The Santa Conundrum

He's fat, he's jolly, everyone loves him. Why does being overweight work for him and no one else?

In the past 4 days I've had not one nor two, but several people complain to me about how they are fat. While some of these claims were really critiques of the current skinny/slim fit fashion ethos, all of them have been couched in the terminology of "fat," and not one of them has had a legitimate claim to that word.

In my past I've pushed close to 270 and been as low as 175, and even then, I felt fat. So I understand that people can be uncomfortable with or critical of their body regardless of their actual weight. That being said, I feel that couching this consistently in terms of being fat is causing some serious issues.

Off to the gym,
Then to a fitting,
claiming they're fat.

I won't lie and say that certain statements and actions by friends of mine have me worried. I fear that "manorexia" is spreading amongst the gay community and I'm worried for our community's continued health (both mental and physical). If people are getting sent the signal that they are fat when nothing is further from the truth what sort of mental anguish is that placing on them, and by extension those people who are overweight.

In my life I've come to accept that I will never have a six-pack. At my lightest I was still in a size 36 because of my hips (damn birthing hips) and quads (strong from carrying around all that weight) and any excess weight gathered around my waist. Even now, after months of working with a trainer, I've made definite progress on my body, however I've made it abundantly clear to him that I don't care about losing fat as much as I care about building strength. I won't do idiotic diets or decrease the things I enjoy (mmm, bread, mmm) just to get a six pack.

Anyway, I'm not sure where exactly I'm going with this except to say that I'm a combination of worried, annoyed, and sympathetic, but I feel like everyone should give themselves and others a freaking break once in a while. Next time you feel fat or are gonna call someone fat, think about Santa and how that's what everyone loves about him.

Note: I recognize somewhat my own hypocrisy in that I get a certain je ne sais quoi out of going to Bear Happy Hour and being one of the thinnest people there.

so how much IS that oh so fresh feeling worth to you down there? About 6 Grand!

so i'm not one to buck back at the various ways technology makes my life ah may zing

from my kick ass cell phone to instant streaming movies to my ability to never again have to ask for directions it's pretty clear that technology is pretty fucking kick ass in todays age

but what happens with technology combines forces with one of the most intimate acts a person is forced to commit (thank you Mother Nature) about a bazillion times a year?!

this

the worlds first six thousand dollar john by INAX (is there nothing those crafty small-handed japs can't do?! ^_^) that does everything from auto raises the seat when it 'senses' you approaching to washing your bum with two (because clearly one can't handle this dirty job) water jets that can be set to 'massage' AND plays soothing music that tricks your brains alpha waves to relax your body so you're the most efficient you can be when having to drop some kids off at the pool

lets me honest, as far as johns go, this is the Rolls-Royce in todays world but honestly, six grand so my butt can be massaged while being serenaded by soothing muzaks is a bit much

but what say you??

o_O

To The Cloud!!

so it's been the norm tech trend to cut the cords and compute via the airwaves

i mean come on, kids today are using three to four times more technology they we did at their age, that's a huge increase in such a short period of time and it's is only going to get wider at the rate technology makes leaps and bounds forward

but in this country where one of the biggest contributors to pushing innovation is the US Government (we practically owe our commercial airline industry to its award of an innovative contract with the Wright Brothers many moons ago) it's a sure sign that 'Cloud Computing' is the new state of the art and if you don't know you betta ask somebody

the news first of GSA taking its entire email client system to the cloud via Google created some huge waves in the IT industry but compared to other federal agencies GSA is small potatoes

enter the juggernaut USDA (US Department of Agriculture) with a workforce of over 120k strong announced recently that it's shifting its entire IT environment to Microsoft's Cloud Power

i for one as a Federal employee (who also understands the reasons why people are crying for a federal pay freeze but also think it's bogus when you really compare apples to apples the pay rates of Federal employees to their private sector equivalents you'll discover that Federal employees DO NOT make more in salary and are far more restricted if they choose to leave public service and land a better job within the private sector due to extensive ethics laws and regulations ... but that's another blog) and happy to see this major shift having worked within multiple Federal agencies and the gods know i know how much is spent to maintain multiple competing IT environments and the pieces needed to keep it all going on its legs

having a complete cloud environment may not cost less to maintain but overtime it gives the agency or company the ability to flex its IT muscles as the market demands or industry changes which would equate over time to less money needed

all that being said, how does any of this apply to a regular joe schmoe?

well i've taken it upon myself to look into it first hand but looking into totally free cloud'ish offerings from Microsoft such as it's Windows Live offerings to Google's Google Docs, Gmail, and now Google Voice (one number to RULE THEM ALL!!) offerings so if you didn't know it more and more people are running majority or pieces of their lives in the clouds

but are you?

i've been testing out the Microsoft's Live and Live Essentials to compare to my full time Google Gmail account and honestly, kinda digging the programs and features so far

what say you peoples?

o_O

For Shame, 100MC! For Shame!

By my count, this blog site has twelve authorized contributors. How is it that this blog site is as quiet as Todd Palin during the Troopergate investigation? I mean, seriously. You are some of the most boisterous, loquacious people I know, even the quietest among you.

Since her christening, eight contributors have actually, you know, contributed content to the site. Only three have written anything in the past month.

What gives, y'all?

Something... Yeah, the title was hard too.

As I find myself soaring above the clouds at 30,000 ft., I decided there wasn't possibly a better time to contribute to the collective mind of the 100MC. Firstly, I will not apologize for the absence, as I am sure another will happen at some point during next semester and maybe even as soon as next week with finals looming. These things are just a matter of course, not from the time constraints, but from being mentally zapped for writing by the demands of my classes. But, I digress.

I am in the air and it is an easy place to write, since I deliberately left my school books and notes at home, so I could take one last real break before tackling the end of the semester. So, what does the Knowledgemonger ponder while flying across country on his own? His mental health? The fickleness of the American people in regards to the elections earlier this month or their want for safety, but not to be touched or have their naughty bits exposed when walking through a scanner to a TSA Agent? How about Oprah's "Favorite Things?'

The problem with having not tackled anything recently, is that I am now caught with a new problem: The ability to write about anything, but not being able to grasp at a theme with which to run. So, as mentioned 2 entries down, I am going to "write about what I know.

So, for right this very instant what I know is this: AirTran's customer service is awesome! The flight crew are very friendly, had a few conversations with them before we left the ground. Having WiFi Access that works is a plus, not like some other airline that I flew recently. *Cough*United*Cough* And being able to listen to XM Satelitte radio in-flight is a great plus to me. Now granted, the XM comes at the cost of no inflight movie, but with the WiFi access, who cares, I get to choose my own entertainment.

They have come a long way since, they changed their name from ValuJet to escape the plague of 2 fatal crashes in the 1990s. But, this seems like a company that has made a strong recovery from such disasters. Granted, if something should happen to the flight that I am on after this post, someone call Alanis Morissette and tell her what the definition of "ironic" really is. (BTW, that page linked by the word "ironic" is a gem.

Okay, Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll! "Is this Plymouth? We've just come from Plymouth. We've gone around in circles, lads. Get back on the boat!"

One Turkey To Rule Them All

Just when all hope was lost. Just when there was no light left in the building. Just when I feared I would have to close the Diaries due to lack of interest, my Muse returned to remind me that I still have important things to say ... snarky things to say ... about the gall and the stupidity of people.

And for that, I truly thank The Night Owl (or, as I think I may have to start calling him, The Gift That Keeps On Giving).

Mr. Barry has been giving away turkeys at the Union Temple Baptist Church for the several years now. It's a very popular program in my Ward 8, which is the most economically depressed area in my fair city. You will not hear me breathe one bad word about this program. The holiday season is especially hard on those who are struggling and anything to help make their Thanksgiving better is alright in my book.

But I do have to call out incompetence.

Last year, the demand far exceeded the supply and Barry promised such an oversight would never happen again. This year, people who wanted a free bird had to sign up ahead of time to get one. Once all of the people listed got theirs, whatever was left would be handed out to whoever showed up. (Or at least that's my understanding of how this was supposed to have worked.)

Well, this year's giveaway hit another snag that left people frustrated and upset. All because that evil Giant wouldn't deliver the birds.

First of all, I must apologize to the Ward 8 community for Giant’s failure to provide timely support to the Community. It’s simply pathetic and incomprehensible to me that a multi-billion dollar corporation, like Giant, would take a position that would deprive children, seniors and other adults of food for the Thanksgiving holiday.

But, you see, the fact that the turkeys were a no-show wasn't Barry's fault. Except for that part where it was.

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), well known for his annual turkey giveaway in Southeast Washington, had no Butterballs available for residents Tuesday morning after he failed to pay Giant food stores $26,000 for their delivery.

In a news release, Barry said he had $17,000, falling short by $9,000, but promised Giant that the rest was coming. " ... Giant insisted that the full $26 thousand dollars be received by the store on Monday and that without full payment, the Company would not delivery the birds to Barry," a news release read.

Look, I know people are suffering. I know that some residents in Ward 8 depend on this annual event to put a decent Thanksgiving dinner on the table. But this whole mess could have been avoided. It's not like we don't know when Thanksgiving is going to happen from one year to another. (Not like that blasted Easter.) It's the fourth Thursday of November, for Pete's sake! Mr. Barry had plenty of time during the year to raise whatever funds he needed to ensure that his turkey giveaway would happen on time and without issue. The fault lies on him, not on Giant.

(Giant, by the way, did deliver some of the birds with the rest coming today, even though they still haven't been paid for them.)

I have a suggestion to my fellow Ward 8 residents. Stop putting your faith in Marion Barry. He will fail you constantly and consistently. Next year, if you need some extra help putting food on the table, make a trip out to Landover where you're far less likely to walk away empty-handed.

(Cross-posted on The District Diaries)

My Blogging State Of Mind Lately

Is TSA the devil? I think not.

I'm highly annoyed with all the whining (aka major bitchfest) from US consumers about the new TSA security screening rules. This has been my standing thought about this as advertised via Google Buzz

"all the people bitching about the new TSA screening processes and how this is such a 'huge invasion of privacy' and these policies should be abolished will also be the same people first in line to bitch about how a successful terrorist event was able to occur and these policies could have prevented with these same policies and where was TSA then.

people really need to stop being such sissies get the fuck over it. as someone who travels for work a good deal of the year both domestically and internationally a pat down if it prevents my plane blowing up is a SMALL PRICE TO PAY if it could potentially save my life and the lives of hundreds of people on board if not thousands should it be hijacked and used as a weapon and flown into a highly populated area."

But thoughts? This really comes to mind because it's all over the news before a major US holiday (Thanksgiving) I was offsite at a procurement training where our case study was based off of this issue and I was shocked to see how so many people, mostly Federal employees from across the nation, felt about and how apparently ignorance really is contagious.

And if you plan to make the argument of why the US turned cheek towards implementing Israeli-ish security policies please be mindful that the US consumer base for commercial air flight travel is 100% different then that of Israel which means they have the advantage (some would say luxury) of implementing unique security polices where as the USA has to focus on a much more diverse consumer base that outstrips Israel in business 10 to 1 on any given day.

anyway, thoughts because I'd really hate to think I'm the only sane person out there.

o_O

Do Bully Gay kids+Christianity=Suicide? Mr. Daly Says No, What Say You?

Sorry for the lack of contributions to the site but I'm still suffering from withdraws from my Italy vacation! ^_^

I came across this piece on CNN while avoiding doing any more actual work today and thought I'd share it with the group. Mostly because after all the news stories about so many kids taking their own lives recently due to being bullied for being gay and after speaking with an old friend whose recently attended two funerals and family events for the loss of a family friends kid due to this very issue, I found this article quite disturbing.

But, take a read and post your thoughts. Also take a moment to read the very extensive comments to the article, especially Kate's which I thought was pretty brilliant.

o_O

Humor from the Political Circus...

From West Coast to East Coast, we've got crazy ass shit going on... so much so that I think it no longer qualifies as political theater and is now into straight on circus antics in both the modern and Roman senses ;-)

Gizmodo has this story about what happens when you leave off a letter from a bit.ly address in a political tweet:

This is not the endorsement you are looking for.

Then in NY, we've got Handles McSideburns:

and the Madam who thinks she can fix the Metropolitan Transportation Authority because at her escort service she was able to provide "on-time and reliable service."

And this is all without even touching on the Tea Partiers... The Rally to Restore Sanity can't come soon enough. Is it any wonder that I've been reveling in the original cast recording to Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson:

(Yes, I can bring almost any topic back to Broadway ;-)

Oh, and a bonus intentional bit of comedy:

Building America's Hockey Capital ... The Correct Way (Or, So You Want To Be A Hockey Fan)

Because it's hockey season (and because I wanted post #69), I'm (mostly) regurgitating this blog post I put up on my personal blog back in March. These words of wisdom are just as true today as they were all those moons ago.

The long hot summer of our sporting discontent is over and we have a few games under our belt. I'm guessing that the success of our little hockey club over the past three years has turned a bunch of people on to the sport that probably had never given it a first thought before. And that's fine. Hockey is an exciting game and one of the most accessible. The more the merrier.

However.

If you are going to attend a game (which you should ... hockey is best witnessed live), there are some things you need to know.

The General Must-Follows

These rules are universal. They are the most basic of the basics and are followed in every hockey rink all over the world. If you walk away with learning only five things from this post, learn these five!

1. You don't have to know the rules to have a good time.
   
   It's true. There will be enough hard-core fans sitting immediately around you. Don't be afraid to ask what's going on. Trust me, we love to talk about the game and help new fans get acclimated.


2. Practice the "Puck In Play" rule.
   
   The "Puck In Play" rule is simple ... when the game is on, you stay put. It doesn't matter where you are or what you need to do. You can wait until a break in the action. See, hockey is a fast-paced game and, very literally, you can blink and miss an important play (like a goal). So every second that the puck is in play is important to hockey fans. We do not take kindly to the asshole who made us miss our favorite player score on our most hated team. You don't want to be that asshole so don't be.


3. Sit back in your seat!
   
   This goes in hand with the "Puck In Play" rule. When you lean forward in your seat, you take away a large amount of visual real estate. Sit back in your seat so the people behind you can see the whole ice as well.
   
   But, Diarist, the people in front of me are leaning forward.
   
   The tap them politely on the shoulder and ask them to sit back. If they hit you with the same lame excuse, tell them to tell the people in front of them to sit back. And so on. We all want to see the game so please let us.


4. Keep the chatter to a minimum.
   
   You are permitted to cheer as much and as enthusiastically as you wish. You are permitted to discuss the rules of the game or the strategies being used. But blathering on and on about work or personal life is irritating and prevents those around you from enjoying the game. If you wish to catch up with your buddies and discuss how that chick (or guy) the other week gave you crabs, please don't come to the game. No one wants to hear that.


5. Know your limit.
   
   Alcohol is served at the game during the first two periods. You are more than welcome to have some beers or cocktails. But know when to say when.
   

The Capitals Optionals

The next set of rules are specific to the Washington Capitals experience at Verizon Center.

1. Properly enjoy The National Anthem.
   
   It happens at the start of every game. Sometimes the Canadian National Anthem is performed as well. When the anthem(s) start, stand up. You are encouraged to sing, though it's not mandatory. Many people in the crowd will shout RED at "And the rockets RED glare ...". It is okay to do that. Some people will shout O at "Oh say does that ...". It is not okay to do that. The O is a Baltimore tradition that was begun at (and for) Oriole games. We are not Baltimore. We are not the Orioles.


2. DO NOT encourage this guy!
   
   
   I have my reasons.


3. Participate in the group stuff.
   
   Several videos are played during the commercial breaks. Know them and be prepared.
   
   * Unleash The Fury!
   * Victory!
   * "The Hockey Song"
   
   Several chants are done during the course of the game.
   
   * "Ref, you suck!"
   When the refs make a highly questionable call against our team.
   
   * "1 ... (2) ... (etc.) ... It's all your fault!"
   After the Capitals score, immediately following the second announcement of the goal.
   
   * "Who cares?!"
   After the Capitals are scored against, immediately following the second announcement of the goal.
   
   * "Let's go, Caps!"
   Throughout the game, but especially after Horn Guy or Goat leads the cheer. (See my rant against the Capstronaut.)
   

Of course there will be a great many other rules and traditions that will come and go. But these will get you started (and keep you from pissing off the fans who have been going for ever). Follow these rules. And enjoy the game.

Let's go, Caps!

Yes He Can! Can't He?

The case: Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America. The result: the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Well, at least until the Obama Justice Department inevitably appeals Judge Virginia A. Phillips' injunction, that is. What a topsy-turvy world! A Republican group scoring an important victory for gay rights? The Democratic administration fighting to keep the deeply unpopular status quo?

What the hell is going on here? Admittedly, matters more complex than I'm making them sound. The Log Cabins are generally out-of-step with their party. Yet, arch-bogeyman Dick Cheney favors gay marriage. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is bound by precedent to uphold the current law of the land. Yet, liberal-savior President Obama is against gay marriage.

Again, what the hell is going on here? Politics, of course. Regarding gay marriage, the Log Cabins, who have little sway, are hardly the voice of their party. And Dick Cheney has nothing to lose now. Obama, on the other hand, made what is most likely a politically motivated statement while campaigning, to appeal to the center, and now has to stick to it.

I doubt Obama actually believes gay marriage is a bad thing, and I think most Americans, be they for or against gay marriage, agree with me. Obama has already condemned DADT. He even pledged to end it this year. Yet, if Obama holds to a politically expedient position, what does that say about him? Will Democrats applaud his so-called integrity?

This is Obama's moment. I'm no fan of his, but I hope he lives up to his promise to end DADT. Obama has a choice: politics or principles. Now that he has the chance, let's see if, yes, he can make the right decision.

Update: Andrew Sullivan makes the same points, more eloquently of course.

[Mirrored on Cultural Minefield.]

Jack's Completely Unsolicited Theatre Reviews: Double Trouble

This Columbus Day weekend I decided to take some of my hard-earned bonus and spend it on some Broadway shows. Through a fluke the theme of the weekend was "doubles" with shows called Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Promises, Promises, as well as a return trip to see A Little Night Music, now with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch.

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Setting the tone for what's about to ensue, the house at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on 45th looks like they let Lady Gaga rampage through the National Portrait Gallery's Presidential wing with as many Christmas lights as she could ever want. Combining the rock concert format of Hedwig and the Angry Inch with the creative anachronism of Spring Awakening, not since Assassins has presidential history been presented in such a darkly comic, yet poignant manner. It would be easy to say that Bloody Bloody… was simply poking fun at the current state of American Conservatism, but that's only if one ignores the subtext. Sure there's mavericks, teabags, a witchcraft dig, and shades of Bush v. Gore a plenty, but then there's the tale of the problem with populism on either side of the aisle: what do you do once you're elected and the populace can't help you anymore? Sure, the populace is great for getting elected but once elected they turn fickle: you're moving to fast/not fast enough, you're doing too much/not doing enough, etc. And then there's Maude... I mean Congress and the Courts. Damn those checks and balances! Now you're playing to the People's Representatives and not the People themselves. All of this is packed into one and three-quarter hours of rollicking fun that's a cross between an emo rock concert (complete with cutting scenes) and a 5th grade history assembly ;-) There is nary a weak link in the cast from Benjamin Walker as Andrew "Sexypants" Jackson, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe as Twinkie-eating Vice President Van Buren, right on down to a ferret-fondling Secretary of State Clay and the poor actress who has to spend the entire emptying of the house lying on the stage.

Promises, Promises

First the good: I'm glad I got to see the original cast in its entirety. Sean Hayes was brilliant, especially in the physical comedy bits (him and Mr. Sheldrake's chair was priceless). Kristin Chenowith was quite good but then that's to be expected, and thankfully, I got to see Tony Award winner Katie Finneran's final performance before she left on maternity leave. Hilarious! Now for the not-so good: While there was some amazing dancing, see above, I was underwhelmed by the Turkey Lurkey number. And then there's Maude... I mean, the insertion of "I Say a Little Prayer" into the score. It just didn't make sense: She's singing it to a "you" while in a scene that has her chatting with a gaggle of her female coworkers? I get what they were trying to do, but I think it could have been done better.

A Little Night Music

THEN: On the whole I enjoyed this production in spite of my dislike of certain directorial choices (the overture came across as funereal, the use of the lieder singers as servants, accents were all over the place, etc.). Angela Lansbury was, of course, excellent (even if she did flub her penultimate line). Catherine Zeta-Jones did a credible job with the singing (admittedly not a taxing singing role) and sparkled in her scenes with her mother and daughter. Leigh Ann Larkin did a stellar rendition of Miller's Son putting Madonna to shame with her bench gyrations.

NOW: Bernadette was a far better choice for the role managing the comedy and the singing. Her performance of "Send in the Clowns" was amazing, light years better than CZJ. That being said, while I recall disliking Anne in the first viewing, I wanted to kill her this viewing. Her vowels were all over the place as was her accent (why was she sounding Scottish in a play based in Sweden). For an example of the vowel issue, take the lyric "I'm not domineering" which came out like "Um Gnat Doh-meh-nairing." Every time she opened her mouth I really wanted to "get my hat and my knife." Jessica Grové was in for Leigh Ann Larkin as Petra. Upon re-reading my first review, I'm sensing that the sarcasm might have been lost on the Madonna reference. I was not pleased at that choice, and was glad they (or she) toned it down. And then there's Maude... I mean, Elaine Stritch. I can't tell whether Elaine was hamming it up or forgetting her lines or both. She too went up on her penultimate line such that I'm beginning to wonder what's so hard about "The smile for the fools was particularly broad tonight." That being said whereas Angela and past Madame Armfeldts have played the role with gravitas, Elaine played it in a more earthy manner befitting someone who slept her way to the top.

A Thing For Me - Metronomy

So, the song is okay... but, the video is brilliant... Check it out and enjoy. For more from Metronomy, click the link... It is for the song "Heartbreaker," which I like a tad better.

My Apologies

I would like to take the time to apologize for not blogging recently for the following reasons:

1) I had a large load of schoolwork.
2) I was not in a good mental place for writing, trust me here.
3) I was abducted by pirates and ransomed off to Saudi prince.
4) I narrowly escaped death, see item 3.
5) I was busy watching the extended versions of all 3 Lord of the Rings movies
6) I stuck the pages of my latest submission together with butterscotch, prior to butterbeer making.
7) I had a unicorn pass gas in my apartment and have been cleaning up glitter (the herpes of the Arts & Crafts World) ever since.
8) Only the 1st 2 are true.
9) Only this statement and the 1st 2 are true...and maybe #7.

I am excited to announce; however, that I am almost done with my Moderately Angry blog. I just need some statistics and figures to support my thoughts. And I will be posting a random music blog today as hopefully some ear candy for some of you to enjoy.

That all being said, I would like to thank Big Daddy for his submission about being unemployed and Just Jack for his continued Nerdfest entries :-) I want to hear from the rest of you that I haven't gotten to read this week, including "lol pics" from Peter.

Blessing in Disguse: Story of being Unemployed for a Month

This story starts like most stories of being laid off start. I was tailgating at the VA Tech vs Boise State game when my phone rang. It was the irritatingly dumb sounding voice of my subcontracting manager telling me that due to a cut in funding from my project, I was not to report to work tomorrow. There was no good bye lunch or happy hour for me, no severance, not pat on the back or shoulder to cry on. No, I was just told not to report to work the following day. From there I proceeded to drink another beer and eat some more chili before heading into the stadium.

It has been one month to the day since I was let go by my previous job as an IT Techy. Contrary to the normal behavior when one loses their only source of income, I was never worried, angry, sad, nauseous, or even gassy. Instead I was excited and relieved that I could take some time to reflect on my life and really decide what I wanted from it.

My previous job was located in Fairfax, VA and I was commuting from Washington DC. That commute was horrid for me, and this was the first thing on the list of changes I wanted for my new job. The second bolded, underlined, and italicized item on the list was to get paid for what I was worth. I wasn't getting paid for my Masters Degree and it was about time I did. The third and final upgrade to my next job would be better benefits. I was a sub contractor at my previous job and wasn't even getting paid vacation (however the overtime pay made up for it a lot of the times).

With all of the above changes needing to be met in order for me to accept a new job offer, I was off in search of my grail of a job (insert Monty Python coconut galloping noise here). I started applying to big government contractors and getting my resume out via e-mail to all of my contacts. I exhausted every networking source I could, and I'm pretty sure some people have left my network after communicating with me so much (please come back, I love you all). Finally I was contacted by a small company and asked to interview. I went though all the steps, jumped through all the hoops, kissed all the ass that needed a lip touch, and eventually received and offer letter. This job met all of my standards as far as the changes I needed in my career, so I accepted it (and now I'll be near all of the awesome food trucks in DC).

Now to the non-boring part of being unemployed.....

Once the job was secured I could concentrate on my inner happiness (except for the torturing of my liver, sorry liver, I love you & mean it). After being a commuter/working slave for so long I felt that I needed to rejuvenate my body. I got as much sleep as possible, and I even had a friend comment that I looked more rested and calm than I have ever looked to her before (wonder what she thought of me before? Bitch.... Kidding <3).

After realizing that 12 hours of sleep was only part of the remedy of inner happiness, I realized I needed to destress my body and mind.... what better way than to rediscover the art of day drinking. Thanks be to Santa Clause that I have such great friends that are bartenders and/or just work evenings. This allowed me to not go about my day drinking alone (that would be considered alcoholism children). Whether it was a pitcher of swirl margaritas at Lauriol Plaza, double margaritas on the rocks at Logan Tavern (served up by the ever so fabulous Eric), tall beers and lunch at hooters with Kevin in Chinatown on a random Monday, or even Yuenglings with the here and there shots of Jameson at Levelone with my newly dubbed big sister in DC; I rediscovered my inner college student. This was the epiphany I needed in order to relax and stay focused on being happy. This may come across to some of you as borderline alcoholism, but 64.27% of the time I wasn't even getting drunk. The alcohol was like a metaphorical campfire to gather around with good friends and enjoy each others company as well as a few (sometimes a lot of) laughs. As I venture onward to begin a new chapter in my career life, I want to salute the art of day drinking... I honestly and truly believe that everyone should rediscover this holy of holys once in their lifetime (prior to retirement).

My last and final ode to unemployment was the ability to go and visit my beautiful and wonderful girlfriend who lives 4 hours away while she finishes her degree. Long distance relationships aren't the easiest in the world (this is my first and hopefully only one), however having copious amounts of free time allowed me to make that 4 hour drive more often than I would if I were working. I also was able to stay longer than if I had job (thanks to her roommate for not hating me for being there too often). Going back and hanging around undergrads was fun (even the "old man" jokes were enjoyable at times), even attended a VA Tech game in the rain (sucks they lost to freaking JMU though).

The overall unemployment experience for me has been that of a positive one. This is what I will think of every time I hear unemployment rising in this country. I will hope that everyone getting their pink slip, or the call that they shouldn't report to work the following day, will be able to enjoy their time away from the grind of earning a pay check and sucking the days metaphorical or actual dick.

On the recent spate of gay suicides...

... a compendium of celebrity responses (I know we've all seen them, but it's nice to put them all in one place. If anyone has any other ones, please feel free to tell me and I'll add them).






(And in case the youtube goes away, the original Facebook link)



Playbill's Blog has a compendium of Broadway-related responses as well.

An homage to an Atari 2600 classic...

So I've wanted to write something about how the recent stories of tragic events involving young males and bullying and how it brought back painful memories of my youth in the rural wilds of Sussex County. But I just can't seem to.

So, instead, I'm gonna bring you these fun references to one of my earliest experiences with gaming:

ASTEROIDS!

Ever want to take out your aggression on ads? Or perhaps a certain winking political figure? Well, load up this bookmarklet while on any page and go to town.

I'm currently torn between two geeky options for sprucing up my decor: egocentrically geeky or nostalgically geeky.

A Thursday Morning Sing-a-long...

With the buckets that are falling from the sky... I just could not resist the temptation to post this...

Stripping the Polls Down

Ahhhh...it's almost October!

The wind is picking up, leaves are swirling around, the rain is coming down, and a fresh batch of candidate polls are whipping around, creating a media feeding frenzy.

"He's up by 4, she's down by 6, they are in a statistical dead heat!"

I get all warm and tingly just thinking about it!

In 2008 I came across this GEM of a website that I want to share with all my polling junkies out there.

The FiveThirtyEight Blog, now on the New York Times website.

It use to be an independent blog that would do poll analysis by breaking down all the polls, weighing them based on their polling criteria (how many people did they talk to, who did they talk to, what questions did they ask, how did they ask them, etc), and then combine all those polls for one SUPER GIANT MEGA ZORD...err, result.

What do we end up with?

I like to refer to it as the Cassandra of the election predictions. Nate Silver, the author of the blog, has an uncanny ability to predict, based on polls, election turnouts.

See, there are people who don't believe him. They call him a liberal, a democrat, a sell out to the Times...yet the numbers don't lie. Of course, people could shout out "Fuzzy Math!" or "Data Manipulations!" but when you look at HOW he does his calculations, there is VERY little room for error. The only thing he controls is how each poll is weighted, based on strict criteria depending on the bias of the poll. It's a complicated political calculus that is like when a math nerd and a political geek get together in bed and have crazy dork loving. Except it's real and unlike my example because we all know, math nerds never get laid.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

But I warn you, math nerds and political nerds, to keep a box of kleenex nearby!

"You've got to put me on a different scale"

"You've got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that's supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering," Long said, explaining the compensation he received from his charity.

Since no one has touched this subject (I've been following via CNN and other news outlets) I'd like to break it open. I've never been a major advocate of organized religion but this stems from having taken a part of my life to dedicate myself to a Pentacostal Church where I was 'cured' of being a homosexual (gay gasp) and part African American/Ethic I have a unique perspective when it comes to the charges that Bishop Long used his religious position to pressure young male members of his congregation to have sexual acts with him.

First, let me be clear: i neither agree with or discount these allegations. America is a land of selfish individuals who will do anything, even if it means destroying a fellow brother or sister, to get a few bucks or gain a few moments in the spotlight.

The lawsuits filed by Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg request punitive (money) damages so make no mistake that money, as it is with everything else in this country, lies some where near if not at the very heart of these lawsuits.

But, who cares? Long is a very wealthy man whose built an empire that includes a mega church in Atlanta with over 25,000 members, satellite churches all over the country, and is an extremely popular and public figure in the African American religious community.

Well, you should care because unlike movie stars and other celebrities didn't build their stardom and fortunes off of a position of religious power and through influencing thousands of people based on personal interpretations of the Bible.

My Bishop Longs OWN admitted above, "you've got to put me on a different scale than the little black preacher sitting over there that's supposed to be just getting by because the people are suffering" and with that being said these charges should ALSO put Bishop on a different level then just some random public person who denies charges of these against him when he has influenced thousands of people based on his position of religious power.

Homosexuality is and always will be a major taboo within the African American community. Street slang terms such as the DL (Downlow) were created based on the many African American men who lead 'public' heterosexual lives but 'private' homosexual ones.

African American men who come out of the closet are often ostracized by their families, friends, and religious institutions many of which they've been a part of since birth. This stems from the firm belief within the African American community that a gay Black male is worthless.

This belief propagates a major 'fear controlled' environment where it's better in the eyes of these mens to handle 'their business' behind closed doors rather then coming out because of the expected fallout.

Building an empire and publicly denouncing homosexuality time and time as part of ones livelihood, business and public image now puts Bishop Long on a 'different level' than others and damn well fucking should.

Men of the cloth are held to a higher standard because of their position of religious power which is a wave of influence over hundreds, and in this case, thousands of people. Even if these allegations prove to stem from these mens pursuit of a cash pay out (which many believe) let me remind you that just by filing these lawsuits these men have outed themselves and now have to deal with the already in full blown negative reaction from their families, friends, and community.

No one, and I mean NO ONE would willing do this unless at the core of it had damn good reason to.

And while I don't know everything involved with this case I do know the pressure of being a part of a religious community where people come to expect and in many instances demand of you to be who they want you to be and you become overwhelmed with so much pressure that you loose yourself in order to appease them.

If you don't you feel totally ashamed and as if you've failed not only them but yourself and God.

That kind of pressure is not to be taken lightly or shrugged off as unimportant. If Bishop Long is found guilty of using his position of religious power to get these young men to have sex with him he should face not only public outrage from every member of his congregation for deceiving them for years and instilling in them a groundless anti-homosexual belief but also demand for justice for being one of the biggest hypocrites of the African American community.

The phrase 'do as i say, not as i do' comes to mind and this more then anything is at the core of my angst when it comes to organized religion.

Men are not perfect, easily corruptible, lie and will use any means necessary to get what they want and maintain what they have.

Why should these universal truths be any different for Bishop Long?!

o_O
http://tuffiesrants.blogspot.com/

Say Cheese!

This parody is based on the this photograph.

The Future Looks Pretty Bright Folks

it's totally a concept mobile phone (thank you Billy May) via Mozilla Labs but i have one reaction to the remote possibility of a phone like this being a usable product before i'm in a senior citizens home

fuck

YEAH!!



o_O

Exhuming Malthus

Here we go again.

Slate has a good article on the forever-interest in the ideas of 18th century economist Thomas Malthus, particularly in the realm of fiction, specifically with regard to Jonathan Franzen's Freedom. To describe Malthus' central idea on one foot: human population grows exponentially, while natural resources grow arithmetically. The former will eventually outstrip the latter, leading to a population bomb that will detonate and obliterate us all.

No matter how many times Malthus is refuted, his ideas linger. Ultimately, Malthusians of all stripes are defined by their suspicion, if not hatred, for civilization. Malthus was in the news recently, thanks to the Neo-Malthusian nut who took hostages at the Discovery Channel earlier this month. His inspiration? A novel: My Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn.

It almost makes you miss the influence of Karl Marx.

(Mirrored on Cultural Minefield.)

A reckoning is coming.

So conventional wisdom is that the combination of history and pure legislative incompetence is going to doom the Democrats to losing the House in November. I'm a tad unconvinced that the so-called "tidal wave" will be as bad as it's being made out to be, but then I see genius strategic moves like this.

This is not what I voted for. I am an avowed liberal with a very strong backbone who is not reduced to a quivering mass of jelly whenever it's time to match wits with a "conservative." I want elected officials -- you know, REPRESENTATIVES -- who are of the same timbre. If a mass purge of all the lilly-livered pussies in the House and the Senate is what it takes to bring this about, so be it.

Captain Kirk put it eloquently.

I Never Claimed to be a Democrat...

But, this is why I won't vote for republicans... Their Fall Agenda sounds like a bunch of bull malarkey to me. On one hand we want to pay close attention to the rights of the individual. On the other hand, we want to take away the freedoms of some individuals, because we don't agree with who they choose to love.

The people who are out of touch with America are the Congresspeople of this great nation. All of them need to be put in check and remember the thing that makes this nation great: The fact that we were formed as a nation to protect the unalienable rights gauranteed by our Creator. If you can't remember what those are, they are Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. (or better yet look for yourself: Declaration of Independence . So, get out of my way as I presue happiness.

And just in case you have actually forgotten what the Constitution looks like, I provided a link for that. And just a gentle reminder, the judiciary branch exists to keep you guys and gals from pissing off too many of the people, while you continue to right legislation that is not only unconstitutional, but also just mean. As Jon Stewert asked last night: "Are We Run By Assholes?" "Indeed."

The Evil Corporate Dystopia of every 80s Sci-Fi Movie is Nigh

So the past week's reading has made me even more resolute that their needs to be Federal intervention into the wireless marketplace.

First, we have Verizon "Choice is our middle name" Wireless trying to convince us that their VCast App store and their other efforts with Android are about providing customers "choice" and not about making money and locking people into their walled garden so they're less liable to leave.

Then, we have the AT&T Death Star basically celebrating the fact that 80% of their iPhone customers are locked into AT&T.

And, now, we have T-is-for-text-unless-we-say-otherwise-Mobile attempting to censor the text messages that it carries specifically because the government has made clear where wireless falls in the panoply of communications regulations.

So, all that's left is Sprint... then again, they sponsor NASCAR so they're evil enough already ;-)

Why So Sad, Panda?

I came across this little nugget of information thru (yes, I refuse to use "through") iGoogle today, as I was doing my daily walk thru of the "how to" section. I found it rather interesting and may give it a shot, people should laugh more often.

Even, if you don't get the joke laugh anyway.

Anti-war republicans

Do my eyes deceive me or did the republicans just vote to deprive our brave men and women in uniform of the crucial support they so desperately need to defend our freedoms? This is unamerican.

Summer R.I.P.

Let's Talk About *Freedom*

I've just started reading Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, a book I planned on hating but am actually kind of enjoying. I've disdained Franzen (yes, my negative opinion of him has been that intense) since the whole Oprah flap back at the beginning of the last decade. I wasn't put off by some great offense against Her Highness of Daytime, but by Franzen's apparent smugness and snobbishness toward the economic gift horse that is the Oprah Book Club, by his attitude that he and his work (The Corrections) were too good for the sudden popularity that followed from Oprah's stamp of approval, that the vulgar "O" printed on the book's cover immediately tarnished its contents by marking it as "female fiction." Didn't he want people to read his goddamn book?

Anyway, it wasn't just spite that motivated me to pick up Freedom. It's too long a book to be read for the sole (and self-indulgent) purpose of further stoking some anger within me. No, I wanted to understand and be part of a conversation about an "important" literary work within the culture. I place quotes around the word important not to be snarky or contrarian, but to underscore the fact that Freedom's import is that it has prompted discussion in the first place, without me having to evaluate how important a literary work it is. It's not often that a work of fiction is discussed so ubiquitously, with angles of debate so multifaceted.

First there's the issue of the book's literary merit. Freedom has been overwhelmingly embraced by critics, with a few poison pens written in gleeful dissent. Then there's the reaction to the book's critical reception, which has become a debate about the nature of literary criticism and what it means to be a Great American Novel. Add to the mix questions of what happened to the popular "middlebrow" novel, why most people no longer read fiction, and whether a woman writer of literary fiction could ever grace the cover of Time, as Franzen did a few weeks ago, and you've got yourself some robust cultural discourse.

The last bit, of the media's attitude toward women literary writers, immediately cuts off any mention of J.K. Rowling, she being the clichéd 800 pound, and multi-billion dollar, gorilla. Of course, the modifier "literary" in front of "fiction" is central to all of this. When in recent memory have people, like real reg'lar people, many of whom are also the erudite consumers of the NYT's Notable Books list, clamored about and discussed a work of fiction? In the last ten years, it's only been in the context of young adult and genre fiction: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy exhaust the list.

And so, we talk about Freedom. While that's a very good thing on the surface, what about Franzen has established him as the literary topic of discussion? It's not merit alone. There have been a number of great, and for the most part popular, contemporary works that did not make the same splash, books like The Road, The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Netherland, Tree of Smoke, and Middlesex, among many others. Perhaps it's because few other authors mix Franzen's prodigious ambition and ability with broad social commentary. While I almost completely disagree with Franzen's evaluation of America and Americans, there's no doubt that Freedom is the work of a writer in full control of his powers, one who is emphatically Making a Statement. Freedom's sweeping 23-page first chapter is proof enough of this.

Whatever the answer, the great debate over Freedom shows the reports of the novel's death within American culture are at least slightly exaggerated. And the townsfolk rejoice, however halfheartedly.

(Mirrored on Cultural Minefield.)

Did Fidel Castro Trigger The US Gay Rights Movement?

via Andrew Sulivan

The dictator's belated acknowledgment and disavowal of his persecution of homosexuals prompted this fascinating email from Frank Kameny, the most important activist in the early gay rights movement:

While, Castro had no notion, of course, of what he was doing in this context at that time, in my view and in my interpretation of the dynamics of the 1960s Gay Movement, he triggered Stonewall and all that has followed.
News of Castro's incarceration of gays in detention camps in Cuba came out early in 1965 -- probably in March or very early April. At that time "the 60s" hadn't yet erupted in their full force, but the precursors were very well advanced. Picketing was considered the mode of expression of dissent, par excellence.

Jack Nichols approached me to suggest that we ("we"= The Matachine Society of Washngton, of which I was President) picket the White House to protest Cuba's action. I felt that it was rather pointless to picket the American President to protest what a Cuban dictator was doing. So I suggested that we broaden and Americanize the effort. One or more of our signs said (in gross paraphrase, here, from memory) "Cuba persecutes Gays; is America much better?", and others specifically addressed governmental and private anti-gay discrimination here, and other gay-related problems of the day.

And so, on April 17, 1965, ten of us gathered in Lagayette Square, marched across Pennsylvania Avenue to a site amongst the other demonstrators designated by the police officer on duty, and picketed. That was followed by another White House picket in late May; at the Civil Service Commission (now the OPM) in June; the Pentagon in July (and again in May, 1966); the State Department in August; and finally, a huge demonstration (55 people!!!) at the White House in October, with participants from New York and Chicago.

That July 4, we also staged the first of 5 annual "Reminder Day" pickets in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The last of those was scheduled for July 4, 1969, a few days after Stonewall-to-be., and was widely publicized in New York (as the previous July 4 ones had been) in the preceding weeks. It was well attended by New Yorkers, indicating that it was well known there.

Ever since, it has been my view, and remains so, that those demonstrations created the protest-oriented mindset which made Stonewall possible, and that without it Stonewall just wouldn't have happened. Therefore, several steps removed, and obviously utterly unbeknownst to him. by his 1965 detentions of Cuban gays, Fidel Castro precipitated and triggered Stonewall and all that we have gained from it since. So, if you enter into a same-sex marriage, or are helped by a gay-protective anti-discrimination law, or run for elective office an an open gay, thank Fidel.

The iPad effect

Analyst Suggests 'Tablet Cannibalization' Responsible for Shrinking U.S. Notebook Retail Sales.



By "tablet," btw, the analyst means iPad.

Also this:

Best Buy CEO: iPad Is Cannibalizing Laptop Sales By As Much As A Shocking 50%

Not bad for a device that it took a month to get until a few weeks ago. And note that this isn't unprecedented. Apple has been reporting a 50% conversion from Windows rate among customers at its stores every quarter since 2001.

Taking a bite out of Apple?

I'm not sure how many of my fellow comments on here are major tech geeks as I am (DD, you're excluded from this statement) but I'm about as tech addicted as one can get.

Case in point: when friends have house sat for me they've complained of difficulty falling asleep in my living or my master bedroom because of all the 'stand by' lights from my electronics. I personally find them quite snoozing...like stars in the night sky

but different strokes for different folks i guess. @_@

Which brings me to this post, Apple and it's endless claim to fame new product superstar, the iPad. Now, I've been an advocate of Apple having used a Power Mac all through my first undergrad degree and loved it, but have since moved back over to the land of Microsoft and PCs with no major complaints.

Yet thanks to Apple's iPad I've been very fascinated with the increased consumer interest and applicability of tablet computers to my personal and work life and have delayed purchasing one for a few reasons.

My main reason being the release of Apple' brand new game changer, the iPhone. I was one of those crazies that after the first ones release June 29th 2007 (which I paid full retail for) no less than a year later Apple announced the pending release of the iPhone 3G July 11th 2008 at half the price and twice the tech!!

I know that technology refreshes at an alarming rate these days but I've never quite gotten over this painful stab in the back by Apple although I continued to buy replacement iPhone's and use this formate before switching to Verizon Wireless and the Motorola Droid 2 recently.

Based on the above I haven't purchased Apple's iPad because I'm waiting for them to release the bigger, better, newer iPad within the year at half the price and because of increased interest in what some of Apple's competitors are ranting about such as Samsung and how other products will compare.

Namely the Samsung Galaxy Tab which runs off Android 2.2 (Froyo) which is a totally open-sourse mobile phone OS backed by the Borg quality like tech giant, Google Inc.

There's also a nifty video below highlighting what this new toy of the gods can do, check it out!



So, what's your take on the whole tablet craze?

Will this become the new mobile computing standard or is it just another passing tech fad that will die a quick but glorious death similar to netbooks?

Will Apple remain king of this genera since it's the first to make tablets popular and relevant again with consumers as it was and is via the changes to the smartphone market with the release of the iPhone?

o_O

Karma Kameleon

Martena Clinton, mugging for the camera in this choreographed photo.

A few things jump out at me over this story:

1. "Clinton has the handicapped tag because her husband suffered a stroke."
2. "She displayed a handicapped tag prominently, locked her car and checked with a police officer who happened to be parked right behind her. He assured her the spot was legal."
3. The "police had not kept track of where they had moved" her car.
4. The car was a block and a half away.

It sucks to have your car towed. It gives you a lead-in-the-belly feeling that just makes you sick. People shouldn't have to go through that, especially after being assured by a police officer that you are legally parked.

That said, it serves her right. As commenters on the article have pointed out, while parking in a handicapped spot was legal because she had a handicap tag, the use of said tag is not legal because ... well ... she's not handicapped. If I had been the officer, I would have informed her of that little fact and had her move the car.

In which case, she most likely would have parked farther away and her car would have most likely not been moved.

Karma. She is a bitch.

(Cross-posted on The District Diaries)

Crab Mentality And The Potential Implosion Of The Republican Party

I was reminded of how easy it is to cook crabs after reading this news article at CNN.com this morning.

It seems that the Republican Party is still embroiled in a "civil war" between the Republican Status Quo (RSO) and the Tea Party (about which, I'm sure, some of my fellow contributors are ecstatic but that's another post for another day) even though the Primary Election is over. In some cases, such as Delaware and Alaska, the RSO candidate lost. It's usually at this point that the party rallies 'round the Primary winner to help them secure whatever post it is to which they are aspiring. But not so this year.

Now, it's one thing to actively work to defeat someone if you are a member of the opposition, but it is quite another to actively work to defeat someone if you are a member of the same party after the Primary Election results are in. You idiot RSOs had nine months to do all of your sniping, mud-slinging, and character assassinations against these upstarts. And your candidate lost. Now is the time to rally behind the Primary winner. Now is the time to do all you can to ensure that you capture the majority seats in Congress. Now is the time to make your party relevant.

But no. RSOs can't seem to get past the insult of being rejected by the voting members of their own party and feel the upstarts still have a price to pay for their impertinence.

Sharpen those crabby claws, baby. It's almost supper time.

(Cross-posted on The District Diaries)

Prison costs money

Fascinating

ST. LOUIS — When judges here sentence convicted criminals, a new and unusual variable is available for them to consider: what a given punishment will cost the State of Missouri.

For someone convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, for instance, a judge might now learn that a three-year prison sentence would run more than $37,000 while probation would cost $6,770. A second-degree robber, a judge could be told, would carry a price tag of less than $9,000 for five years of intensive probation, but more than $50,000 for a comparable prison sentence and parole afterward. The bill for a murderer’s 30-year prison term: $504,690.

Some people deserve imprisonment, obviously, but does putting a price tag on a sentence make a judge less inclined to sentence someone to five years in jail for, say, possession when the sentence will cost a year's salary? Will be very interesting to look back in a few years and see how this information affects sentencing in Missoura.

Pirate of the day

I see your corgi and raise you this...

Corgi of the Day

Yes, I will be posting a corgi pic every Friday. Deal with it.

"We don't need the Senate. We need strong Conservatives and at least 40 of them. That's it."

The Broken Confirmation Process

Ezra Klein argues that Elizabeth Warren's presidential appointment to a special advisory position, tasked with heading the effort to start the new federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is part of a "terrifying precedent" in government.

"The confirmation process is so desperately broken that top nominees who are already working in government prefer vague advisory positions. It's a pretty safe bet that potential nominees with good jobs in the private sector are declining consideration entirely. The number of people who want to give up their day jobs and spend a year in silent limbo when there's no promise of a position on the other side is not that large, and as word gets out that that's effectively what Senate confirmation means, the top talent that government will be able to attract for these positions will dwindle."

I love how "conservatives" claim they will die for the constitution (or at least they have no problem sending poor people off to sacrifice in their stead) but they have absolutely no problems destroying the still-ingenious system the founding fathers set up to protect the republic from, well, them.

"Well, they make musicals..."

What is it with London theatre producers and their sudden obsession with Whoopi Goldberg's back catalog?

Admittedly, Ms. Goldberg has a starry Broadway background having taken over the role of Pseudolus in the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum from Nathan Lane, starring as the titular character in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, as well as subbing for Jackie Hoffman in Xanadu (the reason I saw that show for the third time ;-). And admittedly, past musicalizations of movies starring Whoopi have had some success: The Color Purple and the Disney behemoth, The Lion King. But still, I could take the announcement of the West End creation of a musical version of Sister Act, but now comes this:

Ghost the Musical to Open at London's Piccadilly in Summer 2011

What's next? Jumpin' Jack Flash: The Musical? 10 Forward: The Star Trek Cantina Musical? As Susan Powter once said: "Stop the insanity!"

I realize that big, splashy musicals are a risky endeavor. I also realize that I am something of a hypocrite as I:

1. was one of the few people who saw the short-lived, Dolly Parton-penned musicalization of 9 to 5
2. am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the musicalization of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (slated to take over the theatre once West Side Story closes, would have been ironic if it were to take over the Winter Garden from Mamma Mia!)
3. am moderately interested in the idea of the musicalization of The First Wives Club.
4. saw Xanadu 3 times.
   

Both 1 and 2 are resultant though from a casting choice driving me to see it: Allison Janney in 9 to 5, hottie Nick Adams in Priscilla in the Guy Pearce role. 3 is just a guilty pleasure of mine. 4 is a parody of the movie even though the movie is almost a parody of itself.

Off the top of my head I can name at least 2 dozen movie-based musicals in the past few years. I also would bet that many of y'all would be hard-pressed to name even half that many non-movie-based musicals of the past few years. We need our original musicals (watch for the post title reference), too!

The other thing I should note is that there's absolutely nothing wrong with derivative works. My personal theatre God, Stephen Sondheim, has worked on projects of a derivative nature: West Side Story, A Little Night Music (based on the Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night), Passion (based on an Italian movie), etc. But the musicals I'm decrying aren't "derivative" they're reproductions. Rapidly, Broadway and the West End are becoming some sort of Madame Tussaud's for Hollywood where the medium isn't wax, it's song.

Muscular Liberalism.

Stewart, Colbert to Hold "Competing" Rallies

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert each appeared on each others' show last night to announce competing rallies in Washington, D.C. on October 30, just before the midterm elections.

Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" and Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive" appear to be plays on Glenn Beck's recent "Restoring Honor" rally, which drew thousands of Tea Party supporters to the capital.

Marc Ambinder: "Stewart and Colbert have disclaimed any interest in participating in politics. But the timing, and message, are undeniably political -- and not helpful to conservatives. Audiences for both shows tend to be younger and more liberal than the older, conservative independents who watch Fox News... Depending on how the media covers the run-up to these rallies, Stewart and Colbert could generate interest and enthusiasm among the type of voters who have so far been turned off by the independent conservative resurgence."

Hallelujah.

This says more about St. Adrian than anything I could write.

Fenty Could Claim GOP Nomination

WTOP notes "a twist to the D.C. mayoral primary that you may not have expected. The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics says the top write-in candidate for the Republican Party was current Democratic Mayor Adrian M. Fenty."

Fenty lost the to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray in this week's Democratic primary.

He has until 4:45 p.m. today to file an "Affirmation of Write-In Candidacy," essentially accepting the Republican nomination though he has previously said he would not change parties.

Stunned.

Naked Firefighters Serving Dinner?!

NBC News has reported that a number of local DC firefighters reportedly cooked and served dinner at a retirement celebration at a Columbia Heights fire station while both male and female firefighters were present and an investigation is underway to determine what happened (um, i think it's pretty obvious) and how these brazen individuals should be punished.

Um, I fail to see the issue here because even with the blurry photo (see above)that's been leaked and shown across major news networks and websites it doesn't look like at least one of these naked firefighters was out of shape so i say

serve on!!

but as a trained and degree carrying culinary professional i must point out the major health and risk factors for a naked male cooking in a production kitchen:

1. any kitchen is considered a dangerous place to be/work within and without proper clothing while cooking via gas ranges one greatly increases the chances of being burned including ones 'little solider' which is clearly undesirable on any level

2. the increased likelihood of unwanted body parts such as hair, nails and the like making it into cooked dishes, which is just gross and violates basic sanitation rules for any kitchen ... unless you're into that sorta thing (and if you are you have bigger things to worry about then this blog post)

3. and a higher level of 'distractions' (naked ding dogs flopping about) when chopping, cutting, and cooking which could lead to more mistakes such as the 'accidentally' chopping off of ones flopping ding dong, which is again undesirable on any level if one is not fully focused to the task(s) at hand

I strongly, STRONGLY, recommend that no amatures try this at home as these are trained professionals that deal with fire all the time, and from the looks of it, don't look half bad doing it!! ^_^

o_O

Allow me to introduce myself ...

I was asked by a colleague what my nom de plume is. I said my name is appropriate. The colleague, in response, noted I could very easily be Big Daddy or The Madam. True. But that's now what I meant by appropriate.

In his autobiography, Malcolm X explained the "X": "The Muslim's 'X' symbolized the true African family name that he never could know. For me, my 'X' replaced the white slavemaster name of 'Little' which some blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed upon my paternal forebears."

That's what I meant by appropriate, and it should carry extra appropriate-sauce for those who know my last name.

I come from a very different background and view things with a perspective that is alien to most people you'll run across. I'm also blessed with the ability to turn a phrase effectively; a skill that's been honed over the years in ways that have left me with a reading and writing ability that has, in the past, rivaled tenured professors of the language, though I'm a lowly techie by day. The word is my weapon of choice, the page -- printed, digital -- my battlefield. I choose carefully, I use cautiously, and I read willfully.

Oh yes Dolores, I's edumacated.

There's no need for me to wax philosophique about my background and motivations, et al. All of that will become clear as our "canon" here evolves, but suffice it to say my interests are varied and my attention fleeting though there are subjects I will SQUIRREL and (more often than not) draw my ire: politics, technology, race ... and the weather.

On the political front, there's a lot of moaning going on about the defeat of Saint Adrian of Fenty among a certain cohort of Washingtonians that needs to be read from a different perspective. Happy to oblige. Race front? The dog. Think I'll whip something up about that as well. Who knows, maybe we'll get a nice hurricane through here before the season is over too.

This should be interesting.