Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Work Horse?

So, I got this e-mail from Rick Santorum's campaign...

.
Our campaign proved again last night that Republican voters want a work horse to take on President Obama. They see that in our campaign.
.
And I wonder, "work horse"?   Usually I understand a campaign's terminology - even when it consists of short-hand to inflame the base.  But I am totally missing the "work horse" imagery.
.
Does he mean, boring but tireless?  Is he contrasting himself with Obama or Mitt Romney - neither of which are greyhounds.  Does he mean dependable but dull?
.
I don't get it.  But I don't get he sweater vest appeal either - so I must not be the target audience.

Happy Leap Day

February 29th.  It only comes around once every 4 years - so why does it seem so ... blah.  Maybe it is the weather.  Today is a dull grey day, waiting for a mix of rain and snow here in New York.
.
When you think about it, February is a stupid month to add an extra day.  I would like an extra day in June or September.  Even August or March would be better than February.
.
Think about it.  Wouldn't July 32nd be a great day!  That is an extra beach day.  An extra fun in the sun day.  Not an extra mid-winter slush-fest.
.

Anyway, here is a view from our house to show you how the One World Trade Center is moving along.  That  is it on the right side of the picture - far away in red.
.
The blue in the foreground is from the hotels across the street.  And the Empire State Building is in white.
.
I'm going to rant after the break, so just move on.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

So, I am starting reviewing again...

So I am reviewing again.  Tonight was my first night back as a guest and all.  I'll write my review tomorrow, but I have to say.. I loved the show.
.
It's at "Here Theater" (which is a as dumb a name for a theater in New York
as it is for the bar in West Hollywood.)
This author, Mark Snyder, is a punk (by that I mean a young writer) and this is the second show of his I have seen.  It is a crying shame more people haven't seen him.  He has a touch with dialog and characters that is wonderful.  It is just fun to watch his stuff.
.
And not showy.  Not big over the top stuff.  Just day to day reality made fascinating.
.
Yay!

Is It Art? Or Nincompoopery?

Drawing of "Levitated Mass"
So, the idea of "Levitated Mass" isn't such a stretch.  It is a huge monolith that will "hover" in front of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art).
.
It should be cool.  But for some reason, they have quarried the physical monolith in San Bernadino.  They couldn't find one closer?  There are mountains all around LACMA.
.
Rock Moving Vehicle
So they have to move it to the Mid-Whilshire Museum (if you saw Volcano - it is right there!).  Well, it takes up 3 lanes on a freeway and is super heavy.  So they have to go on really wide roads, with a place to sit in the daylight hours - it goes along at 5 mph in the middle of the night.
.


Good Grief Charlie Brown
So look at this asinine route.  Argh.  Nincompoopery.

Ah.. the joys of "weather"

Have I explained yet that I hate weather.  Really.
.
People who come to LA complain that there is "no weather".  It is always sunny (with low clouds at the beach that will burn off after noon) and reasonably warm.
.
Damn straight!  It's ALWAYS not a factor (except Santa Ana Fire Weather or Earthquake Weather - but both make for crazy good times out - so that's okay).
.
Today Eddie learned yet another joy of "weather".  In his brand new BMW all 4 of his tire monitors went off.  Low pressure warning - and the book said "Don't Drive It!".
.
He took it to the shop this morning and it turns out ... weather.  You see, since we have owned a car, the new tire monitor systems have gone into production.  AND (I found out this morning) tires lose 1 psi per 10 degrees (they weren't clear if it was 10 degrees C or F, but it hardly matters - it's ten units of weather).

Monday, February 27, 2012

Cousin Pete is Football's Head Coach at McPherson College

Cousin by marriage.  This is Ed's cousin.
.
McPherson, Kan. – McPherson College Athletic Director Doug Quint announced Friday that Pete Sterbick has been named head football coach and will assume responsibility for the Bulldog program on Monday, February 27. A 2003 graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., Sterbick has spent the last four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I’m excited to become a part of the McPherson community and McPherson College football,” said Sterbick.  “There were specifics in what I was looking for as far as going to a program as a head coach and McPherson fits what I had in mind.  The experiences I had at Grand View in helping build a program prepared me to take this step.”

“I’m pleased and excited about our committee’s decision in the hiring of Pete,” said Quint. “He is a high class individual, who we are confident will continue our tradition of excellence in the football program, both on the field and in the classroom. I’m looking forward to working with Pete.”

Sterbick helped build the Grand View football program from the ground up, beginning in 2008, and quickly into a nationally ranked NAIA program.  After going 2-8 in their inaugural season, the Vikings have gone 8-3, 6-4, and 8-4 in their three most recent seasons.  Sterbick was in charge of offensive play-calling, coaching the wide receivers, and overseeing all offensive skill positions.

In 2011, the Vikings were the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League champions and qualified for the NAIA playoffs.  The offense averaged 400 yards and 30 points per game on their way to a #18 ranking in the final NAIA poll.  Sterbick was voted as the 2011 MSFA Midwest League “Assistant Coach of the Year.”

Prior to Grand View University, Sterbick worked as an offensive graduate assistant at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., for three seasons starting in 2005.  He assisted with the wide receivers and during the 2007 season helped develop the Cougars’ eighth-ranked NCAA Division I (BCS) passing offense which led the Pac-10.  Four receivers Sterbick has worked with have gone on to sign NFL contracts. (Scott's Note: This is when I met him.  He got us tickets to a Wazu - Wisconsin game.  Hopefully he can get us better tickets to the Bulldogs games :-) 

Before his tenure at with Washington State, Pete served the 2004 season as an offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.  The Fighting Sioux were the Northwest Region champions, NCAA Division II national semifinalists, finished with a record of 11-3 record and were ranked third in NCAA D-II.  In addition to coaching the tight ends, Sterbick was responsible for the breakdown of the opposing defenses in the development of the offensive game plan.

For Those of You Abroad: And Missing the Nincompoopery

If you don't live in the US - consider yourself lucky to not have to listen to the asinine talk that passed for "intelligent discussions of campaign issues."
.
I am not kidding when I say what we discussed last week.  This is the truth (no satire!).
.
1) Rick Santorum called President Obama a "snob" because he wanted everyone to go to college.  Actually President Obama was reiterating what once was a consensus opinion of America (before we descended into this Idiotacracy), that all Americans should have the opportunity to go to college.  Mr. Santorum has said that the President only wants to send America's children into "indoctrination mills".  Swear!
.
2) Rick Santorum paraphrased John F. Kennedy and twisted his words to said that a JFK quote was that "people of faith have no place in the public square."  And, that this quote made Rick Santorum want to throw up.  Yes, honestly, on TV, it made him "want to throw up."  Of course, JFK never said that.  I won't even bother to link to any of this because only a total moron would believe it.  JFK was discussing (in a famous speech to Baptist Ministers) that he wouldn't  take direction from the Pope.  That he would be the President of All Americans, not just Catholic Americans.
.
Welcome to the Monkey House.
.
This man is a serious contender for the Republican Nomination for President.
.
( Update 1)
These new statements are no in addition to last week's gem that the government (both Federal and State) have no real place in education.  You see he home-schooled his kids. And, in the olden days of yore, everyone in rural America did - and we were fine then. So he wants to go back to that.
.
(Update 2)
And.. I almost forgot the great Dutch Threat!
Last week, Mr. Santorum stated that 10% of all Dutch deaths were from euthanasia.  And, of that, 50% were forced.  In fact the elderly in the Netherlands are so scared they were bracelets that say "Do Not Euthanize!" and leave the country to go to hospitals in other countries.
.
These fictions have been greeted oddly by the real Netherlands (as opposed to Rick Santorum's Delirium Netherlands) were 2% of death are from voluntary euthanasia (versus 10% as claimed).  There were 9 mistakes out of 2667 deaths where the wrong type of euthanasia was used (not involuntary, but the wrong drugs), versus the 5% of ALL Dutch Deaths being involuntarily euthanized..  No one laves the country to go to the hospital.  And there are no such "Don't Kill Me" bracelets.
.
I don't know where he got these ideas - everyone's best guess is from Internet rumors - no doubt home-schooled to his children now as "facts".
.
But still, he might be right.  First.. the wooden shoes came in the night for the dyke builders, and I was quiet because I lived on high ground....

What the Hell Was That?

What the hell was that at the Academy of Motion Pictures Awards at the not-Kodak Theater last night?  It could NOT have been the Oscars.
.
It was worse that the James Franco / What's-Her-Name hosting gig last year - which I was fully promised was, and would stay, the worst show evah.  Some old, seriously unfunny host did an extremely bad Billy Crystal impersonation. And then this person did a Sammy Davis Junior bit with Justin Beaber who I don't think was born when Sammy David Jr. died!  An old Billy Crystal could not pull that off.  A non-senile Billy Crystal wouldn't have even tried.  It veer'ed dangerously close to black face as the Help was being (semi)-lauded.
.
And The Artist - don't get me started... don't even get me started  (it's a Saturday Night Live reference - see Billy Cyrstal was doing decades old Satruday Night Live stuff - I thought I would join in).
.
The Artist was directed with such a heavy hand that Stephen Spielberg looks like the master of subtlety compared to it.  Billy Wilder is turning over in his grave after being credited as the director's inspiration.  Seriously... has the director ever seen a Billy Wilder movie?  Because, clearly something gets lost in the translation to French.  Thank God they didn't give The Artist the Cinematography Awards - I was afraid they might due to the Black and White thing.  Even though the subtle use of the grey palette seemed to have been created on an IBM PC, circa 1983.  How was it even nominated - have these people never seen real (reel?) black and white movies. (real / reel - get it - I am shooting for The Artist level of subtlety.)
.
Well, a craptastic Best Picture Winner deserves a craptastic Award show.  So The Artist got what it richly deserved.. a lovefest of the aged and infirm without a shred of creativity or emotional depth.  It was like Posthumous Best Picture Awards.

ManhattenHenge is Coming

It  is almost that twice a year time when the sunrise and sunset lines up perfectly with the Manhattan Street Grid.  It's silly - but it doesn't mark the march of time as I walk to work.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Me and Trevor

How cute is my puppy (Trevor) when he is sleepy?
.
Answer: Very Cute!

Catholic Health Initiative to Acquire Nebraska Heart Hospitals in Lincoln - and close on Sundays


Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives will acquire Nebraska Heart Institute and Nebraska Heart Hospital, both located in Lincoln, according to a Grand Island Independent report. (satire starts) In doing so Catholic Health Initiative Hospitals will join the Nebraska Law Suit against the Obama Administration to protest being required to provide Birth Control in the Health Care Services. Current Lincoln Heart Hospital employees will have their Health Insurance updated, and be requested to flush their remaining Birth Control pills down the toilet.
Newly installed Cardinal Timothy Dolan is quoted as saying, “The fact that we don’t require proof to show that the pills were flushed shows how tolerant we are being to the sinners among us.”  He has also sent 3 priests for temporary assignment to take confession from the newly identified sinners.
In other news (satire grows; marginally) Catholic Health Initiative’s current Hospitals in Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Wisconsin and Colorado – in addition to the newly aquired ones in Nebraska, will be closed on Sundays, beginning in March 2012.  A spokesman said, “Our stated mission is clear and on our web site, The mission of Catholic Health Initiatives is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church by bringing it new life, energy and viability in the 21st century. Fidelity to the Gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we move toward the creation of healthier communities.’  We can’t do that on a Sunday!  The Bible says reserveth thy Sunday for the Lord.” The spokesperson immediately drooped to one knee and Tebow'ed - which makes sense as Catholic Health Initiative is headquartered in Denver.
When questioned as to what happens if a accident occurs on a Sunday, the spokesperson responded.  “Kind of Lord’s will, then isn’t it?”  After a moment the spokesperson added, “In 75% of our coverage areas, another hospital is within 53.6 miles.  We suggest the heathens can always travel to a secondary support facility.”
Two receptionists (who requested anonymity) asked the injured to bring back some Birth Control pills and condoms.  They were immediately fired.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Umm... okay...

Kind of an odd headline without context....
,
I mean, different dictators dress complete differently.
.
Take a look at ex-Dictator Ghadafi (I don' t want to embarrass any under-dressed members-only jacket wearing Iranian Dictators).
Traditional Dictator Look #2
African Garb at the African Congress



Rocking the Arab Look at the Arab Council
White Party,
Right before the X kicked in..

Picking & Choosing Among Catholic Ideas...

I love Ron Paul:
..
9.28 pm. Ron Paul brings up Catholic just war theory, which bars pre-emptive, aggressive war and torture, both of which are backed by the two Catholics.  (added by me: And the Mormon, who's "just war theory" is "just hate the fags" amended from the pre-1970s "just hate the blacks and feminists")

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Freedom To Marry Pics


So we have the Freedom to Marry party pictures (where my honey met Nick Adams).
Eddie and Me
The guy to the right is Max Von Essen (who will be in Evita)

Attack of the Reality Show Stereotypes

Oh
My
God
.
Survivor One World has, what I thought, was the most offensive stereotypical Gay Man this season.  Colton, who wears pastel colors, needs a wrist splint and can't seem to talk with rolling his eyes.  Yikes!
.
Then I saw The Amazing Race, who has an even more stereotypical Southern Redneck team.  One is black and one is white, but both seem to revel in hog-hollarin', air-booty humpin' and Kentucky call out - which must make the state proud.
.
There is a total "guido" team too, but they look positively reserved next Hic' and Hic'er.
.
Good Grief
Colton (hands on hips)
Team Kentucky

First Punch in Card

So I was showing Aldona the Quilt Ed did from our old t-shirts (yes he has started a new job now...).  anyway, Aldona was impressed and really liked it.
.
So Ed says,  "I get another punch in my gay card."
.
And Aldona said, "Oh honey.  That's really your first punch."
.
We aren't very professional homos; we have bad lighting in the house, no candles in the bathroom, JUST now hooked up iTunes to the Stereo and no linen napkins - so she is kind of right.

I Won't Harp ; Joan Walsh Voice of Reason

Joan Walsh is the voice of reason pointing in these discussions.  Today she thanks Rick Santorum for highlighting how offensive the current Republicans are.  I do want to highlight one thing (if you don't read it all).  Virginia (along with a Texas and a few other states) now require trans-vaginal ultrasounds before abortions, even in the case of rape or incest.  Because (in the words of a Virginia lawmaker) "... they are vaginally penetrated in order to get pregnant".
.
But if you women want to vote for idiots like this, by all mean be my guests.
..
From Salon

OK, it’s true: Rick Santorum didn’t sponsor Virginia legislation to require that women seeking abortion undergo an ultrasound – and in cases of very early pregnancy, when a fetus is hard to see, a creepy and intrusive transvaginal ultrasound. But seven states have already passed ultrasound requirements for women seeking abortion. The Virginia bill is galvanizing opposition nationally at least partly due to the climate of crazy that’s been fomented by Santorum’s backward candidacy.
The man who calls contraception “a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be” went from being a failed Pennsylvania senator, Mr. “Man on Dog,” to GOP presidential frontrunner over the last month. Now he’s crusading against prenatal testing because he claims it encourages abortion (when in fact most prenatal testing helps women help babies who develop in utero health issues) and claiming President Obama’s policies will ultimately send Christians to the guillotine. (By the way, I apologize for harping on the way Protestants have persecuted Catholics in the U.S., because Santorum reminded me of some of the reason why, with his charge that mainline Protestant churches are a Satan-sponsored “shambles” that are “gone from the world of Christianity as I see it.”) He and Mitt Romney, who’s trying to match him outrage for outrage, having been chasing women voters away from the GOP in droves over the last couple of months.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Too Easy



It is too easy (like shooting fish in a barrel) to get annoyed / outraged / flummoxed / confused by the bizarre arguments going on right now about providing Health Care and other things.
.
Rick Santorum has enough wacky ideas for a full slate of sitcoms.  It would all be absolutely hilarious, if he wasn't treated as a serious candidate for President.  He honestly thinks Birth Control is wrong because sex should be reserved for ONLY procreation.  Which is interesting, but - come on, really?  He thinks amniocentesis should NOT be part of health care- because as far as he knows it is used for abortion exclusively (or at least so often he doesn’t want to pay for it).  He is way wrong there, and would sentence thousands of children a year of brain damage (Rh negative disease) along with other easily resolvable conditions.
.
Of course once they are born, Rick doesn’t wantto pay for schoolin’ neither.  He doesn’t see a justification for Federal OR State government to provide education.  Gang, it astounds me that we are even having this discussion.  Last I heard, we were worried about falling behind in science and math scores.  Now he wants parents teaching kids and not schools.  At least not public schools (and “public” in the US terminology).  So poor kids with 2 working parents don’t get schooled at all.
.
Mittens looks reasonable by comparison.  And this is a man campaigning in Michigan on the “let GMC, Ford and Chrysler go bankrupt”. Man.  He also doesn’t think Health Care should cover birth control – but he also believes that baptizing Jews from the Holocaust is okay because they have a choice to say no (in the afterlife).  You can’t argue with that kind of logic.
.
Good Grief Charlie Brown.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Pigeon Poaching

So I was walking Trevor this morning, and I see a sign on 9th Ave.  It reads (paraphrasing)... "Illegal Netting of Pigeons was spotted in this area on 12 Feb.  If you see illegal behavior, please inform the NYPD.   Pigeon Poaching Is Illegal!"
.
And I thought, Illegal?
.
That's a bit harsh.  I mean you should really give it a quick par-boil to seal in that disgusting squab taste, then run it under the broiler for 10 minutes.  But illegal?   What will government over-regulate next?  Damn Democrats.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

I saw Shatner on Broadway

Shatner on Broadway sounds like the start of a bad joke, but I really liked it.
.
Review Here

Friday, February 17, 2012

Max Von Essen

So, last night Eddie and I went to a benefit and met Nick Adams.
.
Another guy we met was Max Von Essen.  He is playing on Broadway soon in Evita.  He chatted with us and was a great guy.  I have looked and he has been a bunch of stuff I haven't seen.
.
Fun.

This One I Get

Chris Christie (Gov. of New Jersey) is a fine guy.  In fact, he is probably one of the least annoying Governors I know of (Republican or Democrat).  And he is in a sad fix.
.
I am pretty sure he is very, VERY, not prejudice.  He was one of the few Republicans that spoke in favor the "Ground Zero" Mosque - reminding people that Freedom of Religion was a 2 way street.  He appointed an open homosexual to the New Jersey Supreme Court.  But now he is presented with a Gay Marriage bill.
.
I think he was intelligent to get in front of this and tell everyone he was going to veto it - and wanted people to vote on it.  NOT because they should do that (yeah - let's vote on hate), but because he can't sign it.  If so, he won't go anywhere in the Republican power structure - and Chris Christie is a rising star.  He signs it, he won't be re-nominated by the Repubs - and would have NO shot in 2016.
.
But had he waited and veto'ed it, Independents (who, in New Jersey, are pro Gay marriage) would have been pissed off.  And he needs those to get reelected in 2013 in new Jersey. And he needs reelection in 2013 to be nominated in 2016.
.
So he says -  a while ago - he is going to veto it, if you pass it.  He thinks people should vote on it.  Does he believe this?  Probably not, but it is a fairly good middle way to get out of a tough situation.

Congressional Hearing on Contraception and Religious Freedom

This is a picture of the witnesses at the House of Representatives Hearing on if the Obama Administration is trampling on Religions Freedom to deny women access to contraception.  ALL of the witnesses.
.
Requests by the Democrats to allow women to speak, ANY WOMEN, on the hearing specifically about contraception was denied.  Because, well, men know best.  Women are lucky they are allowed to vote and drive - that is one better than Saudi Arabia so don't complain.
.
Your Republican Congress at "work" (in quotes, since this won't change anything - just a chance for them all to boo the White House).
.

Very Cool UCLA Program

UCLA has just started an interesting, and cool, advertising suite called "The Optimists".  It talks about UCLA Grads as Optimists and Dreamers.  You know, "..people who see things how they should be.." I know you would be hard pressed to called me an Optimist - but then I am not in the Advertising set :-).
.
Here are a couple of screen shots (when you hover over the faces, the blurb shows up.  I did one in each to show you.
.
Site
Ralph Bunche, by the way, first man of color to win the Nobel Prize.
Geography (the best major) was in Bunche Hall

I thought Francis went to SC - maybe undergrad.
Nope: Just checked.  Hofstra Undergrad


Thursday, February 16, 2012

My Honey and Nick Adams

Who?
.
Nick Adams.  So my honey has a little tiny Nick Adams things.  Nick was in "A Chorus Line" and was the one that had to cover his tank top because Mario Lopez was annoyed by the humpiness.  And he was in "La Cage Aux Folles".  And he is the Guy  Pierce role right now in "Priscilla" right now on Broadway.
.
And tonight we were at a fund raiser for gay marriage and we met him.  Truth be told, that is why I got tickets, because my honey loves him a little Nick Adams.
.
Anyway, we met him and he was charming, nice and pretty cool guy.
.
Here is Eddie and Nickie.
Eddie and Nick Adams

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Trevor as the cat

Trevor has what I see as an odd habit. He tends to sit on the couch cushions.  I normally see cats do this.
.
I am not sure if he is weird, or is just light enough that he doesn't flop down the cushions.  Can you image poor Ashford (the big boned Welsh Terrier) trying to do that.  He was tubby AND a kluz, he would have broken a hip.

Why Stop of Religious Grounds - Why not any old prejudice? That's the Ticket!

Roy Blunt - surrounded by Republican senators...
In the latest show of true hatred towards eveyone that isn't a fat old white man, Senator Roy Blunt has introduced an amendment that would allow ANY employer to deny ANY health coverage - based on their personal or religious convictions. (Read it and weep.)
.
You don't approve of Birth Control - don't have to supply it.  Citibank doesn't  believe Single women should have kids?; they don't have to pay for it.  Pfizer doesn't believe gay people should have kids?, don't have to pay for a gay woman to give birth?  State of Virginia's Department of Education doesn't belive interracial married families should have kids?  Don't have to pay for child birth OR contraception!  A win win.
.
There is a reason he isn't called Roy Subtle!
.

The measure, proposed by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) would amend the Affordable Care Act to allow any employer to exclude any health service coverage, no matter how critical or basic, by claiming that it violates their religious or moral convictions. Moreover, according to the National Women's Law Center, the amendment would remove critical non-discrimination protections from the Affordable Care Act. For instance, an insurer could deny maternity care coverage to a same-sex couple, an interracial couple or a single woman for religious or moral reasons.

Just Miss Understood

It isn't that Republican Senators don't like women, it's just that they HATE fags and im'grants more than they like women (which makes them sound kinda' gay - but whatever).
.

Republicans Retreat on Domestic Violence
Even in the ultrapolarized atmosphere of Capitol Hill, it should be possible to secure broad bipartisan agreement on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, the 1994 law at the center of the nation’s efforts to combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The law’s renewal has strong backing from law enforcement and groups that work with victims, and earlier reauthorizations of the law, in 2000 and 2005, passed Congress with strong support from both sides of the aisle.
Yet not a single Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor last week when the committee approved a well-craftedreauthorization bill introduced by its chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy, and Senator Michael Crapo, a Republican of Idaho, who is not on the committee.
The bill includes smart improvements aimed, for example, at encouraging effective enforcement of protective orders and reducing the national backlog of untested rape kits. The Republican opposition seems driven largely by an antigay, anti-immigrant agenda. The main sticking points seemed to be language in the bill to ensure that victims are not denied services because they are gay or transgender and a provision that would modestly expand the availability of special visas for undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic violence — a necessary step to encourage those victims to come forward.
Senator Charles Grassley, the committee’s ranking Republican, offered a substitute bill that not only cut out those improvements but called for a huge reduction in authorized financing, and elimination of the Justice Department office devoted to administering the law and coordinating the nation’s response to domestic violence and sexual assaults. His measure was defeated along party lines.

(the rest of it is here)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

painful... yet I fear this is next...

So in the Westminster Dog Show...

So, Eddie, Trevor and I watched parts of the dog show yesterday (the Terriers are on tonight, and they are our favorites...).
.
I have to say, the Pekingese won the toy group, I did not like it.  I don't mean as compared to other toys - just as a dog.  It looks way to much like a furry foot-stool, and wobbles too much when it walks. I see hip problems.
.
I did, however, love the winning Hound - the Wire Haired Dauchsund.   He was my favorite in a great group with the PBGV and the new English American Coon Hound.
.
That is a good looking Wiener Dog!

Happy Valentine's Day (and weekly update)

Happy Valentine's Day Eddie.  I heart you tons.
.

Weekly update 215.8
(so no Santorum required!)

Monday, February 13, 2012

Samoa Won In a Last Gasp over the All Blacks

So, yesterday, Eddie and I were watching the finals of the Rugby 7s.  Samoa, the underdog took a quick lead and held it to the almost end, when the Kiwi All Blacks tied it up.  But Samoa had the ball when the whistle blew - and in Rugby 7s, the play continues until a change of possession.
.
And Samoa took it all the way down to score.  It was great fun - and I don't even care that much about International Rugby 7s.
.
But I have to say, the time length (7 minutes a half in prelims and 10 minutes a half in the finals) is perfect for my attention span.

From Justin 2 Kelly: All Time Most Fun Awful Movie

 .
So, let me just give a big thumbs down to "The Daily Beast" that picked "From Justin To Kelly" as one of the worst Valentine's Rom Coms ever.
.
To which I sasy, only if by "worst" you mean fun, funny and fabulous.
.
And no, they don't mean that - since the included some real stinkers like Gigle, Maid in Manhattan and Leap Year.
.
Dear Daily Beast, I respectfully disagree, From Justin to Kelly is da' bomb!  It is bad in perfectly funny ways, and very good in others.
.
Let's start with the good.  Kelly Clarkson can SING.  And she sings the hell out of some songs.
.
And one her friends is Anika Noni Rose - later in Dreamgirls (as the not-Beonyce and not-Jennifer Hudson), and with a Tony for the Broadway show Caroline or Change, she is a real talent.  We are talking serious star power.  And to watch her Dance and Sing is a joy (PARTICULARLY when she is "dream"
 singing and dancing in a Glitter-Salsa club down a dirt back alley in Miami!).
.
And, if you have the extended Director's version (and why wouldn't you?!?) you get to see THE SINGULAR MOST BLATANT rip-off of "Summer Lovin" ever.  And that includes when Glee actually sang Summer Lovin.  With (wait for it) Justin as John Travolta.  Oh wait, that is in the so-bad-it's-great category...
.
.
Back to the good.  Well, its a reach, but this background guy is a scene stealer.  The bottle-blond, built guy, in the back ground of this shot, is all over this movie.  The choreographer, dance captain and Director of Photography obviously have quite the thing for this guy.  My guess is the 2nd Unit Director was sleeping with him.  He moves great and looks interested in the proceedings - which makes him a real stand-out amoung the cast.  It is made even more obvious how much the photogs love him, as they always have his shirt off (happily for us all,  Justin W. never has his shirt off).
.
As for the bad in a good way.  Where to start....  It is a cornucopia of riches!
.
The dialog seems pretty much made up as they went along.  (Although Kelly did make up the Best Line of the Year with this one...
Justin (pointing at a small window in the bathroom he is suppose to climb out of) "That?!?  My hair wouldn't even fit through that."
Kelly "I'm from Texas.  I've seen bigger."
.
The bad girl (Katherine Bailess) seems to think, in every scene, "what would Rizzo do, if she really was the bitch she pretended to be?". And then overacts twice as bad.  (Minus the big redemption scene - no "that's the worst thing I could do" for you!.)
.
Kelly and Justin's acting is ... well, very good for two people that won a singing contest where no acting was required.  What makes it perfect is that about 4 lines into most scenes, they realize it sucks and just play along with the gag.  And, it IS a Rom Com - so maybe we should judge their Chemistry together.
.
Perfect. They play brother and sister perfectly (What?  They are suppose to be hot for each other?  Oh, that's very different...).
.
Well, they aren't the first two people with zero attraction for each other stuck in a bad Rom Com musical.  See Twist of Fate, if you don't believe me.  In that one Olivia Newton John and John Travolta seem to physical repel each other (you know...like similarly changed magnets).  And they are "real" actors.
.
The big fight / thunder road / redemption scene???  Jet Skis at sunset.  (sooo not kidding!)
.
Anyway, it seems criminal to hate on From Justin To Kelly.  It is a big wet kiss at corporate synergy and good ideas gone wrong and I LOVE IT.
.
If you and your Valentine can't bond over this movie - there is no spark left!

Friday, February 10, 2012

So... I don't post these

I don't post these.  Not for any real reason, I just don't really think that someone who reads nincompoopery needs an It Gets Better video.
.
But this one from the San Francisco Police Department... well it touched me.
.
I am amazingly lucky that my parents and my friends were cool about me.  But not everyone's were.  And for them...
.

Do They Even Listen to Themselves?

Jim DeMint opened CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) with a speech that said he cannot compromise with the Democrats because:
.
"We don’t have shared goals with the Democrats. The democrats can’t cut spending. Their whole platform is based on promising more from government," DeMint told activists gathered in Washington, D.C.
.
The whole government grew under Bush 2, we started 2 unfunded war, added a Prescription Medicare Benefit vs. Clinton where the budget was balanced so - WTF..?
.
But that wasn't the biggest inconsistency for this, the brightest blub in the Tea Party Firmamentee.  He said this, then spoke about Keystone Pipeline.
.

DeMint dealt mainly in broad strokes, outlining a “decentralized” approach to health care and transportation, DeMint argued for familiar themes to conservatives, including state’s rights and budget prudence.
One hot topic that came up – the Keystone pipeline, which DeMint said would ensure tens of thousands of jobs.
“Who could say no?  Folks, we’re not talking about complicated political philosophy here,” he said.

Regardless of the merits of the Keystone Pipelin (and yes I think it would have been approved had the Republicans not forced Obama's hand) the opposition to this - outside of environmentalists - was both parties and all branches of the state of Nebraska, where it was suppose to go through.  We are not talking about "complicated philosophy here" - but it does fly directly AGAINST states rights and "decentralization", which you just championed.
.
Dip shit.

Oh Good Grief (but I LURVE the picture)

So in another inane post, throwing as much gasoline as possible on a fire - the Times of London suggests that if Iran gets a bomb, Saudi Arabia will buy a few from Pakistan and then try to make some.  To which one must say, so what?  Moving a nuclear weapon from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia isn't much of a chance as far as I see it.
.
But I do say I LOVE the picture included.  It is of Saudi Arabian "special forces".  As in "special needs" me thinks.  I mean, first off.  Great goofy eyes on the left.  Second, all black - in the desert?  Wouldn't desert camo or even all beige work better.  Maybe this is their "nighttime" uniform.. o their "diving through oil" uniform.  But if they are marching in a parade to show how cool they are, this is their "dumb" uniform.
Not Huey , Dewey & Louie

Fascinating

So, this map is fascinating.  It shows the Republican primary vote by county.  It is from a story about a possible brokered convention (where no one has enough delegates to take the first ballot nomination).  But it tells an interested story.
.
Story here.  Map below.
.

Nincompoops & Hypocrisy

Argh!  Where to begin?  People are hurting my brain today.
.

First, Niall Ferguson, a British historian and writer I love.   Civilization was a great book, and a TV Series in England (coming to PBS this year).  Really, I tend to respect his ideas.
.
But he has a wild hair that we should attack Iran.  Why?  Because they might get a nuclear weapon (like Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, God-less Commie countries and Iraq-almost-supposedly).  He is part of the crowd that calls that a quick attack on Iran will be painless and easy.  That the Iranians will be thrilled to overthrow their country (any of this sound vaguely familiar?).
.
Argh!
.
And he is jumping on a bandwagon filled with the kind of wild ass projections that said we were going to be greeted in Iraq with flowers and smiles.
.
Stop it!  No country likes seeing their country attacked.  And Israel's increasingly shrill screams have more to do with defeating Obama and any real problem (read the Israeli papers or listen to their generals).  Niall's Article in Newsweek / Daily Beast.
.



Then there is Karen Handel, the Komen Foundation ex-VP who says that Planned Parenthood is a bully.  
.
That's right, Planned Parenthood - the punching bag of the right wing, provider of health care to millions of low income women, often the ONLY provider of health care services (particularly when Obama caves to the screaming Bishops as he will soon) - THEY are bullies. 
.
Because the Susan Komen Foundation, who hired a Tea-Party, Gubernatorial-Losing-Candidate as a Policy VP, they couldn't NEVER have a political agenda. (cough-bullshit-cough)  
.
See, depriving low income women of free breast exams - well that wasn't political.  I kind of believe her when she says it wasn't "political" because she is a Republican; and they believe that poor people shouldn't have access to medicine (we can all go back to the Republican debates where the crowd lustily cheered the "hypothetical" death of the uninsured).  But for non-Republicans - letting poor people get sick and die IS political.


.
Here is the idiot's quote“The idea that anyone would suggest Komen had a political agenda is absurd,” Handel told The Daily Beast. “Komen is a breast-cancer organization—that’s what it does.” Instead, she accused Planned Parenthood of making the matter political, saying the group had “unleashed Armageddon” by launching a social-media firestorm. “Planned Parenthood is a gigantic bully, using Komen as its own personal punching bag,” she said.