda odd because, I mean, Brad Renfro just died a little bit ago and Suzanne Pleshette after that and they both blipped my pop-dar but caused no undue emotional stress. When I saw that Heath Ledger had died I literally had to catch my breath and read the news blurb two or three times to make sure I'd gotten it...he was only 28 years old and his career had really started to pick up in recent years. I mean, I've been a fan since A
Knights Tale which, admittedly, was far from his more introspective role but was still a good time...

Oh, and I also loved the performance he turned in on The Patriot - he was just really great. And, like most gay folks I know, his performance in Brokeback Mountain really struck a major chord with me. The struggles Enis went through in order to deal with how he felt about Jack have happened to most every gay guy and gal I know. There's all those moments of is this right? Am I sick? Can I change it?

For better or for worse now both Heath and Jake are part of gay history - we hold them both very close to our hearts and are proud of them. Proud of the fact that they had such dignity and self-respect, proud of the fact that they had the courage to do a couple of roles that nearly every other "big name" actor probably ran away from, proud of the fact that they were proud to be in the movie. Brokeback Mountain, as cliched as it might sound these days, is still among my top five movies ever seen. It was among the first times that I stopped and watched a scene again and again just to see what all was going on in it. It's just among the most amazing movie watching experiences of my life, to date. So, anyway, not that my little voice matters to much of anyone - not even to myself much these days, but I will miss Heath Ledger and will continue to mourn him in my own quiet little way. The world has lost a great talent and one that will not be replaced any time soon.

ramblings in a glass

2008-01-18T13:40:00.000-06:00

I walk these halls of memory
surrounded by images of what used to be
Past doors marked with words and images that mean everything
Past doors marked with words and images that mean nothing
Past doors unmarked and unopened - now locked

I pause at the end of the hall near a relfecting pool
I look in and find empty eyes looking back
A smile crawls across the face as ripples spread
How can you tell if a watery reflection cries?

The room shakes and the walls crack
Doors fall off their hinges, releasing what was within
The past, present, future, and never-to-be all mingle
Loves and lives lost and imagined struggle for control

Silence descends
All memories leave
All dreams die
I'm alone again
I go into a room and close the door behind me

Bare: A Pop Opera

2008-01-17T09:51:00.000-06:00

RS recently introduced me to a show called Bare: A Pop Opera. It is now officially my favorite soundtrack - I haven't seen the show (because I don't like in LA or NYC but rather in sad little pathetic Panama City - the raciest musical we've had recently was a production of Cabaret which lacked ANY siblance of sexuality (homo- or hetero-) and was just not that great.

But anyway, here's my rambling about Bare - The whole thing takes place at a co-ed Catholic School. It revolves around Peter and Jason mostly. Peter loves Jason. Jason loves Peter. Peter is struggling to come to terms with his sexual orientation - he's sick of living in shadows and being secretive. Jason is the golden boy of the school - popular, intelligent, good at everything he tries. Jason doesn't want to complicate things by being out. He can't understand why Peter is obsessed with the future and can't just enjoy the present. Jason's sister is Nadia - the overweight and outspoken girl with a chip on her shoulder. Ivy is the girl caught between Peter and the uncertain Jason. Matt is the best friend never destined to be lover of Ivy. Things start off pretty quickly. There's a productio of Romeo and Juliet being put on - Peter encourages Jason to audition which he does at the last second. He, of course, lands Romeo opposite of Ivy's Juliet. Matt wanted Romeo - to finally at least on stage be able to be in love with Ivy. Peter ends up as Mercutio and Nadia gest the Nurse. There's a rave that the kids escape to and take some GHB. At the rave Jason pulls Peter outside and they kiss. Peter wants to know why he couldn't kiss him inside - he tells Jason that he has to give the world a chance! Nobody in there seemed to care about the fact that they were two boys in love. Jason will have none of it and tells him that it's all Best Kept Secret. Nadia decides to stay home because she's sick of Ivy flaunting herself and pointing out Nadia's failings. A birthday party for Ivy is thrown. There are pot brownies - Peter has more than his share and begins to act out publicly for Jason. Jason, desperate to hide his relationship, loses his temper with Peter and throws himself at Ivy. Maybe this is what he really wants...it's what he's supposed to want, after all. Ivy, drunk, knows that she wants it, too. She ignores Matt who leaves the party to get drunk in the church and ask God if he's actually there after all. He runs into Peter who is asking the same things.

Matt and Peter bond over their ignored loves. Peter tells him about his relationship with Jason. He then gets a vision that implores him to tell his mother that he's gay (since the "love that dares not speak it's name done went and opened it's mouth!") So we start the second act with Peter attempting to come out to his mom who won't let him talk. Peter has to fill in for Ivy at one of the rehearsals and everything is perfect for a moment. Then Ivy appears and demands to speak with Jason. Jason blows her off - he's already told her that he likes her but what they did that night was just for that night. He's finally realized that he's in love with Peter - far more than he realized. Peter has finally, with the help of a Sister of the school, come to terms with the fact that he is as God made him and that God don't make no trash. It's revealed that Ivy is missing rehearsals because she is pregnant with Jason's kid. Jason ends up accidentally outing himself in front of everyone and wants Peter to help him. Peter says he tried but its too late now. Jason seeks guidance from the Father who turns his back on him and tells him that his life is a sin but he will join him in silence if he can just make it to graduation - God will forgive whatever he's done. The show opens - Jason takes a lethal dose of GHB and dies in Peter's arms on stage. At the funeral the Father comes up to Peter and says that he wishes there was something that could have been done - could have been said to have helped Jason. Peter tells him that he loved Jason and that that love was the only thing that made him feel close to God...he also tells the Father that he forgives him. So we're left with a sister with no brother who leaves a seat open for him at graduation. A young girl pregnant with the child of a dead boy who has no idea what she's going to do. A young man destined to never be the love of that young girl who, it can be said, is directly responsible for starting the chain of events that lead to the dead boys death. A heartbroken young man who has lost his first love but is shakily prepared for tomorrow.

The music and lyrics are what move me the most - I haven't stopped lsitening to it for a week or so. This is the type of show tha makes me wish I could sing - I love this show...

The Orphanage

2008-01-17T09:22:00.000-06:00

Well, opening weekend has come and gone - it went fairly well, I guess. I don't really like to talk about the shows that I'm in - if you come and see it and you wanna talk afterwards that's fine for a bit but I just don't get involved in backstage gossip...with people who aren't backstage, at least.

Me and KP went to see the Orphanage last weekend. I really enjoyed it - it was in Spanish with English subtitles. The young woman at the box office, upon hearing our request for tickets, sighed, rolled her eyes, and droned "You know it's in Spainish with English subtitles..." We kinda laughed and said yes, I asked if she'd been plagued with complaints about that. "Some guy came up here and started yelling at me about how if he wanted to read he'd get a damn book!" I couldn't help but laugh.

It's a creepy movie but not a gore-infused slasher-fest like we Americans seem to crave. This is no Saw, to be sure. It's very moody and quiet. We start at an Orphanage (makes sense, right?) where we see children playing a game - the American equivalanet is something like Red Light, Green Light. One of the girls gets adopted and then we flash forward like a decade or two - the girl has grown into a woman with an adopted child of her own. She's married to a doctor and the two of them are going to re-open the Orphanage to care for "special needs" children. It's revealed by the unexpected visit from a creepy old social worker that their child is HIV+ and he doesn't know that...nor does he know that he's adopted. They plan on telling him all of these things but want to wait until he's older. He only knows that he's sick and has to take a lot of medicine. The kid is great - he's very playful and has imaginary friends. He and his mother have a great relationship - they have a game they play in which he gives her three things and she composes a bedtime story out of them.

At some point they head off to the beach and he goes into a cave to explore. She grows concerned and follows in after him to find him talking to someone around a corner. The boy says its a new friend named Tomas. He asks if Tomas can come home with them and the mother says sure. The boy, named Simone - I get tired of writing the Boy over and over again - leaves a trail of shells so Tomas can find them. The mother (Laura) finds the shells all piled up on the door step the next day. I don't want to do a full play by play here - suffice to say that thigns start to go a little wonky. The social worker is found in the middle of the night in their shed. Simone disappears on the day of the grand opening of the Orphanage. That kid in the picture above with the creepy sack-head begins to cause mischief. A grand quest breaks out - the ghosts that haunt these halls like to take your treasure and leave you clues. One clue leads to another until you finally get your treasure back and then you're allowed to make a wish. Well, you can imagine what Laura's treasure is and she goes through all sorts of trials and tribulations in order to find it. In the end she finds her treasure and gets her wish - but not in the manner you'd expect. I loved the ending - it couldn't have ended more perfectly for me. This should be avoided by those who 1) don't like foreign films because "reading is hard" or 2) want a sugary-sweet everyone gets to be happy ending.

This weekend - CLOVERFIELD!!!

Uhm...Beat It...kinda

2008-01-15T08:21:00.000-06:00

Wow, okay - while watching that a few messages came in - Charlotte, Olivia Newton-John needs that outfit back for the finale of Grease. Amy, Wonder Woman needs her boots back. Also your AA Sponsor called but I think she was drunk, too...I mean, not that you were ...I mean, you could have been high...as well. Also, Charlotte, dear, there's a certain irony in the fact that the first words that you sing are "the words are clear" - it's obviously a lie and the marketing people are afraid we'll get sued for false advertising so we're going to change the line to "drunkie over here" - it won't mess up the rhyme scheme AND it's true.

Honestly, who the hell even knew Charlotte Church HAD a show?!

Clay Aiken Freak Out!

2008-01-14T12:41:00.000-06:00

from Newsweek:

Why did you decide to do Broadway?
I'd been asked a number of times to do this show or that show. A lot of people saw it as a good match--I'm starting to realize maybe it wasn't--and I always had something else to do. I think the thing that attracted me to this show is how different it was and anti-Broadway it is. I barely sing. They've written some new parts for me to sing a little. But it gives me the opportunity to try different things.

Have you seen "Spamalot"?
The first time I saw it I thought it was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life. My tour drummer is the "Spamalot" drummer, and [he] said you've got to see it again.

Are you a Python fan?
I thought Monty Python was a person until three months ago.

Do you think the Claymates will come see you?
They'll be there in full force. I hope they behave.

Are they rowdy?
Sometimes. They scare me every once in a while.

Do women throw their underwear on stage?
In Minneapolis, we had a lady throw her panties in the middle of "Silent Night." I'm like, Are you kidding me? We've had ladies throw Depends that say, "Your older fans love you, too."

How did you get into a fight with that lady on a plane?
I'm not going to talk about it.

I was just curious because you've never talked about it.
I did talk about it.

What about the Kelly Ripa thing?
I'm not going to discuss it.

Did you think it was homophobic?
I'm not going to discuss it.

What do you want to talk about?
I think we're done.

Can we talk about something fun?
No, we're done. I thought NEWSWEEK would be more reputable. I'm surprised.

But I think people are curious about it.
It was a year ago. This is NEWSWEEK. It's not the National Enquirer. I'd hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

We're just having a conversation.
Change the subject! I'd never take a job where I had to do something that I didn't want to do.

What about all those Ford commercials on "American Idol"?
That wasn't a job.

It was part of your job.
It wasn't a Ford commercial. It was a music video. It was a completely different thing.

I'll change the subject. What do you do for fun?
I watch the news. I read news magazines, but I'm reconsidering that now.

Are you going to watch "Idol"?
I haven't watched since season four. I compare it to high-school football--if it weren't for high school, we wouldn't be successful, but I don't need to keep going to the football games.

© 2008 Newsweek, Inc.

PETA - not man's best friend

2008-01-14T12:28:00.000-06:00

Don't come up and yell in my face about wanting to eat KFC if you're going to do things like this...

From Pr News Wire - I found it via Towleroad...

PETA killed 97 percent Percent of 'Companion Animals' in 2006, According to VDACS

Death toll up to 17,400; overdue report describes PETA's deadliest year ever

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An official report from People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), submitted nine months after a Virginia government agency's deadline, shows that the animal rights group put to death more than 97 percent of the dogs, cats, and other pets it took in for adoption in 2006. During that year, the well-known animal rights group managed to find adoptive homes for just 12 pets. The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is calling on PETA to either end its hypocritical angel-of-death program, or stop its senseless condemnation of Americans who believe it's perfectly ethical to use animals for food, clothing, and critical medical research.

Not counting animals PETA held only temporarily in its spay-neuter program, the organization took in 3,061 "companion animals" in 2006, of which it killed 2,981. According to Virginia's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), the average euthanasia rate for humane societies in the state was just 34.7 percent in 2006. PETA killed 97.4 percent of the animals it took in. The organization filed its 2006 report this month, nine months after the VDACS deadline of March 31, 2007.

"Pet lovers should be outraged," said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. "There are thousands of worthwhile animal shelters that deserve Americans' support. PETA is not one of them."

In courtroom testimony last year, a PETA manager acknowledged that her organization maintains a large walk-in freezer for storing dead animals, and that PETA contracts with a Virginia cremation service to dispose of the bodies. In that trial, two PETA employees were convicted of dumping dead animals in a rural North Carolina trash dumpster.

Today in Southampton County, Virginia, another PETA employee will face felony charges in a dog-napping case. Andrea Florence Benoit Harris was arrested in late 2006 for allegedly abducting a hunting dog and attempting to transport it to PETA's Norfolk headquarters.

"PETA raised over $30 million last year," Martosko added, "and it's using that money to kill the only flesh-and-blood animals its employees actually see. The scale of PETA's hypocrisy is simply staggering."

To speak with a spokesman contact Tim Miller at 202-463-7112.

For more information about PETA's massive euthanasia program, visit http://www.PetaKillsAnimals.com.

Website: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/
Website: http://www.PetaKillsAnimals.com/

Touching Bases ('til I go blind)

2008-01-11T13:47:00.000-06:00

I have been sick and out of work for the past 2 days...I mean bad-gross-I-ache-all-over-and-wanna-die-so-I-sleep-until-noon sick...or BGIAAOAWDSISUN Sick for short.

but things could be worse - I mean, I could have unknowingly married my twin!

from Yahoo!

LONDON (AFP) - Twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different sets of parents later married each other without realising they were brother and sister, a peer has told the House of Lords.

David Alton, an independent, pro-life member of the Lords, said the brother and sister were granted an annulment after a high court judge ruled that the marriage had never validly existed.

The Catholic politician -- who discovered the case after talking to a judge -- used it to highlight perceived deficiencies in the government's proposed Human Embryology and Tissues Bill, which is currently going through parliament.

The bill is designed to make it easier for lesbian and gay couples to have children through assisted reproduction, recognising same-sex partners as legal parents of babies conceived through donated sperm, eggs or embryos.

But it contains no provision to require the identity of the donor to be disclosed, potentially meaning a child could not be told they were conceived by assisted reproduction.

Alton raised the case of the married twins -- who were born after IVF treatment -- during a debate on December 10, details of which only appeared on Friday.

"There are implications for everybody involved, but the needs of the child will always be paramount, and it is right that we should therefore make the process as transparent as possible," Alton told the Lords.

IVF -- which increases the chances of multiple births -- meant such cases could become more common if the law does not require children to be told they were donor conceived and have access to their genetic history, he said.

"The right of children to know the identity of their biological parents is a human right," he added Friday.

"There will be more cases like this if children are not given access to the truth. The needs of the child must always be paramount."

The identities of the twins and details of their relationship and marriage have been kept secret, but it was known they were separated soon after birth and never told they were twins.

They only discovered they were blood relatives after the wedding.

In other odd news - Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson are no longer married. Now, I haven't really followed Spider-Man in a very long while. He was never that interesting to me, really. I was always more of an X-Men type of guy. I had a big crush on Cyclops...and Iceman. Or I'd read Superman or sometimes Batman. Anyway, according to the article that I read on Yahoo (which I linked to in my MySpace blog for those who double-dip) apparently in order to save the life of Aunt May (who should have died YEARS ago...my God, she was nearly 100 years old when the thing started in the 50s!) Spider-Man agrees to have his whole relationship with Mary Jane Watson never have happened...or something. It's totally stupid. First they kill Captain America and think they can just throw somebody else in the uniform and it won't matter and then they wreck Spider-Man's whole continuity. The guys at Marvel must be hard up for ideas...of course, the comic book industry has been "slowly dying" since I was a teenager way back when. Just like Broadway has been "slowly dying" since ...I guess Showboat first came out in the 50s - well, no, I guess the 80s were a good time for Broadway.

I've heard nothig but negative things about the new Little Mermaid stage adapatation - it opens this weekend, I think. But honestly - what were you expecting?! I think they were using Heelies (those shoes with the wheels in them) for the swimming parts...I dunno, it all just screams bad to me. They got lucky with Lion King because they were intersting and outside the box in their theatrical approach but Beauty and the Beast and Tarzan were just movie to stage adaptations with little to no cool theatrics or changes made.

Speaking of theatre...I have a huge crush on Cheyenne Jackson from Broadway's Xanadu. He's just...uhm...wow. He was also Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show and Elvis in All Shook Up - he was in a mini-movie called Curiousity which I've embedded...it's only about 7 minutes or so but kinda good and suspenseful! :)

What else...what else...oh, so my show opens up this weekend at the Kaliedescope Theatre so that's exciting.

How to look like a high-tech jackass...

2008-01-08T10:21:00.000-06:00

I hate this but at the same time...I kinda want it. But now it's even easier to look like a jackass on the road!

Rudy - Mr. 09-11

2008-01-08T09:40:00.000-06:00

from salon.com:

Incorrigible
Rudy Giuliani on Hillary Clinton's emotional moment: "This is not something I would judge anybody on one way or the other. And the reality is, if you look at me -- Sept. 11, the funerals, the memorial services, there were times in which it was just impossible not to feel ... the emotion."

― Tim Grieve

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Honestly, is there ANYTHING this man can't tie to September 11?!

Honestly...

2008-01-07T14:42:00.001-06:00

from 365gay.com:

London Registrar Sues To Refuse To Perform Gay Unions
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 7, 2008 - 3:00 pm ET

(London) A registrar with the Islington Council has filed an employment equity suit accusing the North London borough of discrimination by requiring her to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples.

The woman claims that her religious rights have been violated because she is a devout Christian opposed to gay unions.

Civil partnerships became legal in 2005 and Islington town hall has become the third most popular spot in the UK to hold the ceremonies.

But the woman, whose name has been withheld by the council because of the suit, has refused to perform them. Other registrants have not complained and a council spokesperson said no same-sex couple has been turned away.

More than 600 gay and lesbian couples have had their unions at the hall.

The borough encourages couples to make it a formal affair and a large number of gay male couples have donned tails and top hats for their unions.

When the civil partnership law went into effect the borough proclaimed it Pink Wednesday and handed out pink lapel flowers to staff to wear as they served champagne to guests.

Civil partnerships provide all of the rights of marriage but without the the name.

Conservative church groups have opposed civil partnerships and if the lawsuit is successful it could lead to dozens of other registrars across the UK to refuse to perform the ceremonies.

©365Gay.com 2008

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Honestly, how much longer are we going to live in a world in which love isn't tolerated or encouraged? If I could have one wish and know that it would come true I'd go back to the people who wrote the first version of the Bible or even the Constitution and say to them "Look, I know it's hard to believe...but somewhere down the line people are going to get SO stupid that they're going to think that some people love incorrectly...so, if you could just put a note in there that HATE is what is wrong and LOVE is what is right...that'd be great. Also maybe a footnote about warmongering Presidents named Bush?"

This dude thinks he's to blame for Miley Cyrus...

2008-01-07T12:34:00.000-06:00

from Yahoo!

'Hannah Montana' suit sent to mediation
Fri Jan 4, 6:51 PM PST

A judge on Friday referred to mediation a lawsuit by a veteran writer who claims he pitched the idea for the hit "Hannah Montana" show and has never been compensated.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reginald Dunn set an Aug. 26 court date in case the sides cannot resolve the case with the mediator.

In a lawsuit filed last summer, Buddy Sheffield said he pitched a television series called "Rock and Roland" to the Disney Channel in 2001.

"The series revolved around a junior high school student who appears to lead an entirely unremarkable life, but is secretly a pop/rock star and the main breadwinner for his family," Sheffield said in the suit.

Disney Channel officials were at first enthusiastic about the project but later decided to pass, the lawsuit claimed.

Sheffield said in the suit they took the characters he created and developed "Hannah Montana," which he called a "blatant copy."

The Disney Channel is owned by ABC Cable Networks, whom Sheffield named in the suit. A lawyer for ABC Cable Networks said Friday he couldn't comment. In court filings, the company has denied wrongdoing.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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This is also the main plot for Batman, Jem and the Holograms, He-Man, Superman, basically any show where there's a secret identity...and really, do you really want to be the guy who came up with the idea that had to be IMPROVED UPON to be the basis for Hannah Montana?!

Funny Forward

2008-01-07T12:25:00.000-06:00

Every once in a great while I do get a funny forward in my Inbox - here's one (sorry to those who live in Alabama):

These are real notes written by parents in an ALABAMA school district.
Spellings have been left intact.
MAYBE WE CAN GET THESE PARENTS INTO SCHOOL.

1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.

2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.

3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.

4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.

5. Please excuse Roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.

8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the poops.

12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust (bus).

14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.

16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.

17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.

18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.

19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps. (cramps)

21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.

22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.

23. Mary ann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister and i were also sick and her father even got hot last night.

2008-01-07T12:10:00.000-06:00

from Yahoo! News:

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices indicated Monday they are deeply divided over a challenge to the way most states execute prisoners by lethal injection, which critics say creates an avoidable risk of excruciating pain.

Justice Antonin Scalia was among several conservatives on the court who suggested he would uphold Kentucky's method of execution and allow capital punishment to resume.

States have been careful to adopt procedures that do not seek to inflict pain and should not be barred from carrying out executions even if prison officials sometimes make mistakes in administering drugs, Scalia said. "There is no painless requirement" in the Constitution, Scalia said.

But other justices said they are troubled by the procedure in which three drugs are administered in succession to knock out, paralyze and kill prisoners. The argument against the three-drug protocol is that if the initial anesthetic does not take hold, a third drug that stops the heart can cause excruciating pain. The second drug, meanwhile, paralyzes the prisoner, rendering him unable to express his discomfort.

"I'm terribly troubled by the fact that the second drug seems to cause all risk of excruciating pain," Justice John Paul Stevens said.

Both sides in the case said they are bothered by the seemingly endless series of death penalty cases that come to the court.

Justice David Souter urged his colleagues to take the time necessary to issue a definitive decision about the three-drug method in this case, even if it means sending the case back to Kentucky for more study by courts there.

Scalia, however, said such a move would mean "a national cessation of executions. We're looking at years. We wouldn't want that to happen."

Kentucky, backed by the Bush administration, says it works hard to execute inmates humanely, countering claims that its procedure violates the 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

But Donald Verrilli, a Washington lawyer who is a veteran of capital cases, told the justices that problems with executions in California, North Carolina and other states show that the three-drug procedure should be scrapped or thoroughly revamped.

"The risk here is real. That is why it is unlawful to euthanize animals the way Kentucky executes inmates," Verrilli said. Kentucky bars the use of the paralytic on animals. An overdose of barbiturates is commonly used on animals.

Verrilli suggested a similar method be adopted in Kentucky.

But Roy Englert, arguing for the state, said a single drug has never been used in executions.

By contrast, he said, Kentucky regularly trains its execution team and employs an experienced worker to insert the intravenous lines through which the drugs are administered.

Recent executions in Florida and Ohio took much longer than usual, with strong indications that the prisoners suffered severe pain in the process. Workers had trouble inserting the IV lines that are used to deliver the drugs.

Lined up in front of the court waiting to attend the arguments, college students Jeremy Sperling and Gira Joshi said they oppose the death penalty, but regard making executions less painful and more humane as a worthy goal.

"You have the right to die with dignity," said Joshi, a political science and religion major at New Jersey's Rutgers University. Sperling, a psychology and religion major at New York University, said serving a life prison term is the appropriate alternative to the death penalty.

The case is Baze v. Rees, 07-5439.

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I don't know where I fall on the Death Penalty thing - I mean, on the wonderfully basic side I think it's wrong to kill another person. An eye for an eye and all of that just seems cruel...but then again, I've never lost someone to a cold-blooded killer. Whenever I think about the death penalty my mind goes back to the Laramie Project and Dennis Shepard's statement. I remember having to deliver that to a room full of crying audience members...I remember knowing that my parents were out there one night and it only took a small leap of imagination for them to imagine themselves having to say these things about the loss of me or my brother. I guess I'm just glad that I don't have to make those kinds of decisions...

So, what did YOU watch this weekend...?

2008-01-07T08:24:00.000-06:00

I'm afraid my weekends have become my time to squeeze in as much movie-type entertainment as possible. Between the jobs and the rehearsals, I get about an hour at the end of the day during the week...that's enough for an episode of Dead Like Me or a couple episodes of Friends but not enough time to invest in a movie. This weekend KP and I went to see One Missed Call. Wow...okay, let me walk you through this train wreck.

First of all, let's start with how I can't stand watching horror films in the theatre - I can't stand screaming, giggling, talk-to-the-screen people. In the row in front of us were The Sisterhood of Traveling Commentary who would continue to scream whenever anything (ANYTHING) happened. Then the row behind us were the Abercrombie and Bitch's and the Hollister Hookers who would guffaw when their girls screamed and then talk about how stupid this movie was and how they weren't scared...except for one part with a dead baby which I'll get into later. Also, apparently someone at the back of the theatre was throwing popcorn at one of the Sisterhood because at some point she turned around and went all crazy Rosie Perez on the theatre and said "Okay, I ain't know who you is - but you throw one mo' thang at my head and it is OWN" ...that only works if you read it out loud. I kept hoping that she was going to accuse me of doing it because I was all prepared to say (with the appropriate accent): "Girl, this popcorn done cost me ten dollars - I ain't gone waste it by throwing it in yo' greasy hair." But, alas, she did not. So, on to the movie itself - here we go.

We open on a cute college student who, for some reason, apparently lives alone at a Japanese tea house. She's on the phone and there's a bottle of medication nearby. Her cat romps over to the koi pond and then we hear a splash. The girl goes over to look for her cat - she finds the cat on the other side of the pond looking at her as if to say "What, did you think I fell in? I'm not a dog, stupid." Then a hand shoots up out of the water and pulls her in. The cat begins to clean itself near the pond (because cats apparently just do NOT panic...my cat is sometimes afraid of its own tail) - and then the hand reaches up and pulls it down, too! Cue opening credits.

We're at a big party being thrown at Shannyn Sossaman's house - no idea why there is a party of how she knows these people. She and the younger brother from AvP:R are there. He's apparently flirting with some girl (with an accent straight from a Selena Straight to Video Movie) to make some other girl jealous. Well, other girl shows up - at this point when Shannyn goes to answer the door we get our first glimpse at her apparent inability to look through a peep hole. You think it'll make sense down the road? Yeah, keep thinking that... so the girl that Younger Brother is trying to make jealous was at the Cat Lady's funeral. She runs upstairs and she and Shannyn bond. Then Funeral Girl's phone rings "That's not my ringtone..." She listens to the voice mail (which is time- and date-stamped a few days in the future). She hears herself and it apparently freaks her out enough to thrust the phone at the camera - it'd be great if this was actually a 3-d movie, but it's not...but thanks for trying. So Shannyn listens to the message and then says "That's you...it's time- and date-stamped for a few days in the future." She will be stating the plot throughout this movie...

Flash forward a few days in the future - Funeral Girl begins to see things that she reacts to very well...creepy people with teeth for eyes, worms digging into her friend's hands, burning nurses, etc, etc...she's a little creeped out but not so much. The first time I see someone with munching teeth for eyes is the last time I step outside my house. So anyway this chick ends up on the phone with Shannyn and says exactly what was stated in the voicemail. For some reason she falls off an overpass and gets hit by a train. Her hand (now serrated from her body) begins to dial a phone number on the phone. Weird. Enough to make the Sisterhood scream...again.

So Younger Brother gets a call, dies. Selena: Straight to Video gets a call, dies on tv during a weird exorcism-type show. Also throw into this mix Edward Burns as a hot cop who had a sister die...she was friends with the Cat girl. So now we have the start of the mystery. Also throw in Margaret Cho for no apaprent reason as a mean cop with the ehtnic-specific last name of Lee. So Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossaman track these calls down (apparently it's very easy to do - none of the other cops actually bothered to look at the phone logs) - hmmm, possible serial killer on the loose but let's ignore the obvious connections these characters have...nevermind the fact that they all have red marbles in their mouths?! So, they track down the beginning of the call to this hospital that burned down during the start of the movie - at some point Shannyn gets uncomfortably close to a creepy looking corpse that comes to life for some reason - nothing like girl on undead-girl action. Also for a brieg amount of time, much to the Abercrombie and Bitch guy's delight - Shannyn crawls through a ventallation shaft with her butt up in the air and her boobs at eye level...good times. Oh, and we learn that Shannyn's mom used to burn her with cigarettes for no particular reason and her dad hung himself in the upper-levels of their apparent crack den of a home...Shannyn saw this through a peephole and that's why she's afraid of them now. Honestly. Well, everything turns out fine - then there's a twist. Then everything turns out fine. Then there's a twist...Sadly, I still think it was better than AvP:R. I give it a five out of ten...I love Shannyn Sossaman and I enjoy Edward Burns as well...but mostly as eye candy.

Be Happy, Not Gay

2008-01-04T14:39:00.000-06:00

from 365gay.com:

(Chicago, Illinois) A law firm that represents conservative Christians is preparing to appeal a federal court ruling that bars a Neuqua Valley High School sophomore from wearing a t-shirt at school that reads "Be Happy, Not Gay."

Alexander Nuxoll is one of two students who were told by their Naperville school that the t-shirt is discriminatory. Nuxoll and Heidi Zamecnik had tried to wear the shirts as a protest against the National Day of Silence in 2006.

The homemade t-shirt said on the front "My Day Of Silence, Straight Alliance, and the back read "Be Happy Not Gay:"

School officials ordered Zamecnik to remove the T-shirt. When she refused she was told to cross out "Not Gay" with a marking pen.

Last year, with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund, they went to court seeking an injunction barring the school from taking action against them for wearing the t-shirts.

A federal judge ruled that the school had the right to dictate a dress code.

The school said it would allow the students to wear t-shirts that said "Be Happy, Be Straight" because it would not degrade another group.

The ADF said this week that it would take the case to the federal appeals court. Zamecnik has since graduated and is no longer a party in the case.

ADF attorney Nate Kellum said he would ask for an expedited decision in hopes Nuxoll could wear the shirt in time for this year's Day of Silence.

"Be Happy, Be Straight" doesn't necessarily encompass opposition to homosexuality, a viewpoint students should be allowed to express, Kellum told the Daily Herald.

"I think some messages are just better phrased in the negative," said Kellum, citing "No smoking" as an example.

©365Gay.com 2008

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Ah yes, political prisoners are being tortured, the government has been corrupt for so long that we don't remember actually trusting the talking heads on television, the number of homeless teens and people in their 20s is rising and the percentage of them that are gay is rising as well, the new presidential candidates are up and running, people are being killed, raped, robbed, and abused...but there are some people who take the time out of their busy schedule to push the "Heterosexual Agenda" - why isn't that term lobbed around more? Why are homosexuals the only ones with an agenda? I'm so certain that somewhere there are gay people who are trying to take away straight rights, to impose our modes of outlandish and outlaw thinking on the good Christians of the world - honestly. Why is it the most "hate" comes from the group that claims to be based on Christ's love and acceptance? I mean, I remember that time in high school when I was called a fag by a Buddhist - no wait, that never happened...that would have been a good Christian. I guess the 11th Commandment went something like: Thou Shalt Choose Upon Whom To Bestow My Love Upon.

...I get heated when I read things like this.

...and now a video.

Love Mattress

2008-01-04T09:24:00.000-06:00

from Boing Boing

Love Mattress Prototype by Mehdi Mojtabvi
Posted by Joel Johnson, January 3, 2008 7:05 AM

Although I shudder to think what sort of crusty bits my dog would find a way to insinuate into the slats, I think this "Love Mattress" concept by Mehdi Mojtabvi may have something to it. The middle section of the mattress is broken into slats, making it possible to wrap your arms around someone without cutting off your circulation, or sleep on your belly while sticking your feet straight down. The trick would be to make the slats tight enough that they would hold together when you weren't trying to use them, while still loose enough that they wouldn't squeeze too tightly when in use.

If someone does bring it to market, they probably shouldn't call it the "Love Mattress," despite that there may be a few lonely sleepers who may do just that.

Project Page [Red-Dot.sg via Freshome via InventorSpot]

My 2 cents...you can get a refund.

2008-01-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

So, here's the run down - Obama won in Iowa (along with Huckabee) - here's an article from the always wonderful 365gay.com:

Obama Scores Stunning Victory
by The Associated Press

Posted: January 4, 2008 - 12:01 am ET

(Des Moines, Iowa) Democrat Barack Obama has put to rest the question of whether a black presidential candidate can win in white America.

His victory in 95 percent white Iowa proved that he could appeal across racial lines and even draw women away from Hillary Rodham Clinton despite her push for them to make her the first female president. Next he'll try to build on his record in New Hampshire, which is 96 percent white.

Obama did not appeal so openly to make history as the first black to occupy the Oval Office; he rarely mentioned that he was black.

"You've got to have hope if you are a black man named Obama running for the presidency of the United States of America," Obama said during a late-night campaign stop two days before the caucus. It was one of his rare mentions of what he had to overcome.

Obama's candidacy has been dogged by questions about whether he'd be electable against a Republican. Pressed on that during a campaign stop in New Hampshire over the summer, Obama said his race would be an asset because it would bring blacks to the polls in record numbers and give the Democrats victories in Southern states that have been voting Republican for decades.

"I'm probably the only candidate who, having won the nomination, can actually redraw the political map," Obama said at the time. "I guarantee you African-American turnout, if I'm the nominee, goes up 30 percent around the country, minimum. Young people's percentage of the vote goes up 25-30 percent. So we're in a position to put states in play that haven't been in play since LBJ."

Lyndon Baines Johnson ran for president in 1964 and won in a landslide. But since then the South has turned into a Republican stronghold.

Obama's prediction about black voter turnout can't be tested in Iowa or New Hampshire, but young voters did come to the polls in larger numbers.

Nearly a quarter of Democratic caucus-goers interviewed in the entrance poll were under 30 years old, a jump from 2004. Obama got 57 percent of the vote from the under-30 crowd, compared with just 14 percent for 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards and 11 percent for Clinton. Twenty-eight percent of Obama's support came from the under-30 set, according to a survey of voters entering the caucuses by The Associated Press and the television networks.

Obama also won the greatest percentages of independents, first-time caucus-goers, self-identified liberals and, most troubling for Clinton, women. Obama got 35 percent of women voters, compared to 30 percent for Clinton and 23 percent for Edwards. This despite the fact that Clinton focused her campaign on bringing fellow women to the polls.

Democratic consultant Jamal Simmons said Obama's victory "proves that America is changing when it comes to race and politics."

"Winning in Iowa is not winning the nomination, but is very significant," Simmons said. "Tonight Barack Obama has made it more true that every black child in America can do whatever they want to if they work hard for it - really."

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Now then...how do we feel about this? Well, I'm of two minds - I, personally, plan on voting for Hillary but it is kind of nice to see that the race card hasn't been played too hard up until now...I didn't have to listen to Al Sharpton tell us that if we didn't vote for Obama then that would be as good as voting for Imus - I didn't have to listen to Jessie Jackson make another sad parody of himself and prostitute his race issues for the world to see...I guess they're still over there helping the Jenna 6 (I have my own ideas about that as well - of course, all of my information comes from wikipedia.org) But then again, I didn't hear much of a rumble about the gender card being played by the Clinton camp. There were a few people complaining about it...but these are also the people who accuse Cloverfield of using 09-11 imagery to sell a movie - a tempest in a pot of tea, basically. I'm sure that all the rules are going to change now - the ads are going to get mean, the debates are gonna get heated, the interviews will begin to saturate the airwaves...God, does anyone remember a time when there WASN'T an election upcoming? As a side note, I asked a co-worker today how she felt about the results and her response was something like this: "I'm not educated on any of the candidates because I don't like any of them but I know I don't want Clinton to win" ...these are the people helping to choose the next President. I get so depressed about voting because my one informed vote gets undone by people like this or my dad who belongs, God bless him, to the "Not Female and Not Un-White" Party. I'm curious about the number of women who don't like Clinton...I could go on and on about how I think they've mistake Hillary the politician with Hillary the wife who had a husband stray...HONESTLY, people still think about the "Clinton Scandal" around here!!! Someone actually said to me, in total sincerity, that they switched to the Republican party because CLINTON MADE AMERICA LOOK FOOLISH and that they knew that BUSH WAS HELPING AMERICA REGAIN IT'S IMAGE IN THE WORLD...honestly.

H&M does Romeo and Juliet + Dreamgirls

2008-01-03T15:19:00.001-06:00

I love this commercial for H&M that's directed by David Chappelle. Honestly, it's better than some MOVIES that I've seen recently (I'm looking at you AVP:R) - and I love me some Jennifer Hudson but Tamyra Gray would have been a nice second choice... the rumors were abounding that she was being considered for the part anyway but then J-Hud took it all away! and the rest is herstory....

They're Coming To Your Town!!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-03T13:55:00.001-06:00

I snagged this and the accompanying article from the fine folks at Joe.My.God who, in turn, found it at Good As Your - so just sit back and enjoy the crazy.

From the AFA's press release:

AFA has just released a new DVD, "They're Coming To Your Town." The DVD shows how a small group of homosexual activists took over the city council in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and began imposing their homosexual agenda on that community.

For 40 years Eureka Springs has been known as a resort town for Christians. Their Passion Play has been attended by hundreds of thousands of Christians. But the activists are now in the process of turning Eureka Springs into a haven for homosexuals.

"They're Coming To Your Town" shows how, using deceitfulness and lies, homosexuals maneuvered themselves into positions of power and then used those positions to promote their agenda.

"They're Coming To Your Town" is an eye-opener to those who are not familiar with how homosexuals use the system to attain their goals. It is a 28-minute DVD, making it perfect for viewing during Sunday School.

I urge you to order the DVD, watch it, then share it with members of your church. Give a copy to your pastor. Click here to view the trailer.

Click here to order "They're Coming To Your Town."

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution? Click here to make a donation.

Sincerely,
Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

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I do agree with Joe.My.God in stating that it would almost be worth the money it costs just to own this crazy thing to show at parties and such...good times.

Insert Jaws Theme Music Here...

2008-01-03T09:07:00.001-06:00

How cool is that picture? I snagged it from TowleRoad. So follow that link for the whole story - it's no photoshop trick. I have no idea how I'd handle a huge shark following me in the water...sheesh.

The Wonder that is Dax Flame

2008-01-02T16:46:00.000-06:00

This kid cracks me up! I love the casual way he slaughters the English language and freaks out about EVERYTHING...he's ridiculous. I can only assume that there is some twisted brilliance behind this...otherwise, wow, keep this kid out of belltowers when he goes to college.

LOST in 8 minutes and 15 seconds

2008-01-02T15:55:00.000-06:00

This is awesome - this video is the official LOST recap - it's 8 minutes and 15 seconds long...get it? 'Cause they were on flight 815...ah well. Anyway, by watching this you have officially saved yourself all the money you'd have otherwise spent on DVDs and all the time and energy spent in watching the episodes...good times. Enjoy!

That being said...I can't wait to watch the new episodes - even though I don't have cable...I'll be watching them the next day at www.abc.com

2008-01-02T12:35:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year and such. Everyone gets all introspective for the first few minutes of the new year as they evaluate their life and the expectations they've put on themselves. Are you where you want to be? Are you doing what you want to be doing? Are you as happy as you could be? Chances are most of these answers will be 'no' - that's okay, know that you're not alone. Everyone feels like they could be happier - the trick is being happy with what you have and yet agreeing to actively pursue MORE happiness. It can be done - or so I'm told...but when I think about how many people I know personally who are just happy with their lives...well, I get depressed because there aren't that many. Life sucks then you move on...no big deal :)

In other news I got one of those crazy work-out balls and have been having fun working out...those things are tough, man. I'm a little sweaty and sore afterwards. I pity the folks who are "Fitness Models" who have to workout behind the main instructor. They're never allowed to drop their smiles or look unhappy. And nevermind the fact that the lady who is in charge of my workout video keeps catcalling the poor girl in the back. "How's that feel for ya, Leslie-Ann?" "You still with me, Leslie-Ann?" "That hurt, Leslie-Ann?" Either they're lovers or Leslie-Ann pissed off the trainer. The poor guy in the back just gets ignored...he probably feels foolish for having to be the Exercise Ball guy anyway...I would be.

09/11 Investigation Obstructed...

2008-01-02T11:30:00.000-06:00

from salon.com:

Wednesday January 2, 2008 08:12 EST
9/11 Commission: Our investigation was "obstructed"
The bi-partisan co-chairmen of the 9/11 Commission, Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton, jointly published an Op-Ed in today's New York Times which contains some extremely emphatic and serious accusations against the CIA and the White House. The essence:

[T]he recent revelations that the C.I.A. destroyed videotaped interrogations of Qaeda operatives leads us to conclude that the agency failed to respond to our lawful requests for information about the 9/11 plot. Those who knew about those videotapes -- and did not tell us about them -- obstructed our investigation.
More strikingly still, they explicitly include the White House at the top of their list of guilty parties:
There could have been absolutely no doubt in the mind of anyone at the C.I.A. -- or the White House -- of the commission's interest in any and all information related to Qaeda detainees involved in the 9/11 plot. Yet no one in the administration ever told the commission of the existence of videotapes of detainee interrogations.
To underscore the seriousness of their accusations, Keane and Hamilton end with this:
What we do know is that government officials decided not to inform a lawfully constituted body, created by Congress and the president, to investigate one the (sic) greatest tragedies to confront this country. We call that obstruction.
It's hard to imagine a more serious scandal than this. As I noted the other day, it is a confirmed fact that Alberto Gonzales and David Addingtion -- the top legal representatives of George Bush and Dick Cheney, respectively -- participated in discussions as to whether those videotapes should be destroyed. The White House refuses to disclose what these top officials said in those meetings. Did they instruct that the videos should be destroyed or fail to oppose their destruction? The NYT previously quoted one "senior intelligence official with direct knowledge of the matter [who] said there had been 'vigorous sentiment' among some top White House officials to destroy the tapes."

Thus, we have evidence that "top White House officials" vigorously argued that these videos should be destroyed. The number one aides to both the President and Vice President both participated in discussions as to whether they should be, almost certainly with the knowledge and at the direction of their bosses.

And now we have the 9/11 Commission Chairmen stating as explicitly as can be that the mere concealment (let alone destruction) of these videos constituted the knowing and deliberate obstruction of their investigation into the worst attack on U.S. soil in our history. Combined with the fact that the videos' destruction almost certainly constitutes "obstruction of justice" with regard to numerous judicial proceedings as well, we're talking here about extremely serious felonies at the highest levels of our government.

Both legally and politically, it's hard to imagine a more significant scandal than the President and Vice President deliberately obstructing the investigation of the 9/11 Commission by concealing and then destroying vital evidence which the Commission was seeking. Yet that's exactly what the evidence at least suggests has occurred here.

What possible justification is there for the White House to refuse to say what the role of Addington, Gonzales, Bush and Cheney was in all of this? Having been ordered by Bush's new Attorney General not to investigate, are the Senate and House Intelligence Committees (led by the meek Silvestre Reyes and the even meeker Jay Rockefeller) going to compel answers to these questions? In light of this Op-Ed, do Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee think the White House should publicly disclose to the country the role Bush and Cheney played in the destruction of this evidence? If there are any reporters left who aren't traipsing around together in Iowa, it seems pretty clear that this story ought to be dominating the news.

-- Glenn Greenwald

My new favorite singer...

2008-01-02T10:13:00.000-06:00

So I was stumbling around the internet today (as I tend to do for the first few hours of every morning before fully switching into something like "Work Mode") and I think I read an article about a gay bashing that was being ignored in Australia and I folloed the link to the Australian paper it was being printed in and I was just curious as to what was popular over there so I checked out the performances coming to town...I found an article about this "remarkable and reknowned American artist" by the name of Sufjan Stevens. So I dashed over to YouTube to see if I could find any video performances and I certainly did...and Mr. Stevens has found himself a new fan! I think that the two of you who actually read this might enjoy him, too - check him out. I'll put up some of the videos that I found - I love his voice and the lyrics are really entrancing. He is one of those singers that can be enjoyed on a couple of levels - you can just ignore what he's saying and use his voice as another instrument and just enjoy the overall sound or you can listen intently to the words and love the stories... His songs are almost all autobiographical or contain some autobiographical elements. I just dig the guy...and he's pretty easy on the eyes as well as the ears - I never said I wasn't shallow...

My daddy fake-died for tickets to Hannah Montana

2008-01-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

Club Libby Lu withdraws prize from girl whose essay was untrue
GARLAND, Texas — A 6-year-old girl who won four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert with an essay that falsely claimed her father died in Iraq won't be going to the show after all.

The contest's sponsor, Club Libby Lu, withdrew the prize on Saturday and awarded it to another unnamed winner.

"With this decision, we hope to revive the intended spirit of the contest, which was designed to make a little girl's holidays extra special," Club Libby Lu chief executive Mary Drolet said in a statement Saturday.

Officials with the Chicago-based chain surprised the girl on Friday at a Club Libby Lu store in a suburban Dallas mall. Club Libby Lu sells clothes, accessories and games for young girls.

The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on Jan. 9.

The opening line in the essay was: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

But the girl's mother, Priscilla Ceballos, admitted later Friday that the essay and the military information she provided about her daughter's father were untrue.

Ceballos had told Club Libby Lu officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq, company spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said.

She identified the soldier as Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, but the Department of Defense has no record of anyone with that name dying in Iraq.

"We did the essay and that's what we did to win. We did whatever we could do to win," Ceballos said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW on Friday. "But when (Caulfield) asked me if this essay is true, I said, `No, this essay is not true.'"

The Associated Press was unable to find a phone number for Ceballos on Saturday.

___

December 29, 2007 - 2:15 p.m. CST

Copyright 2007, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press

What's really sad about this is the fact that the mother wrote the essay - I watched a video and you should just watch the mom squirm now that she's been totally busted...I wonder, if years down the road, the mother will prompt the child to write a memoir about it. It will only sell if, years later, this little girl has become some crack-addicted mother of 40 who still wears the Hannah Montanna wig and blames her mom and the too-nosey media for ruining her childhood. It will be called The Worst of Both Worlds (which is an inside joke for all Montana fans...)

Frankly, I think that Miley Cyrus reminds me of friggin' Elaine Stritch..

Seperated at birth? You tell me...

think of this as the Hannah Montana of the far flung future...

scary, I know...

Did you know....

2007-12-31T14:36:00.000-06:00

that this kind of thing happens in your name?

2007-12-31T09:32:00.000-06:00

from www.salon.com :

May 16, 2007 | Eight years ago the Rev. Jerry Falwell warned parents that BBC children's television star Tinky Winky was a hidden symbol of homosexuality. Falwell died Tuesday at 73, and the world wanted to talk to Tinky Winky.

"They're calling again, again, again," he said by phone from his home in Islington, in London. A spokesman said the former "Teletubbies" costar got more than 100 calls from reporters in the hour following news of Falwell's death.

"Oh dear, it's easy to say the wrong thing here," he said. "Tinky Winky sad whenever someone dies, but ..." He left it hanging there.

In a 1999 article in his National Liberty Journal headlined "Tinky Winky Comes Out of the Closet," Falwell pointed out that Winky could be taken as representing gays.

"He is purple -- the gay pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle -- the gay pride symbol," Falwell wrote. "The character, whose voice is that of a boy, has been found carrying a red purse in many episodes and has become a favorite character among gay groups worldwide."

In the resulting media firestorm, gay-rights activists called for Winky to come out while Christian groups demanded the BBC fire him so that he couldn't, in Falwell's words, "role-model the gay lifestyle."

"It was traumatizing, really," says Winky, who now owns a holistic healing center and makes occasional appearances on British TV. "I'm a very private Teletubby. I just wanted to get away, go over the hills and far away. But when you're 7 feet tall and purple with an antenna on your head and a TV screen in your belly, where are you going to go?"

Winky says he tried to contact Falwell after the article came out, but the evangelist wouldn't take his calls.

"I wanted to know why he didn't talk to me first," Winky says. "It's not like I'm hard to reach. Have the pinwheel call me. But really I just wanted to clap him on the head with Tinky Winky bag."

The star never has clarified his sexual orientation, insisting on his privacy and denying rumors over the years that he had affairs with two of his costars on the 1997-2001 show, the male Dipsy and the female Po.

"We love each other very much," he says. "Big hug. But it's not like that. It was a kids show, know what I mean? And this Falwell guy and his followers wanted to turn us into something else. We weren't modeling a gay lifestyle and we weren't trying to corrupt anyone's kids. We were just kids ourselves, really. Give us a little Tubby toast or custard and a film of some kids washing clothes or something, that's all we needed. We didn't give a shit about modeling a lifestyle."

Tinky Winky sounds angry. The wounds are still raw. Winky chuckles. "I must say, though," he says, "without getting into too many details, we had a girl in the group who ran around this kids show yelling, 'Cooter! Cooter!' And I'm the gay one? Do me a favor."

Through a spokeswoman, Po declined to comment for this article.

Winky says the Teletubbies stay in touch, and he remains friends with both Dipsy, who owns a nightclub in West London where Winky is often seen, and Po. Winky says he and Laa-Laa never really got along during the show's run, but, "We're fine now. We've come to appreciate each other."

Asked about Falwell's death, Winky turns serious and chooses his words carefully.

"I'm not going to pretend I'm sadder than I am," he says. "There were late nights during the dark times when I wished to hear news like this. I'd be lying if I denied that. I don't feel that way anymore. I like to think I've grown over the years, gotten past all that pain.

"But at the end of the day, I'm not terribly sad, and I think a lot of people feel the same way. Jerry Falwell was a divisive person, a hateful person, and what I've tried to be all about, in the Teletubbies days and since then, has been love. I've got to keep it that way. I don't want anybody feeling good about it when it's my time for Tubby bye-bye."

Movies I saw this weekend...

2007-12-31T08:50:00.000-06:00

So, this weekend I saw a couple of new releases - Aliens versus Predator: Requiem (or AVPR as it's referred to by those "in the know", I guess...Aliens versus Public Relations, maybe?) And, gotta say, it was not my favorite. I was a fan of the first movie. but this one was just kind of lame. It picks up right after the first movie - with the crazy alien-predator hybrid bursting out of the chest of the last predator. The Alien-Predator (AP) goes all nutso and kills the remaining Predators and the ship crashes to Earth near some small town in middle America ('cause you know, America has such a gravitational pull that it can not only pull the Autobots and Decepticons from space but also Predator ships, ET's ship, basically anything that wants to be on a movie screen here will be pulled towards America...movie logic 101). Well, the aliens go on a bit of a rampage - men, women, children, and dogs are all killed so there's pretty much a no holds barred kind of logic here. Characters are introduced, you learn a little about them and then whammo, they're toast. The characters you spend the most time with however get little to no back story - you get more info on the characters on the sidelines than you do about our Main Guy and Main Girl. We know the Main Guy just got back into town from prison and the Main Girl is apparently home on some sort of military break...apparently this means that only outsiders will survive so know that if an alien outbreak happens, you're only chances of survival will happen in another town/city nearby. There are a couple of shocks and surprises here and there - one character unexpectedly bought it even though, in hindsight, I do recall seeing that scene in an early trailer for the film...but it was still kind of shocking. And then there's the sort of lame-ass attempt to tie it into the Alien's mythology...I didn't get the reference at all and it seemed tagged on and lame but KP explained it to me. You know how the first AvP had the guy who becomes the model for the robot guy in Aliens? No? Well, it did...anyway, apparently he had a business partner - some Asian woman - and at the end of the film she's given a weapon and so the dirty path to the future is all set to begin...or something. Whatever...I give it a C-

I also got a chance to see I Am Legend this weekend and it, my friends, was amazing. It was a very quiet and thoughtful film for a majority of the time and then it took a crazy Hollywood ending twist at the end - heroic sacrifice, happy ending, blah blah blah. I remember reading back somewhere that Smith got in trouble for "giving away the ending" but...well, the ending wasn't shocking or surprising so I don't know what the big deal was. Will Smith plays a virologist who is working on a cure for what was originally a cure for cancer. That virus started to mutate and turned pretty much everyone in the world into these pale and scary mutant freaks that scream and jump and attack everyone...The opening shots of an abandoned Manhattan (it was quarantined and the bridges in and out of the city were destroyed) are amazingly quiet and still. Nature is taking it back. Plants are bursting up out of the cement and sidewalks - deer are running wild, flocks of birds are here and there and, strangely, there are some lions...I guess they maybe escaped from the zoo? Smith is the only person in the city that he knows of but he's left a repeating message on all AM channels that states he'll be at the bridge at noon everyday..."if you're out there...you're not alone" he promises protection and food and shelter to anyone who hears the message. His only companion is Sam, his dog. Sam is, frankly, the most expressionistic dog I've ever seen...you'd think she understood everything Smith said. Smith is coping with being alone (for nearly a thousand days now) by setting up mannequins throughout town. I love that he returns movies to the Blockbuster before taking new ones. This is his new life and you get to watch him live it for a good portion of the film...you get to see him struggle with trying to find a cure (while working on rats), hunting for food, taking care of his dog, working out, etc, etc and you get flashbacks to see what happened when the outbreak happened and he had to let his family leave without him. You get to see all the tragedy that this man has already been through and you get to see him struggle to keep going towards finding a cure...he's not even sure that there are other survivors out there. It turns out that, like, 1 out of every 500 people might be immune - that's one out of every five hundred people on Earth - the population went down to, like, some million or such...there's a LOT of room on Earth now...if you can find other people, that is. When the unthinkable happens (both good and bad) and the end of the movie begins to come near you really get to see what a great actor Smith is...I've always written him off as a Summer Blockbuster idiot...I blame that opinion on the fact that he did a movie with Martin Lawrence...nobody can respect that kind of choice. I never saw Pursuit of Happyness but I've heard it's great... now I'm willing to check it out. Watching Smith deal with all the losses he's dealt and all the hope he's both given and is taken away from him...he's just great all around. He basically carries this film. I can't wait for the DVD to be released so I can see the "original ending" that didn't test well with audiences because it wasn't happy enough...it was probably more true to the film and will only add to my enjoyment of this surprising blockbuster.

Ron Paul vs Crazy Christians!

2007-12-31T08:23:00.000-06:00

Okay, in no particular order here are the things that amused me over the weekend - all in seperate entries so you can just read the ones you like.

There's this crazy intersection in town - a four way stop: on one corner there's a bank, the other corner is empty, then the local Target and sad excuse for a Mall make up the other two. This is where people with issues like to gather to scream at people in cars. There's a group of Crazy Christians in town - I don't even really know what their relgious affiliation is exactly. They dress their small children up in their Sunday best and make them hold signs that say such delightful things as: "Ask me why you're going to hell" (not that that wouldn't look great on an employee's name tag. 'Hi, I'm ___________ feel free to ask me why you're going to hell for shopping at Wal-Mart!' - it'd be great) or "Catholicism is NOT a religion!" - that one I just straight-up do not get. Of course it's a religion...it has a book that has rules in it. Of course, by that understanding of what makes a religion I guess Dungeons and Dragons is a religion...and if you think that that's funny then you don't know people who play Dungeons and Dragons.

Anyway, those people were out in force - one guy was screaming something I couldn't understand on a bullhorn (don't scream while on a bullhorn...it just defeats the purpose of amplfying your voice, idiot...) and everyone else was all dressed up with signs saying all sorts of things like "God hates you!" and such. Good times...however, mingled amongst these people was another group of folks. Ron Paul supports (insert ominous music here)!!! So, I was a little confused - I don't really know alot about Mr. Paul but from what I've read he seems to be a decent person...I have a few friends who are all about him..of course, they're not here in Panama City...I was surprised that Ron Paul had gotten down here already - I guess fads more faster now thanks to the internet. And they knew that a lot of people didn't know who Ron Paul was because they had hand-written signs that said "GOOGLE RON PAUL!" ...honestly. There were also some waving American Flags and they were all dressed very nicely. Well, I was confused as to why Ron Paul would want to associate with the crazies...craziers? But I'm in the middle of a mission...I have to pick up some stuff at Best Buy (which is near the mall) and then head to Target. Well, as I'm pulling into Target I notice police cars approaching the intersection with their lights flashing. I pause long enough to think "Hmmm, that should be interesting..." and as I'm leaving Target (I was only in there for about 30 minutes...I'm a power shopper) I noticed that the Crazy Christians have either left or been asked to leave. Now, I don't know for certain what happened...and based upon that fact I shall now tell you what I hoped happened.
One of the Ron Paul people turns out to be a gay Catholic and actually dares to go up to one of the Crazy Christians and ask them why he belongs in hell. The Crazy Christian (CC) starts his ramble about what he's been told - he's reciting this stuff because the kid is only about 17 and knows that if he doesn't say what his dad (the guy screaming over the bullhorn) says then he'll get beaten with the Holy Stick again when they get home after Dad partakes of the Jesus Juice. The Ron Paul Guy (RPG) has pre-planned and logical counters to everything that CC says and so the CC figures that if he just starts to repeat himself at the top of his lungs then RPG will back down - it's what he's learned from his dad who also has these same basic debate techniques. Well Bullhorn Bully (BB) comes over and starts to scream at RPG and some pushing and shoving commences - maybe initiated by the BB or maybe by RPG - I dunno, it happened so fast it was hard to tell - but suddenly the Ron Paul People and the Crazy Christians are all having a turf war! They are screaming at each other such wonderful things as "Google Kickin' Your Ass, weird-o!" and "Ask me why Ron Paul belongs in hell!" ...okay, so this is obviously why they have to write down their slogans - they're not too good when put on the spot. But still...a turf war is still something exciting! ...but then the cops show up and it turns out that the Ron Paul folks asked the right people if it was okay for them to hold a little Google In at the intersection and the Crazy Christians just decided to do it on a whim (and a bottle of Jesus Juice) - so the Ron Paul folks win the corner...for now.

Good times in Panama City...

2007-12-28T15:35:00.000-06:00

this was emailed to me by a friend of mine - I thought it was funny. It's originally from Misfile. And that's all I know about it...I just think boobs are funny and worth worshipping.

Me = Shallow, but sexy.

2007-12-28T10:13:00.000-06:00

Today the Bagel Girl asked me if I was gay. I replied with the usual "Why?" and she then countered with the "My friend thinks you're hot" response. Good times...I gotta admit, I do enjoy it when girls flirt with me - hell, I enjoy it when anyone flirts with me...it makes me feel validated - sadly, one too-long look across a room makes me feel more accomplished than people coming up to me after a production and telling me how good I was...I'm so shallow it hurts. Ah well, whatcha' gonna do...

Nothing much...

2007-12-28T08:28:00.001-06:00

So, after two days of horrible winter weather (we're talkin' like the mid to low 30's here, kids...and I know that in the real world where there exists FOUR seasons that that's not bad but here..damn, that was rough)- anyway...damn parenthetical statements always get me off-track...anyway we have now once again returned to Spring-type weather. This morning I walked out of the house in a polo and jeans and was actually kind of happy with the weather.

In other not-quite-news I recently got the first season of Dead Like Me and have been enjoying it rather thoroughly. It's pretty funny albeit sort of redundant at times - it's about this girl who gets killed in a ridiculous manner and becomes a Grim Reaper. It turns out that Grim Reapers are pretty much just like us except for that special job they have of escorting souls to the other side. The Reapers are broken up into divisions - Accidents, Murders, Maulings, etc, etc, etc...however, Reaping doesn't pay and so they all have to get day jobs. Jasmine Guy (Whitley from a Different World...jeez, I loved that show) is a meter maid by day and a reaper...well, whenever the ETD (Estimated Time of Death) of her mark of the day is. Their boss, a guy by the name of Rube played with fatherly charm and world-weary fatigue by Mandy Patinkin, hands out their daily marks on post-it notes. It's not nearly as glamorous (flossy, flossy) as you'd think.

In a related story - I saw the Sweeny Todd film this weekend and enjoyed it. Johnny Depp actually has a nice voice and Helena Bonham Carter was quite charming as Ms. Lovett. She's no Angela Lansbury or Patti LuPone but still. I knew some other people who were at the theatre at the same time and afterwards the inevitable discussion of movie vs. theatre production came up. One of the girls there said "I liked it more - I could never watch the theatre version because I can't accept Angela Lansbury as a singer." ...honestly.

here's Ms. Lansbury in one of my favorite songs from Sweeny Todd - A Little Priest.

and, even more entertaining and bizarre, Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury singing Bosom Buddies from Mame! Love it...

and don't forget that classic Bedknobs and Broomsticks - kind of a Mary Poppins with a witchcraft twist...would probably never be allowed to made these days in order to protect our poor brainless children who are unable to form their own opinions (see: The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, the "old school" Sesame Street, etc, etc, etc)

End of the Year

2007-12-26T10:06:00.000-06:00

Well, the end of the year funk has set it - Christmas has passed and New Year's is looming. Between those two signposts there lives a time of quiet dread - where you review your life and decide what to resolve to do in the next year. Those resolutions are, by and large, laughable and disposable - you can promise to work out, to save money, to be nicer to people, to dance like nobody is looking, etc, etc - most of those will have been tossed to the side by the second week of January.

I know a few things to be true:

1) I do not want to be here this time next year - when my lease is up I wanna be prepared to move somewhere...anywhere

2) I'm sick of talking the talk about wanting to do something in entertainment (writing/acting/directing, etc) and want to start walking the walk - I am definately not getting any younger and am probably already on the far edge of the median age for those who work in the industry anyway

3) I am prepared to move to California - this has been a recent development. My friend CH tried to get me to move there years ago when she was there and I was never in the mood for it - it always felt wrong. Now I have a few friends who live there and would be okay with moving there

4) I know that I know nothing about writing for television (which, I think, is what I want to do most) and so I know that in order to learn these things I'm going to have to teach myself. Failing that, I need to do long distance networking via some of my friends in Los Angeles...

Other than that, everything else is up for debate.

In other news - it is freaking cold today! I'm one of those whiners who complain about how it doesn't feel like Christmas at 70 degrees but now that it turned low 30's overnight...well, shut my mouth and turn up the heat!

Also, have discovered the Scissor Sisters and am loving their album Ta-Dah - can't wait to collect 'em all :)

For The Gay Geek...

2007-12-21T16:23:00.000-06:00

So I've been stuck looking at this website for easily an hour now - I've always been a closet comic book fan but I had no idea how many closets had been opened in comics! Check out The Gay League for information on all the gay, bi, and is he/isn't he heroes in the comic universes! I've just looked at the bio pages I haven't even begun to explore this awesomely fascinating website...I'm a loser.

Spidey's Secret Revealed!

2007-12-21T14:55:00.000-06:00

from Blog @ Newsarama:

Spider-Man’s stunning secret revealed!Friday December 14, 2007, 1:30 pm
Gail Simone demonstrates why she should be given whatever Spider-Man book she wants:

Seriously. I maintain that Spider-man has represented repressed homosexuality for a good many years. Which is one of the reasons I like him so much.

She elaborates:

I’m serious about this…have you ever noted how many of the stories are about how icky icky girls ruin Spidey’s playtime? And how many of the females are clearly drag queens?

Spidey’s gay, and MJ’s a beard.

Why I love Jake...

2007-12-21T12:31:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I missed this when it originally aired - but here's Jake Gyllenhall doing his DreamGirls impression on SNL!

How many of these did YOU believe?

2007-12-21T11:46:00.000-06:00

from Robert Roy Britt w/ www.LiveScience.com

but I took it from www.yahoo.com:

Popular culture is loaded with myths and half-truths. Most are harmless. But when doctors start believing medical myths, perhaps it's time to worry

In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several run at full tilt.

Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: "There is no medical evidence to suggest that you need that much water," said Dr. Rachel Vreeman, a pediatrics research fellow at the university and co-author of the journal article. Vreeman thinks this myth can be traced back to a 1945 recommendation from the Nutrition Council that a person consume the equivalent of 8 glasses (64 ounces) of fluid a day. Over the years, "fluid" turned to water. But fruits and vegetables, plus coffee and other liquids, count.

Myth: Fingernails and hair grow after death.

Fact: Most physicians queried on this one initially thought it was true. Upon further reflection, they realized it's impossible. Here's what happens: "As the body's skin is drying out, soft tissue, especially skin, is retracting," Vreeman said. "The nails appear much more prominent as the skin dries out. The same is true, but less obvious, with hair. As the skin is shrinking back, the hair looks more prominent or sticks up a bit."

Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here's the deal: When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top, Carroll and Vreeman explain. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that's just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn't been bleached by the sun.

Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

Fact: The researchers found no evidence that reading in dim light causes permanent eye damage. It can cause eye strain and temporarily decreased acuity, which subsides after rest.

Myth: Eating turkey makes you drowsy.

Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn't contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. make fewer mistakes.

"Whenever we talk about this work, doctors at first express disbelief that these things are not true," said Vreeman said. "But after we carefully lay out medical evidence, they are very willing to accept that these beliefs are actually false."

Honestly...

2007-12-21T09:42:00.000-06:00

I work at the only office that A) doesn't believe in Christmas breaks of any sort. I have Christmas Day off - I'm afraid that that will be it. and B) doesn't believe in Christmas Bonuses of any sort. And they wonder why they can't keep staff members? Amidst all the yelling, brow-beating, and blamestorming that happens in this office the pot of gold at the end of the year rainbow has now been withdrawn...actually, I don't think it was ever there to begin with. Hell, even my other job which has no full time sales associates so that it doesn't have to pay out benefits - even that place lets us get some Christmas Cash to spend and allows us to pick a candle, ornament, toy, candleholder to have for free...c'mon, if I get more benefits from my sad-ass Part Time RETAIL job then there is a serious problem here...

I'm so proud of Mississippi...

2007-12-20T14:21:00.000-06:00

The most amazingly funny things happen in America...

from www.snopes.com :

13 August 1999
Jackson, MS -- Bolstered by the state of Kansas' recent measure removing the requirement for the teaching of evolution in public schools, yesterday afternoon the Mississippi legislature passed a bill eliminating fractions and decimal points from the mathematics curriculum of all public secondary schools in the state.

"Despite the coincidental timing of the measure, this was no whim," asserted Mississippi state senator Cassius de Spain. "We'd had the issue under consideration for several months now."

The bill, which cleared the Mississippi Senate by a vote of "a lot" to "a little" (with "this many" senators abstaining) after some initial confusion over how many votes constitute a "majority," directs public secondary schools in Mississippi to emphasize whole number arithmetic in mathematics courses and orders the removal of questions involving non-integer mathematics from standardized state tests after 1999. The fate of percentages remains undetermined as educators attempt to work out an alternative scoring method for tests.

Judith Sutpen, chairperson of the Mississippi Senate Education committee, defended the legislature's action against charges that it was motivated by "controversial religious beliefs."

"This has absolutely nothing to do with religion," she told reporters at a press conference Friday morning. "We're simply seeking to make mathematics more accessible to schoolchildren by de-emphasizing the elements that so many of them find confusing. It makes no sense to try to train our students how to think logically, then present them with nonsensical concepts such as 'irrational' and 'imaginary' numbers."

Senate minority leader Cora Tull indicated that religion did play a part in the passage of the legislation, however, maintaining that "if cardinality is good enough for the Catholic church, it ought to be good enough for the children of the great state of Mississippi." She added that "'improper fractions' have no place in any respectable school system, public or private."

Freshman senator John Sartoris of Brookhaven elaborated on the reasons for his colleagues' support of the bill: "We're sick and tired of hearing about how everything in our culture, from art to entertainment to education, is aimed at the 'lowest common denominator' of society. We're took aggressive action to do something about it yesterday by eliminating that denominator."

School librarians expressed concern about whether they will be able to continue categorizing books according to the Dewey decimal system once the law goes into effect, but Jason Compson, chief librarian for the Greater Biloxi School District, opined that "anyone who couldn't beat that pinko Truman doesn't deserve a place of honor in our schools' libraries anyway."

Several senators indicated that an additional measure aimed at removing "irregular verbs" from English classes might be in the offing.

A couple of music video's...

2007-12-20T08:39:00.000-06:00

So I have been reading about the Scissor Sisters for a while now and I finally checked out some videos on YouTube and, by George, I think I like 'em! I will admit that what finally sold me on it was when I read somewhere that Jack Shears loved Dolly Parton and saw some clips of him interviewing her - the look of absolute delight in his eyes sold me on the guy. Anyone who can love Dolly that much has to be okay...

and here is my absolute favorite video by Melissa Etheridge - I love it and it's always stuck in my mind as one of the sexiest videos ever made...until Slave 4 U came out...but now I believe that the Britney Spears who made that video is dead and gone and we're now stuck with another useless celebrity who does nothing worthwhile.

A drive, an imagined conversation, a birthday, and time zones...

2007-12-20T08:06:00.000-06:00

So this morning, much to the chagrin of the Ugly Lady in Ugly Car, I took Beach Drive to work today. It's the nice scenic route. Nice houses, nice view, nice 35 mph Speed Limit - which, of course, implies that you should be going 40 mph. The UL in UC was obviously in much more of a hurry since she kept rushing up to meet my bumper and then falling back a few yards to throw a little hissy fit about me obviously not getting the hint and then repeating these steps - all along the stretch of road. It was sad. She can't help it that she's capable of road rage first thing in the morning - I mean, that takes some kind of serious commitment. I don't get road ragin' until after work when I just wanna get home! At that point I pity anyone who isn't in as much of a hurry as I am - I finally figured out that the Rush in Rush Hour has nothing to do with the speed of the cars - just the people in them.

As I enjoyed my drive to work (not including my momentary fears of being knocked off the road by UL in UC) I started to have imaginary conversations in my head. Am I the only one who does this? I like to try and script out moments that may or may not ever actually happen. This morning I spent some imaginary time with my nephew, AA. In my mind AA was a teenager and was coming to me for advice on all sorts of things - in reality the kid is only approaching 9 months and only comes to me to tug on my necklage and drool on my face. I want to be that uncle that I've always wanted to have - the one that you can call when you need advice from outside the home. When Mom says one thing but Dad says another...you need a tie-breaker and you know Grandma and Grandpa will always side with their respective kids. The Uncle is the one to go to...I hope. Of course, AA has more than one Uncle. He's got me, his mom's brother, and whoever else the Grandma's and Grandpa's have decided is worthy of being called Uncle. It's tough to fight for the attention of a 9 month old - mainly because everyone else wants it, too. The real test comes when the kid turns into a teenager and suddenly has his own thoughts and issues and wants to have discussions instead of lectures. I want to be that Uncle who encourages him to think for himself, to not always follow the crow, to find his own path, to love and care for people, to know when to let people go, to learn how to handle everything that life throws his way - I guess I wanna be a surrogate father without all the 24/7 responsibilities. I want to be there just for the big things - I want to tell him how to handle his heart the first time it's broken, I want to help him figure out what to get his Dad for Christmas...I don't want to scold him on his report card or work out a chores list. I want to help him write an A+ paper about something he's never had an interest in before - I want to teach him that knowledge can be both powerful and entertaining. I want to teach him that ultimately it doesn't matter what his opinion is just as long as he has one. ...I think alot about this, I guess.

I forgot PR's birthday - I feel like such a schmuck. He called me on mine. I made a mental note to call him on his but my mental notebook is filled with two work schedules and a rehearsal schedule. I will give him a call as soon as it's reasonable to assume that he's awake - I have this difficult problem with time zones. It's ridiculous - especially with my poor friends in California. I'm always like "Well, it's 5pm here...what is it, like, 8am there?" And, God, even my friends up North get the same thing - which is totally ridiculous because I used to live up there so I know it's only an hour ahead...of course, I also like to live in a world where everyone other than me gets to sleep until 11am or so. Like nobody else has to be at work at 8am regardless of their time zone. Oh, and let's not even talk about my friends overseas or in Hawaii (I don't know if that is implied by overseas...overseas has a distinctly "Not America" feel to it) - I get totally confused there...it becomes more of a "It's 5pm here...what is it, March there?"

Test test...is this thing on?

2007-12-19T14:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, let's try blogging in the deep end of the pool away from the safe and shallow waters of the MySpace experience. I'm interested to see what happens but hey, now my friends who have a MySpace aversion can still read my ramblings! And I understand those aversions...I have one for Facebook. No real reason, I'm sure it's perfectly wonderful and has tons of fans...but I just can't commit to it. I have a commitment problem...so bad that I can't even commit to not committing so I do have a Facebook account but I never use it...or at least never inhale while using it.