I think that this is a particularly powerful message to Tim Hardaway given his recent homophobic comments. It is a PSA taped by George Takei, the actor who played Mr. Sulu in the original Star Trek series. Mr. Takei is now a gay activist and had this to say:
Friday, February 23, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Gay Hip Hop
This has been something that has actually been brewing for quite some time. The first time I heard about this was two or three years ago in the Advocate. They had an article running about gay hip hop and a few artists. This news item features an openly gay hip hop artist named Dead Lee. What's interesting is to see how this has become more and more pervasive and how and why these artists have decided to come out. What's even more interesting is that you still can't find any of their music anywhere, not even on Amazon. This particular artist though, also takes an interesting stance on the f-word (It used to be avoided altogether on television, but the media lately has equated it with the n-word). His stance is to reclaim the f-word, the same way that African Americans have reclaimed the n-word in early rap and hip hop. I like the idea of reclaiming words, and the gay community already did that with the word queer, but for the most part, we've stayed away from the f-word because it is simply so harsh. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a trend...
- The news item can be watched by clicking here.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Gunman kills 5 at Utah mall, police say
This took place in Salt Lake City, in a rather popular mall. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 52. Two of the victims were male and two were female. There were also four injured. Apparently, the shooter was only 18 years old, and according to one mall employee, looked rather calm through the whole ordeal. He was well armed, and guess what he was wearing? A trenchcoat. After Columbine, that seems to be the garment of choice for shooters for some reason. I really don't know what to say about this young man. Not so much younger than me even. I really don't know what would possess a person to go to such extremes.
I guess what also makes it so scary is that it took place in a mall. There have been incidences like this before, and each time they scare me because malls in general are open to the public. I have to admit that things like this scare the hell out of me, and that from time to time in a mall, I do look around to see if anyone looks like they mean harm. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I don't think so.
The article can be read here.
I guess what also makes it so scary is that it took place in a mall. There have been incidences like this before, and each time they scare me because malls in general are open to the public. I have to admit that things like this scare the hell out of me, and that from time to time in a mall, I do look around to see if anyone looks like they mean harm. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I don't think so.
The article can be read here.
Valentine's News
I just thought this was hilarious! Apparently, Viagra will now be available OTC in the UK! And just in time for Valentines!! The article does say that the patient must still talk to the pharmacist and have small tests taken, such as for glucose, blood pressure, etc. I only hope that safety does not become an issue in this situation. Viagra can have some pretty nasty side effects with the right, or wrong, heart conditions.
What I don't get is that, the drug company probably did this because of the number of men too embarassed to talk to their doctors. However, if I needed Viagra, I would be far less likely to go get a bunch of small tests done in the middle of a drug store to get the Viagra over the counter. I don't know. It's nothing I've ever had to deal with, so maybe it really is less embarassing this way...
- The full article can be viewed here.
Trade
This movie looks absolutely amazing! So amazing that I couldn't help but to put something about it up here. The movie is called Trade, and it's about human trafficking in North America. It looks very powerful and... I don't even know what else to say...
Monday, February 12, 2007
Funny News
In this article Laura Bush basically admits that Georgie forgets Valentine's and, in general, is a goof about the whole day. I don't honestly know how the woman can stay married to the man. But then, who knows? Maybe it really is worth it.... LOL!! I know... that was just for us.
Folks, I think we've reached an all-time low. I'm really concerned with the state of the world
with this one. I mean, we've all seen all kinds of terrible things on the news and in our media. If all those things really didn't kill your faith in humanity, this will. I do NOT recommend reading this article, if say, you're on the very verge of suicide. This may just make you do it. If you do choose to read this, please sit down, and please put the razor blades, and indeed all sharp objects, a safe distance from yourself and small children. Please people, think of the children...Daily News
This story is incredible to me because a teenage boy collapsed in his PE class because of a congenial heart failure. His heart had stopped beating completely. He was put on a machine and put on the heart transplant waiting list. Four days later, his heart simply started beating again. One thing that the news always seems to do is call everything good that happens a miracle. It only bothers me when they do it for something that goes good in a normal way, because it makes people believe that good things never happen. But this really does sound, in its best description, like a miracle.
As if our country needed any more unhealthy idols to admire, there has been a trend in the fashion world trying to find male models who are pencil thin. The look they're trying to achieve is more androgynous look. Seriously. I'm not sure why this trend has taken hold, but alas it has. What is even more unfortunate is that it is starting to take the same road that this has led to for female models. Anorexia and bulimia are now starting to become more common in male models throughout the industry.
I never did understand the obsession with dangerously thin people. In my mind, they're just not very attractive. There is nothing about being that unhealthy that looks glamorous to me, or makes me want to look like that. Although, I must admit, I do feel self-conscious when I see guys on magazine covers who also have muscled bodies, so I guess this isn't anything terribly new for men. Gods know it's nothing new for women...
So am I the only one who's tired of hearing about this bullshit?!?!? 
Seriously folks, they said what we now ALL know to be true. Before only a handfull of us seemed to know it with some skeptics and a whole lot of people who had an inkling, but now we ALL know it!! Some conservatives accused the Grammy's of being "out of touch" with the American people. I say look who's calling the kettle black! The Grammy's are not in place to praise our political system or the people in it. The awards show is there to award good music and good music artists.
The fact that the man is surprised seems so rediculous to me. Most of what country music culture is today is a celebration of being outside the mainstream and "redneck". If you take people who disagree with you, but come from that same line of thinking, then guess what? That means you're not the rebels anymore, redneck. You're the one lagging behind!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Anna Nicole Smith Dead at Age 39
This struck me as quite a surprise. Now, I never cared for the woman when she was alive. I will be the first to admit it. I have to admit though that I am very sad that she's dead. A lot of people will try to write her off as a drunk, or a druggy. And while she did enjoy her partying, and while I did get tired of hearing about her, I again am surprised at how sad I am that she actually died.When someone told me today that she was dead, I had to sit down for just a second. Part of that, I know, is guilt for talking so badly about someone who died rather tragically six months after giving birth and the death of her son. Part of it also though, is the fact that she was kind of like one of those crazy relatives who just drives you mad. At the same time, you don't want them to die. She did always seem incredibly unhappy underneath it all. I hope she finds some peace out there...
The news item can be watched here.
Daily News
This one issue has been in the news off and on again for a number of years now. The issue revolves around the United States Army and Wiccan service members. For years now, the Office of Veterans' Affairs has refused to give Wiccan soldiers the right to have a pentacle put on their tombstones. This issue is actually almost a decade old, and still almost nothing has come of it. Veterans' Affairs has continually come up with excuse after excuse, and now the hold up seems to be only the waiting period which has been several years. The widow of one Patrick Stewart, who was killed when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, has been fighting to no end to get their religion recognized on his tombstone. It is a sad day in America when we can not treat our fallen soldiers with the respect they deserve after they gave their very lives for our country.
Yes folks, you read that headline right. Apparently, the son lost a fight at school. The mother decided that the son should take revenge upon the boy he lost the fight to. The boy who 
won the fight suffered several gunshot wounds to his torso and died shortly thereafter in a trauma center. I don't understand what kind of sick bitch would encourage her child to kill someone else's. As an anthropologist, I have my own serious question about "mother's instinct." But the way I was raised tells me flat out that a mother who seriously loved her child could not fathom putting another mother through that hell. I hope they charge that stupid bitch with everything they can find.
This one is actually just quite funny. I think the fact that so many straight men probably wish they could have something going on with some of the women of Desperate Housewives, and the one who gets to pat Teri Hatcher's ass is George Bush Sr. That is almost too funny...
Thursday, February 8, 2007
This is kind of cool...
Being an anthropology major, I know when I read the article that to say that they were probably lovers, at this stage of the dig, is really reaching. However, as they say, it is one of many hypotheses. They could have been in any number of types of relationships or simply buried that way to save space. Who knows? I just thought it was interesting, and slightly mushy...
- This article can be read by clicking here.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Daily News
This article is interesting only because it seems to back up so much of the argument against the anti-immigration rhetoric. For so long, those who support things like a huge wall barricading the southern border, hunting human beings with rifles, and creating an official language have stated time and time again that racism is not a part of their reasoning. However, they never seem to offer any examples of this. They're not racist, simply because they said so, despite the overwhelming evidence to the opposite conclusion. Here is just such a piece of evidence. Don't they get it yet? We know why they oppose immigration so much. They're not fooling anyone.
What can I say? I hope they catch these horrible people. What really seems to amaze me is not that there are child predators, but that there are so many! It really is rather disgusting. I'm just shocked that there seems to be a plague of them everywhere. What's even more shocking that this article shows, but doesn't seem to want to acknowledge, is that the country with the most suspects in the child porn ring are from America. Does that creep anyone else out?
What happened to the snickers ad?
I was reading through some of my email, when I realized that someone had come to me asking why the link didn't work. For those of you who don't remember, read my February 5th posting. Apparently, there was enough buzz from GLAAD and HRC that the ad along with football players' reactions were pulled down from the site! And I say good riddance!
The article on the subject can be found here.
The article on the subject can be found here.
Gay News of the Day
Apparently, the man who was outed by his gay escort found that he can be changed. The three ministers who were counceling him announced on Tuesday that the therapy had indeed worked. The interesting thing is that the counceling ministers also suggested that he goes into secular work. This does not come as a surprise since he severely damaged the church for which he served as pastor, not to mention the huge Evangelical organization of which he was head. If anyone remembers Jimmy Swaggert, it does make me wonder if, or when, we'll hear of more interesting news concerning Ted Haggard.
I never know what to make of people who find themselves in this situation. On one hand, I feel as though they have made a conscious effort to betray gay people everywhere in the way that they attempt to dehumanize glbt people, yet act on their own sexuality in a secret place somewhere. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to know the kind of self-loathing and weakness that makes a person become a closeted scandal waiting to happen. I suppose, in the end, all we can do is work for a better world for everyone and pray for people like Mr. Haggard.
I just thought that this was actually kind of funny. As many of us know, one of the largest arguments ever used to rationalize the discrimination of marriage rights to glbt people is that two people of the same sex can not procreate. Now, this is a scientific fact. Two people of the same sex can not procreate. However, the argument is always used against glbt people as if this were true of only them. Not all heterosexual couples can have children due to many issues. Many couples can have children, but simply choose not to. This proposal brought about in Washington state by a pro-marriage group, is meant to show exactly how ludicrous this argument is. They don't expect it to pass, and I sincerely hope it doesn't, but I do think it is rather effective. However, upon reading the article, it looks as though the opposing side still doesn't get it...
Monday, February 5, 2007
Paris F***ing Hilton!!
Everyone knows that I can't stand the stupid bitch pictured to the left, but let's take a look at my latest reason as to why (as if I needed any more). Apparently, someone filmed her while at a party, and she decided to use a few choice words. One of them begins with an "N" and another begins with an "F". Can you guess what words those were? They weren't nice and fun. That's for damn sure. She actually takes the time to rag on poor people too, which to me was the greatest little thing she could've ever done. I kinda want to slap her now, moreso than normally. We could also throw a match and I'm sure all of the cosmetic products she wears would also just combust... hopefully...What is most disturbing about the whole thing is that she has actually asked for part of the proceeds if any come of the movie itself. She is actually that shallow to want to make money off of it as well.
The news item can be watched here.
Snickers Super Bowl Ad
Okay, so I ran across an article on a blog that takes a particularly offended view of the snickers ad that ran during the super bowl last night. I had originally refused to put a damn thing up about the super bowl, but now they've pissed me off. The ad can be viewed here. Now the ad itself is not entirely offensive. It can be indirectly linked to show how they are endorsing violence against gays, but for the most part, "it makes the mechanics out to be social neanderthals" as the blogger of Towleroad put it. I have to admit, I agree, the commercials alone are not that big a deal.
However, that's not what pissed me and these other bloggers off so much. When you open up the window that allows you to view the ad, there are the reactions to the commercial from the players on the opposing teams. They clearly show disgust to the scene where the two men kiss. John from DC on his AMERICAblog puts it rather succinctly, "These are role models for kids, and they're telling America's kids, and rather scary adults, that two guys kissing "ain't right.""
To exacerbate the situation a little further, we find that all this time Mars, which own snickers, m&m's and so forth is owned by a family of billionaires that actively supports the Republican party. They were also at the forefront of lobbying to repeal the estate tax. These don't sound like great people to me, but maybe I'm just overreacting... Or maybe I just won't eat any more of their chocolate. Who wants to boycott?! I do! I do!
Example of Religious Tolerance
So, I know I often have several things to rant about when discussing how religion is treated as a way of judging people in America despite the fact that we're supposed to be "over" things like skin tone. However, I just wanted everyone to see that there is in fact, hope for the world. This article highlights how one Navajo man joined the Marines with full intention of serving in combat, only to find himself gifted with what the Navajo call the trembling hand. Apparently, it is seen as a spiritual gift that allows for healing and carries a long way in ancient traditions. The article goes on to say that when confronted with going to war which he is no longer allowed to do by custom because of his new gift, the Marines granted him objector status. I say yay Marines! Now, if only Wiccans can get their pentacle on their own grave, I think we'll be on our way to an even better world. Baby steps, baby steps...
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Olympian Comeback!
So, unbeknownst to us Americans over here, Greece is one of the many countries left that does not allow for the freedom of religion. Greek Orthodox Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are the only three religions legally recognized by the Greek government... until recently. One religion that has made a comeback is the ancient Greek religion. This is clearly a reconstructionist movement, but it has proven to anger quite a few people within the Greek Orthodox Church. Apparently, they're not particularly happy about the revival. They usually show this by referring to the followers of said religion as, ""miserable resuscitators" of the degenerate dead religion" (The Guardian article). So far, the movement only seems to have a few followers, but they do seem rather loyal and they are petitioning to start using the ancient temple for what they were intended to be: temples. They do seem to have a bit of work ahead of them, but they are not without a sense of vision. Their official website has the following posted:
The Guardian article can be found by clicking here.
The official YSEE website can be found by clicking here.
Random site of interest, and along the same line is Kyklos Apollon.
What is particularly interesting is that the Greek government is far more willing to let this happen, it seems, because of their entrance into the European Union which is made up of numerous other Western European countries with freedom of religion. I for one, look forward to seeing the ancient Olympian Gods actually honored again.Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes (Y.S.E.E.) has submitted a Memorandum
(May the 7th, 2006) to the President of the Hellenic Democracy, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, the Greek Minister for the Interior, Public Administration & Decentralisation, the Greek Minister of National Education & Religious Affairs and the Greek Minister of Culture, on the necessity of:
1. the GRANTING OF THE QUALITY OF LEGAL ENTITY TO THE HELLENIC ETHNIC RELIGION
2. the PROTECTION OF THE HELLENIC ETHNIC RELIGION AS PART OF THE
"NATIONAL HERITAGE" OF GREECE
3. the INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT OF EQUALITY OF RIGHTS ("ISONOMIA") - EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW - EQUALITY OF
SPEECH ("ISEGORIA") OF THE HELLENIC ETHNIC RELIGION(Taken from the official YSEE website.)
The Guardian article can be found by clicking here.
The official YSEE website can be found by clicking here.
Random site of interest, and along the same line is Kyklos Apollon.
Time For the News Again Folks...
So first on our list of news items is this:
This particular case is a little tricky. On one hand, you have the fact that for religious purposes, Santeria requires certain sacrifices at certain times. In this case, a goat must be slaughtered for an initiation. The city of Euless does not allow for the slaughtering of animals in the city limits for any purpose. This only gets tricky when we take into account that the law was not originally set up to target Santeria or its followers, but in fact was set up to keep farming out of the city. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
What does bother me about the fiasco is the way that news agencies have handled it. Only in certain print does it bother to mention that the sacrificed animal is eaten. When broadcasting, this simple fact is often overlooked.
Once again, modern man amazes us with his ingenuity. After all, what could be easier and simpler than stealing an entire atm?!!?!? Robbing the clerk? Mugging someone? Getting a job? Oh that was sill of me! Apparently this guy actually planned on hauling the entire damn thing into his truck. Apparently he didn't really think it through either... What's really inspiring about this entire story, is that this is only one of over a dozen attempts in the past month!
Marie Antoinette
So I know that nearly everyone is going to disagree with me, but I think the movie Marie Antoinette looks startlingly interesting. I say "startlingly interesting" only because it strikes me that originally it did not look so interesting, even to me. However, I am, and always have been, fascinated with stories of famous and influential people, especially women, who have fallen from grace or found themselves otherwise "in over their heads" as they say. Marie Antoinette was no exception becoming a bride to a rather ill-equipped husband at the age of only fifteen, stripped away from all she knew. Her most famous quote was, as we all know, "Let them eat cake." However, she was a far more complex character than that quote alone would allow us to believe. In fact, when she first became Queen of France, she was hailed as the Queen of Compassion and rather beloved by the people of France.
What turned me off to the idea of the movie when I first saw print advertisement for it was the fact that it seemed to have an 80's flair to it. I immediately thought to myself that this was in terrible taste. But I watched the trailer online recently, and found that it was actually done very tastefully. What's more is that the official site for the movie actually has some real history listed, which raises my hopes that the movie had as much, if not more, research put into it. I also am usually not a fan of Kirsten Dunst, but she, again, startled me in the way she seems to portray this woman in the trailer.
Now, I know that the movie has already been released in theatres and in fact, is no longer showing there, but I am wanting to rent it when it comes out of DVD later this month. I say, at least take a look at the trailer.
The online trailer can be watched by clicking here.
The official website can be reached by clicking here.
(I warn that the music on the official site comes on a bit loudly.)
Saturday, February 3, 2007
One of My Favorite Quotes
"And so we ask for peace for the gods of our fathers, for the gods of our native land. It is reasonable that whatever each of us worships is really to be considered one and the same. We gaze up at the same stars, the sky covers us all, the same universe compasses us. What does it matter what practical systems we adopt in our search for the truth. Not by one avenue only can we arrive at so tremendous a secret."
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (A.D. c. 340-c. 402), Roman senator. Letter, written 384, to the Christian Emperor Valentinian II, pleading for the continuation of pagan ceremonies (published in Finley Hooper and Matthew Schwartz, Roman Letters: History from a Personal Point of View, ch. 10, 1991).
news of the day
so now folks, its time for the real news and the oh my gods that shit is funny news.
Taxpayers Should Be Allowed To Challenge Bush 'Faith-Based' Office, Americans United Tells Supreme Court
this is something that is actually very near and dear to my heart, because i for one have not been a big fan of the faith based initiative since the very first time i ever saw it. i did not like the idea of having my tax dollars going to support religious groups where i have very little say in what the money goes to. secondly, i also do not like the idea because what i feared, and what has actually happened, was that the government would have its foot in to favor one religion or denomination over the other. such is the case with neopagan organizations who have not received any funds despite their work, and with the christian churches who rallied from the very beginning to sign a petition to make sure that that happened. i hope this case goes far.
- the real news:
Taxpayers Should Be Allowed To Challenge Bush 'Faith-Based' Office, Americans United Tells Supreme Court
this is something that is actually very near and dear to my heart, because i for one have not been a big fan of the faith based initiative since the very first time i ever saw it. i did not like the idea of having my tax dollars going to support religious groups where i have very little say in what the money goes to. secondly, i also do not like the idea because what i feared, and what has actually happened, was that the government would have its foot in to favor one religion or denomination over the other. such is the case with neopagan organizations who have not received any funds despite their work, and with the christian churches who rallied from the very beginning to sign a petition to make sure that that happened. i hope this case goes far.
- the oh my gods that shit is funny news:
Chewbacca Arrested in Hollywood!
This is the real deal folks. Apparently, this guy dressed as Chewbacca was arrested on assault charges in Hollywood. Oh, California, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways!
first posting!!
hello ladies and gentlemen. thank you for taking the time to read my blog and its very first post. in case you were wondering where on earth i came up with such a title, i'll tell you. it's actually an extension of a joke that my sister and i used to have between us. it was simply that you knew movies were getting REAL bad when there were far more sequels than were humanly conceivable, such as freddy vs. jason... but yes, and so when john attacks: part 27 was born. i also named it that because that's kind of how i approach life. i attack it. in a spiritual i'm making fun of you kind of way. but yeah. hopefully i will soon find something interesting to say on here and i will post it so that everyone can see it and stuff... cause that's what a blog is for... and stuff... yeah.
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