Lesson for today, kids:
See Silvio swear off excitement.
Two weeks later, see Silvio call himself "Napoleon" and "Jesus Christ".
The moral is clear here: Lack of sex makes you crazy.
You know, this explains so much about Cindy Sheehan and Al Gore......
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Roy Simmons....We Need to Have a Talk
OK, Roy....remember what I said last week? You know, the part about, "Choose what you think is important, rather than what others tell you is"?
This isn't it.
Look, there are a few rules in life. Don't tug on Superman's cape, don't spit into the wind, and don't go marching into the NFL office three days before the Super Bowl asking for press credentials, two tickets, and a party and expect to get them. You played in the NFL; you should know what a zoo those kind of requests are before a regular game, much less The Big One.
Now, Roy, one of the things you should have learned in your past is to spot a hustler or someone who's just looking to use you. Your lesson for today is that they sometimes dress in high heels and wear expensive suits, because buddy, one's sure as heck got her claws in you.
In a letter addressed to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, (Simmons's lawyer Gloria) Allred listed questions she said the NFL should answer, including whether Simmons' request was denied because he no longer fit the image of an NFL player or whether the NFL "is inherently homophobic and prefers that a gay football player remain in the closet."
Right, Ms. Allred. And when did you stop doing cocaine? Or is no one else allowed to ask leading questions?
Now, Roy, I know you're not exactly heavy into the gay dating scene. But should you ever decide to come back, know that there are plenty of people out there who will listen to you sympathetically, agree that it's a travesty, tell you how you should discuss this over dinner, stick you with the bill, and then dump you when they figure out you're not a Platinum cardholder. They're called "jerks".
You can get some early practice for handling them by dealing with Gloria.
This isn't it.
Look, there are a few rules in life. Don't tug on Superman's cape, don't spit into the wind, and don't go marching into the NFL office three days before the Super Bowl asking for press credentials, two tickets, and a party and expect to get them. You played in the NFL; you should know what a zoo those kind of requests are before a regular game, much less The Big One.
Now, Roy, one of the things you should have learned in your past is to spot a hustler or someone who's just looking to use you. Your lesson for today is that they sometimes dress in high heels and wear expensive suits, because buddy, one's sure as heck got her claws in you.
In a letter addressed to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, (Simmons's lawyer Gloria) Allred listed questions she said the NFL should answer, including whether Simmons' request was denied because he no longer fit the image of an NFL player or whether the NFL "is inherently homophobic and prefers that a gay football player remain in the closet."
Right, Ms. Allred. And when did you stop doing cocaine? Or is no one else allowed to ask leading questions?
Now, Roy, I know you're not exactly heavy into the gay dating scene. But should you ever decide to come back, know that there are plenty of people out there who will listen to you sympathetically, agree that it's a travesty, tell you how you should discuss this over dinner, stick you with the bill, and then dump you when they figure out you're not a Platinum cardholder. They're called "jerks".
You can get some early practice for handling them by dealing with Gloria.
Friday, February 10, 2006
No Thanks, We'd Rather Rot than Cooperate
Thanks to Robbie of The Malcontent, I was made aware of the latest twist in the case of the Colorado domestic partner activity -- namely, that an alternative has been proposed, and -- surprise! -- Focus on the Family is supporting it.
Of course, the gay left has an explanation:
Michael Brewer, public policy director for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Colorado, said the Christian group’s support is not ironic, but a “political reality.”
“[Focus on the Family] realizes that domestic partnership is popular in Colorado,” Brewer told this newspaper. “I think they’re definitely afraid that Colorado could be the first state where the voters themselves would pass it.”
Right. But in order to do so, as the article conveniently leaves out, both houses of the Colorado legislature must pass the domestic partner referendum by two-thirds in order to get it onto the ballot. Creating domestic partnerships will not get that; on the other hand, the reciprocal benefits bill, especially with the support of groups like Focus on the Family, likely would.
So of course, which horse is the gay left backing?
The one most likely to lose.
And why are they doing so?
Because, they say, the reciprocal benefits bill wouldn't grant all the benefits of marriage and gives mostly things that gays can already manage through existing legal means.
Just like the domestic partners bill they're backing.
I mean, really. Is the gay left even TRYING to be relevant? Or are they just going to sit there as Democrats dangle bills they know will never pass so that gays obligingly open their pocketbooks, rather than taking the opportunity to really do something towards getting the legal benefits they claim to crave?
Once again, gay lefties would rather have no progress than progress that involves cooperating with the wrong kind of people.
Figures.
Of course, the gay left has an explanation:
Michael Brewer, public policy director for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Colorado, said the Christian group’s support is not ironic, but a “political reality.”
“[Focus on the Family] realizes that domestic partnership is popular in Colorado,” Brewer told this newspaper. “I think they’re definitely afraid that Colorado could be the first state where the voters themselves would pass it.”
Right. But in order to do so, as the article conveniently leaves out, both houses of the Colorado legislature must pass the domestic partner referendum by two-thirds in order to get it onto the ballot. Creating domestic partnerships will not get that; on the other hand, the reciprocal benefits bill, especially with the support of groups like Focus on the Family, likely would.
So of course, which horse is the gay left backing?
The one most likely to lose.
And why are they doing so?
Because, they say, the reciprocal benefits bill wouldn't grant all the benefits of marriage and gives mostly things that gays can already manage through existing legal means.
Just like the domestic partners bill they're backing.
I mean, really. Is the gay left even TRYING to be relevant? Or are they just going to sit there as Democrats dangle bills they know will never pass so that gays obligingly open their pocketbooks, rather than taking the opportunity to really do something towards getting the legal benefits they claim to crave?
Once again, gay lefties would rather have no progress than progress that involves cooperating with the wrong kind of people.
Figures.
One Question......
how much did the Democratic National Committee have to pay to prevent this from happening?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Mea Culpa
I'm a very strong believer in the theory that, when you wrong someone else, it is not only your duty to apologize, but to make things right.
Since I fouled up royally when commenting over on The Malcontent and Jamie of HomoMojo rightly called me on it, I have apologized......and shall make things right as Jamie requested.
Of course, this particular renumerance should come as no surprise to anyone; if I can show some skin to take a challenge or swing a vote, surely I can do it as a peace offering to someone I respect. (grin)
Since I fouled up royally when commenting over on The Malcontent and Jamie of HomoMojo rightly called me on it, I have apologized......and shall make things right as Jamie requested.
Of course, this particular renumerance should come as no surprise to anyone; if I can show some skin to take a challenge or swing a vote, surely I can do it as a peace offering to someone I respect. (grin)
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Take Two, Brokeback Mountain
One of the dangers with blogging, as far as I'm concerned, is getting caught in a "thought thread" -- one of those moments where you find something, you just HAVE to comment on it, but the deeper you get into it, the more complex it becomes.
Such is the case with this. While reading an excellent post on self-loathing over at Joe.My.God, I happened upon a comment by Homer of Homer's World, which read as follows:
I saw that movie (Brokeback) yesterday and what struck me afterwards is that it was the first gay romance movie I have ever seen. I know, I know- it is only a movie. But for the first time I guess I was experiencing what straight people get to see all of the time.
My first reaction was.........what?
Sure, Brokeback may be one of the first movies that so flatly shows two men involved in this sort of thing. But frankly, I've never considered that there was a beast such as "gay romance". When I watch Damn Yankees, I know what Joe and Meg are feeling, even though Meg is quite obviously not a man. When I hear Carrie Underwood sing "Bless the Broken Road", I know what she's talking about, even though it isn't necessarily about g2g relationships. Romance is romance.
Quite often what I wonder, though, is if what gays are looking for isn't gay romance, but simply any type of stable description of romance at all. We are the first generation of gays to grow up as open and out as we can be.....but we are also the first generation of people whose parents were more likely to be divorced or separated than they were to be married. To many of us the familial strife and unloving households in Brokeback are nothing unusual; we saw that every day of our childhoods, be it our neighbors or own families. But the decades-long devotion that Ennis and Jack share is something that is so unusual, so novel, that we find it particularly striking and noteworthy.
Thoughts?
Such is the case with this. While reading an excellent post on self-loathing over at Joe.My.God, I happened upon a comment by Homer of Homer's World, which read as follows:
I saw that movie (Brokeback) yesterday and what struck me afterwards is that it was the first gay romance movie I have ever seen. I know, I know- it is only a movie. But for the first time I guess I was experiencing what straight people get to see all of the time.
My first reaction was.........what?
Sure, Brokeback may be one of the first movies that so flatly shows two men involved in this sort of thing. But frankly, I've never considered that there was a beast such as "gay romance". When I watch Damn Yankees, I know what Joe and Meg are feeling, even though Meg is quite obviously not a man. When I hear Carrie Underwood sing "Bless the Broken Road", I know what she's talking about, even though it isn't necessarily about g2g relationships. Romance is romance.
Quite often what I wonder, though, is if what gays are looking for isn't gay romance, but simply any type of stable description of romance at all. We are the first generation of gays to grow up as open and out as we can be.....but we are also the first generation of people whose parents were more likely to be divorced or separated than they were to be married. To many of us the familial strife and unloving households in Brokeback are nothing unusual; we saw that every day of our childhoods, be it our neighbors or own families. But the decades-long devotion that Ennis and Jack share is something that is so unusual, so novel, that we find it particularly striking and noteworthy.
Thoughts?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The Cleated Closet
One of the interesting things about Super Bowl week is how it serves as a convenient time to launch all sorts of things that relate, even loosely, to football. Given that, tonight's lust fest showing of Anderson Cooper 360, featuring former NFL player Roy Simmons talking about his new book, should be no surprise to anyone.
Except this is that Roy Simmons. As in the one who came out, as gay, in front of daytime-TV-watching America on Donahue, in 1992.
And he's HIV-positive.
And the book itself, Out of Bounds, is meant to help men, especially African-American men, "be honest", as the author puts it, about their sexual preferences and their HIV status with their partners.
As I might have guessed, Keith Boykin was all over this, and published his own interview with Simmons about the book. You can also read other interviews with HIV-oriented and glbt publications on Simmons's website.
As a former high school and college football player myself, what Simmons is saying resonates with me on several levels. Football is not a sport that lends itself to emotional honesty; indeed, in many ways, it suppresses it. You're supposed to block pain, puke, blood, and the sight of your teammates being carried off to an ambulance out of your head. The whole language of the sport -- "gut it out", "buckle up your chinstrap", "leave it all on the field" -- has no words for uncertainty or doubt. You need to be a "real man" to play football -- confident, assured, cocky, and strong -- and those who aren't don't survive. The field is the only place where I've ever been told, "NDT, act first, think later."
Given that, it never surprises me when former players end up leading markedly-f'd up lives. Or that so many NFL players are so reluctant to let their kids play the sport that made them ridiculously rich and famous.
Or that so many gay men either leave the sport or stay buried within the closet in it.
There are several good points to take away from Simmons's story. One that I do wish to highlight, though, given the furor caused by my posting on it a few weeks ago, is the angle of Simmons's childhood molestation:
The article details the shame and isolation Simmons felt about being attracted to men and the central role the rape had. “Years later as an adult, he tortured himself wondering--often while drunk or high on drugs--if he would have been straight if he had not been assaulted,” Orth writes. “He blamed himself and suffered from a diminished sense of self-worth and confusion over his sexual identity. ‘I think all my life it affected me,’ he said. ‘The acting out--the sex with the boys, the girls — the drinking.’
Therein lies the danger of spreading a lie about molestation causing homosexuality that the antigay fundamentalists refuse to recognize. However, one wonders if Mr. Simmons will be assaulted by those gay fundamentalists who object to his associating in any way his molestation with his homosexuality and life issues, or, more particularly, with his choice of celibacy as a means of avoiding an immoral lifestyle, as ironically championed by selfsame fundies.
To which I say: You're OK, Roy. Choose what you think is important, rather than what others tell you is. You're a winner in my book either way.
Except this is that Roy Simmons. As in the one who came out, as gay, in front of daytime-TV-watching America on Donahue, in 1992.
And he's HIV-positive.
And the book itself, Out of Bounds, is meant to help men, especially African-American men, "be honest", as the author puts it, about their sexual preferences and their HIV status with their partners.
As I might have guessed, Keith Boykin was all over this, and published his own interview with Simmons about the book. You can also read other interviews with HIV-oriented and glbt publications on Simmons's website.
As a former high school and college football player myself, what Simmons is saying resonates with me on several levels. Football is not a sport that lends itself to emotional honesty; indeed, in many ways, it suppresses it. You're supposed to block pain, puke, blood, and the sight of your teammates being carried off to an ambulance out of your head. The whole language of the sport -- "gut it out", "buckle up your chinstrap", "leave it all on the field" -- has no words for uncertainty or doubt. You need to be a "real man" to play football -- confident, assured, cocky, and strong -- and those who aren't don't survive. The field is the only place where I've ever been told, "NDT, act first, think later."
Given that, it never surprises me when former players end up leading markedly-f'd up lives. Or that so many NFL players are so reluctant to let their kids play the sport that made them ridiculously rich and famous.
Or that so many gay men either leave the sport or stay buried within the closet in it.
There are several good points to take away from Simmons's story. One that I do wish to highlight, though, given the furor caused by my posting on it a few weeks ago, is the angle of Simmons's childhood molestation:
The article details the shame and isolation Simmons felt about being attracted to men and the central role the rape had. “Years later as an adult, he tortured himself wondering--often while drunk or high on drugs--if he would have been straight if he had not been assaulted,” Orth writes. “He blamed himself and suffered from a diminished sense of self-worth and confusion over his sexual identity. ‘I think all my life it affected me,’ he said. ‘The acting out--the sex with the boys, the girls — the drinking.’
Therein lies the danger of spreading a lie about molestation causing homosexuality that the antigay fundamentalists refuse to recognize. However, one wonders if Mr. Simmons will be assaulted by those gay fundamentalists who object to his associating in any way his molestation with his homosexuality and life issues, or, more particularly, with his choice of celibacy as a means of avoiding an immoral lifestyle, as ironically championed by selfsame fundies.
To which I say: You're OK, Roy. Choose what you think is important, rather than what others tell you is. You're a winner in my book either way.
To Everything, Spin, Spin, Spin....
And this week's Centrifuge Award goes to Ron Goldstein, whose paean to Delaware Senator Joe Biden transforms into "admittedly verbose" Biden's rambling monologue during confirmation hearings on Justice Samuel Alito and argues that this is good because it makes him "familiar to voters". The theory appears to be that exposure for a politician, even if it completely contradicts his previous positions, is something to be sought at all costs.
Of course, Biden is praying for the opposite.
Of course, Biden is praying for the opposite.
O Brothers Nagin and Robertson, Where Art Thou?
Obviously not nearly enough chocolate has been added back to New Orleans to appease the wrath of the Almighty.
No, It's Not Naked....But It's Close
Sometimes, I have no idea what motivates my posts.
Perhaps it was triggered by yesterday's report on nutritious underwear.
Maybe it was a desire to cover the gap, at least to a small degree, between installments of Made In Brazil's Speedo Sundays.
But one thing I KNOW it wasn't done for was to in any way influence the BlogWars voting over at Manhattan Offender. Even though I am behind in the Bears voting, I would never stoop to posting scantily-clad pictures of myself just to get people to go here and vote for North Dallas Thirty in the pink box (how appropriate) on the left sidebar.
Of course, if you believe that, I'll sell you some winning lottery numbers for just $29.99, plus shipping and handling.....
Perhaps it was triggered by yesterday's report on nutritious underwear.
Maybe it was a desire to cover the gap, at least to a small degree, between installments of Made In Brazil's Speedo Sundays.
But one thing I KNOW it wasn't done for was to in any way influence the BlogWars voting over at Manhattan Offender. Even though I am behind in the Bears voting, I would never stoop to posting scantily-clad pictures of myself just to get people to go here and vote for North Dallas Thirty in the pink box (how appropriate) on the left sidebar.
Of course, if you believe that, I'll sell you some winning lottery numbers for just $29.99, plus shipping and handling.....
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
It Comes in Lavender, Chartreuse, and Ascorbate
Thanks to Jody Dean and the Morning Team on 98.7 KLUV, I was made aware of the latest advance from sexy undergarment maker (and personal favorite of mine) AussieBum..... vitamin-infused underwear.
According to the description (click on "Essence", then "More Info", once you get finished drooling over the picture), this new underwear has special "vitamin enriched microfibre technology", which releases certain compounds as you wear it that are then absorbed through your skin to give, as it says, "an overall feeling of well-being".
Perhaps Blog Ally Boi From Troy should consider a pair of these as replacement for his previous lucky underwears; that way, even if the USC Trojans lose, his loins will be healthy and his tush lovingly wrapped in "dermo-protective" oils.
Any bets on how long until we see the Viagra version?
According to the description (click on "Essence", then "More Info", once you get finished drooling over the picture), this new underwear has special "vitamin enriched microfibre technology", which releases certain compounds as you wear it that are then absorbed through your skin to give, as it says, "an overall feeling of well-being".
Perhaps Blog Ally Boi From Troy should consider a pair of these as replacement for his previous lucky underwears; that way, even if the USC Trojans lose, his loins will be healthy and his tush lovingly wrapped in "dermo-protective" oils.
Any bets on how long until we see the Viagra version?
A Tale of Two T-Shirts
Apparently the lesson is, "Don't Wear Anything With Letters or Numbers to the SOTU Address".
However, what I thought was particularly interesting was this comparison (emphasis mine):
(Representative Bill) Young and his wife are known as passionate supporters of U.S. service members. He has spoken in the past about their many visits to military hospitals during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their efforts to ensure the needs of the wounded and their families are met.
Sheehan, on the other hand, was thrust into the spotlight after her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq in April 2004.
How exactly is one "thrust into" what one is desperately chasing and trying to get, even to the point of hiring publicists and media consultants to help her catch it?
However, what I thought was particularly interesting was this comparison (emphasis mine):
(Representative Bill) Young and his wife are known as passionate supporters of U.S. service members. He has spoken in the past about their many visits to military hospitals during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their efforts to ensure the needs of the wounded and their families are met.
Sheehan, on the other hand, was thrust into the spotlight after her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq in April 2004.
How exactly is one "thrust into" what one is desperately chasing and trying to get, even to the point of hiring publicists and media consultants to help her catch it?
Monday, January 30, 2006
Ken Mehlman's Wet Dream, The Second Night
Let's see....if a picture is worth a thousand, and we are seeing this four minutes at 30 pictures per second, this should be worth approximately 7.2 million words.
I tend to agree on this matter with frequent commentor Calarato over on GayPatriot:
Kennedy seems to fear that 1957 Brown v. Board of Education is at risk, with Alito!!! (Kennedy doesn’t mention it specifically, but by implication)
I wish, oh how I wish, that Bush would nominate Janice Rogers Brown. We’d see Kennedy’s head explode as he makes the same speech about a respected conservative BLACK, female Supreme Court nominee!
I tend to agree on this matter with frequent commentor Calarato over on GayPatriot:
Kennedy seems to fear that 1957 Brown v. Board of Education is at risk, with Alito!!! (Kennedy doesn’t mention it specifically, but by implication)
I wish, oh how I wish, that Bush would nominate Janice Rogers Brown. We’d see Kennedy’s head explode as he makes the same speech about a respected conservative BLACK, female Supreme Court nominee!
Ken Mehlman's Wet Dream
Or, as the headlines might state it:
"Democratic Candidate For US Senate Attends Global Meeting, Praises Supporters"
The only question in my mind is whether or not the gay groups have the sense not to endorse her.
Then again, they endorse FMA and state constitutional amendment supporters....what's a bit of anti-Semitism and "freedom fighter" rhetoric about terrorists among friends?
UPDATE: Nick (aka ColoradoPatriot), blogging on GayPatriot, has more.
"Democratic Candidate For US Senate Attends Global Meeting, Praises Supporters"
The only question in my mind is whether or not the gay groups have the sense not to endorse her.
Then again, they endorse FMA and state constitutional amendment supporters....what's a bit of anti-Semitism and "freedom fighter" rhetoric about terrorists among friends?
UPDATE: Nick (aka ColoradoPatriot), blogging on GayPatriot, has more.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Public School Curriculum Design 101
Lesson 35: There is no way that this movie is relevant to a Spanish class.
Pity the guy didn't call Falwell, et al., though....all he would have had to do is tell them the title, and they'd be on the news shrieking about the schools "not teaching traditional values".
Oh yeah, like they ever actually SAW the movie.....
Pity the guy didn't call Falwell, et al., though....all he would have had to do is tell them the title, and they'd be on the news shrieking about the schools "not teaching traditional values".
Oh yeah, like they ever actually SAW the movie.....
Anarchists, Communists....but Celibates?
I knew the first two played major roles in Italy's politics, but given today's announcement by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.....apparently the last one does as well.
Of course, one should probably take this in the same spirit as one does other campaign promises, as well as taking into account that this "conveniently" crosses Lent, in which good Catholics are supposed to give up all forms of excitement anyway. But do you really want a man that deprived in charge of a country's armed forces? There's a reason the Swiss Guards are only armed with pikes and lances. :)
Of course, one should probably take this in the same spirit as one does other campaign promises, as well as taking into account that this "conveniently" crosses Lent, in which good Catholics are supposed to give up all forms of excitement anyway. But do you really want a man that deprived in charge of a country's armed forces? There's a reason the Swiss Guards are only armed with pikes and lances. :)
Friday, January 27, 2006
Welcome To Democracy
Given the happenings in Palestine this week , one can certainly see the merit of Winston Churchill's complaint that democracy is the worst form of government........but then return to his caveat -- except for all the others.
Clearly the Palestinian people have spoken. The question is.......why? Why did they remove the party that had ruled them for, in essence, four decades, and settle on Hamas, who nobody likes?
Many have tried to make of this some sort of swipe against the United States, saying that this is retaliation for our actions in the Mideast. Some have said this is the Palestinians' way of striking back at Israel.
I maintain that what this represents is the final collection on the bill for Yasser Arafat's death....or, more precisely, the immense corruption of Fatah that he created, furthered, and exploited for the enrichment of himself and his cronies. Meanwhile, Hamas was making a name for itself by feeding the poor, providing education, and giving social services to areas that were sent hundreds of millions of dollars in aid annually, but who never saw a dime of it.
Fatah collapsed because its members put themselves and their ideologies ahead of the Palestinian people. It remains to be seen whether Hamas will learn from that mistake -- and if this is a sea change, or merely a temporary shift in tides.
Clearly the Palestinian people have spoken. The question is.......why? Why did they remove the party that had ruled them for, in essence, four decades, and settle on Hamas, who nobody likes?
Many have tried to make of this some sort of swipe against the United States, saying that this is retaliation for our actions in the Mideast. Some have said this is the Palestinians' way of striking back at Israel.
I maintain that what this represents is the final collection on the bill for Yasser Arafat's death....or, more precisely, the immense corruption of Fatah that he created, furthered, and exploited for the enrichment of himself and his cronies. Meanwhile, Hamas was making a name for itself by feeding the poor, providing education, and giving social services to areas that were sent hundreds of millions of dollars in aid annually, but who never saw a dime of it.
Fatah collapsed because its members put themselves and their ideologies ahead of the Palestinian people. It remains to be seen whether Hamas will learn from that mistake -- and if this is a sea change, or merely a temporary shift in tides.
7/8ths German, 1/8th Irish....
and, according to The Gay-O-Meter, only 26% gay.
Maybe there IS something to that "not gay enough" stuff.
(Hat tip: Le Malcontent)
Maybe there IS something to that "not gay enough" stuff.
(Hat tip: Le Malcontent)
Thursday, January 26, 2006
GLAAD's Next REALLY Overhyped Cause
I'm surprised there's nothing out about this yet.
Maybe GLAAD shot their wad on Gene Shalit.
There's a double entendre for you......:)
Maybe GLAAD shot their wad on Gene Shalit.
There's a double entendre for you......:)
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